USA > Iowa > Mills County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 65
USA > Iowa > Fremont County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 65
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Locating at his present home, in Deer Creek township. Mr. Kochersperger applied himself with all the energy of his nature, and in a short time success crowned his efforts. He endured hardships cheerfully for he soon saw it would only be temporary, and now after thirty years, he owns seven hundred and twenty acres of as fertile land as can be found in the state of Iowa.
Mr. Kochersperger married Anna M. Shindler, a daughter of Richard Shindler, a native of New York, and the children born of this union are Mrs. Minnie E. Northrop, Edwin M., Frank G., and Hattie Belle. In politics our subject is a stanch Republican, and has efficiently served as road supervisor, school director and as township trustee, in all relations of life proving himself a sub- stantial, respected and self-respecting citizen. He has worked his way upward by his own efforts and well deserves the esteem in which he is held.
MIKE GORDON.
Few men starting out in life as did Mike Gordon have won a more pronounced suc- cess, for though he entered upon his business career empty-handed, he is to-day the owner of fourteen hundred acres of valuable land in southwestern Missouri and makes his
home upon the Gordon farm, situated in Washington township, Fremont county. . 1 native of the Emerald Isle, he was born in Wexford, in 1838. The ancestry of the family can be traced back for one hundred and fifty years. The Gordons were orig- finally from the Highlands of Scotland, but tribal wars and religious persecutions drove them from Scotland to Ireland, where they found a new home and greater liberty. Mark and Ellen ( Wicken) Gordon, the parents of our subject, were both natives of Wexford and were reared and e lucated there. After their marriage they reared their children there and in their native city spent their en- tire lives.
Mike Gordon, who was one of a family of six children, was reared upon the old home farm and into his mind lessons of in- dustry, economy and honesty were early in- stilled. He received a good fundamental ed- ucation and remained in the Emerald Isle until after his marriage, which was cele- brated in 1864. when he was twenty-six years of age, Miss Catherine Doyle becom- ing his wife. She, too, was born and reared in county Wexford, Ireland, and belonged to one of the old families there. For thirty- six years they have traveled life's journey together. In 1865 they determined to seek a fortune in the new world. and. bidding good bye to relatives and friends, they sailed for Quebec, Canada, whence they afterward went to Oneida county, New York.
For three years Mr. Gordon worked on a farm in that locality, and then, at the de- sire of friends and relatives in lowa, he came to Fremont county and for two and a half years worked on the Kansas City & Omaha Railroad, receiving good wages, and on the expiration of that period he purchased
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one hundred acres of wild land and turned his attention to farming, which pursuit he has since followed. That he had faith in a prosperous future for Fremont county is shown by the fact that he has made ex- tensive investments in real estate and is to- day the owner of fourteen hundred acres of as good land as can be found in this sec- tion of the country. Upon the home farm, which he purchased in 1888, there stands a fine residence, erected in modern style of architecture and giving indication of the cul- tivated taste and refinement of the family. It is surrounded by a well-kept lawn and in the rear are extensive barns and other out- buildings; there is an abundant supply of water for the use of the household and for the stock and he is extensively engaged in stock-raising, feeding about one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle annually. He is systematic and progressive in all that he does, and his well-directed efforts have been attended with a high degree of success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have been born four children,-Mark, Walter, Ellen and Herbert,-all of whom are still with their parents. The sons have been provided with educational privileges at Hamburg, and the daughter has pursued her studies in Ne- braska City and in St. Joseph, Missouri. The family is one of prominence and the home is celebrated for its gracious hospital- ity, which is enjoyed by a large circle of friends of the Gordons. Mr. Gordon is a splendid type of the progressive, enterpris- ing, Irish-American citizen, his good judg- ment in business affairs and his unfaltering energy having enabled him to work his way upward until prosperity has crowned his ef- forts. Wit and humor, his genial manner and a social disposition have made him pop-
ular and a general favorite in society. He is six feet in height, weighs two hundred and seventy-five pounds and is well propor- tioned. There is much in his history that is worthy of emulation, indicating the possi- bilities that lie before young men of de- termined purpose and resolute will.
GEORGE T. REW.
