William H. Sebastian
One of the most prominent and progressive young farmers of
Allamakee county is William H. Sebastian, who owns and operates a
fine property of one hundred and ten acres in Franklin township,
constituting the farm upon which he was born on the 18th of July,
1886. He is a son of Frank and Maggie (Meyer) Sebastian, the
former a native of Germany and the latter of Springfield,
Clayton, Iowa. The father crossed the Atlantic when he was a
young man and settle in Clayton county, where he resided for a
number of years becoming well know as a progressive and
successful farmer. About 1882 he moved to Allamakee county and
settled on the farm where on the subject of this review now
resides. Later he moved to a smaller property just south of
Postville, and after three years took up his residence upon
another track of land just west of Postville, in Winneshiek
county. Upon this he continued to reside until 1908 or 1909 he
moved to the city and retire from active business life. He is
still an extensive landowner, managing valuable holdings in
Allamakee and Winneshiek counties. He and his wife became the
parents of seven children. Of whom the subject of this review is
the fourth in order of birth.
In the acquirement of an education William H. Sebastian attended
district school in Winneshiek county and was a student in the
public schools of Hardin for one term. In his childhood he
assisted his father with the work of the farm and before he had
attained his majority was a progressive and able agriculturist.
At the age of twenty-one he hired out as a farm hand, working in
the employ of others for three years and then taking up his
residence upon the family homestead in Franklin township, upon
which he has since resided. His holdings comprise one hundred and
ten acres and he here engages in general farming, success
steadily attending his well direct efforts. He has made many
substantial improvement in buildings and equipment and, following
always the most practical and progressive methods, has made his
farm one of the finest in this part of the state.
Mr. Sebastian married, on the 26th of January, 1910, Miss Amanda
Gericke, who was born in 1890 and is a sister of John Gericke, of
further mention was made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs.
Sebastian are the parents of a son, Harold, who was born May 19,
1912.
Mr. Sebastian is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Store
in Postville and his ability is widely recognized in business
circles of that city. In the community where he was born and
where his entire life has been spent he is well known and highly
respected his genuine personal worth commanding the confidence
and regard of all who come in contact with him.
-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