USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 12
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM KORTHAUS
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a farm of two hundred and fifty-two and a half acres a quarter of a mile west of Bennett, so that he is now the possessor seven hundred and thirty-two and a half acres of improved and valuable farming land in Scott and Cedar counties. During the period of his active connection with agricultural interests in Iowa, which extended over almost a half century, he gave his attention to general farming and stock-raising, and that his efforts were crowned with success is indicated by his extensive and valuable landed possessions, which stand today as the monument of his life of industry, energy and thrift. Indeed, his pros- perity was such that in 1894 he was able to put aside the actual work of the farm and on the Ist of September, 1900, he took up his residence in Bennett, where he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of a goodly competence.
In 1857, in Scott county, Mr. Korthaus was united in marriage to Miss Fre- line Otto, a daughter of John and Sophia Otto, who were pioneer settlers of Scott county. They traveled life's journey happily together until 1905 when, on the 19th of May, the wife was called to her final rest. By her marriage she had become the mother of four sons and three daughters, all of whom survive with the exception of one child. They are as follows: Amelia; Albert; Ru- dolph, who lives upon and operates the old homestead farm of two hundred and forty acres in Blue Grass, township, Scott county ; Adolph, deceased; Clara, residing with her father in Bennett; Theresa; and Theodore, who operates a farm of one hundred and fifty-two and a half acres in Inland township, Cedar county.
Upon his arrival in the United States Mr. Korthaus made a careful study of political conditions and a comparison of the platforms of the various parties resulted in his adoption of republican principles, and since that time he has been a stalwart supporter of that organization. He has never, however, sought nor desired public office, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his private business affairs. He attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church and his life has ever measured up to a high standard of manhood, being governed at all times by high ideals and upright principles. Loyal in citizen- ship and honorable in his dealings with his fellowmen, he can, now in the even- ing of life, look back upon a well spent past without regret and into the future with no sense of fear. ,
CHARLES BROWN.
Charles Brown has been closely identified with agricultural interests in Cedar county since 1857, or for more than a half century-a period which has been characterized by untiring industry and unfaltering energy. He is one of Eng- land's contributions to the citizenship of Iowa, his birth occurring in Friday- bridge, Elm Parish, Cambridgeshire, on the 7th of July, 1831. He was the youngest in a family of eight children born unto George and Elizabeth (Muffin) Brown, all of whom reached mature years. The parents, also natives of Eng- land, spent their entire lives in that country, where the father was identified with
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agricultural pursuits. He served for eleven years in the English army as a private under Wellington.
At a very early age Charles Brown entered business life, engaging as a farm hand when but seven years old, and for about ten years was employed by various farmers in the neighborhood of his home. Upon attaining his seventeenth year, however, he left the farm and went to the city of Wisbeck, where for seven years he was engaged as footman and coachman. On Sunday, November 14, 1855, he was united in marriage of Miss Maria Smith, who was born in England, January 23, 1821, and on the Wednesday following started for Amer- ica, for it was his purpose to seek the business opportunities which rumor de- clared were to be found in the new world. Embarking at Liverpool, October 21, 1855, on the sailing vessel William Nelson, he arrived in New York on the 22d of December following and made his way to Chicago. About ten weeks were spent in Will county, Illinois.
On the 14th of March, 1856, Mr. Brown settled in Cedar county, Iowa, and here for one year was engaged as a farm hand. In 1857 he purchased a tract of land on the Cedar river, which constitutes the nucleus of his present farm, and there took up farming on his own account. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty-two and a half acres mostly on sections 20 and 21, Cass town- ship, but twenty acres are located in Linn township. On that farm he has con- tinued to reside to the present day and in the meantime has directed his efforts toward its further development and improvement, having brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. Entering the business world when a mere lad, he early learned lessons of industry, perseverance and self-reliance-qualities which have ever been salient elements in his career, and as the years have gone by his record has been one of indefatigable effort, close application and intelli- gent direction.
In 1895 Mr. Brown was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose death occurred on the 3d of March. Their home was blessed with three children, but the youngest, Emily J., was accidentally shot when but twelve years of age. Two sons still survive. Henry Simon, the eldest, was born March 18, 1857, and his entire life has been spent in the neighborhood of his present home. A farmer by occupation, he is the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land, fifty-one acres of which lie in Johnson county. The remainder of the farm is located on section 20, Cass township, Cedar county, and is a well-improved property, known as the Riverside Farm. He was married in 1882 to Miss Lizzie Ehresman, who was born in Cass township on the 21st of April, 1862, and is a daughter of Daniel and Magdalena Ehresman, of that township. Unto this union were born three children, Emily, Nellie and Charles, while Mr. and Mrs. Brown are also rearing two orphan children, William Brown, a nephew, and Luther Bloom. William Smith, the second son, resides upon the old homestead, assisting his father in his agricultural interests. He married Sarah Hunter and unto them were born six children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being Frank E., Addie May, George, Raymond and William Henry. After the death of his first wife he was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Nellie Gertrude Bloom. She was in her maidenhood Miss Nellie Wesley, and by her first husband had seven
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children. By her marriage to Mr. Brown she has become the mother of two chil -. dren, Cora Fern and Margaret.
