USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 28
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On the 22d of December, 1892, Mr. McCormick was married in Cedar county to Miss Maud Slater, who was here born and reared, a daughter of Samuel Slater, one of the early settlers of Cedar county, now living in Johnson county, who came to Iowa from Ohio. The McCormick household is a hospitable one and both Mr. McCormick and his wife are highly esteemed in the social circles in which they move. Mr. McCormick votes with the democracy on questions of national importance; at local elections where the question for consideration is the capability of the candidate to take care of the business interests of the county he casts an independent ballot. He has been a lifelong resident of this part of the state, witnessing its growth for thirty-nine years and as time has passed on he has became recognized as one of the capable, energetic, progressive and successful business men and stock-dealers of this part of the state as well as a public-spirited citizen whose cooperation can always be counted upon to further measures for the public good.
EVERETTE PUFFER.
Everette Puffer is devoting his time and energies to the basic industry of agriculture. Farming constitutes the foundation of success in all life, and he who carefully and conscientiously tills the soil contributes to the world's prog- ress. On a farm on section 26, Pioneer township, lives Everette Puffer, who tills the fields and feeds his stock upon a tract of land of one hundred and twenty- five acres while altogether he operates two hundred acres. His homestead was also his birthplace, his natal day being April 24, 1879. The paternal grand- father was one of the first settlers of Cedar county and amid pioneer surround- ings the father was reared, sharing in the hardships and privations that always constitute an element in frontier life. After attaining man's estate he chose
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MR. AND MRS. EVERETTE PUFFER
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as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Arminda Boyles, who was born in Pennsylvania and gave him her hand in marriage in 1873. They began their domestic life upon a farm and to the usual duties of the agriculturist Mr. Puffer continued to devote his time and energies until his death, which occurred about 1894. His wife still survives him and is now living in Mechanicsville. Their family numbered three children: Ray, a farmer of Pioneer township, who is mentioned on another page of this volume; Mabel, the wife of Claude Harper, of Saint John, Washington; and Everette, who is the youngest of the family.
The last named was a youth of fifteen years at the time of his father's death. He remained with his mother until he attained his majority and through the period of his youth acquired a good common-school education. After reach- ing manhood he and his brother farmed together until 1905 and then divided the estate, Everette Puffer receiving the old home. It was on the 15th of March of the same year that he was married in Emmetsburg, Iowa, to Miss Grace Kohl. who was born in South Dakota but was reared in Cedar county. Her father, Jesse Kohl, was a native of Jones county, Iowa, where he spent his youthful days. He was married at Storm Lake, Buena Vista county, to Miss Mary Scott, a native of New York, who in her girlhood days was brought to Iowa and here reared. Mr. Kohl carried on farming in Cedar county until 1906, when he re- moved to Phillipsburg, Kansas, where he now resides.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Puffer took up his abode on the farm, where he has since lived, his attention being largely given to the raising and feeding of sheep and hogs, his specialty being Shropshire sheep and Chester White hogs, selling three carloads of each annually. He cares for his stock after the most modern methods and therefore sends them to market in good condition and receives therefor a high price.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Puffer has been born a daughter, Mary A. The parents are widely and favorably known in this community where they have many friends. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party but aside from voting he has never been interested in politics, his purpose in life being to provide a com- fortable living for his family that they may be relieved of the hardships that come through lack of financial resources. He therefore is bending his energies to the successful development of his farm and to his live-stock interests, and in this connection is making an excellent record.
JACKSON FERGUSON.
From pioneer days the life record of Jackson Ferguson has been interwoven with the history of Cedar county, and in its development and improvement he has been an active factor, having been identified with its agricultural and business interests during a long and honorable career. A native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurred in Westmoreland county on the 5th of December, 1844, a son of Hans and Margaret (Shields) Ferguson, also natives of the Keystone state. The father followed the occupation of farming in Clarion county, Pennsylvania,
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for number of years and there spent his last days, his death there occurring about the year 1852. He was long survived by his wife, who reared their family of five sons and five daughters. In 1856 the mother, thinking that the west offered better opportunities for advancement for her sons, removed with her family to Iowa, the family home being established in Cedar county within about a mile of Mechanicsville. Mrs. Ferguson passed away in Mechanicsville about 1892, being survived by three sons and three daughters.
