Frederick Imboden

BOYLE, FITES, HAWKINS, IMBODEN, MCKNIFF, RISER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/19/2004 at 21:12:22

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

For many years Frederick Imboden was numbered among the active and successful farmers of Penn township and became the owner of more than six hundred acres of excellent land. However, in 1906 he retired and removed to Earlham, where he lived until his demise, which occurred on the 6th of November, 1908.

Although Mr. Imboden became thoroughly identified with the best interests of Madison county, his birth occurred in Switzerland, of which country his parents, Frederick and Katharine Imboden, were also natives. He was born on the 15th of September, 1836, and in 1852 came with his parents to America, the family home being established in Holmes county, Ohio, where the father engaged in farming. Both he and his wife passed away in the Buckeye state, mourned by those who were closely associated with them. To their union were born the following children: Frederick; John, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; Elizabeth, Katharine and Annie, all of whom are deceased; and Margaret, who is living in Ohio.

Frederick Imboden received his education in Switzerland and after the removal of the family to the United States assisted his father with the work of cultivating the home farm in Holmes county, Ohio. In 1866 he migrated westward and came to Madison county, Iowa, where he purchased land in Penn township. From time to time he added to the quarter .section which constituted his first farm and in time acquired title to over six hundred acres of well improved and productive land. He carried on general farming and stock-raising and was one of the most successful farmers of his township. He became financially independent and in 1906 removed to Earlham, where he lived retired until called to the home beyond. His widow still owns the homestead on section 34, Penn township, and resides with her children.

It was in Holmes county, Ohio, on the 14th of January, 1866, that Mr. Imboden was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Fites, a daughter of John and Margaret Fites, also natives of Switzerland. In 1833 they removed to Ohio, and in that state all of their children were born, namely: John, now a resident of Earlham; Samuel, who died in the Union army during the Civil war; Christ, and Henry, deceased; Fred, who is farming in Holmes county, Ohio; William, who has passed away; Margaret, who is living in Holmes county, Ohio; Mrs. Imboden; and May, deceased. The father engaged in farming in Ohio and there both he and his wife resided until called by death.

To Mr. and Mrs. Imboden were born seven children. Julius, whose birth occurred on the 31st of October, 1866, is now a merchant residing in Greeley, Colorado. He married Miss Anna McKniff and they have two children, Helen and William. Ed, born February 2, 1868, is farming in Penn township. Lovie, whose birth occurred on the 5th of February, 1871, resides with Ed. Mary, whose natal day was the 28th of October, 1872, is also making her home with her brother Ed. Fred, born July 4, 1875, is farming in Jackson township. He married Miss Bertha Riser and they have four children, Iris, Clifford, Erma and Ona. Cora, born on the 15th of June, 1879, married Cord Boyle, a farmer of Penn township, by whom she has four children, Raymond, Clifton, Ruth and Mabel. Roy, born January 31, 1889, is farming the homestead in Penn township. He married Miss Ruth Hawkins and they have a daughter, Olive.

Mr. Imboden was a democrat and held a number of township offices, proving an efficient official. His religious faith was manifest in his membership in the Penn Center Methodist Episcopal church, to which his widow belongs. He was not only successful as an agriculturist, but was a public-spirited citizen, honorable in all relations of life, and the high respect in which he was generally held was well deserved.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen