Hasselbrink, Christoph

HASSELBRINK, JABB, SCHULTZ, DETLOFF, LUNT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/30/2009 at 12:45:03

Hasselbrink, Christoph ~\

One of the German born citizens, a native of Barkow-by-Godems, Mecklenburg-Schwerm, who has won success as a farmer and stock raiser solely through individual enterprise and courage is Christoph Hassselbrink, a man whom any community would delight to have in its midst, for he is not only progressive in material things, but has proven himself to be law-abiding and honorable in his relations with his fellowmen.

Mr. Hasselbrink was born in Germany on July 26, 1861. He is the son of Henry Christian Hasselbrink and Henrietta (Jabb) Hasselbrink, both born and reared in the fatherland, the father dying there October 26, 1892, and the mother died in 1909, in Jasper County, Iowa. The father worked principally as a day laborer. Their family consisted of five sons and one daughter, Christoph, of this sketch, being the fourth in order of birth.

The subject grew up in his native land and there received such education as the community in which he lived afforded and he worked on the farm in crop seasons. He emigrated alone to the United States in 1883, locating at Des Moines, Iowa, but soon afterwards went to work on a farm near that city, remaining there for a period of fourteen years, during which time he saved his money and got a start in the world. He then went to Texas and became a railroad laborer for different roads, working at construction work and on section for three wars. In 1888 he camp to Kellogg, Jasper County, Iowa, to make his future home. Here, he was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad for seven years at construction work and on the section, becoming an expert in this work. Then, in 1895, turning his attention to farming, he rented a farm for two years, then moved to Marshall County and lived on rented farms until 1908, then began renting the C. W. Craven farm in Mariposa Township, Jasper County. In the spring of 1911 he purchased one hundred and forty acres on the north boundary of Mariposa Township, known as the old Christ Freese farm, and he moved to his permanent home March 1, 1912.

Politically, Mr. Hasselbrink is a Democrat and he was reared a Lutheran.

Mr. Hasselbrink was married on January 30, 1889, to Amelia Schultz, who was born in Germany on October 26, 1861, the daughter of John and Kathrina (Detloff) Schultz, who came from Germany to Kellogg, Iowa, in the year 1880. To the subject and wife have been born eight children, named as follows: Carl, William, Albert, Amelia, Elsie, Hugo, Lela and Louis. By a former marriage Mrs. Hasselbrink became the mother of two children who are living at home, John and Andrew Lunt. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 845.