The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
JOHN HENRY DIRKS.
John Henry Dirks, whose agricultural success has added to the fair name of Jones county and of Scotch Grove township in particular as one of the pros- perous sections of the state, was born in Hanover. Germany, December 18, 1850, a son of Dirk and Maria (Jacobs) Dirks. They followed their son to this coun- try in 1880 but after about four years sojourn here returned to their native land. There in 1887 the mother died and in the summer of the same year the father came again to the Linited States, making his home with his children. His death occurred June 15, i8g8.
At home, under the wise guidance of his parents, John Henry Dirks re- ceived the practical education which supplemented the training he obtained in the public schools of his native land. In 1870, when he was about twenty years of age, he decided to come to the United States to make his fortune. After land- ing upon our shores he came to Jones county, Iowa, where he worked for four years in the employ of Peter Schwartz. At the end of that time, as the latter wished to take a trip to Germany, Mr. Dirks rented his place and began farming on his own account. Eor sixteen years he prosecuted his labors as a tenant in different sections of the township and then, in 1888, bought at the sheriff's sale the place which had belonged to Hugh McCain. It embraced one hundred and twenty acres, lying on section 31, Scotch Grove township. For the first two years of his possession, however, Mr. Dirks rented it to the son of Mr. McClain, not taking up his own residence upon it until 1890. Since that time it has been his home continuously. In 1891 he purchased forty acres adjoining his place, so that his present farm has a total area of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1902 he purchased another tract of land of eighty acres in Wayne township, which he operates in conjunction with that on which he lives. This large acreage may well be contrasted with the three dollars which was the extent of his possessions when Mr. Dirks entered tliis country. Mis huidholdings and the success he has won from his cultivation of the soil make him now one of the substantial farmers of this county.
On the 25th of June, 1886, Mr. Dirks was united in marriage to Miss Mary Otten, of Scotch Grove tov.nshi]). She is a native of Hanover, Germany, and
came to this country in 1885. Nine children have been born to the couple: Mary, Anna, Dirk, Grace, Otto, Henry, Frederick, Herman and William. They are all at home. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, in harmony with whose teachings they order their lives, while politically Mr. Dirks has given his support to the republican party, for he feels that he has seen repeated dem- onstration of the value of its principles of government.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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