Henry Lenz
Henry Lenz owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and
twenty acres on section 4, Center township, a property upon which
he was born, and his genuine personal worth and excellent
business qualifications entitle him to mention with the
representative citizens of the community. moreover, he is one of
the successful stock-raisers in this section of the state and his
interests along this line are extensive and important. He was
born August 22, 1855, and is a son of Fred Lenz, a native of
Prussia, Germany. The father served for three years in the German
army, taking part in the revolution of 1848, and afterwards came
to America, making his first location in Waverly, Ohio. After
three years in that city he came to Allamakee county and
purchased from the government one hundred and twenty acres upon
which the subject of this review now makes his home. Papers show
that this land was filed June 15, 1854. Fred Lenz became a
successful and prominent farmer, winning a place among the
substantial residents of this section. In the early days he
erected log buildings upon his property and some of these are
still standing. He afterward added one hundred and sixty acres to
his holdings but the farm has now been reduced to its original
proportions. He died upon this farm August 18, 1894. He had
married at Waverly, Ohio, Miss Barbara Vogler, a native of
Bavaria, Germany, who passed away April 20, 1911. Both were
members of the German Methodist Episcopal church. They became the
parents of six children, two of whom are now living, namely:
Henry, the subject of this review; Mrs. Emma Englehorn, of
Spokane, Washington. Those deceased were: Katie, who died at the
age of twelve; Mary, who passed away when she was six years of
age; John, who died at the age of four; and William, whose death
occurred when he was two years of age.
Henry Lenz acquired his education in the district schools of
Center township and afterward attended the Methodist Episcopal
Church College at Galena, Illinois. He made his home with his
parents as long as they lived and after their deaths purchased
the old home place, upon which he has resided during his entire
life. Upon it he has made substantial improvements and it is
today a valuable and productive property, worthy of comparison
with the best farms in Allamakee county. For the past twenty
years Mr. Lenz has dealt extensively in register pure-blooded
Poland China hogs which he breeds and raises, and it is said that
he has done more than any other man to improve the breed of hogs
in this locality. He has exhibited at state fairs in Wisconsin
and Iowa and has disposed of some fine animals at excellent
prices. All of his business interest are capably conducted and
his success places him among the men of affluence in this
community.
In Allamakee county, in 1876, Mr. Lenz married Miss Mary
Gramlich, a daughter of Ernest Gramlich, of whom more extended
mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Lenz are the
parents of eight children: Emma, who married William Parks, of
Gillette, Wyoming; William, who resides in Church, Iowa; Nettie,
the wife of Charles Yahnke, of Klemme, Iowa; Theodore, who is
engaged in farming at Eagle Bend, Minnesota; Ed, who is following
agricultural pursuits at Eagle Bend, Minnesota; Clara, the wife
of Fremont Bauman, of Lansing township; and Harry and Edna, who
live at home. The parents are members of the German Methodist
Episcopal church.
Until the election of 1912. Mr. Lenz gave his political
allegiance to the republican party but at that time he allied his
interests with the new progressive party. He has always been
active and interested in public affairs and has held various
responsible official positions, including those of township
assessor, school director, and treasurer and secretary of the
school board. He is a man of genial nature, broadly educated,
well informed and an interesting and fluent talker, and he has
gained an enviable place in the favorable regard of his fellow
citizens, among whom his entire life has been passed.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index