USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 8
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business when he settled here. His success has been very satisfactory, although several changes have been made in the firm style. It began as the firm of F. A. Schipfer, later was changed to Schipfer & Sons, and about 1890, when the sons took active charge, the name became Schipfer Bros., as it now appears to the trade and the public. In 1890 Mr. Schipfer made a visit to Germany and renewed old associations.
In 1858 Francis A. Schipfer was married in Sigourney to Emily Knape, who was also born in Germany. The children born to them are : Francis A., Herman J., Louis J., Oscar A., Eugene, Fred C. and Clara, all of the sons and the daughter making up the present firm of Shipfer Bros. Mr. Schipfer has never been active in politics, but votes the Re- publican ticket.
SCHIFFER BROS.
In the biographical sketch of Francis A. Schipfer, Sr., some history of the business firm of Schipfer Bros. is indicated. The business has re- sulted from that established by Francis A. Schipfer, Sr., in 1856. As his sons grew into years of usefulness as clerks, they entered their father's store and were brought up and trained to the business. About 1890 the father relinquished active connection with the business, and the firm of Schipfer Bros. came into existence. The business is con- (lucted in three adjoining store rooms, one room being devoted to dry goods and notions .one to clothing and one to groceries. In these lines of merchandise a large and well selected stock of goods is carried. The firm enjoys an extensive trade, and is noted for its fair dealing and courtesy, and is perhaps the leading business firm of Sigourney, to the growth and development of which town it has materially contrib-
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uted. Francis A. Schipfer, Jr., is the senior member of the firm. he being the eldest of the brothers. While all the sons and their only sister constitute the firm, the sister and Herman J. are not active men- bers of the firm. All save these two are identified closely with the man- agement and direction of the affairs of the firm. HermanJ. is interested in farming. All the sons and the father are numbered among the en- terprising and representative citizens and the entire family are noted for much merit, enjoying the esteem and confidence of a wide circle of acquaintance.
PHILIP CRONEWETH.
One of the oldest and most highly respected residents of Sigourney. Keokuk county, Iowa, is Philip Croneweth, who has made his home here since 1854. His birth occurred in Baden Baden, Germany, in 1822, where he remained until about the age of nineteen years. Coming to the United States in the hope of bettering his condition and wishing to take advantage of the larger opportunities offered young men in this country, Mr. Croneweth put into practice the habits of thrift which he had learned in his native land, and in the course of time accumulated ample means. Mr. Croneweth engaged in chair-making and house painting at Blooming Grove, Morrow county, Ohio, for some years, and there married Miss Mary Mark, who was also born in Germany and still survives. Three children were born to this union, but the only survivor is John W., a well known citizen of Sigourney. In 1854 Mr. Croneweth removed from Ohio to this city and here followed both house painting and cabinet-making.
John W. Croneweth was born in Morrow county, Ohio, July 29, 13
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1848, and was six years of age when his parents came to Iowa. His education was secured in the public schools, and at the age of eighteen years he engaged in the grocery business, and during this period also handled jewelry as a side line. Thus he became acquainted with the jewelry business and trade and learned it thoroughly. For a time, with a partner, Mr. Croneweth operated a hotel, a restaurant, a grocery and a jewelry business. When these many enterprises became too large to be handled together, the partnership was dissolved and our subject took the jewelry business as his own line of activity. For twenty years he has conducted the same, with great success, in this city, and by his hon- est methods and his intimate relation with the trade, which enable him to make reasonable prices, he has won the confidence of the community and enjoys a large patronage. In 1887 Mr. Croneweth was married to Miss Rose Constant, and to this union was born one son, Harry, who is a bright student in the city schools.
Mr. Croneweth is a man of substance and prominence, gaining his ample means by his own efforts, and the approbation of his fellow citi- zens by his business ability and exemplary life. For a number of years he has been active in the Republican party and has served efficiently on the city council and in the office of recorder. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and also to the Masonic Blue lodge.
LEANDER DELONG.
