Koenig, Leonard 1827 - 1906

KOENIG, MUSSELL

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2011 at 10:31:49

DEATH OF A PIONEER
Leonard Koenig Passes Away at Ripe Old Age.

Leonard Koenig, one of the pioneer residents of Plymouth County passed to his reward on Monday morning at his home in Hungerford Township at the ripe old age of about 80 years; surrounded by his aged wife and members of his family.

The funeral will be held from the Melbourne Church on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock and will be largely attended for during the long period in which he lived his characteristics were so lovable that he has constantly added to his friendships which have remained steadfast and firm, and hundreds will go to pay their last tribute to his memory. The services will be conducted by Rev. Karl Kaupp of Melbourne, and Dr. H. H. Thoren of Western Union college.

He was born in Bavaria, Germany, February 2,1827, and when a lad of 16 years came to America to make his home and went direct to Baltimore where be made his home until 1869, following the occupations of a gardener. He was united in marriage on February 10, 1850, at Baltimore with Miss Mary Mussell and ten children were born to them, two dying while quite young. In 1869 the courageous young man and woman imbued with determination to carve out a home and a future for their loved ones, cast off the environments of the city and came west to Plymouth County which was then, and to them, the very outer edge of civilization.

Stopping a day or two in Sioux City with Geo. M. Smith, who accompanied them from Baltimore, the family drove up the Floyd Valley where Mr. Koenig purchased a quarter section farm a quarter of a mile from Melbourne, which was then the county seat, and he began the life of a pioneer which brought the greatest privations to all, and when scores of people were discouraged he and his good wife offered them the encouragement which is the most substantial for, they encourage both in words and deeds and this has been a cardinal virtue of them both throughout their entire life and every unfortunate one who came to their door was aided.

He organized the first Odd Fellows Lodge in this county in 1870 at Melbourne, which is known as Melbourne Lodge No. 206 I. O. O. F., this was organization being perfected at his home. Then lodge was organized at his house and held its meetings there for nearly two years when they built their new hall and he still retains his membership in that lodge. He was a member of the German Evangelical Church all of his life and of the United Evangelical Church since its organization, and he and his excellent wife and family who gave their allegiance to that church were working members all of their lives and he was a liberal contributor to the support of the church and Sunday school. He played a prominent part in the advancement of the county and township in which he resided and was a member of the board of supervisors for several years, acting as its chairman for several years.

He realized after a few years in the Floyd Valley that he, had found the garden spot of the world and applied himself with such tenacity to his labors, aided by a noble helpmate, that be was enabled to present each of his five sons with five quarter section of land and giving the three daughters $2,000 each, and at the close of a most honored life leave a competences to his aged helpmate who faithfully aided him in labors for fifty years, that will vastly more than care for her until she answers his summons
to join him.

The children who survive him are Wm. F. Koenig of Los Angeles, Cal,; George T., who lives on the home farm; Rev. Philip B., appointed to a pastorate at Belle Prairie; John F. of Bremer County; H. C. Koenig of this county; Mrs. Geo, M, Smith of Le Mars, Mrs. Louis Becker of Waverly, Mrs. Albert Spies of Valley Springs, S.D. All of the children were present at the funeral except Wm. T. Koenig, who could not get here from Los Angeles in time.

The Le Mars Globe - pg. 1
Wednesday, May 23, 1906
Le Mars, Iowa
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The Alton Democrat
May 26, 1906

WAYSIDE GLEANINGS.
Leonard Koenig—one of the pioneers of the Floyd valley, died at his home twelve miles south of LeMars, Wednesday, aged eighty years.
He came to Plymouth county in 1869 from Baltimore and engaged in farming and became rich—owning several hundred acres of land. He was a native of Germany where he was born in 1827. He leaves a wife and large family. He was an Odd Fellow and a member of the United Evangelical church. Mr. Koenig was for many years a member of the supervisor board and held other offices. He was a democrat in politics.
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