USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
532
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Iowa, taking up their abode upon a farm in Lafayette township, where both spent their remaining days, the mother passing away in 1880, while the father's death occurred in 1883. They were devout members of the Episcopalian church and were widely recognized as earnest Christian people.
In his political views Mr. Newton was a stanch Republican, active in the work of the party and recognized as one of its leading members in this section of the state. In 1875-6 he represented his district in the state senate and he also held local offices in his township. He had marked influence over public thought and action because of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow men, and he ever labored earnestly and conscientiously for the welfare of his county and state.
Hanno P. Newton is the only member of his parents' family that reached adult age. He was about a year and a half old when his parents removed to Connecticut, and in the public schools of that state he pursued his education to some extent and was also a student in a private boarding school. In 1858, when he was nineteen years of age, he came to Keokuk county, Iowa, and assisted in the development of the home farm until after the death of his parents, his labors relieving his father of all care during his declining years. On the 2d of February, 1862, Mr. Newton was united in marriage to Maria De Berand, a native of Syracuse, New York, and a daughter of Charles and Susan De Berand, the family being of French descent. Mrs. Newton was their eldest child and by her marriage she has become the mother of eight children, as follows: Bertha, who died at the age of five years; Ida, who died at ten years of age; Stella: Susan Mary, the wife of J. N. Ramsey ; Minnie, the wife of R. A. Huston; Lulla, who married E. O. Smith ; Charles N., who wedded Minnie Shaffer : and Lettie, the wife of A. C. Martin.
533
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Newton took his bride upon the old farm in this county and continued to engage in the tilling of the soil and in the raising of stock until 1896, when he retired from farm life to enjoy further rest from labor save for the attention which he gives to his invested interests. Since 1884 he has been the secretary of the Farmers' Pioneer Mutual Insurance Company, of Keokuk, Iowa, and this claims his attention to some extent. He yet owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres, which is well improved and represents the work of himself and his father. In his political views Mr. Newton is a stanch Republican and in 1897 was appointed post- master at Keota, holding the position until 1902. He has served as township clerk and township trustee and is again filling the former po- sition, having been appointed to fill a vacancy. Almost continuously he has served in one public office or another, and over the record of his official career and his private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. Prominent in the Masonic fraternity, he is now. serving as worthy master of Adelphi Lodge, No. 333. Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of Enterprise Lodge, No. 159, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all of the offices and also has occupied all of the chairs in the encampment. He has repre- sented both lodges in the grand lodge and is true to the beneficent teachings of these fraternities. A consistent and helpful member of the Methodist church, he has served as one of its stewards for many years and has taken an active part in church work. For forty-four years he has been a resident of Lafayette township and has ever been deeply interested in its progress and improvement, taking just pride in what has been accomplished here as the county has emerged from conditions found upon the frontier to take its place among the leading counties of this great commonwealth. 62
534
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
C. M. GLANDON.
Through a long period C. M. Glandon has been a resident of English River township, Keokuk county, where he has carried on farm- ing with good success. He was born in this township, February 26, 1861, and represents one of the old pioneer families of the locality. His father, Stephen M. Glandon, was a native of Indiana and on emi- grating westward located in English River township among the first settlers to establish homes within its borders. He secured eighty acres of school lands on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but he at once began to plow the tract and plant his crops and eventually reaped rich harvests. He afterward added two hundred and six acres more to his place and improved the entire amount. When a young man lie engaged in teaching school to some extent and also fol- lowed the occupation of carpentering, but during the greater part of liis life he carried on farming. He was married at Deep River to Miss Elizabeth J. Rundle, a daughter of Oliver Rundle of Deep River, Iowa. Eight children, two sons and six daughters, were born of this union, our subject being the elder son and the fifth child. Of these Amanda died in infancy and Alma is also deceased. The others are: Emo- gene, the wife of Thomas Linebarger, of English River township; Laura, the wife of O. M. Worrell, a lumber dealer of North English, Iowa; C. M., of this review : Mollie, who died in early childhood ; Hattie, the wife of I. Fuhrmaster; and David L. From the time when he located in Iowa in 1850 until 1897 the father resided continuously upon the old homestead. He then removed to South English, where he remained for three years, and then passed away on the 18th of October, 1900, at the age of sixty-eight. He was a prominent and
535
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
influential citizen of this community and aided in organizing the first church in his township, acting as one of its trustees until his death. This was the Methodist Episcopal church of South English. His political support was always given to the Republican party and he was ever loyal and fearless in defense of what he believed to be right.
