Alt, George J.

ALT, HAYS

Posted By: Neoma Thomas (email)
Date: 10/13/2012 at 15:37:29

The following is from "History of Audubon County, Iowa / 1915"

"George J. Alt, who now owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Melville township, this county, and twenty acres in Sharon township, was born on January 24, 1883, in Audubon county, Iowa, a son of William and Elizabeth (Lang) Alt, the former a native of Germany and the latter of the state of Illinois. William Alt (Sr.) came to America when a lad and settled in Illinois, where he grew to manhood and where he was married. He was a farmer and was engaged in this occupation during his entire life. In 1880 he came to Audubon county and located in Hamlin township, where he purchased eighty acres of land at eight dollars and acre. He broke the sod and improved the place generally, gradually increasing his holdings to two hundred and eighty-four acres. He died in 1906, after having reared a family of eleven children, nine of whom are still living. Philip and Bertha are the deceased children. The living children are Albert, William, George J., Nettie, Viola, Clara, Alma, Mae and Lena.

George J. Alt was educated principally in Hamlin township, this county, and engaged in farming with his father afteer finishing his education. Upon arriving at the age of twenty, he began renting land and continued as a renter for six years. In 1911 he purchased the place where he is now living. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres, and in the last four years Mr. Alt has invested sixty-five hundred dollars in improving the place. He raises eighty-five acres of corn, and about thirty acres of small grain every year. He feeds out fifty head of hogs every year, and some twenty-five head of stock cattle. Mr. Alt sells a part of his grain and feeds the balance.

George J. Alt was married on February 21, 1906, about the time of his father's death, when he was twenty-three years old, to Lennie Hays, daughter of Frew and Marie (Reed) Hays, to which union five children have been born. Gilbert, Harley, Maynard, and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Alt also was born in this county. Her parents were natives of Illinois, who came to Audubon county in an early day and were pioneer settlers in Greeley township, where they are still living, having been engaged in farming there most of their lives. Of their nine children, eight are now living, namely: Lee, Bert, Winnie, Jennie, Lora, Nina, Lennie and Mary.

George J. Alt is a Republican, but he has never been active in the councils of his part, and has never been a candidate for office. His vocation has taken up all of his time, and he has had no opportunity to engage in anything aside from farming. He is a highly-respected citizen of Melvill township, and is well known throughout the community in which he resides, being held in high regard by all who know him."