My Genealogy Hound

Albert J. Leininger, who is living on section 19, Union township, is one of the native sons of Union county, his birth having occurred in Platte township, March 9, 1860. His father, a resident of the county for more than a half century, was for many years an active and enterprising farmer here, dating his residence in the county from October 6, 1857. He was born in Alsace, France, October 12, 1834, and celebrated the thirteenth anniversary of his birth while crossing the Atlantic to the new world. With his parents he left Havre on a sailing vessel which reached the American port thirty-one days later. His father and mother settled on a farm in Erie county, New York, where John Leininger remained until attaining his majority and then removed westward to Knox county, Illinois, where he spent five months at farm work. On the expiration of that period he came to Union county, Iowa, where he made a permanent location, settling on section 4, Union township, north of Afton. There he bought land upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made, but with characteristic energy he developed a new farm of one hundred and twenty acres and afterward bought more land, until within the boundaries of his place were comprised three hundred and twenty acres. He made substantial improvements and carried on agricultural pursuits there from 1864 until 1895, when he rented his place and removed to Afton, purchasing thirty acres. Upon this tract he built a new home in 1904 and took possession of it on the 6th of July of that year. It has since been his place of residence.

After coming to the west, John Leininger returned to Erie county, New York, and was married, on the 10th of March, 1859, to Anna D. Henrietta Stephens, who was born and reared in Prussia. They became the parents of five children, of whom A. J. Leininger is the eldest. The others are: Matilda, a teacher of this county; Lena, the wife of Jesse Smith, of Wright county, Iowa; Clara, the wife of Arthur L. White, of Afton; and George, who is located at Wray, Colorado. The parents are members of the United Evangelical church of Afton and in politics Mr. Leininger was originally a democrat, afterward a republican and is now a prohibitionist. While on the farm he served as road supervisor and also as a member of the school board. During the long period of his residence here he has ever advocated substantial progress in material, social, intellectual and moral lines. He well merits the rest which he is now enjoying and which has come to him as the reward of earnest, persistent labor.

A. J. Leininger, the immediate subject of this review, was only two, years old when his parents removed from Platte to Union township. He acquired his early education in the common schools and afterward attended the business college at Naperville, Illinois. He later aided in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm for two years and then went west, where he was employed for one year at railroad work and also in a flour mill for two years. He likewise spent a similar period on a farm in Colorado, and two years in Kansas, where he engaged in the cultivation of a rented farm. On the expiration of that period he returned to Iowa and bought eighty acres of land in Union township. With characteristic energy he began its further development and built a barn and other substantial outbuildings, also a good residence, and in improving the fields displayed most practical, progressive methods. After living on that farm for thirteen years he sold the property and bought two hundred acres where he now resides. He has a substantial residence, barn, silo and other outbuildings. The silo is cement and iron, thirty-five feet in height and fourteen feet round, holding one hundred and ten tons. In addition to the cultivation of the fields he also raises good grades of stock, including shorthorn cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs, and some draft horses and his livestock interests are an important source of revenue to him. He is also engaged in the dairy business.

In February, 1885, Mr. Leininger was married to Miss Hannah Sullivan, a native of Henry county, Iowa, and a daughter of Steven Sullivan, who came to this state at an early day. Three daughters and a son were born to them but Leo was killed by lightning at the age of sixteen years. The wife and mother died in 1896, at the age of thirty-six years, and Mr. Leininger was again married in 1898, his second union being with Nellie McCann, a native of Iowa and a daughter of John McCann. The children of the first marriage now living are: Florence, who is a graduate of the Afton high school and attended schools at Cedar Falls and is now engaged in teaching; Anna, who attended high school; and Agnes, who is yet a student. The two children of the second marriage are Helen and John.

Mr. Leininger is independent in politics, preferring to vote for men and measures rather than party. He has served as school director and for four years was president of the school board. He was also township assessor one term, township clerk for eight years and is filling the position at the present writing. He has been a delegate to several county conventions and was candidate on the populist ticket for the office of county treasurer. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church of Afton and are well known in the community. His entire life has been spent in this county, where he is well known. He began life empty handed, but his energy and enterprise have overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in his path and he has worked his way steadily upward, being now the owner of one of the best improved farms in Union county. He is, moreover, a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, for the name of Leininger has figured in connection with the history of this state for more than a half century. He was one of the organizers of the Farmer’s Cooperative Company of Afton and has been manager since its organization.