C. M. Glandon spent his early childhood days on the old home farm and acquired his early education in the district school, after which he entered Iowa College at Grinnell, Iowa, remaining there as a student for two years. When twenty-three years of age he was married, on the Ist of January, 1884, to Della Noffsinger, a native of English River township, and a daughter of David Noffsinger, a farmer and an early resident of that township. The home of our subject and his wife was blessed with seven children, four sons and three daughters: Nellie, Roy, Clarence, Irene, Donald and Loran twins, and Gladys.
Mr. Glandon remained at home until his marriage, when he pur- chased the farm upon which he now lives, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land. Everything about the place is neat in appearance and indicates the careful supervision of the thrifty owner. He uses the latest improved machinery and all modern equip- ments and his farm is now a pleasing picture of the landscape. He belong to South English Camp, No. 6168, Modern Woodmen of America, and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of South English. From the time he attained his majority he has been a stanch Republican and is at present serving as assessor of English River township. Having always made his home in this locality he is widely known in this portion of the county and the circle of his friends here is an extensive one.
536
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
HARVEY OLIVER TRESSLAR.
Harvey Oliver Tresslar, a well known and prosperous farmer in section 7. Sigourney township, was born April 22, 1850, in Jolinson county, Indiana. His father, Henry C. Tresslar, a Virginian by birth, moved with his parents to Ohio, thence to Johnson county, Indi- ana, where the subject of this narrative was born, and like his son, possessed marked ability as a farmer. Coming to Keokuk county from Indiana in June, 1852, and locating in section 18, Sigourney township, the father bought a farm of some four hundred acres and by thrift and able management added thereto until he found himself pos- sessed of about eight hundred acres of fine land; enough to provide handsomely for his children as they came of age, each receiving a good farm at his generous hands. The father lived to be sixty-seven years of age and was widely known for his ability and success as a farmer and further as an influential member of the Democratic party, which he rendered invaluable assistance, always without seeking the rewards of office or personal preferment. His wife was Hannah Byrd, also a native of Virginia, who moved, however, when quite young to Ohio and lived to the ripe old age of seventy-eight. Her father, Thomas Byrd, was of German descent and also born in Virginia.
John Tresslar, grandfather of our subject, was also born and reared in the natal state of our first great President, was of good old German stock and lived to the advanced age of ninety-six. He served as a private in the war of 1812 with honor and devotion to his cause. Like his descendants, he, too, was a farmer of marked ability and at one time operated a mill in Ohio with considerable financial success.
Harvey Oliver Tresslar was the youngest of eight children, three
537
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
daughters and five sons, all of whom lived to maturity. He was of the tender age of about two years when he came to Keokuk county. Here he was reared and received a good education at the Sigourney township schools. He first located in Warren township, from which he went to his present location, where he passed about five years, thence he went back to his father's home for about the same period and finally located permanently where he now lives, building himself a comfortable and in- viting home, setting out a fine orchard and establishing himself among most enviable surroundings as a prosperous farmer.
On April 8, 1880, he wedded Barbara Taux of West Point, New York, who was born on November 4, 1857, and was a daughter of Joseph and Madelina Taux, both natives of Germany. She was the fourth child and second daughter of the eight children born to them and was brought to Keokuk county when only two months old and there received an excellent education in the Sigourney schools.
