Henry Cronk

CRONK, CLARK, HORSWELL

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/12/2011 at 20:46:00

A fine farm of one hundred acres of excellent land in Armstrong Grove township, Emmet county, is evidence of the industry and thrift of Henry Cronk, who died February 7, 1917. He was a progressive and successful farmer and stock raiser. He was born in Canada in September, 1840, a son of David and Nancy (Clark) Cronk, also natives of that country. The father engaged in farming there until his death in 1866 and nine years later the mother also passed away.

Henry Cronk remained at home until he became of age and obtained his education in the public schools of the Dominion. After beginning his independent career he farmed there for a time and also engaged in threshing during the summer seasons but in 1866 he came to Emmet county, Iowa, and bought a relinquishment on a claim of three hundred acres on section 13, Armstrong Grove township. He at one time owned three hundred and twenty acres but disposed of all save one hundred acres, which he continued to operate until his death. He raised grain but paid particular attention to the breeding of fine stock. He was the first man to bring a thoroughbred animal into Emmet county and for some time engaged extensively in raising shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. Success attended his well directed labors and a substantial competence was his.

Mr. Cronk was married in February, 1867, to Miss Bessie Horswell, an account of whose parents appears in the sketch of Richard Horswell elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Cronk were born twelve children, namely: Byron, Amy, Charley, George, Richard, Olive, Earl, Bessie, Irwin and Jennie, all of whom survive; and Addie and Ross, both of whom died in infancy.

Mr. Cronk was a stanch republican in politics but never was an aspirant for official honors. He belonged to the Free Methodist church and in all his dealings conformed his conduct to high ethical standards.

CC NOTE: Henry Cronk, died February 1917, burial in Armstrong Grove cemetery.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.

Interment in Armstrong Grove cemetery
 

Emmet Biographies maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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