The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
HENRY ENGELHORN.
Henry Engelhorn, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of Allamakee county, is a native of the county and was born on the farm he now occupies, June 13, 1875. He is a son of Mathias Engelhorn, a native of Germany, who was brought to America by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Engelhorn. They were among the early settlers of Lansing township, residing for many years upon a farm adjoining the ])lace now owned by the subject of this review. Mathias Engelhorn grew to manhood there and afterward engaged in farming on his own account, purchasing two hundred acres of land slightly improved. The old log house which he erected upon his holdings still stands but he later built a larger frame dwelling, now occupied by his son. The father died upon this farm April 16, 1896. He had been twice married. His first wife was in her maidenhood Miss Margaret Schmidt, by whom he had three children : Abraham, who makes his home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin ; Sam, who died in Oregon ; and George, who passed away when he was a child. A'lathias Engelhorn's second wife was Miss Dora Westphal, a native of Germany, who died at the home of her son on the 7th of March, 191 1. She was the mother of six children: Henry, the subject of this review; Elizabeth, the wife of Theodore lieyer, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Bertha, who married J. W. Wendel, of Lansing township; Emma, who died in childhood; Annie, the wife of Ben Decker, of Church, Iowa; and Sophia, the deceased wife of William Mueller, of Davenport, Iowa.
Henry Engelhorn spent his childhood on his father's farm, dividing his time between his studies at the district school and the work upon the homestead. Having been reared upon a farm, he naturally turned to agricultural pursuits for a life work and after the death of his father purchased the interests of the other heirs to the property and assumed the ownership and control. He owns two hundred and twenty-two acres on sections 31 and 32, Lansing township, a valuable property with good improvements all made by himself and his father. He is a practical and progressive agriculturist and his well directed labors have been rewarded by a substantial degree of success, placing him among the men of prominence in this community.
On the 23d of December, 1902, Mr. Engelhorn married Miss Frances Spieler, a daughter of Jacob Spieler, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Engelhorn became the parents of three children : Clarence, who died in infancy; and Walter and Oscar. The parents are members of the Congregational church.
Mr. Engelhorn is one of the well known men of this township, where his entire life has been spent and where his upright and honorable qualities of character and his genuine personal worth are known and honored. A republican in his political lieliefs, he has never sought to figure prominently in public life but in business has proven capable and reliable, and his intense and well directed activity is now bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity.
Source: Past and present of Allamakee County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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