In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1883
From Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905)
CLARENCE J. MAGEL.
Clarence J. Magel, of Union township, belongs to a prominent family which is well known through the county, his father being a life-long resident of the township, and his paternal grandfather was one of the early pioneers. Clarence J. Magel is a son of Peter and Alice (Blakeway) Magel, and was born on the old homestead he now occupies, June 16, 1883. His father was born on an adjoining farm in 1849, and is a son of Seibert Magle, a fine old gentleman whom it was a pleasure to know and count as a friend. The father of our subject always lived in the neighborhood where he was born, and started out in life a poor man, but has now by great industry, rigid economy, and honest principles accumulated two hundred and twenty-three acres of the best land in the township, and is able to retire from the activities of life, and is spending his time in a pleasant home in Burlington. A more complete sketch of him will appear in this volume.
Our subject received his early education in the district school, and then later was a student at Elliott's Business College in the city of Burlington for six months. He then returned to the home farm and assisted his father till he retired in 1905. After this Mr. Magel assumed entire charge of the farm, and devotes all of his time to general farming and the raising of full-blooded stock.
Jan. 18, 1905, Mr. Magel was married to Miss Rosa Ihrer, of Union township. She is a daughter of William and Rosa (Warth) Ihrer, and was born and educated in Burlington, Iowa, but later moved with her parents to Union township. She is a consistent member of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Magel is a good Democrat, and always rallies to the hearty support of the party, but does not care to be an active politician in the holding of any office. If he continues as he has begun — active, energetic and exhibiting good-will toward all — we bespeak that in a short time he, too, will, like his father, be able to retire and enjoy the fruits of his early labor.
As printed in Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.