USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 21
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FRANK J. MCCLELLAN.
Frank J. McClellan, residing on section 30, Dayton township, was born in Springfield township, this county, on the 6th of June, 1878, and is a son of John McClellan. At the usual age he entered the public schools, and, after pursuing his studies therein until he had mastered the common branches of learning, he entered the high school of Clarence and afterward spent two winters in the Mount Vernon Academy. He remained with his father on the home place after he at- tained his majority and assisted in operating the farm in connection with his brother W. H. McClellan. He was early trained to the work of the fields and his practical experience well qualified him for the successful management of his in- terests when he started out in life for himself.
On the 9th of December, 1903, in Center township, Mr. McClellan was mar- ried to Miss Mamie Gaige, who was born in Davenport, Scott county, and was reared in Tipton. In the schools of the latter place she pursued her education until graduated from the high school. She is an adopted daughter of Robert Gaige.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McClellan located on the farm where they now reside, Mr. McClellan taking charge of the place. He has made great im- provements, keeping up all the repair work, building a new barn for the stock
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and also a hay barn and hog house. He has fenced and cross-fenced his land with woven wire, has put in about five hundred rods of tiling and has carried on his work along the most modern and progressive lines, his labors resulting bene- ficially, as evidenced in the excellent appearance of the place and in the success which has attended his efforts. In connection with the cultivation of the fields he raises and feeds stock, shipping about a carload of cattle and a large number of hogs each year. He also buys, raises and feeds horses, this being one of the important branches of his business. He is a successful farmer and stock-feeder and is well known as a breeder and dealer in pure blooded shorthorn cattle. He now has a herd of twenty thoroughbred and high grade cows with a pure blooded registered male of Scotch stock at the head of his herd. The appearance of his horses and cattle cannot but delight the lover of fine stock and in this connection Mr. McClellan has done much to advance the grade of stock raised in the county.
In his political views Mr. McClellan is a republican, voting with the party on national questions, while at local elections he casts an independent ballot. He and his wife are members of the Stanwood Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as an official and in the faith of that church they are rearing their two children, Robert John and Ward Everett. Mr. McClellan is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Tipton Lodge, and his wife is connected with the Daughters of Rebekah. He is also a Modern Woodman and in his life exemplifies the beneficent teachings of these orders. Having spent his entire life in this county, Mr. McClellan is widely acquainted and as a citizen and business man displays many sterling qualities.
JOHN PEARSON.
The financial interests of Cedar county find a worthy representative in John Pearson. Alert, enterprising and progressive, his energy and diligence have enabled him to accomplish what he has undertaken and in both agricultural lines and in financial circles he has made a most creditable record. He is now closely associated with banking interests, having for the past five years served as president of the West Branch State Bank. He thus continues in active touch with the business world, although he has passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey.
Mr. Pearson was born in Miami county, Ohio, December 8, 1825, and there made his home until March, 1857, devoting his life to the occupation of farm- ing. His father, John Furnace Pearson, was a native of South Carolina and became a resident of Ohio in 1805 or 1806, only two or three years after the admission of the state into the Union. He married Miss Mary Pegg, who was a native of North Carolina and accompanied her parents on their removal to Indiana, the family home being established about fourteen miles north of Rich- mond. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were married in Indiana, after which they took up their abode in Ohio, where they spent their remaining days, living upon the farm which was the birthplace of their son John. The father was the owner
JOHN PEARSON
MRS. JOHN PEARSON
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of ninety-five acres of land and to the development and improvement of his property he devoted his energies. In the family were six children: Benjamin, deceased; Margaret, who has also passed away; Mrs. Esther P. Steddon, of Lebanon, Ohio; John, of this review; Joseph, deceased; and Mrs. Mary Men- denhall Greenlee, who died January 27, 1909, on the old home place, where she spent her entire life. The eldest son, Benjamin Pearson, came to Iowa in 1854 and continued to reside here until called to his final home. He lived in Tama county for a number of years and in 1867 took up his abode in Cedar county, where he lived until his death in 1886.