Charles Brown and his family are members of the German Reformed church and have ever conformed their lives to the teachings of that organization. They are well known throughout the county, where they have resided for so many years, and are held in the highest regard and esteem. Mr. Brown is numbered among the old settlers, having been an interested witness of the growth and development of the county for the past five decades, and during that time he has borne his full share in the work of improvement and has ever given his influ- ence to those projects which have had for their object the substantial upbuilding and permanent development of the community. Although he has long since passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, he is still active in the world's work and has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek his fortune in this country, for here, where individual effort is unhampered by caste or class, he has found the success which he sought, his years of continuous activity being crowned with a most gratifying success.
LOUIS F. KUHN.
Sole owner and proprietor of the Kuhn's Bargain Store and an important factor in the commercial circles of Tipton, Louis F. Kuhn is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth having occurred in Franklin, Lee county, in September, 1869. He is the only child of Frank and Sophia (Kipp) Kuhn, the former a native of Saxony, Germany, and the latter of Hanover. Both became residents of Iowa in their childhood days and Mr. Kuhn established his home in Lee county but died in Missouri while temporarily absent from home. His widow still survives and lives in Lee county.
Louis F. Kuhn was reared in Franklin and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. In early life he began clerking and spent six years in a general store. He afterward went to Creston, Iowa, where he engaged in clerking for six and one-half years and in 1899 came to Tipton, where he started in business on his own account, purchasing the grocery store formerly owned by C. Shawver. Gradually he has converted it into a general store. After a year he removed to his present location at No. 410 Cedar street, where he occupies a building one hundred and twenty feet in length and two stories in height, using the entire structure for his mercantile purposes. He carries a large and well selected line of goods and the store is popular with the trading public, a liberal patronage being accorded him.
In 1893 Mr. Kuhn was married in Creston to Miss Carrie Blaufuss, who was born in Lee county, Iowa, February 24, 1872, and is a daughter of Fred and Caroline Blaufuss, who were natives of Germany, where they remained until after their marriage and then crossed the Atlantic to the new world. The father is now deceased but the mother is still living in Lee county. ยบ Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn have been born twin sons, Clarence and Clyde, who were born in Creston, November 5, 1895.
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In politics Mr. Kuhn is an earnest republican and was first called to office to fill a vacancy in the city council. He was then elected and is now serving for the third year as one of the aldermen of Tipton, in which position he exercises his official prerogative in support of many progressive and reform movements. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran church, in which he is serving as deacon, and his interests center in those things which are for the welfare and benefit of the community and the individual. His record in business is a creditable one, for from the age of nine years he has made his own way in the world, his success being the result of determined effort and of unassailable commercial integrity.
HENRY W. SIEVERS.
The agricultural interests of Cedar county find in Henry W. Sievers a worthy representative. Throughout life he has made his home here and is today the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred and forty acres known as the Glendale Stock Farm, pleasantly located on section 3, Pioneer township. He was born upon this place January 29, 1858, a son of Louis Sievers, whose birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, in 1819. In his native land the father grew to manhood and in 1848 came to the new world on a sailing vessel, which was nine weeks in crossing the Atlantic. In midocean the vessel caught fire but the flames were finally extinguished before serious damage had been done, although the passengers were badly frightened. On reaching the shores of this con- tinent Mr. Sievers proceeded at once to Missouri where he worked for John Walker on a farm for a year.
He then returned to his old home in Hanover, Germany, where he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Rekemeyer. In 1852 he again came to America and this time located in Jones county, Iowa, where he entered eighty acres of land and improved a farm. On selling that property he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Pioneer township, Cedar county, where our subject now resides. He broke and fenced this tract and continued to make his home thereon through- out the remainder of his life. Upon the place he erected a large, two-story residence and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and, prospering in his farming operations, he was able to add to his farm until he had two hun- dred and eighty acres in the home place. He also owned another farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Mechanicsville and was regarded as one of the most successful farmers and financiers of the neighborhood. He died here on the 16th of June, 1899, and his wife passed away in 1904.
Mr. and Mrs. Sievers were the parents of five children, our subject being the only son. Minnie is now the wife of Fred Frey, a farmer of Jones county. Mrs. Emma Shrope is now a widow and resides in Pioneer township, this county. Caroline is the wife of Ira Ketring of Linn county, Iowa. Mary Matilda is now keeping house for her brother.
