John H. J. Hamann

As printed in 1910

JOHN H. J. HAMANN.

John H. J. Hamann, who has lived retired in Davenport since 1896, was formerly actively and successfully identified with agricultural interests and is still the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Sheridan township. His birth occurred in Schleswig, Germany, on the 5th of October, 1824, his parents being Hans D. and Ida E. Hamann, who spent their entire lives in the fatherland. He acquired his education in the schools of his native land and after putting aside his text-books began farming in association with his father. During the Schleswig-Holstein wars, from 1848 until 1850, he served as a teamster. In 1857, when a young man of thirty-three years, he determined to establish his home in the new world and set sail for the United States, landing at New York. His brother, Hans Hamann, who had emigrated to this country about 1848, was living in Davenport and this fact induced our subject to come direct to Iowa. He immediately went to work for his brother on a farm in Davenport township and for a time was busily employed as a farm hand, being engaged in threshing, etc. Subsequently he rented a tract of land in Davenport township from his brother, making his home thereon for six years, while during the following eleven years he devoted his time and energies to the cultivation of a rented farm in Sheridan township. On the expiration of that period he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to buy land of his own and in 1875 he came into possession of an adjoining farm of 160 acres, taking up his above thereon. As there were only a few improvements on the property, he erected a house, barns, etc., and soon the place was lacking in none of the equipments and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. He won a gratifying measure of success in the conduct of his agricultural interests and was actively engaged in the work of the fields until 1896, when he removed to Davenport, where he has since lived retired. For about fifteen years he served as one of the trustees of the Farmers' Insurance Company.

On the 17th of April, 1857, just prior to his emigration to America, Mr. Hamann was united in marriage to Miss Louisa H. Grimm, who was born on the 22d of January, 1828, her parents being Hans and Carolina A. Grimm. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hamann were born seven children. John A., residing in Davenport, wedded Miss Carolina Wors, by whom he has a daughter, Hilda. Lewis C, who makes his home in Lyon county, married Miss Lena Roheff and has four children: Clara, Grover, Herbert and Ella. Alvina C, who gave her hand in marriage to Hugo Kuehl, of Eldridge, is now the mother of four children: Emil, Hugo, Adelia and Alma. Adelia wedded Otto Dehn, of Lyon county, and also has four children, namely: Lewis, Mello, Herbert and Alma. Henry, who resides on the old homestead farm in Sheridan township, married Miss Anna Hintz, by whom he has six children — Alma, Cynthia, Elva, Maletto, Cora and Blanche. Louisa and Meta Hamann have both passed away.

Since becoming a naturalized American citizen Mr. Hamann has given his political allegiance to the republican party and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to several positions of public trust, including those of school director and road supervisor. He has long been a prominent member of the German Pioneers' association of Scott county and has recently been honored with its presidency. The period of his residence in this county covers more than a half century and he is widely recognized as one of its most, respected and venerable citizens, having now passed the eighty-fifth milestone; on life's journey. He is numbered among those who left the fatherland to identify themselves with American life and institutions, who have pushed their way to the front and who are a credit alike to the land of their birth and that of their adoption.

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.