~ Biographical Sketch ~

     William G. Schenk was born on Saturday, March 25, 1865 in Gordon's Ferry, Iowa, son of Johann H. Schenk and Margareta Dorothea Rebenklau.⁴

William appeared on the Tete des Morts, Jackson County, Iowa, census of June 4, 1880 in the household of Johann H. Schenk. He is recorded as his son age 15 who was working on the farm.⁵

William married Mithilda (Tillie) Rebecca Hachmann, daughter of Johann Niclaus Hachmann and Anna Katherina Madgalena Grefe, on March 1, 1892, in St. Donatus, Jackson County, Iowa. Witnesses were Heinrich Schenk, Heinr. Hachmann, Maria Schenk, and Elizabeth Willamenia Hachmann. (In error, the Hachmann family history booklet shows a conflicting marriage date of 24 March 1861.).^1,6

William worked the farm with his father until he married Matilda. They moved to a farm in Mosalem Township, Dubuque County, Iowa. All of their children were born there.⁴

William G. Schenk appeared in the Mosalem Township, Dubuque County, Iowa, census of June 4, 1900 as head of household 33/33. He farmed on his own mortgaged farm on farm schedule 22. He was born in Iowa and his parents were born in Germany. He was 35 years old. Several others were included in the household. Mithilda, his wife was 28 years old. She was born in Germany as were her parents. She had immigrated in 1880 and had been in the United States for 20 years. She and William had been married for 8 years. She was the mother of 4, but only 3 were surviving at the time of this census. Both she and John spoke English and could read and write. Lillie is recorded as his daughter age 7. She was born in Iowa and had been attending school for the last 6 months. John is recorded as his son age 3. He was born in Iowa. Clarence is recorded as his son age 1. He was born in Iowa. (John Schlitzer was also listed in the household as a servant who was working as a farm laborer. He was single and 27 years old. He was born in Iowa as was his mother. His father was born in Ohio. He spoke English and could read and write.).⁷

William later purchased a farm in Tete des Morts. They farmed there until the marriage of the their son Clarence in 1921 who then took over the farm. William and Mathilda moved to a home on Front Street accross the street from the Mississippi River in Bellevue. He died there of "Emboli (R) leg" in 1930. Mathilda continued to live there until sometime in th e1950s when she sold the home and lived with her daughter Lillian and husband Will Schoop. She died of "heart failure" in the Bellevue Memorial Hospital.

They were both described as being a very popular and out going couple. They loved entertaining and had many friends.⁴

The April 2, 1930 census of Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa, shows William as head of household. He was recorded as 65 years old and no longer working.. Mithilda was 58 years old. They had been married for 38 years and were living alone. They owned their own home in town on 2nd Street. It was valued at $7000. They didn't own a radio.⁸

William died on Wednesday, April 9, 1930 in Bellevue at age 65.⁴ He was laid to rest in the Lutheran Cemetery in Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa.⁴

An unidentified and undated newspaper clipping read:

William G. Schenk, one of Bellevue's highly respected citizens, died at his home on North Front Street Wednesday night at 9:10 o'clock after an illness of six weeks of heart disease.

Mr. Schenk was the son of John and Marguerite Schenk and was born March 25, 1865, near Saint Donatus. On March 1, 1892, he was united in marriage with Mathilda Hachmann at Gordon's Ferry. They farmed for a time in Mosalem township in Dubuque county and later near St. Donatus. Nine years ago they retired from farming and moved to Bellevue.

Mr. Schenk was devout member of the Lutheran church and was an honest and upright citizen who made a host of friends wherever he lived. During his residence in Bellevue he took a great interest in the welfare of the town and was one of our best known citizens.

Besides the sorrowing widow he is survived by three sons and one daughter, Mrs. William Schoop, Jr., of near Bellevue, John and Clarence of St. Donatus and Walter of Maquoketa. Two children died in infancy. Four sisters also survive, Mrs. Herman Knief of Lamotte, Mrs. Conrad Reeg and Mrs. Fred Adickes of Bellevue and Miss. Sena of Du-[sic]

Funeral services were conducted at 12:30 o'clock at St. John's Lutheran church, the Rev. S. M. Ide, pastor of the church, officiating. Charles Geber, Arthur Lenhart, William Knief, John Schoop, Robert Schenk and John Reeg, nephews of the deceased, were the pallbearers.

Out of town attendants at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, Dr. and Mrs. Max Fritshell, Prof. Zielinger, Orville Reeg, Miss Sena Schenk, Helen Appel, Mr. and Mrs. Art Blum, Henry and Carl Feye, all of Dubuque; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Higgins and son of Higginsport, Mr. and Charles Geber, Mr. and Mrs. John Geber, Rush Lenhart and son Arthur, Mrs. Harry Cueno, and Mr. and Mrs. James Mueller, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Geber, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Knief and daughter, Miss. Edna, of LaMotte; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schenk, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schenk, Mr. and Mrs. John Schenk.⁹