August Sperling

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: BALLER, BURKHARDT, SPERLING

AUGUST SPERLING, a representative farmer of East Bend Township, has established his permanent home a long way from the place of his birth, the latter being at the foot of the Hartz Mountains in the Province of Saxony, Prussia. The date thereof was une 14, 1834. His father, Freidrich, was born at the same place, where the grandfather of our subject, in early manhood, learned the trade of a millwright, and operated a flouring and oil mill for many years, and until he departed from the scenes of his earthly labors. He had married, and raised a fine family, among the sons being Freidrich, the father of our subject, who attended school during his boyhood and youth, and when of suitable years went into the mills with his father. After the death of the latter he inherited the mill property, of which he retained possession until 1850.

During the latter-named year Mr. Sperling sold his interest in the paternal estate, and setting sail from Hamburg, after a safe voyage, landed in New York City with his wife and two children. They proceeded directly to Wisconsin, and the father, locating in Sheboygan, lived upon the interest of his money for two years following. He then purchased a farm four miles south of the city, to which he removed, and made every preparation to live hapily and comfortably without excessive labor. He was a man of great generosity, and became security for friends, by which he lost all of his property excepting the homestead of forty acres. Five years later he sold this and became a resident of East Bend Township, this county, making his home with his son, our subject. He has now arrived at the advanced age of eighty years. The mother, who was formerly Miss Christine BALLER, died on the 3d of July, 1866. One daughter, Dorothea, died in Prussia when about nine years old; the second child died in infancy; Frederick is farming in East Bend Township, and August, of our sketch, was the fourth and youngest child.

In accordance with the laws and customs of his native country, our subject was placed in school at an early age, which he attended quite steadily until the family came to this country, at which time he was eleven years old. After reaching Sheboygan, Wis., he resumed his studies in an English school for about two years, after which he was engaged on a farm with his father and in a flouring-mill in Sheboygan until 1861. In the spring of that year he commenced operating a mill at Winona, Minn., which he afterward abandoned to engage in the grain trade. A brief experience in this department of business was satisfactory, and he resumed farming. In 1865 he came to this county and located on a farm in East Bend Township, where he operated as a renter for six years. In the meantime, in company with his brother, he purchased 240 acres, which they fenced and broke as opportunity permitted, and in 1871 put up a dwelling and other necessary buildings and took possession. The brothers afterward divided the property, out subject coming into possession of the north half of the tract purchased. Upon this he has planted a fine set of frame buildings, which are second to none in the township. He has also operated quite extensively as a beekeeper; he has about thirty-five stands, and in this department of agriculture has been very successful, and is enlarging his facilities as an apiarist each year. In the breeding of fine stock also he has been very successful.

The marriage of our subject took place on the 22d of April, 1861, the maiden of his choice being Miss Anna J. BURKHARDT. Mrs. Sperling was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Oct. 30, 1841, and is the daughter of Conrad and Maria BURKHARDT. Her father died in the old country in about 1850, and afterward the mother, with six of her children, in 1852, emigrated to the United States, where two of her brothers had preceded her. She located first in Buffalo, N. Y., and later removed to Kiel, Wis., where her death took place about 1884. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sperling are, Emma, Frederick, Anna, Alwin, Godfrey and Hannah.

Mr. Sperling votes the Republican ticket, and is regarded as one of the most valued members of his community. His farm is one of the best conducted in East Bend Township, and invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler on account of its shapely and substantial buildings and the general air of thrift and prosperity that surrounds it.