No event of any particular importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for John Pearson in the days of his boyhood and youth. He worked in the fields from the time of the early spring planting until the crops were harvested in the late autumn and continued to live in Ohio until more than thirty years of age, when he determined to try his fortune in Iowa. On the 14th of March, 1857, he crossed the Mississippi river with his wife and four children. They traveled by steam cars to Cincinnati and thence by boat to St. Louis. As the Mississippi river was then full of floating ice, they had to proceed by rail to Rock Island, at which point they crossed the river bridge, although people were still driving across the ice. They located at Springdale and Mr. Pearson has since resided within a mile of his first home. For ten years he lived upon a farm a mile north of Springdale in Gower township, and then crossed the road into Springdale township, where he made his home upon a farm until 1892. He has since lived in the village of Springdale and has practically retired from business life. He was, however, interested in general agricultural pursuits for many years and was the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land, which he successfully cultivated. Care and judgment were exercised in planting his crops and managing his property, and thus as the years passed on he accumu- lated a comfortable competence. He is now the president of the West Branch State Bank, with which he has been connected since the second year of its organization, a which time he was elected a director. Soon afterward he was chosen vice president of the institution and for the past five years has been its president.
On the 23d of September, 1847, at Raysville, Indiana, Mr. Pearson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ray Miller, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, April 20, 1821, and resided there until twenty years of age. At that time she went to Indiana. She had lost both of her parents before she was thirteen years of age and went to Indiana to live with an uncle, with whom she resided for a number of years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were born five chil- dren : Mrs. Louisa Jane Lindley, who spent her married life in California but died in Cedar county, Iowa, in 1894; Albannus, who is living in Springdale township; Alvira, who died in 1892 after devoting her life to the care of her parents in their advanced years ; Linneus, who died in 1858; and Horace Greely, who passed away in September, 1910, at Baker City, Oregon.
The Pearson family were originally supporters of the old Whig party and John Pearson of this review has been a republican since the days of Fremont. He well remembers John Brown, the abolitionist leader, whom he entertained in his home a number of times and who drilled a company of men in this vicinity.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Mr. Pearson represented Gower township on the board of supervisors for a time and has always been progressive in matters of citizenship. His first pres- idential vote was cast in 1848 for Zachary Taylor, and he has never missed an election since that time. He is a birthright member of the Society of Friends and believes in all that the Bible teaches. He was an active worker in the Sunday school and taught a class for over forty years, but on the 13th of Sep- tember, 1909, he resigned for his health would no longer permit of the perform- ance of that duty. He has held official posts in the church and his life has been an exposition of his Christian faith and belief. He has lived honorably and peaceably with all men, has never been known to overreach another in a business transaction, and in fact has closely followed the golden rule, his life proving the worth and value of uprightness and honesty.
FRANK FOWLIE.
America, declared the philosopher Emerson, is another name for opportunity. Given time and opportunity what results may be achieved by ambition and in- dustry the lives of our eminent and successful men illustrate. In distant lands they severed home ties to seek in the United States the opportunity for advance- ment and progress denied them abroad. Such is the history of Frank Fowlie, now one of the well known farmers of Cedar county, who owns a well improved tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in Dayton township. Forty years have passed since he came to this county, arriving here when a young man of nineteen years. He was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, January 5, 1851, a son of John and Jane (Still) Fowlie, who were also natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives and reared their family.
Frank Fowlie spent his youth to the age of seventeen years in the land of hills and heather and was provided with good educational privileges but from his youth had to depend upon his own resources for a living. Feeling that broader opportunities could be secured in the United States, he sailed for the new world in 1868. Landing at Castle Garden, he made his way direct to La Salle county, · Illinois, where he joined his uncles, who had previously come to this country. He worked there for eighteen months at farm labor and in 1870 came to Cedar county, Iowa, where he also joined an uncle. For a few years thereafter he was employed as a farm hand but throughout the period was actuated by a laudable ambition to engage in business on his own account. At the time of his marriage he rented land which he cultivated for several years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his economy and judicious expenditure had brought him capital sufficient to enable him in 1895 to purchase an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He at once began its further development and enhanced its productiveness by tiling the fields. He also fenced the land and devoted his energies to raising both grain and stock. In 1909 he purchased a residence in Clarence, which he has occupied since March, 1910. He has now rented his farm but still gives it his personal supervision and watches that the work of improvement is there carried on along progressive lines.
