HERMAN C. BACKHAUS
Herman C. Backhaus and family (see below) Herman C. Backhaus, a general farmer of Lincoln township and identified also with various business interests at Manly, is recognized as a man of sound judgment and enterprise whose well directed efforts are bringing to him gratifying and substantial success. He is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Garnavillo township, Clayton county, on the 22d of November, 1871, his parents being Carl and Catherine (Walker) Backhaus. His boyhood days were spent in his native county and he acquired his education in its public schools. When twenty-four years of age he came to Danville township, Worth county, and settled on a farm owned by his father, comprising two hundred acres of land. This he operated for a year, after which he removed to his present farm in Lincoln township, situated on section 19. It is a tract of two hundred acres of land which his father had previously purchased. Mr. Backhaus at once began to till the soil and develop his fields and upon the farm from time to time has erected new buildings, adding every modern improvement and equipment that is to be found upon the model farm of the twentieth century. He has also put in one thousand rods of tile and his efforts have greatly enhanced the productiveness of his place, which is today one of the well improved farm properties of the county. He displays sound judgment in all that he undertakes and aside from farming he has extended his efforts into various other lines, becoming a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank of Manly, a director of the Farmers Creamery Company at Manly, a director of the Manly Lumber Company and also of the Manly Grain Company. These various connections also contribute in substantial measure to his growing prosperity.
On March 5, 1886, Mr. Backhaus was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Mueller, a daughter of Diedrich Mueller. Mrs. Backhaus was a native of Garnavillo, Iowa, and died in 1900, leaving two children: Adeline, who died at the age of seventeen years; and Erwin, now eighteen years of age. In 1904 Mr. Backhaus was again married, his second union being with Miss Lillian Stoecker, a daughter of George and Catherine (Mettler) Stoecker. Her father was engaged in the butchering business at Elgin, Illinois, where Mrs. Backhaus was born. Later he removed to Clayton county, Iowa, where he engaged in the raising of cattle and in farming. To the second marriage of Mr. Backhaus have been born two children, Herbert and Frederick.
The parents are members of the German Evangelical church of Manly. In politics Mr. Backhaus does not ally himself with any party, maintaining an independent course, yet he is much interested in activities and movements relating to the general welfare. Especially is he known as a stalwart champion of the cause of public education and has been president of the school board and probably done more for the advancement of the school interests of his vicinity than any other man. In 1916 he was instrumental in remodeling a school building and in erecting another and in 1917 built five schools. He recognizes that public education is one of the bulwarks of the nation and he puts forth every effort in his power to provide the children with such opportunities as will well qualify them for life's practical and responsible duties.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 612 & 615
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, August 8, 2006
