Sielke Caecilia Christiane Margaretha PIEPER

Christine Wiese

"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago

Mrs. Christine Wiese, now living in Davenport, where she is widely known and has many friends, is the widow of Peter Wiese, long a resident of Scott county. He served as postmaster of Mount Joy for over thirty years and had a wide acquaintance in the rural districts as well as in the city. He was born in Holstein, Germany, September 4, 1832, and was a son of James and Gretchen Wiese. His father was a shoemaker in Germany and, in accordance with the laws of that country, served in the army. He continued his residence in his native land throughout his entire life.

In the schools of Germany, Peter Wiese acquired his education, after which he worked as a farm hand in his native country until 1851, when, attracted by the opportunities of the new world, he came alone to the United States. He was at that time a young man of about nineteen years. He landed at New Orleans, made his way up the Mississippi river to St. Louis and remained there for a time, owing to the fact that his brother, Claus H. Wiese, was residing there. The next spring, however, Peter Wiese continued on his way to Davenport and after reaching this city secured employment as a farm hand by the month. Later he purchased a threshing machine and engaged in threshing and farming for about thirteen years. He then went to Mount Joy and took charge of the hotel there, conducting it until it was destroyed by fire on the 11th of February, 1896. He continued to live at Mount Joy until his death, which occurred on the 6th of December, 1897. He was one of the best known men in that part of the country. He served for over thirty years as postmaster of Mount Joy and was also township clerk of Sheridan township. He likewise held other offices and at all times was loyal to the trust reposed in him, whether in connection with public affairs or otherwise. He took a contract to build forty miles of Milwaukee railroad and successfully executed it. In part payment for his services he took five hundred and sixty acres of land in Pottawttamie county, but later sold that property.

On the 24th of January, 1859, Mr. Wiese was united in marriage to Miss Christine Pieper. She was born in Holstein, Germany, April 23, 1840, near the birthplace of her husband, and was a daughter of Henry and Anna Pieper. Her mother died in Germany but the father afterward came to the United States in 1856, accompanied by Mrs. Wiese. They landed at New York and, crossing the country, made their way to Davenport, where Mr. Peiper engaged in shoemaking. Later he became proprietor of a hotel at Mount Joy, where he lived until his death on the 27th of October, 1886, when he was seventy-eight years of age. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wiese was blessed with seven children. Meta, the wife of John Ploehn, of Davenport, has bour children: John H., who married Grace Gilchrist; Elsie C.; Carl; and Camilla. Anna is the wife of Henry Priester, of Davenport, and has three children: Walter C., who married Nora Boecken and has two children, Roma and Allen; Wilma, who is the wife of Frank Junggohan and has four children, Vera, Lula, Carl and Fred; and Cora. Julius, living at Eldridge, married Anna Geortz and has two children, Elsinda B. and Rollie P. Emil, of Minnesota, married Emma Wellendorf and they have nine children: Rona; Herle; Alvin P.; Thorwald; Herbert; Ruth and Rubie, twins; Ethel; nad Lilliam. Henry, living in Eldridge, married Lena Cabel and has three children; Lois, Hazel and Donald. Christian, of Davenport, wedded Tecla Miller and they have two sons, Arnold and Otis. Helena is the wife of Herman Baustan, of Sheridan township, and has one son, Wilbert.

All through his life, save for the brief period spent in St. Louis, Peter Wiese remained a resident of Scott county after coming to the United States, and the success which he achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors, for his resources were very limited when he crossed the Atlantic. As the years went by his carefully directed labors brought him substantial success, enabling him to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances. He possessed a genial, social nature and courteous manner, and these qualities were an element in bringing to him the extended circle of friends who through his life enjoyed his companionship and since his death have only respect and commendable words for him.

Transcribed by Debbie Clough Gerischer

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