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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 409-410]

   JOHN DORR, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, was born June 7,
   1839, and is the son of PHILLIPP and CHRISTINA (KREDEL) DORR. He
   is one of a family of fourteen children, nine of whom grew to
   maturity, and was brought up to farm life, obtaining his educa-
   tion in the common schools. When only sixteen years old he emi-
   grated to America, stopping for a short time in New York City;
   the first work in which he engaged was the confectioner's trade,
   which he followed two and a half years; one year of this time he
   spent in Detroit, MIchigan, where he had two brothers living. He
   then went to Adrian, Michigan, where he filled an engagement of
   eighteen months at his trade. His next move was to Burlington,
   Iowa, but failing to secure employment there he crossed the river
   to Illinois and found work on a farm, to which he devoted himself
   for eight years. In the meantime he took a trip to his Fatherland,
   and on his return was accompanied by his chosen bride, Miss ELIZA-
   BETH KROPP, a daughter of WILHELM and CAROLINE (HOFFMAN) KROPP.
   She was born May 6, 1843, and her marriage to Mr. DORR occurred
   November 20, 1865, at Detroit, Michigan. After their marriage Mr.
   and Mrs. DORR located in Henderson County, Illinois, and remained
   there two years when they removed to Cedar County, Iowa, where
   they spent about a year and a half. In the fall of 1869 they re-
   moved to their present farm in Amherst Township, Cherokee County,
   which they had entered as a homestead the previous year; there
   were eighty acres in the place, and it was raw prairie; they were
   among the first settlers, and were compelled to undergo many pri-
   vations and discouragements, but they had come to stay, and stay
   they did; and how well their efforts have been rewarded is shown
   by taking a look at their farm, which now consists of 319 acres;
   their dwelling is surrounded by a grove of six acres, and all
   their efforts have been attended with success. Mr. DORR has been
   one of the main factors in building up that part of the county,
   and stands to-day among the well-to-do citizens. He affiliates
   with the Republican party, and has been road supervisor, and also
   a member of the School Board.  Mr. and Mrs. DORR are the parents
   of seven children: KATIE, wife of the Rev. C. JOBST, of the German
   Lutheran Church at Deer Park, Wisconsin, was born August 20, 1866;
   JOHN was born March 5, 1868; PHILLIPP was born January 19, 1870,
   and was the first male child born in the township of Amherst;
   CARL was born February 10, 1872, and Dora, December 30, 1876; the
   two children deceased are CHRISTINA, born March 4, 1880 and died
   June 27, 1887; BERTHA was born December 12, 1884, and died July 5,
   1887. The family are members of the German Lutheran Church, Mr.
   DORR having served as treasurer and steward of the society.


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