The Walljasper Families of Lee County, Iowa

Henry Walljasper is a retired carpenter and builder, owning and occupying a farm of fifty acres situated on the western border of West Point. He was formerly the owner of a farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres adjoining the city on the west, but has recently sold this property to his son Anton, who is now cultivating the land. His farm extended altogether a mile east and west.

Mr. Walljasper is one of the early settlers of Lee county, having come here in 1851 with his two brothers and their parents. He was born in the province of Westphalen, Prussia, Germany, December 6, 1837, and is, therefore, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He is a son of Otto and Katherine (Hackenkamp) Walljasper, both of whom were also natives of Westphalen, where they were reared and married. It was in the year 1846 that they bade adieu to that country and sailed for the new world, settling first in St. Louis, where they arrived in January, 1847. They resided in that city for five years, the father there working at the painter's trade, and in the fall of 1 85 1 they came to West Point. The father engaged in painting signs, in lettering and doing other similar work. He died about twenty-eight years ago, having reached the age of seventy-four years and eight months. His wife passed away forty-eight years ago and was then fifty-six years of age. In their family were three children: Henry and Stephen, both of whom were born in Germany; and John, a native of West Point.

From the age of fourteen years Henry Walljasper has resided at West Point. He can well remember incidents of the voyage to the new world and of their residence in St. Louis. He worked with his father at the painter's trade and later took up carpentering, which he mastered. Subsequently he formed a partnership with his brother Stephen for carpenter and contract work, and they erected the schoolhouse and many other buildings at West Point, becoming recognized leaders in their line, a position which they maintained for many years in this vicinity and in nearby towns. Henry Walljasper was thus actively engaged in business for half a century and many of the substantial structures of West Point and the surrounding country stand as monuments to his skill and ability.

In the fall of 1865, at West Point, Mr. Walljasper was united in marriage to Miss Mary Roterick, who was born in Westphalen, Germany, in 1840, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Helleford) Roterick, who came to Lee county about 1847 and took up their above near St. Paul, which is located on a part of the old home farm. Both the father and mother passed away upon that place. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walljasper have been born five children, two of whom died in infancy. Katie is the wife of Frank Ussenbrink, a carpenter and builder, and they have two children, Henry and Albert. Mary is the wife of Frank Friedel, a farmer of Pleasant Ridge township, and they have one son, Leonard. Anton married Miss Katie Dingman, a daughter of Barney and Margaret Dingman, and they have five children, Margaret, Alvin, Mary Agnes, Karl and Katie.

Mr. Walljasper built a new set of buildings upon his farm. He still lives at the old home and finds that in the management of his small place he has all that he cares to do. His has been an active and useful life, crowned with a substantial measure of success, and he always displayed good qualities, which have won for him high regard. Politically he is a democrat, and, while he has not sought or held political office, he has served for several years at various times as school director. He is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church and his life has been guided by his religious faith.

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

OTTO B. WALLJASPER.

Otto B. VValljasper is operating the Granite Roller Mills at West Point, owned jointly by himself and R. Shadwell. His activity in this connection places him with the leading representatives of industrial activity in Lee county. In addition he has various other interests and lie is recognized as one who has a genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time.

He was born at West Point, January 18, 1874, and is a son of Stephen J. and Rosalia (Schulte) Walljasper, the latter a sister of William Schulte, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. Mrs. Walljasper died in i88q, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving six children, of whom Otto B. Walljasper is the eldest. The others are: Mrs. Lizzie Strothman, who died in IQ03; Dietrich, a farmer of Marion township; Mrs. Edward Strothman, whose husband is a teamster of West Point; Mrs. Frank FuUenkamp, whose husband is a farmer of Pleasant Ridge township; and Anna, who resides with her uncle, Ben Schulte.

