For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 577
JOHN F. LUTJE....One of the well known farmers of Muscatine county now living retired in Stockton is John F. Lutje, who was born in Germany on the 15th of May, 1854, being a son of Hans and Anna Lutje, also natives of Germany. The parents came to the United States in 1873 and first settled in Scott county, Iowa, but later came to Stockton, Muscatine county, where they lived for several years. They then removed to Nebraska, and while on a visit back to his son the father died in 1883. They were the parents of thirteen children, three of whom survive, as follows : Eggert F., a resident of Kansas ; Lena, the wife of Hans Weis of Nebraska ; and John F. For her second husband the mother married John Gable, of Nebraska, and they lived on a farm in that state until 1907, at which time Mr. Gable passed away and the widow made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Weis, until her death December 7, 1910.John F. Lutje remained a member of his father's household in the fatherland until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he decided that the United States offered more and better inducements to energetic and ambitious young men than his native land and in 1871---two years before his parents emigrated---he sailed for America. When he reached New York he resolutely started westward feeling assured that to people of limited means it afforded greater opportunities. He located in Scott county, Iowa, and for six years he worked as a farm hand by the month. Always thrifty, he carefully laid aside a portion of his wages each month and in 1877 he became an independent farmer, After renting land for three years he had by means of close application, good management and industry accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to realize his ambition---a farm of his own. He bought an eighty acre tract, which he cultivated for twenty-five years, and at the end of that period he was able to retire, which fact is a tribute to his capable and well directed effort.
Mr. Lutje was twice married, his first wife to whom he was united on the 24th of October, 1876, was Miss Mary Evers, a native of Germany, who came to America with her mother and here the mother passed away while on a visit to one of her children. The father died in Germany at the venerable age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Lutje passed away on the 27th of November, 1905, and was laid to rest in Durant cemetery, Muscatine county, Iowa. The following year Mr. Lutje married his present wife, who was Miss Amalie Blunk, a native of Scott county, Iowa, who was born on the 2d of December, 1887, a daughter of Christ and Recker Blunk, both natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Blunk came to the United States at an early date and settled on a farm in Scott county and lived on same until 1908, when they removed to Texas, where they continue to live, the father at the age of fifty years and the mother at fifty-one years of age. They are the parents of the following children : Minnie, the wife of Charley Wolfe, of Muscatine county, Iowa ; Amelia, also a resident of Muscatine cunty ; Lena, who married William Geese, of this county ; William, of Stockton. Iowa ; Mrs. Lutje ; August and Emil, also residents of Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lutje have been born two chldren : John F., born on the 14th of January, 1907 ; and Harvey William, born on the 31st of October, 1909.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Lutje are members of the German Lutheran church. Ever since granted the full rights of citizenship by naturalization Mr. Lutje has cast his ballot for the candidates of the republican party and his party fealty has been rewarded by his conctituency having made him treasurer of the school board for four years, while he is at present serving his third term as road supervisor in Cleona township, Scott county. He has met with more than an average degree of success since he came to America, being the owner of a nice residence in Stockton and one hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota. He has a competence which is sufficient to provide his family with all of the necessities and some of the luxuries of life.
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