1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Leuck |
Densmore |
Pingel |
Kuhl |
Wieland |
T Schwery |
Fahn |
J Schwery |
Rueschenberg
It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legitimate and well-applied energy , unflagging determination and
perseverance in a course of action when once decided upon. She is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and she never courts the
loafer, and only the men who have diligently sought her favor are crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of the influential farmer
and representative citizen of Lincoln township, Shelby county, Iowa, whose name forms the caption of this review, it is plainly seen that the
prosperity which he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities and that it is his personal worth which has gained for him the high
esteem of those who know him.
Michael Leuck, the son of Frank and Maggie ( Cottonberger ) Leuck, was born on September 5, 1871, in Keokuk county, Iowa. His father
was a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in that country in 1834. He came to Keokuk county, Iowa, when a young man and
engaged in farming, to which vocation he devoted his time and attention until his death, in 1878.
His mother was also born in Germany, and after the death of her first husband married Peter Stiver, who is also deceased. She is now living
at Panama, Iowa.
Michael Leuck was one of seven children born to his parents, six of whom are still living. He received a good common school education in
the schools of Keokuk county and when twenty-three years of age started to work for himself upon the farm. He first rented land in Shelby
county and in 1898, the year before his marriage, he purchased one hundred and fiftynine acres of land in Lincoln township. With
characteristic German thrift and frugality he has prospered and now has a beautiful home and one of the most attractive farms in the county.
Since acquiring his farm, in 1898, he has placed eleven thousand dollars' worth of improvements upon it and has thereby greatly increased
its value. He believes in keeping fully abreast of the latest developments in agricultural science, is a wide reader of all literature bearing upon
successful agriculture and in this way has always secured the maximum retums from his efforts. While raising all of the crops common to
this section of the state, he has laid particular stress upon the raising of stock and has found this a very valuable adjunct to his regular
agriculttlral efforts.
Mr. Leuck was married in 1899 to Angie Griner, who was born in this county in 1878, and to this union have been born eight children,
Anna, Nicholas, John, Michael, Marie, Kathrine, Joseph and Frank. Joseph is deceased and all the rest of the children are still living with
their parents.
The political party which claimed Andrew Jackson for its founder and originator has always claimed the support of Mr. Leuck. He has
always been a great believer in good government, although not an active participant of his party. Religiously, he and the members of his
family are loyal adherents of the Westphalia catholic church and contribute generously of their time and substance to its support. Fraternally,
he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and is deeply interested in the work of that Catholic fraternity.
Mr. Leuck has attained his present success solely through his own unaided efforts, having started in life at the foot of the ladder and
gradually worked his way to the front. For this reason he is deserving of much credit for the fight he has made and the clean and
wholesome life which he has lived while making his struggle for pecuniary independence. Such men are a blessing to any community and
are the backbone of the nation which they honor and serve.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 809-811.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohls-Fuhs
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The career of George W. Densmore, of Defiance, Iowa, presents many interesting features. He is a man possessed of an unusual amount of energy and ability as is shown by the many different enterprises with which he is connected. He was a successful farmer for several years, later engaged in the real estate and insurance business with success in Defiance, and followed this by becoming the owner of the Defiance garage, the acquisition of an interest in a general mercantile establishment at Randolph, Iowa, and becoming the manager and vice-president of the Defiance Telephone Company. A man who can successfully combine so many activities deserves a great deal of credit and the financial standing of Mr. Densmore at the present time indicates that he has applied his energies in such a way as to bring him handsome returns. He not only has been active in the material advancement of his own interests and those of his city, but he has also taken a prominent part in the community life of the locality where he has spent the major portion of his life.
