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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 621]

    JOSEPH D. WIRT, a progressive and enterprising farmer of Amherst
    Township, Cherokee County, was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania,
    June 18, 1842, and is the son of WILLIAM and ELIZABETH (YOND) WIRT,
    natives of Pennsylvania.  The father now resides in Jackson County,
    Iowa, but the mother is deceased.  Our subject was reared in his
    native State until he had attained his twelfth year, and then the
    family removed to Iowa.  He was trained to agricultural pursuits,
    and obtained his education in the common schools.  When the great
    Rebellion broke out he determined to go to the defense of the nation,
    and accordingly, August 17, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-
    fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served three years.  He was
    promoted to Corporal, and was twice wounded, once with grape and
    canister, and once with a spent ball.  He participated in a number
    of battles and skirmishes, the most important being Champion Hill,
    Vicksburg, Raymond, and the Red River Expedition under General BANKS.
    After the declaration of peace he returned to Iowa, and engaged in
    farming with his father for three years.  In 1869 he went to Missouri
    and remained there one year, when he migrated as far north as Yankton,
    Dakota Territory, where he resided until 1879, engaged in farming. He
    then came to Cherokee County, and located in Amherst Township, renting
    land for three years.  He then purchased eight acres and founded a home
    for his family.  He first erected a small building in which they lived
    until 1888, when he built a fine frame dwelling, which is one of the
    handsomest in that part of the county.  He has added another eighty
    acres to his first purchase, and now has 160 acres under excellent
    cultivation.  He has planted five and a half acres of grove, which adds
    much to the beauty of the farm.  Mr. WIRT is a live, energetic man, and
    stands in the front ranks of the Cherokee County farmers.  Politically
    he affiliates with the Republican party, and in 1888 was elected trus-
    tee of the township.  On March 24, 1873, occurred the wedding of JOSEPH
    D. WIRT and Miss MAGGIE GUENTHER, daughter of JACOB and ELIZABETH
    (YOUNG) GUENTHER.  Her father was a native of Germany, and her mother
    was born in Pennsylvania. She was born in Lycoming County, Penn-
    sylvania, February 11, 1849.  Mr. and Mrs. WIRT are the parents of six
    children: FRANK C., FRED H., WILLIE, IVE, BESSIE N. and LEWIS E. The
    parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the family
    are among the most worthy and respected of Cherokee County.

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