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Mr. Fowlie was married in Clarence, September 9, 1874, to Miss Hattie Otis, a native of Boone county, Illinois, and a daughter of Sumner Otis, who was born in Massachusetts and was married near Hinsdale, that state. He afterward came west to Illinois and settled near Belvidere in Boone county, where he followed farming and reared his family. Mrs. Fowlie remained a resident of Boone county until eleven years of age and was then brought to Cedar county, becoming a resident of Massillon township.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fowlie have been born four .sons and one daughter : Frank E. is married and resides at Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he is employed as a mail clerk. He is a well educated young man, is a graduate of Cedar Falls College, and for a number of years engaged in teaching. Fannie J. became the wife of Jerome Luethold, a farmer of Cedar county, and died in Dakota, leaving two children, Harriet Frances and Charles Casper. James Wilbur, a farmer of Dayton township, is married and has one son, Gerald Graydon. Ralph A. is mar- ried and is conducting a meat market at Loveland, Colorado. Arthur L. is single and operates the home farm.
Politically Mr. Fowlie is a republican with firm faith in the principles of the party, yet voting independently at local elections. He has served as township trustee and as a member of the school board. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Clarence and have a very wide acquaintance in the county where they have long resided. In 1908 they went abroad and while traveling through Europe visited Scotland and the scenes and friends of Mr. Fowlie's youth. They also spent some time in a number of the important cities of the old world, viewing points of historic as well as of modern interest. Mr. Fowlie has always been recognized as a careful, conservative business man of tried integrity and worth, possessed of many sterling traits of character. By reason of his diligence and perseverance he has accumulated a handsome com- petence that now enables him to live retired, while his upright life has made his an honored name in the land of his adoption.
JOHN CHRISTIAN REICHERT.
A well spent life characterized by close conformity to high standards of man- · hood and citizenship has given John Christian Reichert a hold on the regard and friendship of his fellow townsmen such as few men have. Because of his wide acquaintance his life history cannot fail to prove of interest to many of the read- ers of this volume.
He is a native of Summerhausen, Bavaria, Germany, born March 27, 1835, and his parents, Paul and Anna Rose (Hester) Reichert, were also natives of Bavaria. Bidding adieu to home and native land, in the summer of 1837 they sailed with their family for the United States and in August of that year became residents of Ohio, where their remaining days were passed. The voyage across the Atlantic was a long one of seven weeks in a sailing vessel and they encoun- tered rough weather. The father was a cabinet-maker by trade and instructed his sons in that line of work. Both he and his wife passed away in Stark county,
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Ohio, when seventy-two years of age. Several of their children died in infancy in Germany, while three of the number reached mature years. All but John Henry were born in the fatherland, namely: Rosanna, who became the wife of Jacob Gretzinger and died in Ohio in 1900; John Christian, of this review; and John Henry, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of Howard, his son.