Prominent among the citizens of Keokuk county who have wit- nessed the marvelous development of the state in the past half century, and who have taken an active part in its development and progress, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, a well known and pros-
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perous farmer of German township. Mr. Delong is a son of David and Jane (Law) Delong, and was born in Perry county, Ohio, February 12, 1829. He passed the early days of his boyhood and youth on the farin, and attended a district school, where he acquired his elementary educa- tion. Arriving at maturity, in 1850 he crossed the plains with an ox team to California, where he remained for a period of a year engaged in an attempt to secure some of the gold dust that had been discovered at the famous Sutter's Mill. He, however, was not very successful in this attempt, and after a twelve months' trial returned to civilization by way of the Isthmus. His trip home took him to the island of Cuba, and from thence by way of New Orleans he came home to Washington county. Remaining here for a period of about a year, he settled in Keokuk county, the year being 1856. His farm here consists of three hundred acres of land, most of which he cleared and broke himself, and has himself placed all of the valuable improvements which are to be found on the farm. The marriage of Mr. Delong occurred in the year 1856 in Keokuk county, the lady's name being Sarah Brannan. This lady was born in Canada. Her people later settled in the Keystone state, her father's name being Dennis Brannan and her mother's being Sarah. They were both natives of Ireland. Mrs. Delong was reared in the Key- stone state, and early in the fifties came to Keokuk county with her parents. Mr. Delong is looked upon as one of the leading agriculturists in Keokuk county, and worthy in every respect of the esteem in which he is held by a host of admiring friends.
Mentioning the salient points in the family history of Mr. Delong, his father was David Delong, as stated above, a native of Kentucky, who settled in Ohio on a farm in Guernsey county. After a short resi- (lence there the family moved to Perry county, he first contracting mar-
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riage in Guernsey county with Miss Jane Law, the date being 1811. She was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, from which point her parents removed in her girlhood to Guernsey county, Ohio. Mr. Delong is a member of a family of eight boys and three girls, all but two of avhom grew to maturity. In 1841 the parents removed to Washington county, lowa, where they settled on a farm, and continued to reside there until their death.
JOSEPH M. RICHARDSON.
According to the best information obtainable Mr. Richardson is of Scotch descent. The great-grandfather is said to have come from Scotland. He must have lived for some time in the state of New York. for there a son, Joseph, was born. This son became one of the early settlers of Ohio, later went to Indiana and subsequently moved to Mc- Donough county. Illinois, where he died at the age of sixty-two.
Joseph M. Richardson, the subject of this sketch, was the son of Thomas and Eliza Ann (Weller) Richardson. The father was a son of the elder Josephi and was born September 8, 1809, in Ohio. He early went to Indiana and in 1836 removed to Illinois, McDonough county. He remained here until 1845, when by covered wagon he came to fowa. This was two years after the western part of the state was opened for settlement. Thomas took up farming land from the gov- ernment in Steady Run township, Keokuk county, where he lived until the time of his death, in 1872. The date of entry is fixed as 1846 and the land is still in the family. As pioneers they naturally underwent many hardships, but trials shared in common are the meeting ground for congenial people, and the steadfast, trustful nature of both man and
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wife secured for Mr. and Mrs. Richardson the joy of many friendships. They were parents of twelve children, namely: Lydia M .; Joseph M. : Benjamin F., of Martinsburg, Iowa ; Francis P., living on the old home- stead; Mary Ellen : James W., deceased ; David, residing in Lewis, Iowa : Eliza Jane; Bennett J., who died ; Gilbert B., of Sigourney ; Harriet and Emma, who have both died. Thomas Richardson was originally a Whig but later joined the Democratic party. Both he and his wife were members of the Predestinarian Baptist church.
Eliza Ann Weller was born in Kentucky, December 30. 1815. Her father, Joseph Weller, was a pioneer settler of Indiana, in which state he died. His wife was Margaret Fry, a native of Kentucky, whose family came originally from Pennsylvania. The Weller and Fry fami- lies are both of Dutch descent. Eliza Ann Weller was a woman of sweet yet forceful character. She died in Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1894.