Reared at West Point, Otto B. Walljasfier was educated in the parochial school and in his youthful days learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years in connection with his father, who was an expert mechanic. He and his brother worked together and built many substantial structures, including the Catholic school and also did the altar work, which is most beautiful. After following carpentering for three years Otto B. Walljasper turned his attention to the milling business, with which he has since been mainly occupied. The mill which he now owns and operates was built by Adolphus Salmon, about 1846, and was operated as a gristmill in pioneer times, the work being carried on night and day. The product was shipped to St. Louis, being hauled to Fort Madison and thence sent down the river by boat. Later the mill was owned by Alexander Stewart for a number of years. He operated it himself for some time and then rented it to different parties. Later the property changed hands several times until finally it came into possession of Messrs. Walljasper and Shadwell. The building was erected sixty years ago and is still in substantial condition. In 1891 R. Shadwell and Stephen J. Walljasper, father of our subject, installed the roller system and continued the operation of the mill until 1901. It was afterward conducted by Mr. Walljasper and William Gerber, a former mayor of Fort Madison, for about a year and a half. At the end of that time Mr. Walljasper was joined by his son. Otto B., of this review and together they operated the mill until the father's death, which occurred May 27, 1910, when he was sixty-six years of age. The business has since been conducted by the son in a most capable and successful manner. The mill has a capacity of fifty barrels and the Hour manufactured is of the most excellent quality and finds a ready and profitable sale upon the market. The elevator in connection with the mill was built in 1892-3. Mr. Walljasper also owns the elevator at the depot, which was built about twenty years ago by Mr. Everingham. He handles grain of all kinds and also has a wareroom for flour and feed. At the mill he also grinds a large amount of feed and he handles a dozen different kinds of flour. The mill is well equipped with modern machinery and the processes which he follows in manufacture are such as produce excellent grades of breadstuffs. He gives careful attention to every phase of his business, is most energetic and his indefatigable industry, perseverance and reliable business methods have been features in his growing and gratifying success.

Mr. Walljasper was married at West Point, to Miss Callie Strothman, a daughter of the late Casper Strothman, whose widow resides a half mile south of West Point. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walljasper have been born four children: Adelbert, who died in infancy; and Edward, Evelyn and Robert, aged respectively ten, eight and six years.

Politically Mr. Walljasper is a democrat and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus at Fort Madison. He and his wife are members of St. Mary's church. They occupy an attractive residence in the western part of the town, which was built by Mr. Walljasper, and their is a most hospitable home, whose good cheer is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. They occupy a prominent social position, equal to the place which Mr. Walljasper fills in the business life of the community.

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

JOHN F. WALLJASPER.

John F. Walljasper, a worthy native son and enterprising young citizen of Lee county, is already a factor in financial circles as cashier of The Farmers & Citizens State Bank of West Point. His birth occurred in that town on the 7th of February, 1890, his parents being John and Catherine (Hesse) Walljasper, who are still residents of West Point. The father is successfully engaged in the fire and life insurance business. To him and his wife have been born the following children:, John F., of this review; Joseph J., a young man of twenty-one, who is employed as a machinist by the Santa Fe Railway at Fort Madison; Mrs. Charles B. Supers, of Stuttgart, Arkansas, who has one son, Charles J. R., and whose husband conducts a large rice farm; and Cecilia and Helene, who are still under the parental roof.

John F. Walljasper was reared at home and attended the parochial schools of West Point in the acquirement of an education. When a youth of thirteen he accepted the position of assistant manager at the local lumber yard, which was a branch of the S- & J. C. Atlee yards jyrl'hLl-:;.cHARY at Fort Madison, ably serving in that capacity for four years. On the expiration of that period, in 1908, he became assistant cashier of the Farmers & Citizens Bank, of West Point, a private institution established in that year. In the spring of 1914 it was organized as The Farmers & Citizens State Bank, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, and Mr. Walljasper was chosen cashier. In this position he has already demonstrated his ability and has won an enviable reputation as a capable and courteous official of the institution.

Mr. Walljasper gives his political allegiance to the democracy, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. Mary's Catholic church of West Point. He has always resided in West Point and is widely recognized as one of the prosperous representative and respected young men of the community.

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