Sigurd C. Brockey

BROCKEY, SEGERSON, SWENSON, RIEHM, LARSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/7/2010 at 04:44:54

SIGURD C. BROCKEY

Iowa ranks with the great agricultural states of the Union, leading in the production of some crops. Its reputation in this regard is due not to any little group of individuals but to the combined effort of many enterprising and progressive farmers who have gathered to this section from all parts of the world. Among those who have come from Norway is Sigurd C. Brockey, who is now living on section 27, Mount Valley township, Winnebago county. He was born September 14, 1847, his parents being Christian and Sarah (Segerson) Brockey, who were also natives of that country, where the wife and mother passed away. The father afterward came to the new world in 1857 and took up his abode in Minnesota, where he continued to reside until his demise.

Sigurd C. Brockey was about ten years of age when he came with his father to the United States and under the parental roof he remained until he had attained his majority. He was early trained to the work of the fields, receiving practical experience in the best methods of cultivating the soil and caring for the crops when the harvest was ripe. On reaching man's estate he began farming on his own account in Minnesota and in 1875 he removed to Iowa, establishing his home in Winnebago county, where he purchased the farm on section 27, Mount Valley township, on which he now resides. It bears little resemblance at the present time, however, to the tract of land which came into his possession more than four decades ago, for he has improved the place according to modern farm methods and has erected thereon substantial buildings. At one time he owned one hundred and eighty acres of land. He has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock of all kinds and his work in this connection has added not a little to his income. He is likewise a stockholder in the creamery at Forest City.

In 1871 Mr. Brockey was joined in wedlock to Miss Betsy Swenson, a native of Norway, and they have become the parents of eight children, as follows: Sarah H., who is the wife of Gottlieb Riehm; Christian, deceased; Lottie S., who gave her hand in marriage to Arthur Larson; William, who has passed away; Swan S., who operates the homestead farm; Willie, deceased; Dena C.; and Carl G., who has also passed away.

Mr. and Mrs. Brockey are members of the Lutheran church and are interested in all those moral forces which work for the uplift of the community. Mr. Brockey early found that industry is the key which unlocks the portals of success. He has led a life of activity and has been most practical in all that he has undertaken, so that substantial results have crowned his efforts. Although he has now almost readied the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, he is yet an active worker in the world's work and Winnebago county classes him with her representative farmers.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 305-306.