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GOTTLIEB ABBY,
postmaster of Abbyville, Delaware county, Iowa, and one of that
county's most successful farmers, is a native of Switzerland.
His parents, John and Elizabeth (Buttikofar) Abby, were both
natives of Switzerland, the mother dying there in 1844, aged
about forty years. These were the parents of four children, all
of whom became grown and named as follows: John, Jacob,
Gottlieb, our subject, and Elizabeth. Of the above named
children, Elizabeth became the wife of Chris Boerki and made her
home in St. Louis, Mo., where she died about seven years ago.
Gottlieb Abby, the subject of this brief sketch, was born in
Switzerland in February, 1839. He was reared in his native
country until fourteen years of age and received a good common
school education. In 1852 the father, with his family,
immigrated to the United States and located in St. Louis, Mo.,
where they remained two years. In 1855 our subject, accompanied
by his two brothers, John and Jacob, came to Iowa and entered an
eighty acre tract of raw prairie land on which he settled
and which he still retains as his homestead. Here he at once
began his improvement, and by industry and good management has
been able to add to his original tract of land, until he now
owns no less than three hundred and twenty acres, all in a good
state of cultivation and well improved. He has also erected a
comfortable residence with all necessary out buildings, all of
which are surrounded by handsome groves. In addition to
agriculture Mr. Abby devotes much time and attention to stock
raising and dairying. In 1889 he established a creamery on his
farm, his dairy stock consisting of about thirty cows of the
best grade. At this he has been very successful, as he is in
everything he undertakes, but his success in all things is due
to his industry, economy and strict business habits.
In 1862 he entered the Union army as a private in Company F,
Twenty seventh Iowa volunteer infantry. During his service he
was in Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and
Arkansas, taking part in all the engagements in which the Twenty
seventh participated. He served until the close of the war and
received an honorable discharge at Clinton, Iowa, August 7,
1865.
November 28, 1861, Mr. Abby was united in marriage with Miss
Ellen Younie, of Hazel Green township. She is a daughter of
Louis and Jane (Maxwell) Younie, natives of Scotland, who
settled in this county in 1861, but subsequently moved to Sioux
county, Iowa, where they now live. Mrs. Abby is a native of
Canada, born January 16, 1852. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Abby
has been made happy by the birth of five children, as follows:
William, John, Elmer, Lizzie and Louis.
In politics Mr. Abby is a republican, and is active and
energetic in the support of his party. He has been called to
fill several local offices, the duties of which he discharged
with credit to himself and satisfaction to those concerned, and
is now serving as postmaster of Abbyville. He is also an honored
member of G. A. K. Post, No. 457, of Coggon, Linn county, Iowa.
Mr. Abby is an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and takes
great interest in all matters relating to the welfare of his
adopted town and county. He and his family are held in high
esteem in the community in which they live and their friends are
numbered by their acquaintances. |
