JOSEPH REUTINGER.

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Mrs. Joseph Reutinger         Mr. Joseph Reutinger

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         From the province of Baden, Germany, have come at various times many ambitious young men who sought and found in America opportunities denied them in the over-populated districts of the old world. Joseph Reutinger, who is well known as a farmer of Louisa county, was born in Baden, March 5, 1852, and is a son of Frank J. and Lamberta (Grieser) Reutinger, both of whom died in the old country. They were the parents of five children, namely: Mary, who came to this country and married George Fath, of Louisa county, but is now deceased; Louisa, who lives in Germany; Joseph; Carl, a resident of Chicago; and Stephania, who is also deceased.

         Joseph Reutinger possessed advantages of education in the public schools of his native land and continued with his parents until seventeen years of age. Actuated by a desire to improve his condition under the most favorable circumstances, he crossed the ocean in 1869 and came to Louisa county, Iowa, where he has since made his home. He rented forty acres of land for three years and then bought one hundred and fifty-five acres, which he cultivated very successfully, so that after four years of well applied labor he was enabled to purchase ninety acres additional. He has resided at his present location since 1883 and has made many improvements in the buildings, fences and drainage, also in setting out shade and ornamental trees and in providing the family residence with modern conveniences. As a general farmer and stock-raiser he takes rank among the successful men of his part of the county and each year witnesses an increase in his prosperity.

         On the 21st of May, 1879, Mr. Reutinger was married to Miss Mary Keck, a daughter of John Philip and Christina (Tuffensammer) Keck. There were eight children in the Keck family, four of whom are now living, namely: Mary; Amelia, who married Edward Tellman, of Wapello; Louisa, now Mrs. H. A. Weber, of Wapello; and Flora, the wife of W. E. Fielman, of Monmouth, Illinois. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reutinger: Amelia, the wife of August Berkhoff, of Wapello; Josephine, also of Wapello; Lisetta, who . . .

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. . . married Edward Cotter, of Mount Pleasant; and Philip, Della and Charles, all of whom are at home.

         Mr. Reutinger is a sincere believer in the authority and inspiration of the Bible and is a consistent member of the Methodist church. In politics he adheres to the republican party, whose principles of protection he heartily indorses. He has never aspired to public office, but has concentrated his energies upon his chosen vocation and as a result is the owner of one of the highly attractive farms of this section, the general appearance of the place indicating that he understands his business in every detail. He has been actuated by an abiding spirit of loyalty to his adopted country and it is doubtful whether Louisa county can claim a more worthy or patriotic citizen than Joseph Reutinger. In 1907 he and his two daughters, Josephine and Lisetta, went to Europe to visit his old home, where he found two sisters and other relatives besides schoolmates and companions of his younger years. They visited many points of interest and while Mr. Reutinger enjoyed his trip he was glad to return to America, the land of liberty.