John Wesley Krell

HART, KRELL, WELTY, WIGHT, WISSLER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/6/2004 at 20:36:38

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

On the roster of of county officials of Madison county appears the name of John W. Krell, who is capably and acceptably serving in the position of county treasurer making his home in Winterset. He was born in Pickaway county, Ohio October 18, 1868, a son of John Henry and Mary S. (Wissler) Krell. The father was born near Frankfort, Germany, and came to the United States with his parents in 1849, when a lad of but nine years. He was reared and married in Ohio and there learned the mason's trade, which he followed throughout the period of his early manhood. Following his marriage he settled on a farm, carrying on general agricultural pursuits in Ohio until 1875, when he came to Madison, county, Iowa, and purchased land, becoming the owner of a tract in Webster township. There he again engaged in farming and also worked at his trade at intervals. His life was a busy, active and useful one and he continued to conduct his farm until 1901, when he retired from business and removed to Winterset where his death occurred on the 3d of June, 1914.

At the time of the Civil war John H. Krell put aside all business and personal considerations and enlisted October 12, 1861, in defense of his country as a member of Company A, Seventy-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was on active duty for more than three years and then reenlisted in the same company. At the battle of Gettysburg he was wounded in the back of his head by a gunshot, having a very close call. He was sent to a hospital but as soon as possible rejoined his
command. His regiment was always attached to the Army of the Potomac and with that command he participated in many hotly contested engagements, remaining loyally at the front until honorably discharged at the close of the war. He afterward became a member of Pitzer Post, No. 55, G.A.R., of Winterset, and had many warm friends among his old army comrades. Fraternally he was connected with Grand River Lodge, No. 406, I.0.0.F., of Macksburg, which he joined upon its organization, having previously been made an Odd Fellow at Kingston, Ohio. When a resident of the Buckeye state he held membership in the Methodist church but after coming to Iowa joined the United Evangelical Association. Later he returned to the Methodist church and passed away in that faith when seventy-four years of age. His wife was a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, and her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, of German extraction. Her father was a minister of the Evangelical church until he lost his eyesight when in middle age. He and his wife afterward made their home with Mr. Krell in Ohio and in the fall of 1875 came to Iowa with him and secured eighty acres of land adjoining the Krell farm. The maternal grandmother of our subject passed away at the advanced age of eighty-six years, while Mr. Wissler died at the very venerable age of ninety-four years. Their daughter, who was the mother of our subject, died in Webster township, February 14, 1900, when but fifty-eight years of age. She was always a consistent member of the Evangelical church and lived an earnest Christian life. In the family of John H. and Mary S. (Wissler) Krell were seven children: Dayton W., a mail carrier of Winterset; John W.; Samuel W., who is conducting a barber shop in Winterset; Frank, who died at the age of thirty-two years; Lewis Henry, now residing in Des Moines; Tena, the wife of Claud W. Wight, of Winterset; and Chauncey W., a telegraph operator at Ackley, Iowa, in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company.

John W. Krell was a little lad of seven years when brought to Madison county by his parents. His boyhood days were spent upon the home farm and he attended the public schools, pursuing his education through the winter months, while the summer seasons were largely devoted to the work of the fields. He began teaching when twenty-two years of age and followed that profession for
twenty-two terms in Webster township. He attended the Madison County Teachers Normal and when not engaged in teaching he worked upon the home farm. In 1899 he suffered from a broken leg and that year he again engaged in teaching, after which he was appointed superintendent of the county poor farm, in which position he continued for seven years. At the end of that time he resigned and took a trip to the west. In the fall of that year he worked for the Madisonian but was later appointed deputy treasurer under C. H. Hochstetler, in which position lie continued for four years. In 1912 lie was elected to the office of county treasurer and filled the position so capably and acceptably to his constituents that in the fall of 1914 lie was reelected and is the incumbent in that position. He is a standpat republican, giving unswerving support to the party and its principles.

On the 7th of March, 1894, Mr. Krell was united in marriage to Miss Cora B. Hart, who was born in Madison county, a daughter of A. M. and Caroline (Welty) Hart, who came to this county in pioneer times. The father worked at the carpenter’s trade and at the time of the Civil war enlisted in the Union army with the Fourth iowa Cavalry. Mrs. Krell was reared and educated in this county and took up the work of teaching, which she followed in Madison and Adair counties. By this marriage there has been born a daughter, Zella V., who is now attending high school.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Krell is a Mason and is loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. He also belongs to Grand River Lodge, No. 406, I.0.0.F., of Macksburg. Both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree and with the Order of the Eastern Star at Winterset. Mr. Krell is also a member of the Woodsmen of the World. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they are actively interested. As a public official he has made an excellent record and his fellow townsmen have every confidence in him, knowing him to be thoroughly reliable as well as efficient.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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