USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 14
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John Bannick worked upon his father's farm until he had attained the age of nineteen years. He received a fair education in the schools of his native country, and was strong and in rugged health. He determined to seek his for- tune in the great country across the ocean, so came to the United States, arriving in Davenport, Iowa, in the year 1870. For about a year he worked upon farms in Scott county, then came to Cedar county, where for three years he worked on a farm, after which he rented a place and began farming for himself. He was married at this time, and for nine years he farmed upon rented land. Suc- cess attending his efforts, he then bought eighty acres in Cedar county and made that his home. He worked steadily, handled his crops and stock well, and made a decided success of his venture, so much so that he eventually became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of the very best farming land of the
MR. AND MRS. JOHN BANNICK
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
county, all located in Inland township. For many years he lived upon this place, rearing his family and improving the farm, but some few years ago his other interests demanding a considerable portion of his attention, he placed the farm in charge of his son and took up his residence upon his property in Ben- nett, where he still attends to the various details of his business.
An event of decided importance in the life of our subject occurred September 9, 1873, when he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Vogt, a resident of this county and native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. She was born March 19, 1851, her parents being Claus and Catherine Vogt, both of whom are now deceased. This union was blessed with two children: George C. is living upon the home place which he cultivates under the direction of his father. He married Miss Amanda Rose and they are the parents of five children. Claus, the younger child, died aged six weeks.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bannick are members of the Lutheran church, taking an active interest in all church work. Not alone has Mr. Bannick been successful as a tiller of the soil, but in other departures has he made a success. He was one of the organizers of the Savings Bank of Bennett and is today a stockholder and one of the board of directors, also serving in the capacity of vice president of the institution. In his political views he takes the doctrines of the democracy for his guidance and is one of the active public men of the town. For a period of six years he served as county supervisor, while for four years he was the justice of the peace of the township. In the conduct of the school system of the township Mr. Bannick has been most active for seventeen years. As chan- cellor commander of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Bennett, he occupies a position which at once establishes his relations with fraternal organizations, and his entire life has been lived with such brotherly attitude toward his fellowmen as to exemplify the teachings of that order. Public-spirited, and of sagacious business acumen, tempered with charity toward the unfortunate, he has gained the respect and esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances.
AUGUST H. HANSEN.
A farm of one hundred and twenty acres pays tribute to the care and labor of August H. Hansen and, moreover, is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift, for he started out on his own account empty-handed and met the situation of providing for his support entirely through his own efforts. His place is situated on section 16, Dayton township, and there he an- nually gathers good harvests which shows that his farm is well tilled.
A native of Germany, Mr. Hansen was born in Holstein on the 23d of De- cember, 1873. His father, Claus Hansen, and his mother, Margaret (Miller) Hansen, also natives of that country, came to the new world in 1881 with Cedar county, Iowa, as their destination. They were induced to make the trip by the fact that a brother of Mr. Hansen was living here and gave good reports con- cerning the opportunities offered in this land. Claus Hansen worked as a farm hand by the month until he believed it possible to profitably carry on farm work
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on his own account and then rented land. He was continuously identified with general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred about 1895, while his wife passed away in 1892. Their family numbered two sons and four daugh- ters: Chris, a resident farmer of Massillon township; Augusta, the wife of John Gills, of Lowden; Emma, the wife of Henry Peters, whose home is in this county ; Alvina, the wife of William Beckmann, also following farming in this county ; and Sophia, who married Charlie Krinbring.
The other member of the family is August H. Hansen, whose name intro- duces this review and who came to Iowa with his father when a lad of seven years. His youthful days were spent upon the home farm and the public schools afforded him his opportunity to master the common branches of learning. Yet he is largely self-educated, owing to the necessity that devolved upon him to earn his living at an early age. He worked by the month for several years and, am- bitious to earn advancement, utilized every opportunity that promoted his interests.
On the IIth of October, 1900, Mr. Hansen was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Engelking, who was born in Germany and spent her girlhood days there. Their marriage has been blessed with four children: Henry J., Carl, Margaret and Elwood.
