Pocahontas County >> 1904 Index

The Pioneer History of Pocahontas County, Iowa
by Robert E. Flickinger. Fonda: The Times Print, 1904. 

F

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

FUCHS (Fox) Louis, Joseph and Frank, accompanied by their parents, John and Helen (Wickel), in the spring of 1871 came, to Cedar township. Louis entered the w 1/2 se 1/4 sec. 12, 80 acres, as a homestead on April 22, '71 and received the patent for it December 29, '79 . Joseph, finding that he was not needed by his brother on the homestead nor by the other settlers of this new community, soon afterward sought and found employment in the copper mines of Michigan south of Lake Superior . He remained there about six years and sending his earnings to his brother Louis, the latter secured for him a homestead of 80 acres on the s 1/2 nw 1/4 section 12. The entry for this homestead was made by his father March 10, '74 , and he received the patent for it September 10, '80 ; it having been first entered in 1870 by Henry Pallersels and in 1872 by Geo. F. Symmonds. After his return in 1876 he and his brother lived and worked together until 1880 when he married and began to occupy his own homestead.

Their parents were natives of Germany where they raised a large family. In 1870, after the marriage of their eldest daughter, Johanna, who remained there and of Anna, whose husband, John Hoffman, died there leaving one son, Paul, now in Dubuque, they came to America and located in the timber districts of northern Wisconsin, and the next spring on the prairies of Pocahontas county. They died, John in January 1881, Helen in June 1878, and were buried in the Dover Catholic cemetery.

Louis Fuchs possessed $400 when he came to Fonda, and after expending $270 for his homestead had $130 left for its improvement, and the temporary support of his father and family. The homestead of Joseph in 1874 cost $400. These brothers had an ambition to raise fat cattle and made preparation to engage in this employment as soon as it was possible. It required a few years to get a start but during the period of their partnership they were recognized as the pioneer cattle feeders of Cedar township. Their shipments of cattle in the early days surpassed others in the vicinity not only in their aggregate value but in the superiority of their condition which commanded the highest market price. For a quarter of a century these men have maintained the enviable reputation of being the largest and most successful feeders in the township. As the years have passed they have become the owners of large farms, and have proportionately enlarged their barns, sheds and feed lots. Each has now a capacity for feeding 250 head of fat cattle and, during recent years, they have made their annual shipment about the month of September. Each of them keeps about 400 head of cattle and the sales of each in 1899 amounted to $18,000.

Louis Fuchs acquired his farm as follows: In 1871, the homestead, 80 acres; in 1880, 80 acres; in '83, 80 acres; in '85, 160 acres; in '86, 80 acres; in '88 160 acres; total 640 acres; all of it upland. In 1899 he raised 7,000 bushels of corn and bought 20,000 bushels more. His present house was built in 1892. He was born July 23, 1839 , and on December 21, 1873 , married Mary Magdalene Lieb, of Cedar township.

His family consists of Anna Ida, a Franciscan sister, Dubuque ; Martha Elizabeth, (Mary Josephine died in her 17th year, in 1894), Helen Antonia, (Matilda died young), John Leo, Cecilia, Agnes Angeline and Agatha Alice, twins, Vincent Leo, Florence Josephine and Florian Joseph, twins, and Leona. He was a trustee of Cedar township five years, 1878- 82, and has been treasurer of the school funds since 1890.

Joseph Fuchs acquired his farm as follows: In 1874, the homestead, 80 acres; in 1885, 160 acres; in '87, 160 acres; in '92, 560 acres; total 960 acres. His present house was built in 1893. He was born in 1841 and in 1880 married Stephana Rainier, of Dubuque . His family consists of three children, Matilda, Francis and Mary; Anna the first born having died in childhood. In the spring of 1900 he moved temporarily to Des Moines to secure better facilities for the education of his children. He is a man that appreciates the enjoyment of good health, the peace and gladness of the home and has the happy faculty of anticipating the needs of every part of the work on the farm.

Frank Fuchs, his oldest brother and owner of 206 acres of land in Cedar township, and Martha, a younger sister who also came to Cedar township in 1871, make their home with Joseph.