USA > Iowa > Mills County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 77
USA > Iowa > Fremont County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 77
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and sixty acres, which is situated in the val- ley in White Cloud township and is a rich tract of land, yielding a good return for the care and labor bestowed upon it. The ver- dant pastures furnish an excellent opportu- nity for stock-raising, and Mr. Darling feeds and sells large numbers of cattle and hogs. He has a stock farm and his annual shipments are extensive and bring to him a good financial return, for his fine grades of stock command high market prices. Many unsuccessful men indulge in theoriz- ing as to the causes of prosperity and claim that it results from fortunate circumstances and environments, but in an analyzation of the history of the most successful men we find that what they have acquired has come as the direct result of their own efforts; and such is the case in the history of Mr. Darling.
C. F. ROENFELD.
C. F. Roenfeld is one of the extensive land-owners of Mills county, and also one of the honored pioneer settlers who since 1858 have resided within its borders and have witnessed the many changes that have occurred here-a transformation seeming- ly marvelous that has been wrought. The star of empire has steadily moved westward and in its wake have come all of the com- forts of civilization and the accessories of modern business life. Mr. Roenfeld feels a just pride in what his county has accom- plished, and he is one of her early settlers of whom she has every reason to be proud, owing to his upright and honorable career and of his successful business record.
A native of Holstein, Germany, Mr. Roenfeld was born on the 10th of May,
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1836, and is a son of Detlif and Lottie (Low) Roenfeld, both of whom were na- tives of Germany. The father's death oc- curred in that country, being occasioned by the accidental discharge of a gun, when he was forty-eight years of age. The mother died in the same country, when seventy- four years of age, and the paternal grand- father, Henry Roenfeld, passed away at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. The Roenfelds come from a long line of sturdy people, possessing the qualities which go to make citizens of worth. He whose name forms the caption of this sketch spent the days of his childhood and youth in his na- tive land, and when twenty-two years of age sought a home in the new world, be- lieving that better opportunities would be afforded in a country where competition is not so great. Accordingly he crossed the broad Atlantic in 1858 and at once made his way to Mills county, Iowa, taking up his abode in Oak township, where he has since remained with the exception of about one year spent in the employ of a stage com- pany, in driving stage from Council Bluffs. Farming has been his principal occupation through life and his methods have been ex- tremely practical, and at the same time have been in touch with the onward march of progress. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his property un- til his realty now aggregates thirteen hun- dred acres of land in Mills county.
Forty-two years have passed since Mr. Roenfeld arrived in Iowa. He found here a wild and unsettled region, giving little promise of future development. On many a broad acre not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but the pioneers
came-men of resolute spirit and laudable ambition-and they transformed the wild prairie into rich and fertile fields, while here and there sprang up villages, and churches and schools were built. During the first year of Mr. Roenfeld's residence here he drove about thirty-two miles to the nearest mill. Previous to 1861 the highest prices paid for butter in the market at Coun- cil Bluffs was two and a half cents a pound, while eggs were two and a half cents a dozen, wheat was thirty-five cents a bushel, corn from five to twelve cents a bushel, and other farm products sold in proportion.
On the 14th of March, 1864, Mr. Roen- feld was united in marriage to Miss Lena Kruse, a daughter of Hans and Katrina Kruse, both of whom were born in Ger- many and came to America in 1862, locat- ing in Oak township, where they remained throughout the residue of their days. Unto our subject and his wife have been born seven children, and the family circle is yet unbroken by the hand of death. In the order of birth they are as follows: August, Ferdinand. Henry, Lena, Mary, William and Lewis. The last two are living at home and relieve their father of the greater part of the care of the farm. The other children are all married and are comfortably settled on good farms not far from the old homestead. The entire family are devoted members of the German Lutheran church and are people of the highest respectability. Mr. Roenfeld has always been a hard-work- ing man, and that he is today numbered among the most successful farmers of Mills county. his possessions embracing broad acres, is due to his own efforts, guided by sound judgment. His example is one well
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worthy of emulation, and it is with pleasure that we present the record of his life to our readers.
THOMAS TITTERINGTON.
