Henry Bockenstedt Bio

Henry Bockenstedt

Biography of Henry Bockenstedt taken from Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894. Pages 266-267.

HENRY BOCKENSTEDT

Henry Bockenstedt, the owner and occupant of a valuable farm lying in Dubuque and Delaware 
Counties, resides on section 7, New Wine Township, in the county first named. For about half 
a century he has resided in this locality, and there are few agriculturists better known than 
he. His property is well improved with convenient farm buildings, the fences are neat and 
strong, and the machinery of the most approved manufacture. In fact, it would need but a 
cursory glance to give rise to the belief that Mr. Bockenstedt thoroughly understands his 
vocation, and is endowed with good sense and excellent judgment.

Steinburg, Germany, is our subject's native place, and January 30, 1833, the date of his birth. 
His parents, also natives of that place, emigrated to America in 1846, and proceeding direct 
to Iowa, settled on a farm near New Vienna, Dubuque County. There were nine children in the 
family, six sons and three daughters, named as follows: Frank, Henry; Clements, who occupies 
a farm three miles northwest of our subject's estate; Arnold, Anton, Annie, Elizabeth; John, 
deceased, and Mrs. Josephine Kramer, who died at Dyersville in 1888. The surviving children 
all reside in this locality,

When the family came to Dubuque County, our subject was a lad of thirteen years, and here his 
life has since been spent. In May, 1859, he married Miss Mary Rohenkohl, the ceremony being 
performed by Father Ort, The young couple settled on a farm in Delaware County, one mile west 
of their present home, but after spending six years there they returned to the old Bockenstedt 
homestead, where they have lived for the past twenty-nine years, Mrs. Bockenstedt is a daughter 
of John Frederick and Catherine Rohenkohl, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1833, 
and spent twelve years in Ohio. Thence they came to Dubuque County, where they resided twenty 
seven years. Later they removed to Kansas, and now reside in Texas. In 1891 they celebrated 
their golden wedding, upon which happy occasion they were the recipients of the congratulations 
of hosts of friends. They have had fourteen children, of whom Mary is the eldest; John is 
married and lives in Waterloo, Iowa; Frank and Barney make their home in Dyersville; Henry 
lives in Kansas City; Josephine and Clara are married and live in Texas; Catherine, Elizabeth, 
Anna, Frances, John, Frederick and Angeler are deceased.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bockenstedt have been born nine children, as follows: John, who married 
Mary Neuder and makes his home in Delaware County; Henry, who chose as his wife Miss Annie 
Farwell, and lives in Delaware County; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Cramer; Tony and Anna, both 
of whom died at the age of two years; Clement, Joseph, Catherine and Monica, who are with their 
parents. Mr. Bockenstedt owns two hundred and seventy acres of land, of which one hundred and 
sixty are situated just across the county line in Delaware County. His political convictions 
are strongly with the Democratic party, but while taking an active interest in public affairs 
he has never been in aspirant for political honors. He and his wife are members of Father 
Pape's Catholic Church in New Vienna, to which they have belonged for several years. 

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