Old Stories From Luckenbill's Who Moved West!

History of Luckenbill Family--Stories

(with 'special thanks' to Birke Luckenbill)

Benjamin Luckenbill, the son of Christian and Catherine Kline Luckenbill, was born in Reading, Berks County, Pa on Dec 5, 1814.

Benjamin Luckenbill's wife was Mary Meyers, the daughter of Daniel and Katherine Hesse Myers and was born on January 30, 1817. She also was a
native of Berks County, Pa, but later moved with her parents to Fairfield, County, Ohio, where she was married to Benjamin Luckenbill on Jan 20, 1837.

They lived in Fairfield County, Ohio for four years, had two daughters, Catherine and Jane. Benjamin made his first trip to Iowa in 1840, on horse back carrying a long rifle (see gun #1. Luckenbill gun case in Mediapolis Public Library Memorial
Museum), to look around before moving his family to Iowa to settle. He was then 26 years old.

He rode over the prarie exploring the area around Northfiled (Hickory Point) and Linton, Iowa. Often the water was up to the poney's knees.

Bess Luckenbill recalls her grandfather telling her that he made his was back to Ohio on foot, working his was as a stonemason. He was often frightened by the Indians who passed him on ponies, whooping as they went.

In 1841, he returned to Iowa bringing his family with him. The trip this time, with the unusual hardships of the early pioneers, was made over land by covered wagon and axon to Burlington. He came 16 miles north of Burlington on the
Toolesbrough Road (highway 99). He stopped to talk to Mr. Mills who lived near where there was a living spring. (The Mills home was where the Apostolic Church now stands.) Mr. Mills told Mr. Luckenbill that the Black Pond area was as good as any. So Mr. Luckenbill burst settled in Huron Township, along the Bluff, just south of Black Pond, where he remained for one year. He then
purchased what was known as the McIntyre Claim, the site of the present homestead, where he built a log cabin. Several years later, the present home
was built (1847) and the log cabin was moved to a far corner of the place. (Samuel Clifton of Wapello was the head carpenter on the Benjamin Luckenbill home 1846-47) The homestead has been owned for many years by a great-grand-son, John Sharar and Family.

Here, Mr. Luckenbill planted a nursery which he ran for many years, as long as he was able. There was probable no one better know in this part of the country at the time than Ben Luckenbill and his wife, for people for miles around made
yearly visits to his place for trees. They were the soul of hospitality and all who came were made welcome in their home and at their table.

Four children were born to them after coming to Iowa, on daughter and three sons, making a family of six, three girls and three boys.

Catherine married Robert Kerr, Mary Jane married C.P. Bailey, and Elvina married J.E. Hedges. Thomas Franklin married mary Staige, Eber B. married Sarah Darnold, and David H. married Mary J. Hedges. All six children lived on places near the old homestead--this entire family to the fourth generation resided within an hours drive of the old home farm.

Benjamin lived here until after the death of his wife 1980, then made his home with his daughter, Vina, Mrs. Jerome Hedges, where he died in 1899.

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