For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 638
GEORGE UMSCHEID....George Umscheid, one of the enterprising and successful agriculturists of Pike township, is the owner of a neat and attractive farm of one hundred and twenty acres. His birth occurred in Muscatine county on the 4th of December, 1865, his parents being Louis and Katherine ( Knopp ) Umscheid, both of whom were natives of Germany. They crossed the Atlantic to the new world in the ' 40s and sometime in the early ' 50s located in this county, the father working here at the mason's trade for ten years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Illinois and there followed general agricultural pursuits for sixteen years. He then returned to Muscatine county, Iowa, purchased a farm and continued its operations until he retired in 1892, owning at that time a valuable tract of land of two hundred and sixty-six acres. His demise occurred in Muscatine on the 10th of September, 1894, and thus the community lost one of its substantial and esteemed citizens. His wife was called to her final rest on the 18th of February,1903. They were the parents of eight children, as follows : Leo, who is a resident of Oregon ; Margaret, who died when three years of age ; Katie, the wife of Thomas Fowler, of Illinois ; George, of this review ; John, living at Spirit Lake, Iowa ; Margaret, who is the wife of Paul Noll and makes her home in Brooklyn, New York ; Leonard, who is a resident of Muscatine, Iowa ; and Mary, the wife of John Foley, of Nichols, Iowa.George Umscheid obtained his education in the common schools and was twenty-two years of age when he left the parental roof and started out upon an independent career, going to Colorado, where he worked as a farm hand and at the same time took up a claim. At the end of three years he returned to Muscatine county and here began the cultivation of rented land, being thus busily engaged until 1907. In that year he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Pike township and has since brought the property under a high state of cultivation and improvement. The farm presents a well kept appearance and everything about the place is indicative of the careful supervision of the owner, whose methods are at once practical and progressive. His industry has ever been one of his salient characteristics and has been the measure of his success.
On the 5th of October, 1892, Mr. Umscheid was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Rausch, who was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, on the 3d of March, 1871, her parents being Adam and Elizabeth ( Becht ) Rausch, natives of Germany. They established their hime in Illinois at an early day and there continued to reside throughout the remainder of their lives, the father owning and operating a quarter section of land. Adam Rausch, who died in 1871, was survived by his wife until September 30, 1908., when she, too, passed away. Unto them were born four children, namely : William who is a resident of Viola, Illinois ; Amelia, who was the wife of James McDonald and passed away on the 27th of September, 1900 ; George, living in Illinois City, Illinois ; and Mrs. Umscheid. The last named is the mother of three children : Ernest M., who was born on the 19th of June, 1893 ; Louis A., whose natal day was September, 30, 1894 ; and Margaret, whose birth occurred on the 17th of May, 1896. All three are high school students.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Umscheid has supported the men and measures of the democracy, believing firmly in its principles. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, at Nichols, Iowa, while in religious faith he is a Catholic. Mr. and Mrs. Umscheid are people of the highest respectability, whose good qualities of heart and mind have won for them the confidence and friendly regard of all who know them.
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