The Arp Families of Scott County, Iowa

Peter Arp, a retired German farmer who has taken up his residence in Davenport, was born in Holstein, Germany, February 5, 1830, a son of Peter and Wipke Arp, both of whom spent their entire lives in the fatherland. The father was a tailor by trade. Peter Arp was about twenty years of age when he decided to come to America, the fame of whose opportunities had pierced the most remote corners of his native land. He disembarked at New Orleans after crossing the ocean and then took a boat up the Mississippi to Davenport. It was two months, however, before he reached his destination as quantities of ice in the river impeded their progress.

On the 9th of March, 1850, Mr. Arp landed in Davenport, where a sister was already living, she having come to this country in 1847. After his advent Mr. Arp obtained work in a brickyard and later secured employment upon a farm, by the month. He was industrious and frugal and after the expiration of a few years he was able to buy one hundred and twenty acres of prairie land in Sheridan township. In 1853 he married and that he and his wife might have a home he bought an old dwelling which he moved to his land, making it serve as a residence for a couple of years, or until he was able to put up a better structure. The land he had secured was in its pristine state and Mr. Arp had to break the soil before he could plant his grain. Nevertheless, it proved a valuable property for during the five years it was his place of residence it made him gratifying returns for his labors. When it was well improved he traded it for one hundred and sixty-five acres in Winfield township, about twelve miles from Davenport on the Dubuque road. It had a small house upon it and had been partly improved, but Mr. Arp brought it up to a higher state of cultivation and sold it after four years. He then returned to Sheridan township, where he owned a tract of fifty acres and rented some land from Benjamin Barr, on which they lived for a year. At the end of that time he removed to his fifty acre tract, added another fifty, built a house and made it his home for the next twenty-six years, or during the remainder of the time he was engaged in the active pursuit of farming. During that period, however, he bought land as he was able and at one time owned more than half a section, and in addition to being successful he was also a conspicuous figure in the public life of Sheridan township, enjoying the good will of his associates. In October, 1892, he removed to Davenport.

On the 2d of September, 1853, Mr. Arp wedded Miss Minnie Fellener, a daughter of Earnhardt and Fredrica Fellener. She had come to this country from Germany when about nineteen years of age. Seven children were born unto the couple. Charles, now deceased, married Kathryn Roenfeldt and they had two children, Minnie and Charles. Emma became the wife of Henry Jarchow, "of Davenport, and they have two sons, Edward and William. Henry married Miss Louisa Petersen and lives in Minnesota, where he is rearing his two children, Mary and Paul. William married Miss Elizabeth Soil and lives upon the father's farm. They have two children, Walter and Viola. John married Miss Bertha Wiese and lives on the old homestead in Sheridan township. They have four children, Ella, Alfred, Elmer and Edward. Elizabeth became the wife of Henry Soil, of Davenport, and they have two children, Hugo and Edna. The other died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Arp celebrated their golden wedding on the 2d of September, 1903.

When he became a citizen of this country Mr. Arp decided to give his support to the democratic party and has since been stanch in his allegiance to it, being elected upon its ticket to the office of trustee of Sheridan township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

John Arp, who is engaged in general farming in Winfield township, owning one hundred and sixty acres of productive land on section 36, started out in business as a farm hand and was employed at breaking prairie. Gradually he has won success, however, and is now in comfortable financial circumstances. He was born in Holstein, Germany, October 19, 1838, and is a son of Peter and Wipke Arp. The father was a tailor in Germany and served with the army of that country, participating in the Napoleonic war. He remained a resident of Germany until after several of his children sought homes in the new world. The first of the family to come to the United States was his daughter Anna, who married Henry Bushna, and worked for Antoine LeClaire. Later his sons, Henry and Peter Arp, sought a home in the new world and in 1855 the father with the others of the family crossed the bring deep, landing at Galveston, Texas, whence they made their way to New Orleans and from that point up the Mississippi river to Davenport, being about three weeks in ascending the stream. The father never engaged in business after coming to the United States and both he and his wife died in this county

