IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.

Pahlas

Fred Pahlas for the past five years has been retired from active cares, his residence being at Elkader. The competence which he has acquired for old age was made by years of hard and earnest labor, for he was long numbered among the enterprising and industrous farmers of Clayton County, and now he is enjoying the fruits of his former toil surrounded by comforts nad many of the luxuries of life. His success is well merited as he commenced life as a poor man and persistently and bravely has fought its battles, becoming victorious. He has money invested in various enterprises and is the owner of considerable land in this vicinity. In all local affairs he has been interested and active, being especially identified in securing good roads and educational facilities.

A native of Germany, the birth of Mr. Pahlas occurred in 1822, and his father, whose Christian name was Peter, passed his entire life in the Fatherland. The boyhood of our subject was passed in his native land, and in his mother tongue he secured a good education. He continued to reside in Germany until he was thirty years of age, when he decided to try his fortunes in the New World; accordingly in 1852 he bade adieu to the scenes and friends of his youth and after many weeks on the briny deep landed at his destination, New York City. Going to the coal regions of Pennsylvania he settled at Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, where he was employed i the coal industry for five years. Learning of the opportunities afforded in the west to an ambitious and industrious young man he started for Iowa in 1857, becoming the owner of land in Clayton County. He improved and operated a large farm successfully until 1889, when he found that he had acquired a sufficient fortune to last him during the remainder of his years, and he then retired, making his home in Elkader, where he has a pleasant residence.

In 1852 occurred the marriage of Mr. Pahlas and Amelia Scholse, a native of Germany, and to them were born seven children, three of whom are living: Henry; Amelia, who is the wife of William Schulte; and Sarah, who is the wife of John Miller. The children have all recieved good school advantages and have been reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, of which their parents are members. In regard to politics Mr. Pahlas uses his ballot and influence in support of the Democratic party. For over forty years Mrs. Pahlas has been a devoted and faithful helpmate to her husband along the journey of life, and has ably seconded his efforts for aquiring a competence, and in every other way has endeavored to cheer and aid him. They are both much respected early settlers of Clayton County, in whose welfare they have always taken great interest and have been important factors in its growth and progress. Mr. Pahlas has endeavored in his life to follow the teaching of the Golden Rule and has been strictly exact and just in all his business dealings with his fellows. He possesses the characteristics which are so often found in the sturdy Germans, uprightness of purpose, thrift and industry in business affairs. He is truly a self-made man, as when he landed in America he was almost entirely without capital and has only arrived at his present condition of prosperity through years of hard and unwearied toil.

source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 183-184
-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall

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