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.
JOHN HENRY REIPE.
Hon. John Hknrv Rr.ii-K has Ix-en favored with public honors to a greater extent, i)erha|)s. than any other citizen of
Flint River township. The various offices of trust all came to him as a favorite of the party and the people, and his great pop- ularity is due to his ability, integrity, and reliability.
He is a son of Albert and Henry Anna .Maria llserbrand (Reipe), of West Pha- len, Prussia, Germany, where his birth occurred Jan. 7, 1836. The parents moved to Niagara county. New York, in 1851, where they remained till 1854, when they started West, and chose Burlington, Iowa, as their future residence. He owned a farm of forty acres in Section 3, Flint River township, and resided on the same till his death, which occurred Nov. 15, 1877. He had been married twice, his first wife, mother i_)f our subject, dying in Germany in 1846. .About a year after this Mr. Reipe married Miss Catherine Woehrheide, also of Germany.
Hon. John Reipe received a thorough education in German in the land of his I)irth. attending the common schools, and upon his arrixal in New York his father sent him to learn the English language in the county schools of Niagara county. He remained with his parents on their farm till 1861, wluii he ijought forty acres of land in Section 10, and later added more to it, until now he owns about one hundred and five acres in Sections 3 and ID, in I'lint l\i\er township. He has made many imjirovements on the ])lace, and has one of tiie most comfortable homes in the county. He raises a few head of stock, and farms the greater j)art of his large farm with good results.
In politics Mr. Reipe has always been of ihe old school, and one who has ac- complished much for the jiarty of his choice, as well as for the townshij). He
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first Ijeg'an his political career in 1862, as road supervisor, which office he held for many years, and in 1880 he was elected clerk and served for fourteen consecu- tive years. He was twice elected to the office of justice of the peace, served sev- eral terms as assessor of the township, and at present is the faithful secretary of the school board. He has filled all of these several offices of trust with great care and to the entire satisfaction of his party and the people in general. In 1881 he assisted to organize the German Mu- tual Fire Association of Des Moines county, and was elected treasurer and ap- praiser of the company, which positions he still fills with justice to all and credit to himself.
In 1862 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. John Henry Reipe and Miss Julia Anna Bruer, daughter of Frederick and Carolina (Zerling) Bruer. By this union twelve children were born, eight of whom are now living. Three died in infancy, and Paulina, who married H. Fink, died in mature years. Mr. and Mrs. Reipe have taken great interest to give their children good educations, and fit them for capable men and women. They are both prominent and worthy members of St. John's Evangelical church, in Flint River township, Avhere Mr. Reipe has been the beloved deacon for forty years. He is a most enthusiastic and conscientious fol- lower of the teachings of his denomina- tion, and is always ready to do anything in his power to promote the church. Widely and favorably known in Des Moines county, he certainly deserves rep- resentation in this volume, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers his life record.
Source: Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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