Louis Floto, who is now living a retired life at the Kingdom, on section 18, Nachusa Township is one of the self-made men of the county, who, empty handed, began life and by his own exertions worked his way upwart to a position of wealth and affluence. He is of German birth, having been born in the Kingdom of Hanover, February 6, 1822. His father, Frederick Floto, was also born in that kingdom, where he made his home until his death at the age of sixty-four years. By trade he was a blacksmith and that vocation he used as the means to secure a livelihood. His wife, was also born and reared in Hanover. She died when our subject was only about a year old.

Louis Floto was then reared by his father and stepmother and when a youth he learned to be a blacksmith. After attaining to mature years he married Miss Caroline Rosenthall who was born at Brunswick in the Kingdom of Hanover, in 1827, her parents spending their entire lives in that locality. One child was born unto Mr. Floto and his wife in the Fatherland, after which, with his family, he emigrated to America. Sailing from Bremen in June, 1848, he landed in New York City after a long voyage of seven weeks. His first location was in Luzerne County Pa., where for two years he worked in the coal mines. Hoping to better his financial condition in the West he next came to Illinois and settled in Grand Detour, where for seventeen years he worked in a plow factory. The money which he saved during that period he then invested in land and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed for many years with excellent success. He bought an improved farm of about two hundred acres and in return for his care and cultivation it yielded to him a golden tribute. He is now living a retired life, having by industry, perseverance and good management in former years acquired a handsome competence which now enables him to lay aside business cares.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Floto have been born ten children who with but one exception are yet living. Emma was married and died in 1888. The other members of the family are Ernestina, wife of William Girton, a farmer of Marshall County, Iowa; Louis who wedded Katie Girton and is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Ogle County; Elizabeth, wife of P.S. Girton, also a farmer of Marshall County, Iowa; Caroline, wife of Wilson Brink who follows farming at Fremont, Neb.; Henry, an agriculturist of Marshall County, Iowa, who wedded Emma Levan; Charles who married Maggie Morrison and is a farmer of Ogle County; Mary, wife of R. Robertson, who engages in the same pursuit in Marshall County, Iowa; Ella, wife of Kenry Hintz of Nachusa Township; and William who wedded Lotta Cooper and also follows farming in Ogle County.

Mr. Floto is a man of genial nature who easily wins friends and throughout the community is widely and favorably known. In politics he is a Republican and himself and wife are members of the Evangelical Church.

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