Luckstead, George

LUCKSTEAD, STEBEA, HOLST, HANSEN, SPECHT, STORM, SCHRADER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/15/2003 at 08:43:03

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

GEORGE LUCKSTEAD.

One of the most energetic and enterprising agriculturists of Waterford township is George Luckstead, who owns and operates a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres on section 16, Waterford township, and is also engaged in stock raising. A native of Iowa, he was born in Jackson county, August 5, 1859, and is a son of John and Sophia (Stebea) Luckstead, who were born, reared and married in Germany and came to America in 1857. For eight years the father engaged in farming on rented land in Jackson county, and in 1866 came to Clinton county, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of timber land in Waterford township, for which he paid ten dollars per acre. He made his home thereon until 1891, when he removed to Preston, Iowa, and resided there until his death, which occurred on the 18th of March, 1898. He owned two hundred and twenty acres of find farming land, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, and which was divided among his children at the time of his death. In political sentiment he was a Democrat, and in religious faith a Lutheran, and was a man who commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, either in business or social life. His estimable wife died December 15, 1888, and both were laid to rest in Reed’s cemetery, Waterford township.

In their family were six children, namely: Fred married Minnie Holst and is engaged in farming in Jones county, Iowa; George is next in order of birth; Mary is the wife of H. L. Hansen, a farmer of Waterford township, Clinton county; August wedded Mary Specht and lives in Jones county; Annie is the wife of Fred Storm, of the same county; and Ida is the wife of John Schrader, of Jones county.

George Luckstead passed his boyhood and youth upon the home farm, and attended the district schools of Waterford township until 1870, after which he devoted his entire time to the cultivation of the farm. On the 31st of March, 1891, at Preston, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Miss Katie Frey, who was born in Germany, January 11, 1866, and was only five years old when she came to America with her sister, Mrs. Louisa Moore, her parents having both died in Germany. In this country she made her home with Henry Specht, now a resident of Jones county, Iowa. The only member of the family now living besides herself is Louisa, wife of Henry Moore, who resides on a farm near Preston. There were seven children, but the others all died in the town of Bonsdorf, on the island of Fahmann, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Luckstead have had four children: John Henry, born May 30, 1892; and Irene Maria Clondine, born August 23, 1899, and two who died in infancy.

Our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon the farm which he now occupies, and he has since successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, feeding a high grade of stock for market. He lost heavily in the cyclone which occurred May 18, 1898, three barns and other outbuildings were destroyed, but none of his family were injured. At national elections he always votes the Democratic ticket, but at local elections, when no issue is involved, he supports the men whom he believes best qualified for office, regardless of party lines. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Mystic Workers of Charlotte.