Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 435
JOHN LAFRENTZ, a general farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 5, Goshen Townshipwas born on the 16th of February, 1836, in Germany, and is a son of Henry and Sophia ( Hanson ) Lafrentz. The father was a native of Germany, the mother of Denmark, and to them were born four children, one of whom died in infancy ; of the others yet living, Henry is a resident of Kansas City ; Sophie, the wife of John Reyahl, a plasterer by trade, is living in West Liberty, and John, of this sketch, completes the family. In 1856 Henry Lafrentz, accompanied by his wife and children, crossed the broad Atlantic and became residents of Iowa City, Iowa, where they made their home until becoming residents of Muscatine County. Both parents were devoted members of the Lutheran Church. The mother died in West Liberty, in 1876, but the father is still living, and resides in that town.

Our subject received his education in his native land previous to his emigration to America, and in Germany learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for many years. In Iowa city he continued that line of business with good success. While residing in that city he became acquainted with Miss Anna Lenaburg, who was also a native of Germany, and July 13, 1859, he led her to the marriage altar. By their union a family of nine children have been born, namely : Henry, a resident farmer of Dakota ; Clara, wife of William Goraff, whose home is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa ; John M., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Goshen Township ; Anna, unmarried ; Lena, wife of William Sullivan, a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa ; Mary L., died when eighteen months old ; Frederick, Charles and Dora, who are yet at home.

In 1857 Mr. Lafrentz removed from Iowa City to West Liberty, where he worked for a short time by the piece, but in 1858, opened a shoemaker's shop for himself, continuing in that business for fourteen years. Wishing to change his occupation in 1870 he sold out his business and bought a farm of 110 acres of land in Cedar County, which he placed under the highest state of cultivation, and there continued to reside until 1887, when he traded for land in Goshen Township. His home farm contains 260 acres of arable land, and altogether he owns 340 acres of land in this county, which he has gained by his own efforts of industry and perseverance. During his residence of a third of a century in Iowa, Mr. Lafrentz has never regretted his removal to this country, and no native-born citizen is more loyal than he to his adopted country. He casts his ballot with the Democratic party, and has been honored by his fellow-citizens with various local offices of trust. He and his wife are both members of the Lutheran Church, and are numbered among the highly respected citizens of Muscatine County.

Representing that large class of frugal citizens of foreign birth -- the German-American-- the portraits of this worthy couple are well entitled to a place in this volume.

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