After their marriage Mr. Hansen rented a farm, upon which he lived for six years, and during that time carefully saved his earnings so that in 1906 he was able to purchase the property upon which he now resides, comprising one hundred and twenty acres of good land on section 16, Dayton township. He has further improved the property, which in its attractive appearance indicated his careful supervision and progressive methods. The interests of modern farm life are well represented in his place. He practices the rotation of crops and utilizes the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields.
While his life has been a busy one in his efforts to win success, at the same time he has cooperated in movements for the public good and his interest in the moral development of the community is shown in the fact that he is a member of the German Evangelical church of Clarence, to which his wife also belongs. Politically, however, he is independent. Throughout Dayton township, where he is well known, he is familiarly called "Gus" Hansen and those who know him recognize the fact that in his life are exemplified many sterling traits of character, not the least of which are industry, perseverance and honorable dealing.
HENRY RUSER.
Henry Ruser, who has lived retired in Bennett for the past two years, was long identified with the agricultural interests of Cedar county and still owns an excellent farm of three hundred and thirty-six acres. His birth occurred in Ger- many on the 18th of January, 1849, his parents being Peter and Lena (Loepen- teen) Ruser, who were likewise natives of that country. They afterward took up their abode in Sweden, where the father followed farming as a means of live-
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lihood. His demise there occurred about 1895, while his wife was called to her final rest about 1901.
When a youth of eighteen Henry Ruser determined to establish his home in the new world and accordingly crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating in Scott county, Iowa, in 1867. Securing employment as a farm hand by the month, he thus worked for five years and then devoted his attention to the cul- tivation of rented land for a similar period. Subsequently he came to Cedar county and here also rented a tract of land for three years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Inland township, in the operation of which he was busily engaged until 1896, when he disposed of the property and bought another tract of three hundred and thirty- six acres. To the further cultivation and improvement of that farm he devoted his attention until 1908, since which time he has leased the property and has lived in honorable retirement at Bennett.
On the 7th of November, 1874, Mr. Ruser was united in marriage to Miss Emma Stoltenberg, a daughter of John and Anna (Wiese) Stoltenberg, who were early settlers of Scott county and are both now deceased. Our subject and his wife are the parents of six daughters and four sons, as follows: Peter, Lena, Annie, Emma, Laura, John, Minnie, Bertha, Henry and William.
Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. Ruser supports the democratic party but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He has served as school director for a number of years, has also acted as road supervisor and is now holding the office of town councilman. For a period of nine years, or until 1901, he ably discharged the duties devolving upon him in the capacity of township trustee. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the La- theran church. He has never regretted his determination to come to America, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their wise utilization has won a place among the substantial and respected citizens of his community.
LEWIS HART.
Lewis Hart, who is now living retired in Stanwood, has made his home in Iowa for more than a half century and successfully carried on general agricul- tural pursuits in Cedar county for many years, owning a well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres in Fremont township. In addition to his home property he also had a tract of eighty acres in Jones county. The year 1856 wit- nessed his arrival in Iowa, at which time he went through to Fort Dodge and took up a claim at Spirit Lake. He afterward sold the claim and in March, 1864, located in Fremont township, Cedar county, purchasing eighty acres of land. Subsequently he bought an adjoining tract of forty acres, broke the land, erected a house and there carried on farming for three years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of the property and purchased another farm, which he like- wise operated for about three years and then sold. He next bought a tract of eighty acres two and a half miles north of Stanwood, erected a substantial resi-
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dence and commodious barn, fenced the fields and brought the land under a high state of cultivation and improvement. As his financial resources increased he extended the boundaries of that farm by additional purchase from time to time, operating the place altogether for forty years. In addition to the cultivation of cereals he also raised and fed stock, making a specialty of cattle and hogs. Since putting aside the active work of the fields he has made his home in Stanwood, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. He owned three good residences in that town, having purchased one and erected two, which he has sold.
