John IMBODEN

IMBODEN, RINGENBURG, WILCOX, HUIBSCH, WICKWIRE, WOOD, MCFARLAND, JONES, SHELDON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/19/2016 at 14:17:14

John Imboden of Eagle Grove, Wright county, Iowa, was born on December 27, 1839, and is the son of Frederick and Anna Imboden, both natives of Switzerland. It was in Switzerland that John Imboden was born. The natural birth right of every native of Switzerland is innate integrity, and industry, and with such attributes of character they become the competent, efficient arbiters of their own destinies. That John Imboden has fully developed these native tendencies of character is shown by the results of his many years of labor and service, to his own interests and those of his community.

Frederick Imboden was a dairyman and cheese manufacturing Switzerland and also followed farming. In 1852, with his family, he immigrated to America and located in Holmes county, Ohio, where he purchased land and continued in the agricultural line until his death. To the union of Frederick and Anna Imboden six children were born, two of who are now living: Margaret and John.

John Imboden received his education in Switzerland and in America. After completing his schooling in Ohio, he labored as a farm hand for the salary of twelve dollars per month, until 1863, when he moved to Henry county, Illinois, continuing as a farm hand until 1875. At that time he again changed locations, moving to Madison county, Iowa, where he rented a farm that he cultivated for five years. During these years, close economy became his daily companion and he was enabled to purchase a place for himself with the money he had saved. This first independent agricultural venture was begun in Polk county, Iowa, and lasted until 1885, at which time he came to Wright county, and perfectly satisfied with this location for a permanent home, invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Troy township. The small price of eighteen dollars per acre was paid for the land. Through thrift and well-directed effort, his holdings were steadily increased until at the present time, he has three hundred and twenty acres of well-improved land. This land is located in sections 19 and 20 of Troy township. Of the original one hundred and sixty acres, only forty acres were under cultivation at the time of John Imboden's purchase, and the buildings were very poor, there being only a small house upon it. Each year he has made improvements, enlarging the house, building new modern barns, tiling the place and, that the beauty of the home would correspond with the practical improvements, a grove was set out. In 1867, John Imboden was united in marriage to Margaret Ringenburg, daughter of Peter and Anna Ringenburg, and they are the parents of six children: Katherine, Henry, John, Mabel, Lucy Elnora, and Charles. Katherine became the wife of Louis Wilcox and they are the parents of eight children. Henry married Ann Huibsch and they became the parents of three children: Margaret, James, and David. John married Iva Wilcox and the had one child, Norma. His first wife died and he married Bessie Wickwire and from this union two children were born. Mabel became the wife of Charles Wood and they are the parents of four children. Nora became the wife of Frank Lawrence and they have one child, Mildred. Charles married Daisy Wickwire and they have one child, Erma.

The first wife of John Imboden died and he chose for his second helpmate Mrs. Elenora (McFarland) Jones, daughter of W. K. and Martha (Sheldon) McFarland. Mrs. Elenora Imboden is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. John Imboden is a
member of the Modern Woodmen of the World and a Democrat politically. He has been road supervisor and in all duties assigned him he has fulfilled the confidence of those whose faith in his ability prompted the honor. Among the other realty holdings, John Imboden is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in North Dakota. In 1900, he retired from active farming and moved to the town of Eagle Grove, where the memories of past efforts make happy his declining years.

History of Wright County, Iowa - 1915
pages 635 - 637