It was to that home that Jackson Ferguson was brought when a lad of twelve years, and there he was reared to manhood. He acquired a common-school edu- cation and amid the busy activities of rural life early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he assisted in the work of the fields. He remained with his mother upon the farm until attaining man's estate, when he laid the foundation for a happy home of his own by his marriage in Red Oak town- ship on the 7th of March, 1872, to Miss Anna Goodrich, who was born and reared in Cedar county. She was a daughter of John Goodrich, of English lineage, who was numbered among the early settlers of this section of Iowa.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Ferguson took charge of the old home- stead, which then consisted of eighty acres, and directed his entire attention to its further development and improvement. That he was successful in his un- dertaking is indicated by the fact that from time to time he was able to buy more land, and eventually he became the owner of two hundred and forty acres in Fremont township. As the years passed he erected a good residence, added two large barns and substantial outbuildings, and the place became one of the valu- able and attractive properties of the township. He continued to engage in agri- cultural pursuits with increasing prosperity until 1887, when, renting his farm, he removed to Mechanicsville, where he has since made his home. After his arrival in this city he purchased a livery barn on Main street, which he per- sonally conducted for about six years, but he is now living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. He still owns the livery business, however, and this, with the rental of his farm, returns to him a compentency which makes it possible for him now in the evening of life to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Shortly after arriving in Mechanics- ville he erected a neat and attractive residence which he still owns, and here he is living in honorable retirement, respected and esteemed by all who know him.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were born four children, but the eldest, John G., is the only one now living. He is engaged in farming in Red Oak town- ship. Those who have passed away are: Kittie, who died at the age of six years ; Grace, whose death occurred when she was seven years of age; and Bertie, who died when four years old. On the 30th of March, 1909, Mr. Ferguson was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose remains were interred in the beautiful Red Oak cemetery by the side of her children, where a neat monument marks their last resting place.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson attended the Presbyterian church, the teachings thereof being the guiding spirit in their lives. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Mechanicsville, and in his political views has supported the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served as district supervisor for several years. Coming to
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Cedar county when but a lad, he has therefore been identified with the growth of this section of the country, and he has watched its development, has seen the building of the railroads and the introduction of the telegraph and telephone, and the adoption of all of those evidences of modern civilization which have transformed this district from wild prairie land until it has become today an integral part of one of the greatest commonwealths of the Union. The part he has taken in its development has ever been a helpful one, and with the passing years he has gained a high place among the business men of his community, the honesty of his dealings, the high standard of citizenship to which he has ever adhered and the sterling worth of his character all combining to win for him the confidence, regard and good-will of his fellowmen.
FERDINAND GOETTSCH.
With not an asset in this world but a strong, rugged body and perfect health, and owing for his passage across the ocean, Ferdinand Goettsch landed in Scott county, Iowa, twenty-nine years ago. He has paid back that passage money, has made himself a good home in the new world and is in a fair way of becom- ing one of the wealthy men of Cedar county. His success is due to his faith in his own ability and decided earnestness of purpose coupled with sterling honesty. He ranks among the representative citizens of the county and is worthy of a place in its history.
