Koch, August 1852-1933

KOCH, KRESS, KOCH, PETERS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/28/2024 at 00:34:31

PIONEER MAN IS SUMMONED FRIDAY EVENING

August Koch Had Spent Much of His Life in Akron and Vicinity

In the death of August Koch at his home in this city on Friday evening, June 30, 1933, at 10:15 o’clock, Akron and western Plymouth county lost one of the best known and most highly esteemed pioneer citizens. Last winter he suffered an attack of the flu, from which he never fully recovered. A few weeks ago he suffered a heart attack and his health and strength continued to decline until the end, despite all that medical skill and loving care could accomplish. He attained the age of 80 years, 6 months and 23 days.

August Koch was born at Losenrade, Germany, December 7, 1852, the youngest son of Christian and Dorothea (Zacher) Koch. He attended school in Gross-Benster, where he was also instructed and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Until the age of 20 he assisted his father in the occupation as a fisherman. After he had reported for military training, but was excused from it, he emigrated to the United States in 1873, settling near Postvill, in Clayton county, Iowa. There he was married to Elise Kress in 1878. He bought a farm there and followed that pursuit for three years, when he became discouraged on account of a disastrous visitation of chinch bugs sold out and moved west to Plymouth county, Iowa. After engaging in farming near Remsen for a year, they came to western Plymouth county and bought a quarter section in section 31, Preston township, farming there until 1895. In the meantime by hard work and careful management they acquired several more quarter sections of land in the vicinity. During the winter of 1891 his beloved wife was taken by death.

In September, 1897, he married Mrs. Louise Koch (nee Peters), who has shared happiness and grief with him for over thirty-five years as a faithful wife and mother of his children. In 1895 he moved from Preston township to a farm he owned in Portland township east of Akron, where they lived until April 1906, when Mr. and Mrs. Koch retired from active farm life and moved t Akron, which has since remained the family home.

In 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Koch visited their native land, Germany. Eight children came to bless Mr. Koch’s first marriage—Fred, Henry and August, who died in infancy; William, who died at the age of twenty-six years; John, Louis and Herman, all of whom now reside in Akron and vicinity. Besides his widow and four sons, he is also survived by three step-children, Mrs. Robert Ross, of Akron; Dr. Geo. W. Koch, of Sioux City, Ia., and Fred Koch, of Denison, Ia.; two sisters, Mrs. Johanna Kaelke and Mrs. Sophie Huebner, of Akron and one sister in Germany; fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

An upright and industrious citizen, a kind and devoted husband and father, a helpful and trustworthy friend and neighbor, he will be sincerely missed and mourned in the community where he has spent so many useful years.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon in the Preston Township Lutheran church, where Mr. Koch held a membership for many years, and there was a very large attendance. The service was conducted by the pastor, Rev. Theo. Meyer, assisted by his son, Rev. Paul Meyer. The pallbearers were the sons and step-sons of his deceased-John, Emil, Louis, Herman, George and Fred Koch. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, July 6, 1933
Akron, Iowa