Richard Baak
Richard Baak was born on the farm where he now lives, on section 33, Soldier township, September 13, 1887, and has spent his entire life amidst the scenes familiar to him in his childhood.
He is a son of August and Sophia (Wickman) Baak, a record of whom is given in the sketch of Herman Baak which appears on another page of this work. Richard Baak possessed the advantages of attendance at the district schools and in his boyhood assisted in the work of the home farm as his services were necessary, thus gaining a thorough knowledge of an occupation that has become his life pursuit.
At the age of twenty-one, after his father's death, he took charge of one hundred and twenty acres-his portion of the family estate. His brother Ernest also received one hundred and twenty acres and they have conducted their business together, managing to better advantage than if the farms were entirely separated. They carryon general farming and stock-feeding and are securing results which indicate the application of good judgment and the most approved modem methods.
On the 23d of June, 1909, Mr. Baak was united in marriage to Miss Ida Rickert, who was born in Hanover township, May 9, 1888, a daughter of Joachim and Anna (Huencke) Rickert, both of whom were born in Germany. They were married in America and Mr. Rickert engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1905. The mother is living with her children and has now reached the age of sixty-eight years. There were four chi.dren in the family: Herman, William and Edward, all of whom live in Monona county; anc Ida, now Mrs. Richard Baak.
Mr. and Mrs. Baak have made a happy start in married life and their home is always open to friends who here receive a cordial greeting. They were reared in the German Lutheran faith and are earnest believers in its teachings. As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Baak is a willing assistant in every worthy cause that gives evidence of advancing the general good. He is a practical man and his success is due to his knowledge of his business and his close application.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.