USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 43
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Adna P. Andre, who completes the family, spent his boyhood and youth on the home farm, giving his father the benefit of his services until twenty-three years of age. He was then married in Pioneer township on the 28th of Feb- ruary, 1878, to Miss Barbara Kohl, a native of Linn county, Iowa, and a daugh- ter of Simon Kohl, one of the pioneers of this state from Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed by six children, four sons and two daughters, namely : Ray R., now a carpenter and joiner of Cedar county ; Leo M., Melvin and Mar-
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vin, who are all at home and assist in the operation of the farm; Catherine Esther, who was formerly engaged in teaching school but is now at home; and Lavina Pearl, who is still under the parental roof. The daughters are now en- gaged in dressmaking.
After his marriage Mr. Andre followed farming on rented land for some years but in 1891 purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Linn township, which at that time was only partially improved. He has since erected good and substantial buildings upon the place. He has a nice, two-story residence, three barns, a double crib and a good hog house. The farm is divided into fields of convenient size by a woven wire fence, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates the progressive spirit of the owner. In connection with general farming he follows stock-raising and fattens for the market from two to three carloads of hogs each year. Besides his farm he owns a twelve-acre tract of timber land on Cedar river.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Andre has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and has taken quite an active and prominent part in public af- fairs. He has been especially interested in the schools of his community and for a time served as president of the school board, while at present he is secre- tary of the township schools. He has served for six consecutive years and two years at another time as assessor of his township and is now a candidate for reelection. He also filled the office of supervisor of roads in Pioneer township and later in Linn township and has been a delegate to the county conventions of his party. He served on the petit jury a number of times and has been found true to every trust reposed in him whether of a public or private nature. His official duties have always been most capably and acceptably discharged, and he is justly numbered among the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of his community.
H. J. DONAHUE.
H. J. Donahue, whose keen business discernment and unflagging enterprise find their visible proof in the splendid success which he has achieved, is now numbered among the wealthy residents of the county, having made extensive and judicious investment in real estate. He was born at Charleston Four Cor- ners, Montgomery county, New York, June 10, 1860, a son of William and Mary Ann (Lydia) Donahue, who were natives of Ireland but were married in New York. The father worked as a farm hand in the Empire state up to the time of his marriage but became a substantial resident of the community, * saving about three thousand dollars before he came west. On making his way to Cedar county he purchased eighty acres of land and later bought eighty acres adjoining, which he owned up to the time of his death together with a house in Bennett. He died eleven years ago at the age of sixty-three years, and his widow now resides in Bennett. They were the parents of four chil- dren: Thomas H., living at Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa; Eliza, the wife of D. O. Maise, of Cedar Rapids; John, a resident of Red Oak; and H. J., of this review.
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Until seven years of age H. J. Donahue remained in the county of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Cedar county, Iowa, the family home being established on York Prairie in 1867. Upon the old homestead farm Mr. Donahue of this review was reared, remaining with his parents until twenty-four years of age. His education was acquired in the district schools and the first team which he ever handled was an ox-team. In his youthful days he assisted in driving hogs to Clarence, where they sold for two dollars and thirty-five cents per hundred. There were no railroads in Tipton when he came here, and the father hauled grain to Davenport, where he sold wheat for forty-five cents per bushel. He had five men to whom he paid three dollars per day to bind grain by hand. Mr. Donahue has lived to witness remarkable changes in the methods of farming. The farmer no longer trudges behind plow or harrow, performing his work in much greater comfort while riding upon a plow. He continued at home until twenty-four years of age, when he purchased a farm of eighty acres adjoining his father's in Fair- field township. Later he extended its boundaries by the purchase of adjoining land in Center township, becoming the owner of a quarter section there. He has from time to time further invested in farm property until his holdings are very extensive. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Brookings county, South Dakota; seven hundred acres in Spink county, South Dakota; six hundred and forty acres in Minnehaha county, South Da- kota; eighty acres in Hughes county, South Dakota; one hundred and sixty acres in Center township, Cedar county, Iowa; eighty acres in Springfield town- ship, this county; and one hundred and twenty acres in Montgomery county. While upon the farm he engaged very extensively in stock-raising and in gen- eral farming, having two hundred acres planted to corn at one time. He made a specialty of raising cattle and found that a profitable source of in- come. He resided upon the home farm until September, 1904, when he came to Tipton and purchased his present fine residence on Seventh street. He has been engaged in the real-estate business here in connection with E. H. Down- ing under the firm name of Downing & Donahue, and he is also a stockholder in the Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank of Tipton.
On the 17th of December, 1884, Mr. Donahue was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Stephens, who was born in Center township, this county, in 1861, and is a daughter of James T. and Harriet (Hart) Stephens. Her father was born October 16, 1820, in Somerset county, New Jersey, and her mother's birth occurred November 29, 1821, in Hamilton county, Ohio. They were married March 3, 1841, and came to Iowa in 1856. The death of Mr. Stephens occurred February 2, 1877. He resided on a farm in Inland township until his death, after which his widow removed to Davenport, while her last days were spent with a daughter at Western, Iowa, where she died about eight years ago. In their family were eleven children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Don- ahue have been born four children: Ethel, now the wife of Guy Wright, who resides on her father's farm in Center township and by whom she has one child, Ronald Raymond; Glenn, who died at the age of eighteen months; Wil- ber, at home; and Raymond.
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The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Donahue is serving as a trustee. His political allegiance is given to the repub- lican party, but he has never sought nor desired office, always preferring to devote his attention to his business affairs, which capably managed have brought him success. It is not that his opportunities have been greater than those which have come to others, for he was reared as most of the boys are upon the frontier of Iowa, but, closely applying himself to the work in hand and thoroughly investigating every business situation, he has been enabled to purchase property and make his investments in such a manner that his labors have been attended with gratifying success.
NORRIS WILSON.
Norris Wilson, owning and operating an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres on section 31, Springdale township, is likewise prominently identified with the financial interests of Cedar county as the president of the Downey Savings Bank. His birth occurred in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of April, 1865, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Eves) Wilson, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. The father still resides in Pennsylvania, while the mother, who also spent her entire life in that state, was called to her final rest in 1901 when sixty-six years of age. They reared a family of four children, as follows: J. F., who lives three miles west of Downey, in Johnson county ; J. M., who passed away in 1904 and who owned a farm of three hundred and twenty acres three miles south of Downey; Norris, of this review; and Francis H., who resides with his father in Pennsylvania.
Norris Wilson spent the first twenty-nine years of his life on the home farm with his parents and in 1894 came to Iowa, locating in Johnson county, three miles west of his present home. He has resided in this part of the state continu- ously since and has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits with excellent results. After arriving in Iowa he worked as a farm hand by the month for one year and then gave his attention to the cultivation of rented land until 1903. In that year he bought a tract of one hundred and forty acres on section 31, Springdale township, and has been busily engaged in its operation to the present time. The property is situated a half mile west of Downey and is lacking in none of the improvements and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate Mr. Wilson raises high grade stock of all kinds and has met with success in both branches of his business. He assisted in the organization of the Downey Savings Bank, has been one of its directors since 1903 and for the past three years has acted as president of the institution.
On the 30th of September, 1894, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Haymen, who was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in January, 1868, her father being Peter Haymen. Mr. Wilson has a nephew, Leland Eyer, who has resided with him for the past seven years, and a sister-in-law, Ila Hay- men, also makes her home with him.
NORRIS WILSON
MRS. NORRIS WILSON
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In politics Mr. Wilson is a republican and he is now ably discharging the duties devolving upon him in the capacity of township clerk. He belongs to the Friends church in Pennsylvania, having joined the denomination in early life. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at West Liberty and the Woodmen of the World at Downey, and is likewise a worthy exemplar of the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge at West Branch and the chapter at Iowa City. He has gained a large circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances, and his salient characteristics are such as have won for him the unqualified respect, esteem and good will of his fellowmen.