George W. Densmore, a son of Leroy and Lunetta (Green) Densmore, was born in Lee county, Illinois, June 11, 1874. His parents were both natives of New York state and came with their respective families to Illinois when they were young. Both received their education in Illinois, and after their marriage in that state located in Lee county. Leroy Densmore began firing on a railroad, and because of his recognized ability he was made an engineer and followed railroading in that capacity for several years. He then came to Shelby county, Iowa and purchased 120 acres of land in Union township, which he farmed for about 8 years, after which he sold this farm and moved to Defiance, where he bought a billiard hall, and later a threshing machine outfit. He disposed of his interests in both of these and invested the proceeds in a livery barn at Defiance, which he managed for a period of 8 years, after which he sold it and bought the hotel in Defiance, managing it for the next 3 years, when he disposed of the hotel and bought a farm in Nebraska, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1902, his widow surviving him until 1912. Leroy and wife were the parents of four children: Harry, George and 2 who died in infancy. Harry married Hazel Wells.
George W. Densmore was not of school age when his parents left Illinois, consequently received all of his education in the schools of Defiance, in this county. After leaving school he worked upon the farm for his father for a few years, and upon his marriage in 1900, he moved to Nebraska and rented a farm for several years. He then returned to Union township, this county, and rented a farm for a short time, after which he bought 80 acres of land and lived on it for 2 years, when he sold this farm and bought 120 acres, but instead of moving on the farm, he went to Defiance and engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business. Later he became the owner of the Defiance garage and is now conducting this in a successful manner. The garage is equipped with the latest tools and machinery for all kinds of automobile repairing and the large number of automobiles in this section of the county insure him plenty of repair work at all times. In addition to being the owner of this garage he also is the manager and vice-president of the Defiance Telephone Company, a co-operative company which has 225 subscribers. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Densmore has a share in a general merchandise store at Randolph, this state, although he is not actively connected with the store.
Mr. Densmore was married in 1900 to Hattie Miller, the daughter of John and Fannie Miller, and to this union have been born 3 children: Forest, Milton, and Dorothy. His wife's parents are now living a retired life in Defiance, having spent most of their lives in Iowa. Mr. & Mrs. Miller are the parents of 4 children: Lee, May, Ethel, and Hattie. Mr. Densmore and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Defiance, and take an active interest in all the activities of their church, contribution liberally of their means to its support.
Mr. Densmore is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and takes an active interest in the work of these fraternal organizations. He is an independent voter and casts his ballot for men whom he believes will give the best service. In doing this he feels that he is best doing his duty as a public spirited citizen, and it is gratifying to note that an increasingly large number of men every year are following his example in this respect. Mr. Densmore is a man who has no one but himself to congratulate for the success which he has made in life, having started in on his own resources and attained his present position of pecuniary independence solely through his own efforts. He is a man who is well liked by everyone who knows him and well worthy of representation in the history of this county.
Footnote from Contributor: George continued to have more children after this publication: George Washington Densmore, Leo Wilbur (my dad), Dean Elton, and Donald Eugene. George (the elder) died 1 Dec 1959 and Hattie died 1932. They are buried in the Union Township Cemetery.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1484.
Contributed by: Diane Densmore
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One of the most prominent bankers and business men of Shelby county, Iowa, is Nicholas V. Kuhl, cashier of the German Savings
Bank, of Earling. He comes of German parentage, his parents being among the early settlers of this county.
The first bank in Earling was established in 1890 and was a private bank owned by J. F. Huntoon, and known as the Bank of
Earling. In 1892 the bank was incorporated under the state law and rechristened the German Savings Bank, of Earling. The
original stockholders were P. J. Korth, J. F. Huntoon, J. H. Kuhl, J. C. Heese, August Schnuettegen, Fred Scheel and Wenzel
Hahn. Some of the original incorporators are still residents of Earling and continue to be interested in the bank, while others have
moved away or passed to their reward. The bank is located in a locality peopled largely by citizens of German birth and parentage,
from which fact the bank gets its name. From the thrifty habits of these same sturdy Germans comes the large patronage which
the bank enjoys. At the present time its deposits aggregate more than two hundred thousand dollars with gross assets of more
than two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The growth of this and other banks in the county is a thoroughly good index to
the prosperity which has come to the people of the county. In 1896 the deposits in this bank averaged about forty thousand
dollars, so it can be seen that they have increased five-fold since that time. This bank owns its own building in which all the
accessories necessary to safe and successful banking are installed. The present officers are as follows: P. J. Korth, president; J. C.
