John Palas, farmer, postoffice St. Olaf, son of Jacob and Eliza (Wiegman) Palas, natives of Germany, was born in the country on Oct. 14, 1831. He was educated in Germany, and came to the United States in 1855. He at once engaged in farming and now owns 710 acres of good land, and lives on section 30; his farm is nearly all well improved, and he is raising fine stock as a specialty, and owns several choice breeds. In 1858 he married Carolina, daughter of Frederick Prust, a native of Germany, by whom he had three children - John, born Dec. 9, 1859; Mary (deceased), born Dec. 8, 1861; William, Jan. 29, 1864. Mrs. Carolina Palas died Feb. 6, 1864, and in June, 1864 Mr. Palas married Carolina, daughter of George and Mary (Plotz) Voss, natives of Germany. By this union there are ten children - Bertha, June 25, 1865; Carolina, July 1, 1866 (deceased); Ida, born July 17, 1868; Anna, Feb. 14, 1870 (deceased); Henry, Nov. 24, 1871; Fritz, July 17, 1873; Louis, July 25, 1875; Louisa, Jan. 19, 1877; Herman, Apr. 25, 1879, and Arthur, May 19, 1881. Mr. Palas and family are members of the Lutheran church. He votes the Republican ticket. Mr. Palas came to Clayton County in limited circumstances, having but $25 to call his own. By hard work and untiring perserverance he has accumulated a fine property and home. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 780 |