ERNST RIXE.
Ernst Rixe, a progressive and prosperous farmer of Springfield township, Cedar county, is a representative of a family that, like many another that has come from across the water, sought the opportunities of the new world that advancement might be made in business lines and better advantages given to the members of the household. He came to this country from Germany, his birth occurring in Hanover on the 28th of January, 1852. His father, Fred Rixe, was also born in that country, on the 20th of October, 1816, and was there reared to manhood. He married Sophia Debner, also a native of Hanover, born January 18, 1818, and while still residents of the fatherland they became the parents of six children, all of whom are yet living, namely: Louise, the wife of Fred Con- rad, of Lowden; Deidrick, of Springfield township; Fred, also of that town- ship; Ernst, of this review; Minnie, the wife of Kossuth Pauls, of Lowden; and Lena, who married Henry Miller and resides in Springfield township. The two eldest children, Louise and Deidrick, came to the United States in 1865, and two years later the father and the rest of the family also sought a home in this country. Fred Rixe located upon the place which is now the home of his son Ernst, for which he paid one thousand dollars. He became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land, which was but slightly improved, but with characteristic energy he set about its cultivation and later developed a valuable farm. He devoted his entire time and attention to farming and with the passing years became one of the successful and well-to-do men of his sec- tion. He passed away on the 6th of May, 1885, his wife surviving him until June 6, 1898, when she was called to her final rest.
Ernst Rixe, whose name introduces this review, spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native country and acquired his education in the common schools of Germany. He came to America in 1867 with his parents, with whom he lived during the remainder of their lives, and at the death of his father inher- ited eighty acres of the old homestead in Cedar county, upon which he yet re- sides. He has since been able, however, to add to this farm until today he owns two hundred and fifty acres of valuable land which responds in abundant harvests to the care and attention bestowed upon it. Upon the farm he has erected a new and attractive residence, has built two good barns and substantial outbuildings, and the place is lacking in none of those accessories and con-
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veniences which constitute the equipment of a model farm. Indeed progress may be termed one of his most salient characteristics, and his well directed ef- forts and intelligently applied labor are accomplishing gratifying results.
In Springfield township, on the 28th of April, 1877, occurred the marriage of Mr. Rixe and Miss Louise Richmann, a native of Randolph county, Illinois, where she was born October 13, 1853. Her father, William Richmann, who was born in Westphalen, Germany, came to the United States as a young man and was for a few years a resident of St. Louis. Later he engaged in farming in Randolph county, Illinois, and in 1857 came to Cedar county, locating in Spring- field township, where he acquired considerable wealth. He passed away in this county at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Christine Penningroth, was also a native of Germany and her death occurred in Springfield township, Cedar county, at the age of fifty-one years. In their family were twelve children, of whom the eldest died in infancy. The others are : Sophia, the widow of Fred Penningroth; Mrs. Rixe; William, who lives in Lowden; Henry, of Oelwein, Iowa; Annie, the wife of Fred Dircks, of Spring- field township; Charles, who passed away at the age of thirty-four years; Fred, of Springfield township; Lena and Emma, twins, the former the wife of Henry Rodenbeck, of Springfield township, and the latter who passed away when eighteen years old; Emil, who resides in California; and Lizzie, who wedded Chris Schoff and makes her home in Springfield township. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Rixe were seven children, but of this number, Henry, the eldest, is now deceased. He married Emma Bushing. The surviving members are Annie, Liddie, Lizzie, Carl, Freda and Clara, all yet at home.
Mr. Rixe and his family hold membership in the Evangelical church of Low- den and occupy a prominent position in the social circles of the community, their home being a favorite resort with their many friends and acquaintances. Fraternally Mr. Rixe is identified with the Modern Brotherhood of America, while in politics he gives his support to the republican party. The honors and emoluments of office, however, have no attraction for him, for his time is fully occupied by the conduct of his private interests and he has never had desire to figure prominently in public life. Quiet and unostentatious in manner, he is also kind in disposition and generous in thought, and well does he deserve the confi- dence, respect and good-will entertained for him by his fellow citizens.
