Mother of Joseph, Magdalena Elizabeth, George M., John Joseph, Peter John, Michael George, Benedict Cornelius, Katherine, Francis, Mary, Anna Marie & Edmund Arkfeld
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from Centennial book: "Panama Pages of Time~Panama, Iowa 1884~1984"
page 199~200
Henry Arkfeld Family
Henry Arkfeld (Dec. 18, 1859~April 19, 1949) was born in Babbtown, Osage County, Missouri to Frank and Magdalene (Luckenotto) Ackfeld. Henry came to Iowa by wagon with Ben Muenchrath and his sister. He changed the spelling of his name to "Arkfeld" when he moved to Iowa.

Magdalene (Sept. 25, 1863 ~ Aug. 23, 1938) was born in St. Cloud, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin to Joseph and Katherine (Kaufman) Blum. She came to Westphalia with her family in 1874.

Henry and Magdalene were married on July 3, 1883 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa. They had 12 children: Joseph married Mary Theresa Siemer ~story elsewhere. Magdalena married Nicholas Reding, and they have five children; Lawrence, Leola, Rosemary, Lillian, and James. George married Mary A. Siemer ~ story elsewhere. John married Mary Keane ~ story elsewhere. Michael married Ann Bauler, and they have five children; Maglan, Gregory, Tecla, Rita, and Cyrilla. Peter married Chistena Huebner ~ story elsewhere. Benedict married Katherine Kenkel ~ story elsewhere. Katherine became Sister M. Madeline O.S.B., and taught school in Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa before her death in 1941. Francis died in 1918 at age 19. Mary worked as a teller in the Panama Bank, and died in 1939. Anna married Louis Mages ~ story elsewhere. Edmund died at age 7 in 1907.

After their marriage, Henry and Magdalene rented, and then purchased land in the Panama area. Henry was a farmer, housemover and operated a harness shop in Panama. He was a director of the new Panama Savings Bank which was organized in 1906, and active in bringing the first telephone system to Panama. In 1900 he was in charge of moving the Catholic Church building from atop the hill to a site directly north of the present church site. Henry was President of the Panama Public School Board in 1911. He was a member of the Holy Name Society, and Magdalene was a member of the Rosary Society.