Joseph M. Richardson was born on a farm in Vermilion county. Indiana, January 7, 1836. At the age of six months his parents moved to Illinois, and when only nine years old he went with them to lowa. His life has been that of a pioneer with limited advantages for education. small leisure and plenty of hardship, privation and strenuous labor. He was reared on the farm and the ordinary common schools were his means of instruction, save those surer and more effective means which try the mettle and prepare admirably for life; we mean the struggle with pioneer difficulties, the revelations of and communions with nature and the actual contact with real men. He early went to work for strangers, on the farm as the all-around hand and in the country store as clerk. Up to his twentieth year his wages went to his parents. At that time, in 1856, he married and settled on a farm in Lancaster township. There he lived until 1869, devoting his time chiefly to farming and car-
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pentering. In April, 1869, he moved to Ioka, Iowa, where he opened a general store, which he conducted for fourteen years. He spent one year in farming and in 1884 went into the general merchandise business at Martinsburg, Iowa. In 1885 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of county auditor. He moved to Sigourney in the spring of the following year. In the fall of 1887 he was re-elected by his party and at the expiration of his second term, in the spring of 1890, he moved to a farm near Martinsburg, which he had received in ex- change for his general store. In 1891, in February, he sold this farm and returned to the merchandise business, this time at Sigourney, which city he has since made his home. He conducted this general store for nine years, sold out and after a lapse of one year bought a half interest in a retail hardware business. After one year he sold his share in that store and now he is living a retired life, enjoying the rewards of years of labor.
On October 9, 1856, Mr. Richardson married Miss Emily, daughter of John C. and Pamela Jacobs, who came to Keokuk county about 1846. She is a native of Indiana. The union was blessed by the birth of nine children : Henry L., deceased ; Frank P .; Malissa E .; William H., who has also held office as county auditor ; Edward E .; Thomas S., deceased; S. Walter; Albert L .; and Susan J. Richardson. Mr. Richardson is a splendid example of the self-made man ; his life is an illustration of what industry, application and perseverance will accomplish.
S. W. BRUNT.
In reviewing the life of S. W. Brunt we are dealing with the history of a family that has been connected with the development of several
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states for several generations. James Brunt, the grandfather, was born in Currituck county, North Carolina, in 1770. He was the eldest son of Richard and Nancy ( Bisco) Brunt; his ancestors had come from England in the very early days of colonization, settling in his native county. James married a young woman descended on paternal and maternal side from the French Huguenots. She was Sarah Harris, (laughter of William and Ann (Cowel) Harris. For several years after his marriage James remained in Currituck county, where all his children were born save William Harris, the youngest. In 1809 the family moved to Rowan county, North Carolina. Here the seventh child. William, was born March 22, 1810. Here James joined the Baptists and his wife entered the Methodist church. In 1829 they moved to Indiana, settling in Rush county and later, in 1836, removing to Madison county, Indiana, where they spent the last years of their lives and where all that remains of these brave pioneers, in an earthly way, lies buried. The six eldest children were: Lydia, Mary, Ann, John, Polly and Thomas.
William Harris Brunt, the youngest, was nineteen years old when he came to Indiana with his parents. He had received a fair education while in North Carolina and upon entering his new state he engaged in teaching, saving thereby enough money to buy eighty acres from the government. This land he cleared and in 1836, when his father located in Madison county, William Harris entered some new land in the same county, moved his own family there and remained for fully eleven years. Then in the spring of 1848 he cast his eye farther west and took up more government land in what is now Lancaster township, Keokuk county, Iowa. Thus, for the third time in his life, he became a pioneer and in all his efforts he was nobly aided and encouraged by his wife, a
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woman of sterling qualities, large heart and generous mind. He had married her in the old Indiana home while still in Rush county. She was a native of Maryland, who had been reared in Kentucky, and who was Nancy Williams, daughter of Mathias and Elizabeth (Lauftis) Williams : she was excellently prepared to furnish the lighter element to happiness and still exert a beningn influence through her calm and pur- poseful life. She was born August 14, 1807, and it was her good fortune before her death, which occurred on October 25, 1874, in Keokuk county, to see honor and distinction come to the man of her maiden dreams and to see her husband rise in the estimation of the community and win the respect and esteem of his fellow men. They had been married Febru- ary 21, 1832. In 1839 they joined the Christian church and to this faith they ever afterward remained firm adherents. He was ordained a min- ister of this church in Indiana, and until old age forced his retirement he continued in the ministry, his labors being mostly those of a local minister. Their children were: Sarah, widow of Jacob Shoemaker, living in Grand Island, Nebraska : James M., who died at the age of seven years : John M., of Lincoln, Kansas: Samuel W., the subject of this sketch; and Elizabeth, wife of J. S. Morrow, a farmer of Lancaster township, this county. They all received a liberal education and excel- lent home training. John M. Brunt was during two terms clerk of the courts of this county and for one term he served as county treasurer.
