Fred H. Stopperan
Among the younger generation who are making their mark in
agricultural circles of Allamakee county is numbered Fred H.
Stopperan, who was born in Grand Meadow township, Clayton county,
Iowa, January 23, 1879, and who is now conducting an excellent
farm near Postville. He is the son of Carl and Elizabeth
(Schroeder) Stopperan, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, the
former born in 1835 and the latter in 1845. The father crossed
the Atlantic about year 1860 and located in Pennsylvania, where
for some time he worked as a deck hand on a boat. He later came
to Iowa, settling in Grand Meadow township, Clayton county, where
he rented land, which he developed and improved for four years,
later purchasing a farm. He bought at that time one hundred and
twenty acres and upon it he continued to reside until 1903, when
he retired from active life and removed into Postville, where he
died about three months afterward. His wife survives him and
makes her home in that city. They were the parents of ten
children, of whom eight are yet living, the subject of this
review being the seventh in order of birth.
Fred H. Stopperan acquired his education in district school No.
7, Grand Meadow township, and in his childhood divided his time
between his books and work upon his father's farm. He remained in
Clayton county until he was twenty-two years of age and then went
to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he spent one summer in the employ
of others. Returning to Postville, he secured a position of
driver of an ice wagon for Mr. Buecher, for whom he continued to
work for three years, resigning his position in order to learn
the cement and mason's trade. At this he became very proficient
and he continued to give his entire time to it for five years,
after which he turned his attention to farming, purchasing
ninety-seven acres of land, which he now owns. His farm is highly
improved, being provided with a fine barn and the necessary
outbuildings, together with adequate labor-saving machinery. In
addition to tilling the fields he also pays considerable
attention to stock-raising and keeps on hand a number of fine
cattle and hogs, which he feeds for the market. His fields are
very productive and the excellent condition and attractive
appearance of the entire farm is an evidence of the careful
supervision and practical labor he has expended upon it. He is a
shareholder in the Farmers Mercantile Association at Postville
and is well known in the city as a reliable and straightforward
business man.
Mr. Stopperan was married on the 17th of March, 1910, to Miss
Lena Brockmeyer, who was born in Westphalia, Germany, April 8,
1888, a daughter of Carl and Henrietta (Lampa) Brockmeyer, also
natives of that part of Germany, the former born January 28, 1843
and the latter February 13, 1849. The father was a butcher, a
farmer and a weaver in his native country but after he came to
America in 1896 he gave his entire attention to agricultural
pursuits, purchasing a farm in Fayette county, Iowa, and later
moving to Post township, Allamakee county, where he and his wife
now reside. They are the parents of five children, of whom the
wife of the subject of this review is the youngest.
Mr. Stopperan is a member of the German Lutheran church and
politically gives his allegiance to the republican party, serving
at present as school director. He is connected with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodman of
America and is well known in local fraternal circles. He
inherited the industry and integrity of his German ancestry and
aside from being numbered among the substantial farmers of the
community he is also acknowledged to be one of the representative
citizens of his township.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Dorothy Gosse
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