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         LEWIS SCHNEDIER, a prominent farmer of Louisa County, residing on section 20, Port Louisa Township, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1824, and was the eldest in a family of five children born to Lewis and Barbara (Stephen) Schneider, who were also natives of Baden. His mother died in her native land, and in 1845 the father bade good-by to the old country, and set sail from Antwerp. After a fair voyage of forty-two days the vessel reached the harbor of New York. Settling on a farm with his children near the city of Buffalo, N. Y., Mr. Schneider made that his home for ten years and then removed to Iowa County, Iowa, locating in the German colony, where he remained until his death, which occurred a number of years ago.

Our subject received his education in his native land and was there reared to farm life. He came with the family to this country, and while residing in the State of New York was united in marriage, in 1846, with Elizabeth Schneider, a native of Baden, and a daughter of Philip and Catherine (Seger) Schneider, who were also born in that country. In 1845 she emigrated to America in the same vessel with the one who afterward became her husband.

After his marriage Mr. Schneider settled in New York, and bought an improved farm, upon which he resided for about ten years. In 1855 he sold his land and emigrated to Louisa County, Iowa, settling in Grand View Township, where he bought a partially improved farm. After residing upon that farm for about ten or twelve years, in 1869 he bought eighty-two acres of improved land, where he has made his home continuously since. His farm consists of fine, arable land, and is in a good state of cultivation. He has had a fine residence erected, which is pleasantly situated about four miles from Wapello.

On the 4th of March, 1877, after lingering with consumption for about seven years, Mrs. Schneider was called to her final rest. Both she and her husband were members of the German Congregational Church, at Grand View, and to them were born nine children: Louisa, now the wife of Jacob Schneider, resides in Grand View; Henry is also married, and living in Port Louisa Township; Lewis died June 28, 1862, at the age of thirteen years, three months and ten days; Adam Lewis died in New York in 1847, while yet an infant; Barbara died Dec. 21, 1861, aged four years, seven months and twenty-one days; George, the . . .

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. . . third child, still resides at home; Daniel, the fourth child, was married Sept. 30, 1886, to Mary Elizabeth Michael, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Solomon and Matilda (Dunkle) Michael, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Steuben County, Ind., at an early day, where the father died in 1864, and the mother is still living. After his marriage Daniel settled on the home farm, where one child was born to them, Jesse Verne. Elizabeth died Feb. 27, 1861, at the age of one year, four months and twenty days; Sarah resides in Grand View Township.

Mr. Schneider casts his vote with the Democratic party, but is not very active in politics. He has witnessed much of the growth of Louisa County, has aided in its cultivation and development, and is one of its prominent citizens.