Morten C. Deering

 

One of the most alert, enterprising and progressive young agriculturists of Post township is Morten C. Deering, who now operated three hundred and thirty-six acres of fine land in this vicinity, comprising the farm upon which he was born on the 2d of October, 1880. He is a son of Charles and Caroline Deering natives of Germany, the former born on the 12th of October, 1833, and the latter in 1837. When he was about twenty-one years of age the father crossed the Atlantic and after arriving in the United States settled on the shores of Lake Superior, in Michigan, where he engaged in burning charcoal until he came to Iowa about 1871. In this state he purchased the farm in Post township, Allamakee county, whereon his son now resides, finding it an unimproved and wild tract, which he cleared of timber before he could begin the work of development. This he carried forward, with characteristic energy and determination developing a fine farm, upon which he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 20th of September, 1912. He had survived his wife some years, her death having occurred in July, 1902. In their family were five children; Laura, the wife of Oliver Mackey, a farmer near Odebolt, Iowa; Frank, who is an undertaker in Washington; Minnie, the wife of Richard James, of Harvey, North Dakota; Hattie, who married James Maloney, a farmer near Esmond, in the same state; and Morten C., of this review.

The last named acquired his education in the Evergreen school near his father’s farm and his childhood was spent upon the homestead. From an early age he assisted with the farm work, becoming thoroughly familiar with the best and most practical agricultural methods, and at the age of seventeen he began his independent career, working at farm labor in the employ of others for some time. When he was twenty-one years of age he purchased the homestead of two hundred and thirty-four acres, to which he has since added from time to time, his holdings now comprising three hundred and thirty-six acres. Upon this property he has made substantial improvements, erecting new barns and outbuildings and stock-raising and both branches of his enterprise, being well conducted, are also profitable and important. A progressive and enterprising young man, Mr. Deering keeps in touch with the trend of modern advancement in agricultural methods and ideas and his work has been important as an element in the later farming development of his native section.

On the 11th of October, 1903, Mr. Deering was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Uhl, a native of Franklin township, born October 11, 1881. She is a daughter of John and Ann (Cleverley) Uhl, the former a native of Brooklyn, New York, born March 22, 1854, and the latter born in England, on the 21st of October, 1840. The father acquired his education in the public schools of his native city and after the death of his parents came in 1872 to Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for a short time. Later he purchased property of his own in Post township and also a number of acres across the line in Franklin township and upon this farm he continued to reside for the remainder of his life, his death occurring June 20, 1905. His wife survives him and makes her home with the subject of this review. She had been previously married and by her first union had four children: Adeline, deceased; Fred; Gertie, and George. Mr. and Mrs. John Uhl had three children: Stella, who married Perry Cook, a farmer in Post township; Bertha, the wife of the subject of this review; and Jesse, residing on the home farm in Post township. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Deering have been born also three children: Irving Charles, whose birth occurred on the 1st of June, 1907; Dorothy Irene, born on the 10th of February, 1909; and Esther Stella, born April 12, 1911. Mr. Deering is a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America but his fraternal affiliations are not extensive, his attention being centered upon the development of his farm, which is one of the finest and best managed in this vicinity.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich

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