E. F. W. Luloff is a self-made man in the highest and best sense of the term. He started out in business life emptyhanded, having no inherited wealth or influential friends to aid him, but through his integrity and industry he has worked his way upward and is today the owner of a valuable farm property of one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Westburg township, worth one hundred and seventy-five dollars per acre.

Wisconsin numbers Mr. Luloff among her native sons, his birth having there occurred in 1866. His parents were Louis and Henrietta (Gosse) Luloff. The father was born, reared and educated in Germany and eventually married Miss Henrietta Gosse. Coming to the United States, they made their way into the interior of the country, settling in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, where the father purchased a farm of forty acres. After developing it for a time he sold that property and in 1867 came to Buchanan county, Iowa, settling in Westburg township, where he made investment in one hundred and eighty acres. He improved this by erecting substantial buildings and bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation. In fact, he added all of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm and carefully tilled his fields until 1879, when death terminated his labors. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served for four years with the boys in blue of the Union army. He participated in the battle of Gettysburg and a number of other important engagements, which proved the strength of the Union troops and led up to the victory that finally crowned the northern arms. Politically he was a democrat and was a member of the German Lutheran church. His widow survived him for thirty-two years and passed away on the 13th of March, 1911, upon the old home place here her son, F. A. Luloff, now resides. She spent her girlhood days in Germany and was educated there. Her religious faith was also that of the German Lutheran church.

No event of special interest occurred to vary the routine of farm life for E. W. F. Luloff in his boyhood and youth, which was spent upon the home place now owned by his brother-in-law. He is indebted to the public-school system for the educational advantages which he enjoyed and later he took up farming, purchasing the William Polk farm. At a subsequent date he sold that property and invested in the Robert Stewart farm. He holds title to three hundred and forty acres of fine land and is a substantial agriculturist of the county.

On the 3d of February, 1892, Mr. Luloff was united in marriage to Miss Ida Ehrke, a daughter of Carl and Amelia (Ebert) Ehrke. Mrs. Luloff was born in Brandenburg, Germany, in 1873. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ehrke were natives of Brandenburg, Germany. They began their domestic life in that country following their marriage in 1866. On coming to the United States, Mr. Ehrke went first to Baltimore, Maryland, and on leaving the east made his way to Independence, Iowa, where he lived for two years. He then purchased a farm of eighty acres three miles east of Jesup and occupied that place for nine years. He then sold out and bought a farm five miles south of Aurora, in Buchanan county, becoming owner of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, on which he lived for ten years and then rented the property, taking up his abode in Lamont, Buchanan county, where he and his wife now reside, the former at the age of seventy-four years and the latter at the age of seventy years. Mrs. Luloff was educated in Brandenburg, Germany, and came with her parents to the new world. She is a member of the German Lutheran church and displays many excellent traits of heart and mind. To Mr. and Mrs. Luloff have been born two children: Arthur L., who was married October 23, 1913, to Miss Adelia Harting, of Spring Creek township, Black Hawk county; and Clarence C. Both sons are upon the home farm.

The family is widely and favorably known in the county, the hospitality of many of the best homes being freely accorded them. Mr. Luloff early learned the lesson that industry is the foundation upon which all true and honorable success is built and therefore cultivated that quality with the result that is now seen, he being today the owner of two of the valuable and highly cultivated farms of Westburg township.

Return to the Sheboygan Page

Return to Bios page