Heese, vice-president; Nicholas V. Kuhl, cashier. The first charter of the bank expired in 1912, but it was at once renewed and the
bank is now enjoying a period of prosperity which speaks well for its future career.
Nicholas V. Kuhl, the son of Joseph H. and Mary (Finken) Kuhl, was born August 11, 1873, in Mills county, Iowa. Joseph Kuhl was
a son of Matthew and Margaret (Glason) Kuhl, both natives of the Rhine province in Germany, and early settlers in Fond du Lac
county, Wisconsin, where they located in the early forties. Eight children were born to Matthew Kuhl and wife: Joseph, Peter,
Michael, Matthew, Nicholas, Margaret and Lena. Joseph Kuhl was married January 9, 1870, to Mary Finken, the daughter of
Matthew and Katherine (Gans) Finken, and to this union were born ten children, Kate, Nicholas, John, Mary, Michael, Edward,
Anna, Clara, Joseph and Matthew. Kate is the wife of J. J. Weiland; John married Mary Scheuring; Mary is the wife of Chris
Weiland; Michael married Minnie Tucker; Edward married Rella Faus; Anna is the wife of John Foxhoven; Clara is unmarried
and is living with her mother; Joseph and Matthew died in childhood.
Joseph H. Kuhl was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and when a young man his parents moved to Mills county, Iowa,
where he farmed with his father. After his marriage he rented a farm for two years and then moved to Shelby county, arriving
here in the summer of 1872. Upon coming to this county Joseph H. Kuhl purchased a farm of eighty acres in Westphalia township,
and by thrift and economy increased his land holdings to two hundred and forty acres. He was the first postmaster at Westphalia
and later became the first postmaster at Earling. He served as county supervisor for two terms and as county treasurer for three
terms. For a number of years he was the agent for the Milwaukee Land Company and had charge of all of their land sales from
Council Bluffs to Manning, Iowa. He was probably the most prominent man in the county during the early days of its history and
never failed to give his best efforts to the advancement of his adopted county.
Nicholas V. Kuhl attended the Catholic school at Westphalia and later at Earling. After leaving school he farmed with his father
until he was twenty-one years of age, and then attended a business college for two years. Upon leaving the business college he
became a clerk in the German Savings Bank of Earling, and in October, 1902, was elected cashier of the bank, a position which he
has since held. He has demonstrated his fitness to fill this position by his genial manner and well recognized ability and has won
the confidence of the patrons of the bank.
Mr. Kuhl was married June 15, 1897, to Katherine Kelleher, the daughter of John Kelleher, and to this union have been born
three children: Marie, Edmund and Leona. Mrs. Kuhl's parents were born in Ireland and were early settlers of Audubon county,
Iowa, where her father was a section foreman on the Rock Island railroad. Mrs. Kuhl's father died in March, 1900, while Mr.
Kuhl's father passed away April 2, 1900. Eight children were born to John Kelleher and wife, Elizabeth, Ellen, Alice, Kate, Nora,
Julia, Dennis and Jeremiah.
Politically, Mr. Kuhl is a Democrat and has always been active in local politics. He has served as councilman and mayor of Earling
and in both capacities rendered faithful and efficient service to his fellow citizens. The family are all devout members of the
Catholic church. Mr. Kuhl is the Grand Knight of the Earling Council of Knights of Columbus.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 723-725.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Click photo to enlarge
One of the earliest settlers of Shelby county, Iowa, was Peter J. Pingel, a native of Holstein, Germany, and a resident
of this county for the past forty-two years. Coming to this country when he was a young man, he came to Shelby
county, Iowa, in 1872, and located in Fairview township, where he has since resided. He was one of the first settlers in
this township, and during his long years of residence in this community has been active in furthering the interests of
his township in every way possible.
