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Charles Westphal |
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| Charles Westphal, whose large farm in Wyoming township, represents the results of his own labors, was born in Germany and is a son of Adolph and Christina Westphal. They were born and reared in that land, which they could never be induced to leave although three of their four sons came to America and found homes is this county. They were Charles, the subject of this sketch: Louis, who lives in Jones county; and Henry, a resident of Wyoming township. Frederick, the third son has remained in Germany, living with his parents until their death.
It was in 1872 that Charles Westphal started upon his journey to the United States. He had received his education in the land of his birth, so that the years he has spent here have been devoted entirely to making a place for himself among his fellow citizens. On landing on our shores he went first to Chicago, where he remained six months and then went to Clinton county, Iowa, where he stayed a year, working as a farm hand. Having acquired some familiarity with the language and customs of the country, he came in 1899, to Wyoming township, Jones county, where he purchased the farm on which he is living today. It consists of two hundred and ninety-six acres, lying on section 20, is well improved as the result of his efforts, and is cultivated with a skill that makes it productive of large harvests. In addition to his purely agricultural interests, he has given a great deal of attention to the raising and feeding of stock so
that each year sees from seventy-five to eighty of his animals shipped to the large markets. By unremitting industry he has won a substantial position among the farmers of his township, and besides having more than a competence for his own needs' he has been able to establish two of his sons in life.
While living in Chicago, Mr. Westphal wedded Miss Sophia Rice, who was born in Germany and came to this country at the same time, as did her husband. Their union has been blessed with six children: Henry, Fred and Louis, all farmers in this county; and John, Charles and Matilda, at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Westphal are members of the German Lutheran church and take an active interest in its work. Politically he affiliates with the republicans, that being the party to which he looked for guidance when first he was admitted to citizenship in this republic. He has aspired to no office, however, but he has served-as school director, with an efficiency that was born of a desire to see the local institutions of instruction brought to the highest standard possible. By his life he has proved to his countrymen that America is the land of opportunity, for everything he possesses today is the result of his own exertions, and he maintains his right to be called one of the self-made men of this nation.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 636. |
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© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
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