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Peter Pape

As the name would indicate, Peter Pape, a progressive farmer of near Eldorado, Dover township, Fayette county, is of German origin, he himself being a native of that great empire that has sent such a vast horde of her able and most welcomed citizens to our shores, for they have done a great work in placing our country abreast of any in the world, on an equality with the fatherland itself. Mr. Pape is a man who is well thought of in his community, having led a quiet, honest, law-abiding and industrious life; for after a long course of years of daily observations by his neighbors it would be out of the question for them not to know his worth, because, as has been said, “Actions speak louder than words.” In this township there is nothing heard concerning the subject of this sketch but good words. He has passed so many years here that his worth is well known, but it will be of interest to run over the busy events of his life in these pages. He was born in Germany in April 1863, the son of Henry and Anna (HINCH) Pape, who were born, reared, educated and married there, and who came to America in 1876. Their son , Peter, of this review, preceded them by about a year, having arrive here in 1875. He had received a very good education in his home country, and thus when a very young man decided to cast his lot with Americans, believing that here were larger opportunities for one of his tastes. He located in Dover township, Fayette county, Iowa, where his parents also settled when they came. The father bought ninety-five acres of land in this township, where Fred Mettelstadt now lives. The land was wild, but he was a hard worker and soon placed the land under excellent improvements and became very well established here. He was an honest man and took more that a passing interest in the affairs of the Lutheran church, of which we was a member.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pape consisted of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living. Their son Peter assisted with the work on the home farm until his marriage, in 1887, to Katherine Schatz, when he bought a farm of eighty acres in the northern part of Dover township and improved it, soon having a comfortable home. In 1900 he purchased the place where he now lives, east of Eldorado, which consists of three hundred and seventy-one acres, which was known as the ETKA place, also the Ropes place. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising in a manner that stamps him as abreast of the times in every respect. He has added many valuable improvements on his fine farm and now ranks with the best in the township, everything about the place showing thrift and good management. He has a very substantial and comfortable home and good outbuildings. Considering the fact that he started in life empty handed, and has forged to the front with out assistance, the large success that is today his, has been well earned and he is certainly deserving of much credit for what has accomplished. He has left no stone unturned whereby he could better the condition of himself and family, but at the same time he has done his full share in development of his community, looking out for others’ good as well as his own.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pape: Henry Lawrence, Fred George, Emma Annettia, William Michael, Leonard Amiel, Elmer Fred, Martha Emelia, Augustoff Samuel, and Herman Ervin.

Mr. Pape and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, and politically Mr. Pape is a Republican; for some time he was school director in his district.


~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Ann Strohmeyer