William H. Brunt was a public-spirited man, a liberal patron of church and school. He was an organizer of the Christian church at Lan- caster, Iowa, and was a principal donor to the construction of the church building. He was a strong Union man during secession times, though in politics he identified himself with the Democatic party. He held the office of county treasurer, was school fund commissioner and member of
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the county board of supervisors. He filled all these positions with en- tire satisfaction to all concerned and ingratiated himself in the heart of the community. He lived on the farm on which he first settled when he came to Iowa until his death on July 17, 1898.
Samuel W. Brunt was born in Madison county, Indiana, October 4, 1840. He was in his eighth year when his parents brought him to Keo- kuk county. They gave him a fair education, and with industry aiding natural ability, Samuel reached sufficiently high scholarship to warrant his entering the profession of teaching. He soon turned his sole atten- tion to farming. In 1874 he went to California, spent about six years there in civil engineering and upon his return to Iowa resumed farming, devoting his main efforts to stock raising and buying and selling cattle. It was about this time, somewhere along in the eighties, that he held the office of county surveyor. Politically he accepts the traditions of his father and associates himself with the Democrats. For ten years pre- vious to January, 1900, he was cashier of the Keokuk County State Bank. The confidence in his integrity was so great that the directors intrusted him with the entire management, never once during the entire ten years requiring him to furnish a bond. He was careful and conservative, and on retiring from the position of cashier he was elected president of the bank, but declined the position.
In 1866 he married Miss Rebecca Payne, daughter of Rev. Samuel and Lucy Payne. Their two children are living ; they are: Arthur H., cashier in the Keokuk County State Bank, succeeding his father; and Lulu, wife of U. G. Dawson, residing in Ottumwa, Iowa. Mrs. Brunt is a native of Iowa. In October, 1861, Mr. Brunt enlisted in Company D, of the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served as a private three and a half years and was honorably discharged in 1865. He saw 14
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some very active service, being in the battles of Shiloh, Corinthi, the siege of Vicksburg and Atlanta. He was captured at Atlanta, July 22, 1864, and for seven months thereafter was held a prisoner of war at An- clersonville and Florence, North Carolina. He belongs to the Robert F. Lowe Post, No. 167, Grand Army of the Republic. Fraternally Mr. Brunt is a Mason and a Shriner. He is a member of the Webb Lodge, No. 182, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is prominent as a York Rite Mason. He belongs to Jopa Chapter, No. 40, Royal Arch Masons, of the De Payne Commandery, No. 6, Knight Templar, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; Kaaba Temple at Davenport, Iowa.
GOTTLIEB E. KLEINSCHMIDT.
Gottlieb E. Kleinschmidt was not quite seven years old when his parents and four children left Prussia, Germany, and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1854. Nicholas Kleinschmidt, the father, had no broth- ers ; his only sister and his parents remained in the fatherland. He was born in Prussia, April 14, 1816, received a fair education and learned the trade of a wagon-maker. At the age of twenty-two he marriad Dora Schacht, who was born in Prussia, April 6, 1815. They had five chil- dren : August, who died in Dakota in 1891; Amelia, wife of George Pennington of Morgan county, Indiana; Gottlieb E .; William C., A farmer in Keokuk county, Iowa; and Louis, a farmer of Washington county, Iowa. The first four were born in Germany ; Louis in Amer- ica. The family lived in St. Louis two years, where the father worked at his trade. In the fall of 1855 he went to Sigourney, bought a lot and built a house for his family, who moved into the new home the fol- lowing April. He opened a blacksmith and carriage shop and conducted
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his business with great success. In 1883 he gave the management to his son, Gottlieb, though for a few years longer he continued to take an interest in the business. He died December 18, 1901; his wife, on June 6, 1883. They were members of the Lutheran church and trained their family according to the doctrines of their faith. He was a Repub- lican in politics. His life was a personification of faithful, continued labor, frugality, honesty and wisdom. He was a thoroughly success- ful business man.