Peter J. Pingel, the son of Claus Pingel, was born in Germany, December 31, 1845, and was educated in his native
land. His father was born in Germany in 1796 and died in his native land in 1868. He worked on his father's farm in
Germany until 1866, and in that year came to America and first located in Davenport, Iowa, where he worked on the
farms near the city for four years. He then rented a farm for two years near the .city of Davenport, but desiring to have
a farm of his own, he and his brother, John, went on a prospecting trip to Shelby county, where they had heard there
was good land to be had at a low rate. They bought eighty acres in Fairview township in partnership for nine dollars an
acre and farmed this tract together until 1877. Then Peter married and the land which they owned, having accumulated
to two hundred and eighty acres by that time, was divided between them. Mr. Pingel has placed all of the
improvements which are at present on the farm, including a fine country home, excellent barns and other outbuildings.
He has planted many trees of various kinds, which adds much to the general appearance of the farm as well as to Its
comfort and value. He has an abundance of apples, peaches, pears, cherries and all kinds of small fruits. He is
fortunate in having a stream of running water on his farm, and this facilitates the raising of live stock, a feature of his
farming operations to which he has paid particular attention. He raises thoroughbred Polled Angus cattle, Duroc
Jersey hogs and Clydesdale and Percheron horses. In years past he has milked as many as thirty or more cows, and
shipped milk to Council Bluffs. As new machinery was placed on the market he added it to his equipment and has
always kept fully abreast of , everything which lightens the burdens of the farmer and at the same time enables him to
get better returns for his labor. Mrs.Pingel formerly raised hundreds of chickens every year.
Mr. Pingel was married on November 7, 1877, to Gertrude Meier, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Meier, who
was born in Germany, coming to the United States in 1867 with her parents when a small girl. Mr.
Pingel and wife are the parents of fifteen children: August, Ludwig, Nora, Bertha, Peter, Willie, Nellie, Rudolph,
Hugo, Ida, Martha, Lillie, Walter, Herbert and Franz. Mr. Pingel has always been a firm believer in the value of a good
education and has given all of his children the best educational advantages he could afford. Two of his daughters are at
present teachers in the public schools of the county and two are attending the high school.
Mr. Pingel was a school director for several years in Fairview and Shelby townships and while in this office did
everything he could for the advancement of education. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church
at Shelby.
As one of the pioneers of the county, Mr. Pingel has seen its growth from a trackless prairie region to its present
prosperous condition. In this transformation he has taken an active part for more than two score years, and the fact that
his township ranks high among the other townships of the county is due in a large measure to the efforts of such men
as Mr. Pingel.
His support has always been given to every measure which would benefit his community in any way. Being a man of
honesty of purpose and strict integrity, his influence has been no small factor in making the township what it is today.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 976-978.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Among the many citizens of German ancestry who have made their home in Shelby county, none has
proven more worthy of the success which the practice of thrift has brought them than Chris Wieland,
the proprietor of one hundred and sixty acres in Union township. He is a man who has never permitted
obstacles to stand in his way, while at the same time he has been watchful of the interests of the
township and county in which he resides.
His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable
methods which he has followed have won him the unbounded confidence of his neighbors, and all those
with whom he has had dealings.
Chris Wieland, the son of John and Mary (Neppes) Wieland, was born in Winnesheik county, Iowa, March
30, 1875. His father was born in Belgium and his mother in Ohio, his father coming to this country
at the age of nineteen and locating in New York state. John Wieland worked by the day for about a
year in the state of New York, and then traveled over the country, seeking a place to locate. His
wanderings finally brought him to Shelby county, Iowa, and for six months he lived in Westphalia,
later moving to Harlan, where he was engaged in business for twelve years. In 1887 he disposed of
this business and moved to a farm in Union township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres
and farmed it successfully until 1902, when he retired from active work and moved to Earling, where
he and his wife are now living surrounded by all the comforts and conveniences of modern life. John
Wieland and wife were the parents of seven children:
John, who was killed on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad by being run over by a train;
Frank and Maggie, who died in infancy; Katherine, the wife of Henry Schleier; Mary, the wife of John
Langenfeld; Jacob, who married Kate Kuhl, and Chris, whose history is here presented.
Chris Wieland received his education in the schools of Westphalia and Harlan and then completed his
schooling in Earling after his parents moved to that place. He was twelve years of age when his
father moved to the farm in Union township, and his whole life since that time has been spent upon
the same farm. His father retired to Earling in 1902, and since that time he has taken active charge
of the farm, managing it in such a way as to produce excellent results.
