Louis Schenking, 1899 Biography

SCHENKING, GREVING

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/6/2005 at 22:40:09

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. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Louis Schenking

Mr. Louis Schenking is unquestionably the earliest German settler of Roselle Township because he settled in that Township back in 1869, where he immediately purchased 160 acres of prairie. There may have been Germans who settled in Roselle Township with Mr. Schenking, but they have either passed away or long since moved on. Therefore, Mr. Schenking deserves the honor to be considered the earliest pioneer of Roselle Township.

He was born on 4 October 1841, in Notteln, District of Münster, where he also spent his youth. He attended elementary school there and thereafter the Rectorate School in Münster. After he completed this, he decided on the occupation of farmer, which he had learned from experience on his parents’ farm. Having been considered fit for service in the military conscription, he was enrolled in the 13th Infantry Regiment, which was garrisoned in Münster. Mr. Schenking served three years active duty, from1862 to 1865, and indeed during this time the war against Denmark broke out. He took part in the storming of Düppel, as well as the occupation of Alsen, but he emerged uninjured from these murderous battles. Decorated with two medals, he was honorably discharged in 1865. Mr. Schenking then traded his needle gun [a type of Prussian rifle] for a plow, and he worked again on his parents’ farm. But indeed, Prussia did not enjoy peace for long, since in 1866, those subject to military service were again called to their weapons, and Mr. Schenking also answered the call of his king to enter into the war against Austria. He was assigned to the Main Army and took part in the battles at Wiesenthal and Kissingen, and several skirmishes, when shortly thereafter an armistice was declared, and peace followed. He also came out of this war uninjured. But Mr. Schenking had had enough of gunpowder smoke and the roar of battle. Therefore, two years later, he shook the dust of Germany off his feet and immigrated to the Free States of North America. After happily surviving the sea voyage, he made his way first to Dyersville, Dubuque County, Iowa, where he stayed for a time with relatives. By 1869, we see him on the way to Carroll County, where he settled in Roselle Township and there acquired a 160-acre piece of prairie. After a time, he sold this piece of land and then purchased 240 acres, where he built a residence, and moved there. Later, he purchased an additional 60 adjoining acres, made favorable improvements through fencing his land, building good stalls, barns, grain bins, etc., and Mr. Schenking still lives on this farm today. In 1882, he made a trip to Germany, and in the following year, on 1 March 1883, he married the well-brought-up Miss Theresia Greving, a child of the “Red Earth” [nickname for Westphalia]. This very happy marriage has produced six children, of which, however, two did at a tender age. The names of the children still living are: Anna, Emma, Louise, and Clara. Mr. Schenking and his wife and children are among the best German-American families and enjoy an excellent reputation.