USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 33
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In 1873. while still living in Scotland, Mr. Wyllie married Jane Jen- nison Simpson, who was born March 24. 1855 ; the ceremoney was per- formed by James Murray, parish minister of Old Cummock. They have three children : James H., a leading attorney of Sigourney, Jowa : Rob- ert S., assistant steward on the county farm: and Jane, the wife of G. Paton, and they reside on her father's farm in Van Buren township. Mr. Wyllie has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the Re- publican party, and nothing pertaining to the welfare of his commun- ity lacks his support.
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DAVID HARMAN VOLTMER.
One of the prominent farmers of German township, Keokuk county, lowa, who is filling the position of township trustee and is one of the reliable and much esteemed citizens, is David Harman Voltmer. The birth of Mr. Voltmer occurred on his present farm on September 23. 1864, and he is a son of David and Christina ( Mohme) Voltmer, the former of whom was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to America in youth. In 1842 the elder David came to Keokuk county, Jowa, and took up land from the government and still resides upon a portion of it in German township. At one time he owned two whole sections, but he has retained a farm of two hundred acres only, selling a part and giving the rest to his children. From his marriage with Christina Moh- me, who was also born in Germany and came to America at the age of six years, fourteen children were born, eleven of whom grew to mia- turity, all being natives of Keokuk county. Mr. Voltmer is now in his eightv-eighth year, having been one of the pioneers here, his log cabin being one of the first built in the township.
David Harman Voltmer, the subject of this sketch, is the ninth child in order of birth and the sixth son of his parents' family, and was reared on the homestead and obtained his education in the public schools. On December 1, 1894, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Blaise, who is the daughter of Mathias and Margaret (Gergen ) Blaise, who came to German township in its early days of settlement : Mrs. Voltmer is the youngest of their seven children, was born in German township and was educated in the schools of the same. Their four children are : Pearl. Edward, Albert and Nellie. Immediately after marriage our subject and wife located on the part of the old homestead where they have since lived and here have a fine farm of eighty acres a very attractive and
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comfortable residence and surroundings which contribute very much to the enjoyment of life. Mr. Voltmer engages in general farming and cattle feeding and is an extensive stock raiser.
Our subject is a Democrat in politics and has held a number of the local offices, being well qualified for such positions. Since 1899 he has been the efficient township trustee, and is regarded as one of the most reliable members of the community. He is a member of the order of Modern Brotherhood of America, of Sigourney, and is a well known, progressive and public spirited citizen.
WILLIAM HINNAH.
William Hinnah, one of the prominent old settlers of Keokuk coun- ty, lowa, who resides on section 3, in German township, is one of the leading German-American citizens who have contributed so much to the development of this portion of the county. His birth was in Prus- sia, Germany, on October 6, 1834, where he was educated until the age of fourteen years. From school he entered into an apprenticeship to the mason trade, served his time and worked at this business until he was twenty-three years old, coming at that time to America. Reaching Pittsburg Pennsylvania, Mr. Hinnahı secured farm work in the vicinity and remained there one year, but in 1858 made his way to Keokuk county, Iowa. For. the following three years he worked for his brother- in-law, Christian Seger, and then bought eighty acres in section 3. Ger- man township, and lived there for about twenty years, buying then his present fine farm, although at the time of purchase it was not the well improved and cultivated place we now see. In fact there was nothing there but a log house, and Mr. Hinnah found plenty to do. Not only
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did he erect new buildings, but he also mended the roads, looked well to the fences and gave a tidy, thrifty appearance to his home, which makes it very attractive as well as enhances its value. Mr. Hinnah owns a large tract of land, and has made it all by honest toil and economy since coming to Keokuk county in 1858.