John Arp acquired his education in the schools of Germany and was a youth of seventeen years at the time of the emigration. After arriving in Scott county he secured employment as a farm hand and at breaking prairie, so that he soon became familiar with the arduous task of bringing land under cultivation for the first time. In 1862 he began farming on his own account, renting a place in Winfield township from Henry Armil, constituting a part of the farm which is now his property. Later he bought eighty acres of land from Mr. Dow and subsequently purchased eighty acres from Mr. Armil, so that his holdings comprise a quarter section, which is a valuable and productive property. He has made all of the extensive improvements upon the place and the farm is lacking in none of the equipments and accessories usually found on a model farm of the twentieth century. Year by year he carefully tilled the fields but at a more recent date practically retired from farm work, employing others to till and cultivate the soil and harvest the crops, although he gives general supervision to all the work that is carried on.

On the 2d of May, 1864, Mr. Arp was united in marriage to Miss Sophia D. Vogt, a daughter of Carl W. and Mary Vogt, of Davenport, who came from Germany to Scott county in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Arp have become the parents of four children: Mary, the wife of William Fellener, by whom she has seven children — Anna, Alice, Nettie, Hattie, Helen, William and Mamie; Wilhelmina, the wife of William Mohr, of Sheridan township, by whom she has four children — Anna, Alfred, Elmer and Wilbert; Anna, the wife of Henry Gertz, of Eldridge, by whom she has two sons, Harvey and Darwin; and Johannes, at home, who wedded Rose Bluhm, by whom he has two daughters, Thelma and Corinne.

Mr. and Mrs. Arp hold membership in the Lutheran church and are well known in this community, where he has lived for fifty-five years, while his wife has been a resident of Scott county for forty-six years. His life has been one of untiring diligence, crowned with success and, though his start in life was a humble one, he has come to be recognized as one of the substantial, worthy and respected farmers of Winfield township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

William Arp, who owns a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-nine acres in Sheridan township, is one of Scott county's native sons, who derives a comfortable income, from tilling the soil. He was born in Walnut Grove, Butler township, Wpril II, 1863, his parents being Peter and Minnie (Fellener) Arp. The father was for a long period identified with the agricultural life of Sheridan township but is now living retired in Davenport. He was born in Holstein, Germany, February 5, 1830, and is a son of Peter and Wiepke Arp, who spent their entire lives in the fatherland, where Peter Arp, Sr., worked at the tailor's trade. Our subject's father was about twenty years of age when he decided to come to America and after crossing the Atlantic disembarked at New Orleans, where he took a river boat to come to Iowa. He was two months ascending the Mississippi, however, as quantities of ice impeded progress, and on the 9th of March, 1850, he landed at Davenport, where a sister was already living, she having come to this state in 1847. After his arrival Mr. Arp secured employment in a brickyard and later obtained work as a farm hand, but he was frugal and industrious and in the course of a few years had saved enough to buy one hundred and twenty acres of prairie land in Sheridan township. In 1853 he married and that he and his wife

. AXT):rr!- wiLT.TAM.vrtr might have a home he bought an old dwelling which he moved to his land, making it serve for his residence until he was able to put up a better structure. The tract he had purchased proved to be rich and arable. He plowed the first furrow on that farm and during the five years it was his place of residence it gave him a gratifying return for his labors. After he had made a number of improvements upon the place he traded it for one hundred and sixty-five acres in Winfield township, about twelve miles from Davenport on the Dubuque road. That place had a small house upon it and some other improvements had been made, but Mr. Arp brought the land to a higher state of cultivation and after four years sold it, thereupon returning to Sheridan township, where he owned a tract of fifty acres and also rented some land from Benjamin Barr, on which he lived for a year. At the end of that time he removed to the fifty acres he owned, bought another fifty acres, built thereon a house, and there made his home for the next twenty-six years, or during the remainder of the time he was actively engaged in farming. In the meantime, however, he bought land as he was able, owning more than half a section at one period in his life, the extent of his landholdings indicating the success which attended his labors and the good management conspicuous in his business dealings. In addition to being a prosperous agriculturist he was also a man well known in his township, and the record of his official service was one that brought him the respect of his fellow citizens, when in October, 1892, he decided to retire and removed to Davenport.