He has been a life long Democrat and has taken an active part in politics : for seven years he was trustee in his township; was member of the school board and has been throughout his career distinguished foi his ability and activity in affairs throughout the state and county, as well as for his integrity and business ability. He has given inunifi- cent support to the church and has in general exercised a strong influence in the direction of progress and the improvement of all things about him.
CHARLES BAKEHOUSE.
Among the leading citizens and prominent farmers of Keokuk county, we take pleasure in giving a sketch of this worthy gentleman, who was born in a log house in German township on section 17, and he
538
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
has spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits in the county. The date of his birth was March 2, 1853, and he was the son of Charles and Sophia (Voltmer) Bakehouse, and is one of a family of five children. He was reared on the farm where he was born and received the rather limited education that was current in that early day, conning his lessons in the rude log schoolhouse of that pioneer time. He very early became familiar with farm work, and in his home was taught lessons of thrift and industry, lessons which were well learned and have had their fruit in the later successful life of our subject.
He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred on the Ist of January, 1881. The lady whom he married was Miss Anna Schulte, a native of Amsterdam, Holland, where she was born on the 5th of November, 1862. £ The name of her father was Garet Schulte, he having been a native of Hanover, Germany: he had removed to America in 1874, and located in Sigourney. He later removed to German township, where he died in 1899, in the eighty-fifth year of liis age. His wife was Mary (Volen) Brook, and she was born in Almelo, Holland. She still survives, living in Dubuque, Iowa. They reared but two children, a son and a daughter, the son's name being Anton G., a prominent practicing attorney, who died at Sigourney in 1900. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bakehouse was blessed with a family of eight children: Clara, born October 18, 1881; Mary, born December 20, 1883; Francis, October 11, 1885; Jennie, January 28, 1888 : Tillie, October 6, 1889; Bertha, January 8, 1893 ; George, Novem- ber 22, 1896: Gertie, January 8, 1898.
Mr. Bakehouse upon his marriage immediately settled upon the farm upon which he now resides, and which he has cultivated with a high degree of success since that time. He has two or three bodies
539
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
of land, in all one thousand and twenty acres. Six hundred and twenty of this is in the home farm, one hundred and sixty near by, and two hundred and forty arces in Sigourney township, on section 16. He also has property in the city of Sigourney and Harper. He is one of the largest stock raisers in the county, and is looked upon as a gentleman of the very highest repute and character. While he is Requblican in politics, he holds his vote for the very best man at all times. He has taken an active interest in everything that pertains to the welfare of his township and county, and by a very large circle of acquaintances is regarded as a man of unimpeachable integrity, whose word is as good as bond. He and his family deserve and receive the kind offices of a large circle of friends, which they delight to return in kind.
GEORGE R. BELL.
George R. Bell is one of the prominent farmers and well known citizens of Van Buren township, Keokuk county, Iowa, and belongs to the hardy and vigorous race of Scots. His parents were Dr. John and Mary (Graham) Bell; the former came in young manhood from Scot- land to Brooklyn, New York. where he practiced his profession for some years, and then returned with his family to his native land. Later in life he with his family again made the long voyage and this time located at Glens Falls, New York, where he and his wife both passed away. He was a man of scholarly attainments, a graduate of the University of Scotland and a physician of unusual skill. In his native land he married Mary Graham, who was also born and reared there, and they had a family of seven children, as follows: Ellen, Agnes,
540
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
John, Mary Ann, Jemima, Jesse and George R., all born in Scotland.
