JOHN BANNICK

View Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. John Bannick

Of the men who have played an important part in the development of Cedar county none have contributed a greater share of their time and labor to its advancement than John Bannick, nowliving a retired life in Bennett. For forty years he has been a resident of the county and has aided in the agricultural development as well as the financial and business portion. He is also well worthy of the esteem accorded him as one of the progressive men of the county.

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, was the place where John Bannick first saw the light of day, the date of his birth being April 10, 1851. He is the son of Claus and Ida (Schroeder) Bannick, of Germany, both now deceased, each having passed away at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The father was a farmer of Schleswig-Holstein. John Bannick was one of a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters, of whom three of the latter are now deceased. But three of the children came to this country namely: George, now living retired at Wilton, Iowa; Mathias, living in Clark county, South Dakota; and John, the immediate subject of this review. All the other children of the Bannick family make their home in Germany.

John Bannick worked upon his father’s farm until he had attained the age of nineteen years. He received a fair education in the schools of his native country, and was strong and in rugged health. He determined to seek his fortune in the great country across the ocean, so came to the United States, arriving in Davenport, Iowa, in the year 1870. For about a year he worked upon farms in Scott county, then came to Cedar county, where for three years he worked on a farm, after which he rented a place and began farming for himself. He was married at this time, and for nine years he farmed upon rented land. Success attending his efforts, he then bought eighty acres in Cedar county and made that his home. He worked steadily, handled his crops and stock well, and made a decided success of his venture, so much so that he eventually became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of the very best farming land of the county, all located in Inland township. For many years he lived upon this place, rearing his family and improving the farm, but some few years ago his other interests demanding a considerable portion of his attention, he placed the farm in charge of his son and took up his residence upon his property in Bennett, where he still attends to the various details of his business.

An event of decided importance in the life of our subject occurred September 9, 1873, when he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Vogt, a resident of this county and native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. She was born March 19, 1851, her parents being Claus and Catherine Vogt, both of whom are now deceased. This union was blessed with two children: George C. is living upon the home place which he cultivates under the direction of his father. He married Miss Amanda Rose and they are the parents of five children. Claus, the younger child, died aged six weeks.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bannick are members of the Lutheran church, taking an active interest in all church work. Not alone has Mr. Bannick been successful as a tiller of the soil, but in other departures has he made a success. He was one of the organizers of the Savings Bank of Bennett and is today a stockholder and one of the board of directors, also serving in the capacity of vice president of the institution. In his political views he takes the doctrines of the democracy for his guidance and is one of the active public men of the town. For a period of six years he served as county supervisor, while for four years he was the justice of the peace of the township. In the conduct of the school system of the township Mr. Bannick has beenmost active for seventeen years. As chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Bennett, he occupies a position which at once establishes his relations with fraternal organizations, and his entire life has been lived with such brotherly attitude toward his fellowmen as to exemplify the teachings of that order. Public-spirited, and of sagacious business acumen, tempered with charity toward the unfortunate, he has gained the respect and esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances.