GOTTLIEB ABBY, postmaster of Abbyville, Delaware county, Iowa, and one of that county's most
successful farmers, is a native of Switzerland. His parents, John and Elizabeth
(Buttikofar) Abby, were both natives of Switzerland, the mother dying there in 1844,
aged about forty years. These were the parents of four children, all of whom
became grown and named as follows — John, Jacob, Gottlieb, our subject, and
Elizabeth. Of the above named children, Elizabeth became the wife of Chris Boerki and
made her home in St. Louis, Mo., where she died about seven years ago.
Gottlieb
Abby, the subject of this brief sketch, was born in Switzlerand in February,
1839. He was reared in his native country until fourteen years of age and received
a good common-school education. In 1852 the father, with his family, immigrated
to the United States and located in St. Louis, Mo., where they remained two years. In
1855 our subject, accompanied by his two brothers, John and Jacob, came to Iowa
and entered an eighty-acre tract of raw prairie land on which he settled and
which he still retains as his homestead. Here he at once began his improvement,
and by industry and good management has been able to add to his original tract
of land, until he now owns no less than three hundred and twenty acres, all in
a good state of cultivation and well improved. He has also erected a
comfortable residence with all necessary out-buildings, all of which are
surrounded by handsome groves. In addition to agriculture Mr. Abby devotes much
time and attention to stock raising and dairying. In 1889 he established a
creamery on his farm, his dairy stock consisting of about thirty cows of the
best grade. At this he has been very successful, as he is in everything he undertakes,
but his success in all things is due to his industry, economy and strict
business habits.
In 1862 he
entered the Union army as a private in Company F, Twenty-seventh Iowa volunteer
infantry. During his service he was in Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas, taking part in all the engagements
in which the Twenty-seventh participated. He served until the close of the war
and received an honorable discharge at Clinton, Iowa, August 7, 1865.
November 28, 1861, Mr. Abby was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Younie, of
Hazel Green township. She is a daughter of Louis and Jane (Maxwell) Younie,
natives of Scotland, who settled in this county in
1861, but subsequently moved to Sioux county, Iowa, where they now live. Mrs. Abby is
a native of Canada, born January 16, 1852. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Abby has
been made happy by the birth of five children, as follows—William, John, Elmer,
Lizzie and Louis.
In politics
Mr. Abby is a republican, and is active and energetic in the support of his
party. He has been called to fill several local offices, the duties of which
he discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to those concerned, and
is now serving as postmaster of Abbyville. He is also an honored member of G.
A. K. Post, No. 457, of Coggon, Linn county, Iowa.
Mr. Abby is
an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and takes great interest in all
matters relating to the welfare of his adopted town and county. He and his
family are held in high esteem in the community in which they live and their
friends are numbered by their acquaintances.
Back
to Biographies
Back to
Main Page
Back to Iowa AHGP
Back
to AHGP