One of the families in Big Creek Township that represents the sterling industry of the German-American citizen is that of Mrs. Minnie Zarse, widow of the late William Zarse, who came to White County when a young man, without capital, without any influence or prospects, and before his death succeeded in establishing a home for his family, and since then Mrs. Zarse has carried on and continued the work of improvement and both deserve the highest credit for what they have accomplished.
William Zarse was born in Germany in 1853, and after a brief education emigrated to America. After working for a time in White County, he was married at Reynolds, to Miss Minnie Hintz, daughter of Fred and Mary (Prill) Hintz. Mrs. Zarse, who was one of ten children, was born in Germany, and came to this country at the age of ten years, her parents locating in White County. Her father owned a farm near Reynolds.
Preceding William Zarse his two brothers, Fred and Charles, had come to America and located in White County. After his marriage Mr. Zarse established his home on a rented farm, known as the Bob Roberts farm, lived there two years, then rented the Reynolds farm for eight years, and finally bought the present place of eighty acres. On occupying this land he took up with characteristic vigor the business of improvement, and was getting well started and established financially when death took him away on February 3, 1895, at the age of forty-two.
Since his death Mrs. Zarse has assumed the heavy responsibilities not only of the home but of the farm, and has done much in the way of improvement. She has erected several buildings, and has brought the land to a state of improvement which makes it much more valuable than it was twenty years ago. Mrs. Zarse and her children are members of the Lutheran Church, and her husband was of the same faith and in politics a democrat.
Their children are five in number, and all were born in White County. Anna is the wife of Andrew Wease, Theodore married Emma Brandt, Emma is the wife of Theodore Enz, Robert married Ida Dahlenburg, and Emil married Ella Mann.