The record of George T. Rew is one which contains many valuable lessons, show- ing the possibilities of accomplishment that lie before men of determined and earnest purpose. He has met with a high degree of success. Success is not measured by the height which one may already have, but by the distance between the starting point and the altitude he has gained, and therefore Mr. Rew has won a most brilliant success, a just reward of earnest and honorable effort which commands the respect and admiration of all. He is an example of the boys who educate themselves and secure their own start in life, -determined, self-reliant boys, willing to work for advantages which other boys in- herit, destined by sheer force of character to succeed in the face of all obstacles and to push to the front in one important branch of industry or another. As a man his busi- ness ability has enabled him to advance steadily on the high road to success, and to-day he stands among the most prominent stock dealers in Iowa, having extensive farm- ing interests.
Mr. Rew is of English birth, a native of Devonshire, England, where he was born on the 13th of August, 1851. His father, John Rew, was born in the same locality June 21, 1824, and is still living there. The grandfather of our subject was Thomas Rew,
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Geo. J. Rew
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a tenant farmer of Devonshire, who reared five sons and five daughters. After arriving at years of maturity John Rew was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wilson, who was also a native of Devonshire and died in middle life, leaving three sons,-John. George T. and Thomas. John and Thomas Rew still reside in Devonshire, being well- to-do citizens of their native county.
George T. Rew. now actively connected with the farming and stock-raising inter- ests of Ingraham township, Mills county, pursued his preliminary education in the vil- lage schools and afterward spent one year in college. He was reared to the practical work of the farm, early becoming familiar with its labors in every department. When twenty years of age he came to America in company with his elder brother, John, and they landed in New York city June II. 1851, together with two other English farmer boys whom they met on the voyage. Pro- ceeding westward to Cleveland, Ohio, they spent a short time in that city and afterward went to Burlington, Iowa, where they re- mained for two years, working by the month as farm hands. On the 24th of September, 1873, the brothers purchased three hundred and twenty acres of prairie land and fifteen acres of timber land, the latter being in Mud Creek Grove. For this they contracted to pay thirteen dollars per acre. They had to incur a large indebtedness in order to make the purchase, but they went to work with a will and their earnest labor and un- flagging diligence won for them prosperity. Eventually they received funds from home with which to pay off their indebtedness. Meantime they acquired much other land, and at the expiration of ten years, when John Rew returned to England, they were 31
the owners of about one thousand acres, in which he retained an interest, and he still owns four hundred and eighty acres in An- derson, of which George T. Rew has charge.
In 1874 Mr. Rew of this review was married and took up his abode upon a part of his original farm. Hle extended the boun- daries of the place until it now comprises five hundred and sixty acres, and thereon he resided until 1895, when he removed to his farm of three hunred and forty acres near Silver City, there remaining until 1900, when he returned to the former place. He is now the owner of two very valuable prop- erties, the Spring Valley Stock Farm, com- prising three hundred and forty acres, and the Maple Grove Stock Farm, of fifteen hundred acres. During the early years of Itis connection with farming interests of lowa he engaged in the raising of various crops adapted to this climate, but in later years he has given his time largely to stock- farming, raising cattle, horses and hogs, but makes a specialty of the first named. He has a very fine herd of thoroughbred Here- ford cattle, numbering from two to three hundred head. He established this herd November 5. 1891, and in the breeding and raising of Herefords he has been very suc- cessful, having some very fine stock. He began with four cows and one bull, the for- mer from such famous sires as Anxiety 4th and Grove 3d: and since then strains from the famous Lord Wilton, Archibald, St. Louis, Romeo, Lord Derby, Hesiod 29th. and more directly in this herd Lord Bran- don. Earl of Shadeland 30th, the World's Fair champion at Chicago, for his.get : Lord Merlin, now at the head of this herd, which bull was sired by the noted Captain Grove 2d. for many years at the head of C. G.
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Comstock's herd ; Hilarity, a son of the cele- brated Corrector; Lord Laurel, from the famous Beau Brummel, Jr .; Glenwood, a son of the great Mercury; Bowman's Pro- lific, of the Lord Wilton strain, of extra- ordinary gool qualities, and in fact, from nearly all the leading sires, as opportunity offered.
