George Nussbaum

The German people, noted for their educational institutions, their economy and progressive spirit, have given to the United States many of her most prominent and successful people, who have met with success in all walks of life, among the number being George Nussbaum, a well-known farmer and stockman of Elgin township, Plymouth county, Iowa, who was born in the fatherland on November 16, 1864, the son of Melcher and Julia (Schafer) Nussbaum.

Melcher and Julia Nussbaum were also natives of Germany and there received their education in the public schools, grew to manhood and woman-hood and were married. After their marriage they established their home on a farm, where Mr. Nussbaum engaged in agricultural work until the time of his death, in 1887, at the age of sixty-seven years. The widow is still living in the land of her birth and amid the scenes of her younger life, at the age of eighty-four years. She belongs to the Evangelical Reformed church in which her husband was for many years an active worker. They were the parents of nine children, as follow; Jacob, one of the well-known and highly respected retired farmers of Le Mars, Iowa; Elizabeth is still a resident of the fatherland; Henry, now deceased, came to this country in 1880 and located in Crawford county, Iowa; Eliza, who lives in Germany; George, the subject of this sketch; Martin, who is a farmer of near Brookings, South Dakota; Catherine lives in Germany; Conrad is a successful farmer of near Danvers, Minnesota and Ditmar is engaged in faming and stock raising in South Dakota. George Nussbaum received his education in the schools of Germany, and as a lad learned the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he was employed in his native land until 1882, when he decided to come to America. After landing in the United States, he came at once to Iowa and located in Crawford county, where he worked as a farm hand for one year. He then came to Plymouth county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fredonia township, which he developed and improved and where he farmed for eight years. In 1902 he bought two hundred and forty acres in Elgin township, where he has since resided. Here he had done much in the way of development, and improvement having erected his beautiful house and substantial barn as well as other buildings, at a cost of ten thousand dollars. In addition to the operation of his own farm, he rents one hundred and sixty acres of land, and each year cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of corn and one hundred acres of small grain. He sells the most of his grain, yet he feeds some one hundred head of hogs and some cattle, and is today recognized as one of the substantial and successful men of the district.

In 1894 George Nussbaum was united in marriage to Amelia Behnke, the daughter of Fred Behnke and wife, and to this union six children have been born as follow; Edward, John, Clarence, Conrad, Theo and George, all of whom are at home with the parents. Mr. and Mrs. Nussbaum are active members of the German Evangelical church at Le Mars and are among the prominent members, taking much interest in all departments of the church services. George Nussbaum was a poor boy, without friends of influence, at the time he came to America. Thrown upon his own resources, he at once determined to accomplish something of value to himself and the world. The first few years were hard ones for the young man, yet he had the determination to do, and from the time that he secured his first job on the farm in Crawford county until the present day, he has always been employed in some useful work. By hard work and close application to business, he has succeeded in establishing for himself a position among the well-to-do and highly respected men of the county. He is progressive in all things and has ever taken a keen interst in local affairs, his judgement and advice being often sought in matters that pertain to the public welfare. He is identified with the Democratic party, but does not aspire to office, feeling that he can best serve himself and the people in other ways to better advantage.