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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Herman Zietlow.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Zietlow

Herman Zietlow is engaged in general farming on section 28, Summerset township, and is numbered among that substantial class of citizens that Germany has contributed to the new world.  While born across the water, however, he is thoroughly American in spirit and interests.  His birth occurred on the 12th of June, 1862, his parents being William and Henrietta (Luebtke) Zietlow, who spent their entire lives in Germany.  Under the parental roof Herman Zietlow remained through the period of his boyhood and youth and his educational opportunities were such as the public schools afforded.  He also served for three years in the German army.  His father owned a large farm in Germany and after Herman Zietlow left the service he worked with his father in the further development and improvement of the fields until 1888, when, thinking that he might find still better advantages in the new world he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, being then a young man of twenty-six years.

He arrived in New York city on the 4th of July, but he did not tarry in the east, continuing his journey at once to the middle west.  For five years he was engaged in the cultivation of two hundred and forty acres of land in Summerset township.  He rented that property, but while engaged in cultivating the tract he carefully saved his earnings and in 1902 his capital had become sufficient to enable him to purchase his present home farm of one hundred and sixty acres.  All of the buildings upon the place are thoroughly modern, having been erected by Mr. Zietlow.  He has secured the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and has surrounded his place with well kept fences.  He has also studied the conditions of the soil and is carefully cultivating his crops, so that good results are obtained.

In 1895 Mr. Zietlow was united in marriage to Miss Anna Bliese, a native of Germany, who was born August 8, 1873, and was a little maiden of ten summers when she was brought by her parents to this country.  She is a daughter of Carl Bliese, a merchant tailor of Fontanelle.  To Mr. and Mrs. Zietlow have been born eight children, the eldest of whom is Amelia, and organist of Fontanelle, playing the new pipe organ in the Lutheran church.  The others are:  Martha, Emma, Carl, Marie, Herman, Jr., William and Albert.

Mr. Zietlow votes with the democratic party and is conversant with the important questions and issues of the day.  He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church and are loyal to its teachings.  Although he came to this country a poor man he is now one of the substantial farmers of Adair county and in addition to his agricultural interests he has stock in the Fontanelle Lumber Company and in the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.  His good judgment is evidenced in the fact that he has not squandered his time and his labors are wisely directed.  He has worked diligently and persistently as the years have gone on and the wise use that he has made of his time and opportunities has brought him substantial success.

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