Individual Details

Marriage

Reg. 3113 Pg 53 Groom Balster John Bride Rickels Maggie Date 08 Mar 1892 Location Monticello Grooms Parents John Balster Maggie Ahskin Grooms birthplace Germany Gerhard Brides parents Rickels Maggie Lubben Brides Birthplace Michigan

Census (family)

120, 120, Balster, John, Head, WM, Feb 1866, 34, Married 8 yrs, Germany Germany Germany, 1882, 18 yrs in US, Na, Farmer
Maggie, Wife, WF, May 1872, 28, M-8 yrs, 3 children born & living, Michigan, Germany Germany
John, Son, WM, Dec 1892, 7, single, Iowa Germany Michigan
Anna M, Daughter, WF, Sept 1896, 3, single, Iowa Germany Michigan
Henrietta M, Daughter, WF, June 1899, 1, single, Iowa Germany Michigan

Census (family)

John Balster Head M 44 Germany Germany Germany, immigration yr 1882
Meta Balster Wife F 38 Michigan
John Balster Son M 17 Iowa
Anna Balster Daughter F 13 Iowa
Henrietta Balster Daughter F 11 Iowa

Census (family)

John D Balster Head M 53 Germany Germany Germany, Immigration Yr 1882
Margaret G Balster Wife F 47 Michigan
Henrietta M E Balster Daughter F 21 Iowa

Census (family)

23 BALSTER JOHN SR 59 GER H BALSTER, JOHN D GER UNCEN, HENRIETTA GER GER
24 BALSTER MAGGIE 52 MI W RICKELS, GERD GER LUBBEN, MARGARET GER GER

Census (family)

John Balster Head M 63 Germany
Meta Balster Wife F 57 Michigan

Census (family)

John D Balster Head M 74 Germany
Meta Balster F 68 Michigan

Death

Monticello Express, Monticello Iowa, January 15, 1942
J. Balster Dies Here
Operation Fails to Save Retired Farmer
John Dick Balster, 75, died unexpecedly at the John McDonald hospital in Monticello at 5:30 Thursday evening, Jan. 8. He had submitted to a surgical operation Jan. 7 and had rallied therefrom. The ultimate cause of his death was a heart attack.
Balster was born Feb. 8, 1866, at Neustadt Goedens Wilhelmshaven, Hanover, Germany. His parents were Diedrick and Henrietta (Otten) Balster. He was baptized Feb. 26, 1866, and confirmed at Wilhelmshaven in April, 1880.
He ame to the United States when he was 16 years of age and settled at Petersburg, Ill., in the home of his uncle, Henry Balster. He worked in that vicinity until he as 21 years of age when he came to Jones county where he worked on farms in Wayne township until his marriage.
Balster was married March 8, 1892, to Gesche Meta Rickels at Zion Lutheran church in Wayne township by Rev. C. Mardorf. After their marriage they went to housekeeping on a farm locateed in the Bowen's Prairie neighborhood. They retired from farm work in 1920 and have made their home on Chestnut street, Monticello. In recent years BAlster had been caretaker for the grounds of various homes in Monticello, St. Matthew's Lutheran church, and more recently the Congregational church.
Mr. and Mrs. Balster became the parents of three children, John Balster and Mrs. Henry Meier (Anna) of Clinton, and Mrs. Oliver Harford (Henrietta), Monticello. In addition to his wife and children, he is also survived by three grandsons, John Balster, United States Army, New York; Merle Balster, United States Navy, Manila, Philippine Islands; and Robert Balster, Clinton.
Balster is surivived by one sister, Mrs. J. H. J. Stutt, Monticello; a brother, Henry C. Balster, Scotch Grove; a half-brother, Emil Riedel, Monticello. A sister, Mrs. Lena Buetler, died eight years ago.
Funeral services were held at the family home in Monticello at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and at 2:00 at St. Matthew's Lutheran church. Rev. H. L. Buesing, Lutheran minister, Anamosa, had charge of the services. Burial was made at Oakwood cemetery, Monticello.