Henry D. Radeleff, an active and enterprising citizen of Manning, was born in the province of Holstein, Germany, June 8, 1847, a son of Charles and Charlotte Radeleff, his father being of English, and his mother of German origin. In the spring of 1853 the family immigrated to the United States, landing at New York City. They came directly to Scott County, Iowa, where shortly after their arrival the parents suffered the loss of their eight year old son Charles, the eldest of the children, by accidental drowning in the Mississippi River. The two years following the family lived at Davenport, where the father worked at the millwright and carpenter’s trades. They then removed to Clinton County, Iowa, where the father selected Government land one mile north of where the town of Grand Mound is now situated, and commenced to improve what is now a very fine property, and is still living on this farm in the enjoyment of the fruits of years of toil. He was bereaved by the death of wife in 1871. Henry D., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of two sons and one daughter now living. He remained under the home roof until he attained his majority, when he went to Lyons and Davenport, and there learned the blacksmith’s trade. In the spring of 1869 he went to Colorado, spending the summer at Breckenridge, near the present site of Leadville, and in the fall of the same year he started on a prospecting tour through New Mexico and Arizona. In the summer of 1871 he visited California, and from there returned to Iowa. During 1872 his father left him in charge of his farm while he visited Europe. July 4, 1873, our subject bought 160 acres of land on section 14, Iowa Township, Crawford County, locating about two miles west of where Manning is now situated. The same season he again visited the Territories, spending eighteen months in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, working at his trade and at other employment. In 1875 he returned to Crawford County, Iowa. January 29, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Dora Georgius, who was born in the province of Holstein February 23, 1851, a daughter of Christian Georgius, of Iowa Township. They are the parents of the following children — Charles T., Rosa C., George E., Francis H., William C. and Charlotte C. Mr. Radeleff built a good substantial residence on his farm in Crawford County, and planted a grove of twenty acres, and put his property under excellent improvement, and it is now probably the best improved quarter section of land in Crawford County. He still owns his Crawford County property, besides which he owns a farm of 160 acres on section 13 of the same township, which he purchased and improved in 1881. Wishing to live more retired, and to give his children better educational advantages, he, in the spring of 1885, bought lots 2 and 3, in block 3, of Gardner’s addition to Manning, and there erected a valuable residence, which he has since occupied, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. Mr. Radeleff began life without capital, and his present fine property has been the result of his persevering industry and good business management. He is a man of strict integrity, honorable in all his dealings, and is a much respected citizen. Mr. Radeleff believes in a life of good works, and rejects all creeds and dogmas. He believes he knows how to live, and to understand and practice the duty of man to his fellow man should be man’s chief study. To borrow words, that “The proper study of mankind is man.” In the full belief that to live right is to die right, Mr. Radeleff leaves to others the apprehensions and fears of the future.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~