GEORGE STRACKBEIN

George Strackbein is numbered among the oldest citizens of Cedar county and, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years, is yet hale and hearty. Although not engaged in actual labor, he is, nevertheless interested in the world’s work and occupies a prominent place among Cedar county’s representative and honored residents. Like many others who go to make up the citizenship of Iowa, he is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in Westphalia, on the 12th of March, 1828. In that country he was reared to manhood and in the common schools of the fatherland acquired his education.

In 1854, when a young man of twenty-six years, Mr. Strackbein crossed the Atlantic, resolved to seek his fortune in America—a country which held out to young men of ambition and enterprise opportunities for advancement in business lines far exceeding those offered in the old country. For a year he resided about seventy-five miles south of St. Louis and then, coming to Cedar county, here worked as a farm hand by the month for a number of years. In the meantime, however, by reason of his industry, perseverance and frugality—his salient characteristics—he was able to accumulate a goodly sum and, desiring that his efforts should more directly benefit himself, in 1864 he purchased his present farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Springfield township. But slightly improved when it came into his possession, he at once directed his energies to its further development, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation and erecting substantial buildings, so that today it is one of the good homes and valuable properties of Springfield township. In his farming he was most successful, for he carried on his pursuits according to strictly modern and up-to-date methods, made a close study of soil and climate and so carefully managed his interests that with the passing years his efforts were resultant forces in the acquirement of a competence which now makes it possible for him to retire from the actual work of the farm and enjoy, in well deserved rest, the fruits of his former toil.

It was in 1864, in Cedar county, that Mr. Strackbein was united in marriage to Katherine (Delkurt) Anderson, and they traveled life’s journey happily together until 1907, when the wife was called to her final rest. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Louise, who married George Strackbein and is now deceased; Frank; Louis, who passed away at the age of seven years; Florentine, who married Fred Ohlrogge; and Sophia, who died in childhood. Mr. Ohlrogge, who was born in Germany, came to the United States when a boy and has always engaged in farming. He owns eighty acres in Springfield township, upon which he resided until the spring of 1910, when he purchased the Strackbein homestead of this father-in-law, where he and his wife now reside. They are the parents of three daughters, Annie, Emma and Martha.

The religious faith of Mr. Strackbein is indicated by his membership in the Evangelical church, the teachings of which have ever proven the guiding influence of his life, while in politics he has been a lifelong republican. Although he has never sought nor desired public office as a reward for party fealty, he has, however, been deeply and helpfully interested in all those things which are matters of interest to the true American citizen, and his influence has ever been found upon the side of reform, improvement and advancement. He is one of the oldest men living in Cedar county, and although he has long since passed the Psalmist’s allotted span of three score years and ten, he yet enjoys excellent health and strength. He is not actively engaged in farming, for the success which he has attained in former years makes it possible for him to live retired without further recourse to hard work, but the strong spirit of industry and energy which has characterized his entire life makes it impossible for him to remain idle, and he assists in the work of the farm, although leaving the actual management to others. He is well known throughout the community in which his home has been maintained for almost a half century, and he occupies a high place in the regard of his fellowmen for he has lived to good purpose and his many excellent qualities have won him the affection and honor of all with whom he has come in contact, while his salient characteristics have ever been those which speak for honorable manhood and good citizenship.