Mr. Rew refuses to fix any price for his best cows. By purchasing no sires but those of individual merit he has developed a herd equal to any in the state. He has done much to improve the grade of stock raised in his portion of Iowa and in consequence his labors have been of great benefit to the state; for as the grade of stock is improved its market value naturally increases and the farmers therefore receive higher prices. He feeds and disposes each year of about two thousand head of cattle for market, ship- ping to Chicago about one hundred car- loads. Not only does he feed the grain which he raises but annually buys from one hun- dred to one hundred and fifty thousand bushels of corn, thereby providing an ex- cellent market for the products of the farms in the neighborhood. He has become widely known as one of the most successful stock- men of Iowa, and his business each year amounts to many thousands of dollars. One reason of his success is the personal super- vision which he gives to his farming and stock-raising interests. He has made a close study of the question of caring for stock, knows their needs and provides for them such shelter and feed as will conduce to the best results among the herd.
In 1874 Mr. Rew was united in marriage to Miss Phebe A. Miller, who was born in Indiana and is a daughter of Johnson and
Elizabeth (Kisling) Miller. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rew have been born nine children, but only one is now living, Elizabeth M., who is the wife of James Burgoin, a farmer of Ingraham township, Mills county, by whom she has one son, born February 25, 1901. The other members of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Rew died in infancy and early childhood, with the exception of John E. and Clifford W., both of whom passed away when about eleven years of age. In his po- litical views Mr. Rew is a Democrat, be- lieving in the principles of the party; but at local elections, where no national issue is involved, he often casts his ballot regard- less of party affiliations, considering only the capability of the candidates. He has never sought or desired official honors for himself and has never served in office, save that of trustee of his school district. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he serves as one of the officers. They have a very pleasant home, which was erected in 1886. It is built in modern style of archi- tecture and is supplied with all of the con- veniences and accessories which add to the comfort of life.
Such in brief is the career of one of the valued adopted citizens of the republic. Com- ing to this country as a young man with- out capital, he has improved his opportuni- ties, and by diligence, perseverance and un- faltering industry he has advanced steadily on the high road to success. He owes his prosperity entirely to his own efforts, and his close application as the years have rolled by have won for him rank among the lead- ing and prosperous stock-raisers of the state of Iowa.
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JOHN H. STUBBS.
John H. Stubbs, who is numbered among the agriculturists and stock-raisers of Benton township. Fremont county, is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Edgar county, on the 18th of December. 1863. The grandfather of our subject. Jesse Stubbs, was born in northern Ohio, in 1812, and died in Vermillion, Edgar coun- ty, Illinois, in 1883. He was a carpenter, contractor and architect, and spent the greater part of his life in Indiana, but his last days were passed in Illinois. He was twice married and had five children-three sons and two daughters-by the first union. llis business affairs were capably con- ducted and brought to him a comfortable competence. B. F. Stubbs, the father of our subject, was born in Indiana, Septem- ber 2, 1839, and having arrived at years of maturity he wedded Hettie Cassle, of Ed- gar county, Illinois, a daughter of Hiram and Lodemah (Cussic) Cassle. The par- ents of our subject were married in Edgar county, Illinois, December 20, 1860, and there resided until 1870, when they came to Fremont county, Iowa. taking up their abode near Percival. The father rented land for five years and then purchased a tract of eighty acres, in the fall of 1875. In the following spring he took up his abode thereon. In his early life Mr. Stubbs had learned the carpenter's trade of his father, but after his marriage he turned his attention to farming, which he made his life work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs were born four children, two daughters and two sons. Lodemah Isabel is the wife of L. P. Hummel and resides on the old farm near Percival. They have one daugh-
ter. John H. is the next of the family. William H. resides on his farm near Tabor and has a wife but no children. M. Myr- tle is the wife of John Broderick, of Fair- field. Clay county, Nebraska. The children were provided with excellent educational privileges and all have been successful teachers. Myrtle is a graduate of the Lin- coln Normal College, wherein she pursued the scientific course, and at the age of sev- enteen she began teaching, following that profession for seven or eight years.