One of the energetic, resolute, wide- awake and prosperous farmers of Indian Creek township, Mills county, Iowa, is Thomas Titterington, who was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, on the 29th of October, 1839. He is of English line- age on the paternal side. His father, Charles Titterington, was born in England, a son of Thomas Titterington, who crossed the Atlantic to the new world and spent his last days in Rock Island county. His son Charles was but three years of age when the family left the merrie isle, and since that time he has been an American citizen, his home being now in Rock Island county. He married Sophia Eberhardt, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Charles and Anna Eberhardt. Her father died in Rock Island county, at the age of seventy-seven years, after having been blind for a num- ber of years. Mrs. Titterington also died in the same county, when seventy-seven years of age, and left many friends to mourn her loss, for she was highly esteemed by all who knew her. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, all of whom are yet living and are married.
Thomas Titterington spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, and in the public schools acquired his education, gaining a good knowledge of the common English branches of learning and thus becoming well equipped for the prac- tical duties of life. When twenty-eight years of age he was united in marriage to
Miss Elizabeth Gunsoles, a native of Penn- sylvania, and their union was blessed with four children. The family circle yet re- mains unbroken by the hand of death, and three of the children are married and there are now six grandchildren.
It was the 28th of May. 1873, that Mr. Titterington arrived in Mills county, where he has since made his home, becom- ing one of the leading and influential farm- ers of Indian Creek township. His labors have been attended with a gratifying suc- cess, for as the years have passed he has added to his landed possessions until the homestead now comprises nearly five hun- dred acres of rich land, and in addition to this he has two hundred and forty-three acres in the western portion of the county. His home farm is splendidly improved with all modern accessories,-fences in good re- pair, the latest improved machinery, sub- stantial buildings and fine grades of stock. Neat and thrifty in its appearance, the farm indicates his careful supervision and his progressive methods. He is orderly and systematic in the control of his business af- fairs and his labors, and has strict regard for the ethics of business life, so that naught can be said against his straightfor- ward career.
In his political views Mr. Titterington has always been a stalwart Republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abra- ham Lincoln in 1860, and does all in his power to promote the growth and secure the success of his party. He has served as school treasurer for twenty years,-a fact which stands in unmistakable evidence of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He is public spirited. withhold- ing not his support from any movement or
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measure calculated to prove of general good. Ilis activity in business affairs has resulted very desirably to him, and his life record commends itself as an example to all who would gain success and have no outside aid or influence to help them.
HENRY NIPP.
.A prominent and influential citizen of Mills county, lowa, now living a retired life in Mineola, who also was a soldier dur- ing the Civil war, is Henry Nipp, the sub- ject of this sketch. He was born in Hol- stein, Germany, in October, 1831, and was a son of Peter Nipp, also a native of Ger- many who died when our subject was but two years of age. In his early youth lim- ited means compelled him to engage in any occupation which he could find. He was a workman in an oil-mill for one year, at a salary of thirty-four dollars a year, and some idea may be obtained of the charac- teristics of our subject when it is stated that he was able to save a part of this to pay on his passage to America.
At the age of nineteen he entered the German army and served in the war then in progress between Germany and Denmark, serving in all five years, from 1848 to 1853, inclusive. His great desire was to reach America, and this he accomplished after many experiences too long to be related in the limits of this sketch, although they might give encouragement to many youths struggling against adverse circumstances. He reached St. Mary's township, Mills county, Iowa, June 9, 1857, after a voyage of two months, coming up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. He secured work on the railroad, the Chicago, St. Joseph & Han-
nibal road then being in course of build- ing, but returned to Mills county and from his earnings bought forty acres of land, which was the beginning of his large landed possessions in this county.
On November 5. 1864, our subject en- listed in the Union army, joining the Thir- teenth Towa Infantry, Fourth Brigade, Third Division, and took part in the battle at Marshall, Tennessee, which was fought between Hood and Thomas, and he also was with his regiment at the fight at Kings- ton, North Carolina, they then being trans- ferred to' Sherman's army, where he con- tinned in service until the close of the war. Hle was honorably discharged at Daven- port, lowa, in September, 1865. returning to his farm in Mills county. Success has attended the efforts of Mr. Nipp, and he now owns seven hundred acres of land, this, in connection with elevator and grain in- terests in Hastings, Iowa, making him one of the wealthy and influential citizens of the state.