George is the youngest child of the above mentioned family and the only survivor. He was born in Scotland, October 31, 1833, and was but eleven years old when first brought to the United States. He ac- companied his parents on their return to Scotland and was engaged in farming there until he came the second time to this country. He had been married in 1854 and in 1861 embarked with his family for America, · they being on the sea when the news of the Civil war was made known. He located at French Mountain, New York, and was engaged in farm- ing and buying supplies for the vessels. This he continued for three years and then came to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he took up farm- ing. In 1874 he came to Keokuk county and located on his present farm, which then consisted of one hundred and ninety-six acres. Here he has made improvements and erected buildings and brought the land uncler a fine state of cultivation, adding from time to time to the place until he at one time had four hundred acres, but he now has two hundred and seven acres. He is a very capable man of business and has bought and sold land extensively since coming here. .
In 1854 Mr. Bell was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Alston, who is a native of Scotland and was also reared and educated there. She is the daughter of William C. and Jane ( Goss) Alston, both of whom died in the old country. Mr. and Mrs. Bell became the parents of eight children, as follows: William; Mary; James; Allen; Jessie, de- ceased : John : George, deceased : and Charles. In politics Mr. Bell is identified with the Democratic party, although he is no office-seeker. His large estate is well managed and he has a reputation for raising the finest stock in this locality. The family is much respected, and as one of the solid, substantial and reliable men of Van Buren township, George R. Bell is held in high esteem.
541
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
JOHN W. SCHRIEVER.
Born December 10, 1842, in Germany, he spent his boyhood years in acquiring a college education and also in fitting himself for a practical life by learning the profession of druggist. In 1860, at the age of cigliteen, he emigrated to the United States and located in New York City, where he remained seven years, partly engaged in the New York Stadt Theatre, and partly as private teacher of ancient and modern languages. In 1867 hie removed to Highland Falls, New York, near West Point, where for a number of years he was engaged in the manu- facture of cigars. In the year 1873 he concluded to go west and de- cided on Sigourney as a location. There he continued in the manufac- ture of cigars, and also tried his hand at the newspaper business by be- coming the founder of the Sigourney Courier, a German paper, which still flourishes. At the start Mr. Schriever had as partners in the en- terprise Messrs. T. Schiffer and Levi Bower, who soon withdrew, leaving Mr. Schriever in sole possession. He then took Mr. Charles Starr as partner, to whom he sold out his interest after the paper was firnily es- tablished, but continued in charge of the editorial department a year longer.
In 1882 Mr. Schriever removed to the town of Delta, where he re- mained about a year in the drug business, and then came to Richland, where he has since resided. He was first in partnership with Henry Burns about five years, then be bought that gentleman's interest and has since conducted the business alone. During the Civil war Mr. Schriever served in the United States navy on board the sloop of war Lackawanna, the flag-ship of the West Gulf blockading squadron, which was mainly engaged in blockading the port of Galveston, Texas. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge.
542
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
The married life of Mr. Schriever began in 1869, when he was joined to Margaret Young, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who came to America as a child. She died in 1886, after having become the mother of six children, of whom only two are living, Alice Clara and Elma May, who both reside with their father. Mr. Schriever belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and the Modern Woodmen of America. While not a party man, he has always taken a great interest in politics without striving to attain any political eminence. Still he has been hon- ored by minor offices of trust, such as treasurer of his school district, and for seventeen years as treasurer of the town of Richland. Though lead- ing a busy life. the subject of this biography has found time to give his thoughts to economic subjects, on which he holds original ideas, em- bodied in his work entitled "Equal Chances," which is, in his opinion, bound in due time to greatly improve mankind mentally, socially and physically.
J. F. RANDOLPH.
J. F. Randolph is a leading and representative farmer of Lafayette township living on section 15. He was born in Mercer county, Illinois, May 5. 1848, and is a twin brother of John Randolph, a hardware merchant of Keota, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. The subject of this review was about one year of age when his parents removed from his native county to Rock Island county, Illinois, settling in Edgington township, where the next thirteen years of his life were passed. In 1864 the family came to Iowa, locating in Liberty town- ship, and there our subject assisted his father in the work of the home farm until he began business for himself. In 1870 he turned his atten-
543
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
tien to agricultural pursuits upon the farm which is yet his home. He is an enterprising and progressive man, who in his work follows modern methods and has prospered in his undertakings. In connection with the raising of cereals best adapted to the soil and climate lie has a good grade of stock, consisting of cattle, horses and hogs, upon his place. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, which is well improved, and the farm is one of the pleasing features of the landscape.
