Individual Details
Johannes "John" Holdefer
(31 Jan 1815 - 21 Apr 1904)
John Holdefer, a respected citizen of Harrison Township, is carrying on the joint business of blacksmithing and farming. He is comfortably situated on Section 36. Mr. Holdefer is a native of the Kingdom of Bavaria, and was born January 13, 1815. He came to the United States when a young man of twenty-two years, unaccompanied by any friend or relative, landing in New York City the fall of 1837 (old family photo says he landed in Baltimore). He stayed over the winter in Baltimore, MD, and in the spring of 1838 he moved to Pittsburgh where he worked as a blacksmith. He met and married his wife Anna Marie Weigel Nov 9, 1838. After spending a few months in Cincinnati and Baltimore, OH he came to Fort Madison, IA and remained until August 1840 when he moved to Franklin, IA where he worked at his blacksmith trade for four years. In 1844 he moved to a farm near Donnellson. He then moved to onto a farm on the prairie, alternately pursuing his trade and cultivating his land for a period of eight years. At the expiration of this time, he parted with his first purchase, and selected eighty acres further north, upon which he remained for a few years, and then purchased 160 acres on Section 36 of Harrison Township where he has remained and established his present household.
Mr. Holdefer has been twice married, the first time in Pittsburgh, in 1838, to Miss Anna Marie Weigel, who became the mother of eleven children. She departed this life in 1861. Their children were named Jacob, John, Lucinda, George, Elizabeth, Daniel, Phillip, Charlie, Henry, Phoebe, and Mary. Mary died at the age of two years. Daniel and Phoebe are married. For his second wife, Mr. Holdefer married Mrs. Caroline Rhoda (or Rhode) in 1864, the widow of Fred Rhoda. The present Mrs. Holdefer is a native of Wurtemberg, and was born in 1805. In the spring of 1867 he moved to Warren, Lee county, IA.
His second wife died Nov 8, 1890. He left his Donnellson farm (Warren corner) and moved in with his daughter Elizabeth Rau at 1422 Des Moines St, Keokuk, IA. There was a wonderful family reunion Jan 28, 1895 on the 80th birthday of John Holdefer, all children attended and a complete family photo was taken. His daughter Elizabeth cared for him until his death April 21, 1904.
Mr. Holdefer has been twice married, the first time in Pittsburgh, in 1838, to Miss Anna Marie Weigel, who became the mother of eleven children. She departed this life in 1861. Their children were named Jacob, John, Lucinda, George, Elizabeth, Daniel, Phillip, Charlie, Henry, Phoebe, and Mary. Mary died at the age of two years. Daniel and Phoebe are married. For his second wife, Mr. Holdefer married Mrs. Caroline Rhoda (or Rhode) in 1864, the widow of Fred Rhoda. The present Mrs. Holdefer is a native of Wurtemberg, and was born in 1805. In the spring of 1867 he moved to Warren, Lee county, IA.
His second wife died Nov 8, 1890. He left his Donnellson farm (Warren corner) and moved in with his daughter Elizabeth Rau at 1422 Des Moines St, Keokuk, IA. There was a wonderful family reunion Jan 28, 1895 on the 80th birthday of John Holdefer, all children attended and a complete family photo was taken. His daughter Elizabeth cared for him until his death April 21, 1904.
Events
| Birth | 31 Jan 1815 | Albesheim, Rhein, Germany | |||
| Occupation | 1838 | Pittsburg, PA |  | ||
| Marriage | 9 Nov 1838 | Pittsburg, PA - Anna Mary Weigel | |||
| Property | 1844 | a Farm - Lee County, Iowa Territory, United States | | ||
| Residence | Abt 1851 | the corner of Franklin Rd. and hwy 218 two miles north of Donnellson, the Peter Fett farm | |||
| Residence | 1860 | Franklin, Lee county, IA, USA | |||
| Marriage | 30 Oct 1864 | Caroline Rhode | |||
| Residence | 1900 | Jackson Twp, Lee Co, IA | |||
| Death | 21 Apr 1904 | 1423 Des Moines Street, Keokuk, Lee County, IA |  | ||
| Immigration | in the fall of 1837 | New York, NY | |
Families
| Spouse | Anna Mary Weigel (1819 - 1861) |
| Child | Elizabeth Holdefer (1849 - 1944) |
| Child | Jacob Holdefer (1839 - 1917) |
| Child | John Holdefer (1842 - 1912) |
| Child | Lucinda Holdefer (1844 - 1929) |
| Child | George Holdefer (1845 - 1917) |
| Child | Mary Holdefer (1847 - 1849) |
| Child | Daniel Holdefer (1851 - 1934) |
| Child | Phillip Holdefer (1853 - ) |
| Child | Carl "Charles" Holdefer (1855 - 1951) |
| Child | Heinrich Nikolaus "Henry" Holdefer (1857 - 1930) |
| Child | Philippine Caroline "Phoebe" Holdefer (1859 - 1922) |
| Spouse | Caroline Rhode (1805 - 1890) |
Notes
Occupation
He first settled in Pittsburgh where he began his trade as a Blacksmith. About 1840 they moved to Ft. Madison, Iowa when it was then only a small settlement.Property
The deed (Certificate 10449) copied in the Donnellson, IA library shows that John Holdefer purchased the west half of the north west quarter of section 33 in township 68 north range 6 west in the district of lands subject to sale at Fairfield, Iowa Territory containing 80 acres. Date of the sale was May 13, 1844, the purchase price was $100. John Holdefer and wife Anna Marie sold the south 40 acres to John Low April 18, 1851 for $90. They sold the north 40 acres to Daniel Vogt for $1000 dated Jan 3, 1856.Immigration
He stayed over the winter in Baltimore. In the spring of 1838 he went to Pitttsburg, PA.Endnotes
1. John Holdefer Obituary, Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA, 22 April 1904. Title was Ripe in Years and Virtue..