In 1861 our subject took for his wife Miss Katrina Knise, and six children have been born to them, as follows: William and Mena, both deceased; Ferdinand, now engaged in the stock and elevator business at Mineola: Emma, now Mrs. James Gra- ham, of Hastings: Julia, now Mrs. John Flynn, living on the home farm; and Charles, the agent for the Wabash Railroad, living at Mineola.
For the past fifteen years our subject has lived retired from active business. He has been called upon by the Republican par- ty, of which he is an active member, to fill some of the local offices: he has been road supervisor for two terms. He has been prominently identified with the Ger-
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man Lutheran church for many years, where all of his family are also connected, and was one of the leading organizers of the church in Mineola. Mr. Nipp has al- ways taken a great interest in his section, and has done all in his power to advance the interests of Oak township. The family is one of the most prominent in this part of Mills county.
SAMSON HOWARD.
The characteristics which combine to make men successful as farmers in England render them still more so amid the superior opportunities afforded in America, where the same amount of business ability and the same effort will produce better results, partly because the farmer may be a land-owner here instead of a tenant, and may have a sur- plus of income which he may apply to the improvement of his property instead of pay- ment for rent. Mills county, Iowa, has a contingent of English-born farmers of whom any county in the United States might be proud, and one of the best known of these is the prominent retired agriculturist of In- graham township whose name is above.
Samson Howard was born in Lincoln- shire, England, January 1, 1835, a son of John Howard, also a native of Lincolnshire, who died in 1837, leaving thirteen children, of whom ten grew up and of whom four are living at this time, our subject being the twelfth in order of birth. Those living are William Howard, a Nebraska farmer ; Jane, who married a Mr. Bugg, whom she sur- vives, and is living in England; Samson; and Sarah, who lives in Nebraska, not far from Sioux City, Iowa. The mother of these children survived their father, who
was a laboring man and farmer and died in England at the age of eighty-two years.
Mr. Howard's educational advantages were very meager, and after he was six years old were limited to facilities afforded by night schools, in which he learned to read but not much more. At the tender age of six he began the battle of life for himself, working hard for six-pence a day, or three shillings a week, boarding himself. His for- tunes improved somewhat, however, as he grew older, and in 1854, when he was nine- teen years old, he came to America, mak- ing the voyage from Liverpool to New York in a sail vessel, which was about nine weeks between port and port. The passage was a dangerous one and was marked by a pathetic incident which Mr. Howard will never for- get. He was accompanied by his brothers John and Thomas and the latter's wife and five children. John died of ship fever and was buried at sea. Thomas located in Lo- rain county, Ohio, where he died at the age of seventy, leaving a small estate to seven children.
Samson found work on Lorain county farms and remained there three years. From there he went to Ottawa county, Ohio, where in 1859 he bought eighty acres of timber land. He cut down the timber, and, dispos- ing of his interests there bought twenty acres of improved land in Wood county, that state, on which he settled in 1863. He had been married, July 20, 1861, to Lettie Hol- lom, a native of Lincolnshire, England, born July 4. 1843, who had come to America in 1852 with her parents, Samuel and Ann (Hollingsworth) Hollom. After having farmed in Ohio for six years he moved with his family to St. Joseph county, Michigan, whence he removed to Iowa in the spring of
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1871. settling on the spot on which he now lives. It was a forty-acre patch of new prairie land, which he bought at fifteen do]- lare an acre and on which there were no im- provements. He went in debt to a consider- able extent in buying the property and in erecting a small frame house upon it, but by hard work and good management he soon placed himself on the broad highway of prosperity and made subsequent purchases of land until he now has a good two-hun- dred-and-eighty-acre farm, with an orchard and shade trees and a commodious brick ve- neer residence and ample barns and other outbuildings. He does mixed farming. growing eighty to one hundred and forty acres of corn and thirty-five acres of wheat and other cereals, and keeps twenty to forty head of grade Durham cattle and markets a good number of hogs.
