Pg 407

         ANDREW WAAG, who resides on a pleasantly situated farm three and a half miles from Wapello, on section 19, Port Louisa Township, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1827, of which place his parents, George and Sarah (Camrar) Waag, were natives and residents until called to their final home. Andrew was quite young when his parents died, and the children, who were eight in number, are now widely scattered. At the age of twenty-five Mr. Waag resolved to try his fortune in the New World, and in 1852 embarked on a sailing-vessel from Havre, which was bound for New York, being upon the water thirty-two days. After landing in America he discovered that he had but $1 left, and, going to Buffalo, N. Y., he immediately secured employment upon a farm. He came to this county in 1857, and worked for awhile for Mr. Crow, but in the fall of that year purchased forty acres of prairie land, and made a home for himself. He purchased a log cabin for $10, and was united in marriage with Christina Wetnets, installing her as mistress of his new home. Mrs. Waag was a native of Germany, and a daughter of George and Christina (Samus) Wetnets. The young couple began their domestic life in true pioneer style, but Mr. Waag immediately began the work of cultivation and improvement, adding more land from time to time until he now has 240 acres of finely cultivated land, upon which may be found a good grade of horses and cattle.

Politically, Mr. Waag is a Democrat, and he has served as Road Overseer for a number of terms. On the 12th of May, 1861, after a short illness, the disease being erysipelas, his wife was called to her final home at the age of thirty years. She was the mother of three children, only one of whom is now living, Christina, now Mrs. Stuck, who resides in . . .

Pg 408

. . . Nebraska. Mr. Waag was again married in the fall of 1862, Miss Louise Frantzman, who was born in Germany, becoming his wife. She is a daughter of Peter and Maggie Frantzman, also natives of the same country, now living in New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Waag were born seven children, four of whom are living—Louise, Henry, Rosina and Fred. Elizabeth died Oct. 18, 1885, at the age of twenty years. She was reared in this county and was well beloved by all who knew her. The children living are still inmates of the paternal home. Mr. Waag is practically a self-made man. By his own efforts he has gained a comfortable competency, and is one of the prominent farmers of Port Louisa Township.