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         CHARLES WABNITZ, Sr., a representative farmer, residing on section 2, Port Louisa Township, was born Oct. 27, 1821, in Baden, Germany, and his parents, Daniel and Hannah (Ruff) Wabnitz, were also natives of that country, the father being born in Baden, and the mother in Wurtemberg. On the 12th of April, 1844, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Weeks, who was also a native of Baden, and a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Schaffer) Weeks. Four days after their marriage, in company with Mr. Wabnitz’s parents, the young couple bade good-by to their native land, and set sail for America. After thirty days the sailing-vessel “Serick,” in which they had embarked, reached the harbor of New York. The party then proceeded to Portsmouth, Ohio, via Buffalo, but finally settled near Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, where the father and son both purchased farms. The first summer after their arrival in Ohio Mr. Wabnitz worked upon his father’s farm, after which he moved to the city of Cincinnati, where he secured employment in a pork packing house for six months. He and his wife then secured employment at a farmer’s near the city, engaging with him for seven months, at the end of which time Mr. Wabnitz purchased ten acres of land which was partly improved. Upon this they lived for two years and then sold, purchasing thirty acres, which he also improved, and in connection with his farming made charcoal for the market. In 1852 Mr. Wabnitz sold his land for $40 per acre, and with his family came directly to Louisa County, going down the Ohio River to St. Louis, and then by steamboat up the Mississippi to Port Louisa. Purchasing 120 acres of land, forty of which were timber, they moved into the small log cabin upon it, and there resided until 1869, when a more commodious residence was erected at a cost of $1,200. A fine barn was also built, costing $2,500.

Mr. and Mrs. Wabnitz are the parents of two children: Elizabeth, now the wife of Rudolph Dubs, a bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; and Charles F., a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Muscatine County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wabnitz are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in which they are active workers, he having been a Class-Leader since his twenty-seventh year. He is a Republican in politics, and also a strong temperance man, believing in the strict enforcement of the prohibitory laws. One of the self-made men of the county, starting in life with nothing but a strong determination to succeed, he has by patient and persevering labor gained a comfortable competency, and is now the owner of 320 acres of fine land. As a citizen and gentleman, he is well known and highly esteemed throughout the county.