Henry W. Sievers was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farm boys and early acquired an excellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He never left the parental roof and on the
MR. AND MRS. LOUIS SIEVERS
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
death of his father took charge of the home farm and business, later purchasing the interests of the other heirs in this property. He has since bought one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the home place and a farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres near Mechanicsville and is today successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He feeds from three to four carloads of stock for the market annually and finds that branch of his business quite profitable. At the present time he rents his land but has supervision of the property and is regarded as one of the most up-to-date and progressive business men of his locality. He and his sister were reared in the Lutheran faith and in politics he is identified with the democratic party but has never sought nor cared for of- ficial honors. He is one of the most substantial citizens of Pioneer township and is a man who commands the confidence and high regard of all with whom he is brought in contact whether in business or social life.
HARRY L. BROTHERLIN.
Harry L. Brotherlin, who for thirty years has been identified with commer- cial interests in Tipton as a druggist, and with one exception is the oldest mer- chant in years of continuous connection with the city's business interests, was born in Brownsville, Licking county, Ohio, in September, 1849, a son of Moses and Eliza (Bancroft) Brotherlin, the former a native of Blair county, Pennsyl- vania, and the latter of Washington county, New York. They were married in Licking county, Ohio, and both spent their last days in Le Claire, Scott county, Iowa. Mr. Brotherlin followed merchandizing during the greater part of his life, thus providing comfort for his family which numbered three children : Frances and Helen, who are residents of Le Claire; and Harry L.
At the place of his nativity Harry L. Brotherlin remained through the first thirteen years of his life and in 1862 accompanied his parents to Le Claire, Iowa. where he resided until 1880. In that year he removed to Tipton. In the mean- time he had supplemented his common-school education by study in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, where he remained for two years. He afterward entered the drug business at Le Claire and conducted a store until 1879, when he sold out. Removing to Tipton the following year, he purchased the drug store of A. M. Kirk and has since remained in business at this point. He was alone until 1905, when he admitted Samuel T. Gordon to partnership under the firm name of Brotherlin & Gordon. As one of the leading merchants of the city, he is today also one of the best known and most honored. He has remained continuously at his present location on Fifth street, opposite the court-house square. He has a well appointed store, equipped with all the modern accessories known to the drug trade, and his knowledge of drugs, their medicinal properties and use, makes his services in this connection of value to his fellow townsmen. The fact that he has continued in business here for thirty years is an indication of the fact that success has always attended his efforts.
In 1895 Mr. Brotherlin was united in marriage to Miss Ella Rider, a native of Cedar county, Iowa, and a daughter of Christian E. and Rachel (McDonald)
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Rider, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they came to Cedar county, Iowa, and spent their last days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brotherlin has been born a son, Robert, now twelve years of age.
Fraternally Mr. Brotherlin is connected with the Masons, holding member- ship in Royal Arch chapter. His military career covers service as lieutenant in Company B, which was a part of the First Regiment of National Guards organ- ized here. In politics he has been a life-long republican and served for two terms as postmaster of Tipton, being appointed by President Mckinley in 1897 and re- appointed by President Roosevelt in 1901, his incumbency covering nearly nine years. He was always an active worker in the ranks of the party up to the time he entered the office. His official duties were discharged with promptness and fidelity, winning him high encomiums from all concerned. His business record is equally creditable and Tipton regards the Brotherlin establishment as an in- dispensable factor in her trade relations and Mr. Brotherlin as a valuable addi- tion to her commercial circles.
JACOB ESCHER.
Jacob Escher, a well known resident of Tipton, claims Germany as the land of his birth, for he was born in Wurtemberg, August 9, 1832. He is a son of George and Rosena (Stout) Escher, but lost his father when only nine years old and his mother when fourteen. He was the third in order of birth in a family of six children, the others being Christian, George, Johannes, Mark and Rosena, but he was the only one of the number to come to the United States. He was practically reared and educated in his native land and there served four years' apprenticeship to the building stone-cutter's trade.
Resolved to seek his fortune in the new world, he crossed the broad Atlantic in a sailing vessel, which was forty-seven days in making the passage from Havre to New York. Out of the four hundred passengers that went on board fifty-seven died of cholera before they reached this country and the remainder were nearly starved as the rations were so poor. At length, however, Mr. Escher landed in safety, reaching Philadelphia on the 17th of November, 1852. He resided there for some time, working at his trade, but in April, 1858, became a resident of Cedar county, Iowa, where for two years he continued to follow the same occupation, being the principal stone-cutter on the erection of the court- house at Tipton. In 1865 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Red Oak township and was then engaged in agricultural pursuits until his return to Tipton in 1891. Ten years ago he disposed of that farm to his son but still owned a half section of land when he left the farm. He now has a quarter section in Plymouth county, Iowa, but is living retired at present, enjoying the fruits of former toil.