In 1860 our subject was married to Mary Brant, the widow of Frederick Mohla, and they are the parents of five living children, as follows: Emma, who is the wife of Christian Leichti, of Sigourney ; Minnie, who is the wife of Gotlieb Klett, of Sigourney; Charles, who is a farmer in German township; and Andrew and Anna, both of whom reside at home. The children who have passed away were named as follows : Henry, William, John, George, Amelia and an infant daughter Mr. Hinnah has reared his family well and has given them school ad- vantages. For forty-four years he has been a respected citizen of Ger- man township, and has always done his part in aiding enterprises which have been for the benefit of his neighborhood. In politics he is a Re- publican and one of the sensible, thinking men of the party. For a num- ber of years he has been a leading member of the Methodist church and is one of its trustees. In William Hinnah, German township has an excellent, self-respecting and public spirited citizen.
HENRY PFANNEBECKER.
Henry Pfannebecker, a prominent German-American citizen of Keokuk county, Iowa, who owns a fine farm in section 33, German town- ship, was born in Germany. January 26, 1824, and since 1854 has been an esteemed resident of Keokuk county. He was reared until his four- teenth year in his native country and there attended school. In 1845 he
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entered the German army and faithfully performed the duties of a de- fender of his land for the succeeding two years, taking active part in the battle of Baden ; the whole of his term of service covered three and one- half years. Our subject belonged to the German cavalrymen, a branch of the army which is justly regarded by all nations as one of the most perfectly drilled and effective in the world. Although he served as a private, official rank was offered him on more than one occasion. but he refused to accept so much responsibility.
In 1848 Mr. Pfannebecker came to America, landing at the port of New York, and soon after came as far west as Burlington, Iowa. where he was employed in a nursery by Mr. E. D. Rent, remaining with the latter for a period of six years. In 1854 he came to Keokuk county and bought a farm of eighty acres, paying three dollars an acre for the same, built a comfortable log house and immediately began the clearing of the land and later the most careful cultivation of it. During the progress of the Civil war, in 1863, he enlisted for service in Company K, Ninth Iowa Cavalry as a private, but soon was promoted to the rank of sergeant, serving faithfully until he was wounded while on guard, falling from his horse and being so seriously injured that he was hon- orably discharged at Davenport. Iowa. Upon his return to his home he began farming again in German township and has been well known as an excellent agriculturist and successful stock raiser for many years. Gradually he accumulated two hundred and fifty-five acres through thrift and industry, and has provided his sons with farms, still retaining, how- ever, eighty acres for himself.
The marriage of our subject was in 1849. in Pennsylvania, to Eva Catherine Hoffman, who was born in Germany and reared there to wo- manhood. She passed out of life on February 16, 1896, having been 57
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the beloved and devoted mother of seven children, namely : Jacob; Henry, «leceased ; Christian ; Mary; Eva ; Frederick ; and Dr. William, a leading physician of Sigourney. Mr. Pfannebecker is a stanch Republican and is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has taken a prominent part in public matters since locating here, and few substan- tial improvements in his township have been made without his approval and assistance. No man in German township is held in higher regard as a reliable, honest and upright citizen.
HENRY GROTHE.
Father Henry Grothe, who is pastor of St. Elizabeth's church at Harper, Iowa, was born at West Point, in Lee county, this state, on the 26th of December, 1863, and is the oldest of the seven children of Henry and Elizabeth (Grabenschroer) Grothe, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to America in early life. The mother crossed the Atlantic in 1860 and in 1854 the father had made the same voyage. He is a farmer and basket-maker and is now about eighty years of age, while his wife has reached the age of sixty-seven years. They are yet resi- cients of Lee county.
Henry Grothe was reared in his native county until eighteen years of age. He entered the Catholic schools and further continued his edu- cation in St. Francis Seminary, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was there ordained in 1890 and for three months acted as substitute priest at West Point, lowa. Later he spent seven months as assistant at Fort Madison, Iowa, and three months at Portsmouth, Shelby county, this state. Later he was assigned to the pastorate of the Catholic church in
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Richmond, Washington county, Iowa, where he remained until October, 1896, when he came to Harper, where he has since continued. The church here has a membership of one hundred and twenty families and is the largest Catholic church in the county. There is also a school conducted in connection with the church. The present house of worship was erected in1 1883 and the school was built in 1900, while the pastoral residence was erected in 1885. Father Grothe is popular with his peo- ple and well known and highly respected among other denominations. He labors untiringly for the advancement of the cause he represents and under his guidance the church at Harper has made satisfactory growth.