In 1858, at Ottawa, La Salle county, Illinois, Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Lucy A. Sexton, a native of Canada, by whom he had six children, namely : H. J., who owns and operates a portion of the old homestead farm ; W. D., who owns a farm and follows merchandising in Stanwood; W. L., a twin brother of W. D., who likewise owns a portion of the home place ; Martha E., who passed away in 1902, leaving two daughters ; and two who died in early childhood. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in June, 1906, and in November, 1908, at Stanwood, Mr. Hart was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Lyda Bouton, who was born in New York and reared in Iowa. Her father, Lewis Kiniston, was one of the early settlers of Jones county, Iowa. Her daugh- ter, Viola, is now the wife of Jay Miller of Cedar county.
Mr. Hart is a republican in politics and has served in the capacity of township trustee for three years. He was identified with the school board for eighteen years and acted as its president for a time, doing much to advance the cause of education. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Reformed church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Stanwood. The period of his residence in this state covers fifty-four years and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. He has not only been an interested witness of the wonderful transformation that has here occurred but has taken an active and helpful part in the work of prog- ress and improvement, lending his aid and influence at all times to the support of such measures as he deems will advance the general welfare.
ALEXANDER YULE.
Scotland has furnished to the United States many of her most enterprising and substantial citizens and numbered among these now residing in Cedar county is Alexander Yule, whose home is on section 3, Red Oak township. He was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, September 30, 1822, and is a son of John and Ann (Calder) Yule, also natives of that country. There the father spent his en- tire life, dying in 1840, but the mother came to the United States about ten years after our subject located here and her death occurred at Virginia Grove, Iowa, January 9, 1861. The father was twice married and by the first union had seven children, while by the mother of our subject he had three sons and two daughters, namely : Samuel, James, Isabelle, Ann and Alexander, all now deceased with the exception of our subject.
ALEXANDER YULE
MRS. ALEXANDER YULE
1
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
The schools of his native land afforded Alexander Yule his educational priv- ileges and he remained in Scotland until 1845, when he crossed the ocean in com- pany with his sister Isabelle and came direct to Cedar county, Iowa, where they joined a brother and a half-brother. They were six weeks in making the voyage from Glasgow to New York on a sailing vessel and were seven weeks in coming from New York to this county. They traveled by canal boat to Buffalo, by lake to Toledo, Ohio, by canal boat to Cincinnati and then down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi to Muscatine, Iowa. For a time Mr. Yule made his home with his brother Samuel, who had been in America for ten years, and he commenced work here as a common laborer at fifty cents per day, taking his pay in wheat or other produce, as there was little money in circulation here at that time. At the end of two years he commenced farming on his own account upon rented land and it was not until 1852 that he purchased his present farm, giving in exchange two horses valued at one hundred and sixty dollars for a land warrant of one hundred and sixty acres. He had previously purchased forty acres of timber land, upon which was a stone quarry, and he has successfully operated the same, taking out several thousand feet of stone from it. After purchasing his present farm he located thereon, building a house sixteen by twenty-six feet and a story and a half in height, but while breaking the land he operated a rented farm for some time. Success crowned his well directed efforts and at one time he owned five hundred and twenty acres, some of which he has disposed of to his children but still has three hundred and sixty acres in the home farm, which is today a well improved and highly cultivated property.
Mr. Yule was married in May, 1858, to Mrs. Letitia Martin, who was born in Coleraine, Ireland, February 2, 1830, and died in Red Oak township, this county, on the 17th of January, 1892. She was the youngest daughter of Samuel and Hattie Mars and was left an orphan at the age of eight years. Four years later she emigrated to the United States and first located in Philadelphia, whence she went to Thompsonville, Connecticut, at which place she became a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. At the age of twenty-four years she gave her hand in marriage to John Martin and they later came to Iowa, lo- cating in Jones county, where he died in 1855. By that union there was one daughter, now Mrs. Lizzie Dorcas, of Red Oak township. The children born to our subject and his wife are: Annie C .; James H .; John Alexander, who died at the age of four years ; and Isabelle. The daughters both reside at home with the father. Isabelle is a graduate of the academic department of the university at Iowa City and also spent one year at the State Normal, after which she suc- cessfully engaged in teaching in Red Oak and Fremont townships for a number of years. James H. is now operating the home farm. He married Elizabeth Williams, who died in March, 1901, leaving a daughter, Clela Vee Elizabeth, who was born February 12, 1901, and died November 22, 1905. After coming to this county the wife of our subject united with the Red Oak Presbyterian church in 1865 and was ever afterward one of its most earnest and faithful mem- bers.
