August Maack
One of the well improved and highly cultivated farms of Crawford county is that of August Maack, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres on section 15, Hanover township.
He is a native of Germany, his birth occurring on the 17th of October, 1870, just a few weeks before his parents, Ernest and Mary (Sachau) Maack emigrated for the United States. They first located in Moline, Illinois, and during the first twenty-one years of their residence in this country the father worked out, but in 1891 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hanover township, Crawford county, Iowa, which he operated until his death in 1895. Mrs. Maack is still living at the age of sixty-six years and continues to reside on the homestead.
They were the parents of the following children: Henry, who lives on the homestead; August, our subject; Emma, the wife of F. W. Dorale of South Dakota; John, who resides in Hanover township; Annie, who is the wife of Henry Dorale of Soldier township, this county; Matilda, who married Andrew Namanny, of South Dakota; Mary, who is still at home; and Christ, who died at the age of seventeen years.
August Maack obtained his education in the common schools, remaining at home until he had attained the age of twenty-six years, during which period by means of thrift and close application he accumulated sufficient capital to buy one hundred and twenty acres of land in Goodrich township. He operated this for nine years and then sold it and bought his present homestead. He has added many improvements to his place during his occupancy; the buildings are all in good state of repair; the place is well stocked; and the fields are given the careful supervision which results in abundant harvests. Everything about his place bespeaks thrift and capable management, while the farm is considered one of the valuable properties of the township.
On the 12th of March, 1896, the union between Mr. Maack and Miss Dora Johannsen, of Clinton, Iowa, was solemnized. Four children were born of this union and they are as follows: Henry, who was born on the 11th of October, 1896; Lonie, born on the 3d of April, 1899; Edna, born on the 27th of March, 1901; and the fourth who died in infancy.
Mrs. Maack passed away on the 8th of January, 1904, and on the 3d of March, 1907, Mr. Maack was united in marriage to Mrs. Wiebke (Boyens) Thun, who was born in Germany on the 24th of December, 1876. She came to America with her parents when five years of age and they first settled near Denison, Iowa, where the father worked for others for two years and then farmed as a renter for two years. Mr. and Mrs. Boyens possessed the perseverance, diligence and careful management which characterizes their nationality, and the result was at the end of that period he had the necessary means to buy the farm in Goodrich township which he cultivated up to the time of his retirement in 1899, at which time he removed to Charter Oak. He passed away on the 19th of September, 1906, but Mrs. Boyens is still living and makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Maack.
They were the parents of eight children, who are as follows: Peter F., a resident of Plainview, Nebraska ; Henry, living in Hanover township; Christina, the wife of Clouse Hendricksen; Mary, the wife of Casper Miller, of Charter Oak; Hans, who resides in Goodrich township; Mrs. Maack; and two who died in infancy.
Mrs. Maack was first married February 18, 1896, becoming the wife of Johannes Thun, who died October 4, 1905, leaving three children, namely: Hilda, born May 9, 1900; Hans, born August 23, 1902; and Annie, born June 29, 1905. All are still living.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maack: August, born on the 22d of November, 1908; and Martha, born on the 6th of August, 1910.
The family attend the German Lutheran church, with which the parents are affiliated by membership. Ever since age conferred upon him the full rights of citizenship Mr. Maack has given his support to the candidates of the democratic party. He takes an active interest in all local politics and served on the school board for one year and has recently been elected to the office of township assessor. He is highly regarded in the community where he resides and is considered one of the substantial agriculturists of the township.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.