Christof Sander
Chrisof Sander, carrying on general farming and stock-raising
upon two hundred acres of land in Post Township, comprising one
of the finest agricultural properties in the locality, is
numbered among the earlier settlers in Iowa, his residence here
dating from 1870. He was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 16th of
January, 1849, and is a son of Juergen and Dora (Sander) Sander,
also natives of that province. They never came to America. The
father engaged in farming in his native country during all of his
active life, owning a fine property of one hundred and sixty
acres in Hanover.
Christof Sander spent his early childhood in the fatherland and
attended school there for eight years. When he was sixteen years
of age he turned his attention to farming, working at that
occupation in the employ others until 1867, when he left Germany
and came to America, landing in New York, May 1, of that year. He
pushed immediately westward to Wisconsin and located in Sac
county, where he worked upon farms for three years, coming at the
end of that time to Clayton county, Iowa, near Postville. His
capital at that time consisted of seven dollars. He obtained work
as a farm laborer and as such continued for four years, after
which he rented land for twelve years. During that time by the
exercise of unremitting industry and practical economy he saved
enough money to purchase a farm of eighty acres and to this he
has since added from time to time, the place now comprising two
hundred acres, all under a high state of cultivation. Success has
steadily rewarded his well directed labors and his farm is today
one of the finest in this section of Iowa, well equipped with
modern buildings and machinery and reflecting in its excellent
condition his many years of care and labor. Mr. Sander engages in
general farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale, keeping
hogs, cattle, sheep and horses. He is also interested in chicken
raising and is a stockholder in the Farmers cooperative Store of
Postville.
On the 16th of April, 1875, Mr. Sander was united in marriage to
Miss Caroline Schultz, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, on
the 30th of January, 1859, a daughter of Jochen and Katherine
(Miller) Schultz, who came as pioneers to Clayton county, Iowa,
but later removed to Winneshiek county, the father following
farming. Both have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Sander became the
parents of eleven children: George, who was born on the 24th of
May, 1876, and is now engaged in farming in Franklin township;
Emma, whose birth occurred February 13, 1878, and who married
John Dederick, a farmer of Winneshiek county; Ida, who was born
on the 12th of April, 1880, and is the wife of Charles Schute, a
farmer in Clayton county; Otto, who was born September 14, 1882,
and is a carpenter in Postville; Carl, who was born December 27,
1885, and is also engaged in carpentering in that city; and
Konrad, born April 23, 1888 Walter, August 30, 1892; Esther,
October 14, 1895; Mahala, January 5, 1897; Eldo, January 6, 1900;
and Caroline, May 25, 1904.
Fraternally, Mr. Sander is affiliated with the Ancient Order of
United Workmen and the Modern Brotherhood of America. A resident
of this part of Iowa for over forty years, he is well and
favorably known, his business integrity, loyalty in citizenship
and sterling qualities of character having gained for him the
respect, confidence and esteem of all his associates. He is one
of Allamkee county’s successful men and his prosperity is
the more creditable to him since it has been gained entirely
through his own energy, hard work and unremitting industry and is
the result of many years of well directed and practical labor.
-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