Mr. Yule keeps well informed on the political issues and questions of the day and never hesitates in giving his allegiance to the republican party, for he believes
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its principles contain the best elements of good government, but he has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. Since 1845 he has made his home in Red Oak township and is today its oldest male resident. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church since the age of eighteen years and has been connected with the Red Oak church since he came to this county. He never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will advance the moral or material welfare of the community in which he resides, and he is thus regarded as one of the leading and representative citizens of the county. On his arrival here his capital consisted of but fifty dollars in gold, and the prop- erty he has acquired is the evidence of his well directed and enterprising life.
CHARLES SWARTZLENDER.
No history of Tipton would be complete without extended mention of Charles Swartzlender, who, however, needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. He has spent his entire life here and he has no stancher friends than those who have known him from his boyhood, a fact that indicates that his record has at all times been one worthy of commendation and of respect.
He was born in Tipton, February 28, 1858. His parents were Reuben and Martha (Dale) Swartzlender, both of whom were natives of Union county, Pennsylvania, the former born August 22, 1821, and the latter on the 25th of June, 1831. In the year 1840 Reuben Swartzlender arrived in Cedar county. He lost his mother when very young, and, being one of a large family who must be provided for, he was bound out and thus served until eighteen years of age with a guardian, who removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio. From the latter state he made his way to Iowa and spent the remainder of his life in Cedar county. Sev- eral years passed before the state was admitted to the Union and the work of progress and development seemed scarcely begun here. He entered land from the government and with characteristic energy began its improvement. Later he bought and sold other lands, trading and speculating quite extensively in property. In 1855 he established his home in Tipton, where he engaged in mer- chandising for a number of years. In fact he was connected with the commer- cial interests here at different times, buying and selling stores. He was a natural trader and in all of his business affairs met with success, owing to his sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise. He was recognized as a man of marked business ability and energy, and that he enjoyed the unqualified confidence and trust of the general public is shown in the fact that he was frequently called upon to administer estates for others. Probably no other man in the county did such an extensive service of this character as Reuben Swartzlender, and no one ever suffered the loss of a dollar at his hands. Moreover, he was a public-spirited citizen and cooperated in many measures and movements for the general good.
For his first wife Reuben Swartzlender chose a Miss Carl, who died leaving no children. For his second wife he wedded Martha Dale, who removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio with her parents in her early girlhood and in 1838 came with her people to Iowa, remaining a resident of Cedar county until she was called
CLELA V. E. YULE
ILS !
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
to her final rest in 1865. She was a daughter of Frederick and Katherine (Kes- ter) Dale, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and spent their last days in Cedar county, Iowa, the father passing away in 1854, while the mother reached the advanced age of ninety-four years, her death occurring in 1884. On coming to the west they settled on a farm five miles south of Tipton and there resided until Mr. Dale passed away, when his widow took up her abode in the county seat. Their family numbered six children: Katherine, the widow of Joseph Knott; Mary, the wife of King Hardman, now deceased; John, who died of typhoid fever in 1854 about the same time as his father's death; Susan, who died in Tipton in 1904; Philip, who was married and at his death left a fam- ily ; and Mrs. Swartzlender. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Swartzlender were eight children: Nettie, the wife of A. B. Maynard, of San Francisco; Mary, the widow of R. C. Whitson, of Santa Ana, California ; Ella, the wife of C. E. May- nard, of San Francisco; Charles; Martha, the widow of J. H. Coutts, who was president of the City National Bank of Tipton, Iowa, at the time of his death ; Walter, living in Wilton, Iowa; one who died in infancy; and Christiana, who died at the age of five years.
