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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
George S. Engler who follows farming in Richland township, his farm lying on sections 16, 20 and 21, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, October 17, 1851. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Swisher) Engle, both of whom were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, the former born January 12, 1812, and the latter November 16, 1820. The parents died upon the farm which is now oc- cupied by George S. Engle, both passing away in 1894, the father on the 28th of August and the mother on the 27th of November. They were married in 1833 and the same year re- moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where James Engle purchased three hundred arces of land. There he developed a farm and made his home until 1868, when he came to Mahaska county, Iowa. Here he purchased four hun- dred and forty acres of partially improved land, on which was a fair frame house and good barn, the former having been built at a early period in the devlopment of the county. It was constructed of solid timbers hewed by hand and the weather boarding was of walnut. Mr. Engle added some to the house and to the barn, put up other buildings and also built fences. He purchased more land from time to time as his financial resources increased and eventually be- came the owner of six hundred acres, making him one of the substantial farmers and property holders of the community. He voted with the democracy, but took no active part in politics other than this. He was a Universalist in reli- gious faith, while his wife was a member of the Presbyterian church. In their family were five children: Ruth Ann, who was born May 15, 1838, and died February 20, 1844; Susan, who was born January 26, 1841, and is the wife of C. B. Shields, a resident of Platte county, Ne- braska; Adelia, who was born December 1, 1843, and died July 31, 1850; Jane, who was born August 8, 1847, and died September 2, 1851; and George S., of this review. Reared and educated in Ohio, George S. Engle was a student in the common schools and in his boyhood days assisted his father in the operation of the home farm. He always lived with his parents, aiding in the farm work, and on his father's death he came into possession of three, hundred and ninety-two acres of the old homestead, which constitutes a valuable prop- erty. He was married in 1875 to Miss Sabra Koontz, who was born December 13, 1852, a daughter of Israel and Martha (Snyder) Koontz. The father was born in Pennsylvania, March 16, 1817, and died in this county in 1895, at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother's birth occurred in Switzerland, and she passed away in Richland township at the age of seventy-one years. Mr. Koontz was a black- smith by trade and came to Mahaska county in 1863, locating in Peoria, where he followed blackamithing for about six years. He then re- moved to Pella, Iowa, and afterward to Kan- sas, but subsequently returned to Peoria, where his death occurred. In the family were eight children, of whom four are yet living. Frances is the wife of Byron Tuttle, a resident of Kan- sas. George Washington, who enlisted at Pe- oria, Iowa, and became commissary sergeant of his regiment, died of measles while serving in the Union army. Martha Cordelia is the de- ceased wife of Milton Lundy, who was a resi- dent of Richland township. Mrs. Sarah Isa- belle Boston resides in Kansas. Persis died at the age of eight years. Sabra, twin sister of Persis, is the wife of the subject of this review. Eva Josephine and Iva Jane were twins, and the former is now living in Missouri and the latter is deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Engle have been born three children: Martha E., born July 29, 1877, married Wilbur Hart, has three children and lives upon the old home farm. James Israel, born June 25, 1879, and now liv- ing upon the home farm but in a separate house from his parents, married Anna Baty, and has two children. Blanche, born March 4, 1884, is the wife of Rodney Jackson, who resides upon a farm in Richland township. Mr. Engle and his son work the farm to- gether. They have a traction engine and com- plete threshing outfit, corn shredder and wood- saw, and do considerable work after the harvest seasan is over on the farm. Mr. Engle owns good horses and has a Clydesdale stallion four years old. Both Mr. and Mrs. Engle are hos- pitable people, generous with all that they have in the entertainment of their friends. Mrs. Engle belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Engle also attends its services. In politics he is a republican and has served as school director, but would hold no other office.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy