Ralph T. Schenck

SCHENCK, WENPLE, HAGGARD, FILER

Posted By: Gail Meyer Kilgore (email)
Date: 3/4/2004 at 02:19:43

RALPH T. SCHENCK. A life-time of earnest endeavor in pursuing his chosen calling, coupled with strict integrity, honesty of purpose and liberality, has tended to place Mr. Schenck among the highly honored and successful agriculturists of Pleasant Valley Township, Grundy County. He was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., February 8, 1825, to Edward T. and Elizabeth (Wenple) Schenck.

The father of our subject was a native of New Jersey, while his good wife was born in New York. They became the parents of eight children, of whom those living besides our subject, are: Angeline, Catherine, Mary, Alida, Mynard and Sarah E. Edward Schenck removed to New York, where he received his education, and when choosing a calling for himself, became a farmer and resided in Montgomery County, engaging in that occupation until his decease, when in his sixty-seventh year. His father, Ralph Schenck, the grandfather of our subject, also hailed from New Jersey, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The family trace their ancestors back to 1620, at which time the first representative of the name located in this country, coming from Holland. The mother of our subject is also deceased, dying at the advanced age of eight-four years. She was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., and during her life was a devoted member of the German Reformed Church.

Ralph T. Schenck, of this sketch, remained under the parental roof until reaching his twenty-fourth year, at which time he was married to Miss Deborah, daughter of James and Deborah Haggard. Like her husband, Mrs. Schenck was born, reared and educated in Montgomery County, and at the time of her decease, which occurred June 2, 1882, had born him two children: Jane E., who is also deceased; and Anna M., who married O. P. Filer, and lives on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Filer have two children, Paul S. and Charlotte P.

Our subject removed to Wisconsin in 1849, where he purchased eighty acres of land in Rock County, continuing to make his home there until 1871. In that year he decided to move still farther west, and in order to carry out his desire, went on a prospecting tour through California and Oregon, his intention being to find a suitable location for his family. He saw enough of the far west, however, to satisfy him that it was not the place he was looking for, and accordingly, returning home, removed with his family to Grundy County, where he became the proprietor of a quarter-section of fine land. This he later disposed of to his son-in-law, O. P. Filer, with whom he resides, and is spending his declining years surrounded by many of the comforts of life.

Mr. Schenck has done much to advance the interests of Pleasant Valley Township, and has served his fellow-townsmen as Trustee and Assessor. He is very much beloved in the community where he has spent so many useful years, and is a devoted member of the Congregational Church. During his earlier life he was an active politician, and at all times supported the Republican candidates.

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