George Storck

MARQUARDT, SCHAETZKE, STORCK, WENZEL

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/13/2004 at 14:15:55

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

Germany has given to the United States many citizens who have been a potent force in the development of the country along many lines and George Storck, a well known farmer of Madison township, possesses those sterling traits of character that are usually associated with the Teutonic race. His birth occurred in Germany on the 2d of June, 1843, and his parents, John and Bridget (Wenzel) Storck, were likewise natives of the fatherland. The father was a farmer and also a cooper and worked at his trade in Germany, but upon emigrating to America settled in Clayton county, Iowa, in 1848, and gave the greater part of his attention to agricultural work. He entered land from the government, as the country was still sparsely settled and much land was in possession of the nation. He improved his place and cultivated it until his death, which occurred in 1851, when he was a comparatively young man. His widow survived until 1886.

George Storck has resided in this state since he was five years old, as he was a child of that age when brought by his parents to America. His education was afforded by the district schools and he remained with his mother until he was nineteen years of age. By that time it was evident that the Civil war was not to be decided in a few months and he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, in Clayton county, in August, 1862. He served with that command until the close of the war and at one time was wounded and disabled for service for about six weeks. Following the close of hostilities he returned to Clayton county and for one year worked as a farm hand. He then went to Delaware county and bought one hundred and sixty acres, which he operated and developed in partnership with a brother. Upon the expiration of three years he sold that place and in 1870 came to Madison county, locating on a quarter section of fine land which he had previously purchased. His farm is situated on section 13, Madison township, and is one of the valuable properties of the township. He has bought land adjoining until he now owns two hundred and ten acres in Madison township and two hundred acres in Jefferson township. He has given his best thought and practically his entire time to its operation and has accumulated more than a competence. In addition to cultivating the usual crops he raises about one hundred head of hogs per year, the sale of which adds materially to his profit on the year's work.

Mr. Storck married Miss Henrietta Marquardt in August, 1870. Her parents, Carl and Dorothea (Schaetzke) Marquardt, were born in Germany and became residents of Clayton county, Iowa, in 1859. Her father purchased land there, which he farmed until 1873 and then removed with his family to Madison county, Iowa becoming a landowner in Jefferson township. His death occurred upon his farm there in 1896, when he had reached the venerable age of ninety-one years. His wife passed away seven years previously, when seventy-six years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Storck were born nine children: Augusta and Lucy, at home; Richard C., who is living in South Dakota; Ernest A., a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Fernanda C., Paul G. and Walter H., at home; Nellie, who died in 1889, when five years old; and Arthur H, who passed away in 1913, at the age of thirty-five years.

Mr. Storck is one of the stanch supporters of the republican party in this county and takes a commendable interest in public affairs. From 1882 to 1885 he was a member of the board of county supervisors and discharged his duties to the full satisfaction of his constituents. He is secretary and manager o the Madison County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, which was organized in 1880 and of which he was president until 1893, when he became secretary and manager. The excellent conditions of the finances of the company and its high standing in this county are due in no small degree to his excellent business judgment and his personal attention to the details of the management of the company. He is a so secretary of the North Branch Horse Company and has completely identified his interests with those of this county, being recognized as a good citizen and a successful farmer and business man. His religion is that of the German Lutheran church as he believes in its tenets.