Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 563
JOHN HENRY FENSLER

John Henry FENSLER - an industrious farmer of LaGrange Township, came to Harrison County September, 1870, and settled in Missouri Valley, where he worked at the blacksmith trade for a year, and then bought one hundred and twenty acres of wild prairie land on the bottom of St. John's Township, which he improved. His sons ran the farm and he continued to work in Missouri Valley until 1882, during which year his dwelling house on the farm was destroyed by fire, as well as its contents. He then sold his farm and purchased a quarter section where he now (1891) lives. The improvements on this place consisted of eighty acres of plow land, and an old frame house which was one of the first built in this part of the county. This building served them for two years, when our subject erected a new one, 16x22 feet, two stories high, and an addition fourteen feet square. Mr. FENSLER has sold a half interest in this farm to his son, John F., and they have since bought eighty acres more land. In 1889 he built another house on the place 22x24 feet. The farm is kept well stocked with high grade Short-horn cattle. After coming to this farm Mr. FENSLER put up a blacksmith shop and worked at his trade for some time, but now only does occasional jobs for his neighbors.

He was born in Lebanon County, PA, September 22, 1826, and about 1834 his parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, remained six years, then moved to Richland County, Ohio, where our subject helped his father clear up the farm from the big woods, and remained there until 1844, at which time he left home and learned the blacksmithing trade. He worked at this until 1850, and then moved to Allen County, Ohio, and worked at his trade in the village of Bluffton until the autumn of 1870, when he came to Harrison County, Iowa. He brought his family and tools with him, and gave $100 for a shop, and went to Council Bluffs, where he purchased a small stock of iron, after which he had only fifteen cents left.

He was united in marriage in Putnam County, Ohio, May 16, 1851, to Miss Christina KOLEY (or KOHLI), of Allen County, Ohio. They are the parents of nine children -- William H., Catherine A., John F., Orillia, Anna M., Francis M., Wilson C., Albert S., and Charles N. Christina (KOLEY) FENSLER was born in Medina County, Ohio, December 16, 1832, and when a child her parents moved to Holmes County, Ohio, where they remained until 1844, then moved to Putnam County, and in 1850 to Allen County.

Emanuel FENSLER, father of our subject, as born in Virginia in 1803, his forefathers being piooneers in the Old Dominion State. He remained in Virginia until he had reached the estate of man, and then went to Pennsylvania, and died in Putnam County, Ohio, in 1874. His wife, Catherine (STALEY) FENSLER, was born in Berlin, Germany in 1808. Her parents came to Reading, Penn., when she was a small girl, and where she grew to womanhood. She died in Allen County, Ohio, in August, 1869.

Christian KOLEY (or KOHLI), the father of Mrs. Christina FENSLER, was born in Switzerland in 1808, and in 1824, with his parents, emigrated to America, locating in Holmes County, Ohio. They also lived in Wayne and Allen Counties, coming to latter in 1844, and died there four years later. His wife, whose maiden name was Peggy BARKEY, was born in Pennsylvania, her parents coming to Wayne County, Ohio, where she remained until the date of her marriage.

John Franklin FENSLER, the son of our subject, and his wife were born in Allen County, Ohio, March 4, 1855. He remained with his father's family until 1879, when he rented a farm for two years, and at the end of that period engaged in the grocery business in partnership with his brother, William H., which co-partnership existed until 1886, when he purchased an interest in his father's farm. He was married in 1879 to Miss Amelia WEST, and they are the parents of five children -- Etha, Edna, Ertha, Bula and a boy baby.

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