Mr. Arp was married September 2, 1853, to Miss Minnie Fellener, a daughter of Earnhardt and Fredrica Fellener. She was born in Germany, emigrated to this country when about nineteen years of age, and through her marriage became the mother of seven children. Charles, now deceased, married Kathryn Runfeldt, and they had two children, Minnie and Charles. Emma became the wife of Henry Jarchow> of Davenport, and they have two sons, William and Jacob. Henry married Louisa Petersen and lives in Minnesota, where he is rearing his two children, Mary and Paul. William is the subject of this review. John, now living in Sheridan township, wedded Bertha Weise, and has four children, Ella, Alfred, Aileen and Edward. Elizabeth became the wife of Henry Soil, of Davenport, and they have two children, Edna and Hugo. The other died in infancy. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, while Mr. Arp gives stanch allegiance to the democratic party, and on its ticket was elected to the office of trustee of Sheridan township.

William Arp, whose name introduces this review, was about one year of age when his parents removed from Butler to Sheridan township, and in the latter township has spent the greater part of his life. He was a pupil in the school of district No. 6, and after he put aside his text-books engaged in farming with the intention of making it his means of livelihood. He remained with his father until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he married and, desiring to establish a home of his own, he bought the farm on which he now lives. It is a fine tract of one hundred and seventy-nine acres situated upon the Long Grove road in Sheridan township, on which Mr. Arp raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also has ample pasturage for the stock he raises and feeds in large quantities. He has ever been a man who is not only industrious and frugal but also ambitious and determined to make the best use of the opportunities that lie before him. That he has been successful beyond the average is indicated by the appearance of his property and the fact that he owns stock in the Eldridge Elevator Company.

On the 28th of January, 1891, Mr. Arp was united in marriage to Aiiss Eliza Soil, who was born in Davenport township, and is a daughter of Christian and Anna Soil. Her parents were natives of Holstein, Germany, and were numbered among the early German settlers of this section of Iowa, for her father came here when eighteen and her mother when a girl of nine years. They are now living in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Arp have had four children but the first two died in infancy. The others are: Walter, who was born January 4, 1895; and Viola, born October 2, 1897. Both are at home.

Mr. Arp has always given stalwart support to the democratic party and upon its ticket was elected to several offices of public trust, for he served as trustee of Sheridan township for three years as road supervisor for thirteen years and as school director for another long period, in each capacity performing his duties carefully and honorably, so that he has the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends, many of whom have known him from boyhood. He is well known in Eldridge and belongs to the Turners Society there.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

PAUL WILLIAM ARP.

Paul William Arp, a brother of Johannes A., was born in Davenport, January II, 1853, d was little more than an infant when his parents removed to the farm adjoining that on which he now lives. He assisted with the cultivation of the homestead until he was married when he engaged in farming for himself, purchasing the eighty acres of land he now owns. He has instituted all the improvements which adorn the place and in the cultivation of the fields displays the skill of the husbandman who is born as well as reared to his vocation. While not one of the larger tracts of land in Hickory Grove township, it may compare favorably with any as regards to fertility and the condition in which Mr. Arp maintains his fields and buildings. He is thrifty, industrious and progressive, and in consequence has won a well merited success from his farming.

In 1903 Mr. Arp was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wellendorf, who was born in Prepstei, Holstein, Germany, January 2, 1857. She came to America in 1901, reaching Davenport July 7 of that year, and there she joined her brother James Wellendorf, who is a resident of that city.

Mr. Arp is a representative of the sturdy German race whose unremitting toil has done so much toward developing the resources of Scott county, and of Hickory Grove township in particular to their highest degree. He enjoys the well earned esteem of his associates and fellow agriculturists. He is a democrat in his political preferences.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHANNES A. ARP.

