JOSEPH WEIRICH
The first German settlers of Noble township were Joseph Weirich, Henry Ackerman and Henry Schwarzenbach, with their families. They came from illinois in the fall of 1869, journeying overland, their household goods packed in their wagons.
Joseph Weirich settled on the northeast quarter of section 15, and resided there till September, 1884, when he removed to Griswold.
Joseph Weirich, the first German settler in Noble township, was born in the Province of Bavaria, Germany, March 29, 1821. He attended school from the age of six to fourteen years. At the age of fifteen he began mining. He was united in marriage, October 31, 1844, with Elizabeth Boher, also a native of Bavaria. He continued mining in his native country until 1846, when, accompanied by his wife, he emigrated to America, landing in New York June 11th, of that year. They remained in that city with friends, one year, then went to Schuykill county, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in the coal mines and lived there four years, then removed to Columbia county, of the same State, and there engaged in mining some years, when he removed to Illinois, and settled in Eagle township, La Salle county, where he, having but little money, bought land on time. He commenced building a log house, but before its completion, he was taken sick, and the family lived in it for one and a half years without a roof. When he finally regained his health, he purchased coal in the ground, paying for the same one cent per bushel, and engaged in mining. In war times coal was high and he made, with the assistance of his boys, from four to twenty-five dollars per day, thus accumulating money rapidly, enabling him to pay off the mortgage on his farm. His sons had carried on the farm while he was engaged in mining. They lived there a few years, when they sold the farm and bought another in Otter Creek township. At this time, on account of failing health, he abandoned mining and lived with his family on the farm. In 1869, he sold his place and come to Cass county. He purchased two hundred acres of unimproved land on section 15, township 74 north, 36 west, now known as Noble. The country about here was then unbroken prairie, with no houses or groves in sight. He at first built a small frame house, which he soon after enlarged, built a barn and planted a grove, making this his home until September, 1884, when he removed to Griswold, where he bought a house and lot and is now living in prosperity and comfort, reaping the reward of his past industry, surrounded by those things which make life desirable, and in the enjoyment of the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. His success in life is an example to young men, of what may be accomplished by honesty, industry and perseverance. Mr. and Mrs. Weirich have six children living -- V. Joseph, George, Henry, Frank, John and Peter.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 664-665.
