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Shelby County
>> 1889 Index Biographical
History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, Iowa L Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. John Langenfeld, one of the leading business men of Earling, Shelby County, Iowa, was born in Prussia, May 9, 1863. He is a son of Chris and Johannan (Eckes) Langenfeld, who emigrated to America in the year 1869. They settled in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, and here our subject was reared in farm life, and obtained his education in the common schools. In 1855 he came to Lincoln Township, Shelby County, and here the parents still reside. In 1888 John Langenfeld went to Earling and entered the employ of John Lorge, as clerk in his agricultural implement and farm machinery store. He remained here until his brother-in-law, F. W. Loehr, and he purchased the stock of Mr. Lorge, and they are still in the business. Mr. Langenfeld is an energetic, ambitious business man, and although a young man, has already won an enviable position in business circles in the county. He is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party. He was married November 13, 1888, to Miss Mary Weiland, daughter of J. B. and Mary (Nepper) Weiland; she was born in Winneshiek County, Iowa, October 6, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Langenfeld are worthy members of the Roman Catholic church. Constand
Leinen, a farmer of Cass Township, has been identified with the history of
Shelby County since 1875.
He was born in Germany, September 25, 1847,
and is a son of Matthias and Anna Mary (Buch) Leinen.
He was a lad of
eight years when his parents left their native soil to try their
fortunes in the new world.
After their arrival in America they came to
Iowa, and settled in Keokuk County; there Constand grew to manhood,
passing his youth in much the same fashion as other farmers' sons.
He
acquired a good education in the public schools of Keokuk County.
November 3, 1870, he was married in Keokuk County, Iowa, to Miss
Gertrude Korth, daughter of Jacob Korth, Sr., of Portsmouth.
She was
born in Germany, April 5, 1852, and when she was three months old her
parents removed to Dane County, Wisconsin, and when ten years old
removed to Keokuk County, Iowa; there she grew to womanhood and received
her education.
When Mr. Leinen came to the county of Shelby he invested
in eighty acres of wild land; he was very successful in his business,
and to-day owns 280 acres of well-improved land.
He has a substantial
dwelling house, a commodious barn with a brick basement, and cribs for
grain.
He has planted a grove and an orchard, and made his place one of
the best in the county.
He raises large quantities of grain, and
fattens a number of cattle and hogs annually.
Mr. and Mrs. Leinen are
the parents of six children - Matthias, Constance, Jacob, Josephine,
Mary and Gertrude.
The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Leinen is one of the staunch Democrats of Cass Township.
He is a
man of intelligence, is well informed upon general topics, and one of
the solid men of the county.
Matthias Leinen is one of the leading German citizens of Cass Township. He has been identified with the interests of Shelby County since 1876, and has done his share toward its development. He was born in Germany, November 3, 1849, and is a son of Matthias Leinen, a resident of Cass Township. Matthias, Jr., was a child of six years when his parents emigrated to America, and settled in Keokuk County, Iowa. There he grew to manhood, and received a fair education in the public schools. November 25, 1874, he was married to Miss Anna Hammes, a native of Germany, who came to America and settled in Iowa at the age of eighteen years. She is a daughter of Michael Hammes, who died in Keokuk County, Iowa. Three of her brothers live in Cass Township - John, Frank and Mike Hammes. As before stated, our subject came to Cass Township in 1876, and settled on eighty acres of land. He has been prosperous and now owns 200 acres of well-improved land; 120 acres lie in section 23, and eighty acres in section 22. He has a fine dwelling house, a good barn, a grove and an orchard, and is well equipped for carrying on farming. His farm is situated two miles east of Portsmouth, and is one of the best in the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Leinen are the parents of six children - Mary, Anna, Michael, Maggie, Peter and Susan. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church, and are among the worthy citizens of the township. Politically Mr. Leinen affiliates with the Democratic party. Frederick W.
Loehr,
farmer and stock-raiser, and dealer in agricultural implements at
Earling, under the firm name of Loehr & Langenfeld, has been
identified
with the interests of Shelby County since 1873.
He was born in Fond du
Lac County, Wisconsin, January 26, 1850, and is the son of Quirin and
Dora T. (Strabul) Loehr, natives of Prussia.
The father came to America
when eighteen years old, and the mother came when about fifteen years of
age.
They were both reared in Wisconsin, and after their marriage
settled in Fond du Lac County, where Mr. Loehr engaged in the mercantile
business.
The youth of our subject was spent on the farm, in the store
and in the common schools, where he received his early education; he
afterward attended Callaway College.
He resided with his parents until
his marriage to Annie May Langenfeld, which occurred in November, 1872.
The following spring he came to Iowa and purchased 330 acres of wild
land in Westphalia Township; then there was but one house between Harlan
and Galland's Grove.
He returned home the following year and moved his
family to the county.
He built a shanty, and broke forty acres of
ground the first year; thus the improvement of his farm began, and by
hard work and good management he has one of the finest farms in the
county.
In early days Mr. Loehr had to haul his grain to and drive his
live stock to Shelby, Avoca, or Dunlap; at the latter place he has
received 17 cents a bushel for corn, and 2 cents per pound for hogs.
Mr. Loehr pursued the occupation of farming and stock-raising until the
fall of 1888, when
he engaged in the sale of farming implements.
Mr.
and Mrs. Loehr are the parents of seven children - Quirin E., Dora,
Jacob, Johannah, Nicholas, Catharine and Mary.
He and his wife are
members of the German Catholic church and attend the service at
Westphalia.
Mr. Loehr has served as township trustee, and on the board
of school directors.
Several times he has been elected to the office of
justice of the peace, but never qualified.
He was elected first trustee
of the township.
In the fall of 1887 he was elected supervisor of the
county, and is the present incumbent of the office.
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