Dominic F. Willmes is of the
second generation honorably linked with the history
of Clayton county, and he is actively associated with
the agricultural industry in his native county, as
one of its progressive and thrifty farmers. He was
formerly a successful and popular representative of
the pedagogic profession in the county, and is known
as a steadfast, upright and vigorous citizen who
takes a loyal interest in community affairs, and who
is of broad mental ken and well fortified
convictions.
On the old homestead farm in
Section 3, Boardman township, this county, Mr.
Willmes was born on the 7th day of March, 1877, a son
of John and Mary (Miller) Willmes, both natives of
the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Germany. As a boy John
Willmes accompanied four of his elder brothers on
their immigration to America, and they became pioneer
settlers in Clayton county, Iowa, where they came
into possession of more than five hundred acres of
land, in Boardman township. John Willmes became the
owner of the seventy acres which constitutes the
homestead farm on which his widow and two sons now
reside, in Section 3, Boardman township. He later
added eighty acres to his farm and developed one of
the fine landed estates of the county, with
incidental precedence as one of the representative
exponents of agricultural industry in this favored
section of the Hawkeye State. He continued his
residence on the farm until his death, which occurred
October 29th, 1884, and a loyal citizen and man of
affairs he commanded unqualified popular esteem. He
was always ready to lend his aid in the furtherance
of measures and enterprises projected for the general
good of the community, was a Democrat in his
political proclivities and was a zealous communicant
of the Catholic church, as is also his widow, who
still remains on the old homestead, as previously
stated. He served as secretary and treasurer of the
school board of his district but had naught of
ambition for political preferment. Of the five
children the eldest is Peter, who is now a successful
farmer in Shelby county, this state; Nicholas is
deceased, his death having occurred when he was about
8 years of age; Catherine remains at home with her
widowed mother, as do also the younger sons, Dominic
F., and Simon, who have charge of the active work and
management of the finely improved farm, which
comprises in the aggregate one hundred and
eighty-three acres.
Reared under the
invigorating discipline of the farm, Dominic F.
Willmes early began to contribute his quota to its
work, and thus he waxed strong in physical powers the
while he was profiting duly also by the advantages of
the public schools, in which he continued his studies
until he had completed the curriculum of the high
school at Elkader, the county seat. Thereafter he
devoted five years to successful work as a teacher in
the rural schools of the county, and he then
amplified his education by completing a through
commercial course in the Wisconsin Business College,
in the city of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in which
institute he was graduated as a member of the class
of 1899. Since his graduation he has been associated
with his brother Simon in the management of the old
home farm, and they have made the same exemplify most
fully the characteristics of thrift and prosperity,
the while they are well upholding the honors of the
family name.
Mr. Willmes is a stalwart
and effective advocate of the principles and policies
for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, and in
1908 he had the distinction of being elected county
auditor, an office of which he continued the
incumbent for four years and in which he gave a most
efficient and popular administration. Prior to his
election to his office he had served six years as
assessor of Boardman township, and these preferments
indicate his unqualified popularity in the county
that has ever represented his home. He is a
communicant of the Catholic church, and is a sterling
native son of Clayton county who is especially worthy
of recognization in this history. His name is still
found enrolled on the list of eligible bachelors in
Clayton county.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II; pg. 446-448
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
