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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
JOHN A. BANNECK. Among
the worthy and strong men of Douglas county, it is fitting to mention the
subject of this review. He resides about three miles south from Waterville,
where he owns an estate of three hundred and twenty acres all under cultivation.
The farm is devoted to the production of the cereals and legumes.
He has been very successful in agriculture and produces some of the very
best crops of the county.
John A. Banneck was born in Schleswig-Holstein,
Germany, in December, 1849. His parents, Claus and Frederika (Moller)
Banneck, were natives of the same place and died in 1873 and 1893, respectively.
Our subject served in the regular army, participating in the Franco-Prussian
war. He remained in his native country until 1873, gaining during
those years, not only a good education but a splendid military training
in the regular army. In the year last mentioned, Mr. Banneck came
to Lyons, Iowa, and engaged there in sawmilling, later going to Minnesota,
where he entered the flour mills, having thoroughly learned the art of
the flour miller in Germany. After nine years in some of the leading
mills in Minnesota, he came thence, the time being 1882, to Cheney, Washington.
On May 12, 1883, our subject landed in Douglas county, which entitles him
to be ranked with the very earliest pioneers in this part of Washington.
He squatted on a piece of land which was later taken by the homestead right
and is now a portion of his estate. He added to this by purchase
until he has one-half section farmed as named above. In addition,
Mr. Banneck devotes considerable attention to raising fruit and has a fine
three acre orchard. He also handles a great deal of stock and owns
about seventy head of cattle and horses.
Politically, he is now allied with the Populists,
but formerly was a Republican.
Mr. Banneck has one half brother, Jurgen Nissen,
and three sisters, Kathrina Schnack, Christina Jacobson, and Magretha.
They are all in Germany. Mr. Banneck, to use his own laconic remark,
has never yet met his wife, consequently, he is enjoying the freedom and
pleasures of the celibatarian. In financial circles, he has made
an excellent success and his standing in the community is of the very best,
being a kind, genial and substantial man.
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