Biography - JACOB F. PFEIFFER
Among the enterprising young farmers of Rose Township, Shelby
County, none perhaps deserve higher praise than this gentleman whose
ancestry is to be traced across the seas. His father, the late John Pfeiffer
was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, April 2, 1835, and was the son of John
Phillip Pfeiffer who was born in Germany and emigrated to Fairfield County,
Ohio. He came to this county about the year 1877 and settled in Rose
Township.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Anna M. Finka, her parents
being John C. and Louisa Finka, natives of Germany. It was about the year
1843 when they left the old country and came to America, where they settled
in Fairfield County, Ohio, and spent the remainder of their days. Mrs.
Pfeiffer is the youngest of their four children, and she was born in Germany
August 13, 1833.
After their marriage in Fairfield County, Ohio, the parents of our subject
settled there for some before coming to Shelby County, Ill., where they made
their home in Ridge Township, in March, 1864. For four years they resided
there and then settled on section 5, Rose Township, where Mr. Pfeiffer died
December 4, 1879. Their seven children are: John C.; Louisa M., now the wife
of Leslie B. Barrett; Minnie C., the wife of Isaac Bales; Benjamin J., Jacob
F., Edward W. and Emma M.
At the time of his death the father of these children owned a fine tract of
one hundred and forty acres upon which he had erected good, suitable
buildings. Since his demise his widow has carried on the farm most
efficiently and successfully. He was prominent during his life in
educational affairs and held some school offices. He was an active worker in
the Lutheran Church to which he and his good wife had both been long united.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ridge Township, November 14, 1864,
and was reared to manhood in Rose Township, where he was educated in the
common schools. Here his marriage occurred November 27, 1888, Miss Minnie
L.Fringer becoming his bride. The parents of this lady, Jacob and Mary
(Stoner) Fringer are residents of Rose Township, and Mrs. Pfeiffer is the
fifth in their family of seven children. She was born in Preston County,
Va., May 16, 1871. One child, Lula May, has come to bless this home. Mr.
Peiffer is a prominent and active member of the Lutheran Church anrl is a
young man who gives promise of achieving true success in life. His good
management as a farmer is abundantly attested by the excellent condition of
his farm and the neat appearance of his buildings. Mrs. Pfeiffer has evinced
capabilities which will, no doubt, aid her husband greatly in carrying on
his life work and bring to her the enduring reputation which every woman
should seek as a true neighbor, a faithful wife and a judicious mother.
Extracted 17 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 561.
