Lewis Bockes

BOCKES, SHOEMAKER, KEIM, LIVENGOOD, CRETCHMAN, KINSINGER, STULTZ, CONVERSE

Posted By: Katie A. Dahl (email)
Date: 3/29/2004 at 16:07:25

LEWIS BOCKES, an honored citizen residing on section 32, Palermo Township, is one of the oldest residents of Grundy County. He was born in Somerset County, Pa., July 27, 1812, and was baptized February 7, 1813. His father, Daniel Bockes, was born and reared in Germany, and at the age of twenty-two crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Somerset County, Pa., where he married Elizabeth Shoemaker. He followed school-teaching, and also engaged in farming. For six years he lived in Schuylkill County, Pa., but his last days were spent in Somerset County, Pa. The family numbered three sons and a daughter.

After arriving at maturity, Lewis Bockes was married in his native county to Catherine, daughter of John Keim, who was born near Davidsville, in Somerset County, January 13, 1817, and at the age of eighteen removed to Elk Lick Township, where, in 1813, her father had married Barbara Livengood. Both were members of the Mennonite Church, and he was a successful farmer. The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Bockes was celebrated February 9, 1834. Their children were Nancy, wife of M. Cretchman, who resides on the old homestead in Pennsylvania; Samuel, whose sketch is given below; Henry, a farmer of Palermo Township; Mrs. Elizabeth Kinsinger, a widow living in the same township; Daniel, who makes his home in Palermo Township; Barbara, wife of Daniel Stultz, of Palermo Township; John, of Clay Township; Ellen, wife of John Converse, of Palermo Township; Will who is living in Tama County, Iowa; and three other children who died in infancy.

For two years after his marriage Mr. Bockes lived near the old homestead, and then he spent seven years in the northern part of the county, whence he returned to the old home farm, which he operated until coming to Iowa in 1870. He located in Clay Township, where his son John now lives, and where he purchased seven hundred and twenty acres at $1.25 an acre before coming to the west. He continued to reside upon this farm until 1884, when he took up his residence on the farm which is now his home. To his possessions he added until he owned one thousand acres, but has given considerable portions of this acreage to his children.

Mr. Bockes is a man of excellent business and executive ability, and may truly be called self-made, for through his own efforts he achieved the successes of his life. He and his wife are faithful members of the Reformed Church. They are numbered amongst the most prominent people of this community, and by young and old, rich and poor, are held in high regard.

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