Mr. Goettsch was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, July 9, 1864, a son of Claus and Margaret (Luett) Goettsch, both of whom are natives of Germany and are still living. He attended the local schools of that country until he was sixteen years of age and then worked upon the home place. When he had at- tained the age of seventeen years he decided to make his way to America and begin life in the new country where the opportunities for advancement were greater than in his own. He had no money with which to pay his passage, so borrowed it from a friend and started on the long journey to the United States. He came at once to Iowa and for seven years worked as a farm hand in Scott county. His first duty was to pay for his passage and this he did with the first money he here earned. At the end of seven years he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Plymouth county, Iowa, and lived there until 1902, when he came to Cedar county and purchased the Francis Walker farm of two hun- dred and forty acres. This place was one of the early settled farms of the county and Mr. Goettsch has brought it to a high state of perfection. He has built a new hog house, remodeled the residence, built many outbuildings for storage of grain and implements and tiled the land thoroughly where necessary, and as a result has one of the finest farms in the township.
In Plymouth county Mr. Goettsch was married in 1889 to Miss Mary Bene- dix, a daughter of F. and Christina Benedix, natives of Germany, now residents of Woodbury county, Iowa. Mrs. Goettsch was born in Moline, Illinois, where her parents lived for some time when they first came to the United States. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Goettsch five children, namely: Christina,
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Lorenz, Ida and Ferdinand, all living at home; and Leonard, who died in infancy.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Goettsch were reared in the Lutheran faith, although they are not now connected with the church. Mr. Goettsch is a democrat and at the present time is serving his second term as township trustee and his third term as school treasurer. General farming has made him one of the substantial men of the township. His unbounded faith in his own resources and ability and in the future of agriculture may be illustrated in no better manner than to state that, when first he took charge of the one hundred and sixty acres of land in Plymouth county he had but five hundred dollars capital. But he has made good as farmer and citizen and is respected by all who know him.
W. C. HELMER.
The spirit of progress is manifest in the life record of W. C. Helmer of Mechanicsville, who has for many years been closely associated with farming and stock-raising interests in Cedar county, where he owns five hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable land. Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in business circles, this being due not alone to the success which he has achieved but also to the straight- forward honorable methods which he has ever followed.
A native son of Cedar county, he was born in Pioneer township, March 19, 1868. His father, William Helmer, was born in Springville, Indiana, spent his youth in his native state and pursued his education in Greencastle, Indiana. When a young man he came west to Iowa, settling in Pioneer township, Cedar county. Four brothers made the trip and bought land together, becoming the owners of extensive holdings and opening up a large farm. It was in this county that William Helmer was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Cameron, who was born and reared near Carleton, Ohio, and was a daughter of William Cameron, also one of the early settlers of Iowa, who bought and operated a farm in Pioneer town- ship. After being identified with general agricultural pursuits in this state for a long period and contributing in large measure to the material progress of the county along that line, William Helmer removed to Mechanicsville, where he engaged in merchandising. He later extended his efforts by establishing the first bank of the town in connection with a Mr. Gortner. Subsequently he disposed of his store in order to give his entire time and attention to the bank and was rec- ognized as one of the foremost financiers of the county. He was known as a very kind, lenient man, a friend to the poor and the adviser of all who sought his opinions regarding business transactions. Substantial aid was never with- held when needed and his kindly spirit and good qualities won him the loving regard of all who knew him. As the years passed on he dealt largely in real estate, becoming the owner of several hundred acres of land. In connection with the banking company in which he was interested-Helmer, Elliott & Gort- ner-the firm owned over ten thousand acres. He also owned good business property and residences in Mechanicsville and was one of the best known men
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of the county, the extent of his business activities, his cooperation in public affairs and his genuine personal worth gaining him a firm hold upon the esteem and friendship of the people throughout this section of the state. He died in 1906 and is still survived by his widow who now resides in Mechanicsville.
