Nicholas Henry Schocker 1845-1913

SCHOCKER, MEINKE, NIELAND, LOITZ, WRIGHT, BECK, GERNAN

Posted By: jo (email)
Date: 8/3/2008 at 22:13:04

NICHOLAS HENRY SCHOCKER
Nicholas Henry Schocker was born February 5, 1845 in Lubeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the son of Claus Henry and Catherine Margartha Gernan Schocker. He came to this country with his parents in 1852, and settled at Davenport, Iowa, where they lived about a year. He then walked across the country to Jackson County and settled in Fairfield Township, about 13 miles east of Maquoketa.
He was united in marriage to Sophia Meinke on July 16, 1865. This union was happily blessed with six children; August L., Henry J., John P., Mrs. Amelia M. Nieland and Mrs. Mary Loitz all of Maquoketa and Clara who passed to her heavenly home when only 16 days old.
They lived on the farm in Fairfield Township until 1886. He suffered from asthma, so sought relief in another climate, and moved to Walla Walla, Wash., and lived there a short time, but secured no relief so they returned to Jackson County, Iowa. After living in Jackson County three years and still suffering greatly, he was advised to go north. In 1890 they moved to Minnesota near Lake Benton. Here they bought a farm and lived for three years. He again received no relief so they decided to come home to Jackson county. They then purchased the Samuel Wright farm in 1893, which they sold in 1901, and purchased the Elwood farm 2 1/2 miles west of Maquoketa.
He bore his suffering with manly fortitude, never complaining. He was well liked by all who knew him. He was a straight forward, honorable and upright neighbor, a kind husband and a loving father. He experienced all the hardships of pioneer life.
He passed to his heavenly home peacefully in his home west of Maquoketa, after a short illness of three days on Monday night, April 21, 1913, at the age of 68 years, 2 months and 16 days.
Transition services were held on Thursday, April 24, at his home at 1:00 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m. in the Reformed church of which he was a faithful member, with Rev. D. F. Boomershine officiating.
The body was laid to rest in the Mt. Hope cemetery in Maquoketa.

DEATH DATE: 21 April 1913
SOURCE: Family records of Anna C. Loitz Beck