John H. Bicker Biography

John H. Bicker

John H. Bicker is the owner of a well improved farm of forty acres, located on section 31, Albion township, Butler county. He was born in Germany, on the 13th of February, 1856, a son of John H. and Anna K. (Kuhlman) Bicker, who were likewise natives of the fatherland, the former born in 1834, and the latter in 1839. The father was a linen weaver in his native country but he is now deceased, his death having occurred in 1905, while his wife died in 1903. They were the parents of nine children.

John H. Bicker acquired his education in the schools of Germany, attending to the age of fourteen years. He was then employed at farm labor until 1886, in which year he emigrated to the new world in the hope that he might better his financial condition. He first located in Ilinois, there spending twelve years, or until 1898, when he came to Butler county and purchased ninety acres of land in Albion township. He cultivated this tract until 1910, when he disposed of it and purchased forty acres, his present farm, located on section 31, Albion township. He raises the various grains adapted to Iowa soil and is meeting with success in his work. Besides the horses necessary for carrying on his farm labor, he also keeps ten head of cattle and twenty head of hogs of good grade.

Mr. Bicker has been married twice. His first wife bore the maiden name of Dena Blohm and by her marriage became the
mother of one daughter, Anna. The wife and mother departed this fife in 1887, and on the 16th of February, 1900, in Parkersburg, Iowa, Mr. Bicker wedded Mrs. Anna Johnson, a widow, who had a daughter, Anna, who is still at home. Mr. Bicker's daughter is now the wife of Raymond Church, who is proprietor of a garage in Parkersburg.

In politics Mr. Bicker is a republican, while in religious faith he is a Baptist. He is much interested in the church and the work in its various departments, especially the Sunday-school department, of which he is the superintendent. He is a man of many sterling characteristics, respected and esteemed by all with whom he is brought in contact, either in a business or social way.