George Marken
George Marken, who is closely identified with the farming interests of Worth county, owning and operating a good tract of land on section 33, Lincoln township, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on the 18th of December, 1844, and is therefore approaching the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey. He is a son of Gerd and Anna Margaret (Stamereiles) Marken, who were also born in Oldenburg, where the father followed the occupation of farming as a life work. Neither he nor his wife ever came to the United States.
The boyhood days of George Marken were passed in his native country and he pursued his education there, after which he worked at farming until 1874. He then determined to try his fortune in the new world, having heard much concerning the superior business advantages offered on this side of the Atlantic to those afforded in Germany. Accordingly he made his way to the United States and, traveling, across the country, took up his abode in Clayton county, Iowa, where he was employed as a farm hand until he felt that he had gained sufficient knowledge of the language and the customs of the people to enable him to engage in farming on his own account. He then rented land in Clayton county for three years, after which he removed to Lincoln township, Worth county, where he also cultivated a rented farm for three years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to enable him to purchase property and he became owner of one hundred and twenty-eight acres in Lime Creek township, Cerro Gordo county. With characteristic energy he began the development and improvement of that farm and afterward he bought forty acres in Lincoln township, Worth county, just across the border line. His next purchase made him owner of forty acres where his house now stands in Lincoln township. He has further improved his place by the erection of new buildings from time to time and he is today regarded as one of the prosperous farmers of his section of the state. He afterward bought one hundred and seventeen acres in Lime Creek township, Cerro Gordo county, which tract is now being cultivated by his son, George D. His life of thrift and industry is indicated in the prosperity that has come to him as the years have passed, and his farm is the visible evidence of his careful management and persistency of purpose. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Creamery Company of Manly.
On December 7, 1879, Mr. Marken was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Athen, a daughter of Louis Athen, who came with his family from Germany to the new world when his daughter, Mrs. Marken, was but three years of age and established his home at Lake Prairie, Illinois. There his wife passed away and Mr. Athen afterward removed to Clayton county, Iowa, where the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Marken was celebrated. They have become the parents of seven children: Anna, Helena, Christina, Richard, Fred, George and Henry. All of the sons have been called for the army, Richard being in class 1, Fred and George in class 4 and Henry in class 2.
Mr. and Mrs. Marken are members of the German Evangelical Lutheran church and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, which he has supported since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He has served as township trustees but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his farming interests, which have been wisely and successfully directed, so that he is now able to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 631 & 632
Transcription by Gordon Felland, 8/17/2006