Johannes A. Arp, one of the progressive agriculturists of Hickory Grove township, was born in Davenport, November 9, 1855, but removed, with his parents, to the farm he now operates shortly after his birth. His father, Timm Arp, was a native of Holstein, Germany, and there married Miss Bertha Arp, also a native of that province. Shortly after their marriage they embarked upon their journey to this country, crossing the ocean by the southern route and landing at New Orleans, whence they made their way up the Mississippi to Davenport, reaching the city some time in 1851. Here Mr. Arp followed his trade of a carpenter for a couple of years, assisting in the construction of several of the more important buildings, among them being the First Lutheran church. Later he engaged in farming in conjunction with his brother Jochim, upon a tract of two hundred and forty acres in Hickory Grove township, which they operated successfully for a number of years. Later they divided the property, half of it falling, in the course of time to the heritage of Johannes A. Arp, the subject of this sketch. In the family were five children: Paul WilUam, a sketch of whose life follows: Johannes A., the subject of this review; Henry Peter, of Glyndon, Minnesota; Caroline Magdaline, the wife of Levi Richard Bannister, of Hickory Grove township; and Ferdinand Theo, of Tea, South Dakota.

Johannes A. Arp has passed the greater part of his life upon the land he now cultivates. In his early years he assisted his father in the cultivation of its fields, even during the period when many boys give little thought to the serious responsibilities of life and are devoting all their time to school and lessons. When he married in 1879, he assumed full charge of the farm, which has since been his concern. The improvements which his father and uncle instituted upon the place, he has bettered, while he has, through care and skill, brought the fertility of the soil to its most productive state. He has been an earnest, industrious and thrifty farmer and is now in the enjoyment of an income which is a just recompense for his toil.

In 1 88 1 Mr. Arp married Miss Amelia Puck, likewise a native of Scott county and a daughter of Egger Puck. They have four children: Adolph, Emil,

Theo and Gustave. The eldest is residing in South Dakota, but the others are at home. After the death of his wife, Mr. Arp wedded Miss Dora Hansen, who was born in Schleswig, Germany, October 20, 1872. In 1891 she and a brother, Detlief, and a sister came to Davenport. The former is now a resident of North Dakota, and the latter is Mrs. Thomas Daily, of Davenport. A sister Maggie, who is the wife of John Westphal, of Davenport, and a brother Hans, now of Jackson county, Minnesota, had preceded Mrs. Arp to the United States, as they came in 1883. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Arp was celebrated November 6, 1906, and has been blessed with one son, Qifford.

Mr. Arp has given his unqualified support in political matters to the democratic party but has taken no active part in the public life of his community. He is, however, a man of considerable spirit and is deeply concerned for the welfare of his fellow citizens, whose respect and esteem he enjoys.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ADOLPH P. ARP.

Adolph P. Arp is well known as a leading stockman and farmer of Lincoln township, being the proprietor of the Lincoln Stock Farm, of two hundred and forty acres, situated on section 2. Here he has engaged in raising some of the finest stock that has been produced in the county and as proof of his business ability and enterprising spirit it has been cited that he has been actively connected with the promotion of several commercial interests of importance. He was born on the farm which is yet his home, December 7, 1875, and is a son of Detlef and Bertha (Weise) Arp, both of whom were natives of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the father's birth having there occurred January 1, 1831, while his wife was born on the 23d of March, 1838. Detlef Arp acquired his education in the schools of his native country and in his youthful days worked on his father's farm, but the favorable reports which he heard concerning America and its opportunities awakened in him a desire to seek his fortune on this side the Atlantic. Accordingly, when nineteen years of age, he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for New Orleans, whence he made his way up