John Christian Reichert was but two years of age when his parents came to the United States and established a home in Bethlehem, Stark county, Ohio, where he remained until April, 1853, when at the age of eighteen years, he went to Laporte, Indiana, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, at which he had been employed from the age of thirteen years. On the 13th of April, 1855, he arrived in Tip- ton, where he has since made his home and here was connected with building operations until 1869. A year after his arrival he was joined by his brother, John Henry Reichert, and they worked together at the carpenter's trade and later began contracting and building on their own account, being thus identified with the material improvement of the city until 1869, when they turned their attention to the hardware and implement business, under the name of Reichert Brothers. They conducted the store together until the brother's health became impaired in 1872, at which time he sold his interest to William H. Cobb and the business was then carried on under the firm style of Reichert & Cobb for three years. Mr. Reichert then purchased the interest of the junior partner and con- ducted the store alone until February 1, 1891, when he sold out to Hecht & Diehl. Since that time he has lived retired from active business cares, save for the super- vision of his invested interests. While engaged in contracting with his brother, they also conducted a lumberyard at Tipton. This was a big undertaking at the time, as there were no railroads here, and they hauled all the lumber by team from Muscatine, Wilton or Clarence. They also had to haul hardware for a number of years from the same points until a railroad was built through. They had an immense trade both in hardware and lumber and the business was ex- tremely successful. During the second year in the hardware business they sold one hundred and eleven cultivators. That was the first year in which cultivators were introduced into this section of the state. They also introduced many other new farm implements, including planters and hand and horse power machines. It was only a question of how many they could get, for they found a ready sale for all which they bought. Mr. Reichert sold the first check rower to the farm- ers and also the first hay tedder. The agriculturists of this part of the state would read of a new machine in the Prairie Farmer and then came to Mr. Reich- ert to order one. He was a director of the Cedar County State Bank for a num- ber of years but since 1891 has been practically retired from business, having acquired a handsome competency that enables him to rest from further labor.
On the 5th of February, 1861, Mr. Reichert was united in marriage to Miss Bertha R. Landrock, who was born in Bethlehem, Stark county, Ohio, January I, 1843, and there resided until her marriage. Her parents, Charles and Wilhel- mina Landrock, were natives of Saxony, Germany, and in 1837 went to Ohio, spending their remaining days in Stark county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reichert were born five children: Ella Rose, who is the widow of Frank W. Adams of Portland, Oregon; Mary Belle, the wife of Henry L. Huber, of Tipton ; Ordelia,
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
the wife of J. W. Wright of Tipton; Paul Ernest, living in Bozeman, Montana, and Frederick Carl, who died at the age of nine years.
In his political views Mr. Reichert is an earnest democrat and such is his per- sonal popularity and the confidence reposed in him that he was appointed during a republican administration to fill a vacancy in the office of justice of the peace and served for two years. He was also appointed to superintend the building of the present high school and has been a cooperant factor in many movements for the general good. In fact his aid can always be depended upon to further any public project intended for the welfare and upbuilding of the town or county. He is prominent in Masonry, holding membership in Cedar Lodge, No. II, A. F. & A. M .; Siloam Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M., of Tipton ; and the Knights Templar Commandery of Muscatine, Iowa. He has long been a devoted member of the Lutheran church, serving for many years as deacon and elder. His life has been in harmony with his professions, winning him the unqualified regard of all with whom he has come in contact. His life has been so honorable in its purposes, so kindly in its spirit, and so just and generous in its actions, that he enjoys to the fullest degree the friendship and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
ABRAM PFAFF.
Abram Pfaff, long a well known and valued citizen of Cedar county, was born in Kaiserslautern, Bavaria, Germany, May 7, 1814, and in his childhood days was brought to the United States by his parents. He was a young man of twenty-three years when he was united in marriage to Susan Laubscher, their wedding being celebrated in Canton, Stark county, Ohio, in 1837. Mrs. Pfaff was born April 13, 1821, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Laubscher, who were also natives of Bavaria. The birth of Mrs. Pfaff occurred in Kaiserslau- tern and she was a little maiden of seven summers when her parents crossed the broad Atlantic and sought a home in the United States. They made the voyage at the same time the Pfaff family came and both families settled in Ohio, but it was in Iowa that Mr. and Mrs. Laubscher spent their declining years.
Following their marriage Abram Pfaff and his wife went to New York but subsequently took up their abode in Pennsylvania, where two children were added to the household. After spending a few years in the Keystone state they re- turned to Ohio, where another child was born to them. In 1845 they came to the middle west, locating on a farm in Cass township, Cedar county. Here the father developed and improved his place until 1852, when he made an overland trip to California but returned to his home in the fall of the same year. He then resumed his farming operations, which he continued throughout his remain- ing years.