W. C. Helmer spent his youthful days under the parental roof and pursued his education in the public schools, completing the course in the Mechanicsville high school, after which he attended the Cedar Rapids Commercial College. He was afterward engaged in buying, feeding and shipping horses for two years and at the end of that time took up his abode upon a farm of five hundred and sixty acres near Mechanicsville which he now owns. He engaged in raising and feed- ing stock upon this place as well as cultivating the fields and he made a specialty of handling horses there for five years. Everything about the farm was kept in good condition. He repaired and rebuilt the fences, tiled the land and put the farm in good shape. It is today a valuable property and returns to him a grati- fying annual income. In 1907 he removed to the town and bought a lot and one acre of land. He erected a good residence which he now occupies and from this point he manages his farming interests and live-stock business and also looks after his mother's farms. His interests are extensive and he is regarded a one of the leading business men of this part of Cedar county. The extensive hold- ings of the father were inherited by the mother and her two children, the sister of our subject being Mrs. Bessie Culver, a widow who resided with her mother until she passed away in September, 1910, leaving a daughter, Lillian Culver.
W. C. Helmer was married July 3, 1904, to Miss Maude Everhart, who was born and reared in Iowa, a daughter of Nicholas Everhart, one of the early set- tlers from Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Helmer have one son, Leonard. The family is socially prominent in the community and the success of Mr. Helmer in business affairs enables them to enjoy the privileges and opportunities which prosperity provides. Mr. Helmer has been a resident of Cedar county throughout his entire life and the family is numbered among the most honored of the pioneer settlers. He seems to have inherited his father's excellent business ability and is proving in his own record that success is not a matter of genius, as held by some, but is the outcome of enterprise, clear judgment and experience. While he is meeting with success in his undertakings, his labors, too, are proving an element in the general growth and progress of the county in which he is deeply interested.
CHRISTIAN SCHNEEKLOTH.
Christian Schneekloth, a retired resident of Sunbury, was identified with general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career, thus win- ning the competence which now enables him to spend the evening of life with- out recourse to further labor. His birth occurred in Holstein, Germany, on the 2d of June, 1847, his parents being Henry and Margarita (Schroeder) Schneekloth, who were likewise natives of that country. The father passed
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away in Durant, Iowa, about 1878, while the mother's demise there occurred in 1900. Their children were seven in number, our subject being the third in order of birth.
Christian Schneekloth spent the first twenty years of his life in his native land and there obtained his education. In 1867 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating in Davenport, Iowa, where he secured employ- ment as a farm hand and thus worked for four years. On the expiration of that period he rented one hundred and sixty acres of land in Scott county, de- voting his attention to its cultivation for three years. Subsequently he oper- ated a rented farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Walcott and in 1880 purchased a quarter section of land in Farmington township, Cedar county. He later bought an additional tract of eighty acres but disposed of the prop- erty and purchased eighty acres of land in Inland township, which is still in his possession. The work of the fields claimed his attention until the time of his retirement from active business life, and his well directed labors as an agri- culturist brought him a substantial annual income. He sold his place of one hundred and sixty acres in Farmington township to his son Harry and now lives at Sunbury with his wife, owning a fine residence in that town.
On the 5th of March, 1872, in Davenport, Mr. Schneekloth was united in marriage to Miss Dora Hamann, a daughter of Henry and Christina Hamann, both of whom are deceased. Our subject and his wife have four children, namely: Harry, a resident of Farmington township; Malinia, who gave her hand in marriage to Frank Gurck and makes her home in Farmington town- ship; Rudolph, living in Inland township; and Otto, of Walcott.
Mr. Schneekloth is independent in politics, not considering himself bound by party ties when exercising his right of franchise. Both he and his wife belong to the Lutheran church and their lives are in harmony with its teach- ings. In a land where effort is unhampered by caste or class he has worked his way steadily upward by dint of untiring perseverance and unfaltering in- tegrity, being now numbered among the prosperous and respected citizens of his community. During the entire period of his residence in the United States, covering forty-three years, he has made his home in this part of Iowa and the circle of his friends here is therefore a wide one.
W. H. BLAIR.
The spirit of enterprise and determination which has actuated W. H. Blair at all points in his business career made him one of the active and prosperous merchants of Clarence, where for thirty-six years he has been engaged in the drug business. He has resided in Cedar county since 1857, coming to Iowa when a youth of fourteen years, his birth having occurred in Muskingum county, Ohio, April 17, 1843.