On the Ist of January, 1856, Mr. Escher married Mrs. Fredericka (Grabb) Sheefer, the widow of John Sheefer, by whom she had a daughter, Rosa S., who took the name of our subject. She is now the wife of H. L. Grubb, of Kingsley, Iowa. The children born to our subject and his wife are: Louisa, the wife of
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Lon Fraseur, living near Tipton; Julia, the widow of John E. Burkett, of Wat- sonville, California; George H., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Sarah, the wife of W. F. Wirick, also represented on another page of this volume; and Emma, the wife of Francis F. Patterson, of San Jose, California. The wife and mother, who was born September 27, 1830, passed away on the 23d of March, 1900. For over half a century Mr. Escher has been a faithful member of the Lutheran church and for thirty years served as one of its elders. His life has ever been upright and honorable, and he well deserves the high esteem in which he is universally held.
THOMAS E. MATHEWS.
The life of Thomas E. Mathews covered the intervening years from 1814 to 1900 and when eighty-six years of age he was called to his final rest. The his- tory of the pioneer settlement of Cedar county would be incomplete without the record of this gentleman, who from an early day was a prominent factor in its substantial growth and upbuilding. When the state of Iowa was cut off from the advantages and comforts of the east, no railroads having as yet entered this dis- trict, Mr. Mathews made his way to Cedar county, braving all the trials and hard- ships of pioneer life in order to make a home in a country rich in its resources but as yet undeveloped. This district presented a wild appearance upon the ar- rival of Mr. Mathews in 1838, then a young man of twenty-four years, for his birth occurred in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, October II, 1814. He en- tered from the government one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Rochester township, to which he added as time passed until his possessions in that town- ship embraced three hundred and sixty acres, while in Center township he owned one hundred and three acres. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and while advancing his own interests he played an important part in the development of Cedar county. He was left an orphan when but a youth and came to Cedar county in company with his brother William, who was likewise identified with the progress and improvement that was here carried on.
Mr. Mathews sought a companion and helpmate for the journey of life through his marriage on the Ioth of October, 1848, to Miss Nancy Hill, who was likewise a native of Greenbrier county, West Virginia, born on the 24th of October, 1827. She came to this county in 1847 with her widowed mother, Mrs. Jennie Hill, and a year later gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Mathews. To- gether they started on the journey of life, not rich in this world's goods, but with stout hearts and courageous spirits. Like all other pioneers they had to make many sacrifices in the establishment of a home on the frontier but as time passed their labors were rewarded in the acquirement of a good farm property.
As the years passed twelve children were added to the household but only four are now living. The record is as follows: Lizzie, the wife of John Ford, a resident of Winterset, Iowa; Augusta, who owns one hundred and seventy acres of the old homestead, on which she resides ; Thomas, who follows farming in Center township; Isaac, a farmer residing near West Liberty, Iowa ; Josephine,
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who became the wife of Charles Rickhoff but is now deceased ; Emma, who died when twenty-eight years of age; Charles, who died at the age of nineteen ; Hat- tie, who was fifteen years old at the time of her demise ; Mason and George, who were ten and nine years respectively when called to the home beyond; Lena, who died in her third year ; and Viola, who died in infancy.
Mr. Mathews became identified with the Methodist Protestant church in 1845, in the faith of which he died on the IIth of December, 1900. His wife, who united with the same church in 1870, survived his death for but a brief period, being called to the home beyond on the Ist of June, 1902, when seventy-six years of age. Although they have passed from this life their memory is yet cherished in the hearts of all who knew them, while to their children they have left the legacy of an untarnished record which will live for years to come.
GILMAN A. BASS.
Gilman A. Bass, who died in Inland township on the 10th of March, 1904, was long successfully engaged in the real-estate and loan business here but spent the last seven years of his life in honorable retirement. His birth occurred in Orange county, Vermont, on the 9th of August, 1826, his parents being Alpheus and Sarah (Copeland) Bass, who were farming people of that county. He supplemented his preliminary education by a course of study in the Middle- bury Seminary of Vermont and subsequently followed the profession of school teaching in the Green Mountain state. In 1857 he removed to Big Rock, Iowa, where he also taught school, and in the spring of 1858 went to Davenport, there devoting his attention to the study of law. He next came to Tipton and there made his home for nearly five years with the exception of eight months spent as a soldier in the Union army. He enlisted for service in October, 1864, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865, having accompanied Sherman on his march to the sea. In 1866 he took up his abode in Inland township, where he embarked in the real-estate and loan business, carrying on an extensive and successful enterprise of that character until the time of his retirement in 1897. The last few years of his life were spent in the home of his daughter, Abbie.
On the 10th of September, 1861, Mr. Bass was joined in wedlock to Miss Martha Marsh, a daughter of Daniel and Aurelia (Gould) Marsh, who came to this county from Ohio in 1854. Their children were three in number, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving daughter is Abbie L.
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