JOSEPH M ZOOK, b 8 Oct 1823

ZOOK, MACK, NOBLE, ISENBICE, SCOTT, KIZER, LUCKEY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/28/2005 at 18:28:40

Joseph M. Zook a highly respected citizen of Baldwin may be properly classed among the pioneers of this county, to which he came in 1856, and of which he has been a resident for a period of thirty-one years. A native of Bedford County, Pa., he was born Oct. 8, 1823, and is the son of David and Nancy (Mack) Zook, also natives of the Keystone State, and long since deceased.

John Zook, the paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany, whence he emigrated early in life and settling in Pennsylvania, was married and became the father of a large family. It is supposed that he occupied himself in agricultural pursuits and spent his remaining days in the State of his adoption. His son, David, was reared on a farm. Soon after his marriage he emigrated to Knox County, Ohio, where he sojourned for a period of twenty years and then changed his residence to Elkhart County, Ind. He left his family there in 1849, and went to California, where his death took place the following year.

The twelve children of David and Nancy Zook all lived to mature years, and are recorded as follows: John died in Indiana; Jacob died in California; Catherine lives in Michigan; Elizabeth makes her home in Muscatine, this State; Joseph M. was the next in order of birth; Mary died in Ohio; Alexander died in Cedar County, this State; Susan, (Mrs. Noble) is a resident of Clinton County; Hannah is the wife of Christopher Isenbice, of Iowa County; Sarah, (Mrs. Scott) is a resident of Clinton County; David is farming in Hamilton County, Neb.

The subject of this sketch spent the opening years of his life on a farm in Indiana, and in 1854, accompanied his mother to this State. They first took up their abode in Clinton County, where the mother died in 1857. Joseph M., still unmarried, was in poor health and unable to labor but very little for several years thereafter. In 1858 he came to Baldwin, and established the first store in the place, which he conducted some five or six years, being associated in partnership with Jacob Zook, his uncle.

The 15th of October, 1862, witnessed the marriage of our subject with Miss Caroline Kizer. Mrs. Zook was born in Richland County, Ohio, but when quite young came to Iowa with her parents, who were among the early pioneers of Cedar County, the home of Miss Caroline until her marriage. After this event Mr. Zook purchased a tract of land in this township and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he has since followed very successfully. He is now the owner of over 200 acres in the vicinity of Baldwin, and has mainly retired from active labor. He, for a number of years made a specialty of stock-raising, which yielded him handsome returns.

To our subject and his excellent wife there were born three children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Matie is the wife of Dr. Charles Luckey, of Baldwin; William was taken from the home circle when a lad of three years; Hattie died in infancy. In religion our subject is a German Baptist; in politics he was formerly a Whig and is now a stanch Republican. He meddles very little with public affairs and aside from holding the office of Township Trustee has given his attention closely to his own concerns. Mr. and Mrs. Zook have a very comfortable home.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)