J. W. LEMLEY.
J. W. Lemley, one of the most progressive and successful agricul- turists of Richland township, is the owner of a farm of one hundred and eighty acres on section IS. He was born in Richland county, Ohio. No- vember 28, 1852, and is a son of Jacob Lemley. a native of Germany, who came to this country with his parents when only two years old and settled in Richland county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married. On coming to Iowa in 1854 he first located in Washington county, but two years later took up his abode in Keokuk county, settling on section 17. Richland township, where he continued to make his home until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-seven years. He was an earnest and consistent member of the German Baptist Brethren church and took quite an active part in church work. In politics he was first a Democrat, but during President Lincoln's administration became a Re- publican and continued to vote with that party throughout the remainder of his life. For his first wife he married Miss Caroline Green. who
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was born and reared in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and died at the age of thirty-nine years. Of the nine children born of that union six are still living, one of these being the subject of this sketch. In 1872 the father married Emma Whistler, by whom he had three children, all living at the present writing in 1902.
J. W. Lemley of this review was the second in order of birth in the first family and was about two years old on the removal of his parents to Washington county, Iowa, and four when they came to Keokuk coun- ty. His boyhood and youth were passed in Richland township and he is indebted to its common schools for his early educational advantages, while later he was a student in the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa. He engaged in teaching in the public schools from the age of twenty- one to twenty-six.
In 1878 Mr. Lemley was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Won- dlerlich, a native of Keokuk county and a daughter of Charles and Mary (Long) Wonderlich, who were old settlers of this county. Mrs. Lem- jey was also reared and educated in Richland township and by her mar- riage to our subject has become the mother of the following children : Effie, deceased; and Roscoe, Ray, Mary, Jennette and Lawrence, al! at home. After his marriage Mr. Lemley took up his residence upon a farm in the northwest corner of section 18, Richland township, which he pur- chased but afterward sold, and in 1886 he removed to his present place, where he owns one hundred and eighty acres of land under a high state of cultivation. In connection with general farming he carries on stock raising and is meeting with good success in his undertakings.
Politically Mr. Lemley is a supporter of the Republican party and takes an active and commendable interest in public affairs, having for three terms acceptably filled the office of township assessor. He is a
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member of the Missionary Baptist church, in which he has filled the office of deacon, and takes quite an active and prominent part in church and Sunday-school work. From the age of four years he has lived in Rich- land township, and as a public spirited and progressive citizen he has borne an important part in her upbuilding and development. He stands high in public esteem and well merits the regard in which he is held.
JOHN RANDOLPH.
John Randolph is a well known hardware merchant of Keota and was born in Mercer county, Illinois, on the 5th of May, 1848. He is a son of Edward F. and Mary ( Irwin ) Randolph, in whose family were twelve children, two of whom died in infancy, while one died at the age of fourteen years. The others, however, all reached years of maturity. The father of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, reared in Craw- ford county .and when a young man he made his way to the west to enjoy its greater business privileges, taking up his abode in Mercer county, Illinois. There he married Miss Irwin, who was born and rcared in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Soon afterward lie located in Rock Island county, Illinois, where he entered eighty acres of govern- ment land, in Edgington township. In the fall of 1864 he came to Keokuk county, Iowa, settling in Liberty township, where he purchased a farm and continued its cultivation until his life's labors were ended in death, when he was about sixty-four years of age. He was one of the organizers of the United Presbyterian church, served as a member of its building committee and took a very active part in church work. A Democrat in politics, he served as a trustee of his township and in other local offices, and in the county he was well known. His widow still survives him and is now seventy-six years of age.
