The Charles H. Menzel Family
Charles H. Menzel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Menzel, Sr. was born near Freeport, Ill., and when nine years of age, in company with his father and brother, Frank, came to Story County in a covered wagon. They settled on a farm southeast of McCallsburg, known as the Hougen farm.
Anna Stephans, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Stephans was born in Chicago, H1. She came to Story County when nine years of age, made her home with her aunts, Mrs. F. J. Tett and Mrs. James Carver until her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Menzel were married Jan. 29, 1885 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Tett by Rev. George Rogers. They went to housekeeping on a farm adjoining his father's farm which he had bought. They made this their home their entire life except a few years spent in Nevada and in McCallsburg where they made their home in later years. They were the parents of seven children, Sarah, Bertha, Anna, Earl, Frank, Mable and Lester.
The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Charles Menzel came from Germany. Mrs. Amalie Richter Menzel was born in Dobern, Saxon, Germany, Nov. 2, 1832. She was united in marriage to Johan Kare Menzel Nov. 15, 1857.
In the year of 1866, they emigrated to the United States. They landed in Baltimore, Md., and came to Freeport, Ill., where they resided for 10 years. They moved to Iowa in 1870 and settled on a farm near McCallsburg where they resided for 30 years. They took up residence in Zearing and later moved back to McCallsburg where they resided until their death.
They were the parents of five children, Mrs. J.A.M. Irvine, Charles Herman Menzel, Frank F. Menzel, Mrs. A.L. Dayton and Mrs. L. H. Bakka.
THE CHARLES F. Menzel family sit for a family portrait. Around the family circle from left to right are Mable, (Mrs. Ole Imsland, deceased), Mrs. Charles Menzel, Frank, Sarah, Charles Menzel holding Anna (Mrs. Anna Marsh of Nevada) and Bertha. Bertha is Mrs. W. A. Stevenson of Nevada. Earl and Lester had not been born when this picture was taken.