James H. Wiese

As printed in 1910

JAMES H. WIESE.

Among those who have come from foreign lands to take a place among the well known agriculturists of this county is James H. Wiese, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Sheridan township, about three and a half miles west of Eldridge. He was born in Holstein, Germany, December 20, 1852, a son of Peter and Bertha Wiese. The father was a laborer in the old country and in 1865 with his family sailed for America. Landing at New York, he came direct to Davenport, where his daughter Lena, who married Henry Meier, was living, and then rented a farm in Winfield township. Later he bought the place in Sheridan township on which his son James now makes his home, living thereon until about four years before his death, when he retired and removed to Eldridge, where he passed away. His widow is still living in the village at the age of ninety-seven years. She is the mother of five children: Lena, the wife of Henry Meier; Kathrina, who married Mr. Haller, of Buffalo, Iowa; Amelia, the wife of Henry Schneckloth, of Minden, Iowa; Marie, the wife of William Meier, of Sheridan township; and James H., of this review.

James H. Wiese had attended school a little in Germany and after the family home was established in Scott county he became a pupil in the district school of his locality. When his lessons were over he devoted his entire time to farming, assisting his father in his work until he was twenty-four years of age, when, having married, he desired to establish a home and engage in agricultural pursuits on his own account. Accordingly he rented a farm in Slopertown, Sheridan township, where he lived twenty-eight years, at the end of which time he removed to his present place, which he had previously purchased of James Calderwood. He has worked industriously since then to improve his farm, has built all the barns and outbuildings, has tiled his land, and done other things to make it a representative farm of the twentieth century, modern in every detail. He raises various crops adapted to soil and climate, and as the years have passed he has met with success in his agricultural interests, owing to his untiring labor and excellent business management.

At the age of twenty-four years Mr. Wiese wedded Miss Emma Keppe, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: Amelia, who is now the wife of Fritz Speth, of Davenport, and has six children: Henry, who married Anna Batram and lives on the old home place at Slopertown; Reda, who is the wife of Emil Oetzmann, of Sheridan township, and has two children, Clarence and Edna; Frank, who married Emma Oetzmann and lives in Lincoln township; Emma, a resident of Donahue; and Walter, who lives in Eldridge. Mrs. Emma Wiese died in 1891 and was buried at Pine Hill, and on the lath of March, 1893, Mr. Wiese married Miss Alvina Claussen. She was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and in 1888 emigrated to America with her parents, William and Marie Claussen. They landed at Baltimore, whence they came direct to Scott county, Iowa. The father died here at the age of sixty-three years, but the mother is still living and makes her home in Davenport. Four children have been born of this union: Maggie, Emil, Alfred and Elmer, all of whom are at home.

In politics Mr. Wiese affiliates with the democratic party, on whose ticket he was elected to the offices of trustee of Sheridan township and road supervisor. He was faithful in the discharge of his duties and gave his support to every measure for the public good, so that he holds the respect and good will of his fellow citizens. He is a member of the Turners Society of Eldridge and the Shooting Society of Maysville, and is widely known as a man who is always honorable in his dealings and has gained his success by methods that are above reproach.

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.