Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-John Joshua Seidel
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
JOHN JOSHUA SEIDEL, an intelligent and
prosperous farmer, who owns and operates
two hundred and eighty-acres of land on
section 11, Banner Township, Dickinson
County, was born in Oberambd Faihingen, Wurtemberg,
October 22, 1845, and is the seventh in a
family of fourteen children, whose parents were
John O. and Barbara (Zeiser) Seidel. The father
anil mother were both born and reared in Germany
and in the fall of 1853 emigrated to America,
crossing the Atlantic in a sailing-vessel, which
during that trip was fifty-six days upon the bosom
of the Atlantic.
On landing in this country, the parents of our
subject went to Columbus, Ohio, and spent one
year in that city, after which they located upon a
farm near by in Franklin County. In the autumn
of 1860, they became residents of Sterling, Ill.,
and their next removal, a few months later, saw
them located on a farm near that place in Whiteside
County. For fifteen years Mr. Seidel then
engaged in agricultural pursuits, after which he
sold out and returned to Sterling, where he continued
to live retired. His wife died on the 11th
of May, 1883. Mr. Seidel survived her for two
years and was called to his final rest November
10, 1885. Of their children, six sons and- six
daughters grew to mature years, while two died
in infancy.
Our subject spent the first eight years of his life
in his native land and then accompanied his parents
on their emigration to America. Under the
parental roof he remained until he had attained
his majority, when he started out in life for himself
and worked for three years by the month. By
industry and economy during that period he managed
to get a start, and then rented a farm adjoining
his father's in Whiteside County, Ill. This he
operated for five years, or until the spring of
1875, when he came to Dickinson County, Kan.,
and purchased two hundred acres of land on section
11, Banner Township. That farm has since
been his home, and he has added eighty acres to
his original purchase. Mr. Seidel is recognized as
one of the leading agriculturists of the community,
for he has a highly improved farm, well-tilled
fields and good buildings, which stand as monuments
to his thrift and enterprise.
On the 2d of February, 1870, in Erie, Whiteside
County, Ill., Mr. Seidel wedded Miss Louisa Lederer,
daughter of Gotleib and Catherine (Bether)
Lederer, both of whom were natives of Gerstetten,
Wurtemberg. They emigrated to America
about the year 1857, and settled in Philadelphia,
Pa. Subsequently they removed to Montgomery
County, Pa., and later made their home in
Whiteside County, Ill., where the father died in February,
1892. His wife had passed away seventeen
years previous, her death having occurred in
February, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Lederer had a family
of five children, two sons and three daughters.
Mrs. Seidel, who was the fourth in order of birth,
was born in Gerstetten, August 14, 1847. Unto
our subject and his wife have been born seven
children, but the eldest, Katie L., died when about
six years old. The living are, Anna M., Lydia B.,
Albertha C, Jennie A., Frank W. and Florence
Pearl.
The parents of this family are both active members
of the Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Seidel
has filled the office of Elder. In politics, he is a
Republican, and is an intelligent and well-informed
man on all questions of general interest, both political
and otherwise. He may also truly be called
a self-made man, for his success in life has all been
due to his own efforts. He is now one of the
wealthy citizens, as well as one of the influential
and representative men of the community.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP