John A. MUNCHRATH

  General Notes:

Source: Past and Present of Shelby County Iowa by Edward S. White, B.A., LL.B., Volume II, 1915, page 1177:

MUENCHRATH, JOHN A.

JOHN A. MUENCHRATH. John A. Muenchrath, son of Bernard and Kate (Wahkum) Muenchrath, was born on thefarm where he now lives, December 26, 1884. His father was a native of Germany and came to America with his parents when he was about three years old. They first settled in Missouri and here he received his education. He worked on a farm for a short time, found employment on the boats of the Mississippi river, and also split rails and fence posts in the timber of Missouri. He continued to live in Missouri until after his marriage, buying a small farm in that state on which he lived until 1883. In that year he brought his family to Shelby county, Iowa, in an ox cart and purchased 80 acres of land in Union township, which he later increased to 440 acres. A few years ago he retired from active farm life and divided his farm among his children. Bernard Muenchrath and wife were the parents of a large family: Elizabeth, the wife of Hugo Hendricks; Clara, wife of Bernard Sapke; Christian, who married Barbara Thielan; William who married Theresa Konz; John A.; Caroline, wife of Edward Feser; Frederick and Anton, single, and one child who died in infancy. John A. Muenchrath received his education in the Catholic schools at Earling, Iowa, and early in life began to work upon the home farm. He remained with his father until he was 21 years of age and then rented a farm for himself until 1910 when he purchased his present farm of 120 acres. He is engaged in general farming, dividing his time between the raising of crops and livestock. Mr. Muenchrath was married April 28, 1910 to Amelia Greve, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Greve, and to this union have been born two children: Edwin and Carola. His wife's parents were natives of Germany and came to this county about 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Greve were the parents of 10 children: August; William who married Maggie Relander; Henry who married Mary Muenchrath; Otto; Josepha, wife of William Blum who died in January 1904; Adaline, wife of Henry Feltman, and Amelia, wife of Mr. Muenchrath; Frank, another son, died in the service of the German army. Two died in infancy. Mrs. Greve died in 1907, her husband having passed away a few years before that time. Mr. Muenchrath's mother died in 1895, while his father is still living with his children. Politically, Mr. Muenchrath is a member of the Democratic party, but has never been active in political matters. He has served as school director and in this capacity favored all worthy measures which were calculated to benefit the schools. He and his family are loyal members of the Catholic church, while Mr. Muenchrath himself is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is still a young man and the success which has attended his efforts so far indicate that he has a prosperous future before him.

John married Amelia GRAEVE, daughter of Frank Henry (Greve) GRAEVE and Elizabeth ENGEL, on 28 Apr 1910 in Shelby Co., IA, USA. (Amelia GRAEVE was born on 28 Apr 1888 in Hützemert, NW, DEU and died in Rockyford, Alberta, Canada.)