For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 473
JOHN NEILSEN....John Neilsen, an enterprising and representative agriculturist of Fulton township, was born in Germany on the 17th of March, 1854, his parents being John C. and Annie ( Struve ) Neilsen, who were likewise natives of that country. The father passed away in Germany, while the mother's demise occurred here on the 18th of June, 1906, she having emigrated to the United States subsequent to her husband's death. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Jacob, Claus, John, Katrina, Annie, Mary, and Carsten.John Neilsen spent the first nineteen years of his life in his native country and then crossed the Atlantic to the new world. Since coming to Muscatine county he has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land in Fulton township. Here he has labored industriously and energetically, planting his crops in the early springtime, continuing their cultivation in the summer and gathering his harvests in the autumn.
On the 28th of February, 1887, Mr. Neilsen was united in marriage to Miss Wiebke Ahrenstorff, whose birth occurred in Germany on the 17th of May, 1864, her parents being Christopher and Annie Ahrenstorff, likewise natives of the fatherland. They emigrated to America in 1886 and spent the remainder of their lives on a farm in Iowa, the death of Mr. Ahrenstorff occurring in 1898. Their children were seven in number, as follows : Mrs. Neilsen ; Annie, Frederick, Henry, John, Katherine and Wilhelmina. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children : John L., whose natal day was January 28, 1888 ; Annie, whose birth occurred May 15, 1890 ; and Minna, who was born in 1896.
In politics Mr. Neilsen is a democrat and for five years he has held the position of road supervisor, proving a most capable and trustworthy public official. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to establish his home on this side of the Atlantic, for in the wise utilization of the opportunities here afforded he has won a place among the substantial and esteemed citizens of his community.
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