S) the river to Davenport. After reaching Scott county he was employed in various ways, early securing a job on the Rock Island railway near Walcott. He was afterward employed as a farm hand and he also owned and operated a threshing machine, being engaged throughout the community to thresh the crops of the various farmers. About 1860 he and Claus Horst purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which constitutes a part of what is now the Lincoln Stock Farm. There they began keeping bachelor's hall while devoting their energies to the cultivation and improvement of the place. The land was productive praise, which they cultivated together for several years and during that time erected a number of substantial farm buildings on the place. Later Mr. Horst was married and the two men then divided their interests, each taking eighty acres. Mr. Arp then continued to live alone until March 2, 1868, when he was married and brought his bride to the farm which he had already cultivated for a number of years. Subsequently he purchased eighty acres of land adjoining from James Long and later bought the other eighty-acre tract from Mr. Horst, so that his farm embraced two hundred and forty acres. Year by year he carried on the work of the farm with gratifying success until 1899, when he retired and removed to Eldridge, where for ten years he made his home, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. There he died October 31, 1909. He was a member of the Turners Society of Eldridge, and there was also an interesting military chapter in his life record, for he was one of the veterans of the war of 1848-50 between Holstein and Denmark. For a year he had survived his wife, who died October 8, 1908. They were the parents of eight children: Claus, Johannes, Herman, Edward, William, Adolph, Emma and Emiel. All are deceased with the exception of our subject, Adolph P., who is the sixth in order of birth.

Adolph P. Arp has spent his entire life on the farm which is yet his home, so that he knows every acre upon the old place that is endeared to him through the memories of boyhood as well as the association of later years. He attended the district schools in his youth and supplemented his early training by a course in Duncan's Business College at Davenport and also by a course in the agricultural department of Ames College. Putting aside his text-books, he took up the active work of the farm, to which he has since devoted his energies, and in connection with the tilling of the soil he has always followed stock-raising, handling thoroughbred red polled cattle. He has learned how to best utilize time and effort so that substantial results follow his labors, and as he has met success in his undertakings he has extended his investments, becoming a stockholder in the Eldridge Savings Bank, the Eldridge Elevator, which is a farmers' elevator, and in the Scott County Mercantile Company at Davenport, of which he is one of the directors. He is a man of notable business ability and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

On the 29th of November, 1899, Mr. Arp was united in marriage to Miss Laura P. Schneckloth, a daughter of Thomas and Silka Schneckloth, who were early German settlers of this county. Her father was a little lad of seven years when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and became a resident of Iowa. He died June 7, 1902, at the age of fifty-eight years, and is still survived by his widow, who yet resides in Davenport. Mrs. Arp was born on her father's farm in Lincoln township and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Roma A. and Alvin D. Mr. and Mrs. Arp are hospitable people who always extend a cordial welcome to their many friends. They are both native citizens of Scott county and, having long resided here, have a wide circle of acquaintances. Mr. Arp is now filling the office of township clerk and has served in that capacity for several terms and also has served as president of the school board. He belongs to West View Grange, No. 2034, of which he is master, and is deeply interested in this organized effort to promote agricultural interests.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

That the rich soil of Iowa offers to the agriculturist possibilities unexcelled by any and unequaled by many another state in the Union, is proven in the fact that so many of her native sons who have been reared to farm life have, upon starting out to make their own way in the world, remained within her borders. This is true of Rudolph Arp, who was born on the place which is now his home, July 15, 1874, a son of Hans and Abel (Vieths) Arp, in whose family were the following named: Alvena, the wife of Henry Untiedt, a resident of Jackson county, Minnesota; Cecelia, the wife of Henry Stender, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Henry, a resident of New Liberty, Iowa; Agnes, the wife of George Dietz, of Manning, Carroll county, this state; Emma, the wife of Edward Puck, a resident of Cleona township; Minnie, the wife of Conrad Dietz, also of Manning; and Rudolph, of this review.

The last named, the youngest in the family, was reared on the home farm and acquired his education in the common schools. He is today the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land, forty acres of which constituted the old homestead farm upon which he was reared. On the farm are found two sets of buildings, some of which were erected by the father, while the others have been built by Mr. Arp of this review. He is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a close study of his work, so that he obtains the best results. He is likewise a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Walcott and in the Security Bank of Davenport.

Mr. Arp those as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Miss Louisa Schlichting, whom he wedded February 15, 1899. Mrs. Arp was born in Blue Grass township, Scott county, August 21, 1880, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Hoist) Schlichting, who were both natives of Schleswig, Germany, the former born January 23, 1836, while the latter's birth occurred on the 28th of November, 1834. The father was a little lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents to the new world, and the mother accompanied her parents to America in 1858, and two years later, in 1860, she was married to Thomas Schlichting. He became a well-to-do farmer, owning at the time of his death a section of land in Blue Grass township, this being divided into several farms. Unto him and his wife were born three daughters and three sons but the sons all died in infancy. The daughters are: Clara, the wife of Willie Soenke, a resident of Blue Grass township; Bertha, the wife of Louis Otto, of Davenport; and Louisa, the wife of Rudolph Arp. Both the parents are now deceased, the mother passing away December 11, 1899, at the age of sixty-five years, while the father, surviving for only about five years, departed this life November 14, 1904, when sixty-eight years old.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Arp have been born three sons and two daughters: Raymond, Hilda, Leona, Arthur and Rudolph. Both Mr. and Mrs. Arp have spent their entire lives in Scott county and are therefore well known in the section where they make their home. In his business dealings Mr. Arp is always found honorable and upright and he commands the respect and high regard of his fellow citizens.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY A. ARP.

Henry A. AVp, admitted to the bar in 1896, has practiced in Davenport since 1898 and has built up an extensive loan and mortgage business. As legal counselor he has been active in promoting the interests of various business concerns in this part of the state and in general practice has become known as a strong and able lawyer. He was born in this county. May 3, 1868, a son of Heinrich Arp, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1847, landing at New Orleans. He at once left the Crescent city, however, proceeding by boat up the Mississippi to Davenport. After a short time he took up his above in Davenport township, where he engaged in general farming for many years, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improvements to his place. He retired from active work a few years before his death, which occurred in 1895, when he had reached the age of seventy years. It was subsequent to his arrival in Scott county that he married Miss Caroline Fey, and unto them were born thirteen children, of whom nine are yet living. The mother had come to this county in her girlhood days from Germany with her father, William Fey, who was a respected and representative farmer in Davenport township in pioneer times, Heinrich Arp was also numbered among the worthy pioneer settlers whose labors had constituted an important element in bringing about the present prosperity and progress of the county. He never had occasion to regret his determination to come to America, for in the improvement of the opportunities here offered he won substantial success and enjoyed the friendship and regard of many of the residents of the community in which he established his home.

In the public schools Henry A. Arp mastered the elementary branches of learning and subsequently attended the Duncan Business College, receiving there a training which has been of value to him in his later connection with business affairs. Taking up the study of law, he completed a course in the law department of the Iowa State University in 1896 and opened an office at LeMars, where he practiced for two years. He then removed to Davenport and formed a partnership with A. J. Noth. For eight years they were associated and since that time Mr. Arp has been alone, conducting a successful practice in the conduct of various litigated interests. He is strong and resourceful in argument and in the presentation of his cause his deductions follow in logical sequence. He does not indulge in generalities but gives specific proof of his points, and is seldom, if ever, at fault in the application of a legal principle or a precedent. He is also conducting an extensive loan and mortgage business and he has assisted in organizing a number of country banks, which he represents in a legal capacity, these including banking institutions of Scott and adjoining counties.

On the 8th of April, 1897, Mr. Arp was married to Miss Clara C. Sindt, a daughter of Thies Sindt, who was born in Germany and after coming to the new world engaged in the tinware business in Davenport in the early days. He afterward turned his attention to farming, which he followed in Davenport township until his retirement from active life with the competence which had been acquired through his previous earnest and unremitting labor. Mr. Arp gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is active in the ranks of the party but is not an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his professional and business interests, which are now extensive and of an important character.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.