Mr. Wieland was married November 28, 1899, to Mary Kuhl, and to this union have been born four
children: Iva, Arthur, Julius and John, all of whom are with their parents.
Mr. Wieland is allied with the Democratic party, but has never been active in political affairs,
preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his agricultural interests. He and his family
are earnest members of the Catholic church and Mr. Wieland is actively identified with the Knights,
of Columbus, being a trustee in the council at the present time.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1492-1493.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Shelby County there are none who stand higher in the esteem of their fellow men than Theodore Schwery, the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and fifty-nine acres in Washington Township. Having lived in this county for the past quarter of a century he has seen it grow from a wide expanse of thinly settled terri-tory to its present prosperous condition and in this transformation he has borne no inconsiderable part.
Theodore Schwery, the son of Godfred and Margaret (Jemming) Schwery, was born October 16, 1870, in LaSalle County, Illinois. His father was born in Switzerland, educated in Germany and then began a sea-faring life with his father who had a small freighter on the Mediterranean Sea and carried goods between the various ports bordering the sea. When still a voting man Godfred came to this country, located in Louisiana and found employment as a fiat-boatman on the Mississippi river. A few years later he located in LaSalle County, Illinois, where he worked for some years as a farm hand and then bought a small farm. He continued to reside in Illinois until 1880 when he came to Shelby county and purchased a farm in Westphalia township. He and his wife died only two days apart, he passing away on February 12, 1914, and his wife two days before. They were the parents of five children: Theodore, whose history is here recorded; John, who married Mary Schmitz; Susan, the wife of Joseph Leuschen; Melcher, who married Matilda Schomer (deceased), and then Theresa Klein; and Godfred, who married Dessie Miller.
Theodore attended the schools of LaSalle county, Illinois, for three years and then was in school for five or six years after his parents moved to Shelby County. After leaving school he remained upon the home farm until his marriage in 1893 and then rented a farm from his father for a few years. Eventually he was able to buy a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Westphalia Township on which he lived for Seventeen years. He then bought his present farm of three hundred and fifty-nine acres, on which he is making some very extensive improvements. He is now erecting a beautiful home and another large and commodious barn and intends to make his farm as near up-to-date as he can. He has always been an exponent of the most advanced methods of agriculture and is justly regarded as one of the best farm-ers in the county.
Mr. Schwery was married April 26, 1893, to Mary Foxhoven, the daughter of John and Katherine (Karll) Foxhoven. To this union there have been born nine children: Katherine, Bertha, Anthony, Isadore, Louis, Lawrence, Agnes, John and William. The latter two are deceased while the rest of the children are still living with their parents.
The Foxhoven family came from Germany, John Foxhoven coming here with his parents when he was thirteen years of age; his wife, Katherine Karll, being ten years of age when her parents landed in this country. Both families settled in Johnberg, Wisconsin, and in that place John Foxhoven and his future wife attended school together. On reaching maturity they married and he began to work in the pineries of Wisconsin. In 1874 he came with his family to Shelby County, bought a farm in Lincoln Township, lived upon it twenty-eight years and then retired early in 1902 to spend the remainder of his days enjoying the fruits of his industry. To John Foxhoven and wife were born thirteen children: Bartholomew, who married Philomena Xiemeier; Anna, the wife of John Pimple; Peter, who married Eva Schmitz; Joseph. Deceased: William who married Anna Engle; Anthony, who married Emma Mevers; Mary, the wife of Mr. Schwery; Louis, who died in infancy; Bertha who died at the age of twenty-two; Christina, the wife of Stephen Lefeber; John who married Anna Kuhl; Katherine, the wife of Ralph Kirkpatrick; and Michael, who married Mary Jacoby.
Mr. Schwery and all his family are loyal members of the Catholic church.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1362-1364.