At the time of the Civil war, in 1864, Mr. Stubbs, the father of his family. en- tered the volunteer service from Edgar coun- ty, Illinois, as a member of Company C. Fifty-first Illinois Infantry. He is now a pensioner under the law, receiving eight dollars per month. On the 27th of March, 1900, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at the age of fifty- eight years, two months and four days. She was not only a noble and devoted wife and mother, but was an active member of the Presbyterian church in early life, and after coming to Iowa became an earnest worker in the Methodist church. Her children rise up and call her blessed, and all who know her respect her for her many estimable char- acteristics.
John H. Stubbs, the subject of this re- view, remained under the parental roof un- til twenty-seven years of age, when he was married, on the HIth of February, 1891. to Miss M. Jane Furman. She was born in the town of Shamokin, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. November 23. 1865. and was a daughter of Moore and Nancy Ann (Lytle) Furman, who are now living in Riverton, Iowa. For six consecutive years before her marriage Mrs. Stubbs suc-
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cessfully engaged in teaching, not missing a single term. Mr. Stubbs also taught for three terms. After their marriage the young couple began their domestic life on the farm of five hundred acres which has since been their home, and he has very success- fully continued the cultivation of the soil. He purchased a farm valued at five thou- sand five hundred dollars, located two and a quarter miles north of Percival, and has operated that land in connection with his home farm. On three hundred or three hundred and fifty acres he has grown from ten to fifteen thousand bushels of corn each year, and has fed about one-half of this to his stock. He raises Angus polled cattle and Poland China hogs, and he has raised registered stock of both. He has sold this year fifty head of Angus polled cattle of his own raising and has purchased others. He raises Poland China hogs of the finest grade and annually sells two car-loads, which he has bred and raised. He has not only made a success financially, but has the well-earned reputation of being one of the leading stockbreeders and raisers of his township. He sustains an unassailable rep- utation for probity in business, and his well- directed efforts have brought to him very creditable success. In the fall of 1900 he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres a mile east of Riverton and expects to take up his abode thereon in the spring of 1901. His has been a busy, useful, active life, in which fidelity to duty, honorable business efforts and unflagging industry have brought to him a very creditable suc- cess.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs have been born four children: Walter C., who was born November 16, 1891 ; William E., born
March 26, 1893; John Harold, who was born August 19, 1897. and died at the age of two years, six months and sixteen days; and Edna Lucile, born February 20, 1899. In his political affiliations Mr. Stubbs is a stalwart Republican, but has never sought or desired the emoluments of public office. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wife are Meth- odists.
JOHN J. MASS.
Germany has furnished to the United States an element in its citizenship which has been potent in its tendency for progress and prosperity. German thrift has brought success in every community in which it has been planted, and Iowa is justly proud of her honest and industrious citizens of that nationality. Mills county has a fair pro- portion of such, and among the most prom- inent of the class is John J. Mass, the well- known stockman of Ingraham township, the owner of four hundred and eighty acres on sections 8 and 9.