Charles Swartzlender has spent his entire life in Tipton and Cedar county, and at the usual age became a pupil in the public schools, passing through con- secutive grades until he became a high school student. He afterward pursued a course in the Davenport Business College and, thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties, started out for himself. Subsequently he began farming and at the time of his marriage, in 1883, took up his abode upon a farm of one hundred and eighty-one acres, partially within the corporation limits of Tipton in the southeastern part of the town. He resided there until 1904 and energetically, capably and successfully carried on agricultural pursuits, bringing his la.Id under a high state of cultivation and gathering rich crops as the reward of his persistent, earnest and intelligently directed effort. Soon after the organi- zation of the City National Bank he became one of its directors and in January, 1906, was elected cashier, which position he has since filled. He has been active in the management and control of the bank and has proved a courteous, obliging and capable official whose personal popularity constitutes one of the attributes of success for the institution. He still retains the ownership of his farm and is treasurer of the Tipton Canning Factory, which he was active in organizing, becoming its first president. He has ever taken a helpful part in promoting agri- cultural interests in this part of the state and was president of the Tipton Fair Association, the predecessor of the Cedar County Association.
On the Ist of March, 1883, Mr. Swartzlender was united in marriage to Miss Temperance Richards, who was born in Linn township, Cedar county, April II, 1863, and is a daughter of Frederick and Jane (Minto) Richards, natives of England, who, however, were married in this county. The father came here about 1840 and the mother arrived in 1846, making the journey in company with their respective parents. Mr. Richards died in 1870 but Mrs. Richards still sur- vives and makes her home in Tipton with her children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Swartzlender have been born a son and two daughters: Jean, the wife of Dr. W. M. Furnish, who is engaged in the practice of osteopathy in Tipton; Dale, who is a student in the Colorado State University of Boulder ; and Elizabeth.
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In his political views Mr. Swartzlender is a democrat but, aside from exer- cising his right of franchise, takes no active part in political affairs. He was secretary of the Old Settlers' Society for several years and is numbered among the early residents of the county, having for more than a half century lived within its borders. He has therefore witnessed many changes as the work of progress and development has been carried on. His life record is as an open book which all may read. His attention has ever been given to his business interests and to the performance of those duties which each day brings. He has ever been found reliable and trustworthy as well as industrious in the management of his agri- cultural, commercial and financial affairs, and his many sterling characteristics have won him the unqualified regard and good will of his fellowmen.
CHARLES O. GRAY.
Charles O. Gray is now successfully engaged in the operation of a farm on section 26, Gower township, where he was born on the 16th of November, 1875, his parents being Francis Marion and Ella (Blanchard) Gray. His father was also a native of Cedar county, born in Iowa township on the 28th of February, 1846, and belonged to an old and prominent family that early became identified with the development of this region. His parents were Ebenezer A. and Eliza (Bolon) Gray, the former a native of Harrison county, Ohio, and the latter of Loudoun county, Virginia. At an early day Mrs. Gray accompanied her parents on their removal to Ohio and there she was married and continued to make her home until 1839, when she came with her husband to Cedar county, Iowa. Here he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Iowa township and to the improvement and cultivation of this tract he devoted his energies for many years. Being a gunsmith by trade, he was in the employ of the government for some time, repairing guns used in the Indian wars, specimens of which are now on exhibition in Des Moines, but his attention was mainly given to agri- cultural pursuits. In his family were eight children, namely: Amanda, who married Daniel Ellyson and is now deceased; Thomas, a resident of West Lib- erty, Iowa; Alfred, a resident of Atlantic, this state; Mary and Caroline, who died in infancy; Ann, the wife of Joseph Westfall, who died during his service in the Civil war, while her death occurred in Iowa township; F. M., the father of our subject; and William, of West Branch, Iowa.
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