- NICHOLAS SCHENCK. This prominent citizen and farmer of La
Prairie township, Rock
- county, is a native of Wisconsin, the son of a pioneer. He
was born at Shopiere, Rock county, Sept. 12, 1844, son of William
and Sarah Jeannette (YOST) SCHENCK, natives of New York State,
and grandson of William SCHENCK, also a native of New York, of
Holland-Dutch descent, who was married three times, and had seventeen
children. The latter, who was a farmer, about 1845 came to Wisconsin,
taking up a tract of land near Beloit, and several years later
removing to Jefferson county, and engaging in farming between
Jefferson and Watertown until his death, at a ripe old age. William
YOST, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was also a native
of New York State, of Holland-Dutch descent. He was a farmer,
and lived in his native State to old age, surrounded by a large
family of children.
- William SCHENCK, the father of our subject, was a carder
by occupation, and was employed in
- the woolen mills of New York. In 1842 he came to Wisconsin,
locating at Shopiere, and there followed his trade for a year.
He then entered 320 acres of government land in Section 27, La
Prairie township, and several years later sold eighty acres of
the tract for a sum sufficient to pay for the other 240 acres,
the ownership of which he retained until his death, at the age
of seventy-two years. He was a man of prominence, and held various
local offices, including that of chairman of the town board for
a number of terms. He was twice married, first to Sarah Jeannette
YOST, by whom he had eight children, five sons and three daughters,
of whom four are living: Dorcas, widow of John WAYMAN, of Mexico,
Mo.; Rachel, widow of Henry HART, of Mexico, Mo.; William, of
Arcadia, Kans.; and Nicholas, our subject. The mother of these
died at the age of forty-two years, and for his second wife the
father married Miss Mary MASON, daughter of Edwin and Mercy MASON;
by her he had one daughter, Lorraine, now living at Albuquerque,
New Mexico.
- Nicholas SCHENCK, our subject, was reared in La Prairie township,
attended the district schools
- and for two terms was a student at Milton (Wis.) College.
Possessing the pioneer spirit, he began life for himself in Tama
county, Iowa, where he purchased 160 acres of land for $6 per
acre. This he afterward traded with his brother for 190 acres
in the townships of Rock and La Prairie, Rock county, of which
he still owns twenty-four and one-half acres. At the death of
his father he came into possession of the homestead of 240 acres,
which he now owns and occupies, having purchased the interest
of the other heirs. Mr. SCHENCK is a prosperous and progressive
farmer, and is recognized as an authority in agricultural affairs.
In addition to farming he devotes considerable attention to stock
raising. He has resided in Rock county for fifty-seven years,
except the five years spent in Iowa and one year when he was
engaged in the grocery business in Mexico, Missouri.
- On Jan. 23, 1895, Mr. SCHENCK married Miss Jennie M. PETERSON,
daughter of Ole and
- Mary (ANDERSON) PETERSON, natives of Norway, who were married
in Janesville. The father died July 22, 1898, aged sixty-seven
years, and the mother is now a resident of Janesville. Both were
devout members of the Lutheran Church. To Ole and Mary PETERSON
were born eight children, two sons and six daughters, of whom
six are now living: Bessie M., wife of George GOLDSMITH, of Rock
township; Jennie M., wife of our subject; Christina A., wife
of Herman HUNT, of Janesville; Dora M.; Marvin H.; and Lena R.,
of Janesville. To Nicholas and Jennie M. SCHENCK have been born
two children, William Edward and Marvin Roland.
- Mr. SCHENCK is a Republican in politics. Fraternally is a
member of the Modern Woodmen of
- America. He is an influential citizen, one whom long residence
in the community and sterling character have justly commended
to his fellow citizens as truly representative of the best human
achievements of Rock county.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c)1901, p. 371.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|