JOHN MOECK.
John Moeck, farmer, of Center township, Atchison county, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 17, 1869. He is a son of Henry and Eva (Heinz) Moeck, who were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Kathrine Younger, living near Potter, Kan.; Anna, deceased; Henry, farmer, Germany; John, subject of this sketch; Karl, Osborne county, Kansas; Regina, Atchison, Kan.; and George, deceased. The father was born April 3, 1839, in Germany, where he spent his life. He was a son of Henry Moeck, also a native of Germany. His wife, Eva, was born December 1, 1841. She is a native of Germany, and is now living on a farm in that country. John Moeck, the subject of this sketch, attended the schools in Germany, and in 1883 immigrated to the United States, settling in Atchison county, Kansas, where he worked on a farm for his board and clothing. He attended the district schools of Center township until he was twenty-one years old. During this time he was living with his uncle, Fred Moeck, and the following five years he worked as a farm hand. He was then married, and settled down on the farm which he now owns. He rented it for a time, until he was able to accumulate enough to buy it. He bought the place in 1898, and has owned it since that time. The farm consists of 145 acres of fine land, which the owner has improved extensively. Two acres of the place is planted with fine fruit-bearing trees. Mr. Moeck keeps high grade stock on his farm.
The career of Mr. Moeck shows what one can do by hard work. When he arrived in Atchison county he had only four dollars, and every cent that he now owns has been earned by hard work since he came to Atchison county. Mr. Moeck is a self-made man, who has won a desirable place for himself in his community. That his fellow citizens hold him in high regard, is shown by the fact that they elected him to the office of township treasurer for two terms. He has been road overseer, and is now a member of the school board.
In 1895 Mr. Moeck married Kathrine Ziegler, who was born April 5, 1875. She is a native of Germany, and the daughter of George and Agnes (Frommer) Ziegler. When a child five years old Mrs. Moeck came to America with her parents, who settled in Center township, Atchison county. Mr. and Mrs. Moeck have four children: Eva, Louise, Frieda, and Walter, living at home. Mr. Moeck is a Republican. He is an elder in the German Lutheran church. In reviewing his life, it is only fair to say that he is one of those self-made citizens who form the solid foundation of our democracy. By his own efforts he has climbed to the top, and has shown by his life what the man who will try can accomplish.