After coming to Cedar county six more children were added to the house- hold, the record being as follows: William, who was born November 20, 1839, and died October 7, 1867; Magdalene, who was born February 28, 1843, and is the widow of Finley Huey and a resident of Lisbon, Iowa; Abram, who was born
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March 15, 1845, and is now a resident of Tipton; Peter, who was born May 10, 1847, and died in May, 1909, at the age of sixty-two years; Caroline, who was born September 16, 1849, and makes her home in Cass township with her sister, Mrs. Dodds; Charles, a resident of Tipton, who was born October 29, 1853; John, who was born October 10, 1855, and is a resident of Tipton, his sketch being found on another page of this work; Anna E., born July 3, 1857, who is now the wife of Fred Kohl, of Lisbon; and Susan, whose birth occurred May 18, 1859, and who is now the wife of Charles A. Dodds, of Cass township. Both the parents died many years ago, the mother passing away on the 7th of No- vember, 1867, while the father, surviving for a number of years, departed this life March 10, 1885, when seventy-one years of age. He was identified with the early development of this section of the state and became a prominent and highly respected citizen, his death being a great loss to the community in which he had so long made his home.
ISRAEL P. BERRY.
Israel P. Berry is a veteran of the Civil war and a self-made man whose diligence and determination constituted the chief force in the success which he has achieved as the years have gone by. In the early days he worked as a farm laborer by the month and is today the owner of a valuable property. He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, February 14, 1839, and was therefore a young man of twenty-one years when, in the spring of 1860, he came to Iowa. His parents were William and Martha (Pearson) Berry, the former born in Loudoun county, Virginia, and the latter near Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio. The father started for Iowa in company with two companions and all three died of cholera while on the way, the father's death occurring April 2, 1854, when he was fifty-two years of age. The mother came to Iowa in 1866 and died January 26, 1894, in her eighty-fourth year.
In their family were thirteen children, nine of whom reached years of ma- turity. Jane is the wife of John Worrel, of Iowa township. Benjamin, who was a wagonmaker by trade, was killed while digging a well in Ohio. He had expected to enlist for service in the Union army on the day that he was killed. He was married and left a family. William, who removed to Kansas in 1871, died in that state, leaving a family. Mary Emsey is the wife of David Scott of Morgan county, Ohio. Martha Ann married A. J. McKittrick and both died in Wisconsin. Israel is the next of the family. Caroline is the wife of John W. Lewis, of Atalissa, Iowa. Eunice died unmarried. James Madison, who completes the family, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, September 10, 1850, and in 1866 came to Cedar county with his widowed mother. For a short time they lived with his brother-in-law, John Worrel, in Iowa township, after which he worked by the month as a farm hand for fifteen or twenty years. He then rented land and later purchased one hundred and forty-five acres on section 33, Iowa township, constituting a well improved property upon which he re- sided until 1906, when he removed to Springdale and educated his children.
ISRAEL P. BERRY
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
He was married, December 25, 1894, to Margaret Minsch, who was born in this county, September 18, 1867, a daughter of John and Mary (Gephart) Minsch, natives of Pennsylvania, who are now living in Oklahoma. Unto Mr. and Mrs. James M. Berry were born five children, Lucille, Robert, Irene, Fern and Margaret.
Israel P. Berry, whose name introduces this review, spent his youthful days in the usual manner of farm lads. His early advantages were few and with a desire to improve his financial condition he came to Iowa in 1860 and was em- ployed at farm labor until his enlistment for service in the Civil war on the 19th of September, 1861. He became a member of Company D, Eleventh Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, and took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Iuka. At the last place he was taken ill and was sent to the hospital at Corinth. After four days he was transferred to the hospital at Columbus, Kentucky, and was later in the hospital at Jefferson Barracks for about a month. At the end of that time he was sent to Quincy, Illinois, and was honorably discharged December II, 1862. Returning to Ohio, he there remained in a state of convalescence until 1864, when he again enlisted, joining the One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he was connected until the regiment was mustered out August 10, 1864. Whenever his health permitted he was in active duty and made a creditable military record.
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