Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 307
WILLIAM HALLING, one of the early settlers of Muscatine County, now residing on section 2, Sweetland Township, was born in Germany, on the 12th of May, 1814, and is a son of Christopher and Elizabeth Halling. He received his education in his native country, and there grew to manhood, but in 1849 he bade good-by to the Fatherland and his many friends and embarked for America. Going to St. Louis, Mo., he was there engaged in the sawmill business for about two years, when he came to Iowa. With but fifty cents in his pocket he reached Muscatine County, but determining to make his way in the world he at once set to work to carve out his fortune, and his labors have been eminitely successful. Entering a claim of eighty acres of land in Sweetland Township, where he has since continued to reside, he began the development of a farm and the improvement of his land. By his economical living and good management, combined with natural business ability, he has been able to add to his original purchase from time to time, until to-day he is the owner of 900 acres of as fine farming land as can be found in the great State of Iowa, 500 acres being situated in Sweetland Township, and the remainder in Dallas County. The record of such a life deserves to be perpetuated, and may well be taken as an example by the youth of the present time. All who came to this county in an early day had to suffer privations and hardships, and Mr. Halling's life was not an exception to the general rule.

In 1849 this worthy pioneer was united in marriage with Freidrike Nemier, and nine children have been born of this union, eight of whom are yet living---Lewis, William, Henry, Mary, Louisa, George, Edward and Fred.

As a representative of that class of American citizens, the German-Americans, who by honest industry, and self-sacrifice have so well succeeded in life, it is with pleasure that we here insert, in connection with this brief sketch, the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Halling.

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