MENTZER, Benjamin

MENTZER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/1/2021 at 00:48:47

Benjamin Mentzer
born 1854, Iowa

Benjamin Mentzer, a farmer in Logan Township, was born in Marion County, Iowa, in 1854, son of David and Nancy (Wilds) Mentzer, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents came to Iowa in 1850, where the father followed in farming. He was a Democrat in political views and his death occurred in 1867. His brother, Joseph Mentzer, came over the mountains with a stagecoach. The mother of our subject is still living and making her home with her son Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer reared a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters, four are deceased.
Benjamin Mentzer, our subject, was reared on a farm, and received his education in primitive schools in Iowa. In 1883 he located on his present farm of 160 acres in Logan Township. He had improved, erected a good residence of 16 x 24 feet, with wings, one, 12 x 16 and one 14 foot square; a barn, 24 x 28, and a beautiful grove and orchard. He has a modern windmill, stock-scales and engaged in farming. He married Susan Lockard in 1876 in Linn County, Iowa, daughter of Hamilton Lockard, born in that State. They had one child, Ivy M. The wife and mother died in 1879 and in 1881 in Linn County, Mr. Mentzer married Alice Rice, a native of Dubuque, and a daughter of Joseph Rice. They had five children: Myrtle, Ralph, May, Anna and Robert. He is active in the Democratic Party.
Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa, 1893, p.624