Contributed by: Dennis Walsh
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Agriculture has always been an honorable occupation, and at the present time the agricultural output of the United States is more than equivalent to the total output of all the factories of the country put together. There is one feature in the life of the farmer which distinguishes it from any other occupation, and that is his ability to exist independently of every other occu-pation. The merchant, the banker and the manufacturer all depend absolutely upon the farmer's crops. A famine throughout this country would bankrupt the strongest merchant, wreck the largest bank and close the most extensive factory. Business men can see their business collapse within a week, but nothing short of an earthquake can ruin the farmer. A panic may sweep the manufacturer out of business over night, but the farmer can survive when every other industry falls. Therefore, the farmer is the backbone of the nation, and he who makes two blades of grass grow where one formerly grew is performing the most useful mission of man. Shelby county farmers are as good tillers of the soil as can be found anywhere in the world, and their history is largely the history of the material advancement of the county. Among Shelby County's many excellent farmers John A. Schwery is de-serving of recognition as one of the progressive agriculturists of Westphalia Township.
John A. Schwery, the son of Godfred and Margaret (Jemming) Schwery, was born in LaSalle County, Illinois, September 10, 1873. His father was a native of Switzerland and his mother of Luxembourg, Germany, and they came to the United States several years before their marriage. Godfred Schwery was educated in Switzerland and after leaving school worked on a farm until he came to this country, at the age of twenty-three. He located in Illinois, and worked as a farm hand for ten years, during which time he married and began to farm for himself. In 1880 he sold the farm which he had previously bought in LaSalle county, Illinois, and brought his family to Shelby county. Iowa, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He farmed this for four or five years and then sold it and bought the farm on which his son, John A., is now living. He remained on this farm until 1901, when he bought a farm near Panama, this county, on which he lived until his death, which occurred February 12, 1914, his wife having died two days previously. Godfred Schwery and wife were the par-ents of five children: Theodore, who married Mary Foxhoven: John A., with whom this narrative deals; Susan, the wife of Joseph Leuschen: Mel-chier, who first married Matilda Schomer, and after her death, Theresa Klein, and Fred, who married Bessie Miller.
John A. Schwery finished the course in the public schools at Westphalia, then entered St. Mary's College at St. Mary's, Kansas where he re-mained in attendance for two years. He then returned home and assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years old, when he rented a farm from his father in Washington township on which he lived for three years, after which he rented the farm which he bought in 1907. This farm comprised one hundred and sixty acres and to this he added thirty-five more acres in 1913 giving him a total acreage of one hundred and ninety-five acres. Besides his general farming, Mr. Schwery is engaged in the breeding of high grade stock and the feeding of them for the market. His farming operations have been so uniformly successful as to entitle him to rank among the best farmers of his community.
Mr. Schwery was married November 20, 1898, to Mary Schmitz, the daughter of Adam Schmitz and wife. The history of Adam Schmitz, which appears elsewhere in this volume, gives the family history of Mrs. Schwery To this union have been born eight children, seven of whom are single and still living with their parents: Margaret, Joseph, Leo, Arthur, Henry, Urban, deceased; Lydia and Bernetta.
The democratic party has always appealed to Mr. Schwery and to it he gives his hearty support at all times. He has served as township assessor.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1470-1472.
Contributed by: Dennis Walsh
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The German farmers of Shelby county outnumber those of any other foreign country and in some of the townships constitute a majority of the population. Without exception these German farmers are thrifty and substantial men of affairs and have become worthy citizens of their adopted country. One of the many German farmers of Grove township is Joseph Fahn, who by the exercise of his abilities, has accumulated a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of the best land in the county. As a farmer he keeps thoroughly abreast of the times and his farm is one of the best equipped and most productive farms of the county.
Joseph Fahn, the son of Peter and Katherine (Brown) Fahn, was born March 15, 1873, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. His parents were both natives of Germany, his father's birth having occurred in Bavaria, and his mother's in the Rhine Province. Peter Fahn worked on a farm in his native land until he was old enough to join the German army and then enlisted and served the full time required of every German male. After leaving the army he resumed farming until 1855, when he married and came to America and located at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where he worked as a farm hand until the opening of the Civil War. He then enlisted in Company A, Seventeenth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served for four years. He had a distinguished record in the Civil War and while he had many narrow escapes, yet he never failed to be with his regiment for duty.
