FERDINAND GREENBECK

GREENBECK, ENGEL, RECTENBACH

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 8/19/2004 at 13:30:36

Ferdinand Greenbeck, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Grove township, has lived in Adair county for nearly four decades and is widely known as one of its substantial agriculturists and respected citizens. His birth occurred in Illinois on the 1st of December, 1857, his parents being Casper and Christina (Engel) Greenbeck, both of whom were natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in the early ‘50s and made their home in Illinois until 1876, when they came to Adair County, Iowa. Here the father passed away at 1909, after a period of residence covering a third of a century, but the mother is still living and now makes her home in South Dakota. To them were born five children, four of whom survive.
Ferdinand Greenbeck acquired his education in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when he was married and established a home of his own, in Jackson township, where he was actively engaged in farming until 1903. In that year he removed to Lee township and one year later took up his abode in Summerset township, where he continued to reside for five years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Grove township, which he has operated to the present time and has partly improved. In his undertakings as an agriculturist he has won success, his well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.
In 1879 Mr. Greenbeck was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Rectenbach, a native of Illinois and a daughter of A. W. and Amelia Rectenbach, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of G. G. Rectenbach, brother of Mrs. Greenbeck. To our subject and his wife have been born six children, as follows: August C. and Gustave G., who are engaged in farming in Grove township; Barbara C., at home; William E.; John F.; who is deceased; and Ferdinand E.
Mr. Greenbeck gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has ably served as school director. Both he and his wife are devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, exemplifying its teachings in their daily lives, and their circle of friends is an extensive one.
Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.