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- [S35] https://archive.org/details/biographicalrevi02hoba, (Chicago, Hobart Publishing Co., 1905), pages 753-754.
https://archive.org/details/biographicalrevi02hoba/page/753/mode/2up
Henry Wunnenberg
That the life of Henry Wunnenberg, of Benton township, illustrates a high and noble ideal of American manhood is due, in part, to a rigid discipline in the school of experience and honest labor during his early years, as well as to those personal characteristics which are peculiarly his own. Mr. Wunnenberg was born Sept. 3, 1855, in Benton township, and has claimed Des Moines county for his home throughout his entire life, being one of her native sons to whom she can always point the finger of pride. He was the son of Henry and Amelia Wunnenberg.
Both parents of Mr. Wunnenberg were natives of Germany, and came to America in 1854. They located in Benton township, and on the third day after their arrival in the county bought a farm of forty acres. Under their skillful farming and careful management they prospered greatly, so that after a number of years, when the father sold this farm, he was able to buy a much larger farm, consisting of one hungred and twenty acres of rich farm land, and forty-five acres of timber, which is now the home farm.
Here Mr. Henry Wunnenberg, the father, lived, carrying on very successfully a general farming business, and stock-raising. He made this his home, and made all the improvements, until there were not many farms in the community better fitted with the comforts and conveniences to be found in modern farm homes. Mr. Wunnenberg was a devoted number of the German Lutheran church until the time of his death, which occurred on the home farm when he was seventy-nine years of age. He was a follower of the principles of the Democratic party, and was a faithful helper to the leaders of that part.
The mother, died some fourteen years before the father. She was an earnest Christian woman, and a faithful member of the Evangelical church. She was the mother of eleven children, nine of whom are still living.
The subject of our review obtained his education in the common schools of Benton township, and assisted upon the home farm, remaining there until he was twenty-one years of age. After this he worked by the month upon different neighboring farms til he was twenty-seven, when he went to farming for himself, renting for some years in Franklin township, then in Washington township, and finally coming to his present place twenty-two years ago. This is a fine, well-kept place of eighty-sic acres, nearly all of which is under cultivation, and showing everywhere the thorough knowledge of farming and care of its owner. Besides this farm, Mr. Wunnenberg owns sixty-two acres of good land elsewhere in Benton township, some of which has already been improved. Mr. Wunnenberg has recently erected a large substantial two-story dwelling upon the place.
Mr. Wunnenbert early allied himself with the Democracy, believing its principles to be more consistent with American ideas of liberty and popular government than those of any other party. In religious matters he has affiliated himself with the Evangelical church, of whose teachings he is follower.
In 1881 Mr. Wunnenberg was united in marriage to Miss Lydia A. Gieselman, daughter of Henry Gieselman, who was an early settler of Des Moines county. Mr. Gieselman formerly owned the place where our subject now resides. He was a man who was prominent in all local enterprises, and was respected by all who came in contact with him. He died at the age of seventy-seven years. His widow still resides on the old homestead of thirty acres in Benton township, one and a half miles west of Latty, with her son, Henry Gieselman.
Mrs. Wunnenberg, who was also a member of the Evangelical church, died in 1890, leaving behind her the five children who were born to this union. These children were as follows: Ida, wife of Peter Smith, a farmer of Benton township, to whom has been born one child; Otto, who is married to Miss Anna Steffener, and resides at home; Frederick and Arthur, who live a home; and one child who died in infancy.
Mrs. Wunnenberg is a member of the Evangelical church. She possesses those thrifty housewifely qualities which are so much needed to make a worthy help-meet for a man whose success must come from tilling the soil to the best advantage.
Mr. Wunnenberg is a well-known citizen of Benton township. The circle of his acquaintance is wide, and co-extensive therewith is the circle of those who honor him for what he is.
- [S1] Genealogical Records of Celia Crawford.
- [S14] 1900 US census.
- [S3] Tombstone, Latty Church Cemetery.
- [S31] census.
- [S2] History of Des Moines County, Iowa, (Western Historical Company, Chicago, Ill., 1879).
- [S7] Obituary.
- [S32] marriage record.
- [S24] newspaper clipping.
- [S34] 1925 Iowa census.
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