Fritz Priester

As printed in 1910

FRITZ PRIESTER.

Fritz Priester, who since 1900 has lived retired in his fine home at No. 1102 West Fourteenth street in Davenport, was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career and is still the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in Lincoln township, Scott county. He was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 22d of March, 1844, his parents being Carl and Eliza Priester. The father was a farmer by occupation and also served as a soldier in the Germany army. In 1857, in company with his wife and children, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, landing at New York, whence he came direct to Davenport, Iowa. He purchased and established his home on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of improved land in Lincoln township, which is now in possession of our subject, and there successfully carried on his agricultural interests until the time of his demise, his death being occasioned by injuries which he received in a runaway accident in 1864. A year afterward his widow went to live with her son Adoloh in Davenport, where she made her home until called to her final rest in 1891, when eighty-three years of age.

Fritz Priester, who was one of a family of twelve children, received his early education in the schools of his native land and after coming to this country continued his studies throughout one winter season. He early became familiar with the duties and labors which fall to the lot of the agriculturist through the assistance which he rendered in the work of the home farm and after his father's death took charge of the place, devoting his time and energies to its further cultivation and improvement throughout the remainder of his active business career. The property still remains in his possession and the other tract of one hundred and sixty acres which he owns in Lincoln township was given to his wife by her father. His place is lacking in none of the conveniences and improvements of a model farm of the twentieth century and he recently erected thereon a fine residence and substantial barn. It was in 1900 that he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his above in a residence which he purchased at No. 1 102 West Fourteenth street in Davenport, where he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest.

On the 8th of February, 1867, Mr. Priester was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Hacker, whose birth occurred in Mecklenburg, Germany, January 14,

1849, and who was therefore but three years of age when in 1852 she was brought to the United States by her parents, Christopher and Fredericka Hacker. After landing in New Orleans Mr. and Mrs. Hacker made their way direct to this county, locating on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land which the former purchased in Butler township. Subsequently he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lincoln township, where he made his home for a great many years, meeting with a gratifying measure of success in his farming operations. His demise occurred at Eldridge in 1908, when he had attained the age of eighty-seven years, while his wife passed away in Davenport in 1894 at the age of seventy-four years. They had two children who grew to maturity, namely: Mrs. Priester; and Fredericka, the wife of Emil Rohlf, of Eldridge. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Priester have been born nine children, the record of whom is as follows: Laura is now the wife of Gustavus Wellendorf and resides in Minnesota. Herman, an agriculturist of. Sheridan township, wedded Miss Laura Fellener, by whom he has two children, Herbert and Lillian. Adolph, living in Wisconsin, married Miss Sophia Meier and has one son, Arnold. Louisa gave her hand in marriage to Henry Fellener, of Sheridan township, and is now the mother of four children: Fred, Walter, Harvey and Leila. Matilda, living in Lincoln township, is the wife of Julius Greenwald, by whom she has three children — Elmer, Linta and Eleanor. Emil, who resides on the old home farm in Lincoln township, married Miss Louisa Lepten, by whom he had three children, namely: Wilma; Altha, deceased; and Elna. Ferdinand, whose birth occurred on the loth of July, 1880, passed away December 19, 1902. Alma is the wife of August Rauch, of Davenport, Iowa, and has two children. Vera and Mervin. Ella, also living in Davenport, is the wife of William Claussen and has one child, Evelyn.

In his political views Mr. Priester is a stanch democrat, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party. He has held the office of township trustee and acted as school treasurer for two years, while for nine years he was a school director, ever proving a faithful and capable public official. As a citizen he is public spirited to an eminent degree, deeply interested in the welfare and prosperity of the county in which he has now resided for more than a half century. His many good qualities are displayed by the friendship which is uniformly accorded him by those who know him.

As printed in History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa : Illustrated (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.