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John Randolph and his twin brother. J. F., were the eldest in the family of twelve children and were about a year old at the time the parents removed to Rock Island county. Illinois. There the subject of this review was reared until about sixteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Keokuk county, Iowa, spending the remainder of his minority upon the home farm in Liberty township, which continued to be his residence even after he had reached man's estate. He remained with his parents until twenty-four years of age, assisting in the work of the home farm, and through the period of his youth he attended school during the winter months. He completed his preparation for a home of his own by his marriage in 1872 to Miss Mary J. Conger. who was born in Liberty township. Keokuk county, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families here. At the age of twelve years she was left an orphan. At the time of their marriage the young couple lo- cated on a farm in Lafayette township, Mr. Randolph giving his atten- tion to the cultivation of the soil until the fall of 1886, when he came to Keota and entered into partnership with his brother, James Randolph. as a dealer in hardware and farm implements. The partnership was continued until June, 1892, when the brother died. Our subject then as- sumed the business and has since conducted it. He sold the implement department in 1895, but continues in charge of the hardware store and now has a liberal patronage in that line, for he carries a large and well selected stock of goods and his earnest desire to please his patrons com- bined with honorable business methods has been the means of securing to him a large and growing trade. Mr. Randolph also has landed inter- ests, owning a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in O'Brien county and eighty acres in Hancock county, this state.
The home of our subject and his wife has been blessed with three
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children : Nellie, now the wife of A. C. Smock, a resident of O'Brien county ; Mabel P. and Bessie M., who are at home. Mr. Randolph gives his political support to the Democracy and has served for two terms as trustee. He has also been a member of the town council for some time and puts forth every effort in his power in the discharge of the duties of office and in advancing the general welfare. He and his wife belong to the United Presbyterian church, in which he has served as treasurer and elder. He represents the class of busy, ener- getic men who, while controlling extensive business affairs, also find time to promote the welfare of the town or the locality in which they make their home.
MATT VALERIUS.
A prominent factor in mercantile circles of Harper is Mr. Valerius. who is here engaged in dealing in drugs and medicines, jewelry, wall paper, paints and oils. He was born in Wisconsin, February 4, 1862. and is a son of John and Kate ( Webber ) Valerins. The parents were born, reared and married in Germany, and after seeking a home in the new world they located in Wisconsin, where the father carried on agri- cultural pursuits. He improved a farm in that state and in 1866 left Wis- consin for Iowa, locating in Keokuk county on the 4th of March. Ile purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Lafayette township and to the further development and improvement of that place he devoted his ener- gies throughout the remainder of his active business career. His death occurred when he was seventy-seven years of age, and his wife passed away at the age of sixty-seven. They were the parents of ten children, of whom one died at the age of four years but all the others reached manhood or womanhood.
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Mr. Valerius is the eighth in the family of ten children and was four years of age when brought by his parents to this county. His boy- hood days were spent on the old homestead in Lafayette township, and in the district schools of the locality lie pursued his education. He also attended a graded school in Carroll, where he was graduated, and after putting aside his text books he followed farming for a year. He then went to Carroll, Iowa, and secured a position in the employ of John Nye, a general merchant. He afterward worked for the same man at Marion, Linn county, Iowa, for several months and then returned to Harper. He acted as assistant at the depot under Charles Hurless for about a year and eight months. Subsequently he carried on agricul- tural pursuits on his own account for two years and in 1892 became a factor in the mercantile circles of Harper by opening a drugstore, which he has since continued. He carries a large line of drugs and medi- cine, jewelry, wallpaper, paints and oils, and has been accorded a liberal patronage in recognition of his honorable dealings and his straightfor- ward business methods.
In 1894 Mr. Valerius was united in marriage to Rose Hogan, and unto them have been born two children, Leo and Inger. Mr. Vale- rius votes with the Democracy and is well known as a citizen and pro- minent business man of Harper, his enterprise contributing not only to his individual success but also promoting the commercial prosperity of his community.
JOHN J. SNAKENBERG.