In 1874 Mr. Randolph was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary J. Rowe, the eldest daughter of Jacob and Jonana ( Carmichael ) Rowe, who were early settlers of Keokuk county. It was here that Mrs. Randolph was born, spending her girlhood days in her parents' home. Five children blessed this union: George J., John Burton, Emma B., and Grace. Three of the children are married. George wedded Maude Rickard, a daughter of Daniel Rickard; John married Ella Gillaland. a daughter of Archibald Gillaland; Emma is the wife of John Wade. a son of James Wade, of Iowa county, Iowa; the youngest child of the family is at home, and one child is dead. The parents hold mem- bership in the Presbyterian church and are people of genuine worth. Mr Randolph is serving as one of the elders of the church in Keota, and has taken an active and helpful part in promoting its growth and extending its influence. He is also a strong temperance man and votes the Prohibition ticket. From the age of sixteen years Mr. Randolph has continuously made his home in Keokuk county and has gained a wide acquaintance here, while the circle of his friends is co-extensive, owing to the possession of those qualities which always command re- spect and regard.
544
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
HENRY J. MOHME.
Emigration, as those conversant with the subject well know, is largely influenced by certain primal causes, chief among these being climatic conditions similar to those accustomed to and relationship of language, religion and political beliefs between the incomers and those already settled. The first difficulty is to "break the ice," as the average human being dislikes to leave the old home, but if a start is once made, if a few go and report favorably, it is comparatively easy to induce others to follow. A handful of Irish. Swedes, Italians and other nation- alities having settled in a locality are often the means of drawing great colonies, who eventually grow to such dimensions as to dominate the community. The sheep and the wild geese are not the only animals who follow a leader or cross the line promptly in imitation of the "bell wether." These remarks are introductory in a general way to the specific cases of the Mohme family, with a view to accounting for their appearance in Keokuk county. The simple reason is that relatives had come in advance and wrote back such glowing accounts of the oppor- tunities of Iowa that their kinsfolk across the water decided to abandon the fatherland and seek homes in the prosperous commonwealth on the banks of the Unner Mississippi. This party included Henry and Chris- tina ( Miller ) Mohme and their son Henry J., who was born in Prussia, October 24, 1847. They came over in 1863 and located on a farm one mile northeast of Sigourney, in the county of Keokuk, and the cultiva- tion of this land constituted the father's business until his death, in 1865, at the age of forty-nine years. His widow rema ned on the farm until the children grew to maturity and passed her declining years in Sig- ourney, where she died June 6. 1902, a little over seventy-nine years old.
545
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Her son, Henry J. Mohme, continued to work on the farm until his marriage, June 23, 1871, to Emma Lena Fritz, and two years later went to Texas. He remained in that state two years, engaged in farming and railroading, when he returned to Keokuk county and occupied the old homestead until 1880, then taking up his residence at Sigourney. lle was employed as associate editor of the Sigourney Courier until 1884, when he purchased the plant from J. C. Starr and has since con- ducted the paper. It is a German weekly, Democratic in politics and has a large circulation among the Germans in Keokuk and adjoining counties. Though of such great service to his party in assisting to bring an important and influential element to its support, and one of the leaders by virtue of his editorial position. Mr. Mohme has never sought political preferment, his only official position being the non-lucra- tive one of member of the school board. His membership in Webb Lodge, No. 182, of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Sigourney, constitutes his only fraternal connection. Mr. Mohme's wife died May 19. 1902, leaving five children, whose names are Charles, Mary, Flora, Walter and Louis.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.