1890 Buchanan and Delaware Counties History pgs. 240-241

HENRY NIEMAN, a prosperous farmer of Elk township, Delaware county, is a native of Prussia, and was born March 18, 1833.    He is a son of Frederick W. and Mary (Meyer) of Prussia. His parents came to America in 1845, reaching New Orleans after a voyage of nine weeks, from which place they proceeded to Cincinnati, residing there one year, whence they moved to Iowa, settling in Guttenburg, Clayton county. They subsequently lived and died in that county, the father in Guttenburg, and the mother on their farm on Turkey river. The father was engaged in farming after coming to Iowa and accumulated some   property   before   his death.   He was a quiet, industrious citizen, for many years  a member  of  the Lutheran   church,  and   a   kind-hearted, generous man.   The mother was a thrifty house-wife and looked diligently after the proper training of her children, and took a lively interest in their welfare as long as she lived.   There were five children in the family, all of whom  are now living, these being-Henry,  William,  Caroline, Eliza and Mary.

Henry, whose name is placed  at the head   of this sketch, was about   twelve years old when he came to America.    He was only a lad when he came to Iowa, but young as he was he came alone, preceding the family some months.    He stopped at Guttenburg, in   Clayton county, and secured   his   first   employment   in   that place as a clerk in a general store.    Following that he was  variously engaged, working at whatever he could to earn an honest dollar.   He   remained   at   home during the time, giving his parents the benefit of his labors until he was about twenty-five years of age.    Then he pushed out into the world and began to work for himself. He had previously worked on the farm, and he chose this line of occupation for permanent employment.    In 1862 he married and from that time on redoubled his efforts.    In 1867 he purchased land in Delaware county, moved on it and began then to build with a definite end in view. He still resides where he settled at that time, having added to his original purchase other tracts, until he now owns a farm of five hundred acres in section 24, Elk township, which is one of the best improved and most desirable places in the township.    The improvements, as well as the land itself, represent his own labor. He began his career with nothing.    He has accumulated a large amount of property, notwithstanding he has met with a number of reverses.   Mr. Nieman is an energetic and   intelligent   man and  his success has been the result of his persevering industry and thoroughgoing business methods.    He holds in a high degree the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and fellow-citizens,  and  is   universally mentioned by those who know him with marks of respect and high consideration.

June 26, 1862, is the date of Mr. Nieman's marriage.    His wife's maiden name was Louisa Niederfranke, being a daughter of Charles and Catherine Niederfranke, who were natives of Prussia, where Mrs. Nieman was also born. She was residing at the time of her marriage in Clayton county, Iowa, having accompanied   her  mother  and step-father to this country when a child.   Her father died in Prussia, and her mother in St. Louis soon after coming to the United States, she falling a victim to that dread disease, cholera.    Mrs. Nieman is a sister of Casper H. Niederfranke, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.    The facts of her ancestral history will appear more fully in  that  sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Nieman have had ten children, all but one of whom are now living. These are-Amanda, Johnnie (deceased), Mary, William K., Lydia E., Charles H., Lena C., Martin B., Louisa S. and Henry A.

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