Bickel, Daniel F. 1836-1912
BICKEL, STEEL, NEILL, KREUTTER, RICHARDS, HEMPEL, HOFFMAN
Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 3/4/2023 at 10:38:25
Elkader Register, Thur., 18 Jan. 1912.
Word was received this morning of the death of D. F. Bickel at his home in Giard. Mr. Bickel had been in poor health for some time and his death was not unexpected. His wife and four daughters were with him when he passed away. Thus Clayton County loses another of its pioneers, for Mr. Bickel had been a resident of the county for nearly sixty years. "Uncle Dan," as he was familiarly called, will be sadly missed by a large circle of friends. The funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from his home.
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Elkader Register, Thur., 25 Jan. 1912.
Daniel F. Bickel died at his home at Giard, surrounded by his entire family, January 18th, 1912.
Daniel F. Bickel was born in S_arketshausen, Hesse, German, January 07th, 1836, a son of Valentine and Catherine Bickel. When 17 years of age he left his native country and came to America, taking seven weeks and three days to cross the ocean, landing at New Orleans and thence by river to McGregor's landing, which at the time had but two stores and a few houses. This same year, 1853, he came to Giard township, (which he made his home until he passed away) and he was first employed on farms by the late Hon. Maturin L. Fisher and Peter Farley. In 1859 he was married to Martha Steel, a daughter of Solomon and Martha Steel. To them were born four daughters, all present when their fond parent passed away. Mary, now Mrs. C. J. Neill, and Kate, now Mrs. C. B. Kreutter, both residing in Giard; Ella, now Mrs. F. S. Richards, of McGregor, and Emma, now Mrs. J. G. Hempel, of Elkader, Iowa, who, with the widow, survive.
Mr. Bickel came to this country when a mere boy and without any resources, but with a determination to succeed, and by persevering industry succeeded in accumulating a fine property and home. In politics Mr. Bickel was a democrat and was the leader of the party in Giard township for many years and held all the several township offices at various periods. He has been identified with the affairs of this county for over half a century and no doubt at his death he was the oldest resident of Giard township, of which he became a resident a year before same was organized. He was an earnest worker in educational affairs of this township and county. For many years he conducted a meat market at Giard and no doubt was the oldest auctioneer in the state at the time of his death. He took a prominent part in the organization of the Clayton County fair and always took an active part and never missed attending until the last year, when his health did not permit. He leaves, besides his immediate family, two sisters and one brother, in Germany, and a brother, John D., at McGregor, and also ten grandchildren. He was a kind and indulgent husband and father, a generous free-hearted man. Religiously, he was liberal in his views. He was one of the oldest members of the Masonic lodge of Farmersburg. In his death the community and Clayton county has lost one of her most respected citizens. The funeral obsequies were held at his home at Giard, at 10:30, Saturday last, services conducted by Rev. Gauger, resident minister of the German Methodist Episcopal church, burial at the Giard cemetery. John Everall, of Farmersburg; E. M. Paul, of Elkader; John Hartwick, Chas. Haefner, Wm. Allert, of Giard; Jacob Miller, of Farmersburg and John Geraghty, of Watson, acted as honorary pall bearers, neighbors and friends for over half a century and his six nephews, M. V. Bickel, of Mason City, Ia.; Willis F. Bickel, of Cedar Rapids, Ia.; Leroy, Karl and Earl Bickel and Fritz Hoffman, of McGregor, as active pall bearers.
Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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