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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John Koenke, a successful agriculturist of Williams Township, Benton County, Mo., and an old settler of this county, having come here in 1854, was born in Germany, April 17, 1850, and is the son of Henry and Anna (Khute) Koenke. He is the eldest of five children, who are named as follows: John; William, who is now living in Benton County; Henry, now in Germany; Alice, now in Germany; and Anna (deceased). John Koenke left his native country at the age of twenty-three, and August 15, 1853, took passage for the United States from the port of Bremervorde. He landed at New Orleans after a trip of seven weeks and five days, remained there a short time, and then came by steamboat up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where he stopped during the winter of 1853-54. He then left St. Louis and went to St. Paul, Minn., where he rafted logs down the river that summer. In the fall he came to Benton County, Mo., where he entered eighty acres of land, and there lived for some time. May 11, 1855, he married Miss Alice Buckhols, and made his home with her father until 1862. She was born in Germany, in September, 1835, and by her marriage became the mother of seven children: Anna, wife of James Bockelman, now living in Benton County; George, at home; Henry, now in Dakota; John, in Pettis County; Herman, at home; Catherine, and William, who died July 4, 1875, at the age of over one year. Mr. Koenke affiliates with the Republican party in politics, and is a much esteemed citizen of Williams Township. He has followed farming the principal part of his life, and in connection is also engaged in raising stock. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, of which he has been trustee for five years.

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This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Benton County, Missouri family biographies here: Benton County, Missouri Biographies

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