Crawford County >> 1911 Index

History of Crawford County, Iowa
by F. W. Meyers. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1911.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

EMIL PAUTSCH, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Hanover township, has been closely identified with the agricultural development of Crawford county for more than twenty-five years. He was born in Germany , November 29, 1869 , a son of Ferdinand and Wilhelmina (Nass) Pautsch, also natives of the fatherland, who emigrated to the United States in 1870 and located in Chicago , where they continued to reside for six years. In 1876 they removed to Crawford county, Iowa , and bought a farm which they cultivated until the father's death in 1896. Mrs. Pautsch is still living and makes her home with her children. They were the parents of twelve children, four of whom died in infancy, those who lived to maturity being as follows: Theresa, the wife of Louis Green, of Charter Oak, this county; Emil, our subject; Robert, who lives in Luverne, Minnesota; George, deceased; Ida, living in Hanover township; Emma, the wife of Otto Heabner, of Hanover township; Carl, who is living on the homestead; and Bernard, also living on the homestead.

Emil Pautsch acquired his education in the common schools of Crawford county, and when he had obtained such knowledge as he deemed essential to pursue his vocation, his text-book gave place to the work of the field and he assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-four years of age, at which time he began farming for himself on a portion of his father's land, which was later given to him and forms a part of his present holdings. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of feeding cattle for the market, and in all of his undertakings he met with most gratifying success and as a result he was able to add to his original tract until he now owns three hundred and twenty acres of finely improved and highly cultivated land. In addition to his homestead he also owns a half section in Spink county, South Dakota , and one hundred and sixty acres in Rock county, Minnesota . He is devoting the greater part of his time to the feeding of cattle and now has five carloads of very fine stock which he is preparing for the market.

Mr. Pautsch was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lill in 1894, a daughter of August and Theresa (Reetz) Lill. She was born in Chicago , on the 8th of February, 1874 , but is of German extraction, her parents being natives of the fatherland. Mr. and Mrs. Lill removed to Iowa in 1879 and settled on a farm in Crawford county, which they operated until their deaths. They were thrifty, hard-working people and owned two hundred and eight acres of well cultivated land at the time of their demise. Eight children were born unto them, two of whom died in infancy, those living being as follows: John, who lives in Sioux City, this state; Anna the wife of Emil Pautsch; Laura, who married r. Weed, of Charter Oak township; Minnie, the wife of George Pautsch, of Luverne, Minnesota; Theresa, who is unmarried and lives at Charter Oak; and August, who resides on the homestead in Charter Oak township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pautsch have been born eight children, who are as follows: Adelheid, who was born on the 8th of October, 1895; Ferdinand, born on the 2d of February, 1897; August, born on the 19th of July, 1899; Elna, born on the 3d of March, 1900; Ernest, born on the 28th of February, 1903; Alfred, born on the 5th of April, 1908; and Laura and Martin, who died in infancy.

The family attend the Lutheran church, of which denomination the parents are members. Politically Mr. Pautsch has always been identified with the democratic party, and has been elected to the office of constable for several terms, while at the present time he is a member of the board of school directors. He is one of the progressive, public-spirited citizens of his district, who during his long residence here has won the regard and esteem of the community.

FERDINAND PAUTSCH, deceased, was well a known farmer of Hanover township, who was identified with Crawford county for twenty years and became recognized as one of its prosperous and progressive citizens. He was born in Germany , May 5, 1838 , received his education in his native land and was married there, continuing amidst familiar scenes until thirty-two years of age. Believing that more favorable conditions existed in the new world than he had met with in Germany, he decided to seek his fortune in America and, crossing the ocean, he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he found work in a lumberyard and also at unloading steamboats for a period of four years. In 1876, having acquired a modest capital, he came to Crawford county and purchased one hundred acres of land, now constituting part of the farm on section 23, Hanover township, owned by his widow and children. Mr. Pautsch was a man of unusual energy and determination and as the years passed he acquired more land until he became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. The sons have added eighty acres, making a total of four hundred and forty acres now in the estate. Mr. Pautsch was an extensive stock raiser and feeder and the sons have continued along the same line with increasing success.

On May 1, 1865 , in Germany , Mr. Pautsch was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Nass, who was born January 19, 1844 , a daughter of William and Frederica (Schultz) Nass, both of whom were natives of Germany . they came to America in July, 1870, making their home in Chicago , where the father worked for wages for fifteen years. In their later years they lived with their children in Iowa , the mother departing this life in September, 1896, and the father in 1900. There were five children in their family, namely: Carl, now living in Chicago ; Gustave, deceased; Augusta, who is married and lives in Oakland , Illinois ; Wilhelmina, who became the wife of Ferdinand Pautsch; and Bertha, deceased. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pautsch, four of whom died in infancy. The others are: Theresa, the wife of Louis Green; Emil, who was born November 29, 1869, and now lives in Crawford county; Robert, who was born in February, 1872, and is living in Minnesota; George, who was born January 23, 1875, and died April 22, 1911; Ida, at home; Emma, now Mrs. Otto Haebner, of Crawford county; and Charley and Bernhard, the former born August 10, 1882, and the latter August 17, 1884, who are now in charge of the old homestead which they are managing with splendid success. They also own a two-thirds interest in one hundred and fifty- five acres of land in Minnesota and are recognized as among the progressive and enterprising young men of this county.

The death of Mr. Pautsch occurred May 12, 1896 , in his fifty-eighth year, and caused deep regret not only to his family but to a wide circle of friends who had learned to respect him for his many excellent qualities. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, as are his widow and children. Politically he gave his undivided support to the republican party, but he never sought public office, as his time and energy were devoted to his family and his business. He was a man of great industry and of the strictest fairness and integrity and one who was always willing to assume his share of responsibility in any undertaking and ready to perform his part in any work that had for its object the advancement of the permanent interests of the community. On March 1, 1911 , Mrs. Pautsch and her children moved to a handsome residence in Denison , where they now make their home.