ALBERT OHMS. – The well-kept and carefully tilled farm of the subject of this sketch, with its excellent improvements of fine house, commodious barn, substantial outbuildings, and other evidences of thrift, taste, and industry, all handled with a discerning sagacity and practical judgment, testify eloquently of the substantiality and skill of our subject and give abundant proof that he is one of the most prudent and skillful and successful agriculturists of our county, and it is with pleasure that we grant him a representation among the leading citizens of Union county.
On June 14, 1849, in Germany, Albert Ohms was born to William and Wilhelmina, natives also of Germany, but immigrants to America in 1852, settling first in Ontario, Canada, where they engaged in farming until 1868. In that year they came across the line and settled in Winneshick county, Iowa, and there engaged in farming until the death of the father, which sad event occurred on December 19, 1880. Our subject was educated in the schools of the various sections where he lived, and assisted his father on the farm, during the last years of the latter’s life, taking charge mostly of the estate. After the father’s death, our subject carried on the farm until 1882, in July of which year he sold the entire property and in company with his own family and his mother and the other members of the parental family, he journeyed to Union county, where his brother had preceded him by one year. He purchased his present handsome and valuable estate of three hundred acres, one mile northwest from Elgin, and adjoining his brother’s farm. In addition to general farming, Mr. Ohms devotes much attention to raising stock, and he is one of the most successful agriculturists and stockmen of the entire valley, owing to his industry and careful attention to the details of business as well as to the general supervision of the same.
In addition to the above mentioned labors, Mr. Ohms has spent about six years in operating a saw mill, and he is one of the expert threshers of the county of Union, having operated a machine since he was twenty years of age and now owns a first-class steam outfit.
On August 3, 1873, in Winneshiek county, Iowa, Mr. Ohms married Miss Maggie, daughter of Valentine and Julia Barth, natives of Germany, and to this happy union there have been born the following children: Hulda, Rudolph, Laura, Edwin, Alvin, Walter, and Charlie. Mrs. Ohms was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, on February 6, 1856. Her parents had come from Germany to that section in 1855, and they were farmers of the county until the time of their death. In church relations, our subject and his wife and their parents were all members of the Evangelical church, but there is no organization of their faith in their locality. Our subject’s mother died at his home in this county on December 19, 1901, and her remains are buried in the Elgin cemetery. William, a brother of our subject, and who had made his home with Mr. A. Ohms, also was called hence on February 22, 1895, being buried in Long cemetery near Elgin. Mr. Ohms is a member of the K. of P., Orion Lodge, No. 73.