Politically Mr. Howard is a Democrat and he is ably filling the offices of town- ship trustee and school district trustee. Mrs. Howard is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Their house, erected in 1891, was the second one built on the farm and it has become widely known for its hospitality. Mrs. Howard's parents, both of whom are dead, left seven children, six of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had seven sons and four daughters: Marietta, the oldest of these, married L. C. Alexander, a farmer in Ingraham township, and has eight children. Elmer Ellsworth lives at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has two sons and two daughters. Ella Jane is the wife of J. T. Skerritt, whose farm adjoins her father's and has a son and four daugh- ters. Francis Edward is a farmer in this county, and has one son. Lettie Eliza is Mrs. John Wilson. George Henry is a mem-
ber of his father's household. Charles Will- iam is farming in Clay county, lowa. Her- bert Parker is a member of his father's house- hold. Walter Otis lives at Colorado Springs. Grace Mary is a member of her father's household, as is also Clarence Edward, a boy of fifteen. All of Mr. Howard's chil- dren have a good district-school education. Mr. Howard is deeply interested in all ques- tions affecting the welfare of the people at large and his public spirit has impelled him to do everything in his power for the ad- vancement of his township and county.
JAMES E. BARNES.
Among the representative farmers and prosperous citizens of Deer Creek town- ship, Mills county, is the subject of this brief review, who was born in Missouri in 1850, and was about two years old when brought to this county. His father, Will- iam R. Barnes, was a native of Kentucky and a soldier of the Civil war, having en- listed here October 10, 1862, in Company B, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Captain Andrews. He remained in the service until hostilities ceased and returned home with a highly creditable war record. To the same regi- ment belonged a number of others who are represented in this work, and they all speak in very flattering terms of Mr. Barnes both as a brave soldier and a civilian. He died in Deer Creek township in 1884. at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amanda Judah, still sur- vives him and resides on her own farm ad- joining that of our subject. She is a na- tive of Lawrence county. Indiana, and a daughter of Martin and Nancy (Jennings)
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Judah. Her father was born in the same state, of German ancestry, and died in Bu- chanan county, Missouri, while her mother was born in Kentucky and died in this coun- ty. Her people, as well as her husband's people, came from Missouri to Mills county about 1852. Our subject is one of a family of six children, the others being Mrs. Ara- bella Archer, a resident of Nebraska; John WV., who lives with his brother in this coun- ty; I. L. and Mrs. Ellen M. Wyrick, both residents of Oregon; and Mrs. Coloma A. Morris, of Mills county, Iowa.
On the home farm James E. Barnes grew to manhood, acquiring an excellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and obtaining his literary education in the district schools. He now owns and works a splendid farm of two hundred and ninety acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultiva- tion, and is successfully engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising.
In Mills county Mr. Barnes was united in marriage with Miss Emma A. Riddell, a native of New York state and a daughter of Samuel T. and Lucy Ann (Beckwith) Riddell, who came to Iowa at an early day. The father is now deceased, but the mother is still living and makes her home in the state of Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have five children, namely : Mrs. Jennie E. Lang, of Mills county; and J. I., James H., Robert E. and Bertha M., all at home.
The Republican party has always found in Mr. Barnes a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has been called upon to serve his fellow citizens in the office of school director several years and road su- pervisor for some time. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans Camp at Strahan,
this county, and is one of the most highly respected citizens of his community. He is a whole-souled, genial gentleman who makes many friends, and has the confidence and high regard of all who know him.
LEWIS S. ROBINSON.
