Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 715
FRITZ MANDELKO

Fritz MANDELKO, a farmer living on section 36, of Calhoun Township, came to Harrison County in June, 1867, and lived at Missouri Valley for two years, during which time he was engaged at bridge work on the railroad. In 1869 he bought a quarter section of land on section 4, of St. John's Township. Only twenty acres of it had been broken, but he at once set to work and improved it, bringing it under a high state of cultivation. He erected a farm house, one and a half stories high 22x24 feet, with an addition of 12x24 feet, also provided good outbuildings, and remained on the place for eighteen years.  In June, 1882, he bought the quarter section he now lives upon, there being forty acres of breaking and a small house upon the same. His home farm now consists of two hundred and fifty acres, one hundred and ten of which are under the plow, and fifty acres of timber. He removed to this place in 1890, and that summer built a large frame house, and also two good sized barns.

Our subject was born in Prussia, Germany, July 16, 1845, and is the son of Charles and Sophia (WILL) MANDELKO, and is the eldest of a family of six children. In Prussia our subject's father was a day laborer, and Fritz attended the common-scholls off and on, until sixteen years of age, and worked out, receiving $30 per year, and was compelled to work from before daylight until long after the sun sank to rest behind the German mountains, which indeed, is a great contrast with the principles advocated by those of our own country, who are clamoring for the "eight hour system."   Our subject remained in his native land until the spring of 1864, when he looked upon the picturesque landscape, which had been a feast to his eyes from his earliest recollection, but thinking of the New World, and the advantages to be gained in a land where all men are equal, he bid farewell to all those scenes and sailed for America. From New York harbor he came to Chicago where he worked as a section hand for one year, and then a team for a planing mill company, receiving $2 per day for his services. This was in 1855, and by strict economy he was enabled to lay by some money.
 
He was married November 29, 1872, to Anna BOKELMAN, a native of Hanover, Germany, born February 21, 1855. She came to America in June, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. MANDELKO are the parents of twelve children -- Fred, born July 2, 1873; Rika, Nov 3, 1874; Caroline, Aug 24, 1877; Henry, Mar 8, 1878; Mary, Oct 23, 1879; Sophia, Oct 21, 1881; Anna, Aug 26, 1884; Tilda, Jun 12, 1886; Robert and Rosy, (twins). Feb 8, 1888; Harry, Jan 20, 1889; and Bartha, Oct 30, 1890.

Our subject and his family are all acceptable members of the German Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Missouri Valley. Politically our subject has always voted the Republican ticket, but for some reason satisfactory to himself, he affiliates with the Democratic party.

The parents of our subject came to our shores on 1866, lived two years in Chicago, and them removed to Missouri Valley, but shortly afterward made thie home with our subject. The father died April 21, 1889, aged sixty-eight years. The mother still (in 1891) remains with them.

When Mr. MANDELKO came to America he was obliged to borrow $40 of his uncle, with which to pay his passage across the ocean, but by hard work and economy, (which would discourage the average boy of to-day), this man has been able to lay up a competency and has never seen the "hard times," which some complain of, but has kept steadily at work, and now, when he is but a little past the prime of life, he is surrounded by the enjoyment of a charming home, and in this his adopted country.

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