OWEN WEHR.

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         Owen Wehr, who engages in general farming on a two hundred acre tract in Union township, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1833, and is a son of Michael and Maria (Metzker) Wehr. His parents were also natives of the Keystone state as were the grandparents but the paternal great-grandfather was a native of Switzerland. The parents spent their entire lives in the state of their nativity where the father engaged in farming until his demise, which occurred when he was about seventy-seven years of age, while the mother passed away some time after the seventieth anniversary of her birth. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wehr were born nine children, but two of whom are now surviving: our subject, the elder; the other being Wilson, who is a resident of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. Those deceased are: David, Reuben, Steven, Lydia, Maria, Louisa and Sallie, all of whom passed away in Pennsylvania.

         The boyhood and youth of Owen Wehr were not unlike those of other farmer lads of the period. In the acquirement of his education he attended the common schools of his native state, during which time he was also becoming familiar with the most practical methods of tilling the fields. He was twenty-two years of age when he left home and settled in Indiana, where for nine years he followed the carpenter’s trade and also engaged in contracting. At the end of that time he decided to go to farming and for two years thereafter cultivated the soil. In 1858 he again started westward, this time locating in Louisa county, . . .

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. . . where he has lived continuously since. Two years after his arrival he began improving and cultivating a portion of the land which forms his present homestead. He has at various times extended the boundaries of his farm, which now embraces two hundred acres of fertile land. His holdings, which are located on section 31, Union township, contain well constructed substantial buildings, which, owing to his skill as a carpenter, Mr. Wehr is always able to keep well repaired and in good condition. Good fences enclose his fields, all of which have been brought to a high state of cultivation and annually yield abundant harvests. In common with the majority of Iowa farmers Mr. Wehr devotes a great deal of time and attention to the raising and feeding of stock, and always keeps a goodly number of cattle and hogs on his place.

         For his companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Wehr chose Miss Lydia Lecklitner, their union being solemnized in January 1, 1860. Mrs. Wehr is a native of Indiana and a daughter of David and Magdelina (Wehr) Lecklitner, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they were also married. They migrated to Indiana during the pioneer days locating in Clinton county where for many years the father cultivated a homestead. He passed away in 1880 in and the mother in 1891. Their family also numbered nine children and of the three surviving Mrs. Wehr is the eldest, the other two being: Moses, who is a resident of Indiana; and Rebecca, who became the wife of Allen Glick, of Indiana. Those deceased are as follows: Saloma, Paul, Ellen, Maria, Polly and Aaron, all of whom, with the exception of Paul and Maria, passed away in Indiana.

         Unto the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wehr have been born four children: Joseph A., who is married and living in Washington county where he owns and cultivates a farm; Rosa, the wife of Oscar Dreibelbis, of Pennsylvania; Ella, the wife of W. J. Walker, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Des Moines, Iowa; and Nettie Leotta, who died at the age of two years.

         In political affairs Mr. Wehr has always affiliated with the democratic party but has never been an aspirant to official honors. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order, being a member of the lodge at Columbus Junction. Both he and his wife are identified with the Reformed church. The success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Wehr would do credit to the endeavors of any man, and is all the more commendable in view of the fact that it is that result of the well directed efforts of one who started out empty-handed at the age of twenty-two years.