Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Jacob Engert
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
JACOB ENGERT. The farming and stock-raising
interests of Blaine Township, Clay
County, acknowledge a worthy representative in
this substantial citizen who may be
usually found at his headquarters on section 29.
Here he has a well-tilled farm, 160 acres in extent,
where he has effected good improvements and laid
up for himself the wherewithal to comfort him in
his declining years. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt,
Germany, March 9, 1836, and is the son of
Jacob, Sr., and Catherine (Nickel) Engert, who
were likewise of pure German birth and ancestry.
When about nine years old. Mr. Engert crossed
the Atlantic with his parents, on a sailing vessel
bound from Antwerp to New York City. The
voyage occupied five weeks and a few days, and
soon after landing upon terra firma, the family
made their way to the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio.
The father carried on farming a number of years,
then moved into the city, where he and his estimable
wife spent their last days. Jacob was the only
son, and has two sisters living�Elizabeth, the wife
of A. Alten, of Blaine Township, and Eva. Mrs.
Philip Rose.
The subject of this sketch spent his early years
on the farm in the Buckeye State and received a fair
education both in English and German. He was a
youth who kept his eyes open to what was going
on around him in the world, and grew up with a
fair idea of business as well as farming. He remained
a bachelor until past twenty-nine years old
and was then married Sept. 18, 1865, in Ohio, to
Miss Catherine Engert, a native of his own Province
in Germany, and the daughter of Philip and
Eva (Schader) Engert. This union resulted in the
birth of six children, two of whom�Jacob and
Anthony�died at the ages of eight and two years
respectively. Catherine is the wife of J. P. Bisenius;
Philip, Henry and Jacob remain at home
with their parents.
Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Engert
settled down in a snug little home in the city
of Cleveland, Ohio, and for twelve years thereafter
Mr. Engert operated as a teamster in the employ of
one firm. Finally deciding to seek his fortune in
the farther West, he, in 1878, disposing of his interests
in the Buckeye State, came with his family
to Kansas and settled on his present farm in Clay
County. Here he has operated with genuine German
thrift and prudence, and has been uniformly
successful. Besides the land which he occupies,
he has a half interest in 246 acres in Riley County.
He has been principally the architect of his own
fortune, accumulating his possessions by industry
and perseverance. He made it a rule at the beginning
to live within his income, and has followed
this wise resolve with the results which we now behold.
He is a man prompt to meet his obligation
and one whose word is considered as good .as his
bond.
Politically, Mr. Engert is independent, aiming
to support principles rather than men. He and his
estimable wife have labored hand in hand in the
accumulation of their property, and are now in the
enjoyment of the fruits of their industry. They
have made many friends since their sojourn in this
State, and Mr. Engert as a citizen has acquitted
himself with credit.
Mrs. Engert was born March 29, 1846 and was
next to the eldest daughter of her parents, with
whom she emigrated to America when a maiden of
sixteen years. The family took passage on a sailing
vessel at the port of Havre, France, and landed
in New York City after a voyage of fifty-six days.
Thence they proceeded shortly afterward to Williamsburg,
N. Y., and from there journeyed overland
to Cleveland, Ohio. The father came to Clay
County, this State, and died Jan. 21, 1884. The
mother is still living and makes her home in Cleveland.