His son Gottlieb has carried on the business established on worthy principles of fair dealing and efficient service. He learned the business of wagon-making and blacksmithing from his father, with whom he worked and whom he superseded as head of the establishment in 1883. He has associated with him his own son, George, who since 1900 has charge of the affairs. Gottlieb E. Kleinschmidt was born in Prussia, Germany, December 28, 1847. He obtained a common school education, worked hard at his trade and in 1884 took an active interest in the organization of the Keokuk County State Bank. He was made a director at the time and has continued in that position ever since. He was for ten years vice-president of the board and in 1899 he was elected president of the bank. Since 1899 the bank has done an increasingly large business, due in great measure to the efforts to Mr. Kleinschmidt.
In 1875 he married Miss Sophia, daughter of Charles and Sophia ( Voltmer) Backhous. She is a native of Keokuk county. Mr. and Mrs. Kleinschmidt have ten children : five daughters and five sons. He belongs to the Democratic party, but has never held office. Fraternally he is a member of the local chapter of Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and he affiliates with Webb Lodge, No. 182, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Sigourney.
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JOHN J. KELLY.
John J. Kelly was born in Ireland, November 24, 1826. He was the son of John and Catherine ( Griffin) Kelly. The mother died when John J. was a boy of eight years and some time later the father entered upon a second marriage. At the age of fifteen John J. left home, went to England, where he worked in the coal mines, and five years after, in 1846, came to America. He settled in Schuylkill county, Pennsyi- vania, worked as a miner in the coal fields of that district and became later a contractor in coal mine and railroad construction work. In the fall of 1863 he went west, spent the winter at coal mining in Illinois and in April, 1864, took his family to Liberty township, Keokuk county, lowa. There he successfully engaged in farming for many years, devot- ing considerable time to stock raising and cattle buying.
About 1853 he married Bridget Lagan, who had come to Penn- sylvania from Ireland with her parents when she was a girl of thirteen years. She died in May, 1890, aged fifty-seven years. Of his mar- riage six children were born, namely: Thomas; Patrick, a farmer in Keokuk county; John, who died at the age of about thirty-three, leaving a wife and three children; Mary, a resident of Chicago; Anthony, who lives on the old homestead; and Bridget, wife of Andrew Hayes, a farmer of Liberty township, this county. John J. Kelly died in Sigourney, lowa, October 17, 1898. He was a Roman Catholic and reared his chil- (Iren in the faith of his fathers.
THOMAS KELLY.
Thomas Kelly was born in Pennsylvania, June 26, 1854, son of John J. and Bridget (Lagan) Kelly. He was reared on the farm and
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after completing the course in the common school he went to Dubuque. Jowa, for two years of training at St. Joseph's College. He returned to the farm and for three years he worked in the fields in the summer time and taught school in winter. He was then appointed deputy county treasurer, and at the end of two years went into the general merchandise business at Kinross, Keokuk county. The following year. 1890, he was elected county recorder and returned by his party for a second term. In 1894 he was appointed assistant cashier of the Sigourney Savings Bank, a position which he has held ever since. Thomas Kelly is a Demo- crat and an active man in his party. He was delegate from his con- gressional district to the national Democratic convention at Kansas City in 1900. Mr. Kelly was married in 1879 to Miss Anastasia Slattery, a native of Keokuk county, and the marriage has given issue to nine children.
JOHN G. and FERDINAND L. GOELDNER.
John G. Goeldner was born in Prussia, Germany, January 14, 1812. His parents lived and died in Germany, the mother dying when John was a boy of six or seven years. At the age of twenty-seven he mar- ried; his wife died leaving him two daughters. He married a second time, choosing Rosa Liersch as wife. In 1858 the family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Goeldner, two daughters by the first wife and two sons by the second, came to America and settled in Clear Creek township, Keokuk county, Iowa. He bought eighty acres, involving himself to some extent in debt but soon gaining a more than an ordinary income and through continued industry arriving at considerable wealth. In 1876 the family moved to Lafayette township in the same county; and there they live now (1902), Mr. Goeldner holding possession of about
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