ARP, PETER
Peter Arp, a retired German farmer who has taken up his residence in Davenport, was born in Holstein, Germany, February 5, 1830, a son of Peter and Wipke Arp, both of whom spent their entire lives in the fatherland. The father was a tailor by trade. Peter Arp was about twenty years of age when he decided to come to America, the fame of whose opportunities had pierced the most remote corners of his naive land. He disembarked at New Orleans after crossing the ocean and then took a boat up the Mississippi to Davenport. It was two months, however, before he reached his destination as quantities of ice in the river impeded their progress.
On the 9th of March, 1850, Mr. Arp landed in Davenport, where a sister was already living, she having come to this country in 1847. After his advent Mr. Arp obtained work in a brickyard and later secured employment upon a farm, by the month. He was industrious and frugal and after the expiration of a few years he was able to buy one hundred and twenty acres of prairie land in Sheridan township. In 1853 he married and that he and his wife might have a home he bought an old dwelling which he moved to his land, making it serve as a residence for a couple of years, or until he was able to put up a better structure. The land he had secured was in its pristine state and Mr. Arp had to break the soil before he could plant his grain. Nevertheless, it proved a valuable property for during the five years it was his place of residence it made him gratifying returns for his labors. When it was well improved he traded it for one hundred and sixty-five acres in Winfield township, about twelve miles from Davenport on the Dubuque road. It had a small house upon it and had been partly improved, but Mr. Arp brought it up to a higher state of cultivation and sold it after four years. He then returned to Sheridan township, where he owned a tract of fifty acres and rented some land from Benjamin Barr, on which they lived for a year. At the end of that time he removed to his fifty acre tract, added another fifty, built a house and made it his home for the next twenty-six years, or during the remainder of the time he was engaged in the active pursuit of farming. During that period, however, he bought land as he was able and at one time owned more than half a section, and in addition to being successful he was also a conspicuous figure in the public life of Sheridan township, enjoying the good will of his associates. In October, 1892, he removed to Davenport.
On the 2d of September, 1853, Mr. Arp wedded Miss Minnie Fellener, a daughter of Barnhardt and Fredrica Fellener. She had come to this country from Germany when about nineteen years of age. Seven children were born unto the couple. Charles, now deceased, married Kathryn Roenfeldt and they had two children, Minnie and Charles. Emma became the wife of Henry Jarchow, of Davenport, and they have two sons, Edward and William. Henry married Miss Louisa Petersen and lives in Minnesota, where he is rearing his two children, Mary and Paul. William married Miss Elizabeth Soll and lives upon the father's farm. They have two children, Walter and Viola. John married Miss Bertha Wiese and lives on the old homestead in Sheridan township. They have four children, Ella, Alfred, Elmer and Edward. Elizabeth became the wife of Henry Soll, of Davenport, and they have two children, Hugo and Edna. The other died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Arp celebrated their golden wedding on the 2d of September, 1903.
When he became a citizen of this country Mr. Arp decided to give his support to the democratic party and has since been stanch in his allegiance to it, being elected upon its ticket to the office of trustee of Sheridan township. Socially he is a member of the German Society and with his wife is a member of the Lutheran church, in whose faith he has conscientiously reared his children.
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.