Hans K. Bonnicksen, 1865-1956-

BONNICKSEN, SCHULZ

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/23/2011 at 19:24:29

One of the prosperous farmers and leading citizens of Denmark township, Emmet county, is Hans K. Bonnicksen,, who, like most of the residents of that locality is of Scandinavian birth. He was born in Denmark on the 27th of February, 1865, and is the third in a family of six children, their parents being Knud and Katrina Bonnicksen. In 1872 the father brought his family to America and settled in Clinton, Iowa, where he was employed as a teamster for two years. The following six years were spent in Malone, Iowa, where he engaged in farming on rented land, but at the end of that time he returned to Clinton, where he again made his home for two years. Coming to Emmet county in 1883 he purchased the southeast quarter of section 23, Denmark township, and later added to this south half of the northeast quarter of the same section, whereon he continued to reside for several years, his time and energies being devoted to the cultivation and improvement of his farm. During the last few years of his life, however, he lived retired, first in Armstrong and later in Ringsted, where he passed away July 18, 1913. His wife had died on the 6th of November, 1902, and both were laid to rest in St. Paul's cemetery.

Reared under the parental roof, Hans K. Bonnicksen attended the neighboring schools until sixteen years of age and have his father the benefit of his services upon the home farm until he attained his majority. His life has practically been devoted to agricultural pursuits and a the age of twenty-six years he purchased the north half of the southeast quarter of section 22, Denmark township, to which he subsequently added the north half of the south half of that quarter section, making one hundred and twenty acres in all. Still later he purchased the north half of the south half of the northwest quarter of section 23 and has since been actively engaged in the operation of the land.

In 1892 Mr. Bonnicksen married Miss Lena Schulz, a daughter of Peter and Krogh Schulz, who came to this country from Denmark and were early settlers of Denmark township, Emmet county. Her father is deceased and is buried in St. John's cemetery, but her mother is still living and is now Mrs. N. C. Nielsen, of Ringsted. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bonnicksen are Carl, Katrina, Christina and Arnold, all at home.

The family hold membership in St. John's Lutheran church, and Mr. Bonnicksen affiliates with the republican party. He has been called upon to serve as township clerk two years, school director one year and road supervisor one year. For a number of years he has been a director of Ringsted Creamery Company and is also a director of the Farmers Bank of Ringsted. In business affairs he has steadily prospered owing to his wise judgment and untiring industry and he now ranks among well-to-do farmers and representative citizens of his community.

CC Note: Hans Bonnicksen (died 1956) is buried in St. John's cemetery, Denmark township, Emmet county, Iowa. Obituary available.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.

Interment in St. John's Lutheran cemetery
 

Emmet Biographies maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen