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Frederick Pleggenkuhle

Frederick Pleggenkuhle, proprietor of the Dividing Ridge farm, which comprises four hundred and forty acres of fine land, is one of the representative citizens of Bethel Township. His home is on section 18, and the friends of the family who there gather are many. The owner is of German birth. He was born in Hanover on the 1st of September, 1846, his parents being John H. Wamhoff and Catherine M. Pleggenkuhle. A peculiar circumstance connected with their marriage is the fact that, contrary to the usual custom a change was made in the name of the groom instead of the bride. The reason for this was the fact that Mrs. Pleggenkuhle was the only heir to the estate of her father, and in order that she should come into the possession of the property it was necessary that she retain the family name. They were married in their native country where all of their children were born, and it was not until 1870, when having disposed of the property in Germany, they emigrated to America and became residents of Bethel Township, Fayette County, Iowa. Mr. Pleggenkuhle purchased two hundred acres of land, the farm upon which our subject now resides, and after ten years departed this life, his wife surviving him until 1887. In their family were seven children, the eldest of whom, Henry, came to America in 1861, locating in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is unmarried and has spent much of his life in travel; Eliza is the wife of Charles Hoberger, of Bethel Township, Fayette County, Iowa. Mr. Pleggenkuhle purchased two hundred acres of land, the farm upon which our subject now resides, and after ten years departed this life, his wife surviving him until 1887. In their family were seven children, the eldest of whom, Henry, came to America in 1861, locating in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is unmarried and has spent much of his life in travel; Eliza is the wife of Charles Hoberger, of Bethel Township; Frederick is the next younger; William is engaged in farming in Chickasaw County, Iowa; Herman, who was unmarried and lived with his parents, died in 1880, at the age of twenty-five years; Lousetta is the wife of Alfred Wheaton, who is engaged in farming in Sumner Township, Bremer County; Caroline became the wife of William Moultonhower, of Stapleton Township, Chickasaw County, and after his death wedded Herman, a brother of her first husband. She died in 1882, leaving a family of children.

The days of his boyhood and youth our subject spent in the parental home, but at the age of eighteen years he crossed the Atlantic and began life for himself in the New World, The year following his arrival he spent upon a farm in Ohio, and then went to Michigan, where he remained about a year, coming to Fayette County in the fall of 1867. Shortly afterward he purchased his present farm in Bethel Township, and as a helpmate on life's journey, chose Miss Angelina Hackstett, who are still living in Prussia, where their entire lives have been spent. She is the eldest of a family of seven children, and was followed by Frederick, who died at the age of nine years; Louisa, wife of William Martin, of Michigan; Sophia, who is married and resides in Germany; Frederick, who is married and makes his home in Michigan; Gotleib, who is married and living in Germany; and Henry, who resides with his parents on the old homestead in Prussia. Mrs. Pleggenkuhle came to America in 1867, and resided in Berrien County, Mich., for some three years, when she came to this county, where she formed the acquaintance of him who sought her hand in marriage. Their union has been blessed with thirteen children, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. They have reason to be thankful that out of so large a family not one has been taken, but all are spared, are enjoying good health and yet remain under the parental roof: Sophia, the eldest, born October 8, 1871, is successfully engaged in teaching in Chickasaw County. The younger members of the family are Henry, born May 27, 1873; Charles, August 18, 1874; John, October 20, 1875; Frederick, November 4, 1876; Minnie, December 27, 1877; Annie, December 19, 1878; Nettie, December 23, 1879; William, August 27, 1881; Lizzie, October 1, 1882; August, March 8, 1884; Alvina, May 20, 1885; and Lena, January 20, 1888.

The landed possessions of Mr. Pleggenkuhle in Bethel Township aggregate six hundred and eighty acres, and he is also owner of some fine land in Fredericksburg Township, Chickasaw County. As before stated, his home farm comprises four hundred and forty acres, and is one of the finest farms in the county. Its well tilled fields, its many facilities, the improved machinery and other accessories to a model farm are all there found. Among the buildings we note a fine frame residence, the home of the family, two good barns and a large granary. He makes a specialty of the breeding of cattle of the Red Polled Angus grade which is specially adapted for dairy purposes, and he is one of the stockholders, and also Secretary of the Richfield Creamery Company. He is a man of more than average business ability, enterprising and industrious, and would prove an important addition to any community. He votes with the Democratic Party, and has served as member of the School Board for nine years.