In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1881
From History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained (1916)
Arthur J. Palas has gained secure vantage-ground as one of the able and representative members, of the bar of his native country, and at its judicial center, the city of Elkader, he is engaged in the successful practice of his profession. He is a schon of one of the old, honored and influential families of Clayton county, being one of the twelve children born to John and Caroline (Voss) Palas, both of whom are now deceased, the father having been one of the progressive and broad-minded citizens who contributed much to the civic and industrial development and advancement of this country, where he owned at the time of his death one of the large and valuable landed states of Farmersburg township. John Palas was the son of John and Eliza (Wiegman) Palas, and was born in Germany, October 14, 183 1. He came to the United States in 1855, settling in Clayton County and having upon his arrival but $25 with which to start his battle for fortune in his new home. With characteristic German thrift and energy, he at once began his career as a farmer, laying the foundations for the fortune which was later his. In 1858, he was married to Caroline, a daughter of Frederick Prust, a native of Germany. Three children were born to them — John, in 1859; Mary, in 1861, and William, in 1864. His wife died February 6, 1864, and in June, 1864, Mr. Palas was married to Carolina, a daughter of George and Mary (Plotz) Voss, also a native of Germany. The fruits of this union were ten children: Bertha, born July 25, 1865; Carolina, deceased, born July 1, 1866; Ida, born July 17, 1868; Anna, deceased, born Feb. 14, 1870; Henry, born November 24, 1871; Fritz, born July 17, 1873; Louis, born July 25, 1875; Louisa, born June 19, 1877; Herman, born July 25, 1879, and Arthur, the subject of this sketch, born May 19, 1891. John Palas was highly successful as a farmer and was highly esteemed as a citizen. He and his family were reared in the Lutheran faith, and Mr. Palas gave his political allegiance to the Republican party. At the time of his death he was the owner of a farm of 710 acres in Farmersburg township.
3l6 MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
As printed in History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1916. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.