GEORGE J. ENGEL.
Among the successful farmers of Audubon county, Iowa, who are of German birth and who are now living retired in Exira, is George J. Engel, whose farm, however, is located in Guthrie county, Iowa. Mr. Engel owns a splendid body of land consisting of one hundred and thirty-three acres. He was actively engaged in farming until 1908, when he removed to Exira, where he has since lived retired.
George J. Engel was born in Baden, Germany, September 11, 1847. He is a son of John G. and Anna Mary (Kale) Engel, both native-born Germans. The former was a farmer and in his native land was a teamster, also. He came to America in 1856, and located in Linn county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of two hundred acres. He operated this farm until his death in 1870. Before coming to America he served the regulation time in the German army.
John G. and Anna Mary (Kale) Engel were the parents of eleven children, of whom the following are now living: Anna Mary, Kate, Christina, Mary, Sarah, Joseph, Henry and George J.
George J. Engel received a part of his education in the schools of his native land, finishing his school training in America after coming here with his parents. After leaving school he worked out by the day on farms until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he was married. Mr. Engle received a farm of forty acres from his father's estate and began farming for himself. Gradually he increased this farm until he had eighty acres, and operated this place until he was thirty years old and then moved to Guthrie county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of ninety acres. He gradually increased his land holdings in that county until he had one hundred and thirty-three acres, on which he carried on a general system of farming and stock raising. During the time of his active life as a farmer, he was accustomed to feed about sixty head of hogs each year, and always kept about thirty head of cattle on his farm. In 1908 he retired from active farm life, and moved to Exira, where he is now living retired.
George J. Engel was married on December 18, 1871, about a year after his father's death, to Anna Mary Dutler, the daughter of David and Katherine (Schneider) Dutler. No children were born to this marriage. Mrs. Engle was born in Germany. Her parents were also natives of Germany and came to America in 1864, locating in Linn county, Iowa, where her father worked as a laborer until he had saved sufficient money with which to purchase a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Guthrie county in 1879, and there the family lived until 1907. He is now living retired with his daughter, Mrs. Anna Schaarting. Mrs. Engel's mother died on December 12, 1907. David Dutler and wife were the parents of fifteen children, eleven of whom are now living: Elizabeth, Dora, Kate, Maggie, Mrs. Anna Mary Engel, Anna, David, Samuel, Chris, John and Henry.
Mr. Engel's father died in November, 1870, and his mother in March, 1871.
Although Mr. Engel and wife are not members of any church, they are regular attendants of church, and are more or less active in religious affairs. Mr. Engel is an independent voter, and for many years has not been identified permanently with any political party. He has been a good citizen, and is a man who is highly respected by his neighbors and fellow townsmen.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 872-874.
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