Henry Bockes

BOCKES, WETMILLER, FROST, MAST

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/10/2011 at 08:29:12

HENRY BOCKES is a representative and highly respected farmer of Palermo Township, Grundy County, residing on section 33. As he has a wide acquaintance in this community, we feel assured that this record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers. Born on the 11th of February, 1842, he is a native of Somerset County, Pa., and a son of Lewis Bockes, who is still living at the age of eighty-two years, and makes his home in Palermo Township.

Our subject was reared on the old homestead farm in the county of his nativity, and received such educational privileges as the public schools afforded. He remained at home until his marriage, which was celebrated in Somerset County on the 24th of December, 1863, Miss Mary Wetmiller becoming his wife. She was a daughter of Dennis Wetmiller, of that county. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm about two miles from the old home of Mr. Bockes, and there continued to reside until 1870. In the spring of that year he emigrated westward to Grundy County, and located upon the farm which he now makes his home, and which his father had previously purchased. It was entirely destitute of improvement, but he at once began breaking the prairie, until furrow after furrow was turned and the raw tract was transformed into rich and ferile fields. All of the buildings upon the place have been erected by him, and its trees were planted by him. They will long stand as monuments to his enterprise and progressive spirit, and at the same time they add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. The farm comprises two hundred and eighty acres, and Mr. Bockes there carries on agricultural pursuits and stock-raising.

Unto our subject and his wife were born five children: Richard F., who married Miss Eliza Frost, and is a dealer in agricultural implements in Grundy Centre; Lucinda Alice, wife of Jerry Mast, a farmer of Palermo Township; Harvey M.; Mary Edith and Martha Ellen, who are still at home.

In politics Mr. Bockes takes an active interest, being a stalwart advocate of the Democracy and a worker in the ranks of the party. He has been a member of the Board of School Directors for the past ten years, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. He belongs to the Lutheran Church, and his wife holds membership with the Catholic Church. Numbered among the pioneers of the county, he has witnessed much of its growth and development, and in all possible ways has aided in its advance and progress, for he takes a commendable interest in everything that pertains to the welfare of the community. Mr. Bockes is a popular man, and has many warm friends in this neighborhood. His business career has been one of success, and has brought him a comfortable competence.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894

Grundy Biographies maintained by Tammy D. Mount.
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