FIDE FLOERCHINGER, a practical and progressive farmer living on section 1, Neola Township, is numbered among the early residents of Pottawattamie County, where he has made his home since 1882. He has for four decades been a resident of Iowa and during an active business career he has worked his way steadily upward from a humble financial position to one of affluence, being now the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and twenty-four acres.

A native of Germany, he was born in Bavaria, July 2, 1856. His father, Casper Floerchinger, was also born in that country, where he was reared and married, following the occupation of farming there until his emigration to the new world in 1867. He did not pause on the Atlantic coast but continued his journey westward to Iowa, settling in Johnson County, where he purchased a tract of wild prairie land and opened up a farm with the aid of his sons. His time and energies were devoted to general agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death. His wife passed away some years previous to the demise of her husband.

Fide Floerchinger was a lad of eleven years when brought to the United States, so that he was largely reared in Johnson County, Iowa, there becoming familiar with the experiences and hardships of pioneer life. He also assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm, remaining with his father until he had attained his majority. Coming to Pottawattamie County in 1880 when a young man, he here purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land and then returned to his old home in Johnson County. In the spring of 1882 he took up his permanent abode here. He had hired fifty acres of the land broken before he located on the place and with characteristic energy he began the further development and improvement of the farm, extending its boundaries from time to time as he has seen opportunity for judicious investment until he is now the owner of an excellent property of two hundred and twenty-four acres. Upon this place he has a large residence and good barns and sheds for the shelter of grain and stock. He has also set out an orchard, has planted shade and evergreen trees until around his home the place presents the appearance of the beautiful forest. In fact he has made the farm what it is today - one of the valuable and productive properties of this locality.

On the 26th of February 1889, in Neola Township, Mr. Floerchinger was married to Miss Margaret Gorman, a native of Johnson County, who came with her parents to Neola, when one year old. Her father, Michael Gorman, was a pioneer of that county and later a resident of Pottawattamie County. Mr. and Mrs. Floerchinger have five children: John William, Leo M., Francis J., Paul J. and Joseph. They have adopted two daughters, Anna and Marie Gorman, nieces of Mrs. Floerchinger. The latter was born in Elreno, Oklahoma, the mother dying when she was but three days old, and Mrs. Floerchinger went south, returning to her home with the baby, Marie. The adoption of these two daughters indicates in unmistakable manner the kindly spirit of Mr. and Mrs. Floerchinger. They were reared in the Catholic faith and are members of the church at Neola.

Politically Mr. Floerchinger has always been a democrat and has frequently served as a delegate to county conventions. He has been a member of the school board but otherwise has never sought nor held office, feeling that his time and attention are fully occupied by his business interests which, being carefully conducted have brought to him a gratifying measure of success.