Henry C. Rix (1849-1927)

RIX

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 16:10:29

Henry Carl Rix
(July 16, 1849 – September 10, 1927)

Among those of foreign birth who have become residents of Calhoun County and here have met with most excellent success in their business undertakings is numbered the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He was born in Germany on the 16th of July, 1849, son of Henry and Louisa (Kinman) Rix, also natives of that country. When our subject was three years of age the family emigrated to America, and first located in that part of Cook County, Illinois, now within the city limits of Chicago. After spending ten years in that locality they came to Iowa and settled in Cedar County, where the parents continued to make their home until called to the world beyond. Mr. Rix. of this review, remained with his father during his minority, giving him the benefit of his labors and attending the local schools when his services were not needed at home. He was married on the 17th of October, 1871, the lady of his choice being Miss Minnie Dibner, who was also born in Germany, August 17, 1851. They have become the parents of ten children, of whom two are now deceased. Mary died in infancy: and Alwin, born March 28, 1882, died March 3, 1897. Those still living are as follows: Louisa H., born January 24, 1874, is now the wife of Henry Dittman, of Garfield Township, this county; Louis H., born May 24, 1875, is at home; Amanda, born May 19, 1878, is the wife of Herman Wolf, who lives on our subject's farm in this county; Charlie, born May 28, 1880, Addie born August 12, 1884, Emil, born May 1, 1886, Liddie, born July 1, 1888, Henry, born October 25, 1890, and Augusta, born February 28, 1893, are all at home. The children have all been given good common school advantages, and the family is one of which any parents might well be proud. Two years after his marriage Mr. Rix removed to Calhoun County, and settled on a tract of land in Williams county [Township not county], to which he subsequently secured a clear title. As time passed he placed acre after acre under the plow until he had a well cultivated farm, and he has erected thereon a good set of farm buildings, so that he now has one of the best improved and most desirable farms of its size in the county. It consists of four hundred and eighty acres of land under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Rix is a director of the German Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, and is quite actively interested in the raising of stock, keeping a good grade of Englishshire horses, Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rix are members of the German Lutheran church of Williams Township and are people of the highest respectability, having a large circle of friends and acquaintances who esteem them highly for their sterling worth. For four years Mr. Rix served as township assessor, and has also served his fellow citizens as a member of the school board and as townnship trustee. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.560]