John J. Mass was born at Swansen, Ger- many. December 7, 1849, a son of Caz Mass and his wife, who was Katie Quorman, and came alone to America in 1870, at the age of twenty-one years. He made his way di- rectly to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he had a cousin and where he arrived July 2d. Four years later his father and mother and brothers and sisters came. The family originally consisted of nine children, of whom John J. Mass was the first born. Mr. Mass located at Silver City and three of his sons and five of his daughters. each mar- ried and with a family, are settled near by. Jolın J. Mass received a good education
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in his native land and has acquired a good knowledge of English .since he came to America. When he arrived at Council Bluffs, on his way to his cousins, he had fifteen dollars in money, which he spent for a snit of what he called American clothes, discarding the outfit he had worn from the fatherland. His father was a cooper in Ger- many and, though he was the owner of three acres of land, was in humble circumstances and was not able to start him out in better shape financially. He had devoted his time from his fifteenth to his twen- ty-first year to learning the blacksmith's trade, and during that time, he had saved only thirty-seven dollars, with which small capital he had come to America, not only to better his fortunes, but to avoid con- scription in the German army. He be- gan his active career in Iowa, working by the month as a farm hand, and his first landed possession was eighty acres of wild and unbroken prairie, to which he added by subsequent purchases until he owned two hundred and sixty acres in Pottawattamie county, where he farmed successfully until 1887. when he came to Silver City. Mills county, and conducted a meat market for four years. Meantime, in the fall of 1881. he bought his farm of four hundred and eighty acres, now worth sixty-five dollars an acre, in Ingraham township. He owns al- together four hundred and eighty acres of good farm land. giving personal attention to his Mills county farm and having tenants on his two farms in Pottawattamie county. He has become prominent as a stock farmer and gives special attention to the breeding of cattle, horses, mules and hogs. He breeds Herefords of pure blood and keeps from sixty to two hundred head on hands most
of the time. He usually keeps from sixty to seventy-five cows and raises their calves, and from twenty-five to sixty head of horses and mules are to be found on his farm at almost any time. Of hogs he sells from one hundred to two hundred and fifty a year, raising Poland Chinas for the market. He feeds all his crops, except wheat, to his stock and buy's some feed each year. His farm is well supplied with barns, stables and granaries and other outbuildings. His resi- dence was destroyed by fire in 1899 and his present commodious brick and frame house was built immediately afterward.
Politically Mr. Mass is a Democrat and he has filled the office of road supervisor in his township for four years. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. He was married May 8, 1876. to Sophia Voss, a native of Holstein, Germany, and a daughter of Louis and Sophia ( Lowe ) Voss, who came to America at the age of eleven years with her parents, who are farmers in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Mass have had nine children, eight of whom are living : William, aged twenty: Sarah, aged eight- een: Otto, aged sixteen: Ella, who is a woman grown at thirteen years : Lena, aged eleven : Laura, aged nine : Mary, aged six; and Bertha, who is one of the brightest two-year-old children in the county. Mr. Mass is a man of public spirit, who has given the same attention to official duties as to his private business, and has demon- strated his good citizenship in many ways.
JAMES F. GALBRAITH.
For more than a quarter of a century James F. Galbraith has been a resident of Mills county, actively identified with its ag-
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ricultural interests, but has now put aside the more arduous cares and duties of the farm and resides in Emerson, there enjoying in business retirement the fruits of his for- mer toil. His life has certainly been a busy and useful one, and to no outside aid or in- fluence may be attributed his prosperity, save that he received one thousand dollars. Otherwise all that he possesses he owes to his own carefully planned and executed efforts.
Mr. Galbraith is a native of the neigh- boring state of Illinois, his birth having oc- curred there, in Henderson county, on the 12th of September, 1851. His father, Sam- uel Galbraith, was born in Tennessee and about 1834 drove from that state across the country to Illinois, taking up his abode in Henderson county, where he reared his fam- ily. His son James spent his youthful days at the old homestead under his parents' care and guidance, and enjoyed the educational privileges afforded by the schools of the neighborhood. He was twenty-two years of age when he came to Iowa .- Mills county being his destination. Here he began life on his own account and has found that the storehouse of prosperity yields its treasures in return for unfaltering industry. He first located in Anderson township, but after two years purchased one hundred and thirty- seven and a half acres of land in Indian Creek township, whereon he has since made his home. The work of the fields he has dili- gently prosecuted, plowing and planting, and when the summer sun had ripened the grain he garnered the harvests which were then placed upon the market, bringing him a good financial return.
On the 19th of September, 1877. Mr. Galbraith was united in marriage to Miss
Albina McGrew, a native of Ohio, and they now have three children: Ida M., Charles O. and Harry LeRoy, all with their parents. In the political affairs of the community Mr. Galbraith takes considerable interest and does whatever lies in his power to promote the cause of the Democracy, with which he has been allied since attaining his majority. when he cast his first presidential vote for Seymour. He has served as road super- visor, but has not coveted office as a reward for party allegiance. He is a member of the Christian church, to which the family also belongs, and in its work he takes a deep in- terest, contributing liberally to its support, and aiding in the advancement of the cause. His business dealings have ever been char- acterized by the strictest honesty and his Christian principles have ever permeated the discharge of his duties in both public and private life.
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