Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 505
JOHN PILGRIM, a farmer residing on section 27, Moscow Township, is numbered among the early settlers and leading farmers of Muscatine County, of which he became a resident of in 1844. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 10th day of October, 1816, and is the son of Conrad Pilgrim, who was a native of the same country, where he spent his entire life. Our subject was reared to manhood in the Fatherland, and received his education in its schools. Thinking that the New World would furnish a better field for his labors, when twenty-eight years of age he resolved to become a resident of America. Crossing the broad Atlantic in a sailing-vessel he landed in New York, whence he proceeded to Chicago, a city whose growth has been one of the wonders of the age. At that time it was but a small village. Continuing his journey westward he reached Muscatine, then a little Hamlet known as Bloomington, and shortly afterward settled in Moscow Township, where he purcahsed a farm. For twenty years he continued to make his home upon that land, when he purchased a farm near Sweetland Center, but subsequently became the owner of the land which constitutes his present farm of 200 acres.

Shortly after his arrival in this country Mr.Pilgrim was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Gabriel, who was also a native of the Fatherland. By their union four children were born: Elizabeth, who married George Brenner, and died several years ago; another daughter married Jacob Teufel, while Henry and Catherine are at home. In 1877 Mr. Pilgrim was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. While returning to her home in Muscatine the team ran away, and she was thrown from the wagon, suffering injuries which caused her death a few days later. Her son-in-law, Mr. Brenner, who was accompanying Mrs. Pilgrim, was also killed. A kind and loving wife and mother, a trusted friend and neighbor, her death proved a sad loss to the entire community. For forty-five years Mr. Pilgrim has been a resident of Muscatine County, has witnessed its growth and prosperity, has aided in its development, and has ever been prominent in the promotion of any enterprise for public welfare. He is esteemed as an horored and worthy citizen, and we are pleased to record his sketch in the history of his adopted country.

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