ARP, ADOLPH P.
Adolph P. Arp is well known as a leading stockman and farmer of Lincoln township, being the proprietor of the Lincoln Stock Farm, of two hundred and forty acres, situated on section 2. Here he has engaged in raising some of the finest stock that has been produced in the county and as proof of his business ability and enterprising spirit it has been cited that he has been actively connected with the promotion of several commercial interests of importance. He was born on the farm which is yet his home, December 7, 1875, and is a son of Detlef and Bertha (Weise) Arp, both of whom were natives of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the father's birth having there occurred January 1, 1831, while his wife was born on the 23d of March, 1838. Detlef Arp acquired his education in the schools of his native country and in his youthful days worked on his father's farm, but the favorable reports which he heard concerning America and its opportunities awakened in him a desire to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. Accordingly, when nineteen years of age, he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for New Orleans, whence he made his way up the river to Davenport. After reaching Scott county he was employed in various ways, early securing a job on the Rock Island railway near Walcott. He was afterward employed as a farm hand and he also owned and operated a threshing machine, being engaged throughout the community to thresh the crops of the various farmers. About 1860 he and Claus Horst purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which constitutes a part of what is now the Lincoln Stock Farm. There they began keeping bachelor's hall while devoting their energies to the cultivation and improvement of the place. The land was productive prairie, which they cultivated together for several years and during that time erected a number of substantial farm buildings on the place. Later Mr. Horst was married and the two men then divided their interests, each taking eighty acres. Mr. Arp then continued to live alone until March 2, 1868, when he was married and brought his bride to the farm which he had already cultivated for a number of years. Subsequently he purchased eighty acres of land adjoining from James Long and later bought the other eighty acres of land adjoinging so that his farm embraced two hundred and forty acres. Year by year he carried on the work of the farm with gratifying success until 1899, when he retired and removed to Eldridge, where for ten years he made his home, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. There he died October 31, 1909. He was a member of the Turners Society of Eldridge, and there was also an interesting military chapter in his life record, for he was one of the veterans of the war of 1848-50 between Holstein and Denmark. For a year he had survived his wife, who died October 8, 1908. They were the parents of eight children: Claus, Johannes, Herman, Edward, William, Adolph, Emma and Emiel. All are deceased with the exception of our subject, Adolph P., who is the sixth in order of birth.
Adolph P. Arp has spent his entire life on the farm which is yet his home, so that he knows every acre upon the old place that is endeared to him through the memories of boyhood as well as the association of later years. He attended the district schools in his youth and supplemented his early training by a course in Duncan's Business College at Davenport and also by a course in the agricultural department of Ames College. Putting aside his text-books, he took up the active work of the farm, to which he has since devoted his energies, and in connection with the tilling of the soil he has always followed stock-raising, handling thoroughbred red polled cattle. He has learned how to best utilize time and effort so that substantial results follow his labors, and as he has met success in his undertakings he has extended his investments, becoming a stockholder in the Eldridge Savings Bank, the Eldridge Elevator, which is a farmers' elevator, and in the Scott County Mercantile Company at Davenport, of which he is one of the directors. He is a man of notable business ability and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
On the 29th of November, 1899, Mr. Arp was united in marriage to Miss Laura P. Schneckloth, a daughter of Thomas and Silka Schneckloth, who were early German settlers of this county. Her father was a little lad of seven years when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and became a resident of Iowa. He died June 7, 1902, at the age of fifty-eight years, and is still survived by his widow, who yet resides in Davenport. Mrs. Arp was born on her father's farm in Lincoln township and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Roma A. and Alvin D. Mr. and Mrs. Arp are hospitable people who always extend a cordial welcome to their many friends. They are both native citizens of Scott county and, having long resided here, have a wide circle of acquaintances. Mr. Arp is now filling the office of township clerk and has served in that capacity for several terms and also has served as president of the school board. He belongs to West View Grange, No. 2034, of which he is master, and is deeply interested in this organized effort to promote agricultural interests.
This bio was extracted from the History of Davenport and Scott County, Vol. I and II, by Harry E. Downer, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. It was transcribed by Debbie Clough Gerischer.