Koch, Peter H. 1867-1948

KOCH, KAHL

Posted By: Linda Mohning, volunteer (email)
Date: 5/27/2012 at 06:07:33

Peter H. Koch, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of Plymouth county, now living at Remsen, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of this country since the days of early youth. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein on March 13, 1867, son of Ernest and Mary Koch, both natives of that same province, who came to the United States in 1875 and proceeded to Iowa, locating in Benton county, where Ernest Koch rented a farm and where he remained until 1884, when he came over into Plymouth county with his family and bought a quarter of a section of land in Henry township, paying twelve dollars and fifty cents an acre for the same. He set out a grove on that place, improved the farm in excellent shape and, as he prospered in his operations, added to his land holding until he became the owner of five hundred and sixty acres. There he remained actively engaged in farming until 1891, when he turned the management of the place over to his son, the subject of this sketch, and spent the rest of his life in comfortable retirement on the farm, his death occurring in 1907. His widow, who still survives, is now making her home at Remsen. They were the parents of two sons, the subject of this sketch having had a brother, Henry, now deceased.
Peter H. Koch was about eight years of age when he came to this country with his parents and his boyhood was spent on the home farm in Benton county, this state, where he received his schooling. He was almost eighteen years of age when the family moved to Plymouth county and he became a valuable assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm. Following his marriage tin 1891 and his father’s retirement from the active management of the farm in that same year, Mr. Koch assumed the management of the same and continue to make his home there, giving his personal attention to the farming of three hundred and twenty acres of the place. There he remained, successfully engaged in farming and stock raising, until in August, 1915, when he retired from the farm and moved to Remsen, where he and his family are comfortable situated. Mr. Koch is a Republican and has ever given his earnest attention to local civic affairs. During his residence on the farm he served for many years as director of his local school district and for about six years as trustee of the township.
In 1891 Peter H. Koch was united in marriage to Meta Kahl, daughter William Kahl and wife, and to this union three children have been born namely: Ernest, who married Anna Klasher [Klaschen] and has one child, a daughter, Lottie; William who married Mary Steffen and has one child, Roma; and Anna, who married Richard Kluver and has one child, a daughter, Meta. The Kochs have ever taken an earnest interest in the social activities of their home community and have been helpful in promoting various movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout.

Source: The History of Plymouth County, Vol. II, edited by W. S. Freeman, 1917