After the close of the war Mr. Fahn returned to Wisconsin and worked at farm labor for a few years. He then bought a small farm in Wisconsin on which he lived until 1873. In the latter year he came to Shelby county, Iowa, with his family and located in Grove township, where he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. By hard work and good management he increased his land holdings until he was the owner of three hundred and five acres at the time he retired in 1894. He is now making his home with his daughter, Mrs. A. Assman, in Grove township. His wife died in 1895, at Earling, Iowa, leaving her husband and six children, Mary, Anna, Katie, Emma, Rosa and Joseph, to mourn her loss.
Joseph Fahn received his education in the common schools of Grove township, and after leaving school assisted his father in the work on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He then rented land from his father two years, and upon his marriage his father gave him eighty acres of land on which to establish a home of his own. Being a very progressive young man he made the best of his opportunities, and within a few years owned a half section of the best land in Grove and Washington townships. He has made extensive improvements upon his land and now has one of the most beautiful country homes in the county. His barns and outbuildings are equal to the best and everything about the place speaks the thriftiness of its owner. He feeds most of his grain to hogs and cattle and markets one hundred and twenty-five head of hogs annually.
Mr. Fahn was married in 1899 at Westphalia, Iowa, to Margaret Leenan, the daughter of Henry and Thresia Leenan, and to this union seven children have been born, all of whom are still living with their parents, Lawrence, Leo, Albert, Edmund, Mildred, Hilda and Leonard.
Mrs. Fahn's parents were natives of Germany and came to this country in an early day and were among the first who located in Dubuque county, Iowa. They remained there for some years and then moved to Shelby county and located in Lincoln township, where they bought a farm on which they lived until a few years ago. They then moved to Earling where they are now living. They are among the most highly respected and honored citizens of the county, and have always been stanch members of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Leenan are the parents of fourteen children, of whom ten are living.
Mr. Fahn and his family are all devout members of the Catholic church and are greatly interested in everything pertaining to its welfare. Politically, Mr. Fahn is identified with the Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for any public office. He has preferred to devote his energies to the development of his farm. He is a man of genial manner and has won a host of friends throughout the community because of the clean and wholesome life which he lives.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 745-747.
Contributed by: Dennis Walsh
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Joseph Rueschenberg, the son of Frank and Theresa (Hense) Rueschenberg, was born January 10, 1841, in Westphalia, Germany. His father was a farmer in Germany and had a small farm of thirty-three acres, on which he lived until his death in 1862, his widow passing away two years later. Frank Rueschenberg and wife were the parents of five children: Peter, John, Joseph, Frank and Lazetta. All of the children are deceased now except Joseph and Peter, the latter living on the old homestead in Germany at the advanced age of ninety-seven.
He had married in 1867 and in 1874 he severed all old ties, gathered together his belongings and came to this country with his family. He came direct to Shelby county, Iowa, and settled in Westphalia, his family being the first to locate in the town. He opened a grocery store and at the same time followed his trade as a shoe maker. He continued this dual line of activity for three years and then traded his store for a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the immediate vicinity of the town. He was a successful farmer from the beginning and in the course of time became the possessor of three hundred and twenty acres in this county and one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota. He continued farming for seventeen years and then bought a general merchandise store at Westphalia, which he managed for the next thirteen years. He then traded the store for land and retired from active work, although still maintaining his home in Westphalia.
Mr Rueschenberg was married October 17, 1867, to Josephine Sasse, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sasse, of Germany. To this union there have been born eleven children: Frank, who married Mary Ruden; Robert, who married Kate Mumchrad; Joseph, who married Edith Hinrichs; Ernest, who married Nell Corbett; Christenia, the wife of Albert Mages; Bertha, the wife of Frank Gross; Annie, the wife of Frank Mages; Elizabeth, the wife of John Bloom; Clara, single; and two who died in infancy. The mother of these children was born December 26, 1844, and died March 10, 1914.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 764-765.
Contributed by: Dennis Walsh
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