1914 Delaware County History pgs. 63-64
CONRAD WENDEL
Conrad Wendel is the owner of a valuable farm property of four
hundred and twenty-five acres, the greater part of which lies in Honey Creek township. He makes a specialty of dairying and stock-raising
and is justly numbered among the leading farmers of Delaware county. A
native of Germany, he was born February
12, 1851,
of the marriage of Casper and Katherine Wendel,
who were also born in the fatherland. Coming to America in 1853, they settled first in
Bureau county, Illinois, and after a residence there of
twenty years removed to Delaware county, Iowa, in 1873, a location being made in Honey
Creek township, upon the farm now owned and occupied by Conrad Wendel. Upon that place the father remained until his death
and, carefully tilling his fields, brought the farm to a high state of
cultivation. To him and his wife were born eight
children, but six of the number have passed away, so that but two survive:
Minnie, who is the widow of David Hilsenbeck and who
lives in Greeley; and Conrad.
The latter
was but two years of age when brought to the new world and was a young man of
twenty-two at the time of the removal to this county. On starting in life on
his own account he began cultivating the old homestead,
which he afterward purchased. Today his landed possessions aggregate four hundred
and twenty-five acres in Honey Creek and Delaware townships. Mr. Wendel
has greatly improved his farm through the erection of fine buildings as well as
in the careful cultivation of the fields, which annually bring forth golden harvests
as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon his land. He is also engaged
successfully in dairying and stock-raising, making those lines a special
feature of his business.
In 1873 Mr.
Wendel was united in marriage to Miss Christina
Whitman, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Wolfgang and
Margaret Whitman, who were likewise natives of that country and have now passed
away. Mr. and Mrs. Wendel became the parents of six
children: Fred W., on one of his father's farms; Elizabeth, the wife of R. D.
Hooker; Minnie K., the wife of W. J. Hann; Henry E.,
who remains at home and is filling the office of township assessor; George E.,
at home; and Edward D., on one of his father's farms.
The wife
and mother passed away July 5, 1894, and was
laid to rest in the Manchester cemetery. Her death was the occasion
of deep regret not only to her immediate family but also to
many friends.
In his
political views Mr. Wendel is an earnest republican
and has long supported the party. He served for six years as assessor and has
been township trustee, school director and school trustee, the cause of education
finding in him a stalwart champion who believes that the public-school system
is the bulwark of the nation. His religious faith is that of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and his life has been guided by the teachings
of that organization.
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