William Magel

As printed in 1915

WILLIAM MAGEL.

William Magel is living retired in Burlington, but for a long period was connected with general agricultural pursuits and thereby won the competence that now enables him to rest from further labor. His birth occurred at Rock Springs, in Union township, this county, on the 4th of March, 1842, his parents being Seibert and Mary (Licht) Magel, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born in 181 2 and the latter in 1821. They came to Iowa at the same time — in the year 1835 — Mrs. Magel making the trip in company with her parents. It was in Des Moines county that she gave her hand in marriage to Seibert Magel and here they spent their remaining days, their home being on a farm on Avery Road, west of Burlington. A life of intelligently directed industry enabled Mr. Magel to convert a tract of wild land into a highly improved farm. His place comprised one hundred and ninety acres and from it he derived a substantial annual income. His death occurred when he was eighty-five years old, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-five. They were consistent Christian people, holding membership in the Evangelical church. In their family were ten children who reached maturity: Elizabeth, the deceased wife of William Hillgartner; William; Henry, who is living in Burlington; Charles, a resident of Sidney, Iowa; Conrad, of Twin Falls, Idaho; Mary, the widow of Julius Schafer, of Central avenue, Burlington; Theodore, who was killed by a horse in Fremont county, Iowa; Peter, of Burlington; Maggie, the wife of Henry Steyh, living on Central avenue, Burlington; and Benjamin, also of this city.

William Alagel was reared upon the old homestead farm with the usual experiences that fall to the lot of the farm boy. In 1861, however, he left home and crossed the plains with ox teams to Idaho, remaining in the west until the fall of 1864, when he returned. He had devoted his time to gold mining, but only met with fair success. After his return he engaged in farming with his father for a year and then carried on agricultural pursuits on his own account for another year.

On the 23d of March, 1866, Mr. Magel was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Hilleary, who was born in Union township near Rock Springs in 1846, a daughter of Jackson Hilleary, a pioneer farmer of Des Moines county who came to this state from Virginia. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Magel removed to Flint River township, where he carried on farming until 1901, when he purchased his present home at No. 501 Gunnison street in Burlington and here still resides. His farm comprised ninety-four acres of land, which he sold to his son-in-law.

To Mr. and Mrs. Magel were born six children: Ollie, the wife of Allen Barnette, who is living upon the old homestead; L. B., a resident of Union township; William H., who is located on Garfield avenue in Burlington; Iva, the wife of Louis Schultz, of St. Louis; Albert E., whose home is a mile north of Burlington; and Nellie, the wife of Arthur Wolhwend, also of Burlington.

Mr. Magel gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, but has never sought nor desired office. His entire life up to the time of his retirement was devoted to farming and the careful management which he displayed in his business affairs brought him a substantial measure of success. Year by year he carefully tilled his fields and as time passed he gained a substantial competence from the sale of his harvests. There have been no spectacular phases in his life, but the record has always been an honorable one and thus he enjoys the high regard of those with whom he has been associated.

As printed in History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.