Heinrich Böll, 1899 Biography

BÖLL, BOLL, BOELL, PLÜCKHAHN, PLUCKHAHN, PLUECKHAHN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 11/22/2004 at 19:27:37

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. I have not changed the place or name spellings, except where indicated. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Heinrich Böll

Mr. Böll, a hard-working and industrious farmer, was born in Gnevsdorf, District of Lübz, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, on 15 November 1833. There he spent the years of his youth and attended elementary school, and when he was adequately prepared, he was confirmed in the local church. He then worked on various farms, and in 1854 he entered the military and served for six tears with the 2nd Fusilier Battalion in Wismar. He later participated in a mobilization and was honorably discharged. He then worked again on various farms, and on 8 July 1863, he married Miss Maria Plückhahn, who was born on 15 June 1843. Mr. Böll then worked another 10 years as a day laborer on the grand-ducal properties [Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a Grand Duchy], and in 1874 he immigrated with his wife and children to the United States of North America. He settled first in New York State, where he was engaged in agriculture for 10 years. Then he moved to Carroll, Carroll County, Iowa, where he worked on the railroad [or possibly roadway]. He then moved to Grant Township, Carroll County, where he rented a 240-acre farm which he purchased after two years. In 1896, he bought another 160 acres in Sheridan Township, where his oldest son, Wilhelm lives. He still lives today on the first farm he purchased, and today it is equipped with good buildings and a comfortable residence. Mr. Böll and his wife and children enjoy a very good reputation among all their acquaintances. This happy marriage has produced seven children, two of whom died at a young age. The names of the children still living are: Wilhelm, Karl, Wilhelmina, Heinrich and Albert.

NOTES: There is a small town called Gnevsdorf in northeast Germany, just southwest of the Plauersee [Plauer Lake]. It is about 75 miles northwest of Berlin and about 10 miles southeast of Lübz. The name Böll could be spelled in English as Boell or Boll.