John P. Dresch b. 25 Dec 1851

DRESCH, NIESS, MARKLEY, TEBBO, BUDDE, CRECKMEIER, STURM, SCHECKEL

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 8/25/2011 at 18:40:25

The History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 2, by James Whitcomb Ellis - Biographical Excerpt

JOHN P. DRESCH.

John P. Dresch, owning and operating a well improved and productive .farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, on the 25th of December, 1851. His parents, John and Magdalena Dresch, were likewise natives of that country. In 1864 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States and took up their abode in Jackson county, Iowa, John Dresch here devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood. Following the death of his wife in 1871 he removed to the southwestern part of the state and subsequently went to Butler county, Nebraska, where he made his home until he passed away in 1891, being killed by lightning.

He was twice married and had seven children by his first wife, namely: John P., of this review; Charles and Mary, both of whom are deceased; Catherine, who is the widow of Louis Niess and resides in Fremont county, Iowa; Frank, living in Lincoln, Nebraska; Josephine, who is the wife of George Markley, of Nebraska; and Margaret, the wife of Frank Tebbo. By his second wife Mr. Dresch had one son, Charles, who makes his home in Nebraska.

John P. Dresch attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty years. After starting out in life on his own account he was engaged in well drilling for a period of seven years and then purchased a farm in Jackson township, operating the same for two years. At the end of that time he again turned his attention to well drilling and was thus engaged for thirteen years. He then bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township and has since devoted his time and energies to its further cultivation and improvement with excellent success, the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.

On the 9th of January, 1877, Mr. Dresch was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Budde, whose birth occurred in a log cabin in Jackson township on the 2d of May, 1857, her parents being Anton and Elizabeth (Creckmeier) Budde. They were natives of Germany but were married in St. Louis, Missouri, having emigrated to the United States when eighteen years of age. They came to this county in the early '50s, purchased land and here continued to reside until called to their final rest. Their children were nine in number. Mr. and Mrs. Dresch also became the parents of nine children, as follows: Anna S., who is the wife of Christ Sturm, of Jackson township; Henry J. and Melchior F., both of whom make their home in South Dakota; Rupert F., living in Springbrook, Iowa; Mary M., the wife of N. M. Scheckel, of South Dakota; Clara E. and Raymond J., both at home; Esther M., who is deceased; and Werner A., who is also still under the parental roof.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Dresch has given his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy. He served as assessor of Jackson township for fourteen years and was likewise a capable incumbent in the office of school treasurer. Both he and his wife are faithful communicants of the Catholic church and are well known and highly esteemed throughout the community as people of genuine personal worth and upright, honorable lives.