D. F. Bickel, stock, hide and tallow dealer, Giard Township, was born in Starketshausen, Germany, Jan. 7, 1836. When seventeen years of age he left his native country and came to America, being seven weeks and three days on the water, landing at New Orleans, and thence by river to McGregor, which at the time had but two stores--one kept by H.D. Evans and the other by A.T. Jones. From there he came to Giard Township, where he was employed as a farm laborer. He afterward worked for M.L. Fisher two and a half years, and was then employed by Peter Farley for six years. In 1859 he married Martha Steel, who was born in Mifflin County, Pa., Sept. 19, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Bickel are the parents of four girls-- Mary Ann, born Aug. 25, 1860; Emma M., Dec. 9, 1861; Kate C., March 1, 1865, and Ella M. M., Nov. 26, 1867. Mr. Bickel came to the county without a nickel in his pocket, but with a strong determination to overcome all obstacles, he went to work, and by good judgment and persevering industry has succeeded in accumulating a fine property and home. In politics he is a Democrat, and is the leader of that party in his township. He has held several local offices of trust, the duties of which he has discharged with honor to himself and party. Mrs. Bickel is a member of the United Brethren church and her daughters of the Methodist Episcopal church. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 818 |