BOCKES, Daniel L. 1849-1933

BOCKES, KIEM, YUTZY, GINGRICH

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/10/2015 at 17:31:10

Daniel L. Bockes, Grundy Pioneer, Died On Sunday

Came to Grundy County 64 Yrs. Ago and Lived Here Continually. Was Sick But a Few Days.

Daniel L. Bockes, who made his home continually in Grundy county during the past sixty-four years, died at the home of his sons, Russell and Elmer, southwest of Grundy Center, Sunday morning following a short illness with arthritis. He was taken to his bed on the last day of February and he gradually grew weaker until the end came at four o'clock Sunday morning.

Funeral services were held at the Alice church Tuesday afternoon. The services were conducted by the local pastor, Rev. Masemore. Burial was in the Alice cemetery.

Mr. Bockes came from a family of Grundy pioneers. His father, Lewis Bockes, came to Grundy county in the late sixties and bought 1000 acres of land from the government. The land was all located in southwest Palermo and Clay townships. The land at the time was flat and wet, but the old pioneer must have had visions of a drainage system that would convert this swampy land into the wonderful growing soil that it has become. The large tract of land acquired nearly 70 years ago by the elder Bockes still remains in the Bockes family and it has been kept in a high state of cultivation and it is housed with modern improvements.

Daniel Bockes was the first of this large family to come to Iowa to make their home. The following year the remainder of the large family came and the branches from this family tree have expanded from year to year until now they have become one of the largest family groups in central Iowa.

Obituary
(Prepared by the family and read at the church service)

Daniel L. Bockes, son of Lewis and Catherine Kiem Bockes, was born in Somerset county, Pa., Sept. 18, 1846, and departed this life March 5, 1933, aged 86 years, 5 months and 16 days.

Mr. Bockes was one of 13 children and spent his boyhood and young manhood days with his parents in Somerset county, Pa.

On Aug. 12, 1867, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Yutzy of Somerset county, Pa. To this union 6 children were born, four of whom survive. They are Mrs. D. A. Mast of Grundy Center, Russell, Elmer, and Mrs. J. G. Chew of the Alice community. One child died in infancy, and one daughter, Sarah, died at the age of 7 years.

Mr. Bockes' first wife preceded him in death Jan. 20th, 1883.

On Aug. 7th, 1887, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Gingrich, and to this union one son was born, Lloyd of Glenwood, Iowa.

Two sisters, Mrs. Barbara Stultz and Mrs. Ellen Converse of McMinnville, Ore., and three brothers, Samuel of Grundy Center, Iowa, Lewis of Amity, Oregon, and William of Warba, Minn., survive him. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren.

In March, 1869, he and his wife and oldest daughter, who is Mrs. D. A. Mast of Grundy Center, together with his sister and husband, A. J. Kinsinger and one child, moved to Iowa, locating 5 miles southwest of Grundy Center. Mr. Bockes was a pioneer in the true sense of the word, they located on a virgin prairie land, they lived with a neighbor until they built one cottage, and then both families lived in this cottage until another could be erected. The first summer their gardens were 2 1/2 miles from their cottage because no suitable ground for gardening could be found nearer.

In the year 1911 Mr. Bockes moved to Conrad, where he lived until the death of his wife in 1923. Since that time he has made his home on the home farm with his daughter, Mrs. Chew. During his last illness which extended over a period of one year he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Mast of Grundy Center, and later moving to the home of his sons, Russell and Elmer in this community at whose home he passed away.

Early in life Mr. Bockes united with the Lutheran church. After coming to Iowa he united with the Reformed church and at one time was an elder in this church. While living in Conrad he attended the Presbyterian church, and after moving back to this community he always supported the Alice Church of God, and attended its services when possible. He was a member of the "home department" of the Alice Sunday School.

Through the hardships and privations of a pioneer life, Mr. Bockes succeeded in turning the rugged prairie into a beautiful farm. He was a successful farmer, and contributed his full share to the development of this splendid community.

He was an honored citizen, a faithful husband, and a loving father. Under the blessing of God he lived many years beyond the allotted span of life to enjoy the fruits of his labors.

"And I hear a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." (Rev. 14:13)

This quotation from God's word is a fitting climax to the long and useful life which Mr. Bockes lived.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, at the Alice Church of God, conducted by the pastor, J. L. Masemore.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 March 1933, pg 1