His father, William Blair, was born near Greensburg, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1804, and in his childhood days went to Ohio with his father, Gabriel Blair, a representative of an old Pennsylvania family of Irish lineage. William Blair
W. H. BLAIR
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spent his youth ful days in the Buckeye state and became a farmer of Muskingum county, where he met and married Miss Permelia Argo, who was born and reared in the Buckeye state. She was a daughter of Jeremiah Argo, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1791, and was a grandson of Alexander Argo, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to the United States and settled in Sussex county, Maryland, where he died at the remarkable old age of one hundred years. William Argo, the father of Jeremiah, was born in Sussex county in 1762 and removed thence to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church for sixty-three years and died in 1845 at the age of eighty-three years. His son Jeremiah was third in a family of twelve children, all of whom reached adult age. He was a youth of fifteen when his father removed to Jefferson county, Ohio, and from there he afterward went to Colerain township, Belmont county,Ohio. In September, ISII, he attended a camp meeting conducted by Bishop Asbury, under whose teaching he was converted. During that meeting his mother rode twelve miles on horse- back to inform him that he had been drafted for six months' service in the army. He went into camp at Hiram, Ohio, under General William Henry Harrison, and assisted in constructing Fort Meigs. On becoming ill with camp fever he was honorably discharged twenty days before the expiration of his term of enlist- ment. He was married August 26, 1813, to Anna Oxley, a daughter of Britton Oxley, and in December, 1825, removed to Muskingum county, Ohio. During the succeeding three months he occupied a log schoolhouse while he erected a dwelling on his own land. His family comfortably installed in their new home, he at once began to clear away the timber and develop the farm, bearing all of the hardships and difficulties of pioneer life. He remained upon the farm for thirty-two years and for seven years filled the office of township clerk, while for twenty years he was a class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal church. His fam- ily numbered nine children, three sons and six daughters. In the autumn of 1857 he left the old homstead and with his daughter, the only one of his children who remained at home, came to Cedar county, Iowa, arriving on the 22d of October. Here he continued to reside until his death. He was an active, earnest and diligent worker in whatever he undertook, was a man strictly temperate in his habits and all of his children followed his example, never using intoxicants nor tobacco. His home was always one of unbounded hospitality and particu- larly to the ministers of the church did he extend a hearty welcome. He died April 18, 1881, at the age of ninety years, two months and twenty-seven days, while his wife passed away October 17, 1855, at the age of sixty-six years.
Several years after their marriage, which occurred September 10, 1840, Mr. and Mrs. William Blair removed to Iowa in 1857, settling in Cedar county, where they arrived on the night of the 9th of April. About a year later they located on a farm south of Lowden, Mr. Blair purchasing an improved property, on which he spent his last days, his death there occurring October 27, 1859. His wife long survived him and died in Clarence, January 27, 1881. After the loss of her first husband she became the wife of Seth Wilson June 8, 1865, and with him removed to Adair county, where they remained for two or three years and then removed to this county. Mrs. Wilson's death occurred in Cedar county,
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after which her second husband went to Davenport, where his last days were spent.
W. H. Blair, whose name introduces this record, came here when a youth of fourteen years. He pursued his education in the schools of his native county and Springfield township, this county, and later was a student for two terms in the high school of Tipton. He continued to assist his mother in the work of the home farm for a few years and later she came to make her home with him, spending her last days as a member of his household. Mr. Blair carried on the home farm until 1874, when he purchased a drug store in Clarence and is still conducting the same. He bought a lot on which is a good business block and here he carries a large line of drugs, fancy goods and miscellaneous merchan- dise. He has established a gratifying trade and is one of the well known and respected business men of the county. His business policy is one which will bear close investigation and scrutiny and his energy and determination have en- abled him to overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to success. His store is neat and attractive in appearance and his stock is such as meets the demands of the purchasing public.
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