Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 337-338

LOUIS L. HARMS. Among the prominent and enterprising citizens of Platteville is numbered the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. As a native of Grant county, he has been identified with its interests throughout his entire life, and by honest toil and industry has succeeded in acquiring a competence. For many years he engaged in farming, then followed merchandising for a time, and is now practically living a retired life, though he is interested in mining operations.

Mr. HARMS was born in Smelser township, Oct. 7, 1853, a son of Dedrick and Maria M. (MELVIN) HARMS. The father was born March 30, 1805, in Hanover, Germany, where he was reared and educated, and in 1834 sailed from Bremen, arriving in New Orleans after a long and tedious voyage. By flat-boat he came up the Mississippi river to Dubuque, Iowa, where he worked at day labor, and later found employment in the mines. The same year, however, he came to Grant county, Wis., and commenced working in the mines there. At that time he was unmarried, and in very limited circumstances. In 1839 he was joined by his brother John, and together they invested their money in land, always doing business under the firm name of D. & J. HARMS. Their first purchase was the claim of a Mr. HAZARD, who had commenced to break the land, and to it they added from time to time as their financial resourced increased, until they owned a large among of property. The partnership between the two brothers continued until the death of Dedrick, Sept. 3, 1882. He was married in Galena, Ill., Aug. 6, 1843, to Miss Maria M. MELVIN, a native of Bloomington, Ind., and a daughter of James and Sarah (ROBERTS) MELVIN. Her mother was born in Virginia of Holland ancestry, while her father was born near the city of Baltimore, Md., and brought his family to Grant county, Wis., about 1831, becoming a farmer of Belmont township. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and during those troublesome times his wife and daughter stayed at the blockhouse at Mineral Point. Both Mr. and Mrs. MELVIN died in Nebraska.

After his marriage Dedrick HARMS located on the old homestead in Smelser township, where he engaged in farming and stock raising throughout the remainder of his life. Although he came to the New World empty-handed, by industry and good management he became one of the most successful and substantial citizens of his community. Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. She departed this life March 10, 1898. Their children were as follows: John C., born June 6, 1844, died March 13, 1871; Mary I., born Oct. 23, 1845, became the wife of C. F. SCHROEDER, of Platteville; Henry H., born Feb. 16, 1848, died Nov. 9, 1898; Dedrick W., born Jan. 30, 1850, died April 23, 1856; James W., born Feb. 20, 1852, is represented on another page of this volume; Louis L., of this review, is next in the order of birth; Martha J., born April 15, 1855, died June 25, 1886; Sarah E., born May 8, 1857, is the wife of Dr. A. R. LAW, of Madison, Wis.; Emily M., born April 9, 1860, and George L., born April 25, 1862, both live on the old home farm; and the youngest, born Nov. 3, 1864, died in infancy.

Louis L. HARMS was reared and educated in Smelser township, becoming thoroughly familiar with every department of farm work. On reaching manhood he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until 1885, when he moved to Platteville, and embarked in general merchandising under the firm name of SANDER & HARMS. He sold his interest in the business three years later, and is now living retired, though interested in mining to some extent.

In Smelser township, Sept. 16, 1880, Mr. HARMS was united in marriage with Miss Mary Anna RIEGE, who was born in that township July 8, 1859, and is a daughter of Henning and Mary Ann (HOFFERKAMP) RIEGE, the former a native of Hanover, Germany, the latter of Holland. They were among the early settlers of Smelser township, where they continued to make their home. Mr. and Mrs. HARMS are the parents of four children: Benjamin H., born March 5, 1881, is now proprietor of the "Paris Hotel," at Dubuque, Iowa, and one at Maquoketa, Iowa. Lilly Ann, born June 3, 1882, died Sept. 20, 1885. Purl L., born March 12, 1885, is at home. Edith J., born April 16, 1886, died March 4, 1891.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck