KNOBLOCK, WILLIAM 
William Knoblock holds an honored position among the 
brave and farsighted pioneers from the Old World whose 
industry and thrift have made the northwest blossom 
like a garden. From his lovely home on section 13, 
Logan Township, he looks out on the broad acres and 
well cultivated fields of his own farm, and feels that 
here he has wrought a good work, for he has made a 
home for his family and a place for himself. 

Mr. Knoblock was born in Germany in 1853, and is a son 
of John D. Knoblock, of Wurtemburg, a well-known 
province of that empire. The father, who was a farmer, 
was born in 1823, and is still living in the 
Fatherland at an advanced age. William was his oldest 
born, in a family of three children; and he was reared 
to a life of honest industry, and was taught not to be 
afraid of hard work. When he reached the age of 
twenty-one years he reported for duty in the German 
army, and was in active service for two years, and a 
third year in the reserve. He received an honorable 
discharge and is justly proud of his record "with the 
colors" in his old home.

In 1879 occurred the wedding of William Knoblock and 
Miss Christine Fredrica Nester, daughter of 
Christopher Nester, a well-known and successful 
farmer. To this marriage have come the following 
children; Emelia, Paulina, Emma, Dietrich, Jacob, 
Ernst, Carolina, Gotlob, William, Marie, August, 
Jacob, Lydia and Amel. The first seven of these 
children were born in Germany, and the others in this 
country.

For ten years after his marriage Mr. Knoblock was 
engaged in farming in Germany, and in 1890 sought a 
home in this country, bringing with him his wife and 
seven children. They landed in the city of New York, 
but came directly west to Lyon County, where they 
lived for about ten years in Cleveland Township where 
he had bought a quarter section, and rented another, 
so that he had under operation some three hundred and 
twenty acres. This land was unimproved prairie at the 
time of his coming, but he soon brought it into a high 
state of cultivation, and in 1900 exchanged it for an 
improved farm in section 13, Logan Township. Since he 
has taken possession of this new farm he has greatly 
added to its desirability by extensive alterations and 
additions. The buildings on it now comprise 
principally a house, whose dimensions are 20 by 26 and 
12 by 16, a barn 56 by 40, a granary 24 by 40, a cow 
barn 32 by 40, and a machine shed 16 by 40. There are 
other buildings, two wells and a windmill. The farm is 
provided with every requisite in the shape of modern 
and improved machinery for its successful operation 
and reflects great credit upon the business habits as 
well as the unremitting industry of its proprietor. It 
comprises 320 acres, and upon its successful operation 
Mr. Knoblock devotes all his time and thought. When he 
began in 1890 he had but a small start, and his small 
working capital might easily have been lost by a 
careless step. He has been careful, taken the best 
care of every dollar he has earned, and though he lost 
many hogs by the cholera, and at times his crops have 
not been the best, yet he has never lost heart, and 
has not been discouraged by trouble and misfortune. 
Holding on steadily, he has won out a good standing 
and enjoys among his friends and neighbors an enviable 
reputation.

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Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of 
Lyon County,Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer 
Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach 
Sec'y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., 
Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed for Lyon County by Darlene Jacoby and 
Diane Johnson