Notizen zu dieser Person
KSGenWeb Digital Library, Biographical Sketch of John Engelken, NemahaCounty, Kansas John Engelken, one of the enterprising and practical farmers ofRichmond township, Nemaha county, residing on section 5, was born inHanover, Germany, on the 20th of February, 1844, and is the eldest ofsix children born to Bernard and Mary (Cooper) Engelken, natives ofGermany. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1854, biddingadieu to friends and country, he crossed the Atlantic to the New Worldtaking up his abode in Jo Davies county, Illinois, where he securedgovernment land at a dollar and a quarter per acre. He improved a farm there, making it his home until 1881, when he cameto Kansas. He died at the home of our subject, September 28, 1897,and his widow is now living with her son John, at the age ofseventy-nine years. Mr. Engelken, of this review, was a lad of sixsummers when he came with his parents to the New World. He began hiseducation in the fatherland, but completed his studies in the districtschools of Jo Daviess county, Illinois. Having arrived at years of maturity, he was married in Dorchester,Allamakee county, Iowa, May 28, 1872, to Mary Schulte, who was born inDavenport, Iowa, October 30, 1855, her parents being John B. and MarySchulte, who were natives of Hanover, Germany, whence they came toAmerica in early life. The mother died when Mrs. Engelken was abouteight years of age, and her father passed away when seventy-nine yearsof age. Our subject and his wife are the parents of nine children, namely:Mary, the wife of Bernard Rottinghouse, of Nemaha county; Margaret,the wife of Henry Rethmann, of Nemaha township, Nemaha county, Kansas;Ellen; Kate; Bernard, deceased; Elizabeth, Henry; Nora and Otilda. After his marriage Mr. Engelken located in Allamakee county, Iowa,where he engaged in general farming until 1881, when he came to Nemahacounty, Kansas. Here he purchased a tract of wild prairie land, whichhe has transformed into an excellent farm, making all of theimprovements upon the place. He first built a barn, and in that thefamily lived through the summer, when a substantial residence was erected. In 1897 he built a very large barn, and these,with the other improvements upon the place, stand as monuments to thethrift and enterprise of the owner. Mr. Engelken has 242 acres, all under cultivation, and his diligencehas resulted in the acquirement of a handsome competence. Hispolitical support is given to the Democratic party. For more than tenyears he has served as the school clerk. He is a prominent member andone of the officers of St. Mary's Catholic church, and aided inbuilding the house of worship. His life has been quietly passed, yethas been characterized by fidelity to every duty. Such a career isworthy of emulation.
Roger
Engelken
