WILLIAM H. ROSSOW

William H. Rossow, successfully engaged in general farming, is the owner of a tract of land comprising one hundred and thirty acres on section 15, Cof­fins Grove township. His birth occurred in Ohio on the 1st of July, 1877, his parents being August and Maria (Buelow) Rossow, both of whom are natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in an early day and resided in Ohio until 1881, when they settled on a farm in Delaware county, Iowa. They have remained in this county throughout the intervening third of a century and are now well known and esteemed residents of Manchester. Their children are four in number, as follows: Fred, a resident of Coffins Grove township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Charles, living in Honey Creek township; Minnie, who is the wife of Bert Stewart; and William H., of this review.

The last named, who was but four years old when brought to this county by his parents, acquired his education in the common schools and remained at home until seventeen years of age. Subsequently he was employed as a farm hand until 1900 and then began the operation of a rented tract. A year later he purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land on section 15, Coffins Grove township, where he has carried on agricultural pursuits continuously and suc­cessfully since, the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.

On the 29th of August, 1906, Mr. Rossow was united in marriage to Miss Etta May Rogers, a native of Coffins Grove township, this county, and a daugh­ter of Thomas and Alice (Scott) Rogers. The father, who was also born in Delaware county, has passed away, but the mother, a native of New York, is still living. They had four children, namely: Eva S., who is the wife of Frank McFarland of Mitchell, South Dakota; Emery J., who is a resident of Wisconsin; Mrs. Etta May Rossow; and Ethel P., who gave her hand in marriage to August Sandhagen of Delaware county. Mr. and Mrs. Rossow have two chil­dren: Glenn A., who was born July 28, 1911; and Roger C., whose birth oc­curred on the 26th of December, 1912.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Rossow has sup­ported the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles.  His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs.  Their lives are upright and honorable in every relation and the circle of their friends is very wide.

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