Jones logo
 John Schweitzer
Born June 15, 1824
JOHN SCHWEITZER, farmer, Richland Twp., Sec. 18; P.O. Monticello; born in Switzerland in 1824; he came to this country and Jones Co. in 1850; he went to California in 1851 and engaged in mining; remained in California ten years, returning in 1861; purchased his present farm in the spring of 1862, where he settled in the fall of that year. He was married to Charlotte Yousse, who died in 1866. His present wife was Margaret Bohnar. Mr. Schweitzer has one daughter by his first marriage—Seraphina; and three children by his second wife—Charlotte, Lena and John. Mr. Schweitzer has about five hundred acres of land.

Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 691.

(paraphrased) John Schweitzer, retired, living on Section 18 of Richland Twp., Jones Co., IA. He was born in Switzerland June 15, 1824. Father Benedict Schweitzer was a farmer from Switzerland. Mother Anna Zuter. John was the second of 8 children, all of whom reside in Germany with the exception of 2 brothers and 1 sister who make their home in IL, WI, and MN (the siblings are not named).
After age 16, in his native homeland, John learned the miller's and baker's trades. He came to America in 1850, leaving from Havre, France, and arriving in New York after a 43-day voyage. He immediately made his way to IL and in the fall of the year went via the Isthmus to CA. Mined gold for 5 years. After 5 years, he returned by way of NY. He then came to Jones Co., and today is one of the biggest landowners in the county, with over 600 broad acres. He has 25-50 dairy cows. His barns are large and commodious and everything about the place shows the supervision of an intelligent and enterprising farmer.
In 1862, he married Charlotte Yousee, daughter of Benedict Yousee (really spelled Yousse). They had a daughter Saraphine. Charlotte died in 1866.
John then married Margaret Boner. They had 3 children: Charlotte, who is the wife of John Marugg, a farmer in this county; Lena, who married Casper Buol; and John W. The son is a very intelligent and enterprising young man and since his father retired has charge of the large estate. The family occupy a substantial stone residence, which is surrounded by a beautiful lawn and shade and ornamental trees.
John is a Democrat. He arrived in the U.S. with only $80 in his pocket. He is a Director in the Monticello Bank, and one of the largest taxpayers in his township. John and Margaret belong to the American German Church.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones, and Clayton Counties, Iowa, Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894.
Submitted by: Lori J. Mentzel

image

© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
Last updated on Friday, 16-Apr-2021 16:53:32 MST