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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Carl Tilk.

Carl Tilk, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Prussia township, is a native of Germany.  His birth occurred on the 5th of June, 1855, and he is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Tilk, the former a weaver by occupation.  Both parents passed away in the fatherland, the mother when our subject was but an infant and the father in 1905.

Carl Tilk received his education in Germany and on reaching mature years worked as a farm hand.  He was so employed until he was twenty-eight years of age and then, in 1883, he emigrated to America.  He first located in Ohio and there worked on farms by the month until 1893, when he came to Adair county, where he was employed as a farm hand until his marriage.  He then removed to his wife's farm, which comprises eighty acres on section 2, Prussia township, and which he has since operated.  He rents eighty acres in addition and his well directed labor enables him to secure a good income from the one hundred and sixty acres which he farms.

In 1895 occurred the marriage of Mr. Tilk and Mrs. Emma (Motschmann) Bitner, a daughter of John and Dorothea Motschmann, both natives of Germany, who passed their entire lives in that country.  The mother died in 1895 and the father in 1908.  Mr. and Mrs. Tilk have three  children, William, John and Carl.  Mrs. Tilk was first married to John Bitner, who was born in Illinois but came to Adair county, Iowa, with his parents when a child.  He grew to manhood here and on beginning his independent career decided to devote his life to agricultural pursuits, which he followed until his demise in 1890 when but forty years of age.  To him and his wife were born a son and daughter.  Henry W. Bitner, who resides with his mother and stepfather, was born upon the homestead and was reared and educated in Prussia township.  After finishing school he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has since followed.  He is an excellent workman and has been very successful in his chosen occupation.  The daughter, Margaret, is now the wife of Carl Mangles, a farmer of Grove township.

Mr. Tilk gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and his religious faith is indicated in the fact that he holds membership in the German Lutheran church.  There has never been the slightest question as to his integrity and probity, and his genuine worth has gained him the respect of all with whom he has come in contact, and the friendship of many.

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