Leonard FOIDEL

FOIDEL, DAGALA, CLARK

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/18/2009 at 19:01:04

DEATH of LEONARD FOIDEL

[Leonard and Johanna FOIDEL] were natives of Germany, coming to America in [after their marriage in 1854, arriving on September 23, 1854, aboard the ship "Rotunda."] They were among the pioneers of Ringgold County, coming in an early day and settling on the farm where the father lived till his death. The prairie grass surrounding his dwelling, which then grew thick and tall, was set on fire eight miles to the northwest on one of the most windy days in the fall of 1868. When he saw the fire approaching he went to burning a strip along the road, which was known as backfiring, but his work was of no avail; the fire was approaching with the speed of a race-horse, and seeing that he could not head it off, he ran to the stable to release the horses, but before he could accomplish anything the fire broke through the roof, which frightened the horses and they became uncontrollable. It being unsafe to remain longer in the stable he left it, and in doing so he ran through about two rods of solid flames of fire. Hay and straw stacks were being torn to pieces and blown in every direction all ablaze and through this he ran. His clothes caught fire and burned him so that he lived only twenty-two hours thereafter. He was a man respected by all who knew him, and his death caused universal regret throughout the neighborhood where he resided. Thus was Mr. [Sebastian] FOIDEL left at the age of thirteen, the eldest of a family of four children.

NOTE: Leonard FOIDEL was born October 17, 1810, and died November 5, 1868. His wife, Johanna "Hannah" (DAGALA) FOIDEL, was born October 16, 1820, Baden-Wurttemberg, German, and died from paralysis after suffering from a series of strokes on October 29, 1906, Tingley, Ringgold County, Iowa. They were interred at Cornwall Cemetery, Thayer, Union County, Iowa. Leonard and Hannah were the parents of Sebastian, Maria, George, and Hannah. Sebastian FOIDEL was born January 21, 1855, Frankfort, Ross County, Ohio, and died November 17, 1926, Marion County, Iowa, with interment at Graceland Cemetery, Knoxville, Iowa. Sebastian married Iva A. CLARK, and they were the parents of Howard C., Alta, Grace, and Amy. Howard C. FOIDEL was born April 11, 1886, and died July 25, 1887, with interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, Afton, Union County, Iowa.

SOURCE: IDE, George A. History of Union County p. 650 S.J. Clarke Publ. Co. Chicago. 1908.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009