Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013,
                           All Rights Reserved
                          U.S. Data Repository

    Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
=========================================================================
U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization.
Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain
the consent of the transcriber prior to use.
Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so.
=========================================================================
Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
==========================================================================
Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 616-617]

    JOHN F. SIEGEL was born in Würtemberg, Germany, February 25, 1836, and
    is a son of JACOB F. and BARBARA (JAKLY) SIEGEL.  This family is from
    the same stock as that of General FRANZ SIEGEL.  When JOHN F. was
    fifteen years old the family crossed the waters to the strange shores
    of America.  The first five years they lived in the State of New York,
    and then pushed farther west, and settled in Outagamie County, Wis-
    consin, in 1856.  There the father continued to reside until his death,
    which occurred in 1887, at the age of eighty-four years.  His widow
    still lives in Wisconsin, at the age of seventy-six years.  There were
    fourteen children in the family, and with the exception of one they
    grew to maturity, and twelve of them are now living.  One sister,
    SOPHRONIA, wife of DANIEL FERGUSON, resides in Cherokee, and BARBARA,
    wife of FRANK JONES, lives in Dallas County, Iowa; ALEXANDER is in
    Washington Territory, and the rest, excepting GEORGE, who lives in
    Ohio, are in Wisconsin.  When JOHN F. had arrived at his majority he
    began work by the month, but made his home for one year with his
    father.  From this time until he was thirty-two years old he was
    engaged in the lumber regions, first working by the month, and
    afterward contracting to get out logs.  Making some money in this
    way he determined to buy a farm, and before 1879 he had improved two
    timbered farms, which he disposed of, when he came to Cherokee County,
    which presented a more favorable outlook for agricultural purposes than
    the timber country of Wisconsin.  He at first secured eight acres, and
    now owns 240 acres of excellent land.  His business has been lucrative,
    and he has made quite a successful farmer.  His place is considered one
    of the neatest and best in the vicinity, and all his surroundings in-
    dicate thrift and the guidance of a master hand.  Mr. SIEGEL'S military
    career is something out of the ordinary.  He enlisted in the Third
    Wisconsin Cavalry, but was rejected, not being considered fit for
    military duty.  A few months later after he was drafted, and placed in
    Company A, Eighteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.  His command was
    sent to Tennessee, where he did guard duty until 1865, when they were
    ordered to North Carolina.  After being quartered at Raleigh sometime,
    they were sent to Washington, District of Columbia, and there he
    marched in the grand review.  His discharge bears date of July, 1865.
    He participated in but one regular battle, that of Kingston.  Mr.
    SIEGEL was married in May, 1862, to Miss CHRISTINA DEXTER, who died in
    April, 1870, leaving him two little boys, ALBERT and RANSFORD.  He was
    married a second time, September 8, 1870, to Miss REGINA FULLER.  They
    have four children: ALICE, STEPHEN, WILLIE and LYDIA.

===========================================================================