Henry SIEMILLER, farmer, section 6, Clinton Township, Ringgold County, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February (sic) 5, 1831. His father, George SIEMILLER, was a native of Germany, and came to America when eleven years of age. He was a weaver and dyer. His mother, Barbara (PLASTERER) SIEMILLER, was a native of Pennsylvania. During his youth he worked at farm work in summer, and assisted in his father’s shop during the winter. His education was received in the common schools and by study at home.

In 1848 the family removed to Linn County, Iowa, eight miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, and settled in a place called Big Sugar Grove. Here he engaged in farming, and furnished grain to the railroad contractors when the Northwestern Railroad was being built through that county.

He was married August 29, 1851 (sic, should be August 19, 1850) [Linn County, Iowa], to Miss Deborah FALKINBURG, born in Licking County, Ohio, and reared in Highland County, same State. In 1857 he removed to Worth County, Missouri. He was a minister of the United Brethren in Christ church, and during his residence in Missouri he was a traveling minister. He united with that church in 1849, was licensed to exhort in February, 1859, at Caledonia, and in July following was licensed to preach. He worked many years in the cause of his Master. He served as presiding elder at Conference in 1868.

From Worth County he came to Ringgold County [by 1880], and first purchased 107 acres of land. He has since added eighty acres, and his farm now contains 167 acres, which is in a good state of cultivation. He has a good story-and-a-half house, an orchard of 150 trees and small fruits.

Mr. and Mrs. SIEMILLER were the parents of twelve children, ten living – Elizabeth Ellen COOKSEY, Newman Isaiah, George F[remont], Mary Alice, John Amos, Abraham Lincoln, [Hulda] Lottie, Orange Neal, Henry Floyd and Ferdinand Augustus. The two deceased are Eliza Jane [1871-ca.1880] and Alvah [1875-1875].

Mrs. SIEMILLER died March 1, 1875, and February 4, 1876 (sic, should be February 3, Ames, Story County, Iowa), he was married to Miss Nettie PRINGLE, born in Keokuk County, Iowa, daughter of William and Rebecca (WILLIAMSON) PRINGE. To this union were born five children – Dora May, Milton Wright, Amy Myrtle, Ray Emmett and an infant not named [Bessie].

Politically Mr. SIEMILLER is an American. At the election in 1860 he worked hard at the polls for LINCOLN through repeated threats of shooting. He is also a strong Prohibitionist, having voted for J. P. St. JOHN, and has done good service in the cause of religion and temperance. Postoffice, Mormontown [present-day Blockton].

NOTE: Henry SIEMILLER was born in Lancaster, York County, Pennsylvania on April 5, 1831, and died at the age of 71 on September 30, 1902, Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa. Deborah (FALKENBURG) SIEMILLER was born in Licking County, Ohio, on October 29, 1834, and died March 1, 1875, Ringgold County, Iowa. Jenette PRINGLE was born January 1, 1852, Keokuk County, Iowa, and died of cancer at the age of 60 years on October 25, 1912, St. Joseph Hospital, St. Joseph, Missouri, with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton, Taylor County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 305, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

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