Farmer in Keokuk County, Iowa.
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.
HENRY PFANNEBECKER.
Henry Pfannebecker, a prominent German-American citizen of Keokuk count)-. Iowa, who owns a fine farm in section 33, German town- ship, was horn in Germain-. January 26, 1824, and since 1854 has been an esteemed resident of Keokuk county. He was reared until his four- teenth year in his native country and there attended school. In 1845 he
entered the German army and faithfully performed the duties of a de- fender of his land for the succeeding two years, taking active part in the battle of Baden; the whole of his term of service covered three and one- half years. Our subject belonged to the German cavalrymen, a branch of the army which is justly regarded by all nations as one of the most perfectly drilled and effective in the world. Although he served as a private, official rank was offered him on more than one occasion, but he refused to accept so much responsibility.
In 1848 Mr. Pfannebecker came to America, landing at the port of Xew York, and soon after came as far west as Burlington, Iowa, where he was employed in a nursery by Mr. E. D. Rent, remaining with the latter for a period of six years. In 1854 he came to Keokuk county and bought a farm of eighty acres, paying three dollars an acre for the same, built a comfortable log house and immediatelv began the clearing of the land and later the most careful cultivation of it. During the progress of the Civil war, in 1863. he enlisted for service in Company K, Ninth Iowa Cavalry as a private, but soon was promoted to the rank of sergeant, serving faithfully until he was wounded while on guard, falling from his horse and being so seriously injured that he was hon- orably discharged at Davenport. Iowa. Upon his return to his home he began farming again in German township ynd has been well known as an excellent agriculturist and successful stock raiser for many years. Gradually he accumulated two hundred and fifty-five acres through thrift and industry, and has provided his sons with farms, still retaining, how- ever, eighty acres for himself.
The marriage of our subject was in 1840, in Pennsylvania, to Eva Catherine Hoffman, who was born in Germany and reared there to wo- manhood. She passed out of life on February id, 1806, having been
the beloved and devoted mother of seven children, namely : Jacob; Henry, deceased; Christian; Mary; Eva; Frederick; and Dr. William, a leading physician of Sigonrney. Mr. Pfannebecker is a stanch Republican and is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has taken a prominent part in public matters since locating here, and few substan- tial improvements in his township have been made without his approval and assistance. No man in German township is held in higher regard as a reliable, honest and upright citizen.
Source: A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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