Franklin Unangst in 1900 became a resident of Iowa and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land on Sections 10, 11, 14 and 15, Waveland Township, all in one body. In the midst of this farm stands one of the finest residences in this section of the county, while beautiful shade trees, a good orchard and substantial outbuildings, as well as highly cultivated fields, are features of the place. From the property, Mr. Unangst derives a good income but does none of the active work of the farm himself, leaving this in charge of his son-in-law.

A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Northampton County on the 13th of January 1841 a son of Philip and Leah (Hahn) Unangst. The father’s birth occurred in the same county, April 4, 1807, and the grandfather, John Unangst, was also a native of the same county, his ancestors having come from Holland to the new world at an early period in its colonization. The mother of Philip Unangst, however, was a Miss Lillick of Germany. John Unangst was a veteran of the War of 1812 and lived and died upon his farm in Northampton County. It was in that county that Philip Unangst was reared and having arrived at years of maturity he wedded Leah Hahn and purchased a farm in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, where he continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits until 1856. He then sold his property in Pennsylvania and removed to Stephenson County, Illinois, where he resided up to the time of his death. His political support was given to the democracy, while his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. His wife, who was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, December 2, 1814, was a daughter of George Hahn, also a native of that county. Her death occurred May 2, 1890. They were the parents of nine children: Rebecca A. the wife of Levi Erwin of Stephenson County, Illinois; John deceased; Franklin; William J. deceased; George W. of West Point, Iowa; Joe L. of Denver, Colorado; Emma L. the widow of Isaac Fry and a resident of Dillei, Nebraska; Jacob D. who is living in Davenport, Iowa; and Elizabeth S. the wife of Charles Shoemaker of Corning, this state.

Franklin Unangst was a youth of fifteen years at the time of his parents’ removal to Illinois. He attained his majority there and learned the miller’s trade, with which he was identified for thirty-five years in Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1900 he removed from Stephenson County to Iowa and invested in the farm of three hundred and twenty acres which he now owns in Waveland Township. When he took up his abode here there were no buildings save some old dilapitdated ones and few improvements of any consequence on the place. His labors and enterprise, however, wrought a marked transformation. He has planted orchards, set out shade trees and built one of the handsomest farm residences in this section of the county. He has also put up two fine and commodious barns and today his farm is one of the best improved farms of western Iowa. His residence is supplied with all modern conveniences, including hot and cold water, bath and other accessories which contribute to the comfort and to the beauty of the dwelling. In all that he has done Mr. Unangst has been actuated by a spirit of progress and he endorses the most modern methods in connection with agricultural development.

At the time of the Civil War, Mr. Unangst offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Company D, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, on the 6th of August 1862. He served in that command for almost three years and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on the 23rd of June 1865, while on the 5th of July he was honorably discharged. He took part in the following engagements: Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River, the siege of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Dalton, Allatoona Pass, Savannah, Columbia, Bentonville, and the famous march to the sea under General Sherman. The usual experiences of the soldier in actual warfare were his: he met the enemy on many a hotly contested field, went with his regiment on long, hard marches and endured the discomforts of winter quarters but was always loyal to the cause which he espoused and is today a valued and active member of Worthington Post, G.A.R., of Griswold.

It was not long after his return from the war that Mr. Unangst was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Jane Moyer, who was born in Center County Pennsylvania, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Beihler) Moyer, both of whom were natives of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and about 1863 became residents of Stephenson County, Illinois, where Mrs. Moyer died. In the ‘80’s Mr. Moyer removed to Kansas, where he resided up to the time of his death. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Unangst was John Beihler, a native of Pennsylvania, who served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The paternal grandfather was Michael Moyer, a native of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Unangst was celebrated May 26, 1868, and has been blessed with one child, Mabel, the wife of Charles Rockwell, who cultivates her father’s farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Unangst hold membership in the Presbyterian Church and his political allegiance has been given to the Republican Party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. His activity and energy in business affairs have constituted the measure of his success, which is most gratifying, his fine farm being the visible evidence of his close application and capable management. Today he is practically living retired, leaving the active work of the farm to others, but he still maintains his residence on the property, which he purchased on coming to this county, being most comfortably and pleasantly situated in one of the finest country homes of western Iowa.