Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 537
WILLIAM WIESE, a farmer residing on section 13, Goshen Township, was born in Prussia Germany, on the 22d day of November, 1846, and is a son of Charles and Anna ( Roda ) Wiese, who were also natives of Germany. In that country the father followed the blacksmith's trade, but in 1862, accompanied by his family, he emigrated to America, locating in Moscow Township, Muscatine County, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He and his wife are both members of the Lutheran Church, are zealous workers in their Master's vineyard, and do all in their power to advance the cause.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent in his native land, but when sixteen years of age he emigrated with his parents to this country. He received a liberal education in the schools of Germany, and throughout his entire life has followed the occupation of farming. On the 12th of January, 1876, in the village of Moscow, he led to the marriage altar, Miss Melinda Lange, who was born in that village, and is a daughter of Henry and Caroline ( Grose ) Lange, who were natives of Germany. Both parents emigrated to this country in early life, their union being subsequently celebrated in Indianapolis, Ind., where they resided until 1850, at which time they came West, locating in Moscow Township. For a while Mr. Lange followed the trade of a painter, but afterward operated a ferry for many years on the Cedar River at Moscow, where he made his home. In the fall of 1862 he responded to his country's call for volunteers, enlisting at Muscatine for three years' service in Company C, 35tth Iowa Infantry. For three years and seven months he was actively engaged in service on the Southern battle-fields, after which he was honorably discharged at Davenport. At the close of hostilities he returned to his home in Muscatine County, where he continued to reside until called to his final home in February, 1880, at the age of fifty-seven years, nine months and eighteen days. Mrs. Lange is still living and resides in Moscow.

After his marriage Mr. Wiese engaged in farming for his father for three years, at the end of which time the latter gave him 160 acres of land, the old homestead, upon which he has continued to reside. To the original tract, by his industry and frugality, he has added until now 310 acres of fine arable land pay tribute to his care and cultivation. In connection with farming he engages quite extensively in stock-raising, making a specialty of raising Norman, Percheron and Clydesdale horses. He also raises the best grade of Short-horn cattle, and is the owner of some thoroughbred stock. An energetic, enterprising farmer, he has been quite successful, and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of the township. His home is pleasantly situated about one and three fourths miles from Atalissa, on section 3. In the organization of the school districts he gave considerable assistance, and has always been prominent in the promotion of any enterprise for the public welfare. Politically, he is not a party man, but casts his ballot for what in his judgment seems to be right and will best benefit the mass of people.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wiese six children have been born --Anna Catherine, Albertina Augusta, Henrietta Elnora, Elizabeth Otilda, William Theodore, and Rudolph Lewis. The parents are both members of the Lutheran Church, take an active interest in the work of that denomination, and are numbered among Muscatine County's best citizens.

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