My Genealogy Hound

Fred L. Neisemier owns and cultivates a farm of two hundred and sixty-five acres on section 15, Jones township, and the place presents a neat and attractive appearance. It is conveniently located within a half mile of Thayer, so that the advantages of the town are easily accessible, while those of rural life are also enjoyed. In his business dealings Mr. Neisemier is recognized as an enterprising, straightforward and reliable farmer and one who is a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of his native county. He was born in Jones township upon the farm which is yet his place of residence, February 28, 1867.

His father, Christian Neisemier, was a native of Germany, born in 1829, and when a young man he came to the new world, settling first in Morgan county, Illinois. Later he wedded Miss Mary Schrantmier, also a native of the fatherland. To provide for the support of himself and family he worked by the month during the early period of his residence in the new world and later he cultivated a rented farm. About 1858 he arrived in Iowa and with the capital which he had previously saved from his earnings he purchased eighty acres of land in partnership with his brother Fred, who died here at a later date. The improvements upon the farm were very few. Only a small portion had been placed under the plow and a little cabin had been built, but with characteristic energy Mr. Neisemier began to further improve and develop the farm and as his financial resources permitted he extended his boundaries by buying an additional tract of one hundred and twenty acres. He also added modern equipments, erecting a good dwelling and substantial barns and outbuildings. Year by year he carried on the work of the fields and as time went by gained a fair measure of prosperity in his undertakings. His last years were spent upon the old homestead, where he had so long resided, his death occurring May 7, 1905. His widow still survives and resides with a daughter in Thayer.

Fred L. Neisemier is one of two sons and the family also numbered five daughters. Four of the children are still living. As a farm boy the subject of this review spent his boyhood and youth in the work of the fields. He enjoyed the educational privileges afforded by the Thayer schools and under the direction of his father he was trained in the work of the farm. Eventually he purchased the old homestead and cared for his father until his death. He has erected a large and attractive two-story frame residence and has also built a good barn, while he has enclosed his fields with well kept fences, some of woven wire and some of planks. An orchard of his own planting bears its fruits in season and in the pastures and feed lots are found good grades of stock, for he annually raises and feeds about a carload of hogs each year. In his work he has prospered because he is leading a busy and active life and in his dealings he is ever found reliable and straightforward.

Mr. Neisemier was married in Jones township on the 8th of December, 1899, to Miss Dolly A. Searl, who was born near Princeton, in Bureau county, her father, James M. Searl, having removed to this state at an early day. Two children grace this marriage, Marie Elizabeth and Christian L.

In his political views Mr. Neisemier is a democrat upon national issues but at local elections does not consider himself bound by party ties. He was elected and is now serving on the village council and he has been high way commissioner. He belongs to the Catholic church, being a communicant at Afton, and at all times he gives effective support to those movements and measures which are calculated to advance the material, intellectual and moral progress of the community. Moreover, he is numbered among the early settlers of the county. He has herded cattle all over the prairie, living here at the time when much of the land was unfenced and provided an open range for those who wished to feed their stock. Today every acre of land is claimed and the greater part of it is under cultivation, making Union county one of the richest and most productive agricultural districts of this state, which stands first in the Union in the production of corn and which also sends to the markets of the world some of the finest stock raised in America.