Henry C. Unger

UNGER, SEE, MEYER

Posted By: Sara Patton (email)
Date: 11/21/2020 at 17:16:32

From the History of Black Hawk County, Iowa and Representative Citizens, edited and compiled by Isaiah Van Metre, published 1904 by Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, IL pp. 777-778.

"Henry C. Unger, a prominent retired farmer of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and a highly esteemed resident of La Porte City, was born February 5, 1854, at Broad Brook, Connecticut. He is a son of Charles and Mary (Meyer) Unger.

Charles Unger was born in Austria-Hungary [Hof, Bavaria], and died in Benton County, Iowa, in March 1895, aged 70 years. When 21 years of age, he came to America and worked in woolen mills until he removed to Iowa, after which he spent his life in agricultural pursuits. Like many others who in later life became capitalists, he entered the State with limited means, and walked the distance from Bruce Grove to Dubuque, in order to enter his first tract of 80 acres. This tract he sold at a later date, but at the time of his death owned 400 acres. He was a man of intelligence and information, and in religious belief he was a Lutheran. In politics, he became identified with the Republican party and held various town ship offices.

Mrs. Mary (Meyer) Unger was born in Bavaria, Germany, and died in 1900, aged 70 years. She was the mother of five sons, namely" Charles J., of Franklin County; Louis K., who was drowned July 9, 1900, in Benton County, Henry C., of this sketch; Andrew W.; and one who died in infancy.

Henry C. Unger was only one year old when his parents came to Iowa and settled in Benton County, In boyhood he made the best use of the opportunities for schooling, but in order to do so, he at one time for several terms, had to go two and a half miles to school; at other times, they had school in an old farm house, with old chairs and tables for seats and desks. His father was the first settler in Clark township, Tama County, Iowa, and captured many prairie wolves there. His son often heard them howl. Under such conditions he was mentally trained and reared to manhood becoming a large stock raiser and extensive farmer. His fine farm of 400 acres in Bruce township, Benton County, known widely as the "Rock Creek Valley Stock Farm," he operated until nine years ago, when he erected his handsome residence in LaPorte City, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Unger bought 320 acres of his father's land and 80 acres from the estate of David See, and made his farm one of the best improved in the county. In 1900 the buildings burned, but they were immediately rebuilt in a more substantial style, and the farm is now worked by tenants on shares.

On March 1, 1882, Mr. Unger was married to Lina See, who was born March 23, 1864, near Logansport, Indiana, and is a daughter of David and Mary (Lenon) See. David See was born in Virginia. He removed to Indiana at an early day, and spent five years in California, but died in Benton County, Iowa. His widow resides in Iowa, the mother of six sons and six daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Unger have four children,--Edgar, Clifford, Maria and Harold. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church.

Politically, Mr. Unger is a stanch (sic) Republican, and at various times he has capably and satisfactorily served in township offices. He is a Mason and a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and has been connected with these fraternities for a long period. He is one of the substantial men of the county, and has done much to promote the agricultural development of this section."