Alt, William, Jr.

ALT, HAYS

Posted By: Neoma Thomas (email)
Date: 10/13/2012 at 15:07:30

The following is from "History of Audubon County, Iowa / 1915", pp. 679-680

"William Alt, Jr., who owns a well-improved farm of two hundred and ten acres in Audubon township, Audubon county, Iowa, was born in Carroll county, Illinois, August 4, 1882, the son of William and Elizabeth (Lang) Alt, the former of whom was a native of Germany, and the latter of whom was a native of the state of Illinois. William Alt (Sr.) came to America when a mere lad and settled in Illinois, where he grew to manhood and where he married. He was a farmer and was engaged in this occupation during his entire life. In 1880 he removed to Audubon county, Iowa, and located in Hamlin township, where he purchased eighty acres of land, for which he paid eight dollars an acre. This land was raw prairie, and William Alt broke the sod for the first time on the tract, gradually improving his land, and adding to his original purchase from time to time until he was the owner of two hundred and eighty-four acres. He died in 1906, after having reared a family of ten children, nine of whom are still living. Philip, [the eldest child], is deceased. Those living are [Albert, William, George J., Nancy, Viola, Clara, Alma, May and Lena.]

William Alt, Jr., having received his education in the public schools of Hamlin township, began farming after leaving school and was engaged in this occupation with his father until twenty-three years of age, at which time the father died. William then worked for his mother on the home farm for two years, and after his marriage at the age of twenty-five, rented land for five years, when he purchased the place upon which he now lives, consisting of two hundred and ten acres. He has invested about three thousand dollars in various kinds of improvements on the farm, and his farm is one of the best in this section of the county. He raises annually fifty acres of corn and fifty acres of small grains, and feeds altogether one hundred head of hogs and twenty-five of cattle.

On February 26, 1908, William Alt, Jr. was married to Nina Bell Hays, the daughter of F. Hays, and to this union two children have been born, a daughter, Ruth, and a son, William Raymond. Mrs. Alt's parents are living in Greeley township, Mr. and Mrs. Hays having been early settlers in that community. Mr. Hays is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mrs. Alt is one of nine children the others being Laura, Jennie, Mary, Winnie, Emma, Lee, Bert and Lennie.

William Alt, Jr., is an enterprising young farmer, a man who, although he has not yet reached the prime of life, has accumulated a considerable competence, and who is already established in his chosen vocation. Mr. and Mrs. Alt are popular socially in the neighborhood where they live and are highly respected as citizens of Audubon township."
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Corrections and Additions by Neoma (Alt) Thomas, 11-17-2005: William Alt Jr. was born in 1881.

These were the children of Wm. & Elizabeth Alt, Sr.: William Alt, Jr., George John Alt, Nettie Marie (Alt) Troxel, Viola Mabel (Alt) Kness, Bertha Alt, Clara (Alt) Olson, Philip Alt, Albert Dewey Alt, Dorothy Alt, Mae (Alt) Foley, and Alma Alt.

William and Nina were married 12 years. At the time of Nina's death in 1919, William was 38 years old, Ruth was ten, Ray was four, and Marie was two weeks old.

Sometime between 1919 and 1928, there was a second marriage to Alice (Turner) Hays, the widow of Bert Hays, who'd been killed in a car accident. The marriage didn't work out, and they divorced.

On March 22, 1928 Wm. Alt, Jr. married Rose Axelsen in Guthrie County. Their children were: Robert Alt, John W. Alt, Jane (Alt) Jorgensen, and Neoma (Alt) Thomas. William and Rose were married 23 years.

William Alt, Jr. died on March 1, 1951 at the age 69 years.