P. W. Schenkelberg, 1899 Biography

SCHENKELBERG, JANNING

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 2/23/2007 at 14:41:27

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Words in quotations are original. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

P. W. Schenkelberg

Mr. Schenkelberg is a young, progressive farmer who has achieved success through hard work and perseverance. He enjoys an excellent reputation, and he and his family are respected by all their acquaintances.

Mr. Schenkelberg was born on 2 February 1866 in Söven [Soeven] County of Sieg, Germany. He spent the years of his youth and attended elementary school there, and after he was released from school he took up farming and assisted his father on his parents’ farm. In the spring of 1884, he immigrated to America and made his way quickly to Kniest Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where he worked with an uncle for one year. After he had worked several years on various other farms, he rented a farm in Roselle Township and then married Miss Maria Janning, a well-brought-up young woman. After one and a half years, Mr. Schenkelberg purchased the 80-acre farm that he had been renting, and he improved it with new buildings so that it is now a quite valuable property. This happy marriage has produced five children, and their names are: Johann, Heinrich, Maria, Anna, and Wilhelm.