BOEVERS, GEORGE W.

BOEVERS, WINKELHAKE, DAU, GIES, LANGE, ARNOLD

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/24/2004 at 13:36:46

Biography reproduced from page 444 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

George W. Boevers is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Union township, known as “Wayside Farm,” where for nineteen years he has been actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 20th of October, 1859, and is a son of Frederick and Caroline (Winkelhake) Boevers. The parents were born, reared and married in Germany, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1854, locating in Quincy, Illinois. The father, who was a carpenter, followed his trade there for a year, and then removed to Beardstown, where he engaged in carpentry work for two years. At the expiration of that period he went to Sangamon county and bought forty acres of government land and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He erected a log cabin, and with an ox team began clearing and placing his land under cultivation. He subsequently extended his holdings until he had acquired one hundred and sixty acres of land, that he cultivated until 1867. In the latter year he disposed of his homestead and went to Mason county, that state, and bought a farm that he cultivated for four years. He likewise disposed of his property, following which he removed to Delavan Prairie, also in Mason county, and rented a farm. He cultivated this place until 1878, when he came to Iowa and bought the south half of section 31, Fenton township, Kossuth county. He assiduously applied himself to the cultivation of this property, on which he made extensive improvements, and there he passed away on the 7th of March, 1886. He had long survived his wife, who died November 9, 1869, and was laid to rest in Sleepy Hollow cemetery, Sangamon county.

George W. Boevers, who was a lad of ten years when his mother passed away, was reared in his native state and acquired his education in the district schools. In common with the majority of youths living in the country he early began assisting his father with the work of the farm, remaining at home until he was married, at the age of twenty-six. The same year he bought a quarter section of land in Independence township, Palo Alto county, that he improved and cultivated until 1893, when he disposed of it and returned to Kossuth county. Here he purchased his present farm, where he has since resided, and during the period of his ownership has erected three sets of buildings. The land was entirely unimproved when he bought it and the first house and barn he erected were destroyed by a cyclone about nine o-clock on the night of September 21, 1894. Mrs. Boevers and their infant daughter were killed when the house blew down, while Mr. Boevers and the son, who were buried in the debris, were injured, but not seriously. The double affliction and terrible loss he then suffered would have crushed the spirit of a man of less determination of purpose, but Mr. Boevers resolutely set about repairing the damages and soon built another house and barn. On the 22nd of May, 1910, he had the misfortune to lose his barn by fire, but he has since replaced it by a large, substantial and thoroughly modern structure, that adds greatly to the appearance and value of his place. That Mr. Boevers is enterprising and diligent is manifested by the appearance of his fields and buildings as well as the condition of his stock, all giving evidence of capable management and efficient supervision. He engages in diversified farming and his fields annually yield abundant harvests that amply reward him for his hard labor. He is prospering in his undertakings and is numbered among the leading agriculturists of the community, where his success is recognized as the result of intelligently directed effort.

On the 25th of February, 1885, Mr. Boevers was married to Miss Mary Dau, a daughter of Christian and Fredericka (Gies) Dau. The parents, who were natives of Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1867 and located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. After residing there for several years they came to Kossuth county, where the father bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, located in Union township. He was a good business man and capable agriculturist and extended his holdings until he held the title to eight hundred and forty acres, that he cultivated until his death in November, 1902. The mother is still living and now resides in Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. Boevers had two children: Myrtle, who with her mother, was killed in the cyclone of 1894; and Homer E., who is a youth of seventeen years. On the 6th of May, 1896, Mr. Boevers married Miss Emma L. Lange, a daughter of William and Mary (Arnold) Lange, the mother a native of Germany, and the father of Fort Wayne, Indiana. When a child the father came to Iowa with his parents, who located on a farm in Clayton county. The grandfather was killed in an accident a few years later, and Mr. Lange subsequently took charge of the farm, which he cultivated until about ten years ago, when he sold it and went west and there he died about twelve months later. The mother is living at the age of sixty-five years, and resides near Garner, Hancock county, Iowa. Mrs. Boevers is a native of Iowa, her birth having occurred on the old family homestead in Clayton county on the 2d of May, 1874, and there she was reared to womanhood. To Mr. Boevers and his second wife there have been born two children: Kenneth Arnold, who is now fourteen years of age and a student in the high school at Algona; and Maurice Lange, aged eleven.

The family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally Mr. Boevers is a member of the Yeomen. He votes the republican ticket and has for several years past been a trustee of Union township, and he is also treasurer of the school board, while for several terms he served as clerk of Fenton township while residing there with his father. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Boevers is a stockholder in the Algona Cooperative Creamery Company, one of the thriving industries of the county. He is a man of excellent personal qualities and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare or progress of the community, always ready to assist in forwarding every worthy movement.