Henry D. Dierks

DIERKS, LASS, RIX, WERNER, HARMSEN, LUEDERS, EGGERS

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 7/24/2011 at 22:49:09

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Volume 2, Excerpt, Pages 977, 978, 979

Note that some names are wrong and a few dates are not right.

HENRY DIERKS.

A descendant of an old and prominent family of Clinton county and a man who has long been regarded as one of the leading agriculturists and stock men of Deep Creek township is Henry Dierks, a man who believes in doing everything well that is worth doing at all, consequently he has succeeded.

Mr. Dierks was born in Hampshire township, Clinton county, Iowa, July 26, 1859, was reared to farmer's pursuits and was educated in the district schools. He is a son of John and Catherine (Lass) Dierks, both born in Germany, where they were married and remained until five children were born. In 1848 they emigrated to America in a sailing vessel, and after a long voyage, finally landed at New York and came direct to Lyons, Iowa, where John met a brother, Peter Dierks. Soon afterward he rented a farm, in the cultivation of which he was successful. A few years later he bought a farm in Hampshire township and settled there, and later added and owned eight hundred acres, and engaged in general farming and raising stock, also feed for the market. His first purchase was mostly timber land. He bought raw land, which he cleared and improved. He was successful and was always proud of his adopted land. He was a Republican and filled some school offices, but did not aspire to political preferment. He never returned to his native country. He was social and charitable to the afflicted and was a good neighbor and friend, was well known and highly respected, his integrity and honor being above reproach. He died in 1897; his wife died about 1887. Religiously, they were Lutherans. Their children were: Hans, a retired farmer at Ringwood, Clinton county, Iowa; Anna, Mrs. Christ Lueders; John, a farmer at Lyons, retired ; Detliff was a farmer, retired, and died in July, 1909, leaving a wife and five children; Katie, Mrs. George Agger (Eggers); Peter is a farmer on the old homestead ; Henry, of this review.

The subject was born in this county and remained under.the parental roof until he was married in 1881, and he remained on the home farm until 1890, when he bought the improved farm where he now resides, two hundred and sixty acres at fifty-eight and one-half dollars per acre. He has remodeled the farm and put it in convenient shape for cultivation, all under fence and in grass. He cultivates about one hundred acres. He carries on general fanning and raises stock of all kinds of a good class, feeds and ships cattle to the Chicago market. He has remodeled and enlarged his home, which stands on a natural elevation surrounded by forest and fruit trees, cement walks and yard. He has erected a large barn and now has two or three barns and many outhouses for various purposes, and has a finely improved farm.in a high state of cultivation. He has used his surplus money in his farm business. He is a stockholder in the Goose Lake Bank. He is independent in politics, having voted both tickets, he claiming the right to vote for the man of his choice. He has never aspired to office, but has filled some school offices. He is rearing and educating his children to be upright citizens.

Mr. Dierks married Lena Rix, who was born in Hampshire township in 1867, a daughter of George Rix, of Germany, who came to America about 1858, locating in Clinton county; he was a wagonmaker by trade, which he followed and worked at the Six Mile House, this county, where he has a comfortable home. He still does some work at his trade. He is a Republican and well posted in all public affairs, and has filled some township offices. He has given most of his time and attention to his trade, and does not aspire to office or public notoriety, being a quiet, honest mechanic, well known and highly respected for his sterling integrity and honor. His wife yet survives, she being sixty-three and he seventy years of age. He served through the Civil war as a private and saw much hard service and underwent many deprivations and hardships, as was meted out to soldier life.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rix : Helena, wife of the subject; Emma married Gustaf Werner and she died in 1907; Ida, Bertha, Anna and Katie all died young; Theodore is a farmer; Dora, Mrs. John Harmsen; Henry is a coal dealer. To Mr. and Mrs. Dierks six children have been born, Emil, Alford, Lewis, Ernest, Mata and Gustave, all at home.