Bagenstos, John D.

BAGENSTOS, HELLMAN, IGOU, FULLER, KNODLE, KACHEL, MOGLE, KENT

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 11/28/2012 at 11:38:53

His present homestead was the scene of the birth of John D. Bagenstos which occurred in a log house on section 23, Madison township, this county, on the 5th of September 1860. His parents were John L. and Elizabeth (Hellman) Bagenstos, both natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania, but of German extraction. The father was born on the 19th of March, 1814, and the mother on the 7th of November, 1823. They were married in 1842 and for ten years thereafter continued to reside in the Keystone state. In 1855 they migrated to Iowa, locating upon the farm where their son John D. now resides, which at that time was neither cleared nor improved. Mr. Bagenstos felled the trees necessary for the construction of his cabin, which was the third erected in Madison township. Forty trees were needed for which he was charged fifty cents apiece, but not having the cash to spare he agreed to work for them at the rate of fifty cents per day. The drawing knife which he used in splitting and shaving the shingles for the roof is now one of the valued possessions of his son. Mr. Bagenstos, who was a blacksmith by trade, resided upon his homestead until 1901, when he retired from active farming and now makes his home with his children. He is now ninety-seven years of age but is well and in full possession of his faculties, being able to read without glasses. His wife passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Albert Igou, in Laporte City, Iowa on the 7th of November 1897, which was the seventy-fourth anniversary of her birth. They were the parents of the following children: Emma, the widow of Chester Fuller of the state of New York, who was killed in the Civil war, and now residing in Belle Plaine, Iowa; William H., a retired contractor living at Laporte City, and who married Miss Catharine Knodle, of Illinois; Jacob N., who died at the age of three years in Berks county, Pennsylvania; James W., a farmer of Jessup, Iowa, who married Miss Sarah Kachel of Tama county, Iowa; Catharine, who married B.B. Mogle, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; John D., our subject, and Mary, the wife of Albert Igou, of Laporte City, Iowa.
The entire life of John D. Bagenstos has been spent on his present homestead, his education being acquired in the district schools of Madison township, upon the completion of which he assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm until the latter's retirement in 1884, when the son bought the property. He has added to his tract from time to time until he now owns one hundred and seventy-five acres, eleven acres of which is natural forest. The property is known as Hickory Lawn Farm and is one of the best known stock farms in central Iowa. Three years ago Mr. Bagenstos disposed of all of his graded stock and now keeps nothing but registered thoroughbreds. He now owns thirty head of registered shorthorns and he has one hundred head of large type, big boned Poland China hogs. For the past twenty years he has been breeding this line of hogs and he holds semi-annual sales which are attended by breeders from all over the country. He also has a fine flock of registered Shropshire sheep which he started three years ago. Mrs. Bagenstos is her husband's partner and devotes her attention to the raising of Plymouth Rock chickens.
One the 14th of February, 1882, Mr. Bagenstos was untied in marriage to Miss Clara Kent, a daughter of Hiram and Viretta (Eirp) Kent, who at that time were residents of Adams county, Iowa. Mr. Kent, who was a farmer was born in Putnam county, Indiana, on the 20th of April, 1845, migrating to Iowa with is people when a lad of ten years of age. Mrs. Kent, who was born in Mercer county, Missouri, on the 1st of January, 1845, came to Iowa with her parents when four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Kent were married in Montezuma, this county, in 1863, continuing to reside here until 1882 when they removed to Adams county, where they lived for sixteen years and then went to Taylor county, where he continues to reside. Mrs. Kent passed away near Clearfield, Taylor county, on the 30th of November, 1910.
Mr. Bagenstos is a member of Brooklyn Lodge, No. 114, I.O.O.F., Encampment No. 36 and Canton No. 12, also of Brooklyn, while he and his wife belong to Rebekah Lodge, No. 202. Independent in politics he always gives his support to the man he considers to be best qualified for the office, irrespective of party affiliation. He has never actively participated in township affairs, but served for four years as school director and was also road supervisor for a time. Mr. Bagenstos is meeting with lucrative returns from his ventures and takes great pride in his homestead, which is endeared to him by the associations of a lifetime.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 575-576