Peter Boeck
Thirty years ago Peter Boeck, now a well known farmer of Crawford county, landed in America from a foreign land. He came to this country because he believed it offered more favorable inducements than could be found in Europe and the result has exceeded his anticipations. He is today one of the highly respected citizens of the county and he and his family enjoy the blessings of an abundant prosperity.
He was born in Germany, April 1, 1850, a son of Peter and Margaret (Reimel) Boeck. The parents passed their entire lives in the old country, the father dying in 1875 and the mother in 1881. There were four children in their family: Thomas, who is still living in Germany; Peter, of this review; Henry, who is a tailor and lives in Germany; and Annie, the wife of John Ericksen.
Peter Boeck was educated in his native land and continued to live there until thirty-one years of age. He arrived on the western shores of the Atlantic ocean in March, 1881, and located in Hamilton county, Iowa, where he worked at eighteen dollars per month. As time passed he received higher wages but he continued in the employ of others for eighteen years. In 1899 he came to Crawford county and began farming upon his own account on land which he now owns. From time to time he purchased more land and his farm now comprises three hundred and thirty-seven acres on sections 15 and 16, Hanover township. In addition to general farming, he is an extensive stock-feeder and as he uses good judgment he has attained marked success. He developed his farm from the virgin prairie and made many improvements which are among the best to be seen in the township.
On the 8th of December, 1898, Mr. Boeck was united in marriage to Mrs. Louisa Klinker, the widow of Peter Klinker, who was born in Germany and married in that country. He died September 15, 1897. There were five children in his family, namely: Meta, who was born October 19, 1884, and is now the wife of Peter Boeck, of Charter Oak township; George, who was born May 28, 1887, and now lives in Monona county, Iowa; Mary, who died at the age of six months; and William, born August 19, 1894, and Bernhardt, born January 15, 1897, both of whom are living at home.
Mrs. Boeck is a daughter of Juergen and Elizabeth (Goss) Kroeger, also natives of Germany. They came to America in 1882 and settled in Crawford county, passing the later years of their lives with their children. The mother died in August, 1886, and the father in November, 1890.
Seven children besides Louisa, now Mrs. Peter Boeck, were born to them, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Vosgran, of Crawford county; Minnie, who became the wife of Marcus Wilefang and is now deceased; John, who lives in Germany; Peter, of Plymouth county, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Brother Christiansen, of Denison; Dora, the wife of Hans Petersen, of Germany; and Adolph, of Cherokee, Iowa.
One child, Charley H., has come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Boeck, his natal day being November 4, 1900.
Even as a boy Mr. Boeck was impressed with the fact that industry and perseverance are important factors in success and his life is a striking illustration of this truth. He applied himself with untiring zeal and thus acquired the foundation of the competence he now enjoys. His record cannot fail to be an inspiration to others who aspire to financial independence. Politically he adheres to the democratic party and religiously he and his wife are earnest supporters of the German Lutheran church.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.