The name of Lewis Scott Robinson is found high on the roll of representative jour- nalists and political leaders of southwestern Iowa. He was born December 1, 1861, in Knoxville, Knox county, Illinois, a son of W. T. Robinson, a newspaper publisher, who learned the business in the office of the old Cincinnati Commercial, where he was em- ployed in 1849 and 1850. In early life Mr. Robinson of this review entered his father's newspaper office and was thus employed, mastering the business in both principle and detail. His tastes have always been of a lit- erary character. The first money which he acquired was by taking the old carriers ad- dress to a route of subscribers on the Knox- ville Republican. In 1875 he accompanied his father and the family on their removal to Leon, Iowa, and after his school days were ended he accepted a position as bank teller in the Farmers and Traders Bank in Leon. serving in that position for four years, after which he went into partnership with his fa- ther in the publication of the Decatur County Journal, issued at Leon. He was connected therewith until 1886, when he sold his inter- est and removed to Glenwood. Here he pur- chased J. F. Record's interest in the firm of Record & Ewing. Later he purchased Mr. . Ewing's interest and for the past eight years has been sole proprietor. In 1889, in con- nection with W. E. Baarfield, he purchased the Glenwood Opinion, of which he is at
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
present one of the editors and publishers. This paper has been in existence for thirty- seven years and has been a potent factor in the progress and development of Glenwood. Through the columns of his paper Mr. Rob- inson gives an earnest support to all measures which he believes will prove of public benefit. is the champion of works of reform and progress and the opposer of all that has a demoralizing influence upon the city. In ad- dition to his connection with journalistic in- terests he is a stockholder in the Glenwood State Bank.
Mr. Robinson has occupied various city and county offices, but has never been an as- pirant for official honors, although he takes a very keen and active interest in the growth and progress of the Republican party. He believes most firmly in his principles and policy and has been chairman of the Re- publican central committee of Mills county at various times through the past twelve years. He was also chairman of the Repub- lican committee for the ninth district of Jowa when the Hon. Smith McPherson was elected to congress in 1898, and also in 1900 when Judge Walter I. Smith was chosen to represent the district in the legislative halls of the nation. Mr. Robinson is still serving as chairman and is well fitted for the posi- tion on account of his executive ability and power as an organizer. He marshals his forces with the skill and precision of a mil- itary commander on the field of battle and he has the tact to harmonize the various ele- ments of the party, thus securing the best results.
On the 30th of November, 1887. in Leon, Iowa, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Marian A. Mowatt, a daughter of S. M. Mowatt, a graduate of the Edinburg
University of Scotland. She was born at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island-her mother's home-November 30. 1867. and she now has one son, Lewis S., born . August 8. 1809. Socially Mr. Robinson is con- nected with the Independent Order of Old Fellows, in which he was initiated in 1882. He is at present chancellor commander of Glenwood Lodge. No. 43. K. P., and is a member of the Congregational church of Glenwood. With a capacity and experience which would enable him to fulfill any trust to which he might be chosen, he has never sought to advance himself in office, but has been content to do his duty where he could and leave the self-seeking to others. Viewed in a personal light, he is a strong man, of excellent judgment, fair in his views, and highly honorable in his relations with his fellow men. He is a man of very strong convictions, and his integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. He has al- ways been a student. and the scope and am- plitude of his knowledge renders him a charming conversationalist. He is in full sympathy with all the great movements of the world about him, and watches the prog- ress of events with the keenest interest. Though severe at times toward men and measures deserving . iticism, he is neverthe- less a generous friend and warm advocate of those who are battling for the right. and of principles and policies for the public good.
ISAAC SMITIL.
Prominent among the pioneer and en- terprising settlers of Fremont county is Isaac Smith, of Riverton. He came to the state in 1856 and to this county in 1858. He
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was born in Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania. August 9, 1833. and represents a good family, noted for industry and hon- esty. His father, Morris Smith, was born in New Jersey and was a son of Ulet Smith, also a native of that state and a member of one of its old families. Morris Smith mar- ried Miss Susanna Sober, who was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, al- though her people were from New Jersey and were of English descent. Her mother's name before marriage was Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of six chil- dren, five of whom reached mature years, but Samuel is now deceased. The others are : Coleman, a well known citizen of River- ton: Isaac; Caroline, who became the wife of Daniel Shull and died in Riverton town- slip; Isabel, deceased; and one who died in infancy. The father passed away in Northumberland county. Pennsylvania, at the age of thirty-nine years, and the mother. long surviving him, departed this life in 1892 at the age of eighty-seven. She was a Pres- byterian in religious faith in early life but afterward became a Methodist. The father was a miller by trade and was an honest. industrious man, respected by all who knew him.
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