John J. Snakenberg, a prominent agriculturist of Keokuk county. lowa, residing on section 29, German township, was born in a log cabin
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located on section 20. on December 27, 1849, and is a son of Louis and Mary ( Scharnhorst ) Snakenberg, both of whom were born in Germany. Lotus Snakenberg, the father of our subject, was one of the earliest settlers in German township and still resides upon the farm which he entered from the government so many years ago. He came here in May, 1843, and has reached his eightieth birthday, one of the most highly respected residents of this locality, and a leading member of the Methodist church. His wife still survives also, at the age of seventy- two years, and they are one of the most venerable couples in the town- ship. They had a family that consisted of nine sons and one daughter. all of whom were born in the log cabin which still stands on section 20. and which sheltered the family in comfort for so many years.
Our subject is the eldest child of the ten born to his parents and was reared on the old homestead in German township; and his interest in his own locality has been so great that he has never cared to leave luis native state. His education was obtained in a little log schoolhouse in the woods, where he learned the elementary principles, and his whole life has been devoted to the operation and improvement of his farm. He remained at home until he was twenty-eight years of age and then, on November 3. 1877. he was married to Josephine Fixmer, who was born in German township on February 13. 1857. and is the daughter of Rein- hart and Catherine ( Blaise) Fixmer, who were old settlers in Keokuk county.
After marriage Mr. Snakenberg settled in section 1, Van Buren township. where he purchased eighty acres of land, remaining on that farm for five years, and then bought the farm where he now resides. He has made notable improvements on this place, one very substantial one being a deep well, which he had drilled in 1896. Mr. Snakenberg 58
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owns one hundred acres of fine land and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has been a very industrious man and when but sixteen years old began to run a threshing machine and has followed that line of activity ever since, doing work all through the county and being the oldest man in the business.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Snakenberg consists of four children, namely : Hilda, who married Wesley Hoffman, a prominent farmer of German township; Miss Josie, who is a young lady at home; and Dora and Louis J., who attend school. The Snakenberg family is well known through this county, many of the brothers of our subject being, like himself, prominent and substantial farmers. Of these: Richard was killed March 25, 1875, in a saw-mill explosion ; Christian is a promi- · nent farmer of Van Buren township; Louis is also a prominent farmer of the same township; Henry is one of the good farmers of Van Buren township; Charles is a farmer in German township; Frank is located on section 16, in German township; Joseph operates his farm in section 17. German township: William resides on the homestead in section 20, Ger- man township; and Annie, the only sister, married Edward Brannan, located on section 17, German township. Until 1896 Mr. Snaken- berg was identified with the Democratic party, but the issues raised at that time induced him to affiliate with the Republican party, of which he has since been a valued member and has acceptably filled many of the local offices. He is a member of the Masonic order, Webb Lodge. No. 182, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Signorney, in which he has filled the position of junior warden. lle has been actively inter- ested in the development of Keokuk county in his locality and is regard- ed as one of the representative men of this neighborhood.
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WILLIAM HARRISON NEEDHAM.
William Harrison Needham, of the Keokuk County News, Sigourney, lowa, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, August 22, 1840; his parents were David Needham, a shoemaker, and Mar- garet Shaffer, having moved west from Pennsylvania. He moved from Ohio to Iowa in 1853 and settled in Oskaloosa, where he received a com- mon school education and subsequently learned the trade of printer. In June, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and participated in every engagement in which his regiment took part during the war, being mustered out of the service and hon- orably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, on the Ist of August, 1865. He was promoted to first lieutenant of his company for bravery at the assault on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, by General Grant, who made spe- cial mention of him in his report of that battle. He was appointed on the staff of General Banks, while in Texas, but at his own request was permitted to return to his company and regiment. He was in the bat- tle of Port Gibson, Jackson, Raymond, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, and the charge and siege of Vicksburg, which lasted forty-seven days. He again went to Jackson, Mississippi, and took part in the sec- ond engagement there. He was then sent to New Orleans and Texas, and afterwards sent to Petersburg, Virginia, where the regiment was in Ben Butler's army ; afterwards he was sent to the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, where he took part in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, where Sheridan made his famous ride. He was in command of Company A for three months; he served as adjutant and quartermaster both at the same time for six months on account of the loss of so many line officers, and took part in two court martials.
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