HENRY WESCHE is a native of Germany, born in Mahrenholtz,
kingdom of Hanover, April 26,
1824, and
is the son of Henry C. C. and Maria Dorathea Wesche, natives of Netga, Prussia.
In 1838 he
was placed as an apprentice shoemaker; when twenty-one he entered the German
army, served three years and a half, and was in the war with Denmark in 1848.
February 10, 1849, he started for America, reaching New York city the following May. He worked there
at his trade, (shoemaking) until September, after which he started for
Frederick City, Md., where he remained for six years, still working at his
trade. February 4, 1851, he married Miss Elizabeth Shearer,
a native of Frederick City, Md. Having his attention attracted toward the West
he came to Iowa, and, in the spring of 1855, settled in Dyersville, Dubuque county. He
afterward bought land in Delaware county and
led the life of a farmer until 1884, when he moved to Earlville and engaged in
the agricultural implement business, but retired from all business in 1891.
His family
consists of nine children, viz.— Mary K., married to W. T. Scott; Theresa S.,
deceased; Rosa S., who was married to C. W. Binning, but died, leaves one child,
Gertrude S.; Leonora G., married to H. A. Tietge, and
is the mother of five children, viz.—Lelia L., Leslie
H., Vernie E., Venor S.
(deceased) and Aurelia B.; Louis F.; Bird M.; Luella L.; Wilmer E., and Orinna P.
Mr. Wesche entered the Union army in the fall of 1864. His
regiment joined Sherman's army just after the taking of Atlanta, and was with it until the surrender.
During this time he saw much hard service, and did a soldier's duty, and
received an honorable discharge July 4, 1865.
After the
war he returned home and engaged in farming and also in handling agricultural
machinery, meeting with great success in each. He now owns valuable property
in Earlville, one thousand and eighty-two acres of good
land in Delaware county, and formerly owned one thousand seven hundred acres
in Clay county, Iowa, which he divided among his sons. When he came to America he had only $7.50, and what he now
has is the result of his own labor and foresight. Mr. Wesche is a
public-spirited citizen and always takes much interest in all matters relating
to the welfare of his township, and has shown great zeal in all matters
relating to the farming interest of the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Wesche have a pleasant home and
are highly respected in the community in which they live.
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