Pecks, William (1834-1908)

PECKS, MUDDE, NULL, MAMMEN

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 3/4/2011 at 12:22:09

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
1-31-1908

THREE PIONEERS PASS AWAY
DEATH HAS BEEN BUSY AMONG
OLD SETTLERS
William Pecks, one of the old and respected residents of Plymouth county, died at his home in Grant township Tuesday aged seventy-four years. He had been sick for some months and his demise was not unexpected. Mr. Pecks has lived in Plymouth county for thirty-six years and was widely known. He was a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born on May 5, 1834. He was a son of Henry and Tillie Pecks, the family having lived for generations a the same place in Hanover. He attended the public schools until about fourteen years of age when he began to
work on a farm in the neighborhood. In June, 1857, be started for America and located in Lee county, Illinois, working on a farm near Dixon. In 1862 he enlisted in company C, Fourteenth
Illinois cavalry, and spent three years in hard service of his adopted country, serving gallantly and bravely. He suffered hardships enough by the fortune of war, being a prisoner in
Andersonville for seven months.

After being honorably discharged be returned to Lee county, Illinois. In a abort time however be moved to Jones county, Iowa, where be resided until 1890 when he came to this county and purchased eighty acres in Grant township and made his home here since. By industry and perseverance he acquired more land and attained a fine competency. He was married
to Miss Annie Mudde in 1860 and eight children were born to them, seven of whom, five sons and two daughters, survive with the mother to mourn his death. He also leaves three brothers, Hermann Pecks, of Carroll county. Gerhard Pecks, of this city, and Ben Pecks, of Grant, and a sister, Mrs. Null, living near Dalton.

Hermann Pecks and his son, George, were here from Carroll to attend the funeral, which was held yesterday afternoon at the Grant township Lutheran Church and was very largely attended by old friends and neighbors.
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NOTE: Interestingly I consulted the baptism records of the Christ Lutheran Church in Grant township and the records show that the mother listed for most of the births of the children of William Pecks is listed as Anna Marie Mammen (not Annie Mudde) and she is also the sister of Claas and Mame Mammen. ~Researcher, Glenna Rice.