DIETRICH DEBNER.
The pursuits of farming and stock-raising claim the time and energies of Dietrich Debner, who owns a well improved tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres in Springfield township. His birth occurred in Hanover, Ger- many, on the 24th of May, 1864, his parents being Dietrich and Louise (Hul- sey) Debner, who were married in that country. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1870, coming direct to Cedar county, Iowa, where the father purchased forty acres of land. Subsequently, by an additional purchase of eighty acres, he extended the boundaries of his farm to include one hundred
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
and twenty acres and was actively and successfully engaged in its operation un- til called to his final rest. His wife died June 19, 1910, at the age of eighty years. Their children were seven in number, as follows: Rix, who is a resi- dent of Calhoun county, Iowa; Louisa, the wife of Dick Focke, of Calhoun county ; Lena, living in Chicago, Illinois; Sophia, the wife of Julius Michel, of Chicago, Illinois; Dietrich, of this review; Mary, who is the wife of Henry Dircks and lives near Clarence, Iowa; and Emma, at home.
Dietrich Debner, whose name introduces this review, was but six years of age when brought to the new world by his parents. In pursuit of an education he attended the district schools and also the German school at Lowden. After putting aside his text-books he assisted his father in the work incident to the operation of the home farm and following the latter's demise he purchased the interest of the other heirs therein. As before stated, the property embraces one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in Springfield township, and the well tilled fields annually yield golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which is bestowed upon them. In connection with the tilling of the soil Mr. Debner also devotes considerable attention to the raising of stock, which branch of his business adds materially to his income.
Mr. Debner exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas- ures of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles. He served in the capacity of road supervisor for a period of twelve years and proved himself an efficient and trustworthy official. His religious faith is indicated by his mem- bership in the Evangelical church at Lowden. He enjoys a wide acquaintance in the community where almost his entire life has been spent and his many good qualities have won him the esteem and high regard of a large circle of friends.
CHARLES E. MATHER.
The name of Mather is closely associated with business activity in Spring- dale and the firm name of Mather Brothers-the partners being William and Charles E .- has come to be recognized as a synonym for straightforward and honorable dealing in every section of the county. Charles E. Mather was born near Salem in Mahoning county, Ohio, December 8, 1850, and arrived in Cedar county on the 27th of June, 1851, in company with his parents, of whom mention is made in connection with the sketch of William Mather on another page of this volume. The family homestead, about a mile and a quar- ter east of Springdale, constituted his playground in youth and his field of training for life's practical duties. At the usual age, he entered the public schools and after pursuing his studies in the district school near by, he attended the Springdale school.
In the winter of 1870 Mr. Mather began teaching and followed that pro- fession with success until 1875. He spent one winter as teacher of the district school near his home and one winter in the Springdale graded school and then after an interval of a year engaged in teaching for two winters near Minne- apolis, Minnesota. He also spent one term as a teacher in a graded school at
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Bellevue, Iowa, and in November, 1876, joined his brother William in estab- lishing and conducting a general mercantile store in Springdale. The business prospered from the beginning and was successfully carried on by them until January, 1896, when they disposed of their stock of general merchandise on account of ill health, retaining, however, the drug trade. They still own a drug store in Springdale.
In the fall of 1896 Charles E. Mather entered the law department of the State University at Iowa City and was graduated in 1898 with the LL. B. degree, since which time he has practiced his profession in Springdale. In connection with his brother William he also owns two hundred acres of land a half mile north of the village, together with a section of land in Perkins county, Nebraska. Charles E. Mather also has a section of land in Saskatch- ewan, Canada.
On the 13th of February, 1883, Mr. Mather wedded Miss Mary Knudson, who was born near Yorkville, Kendall county, Illinois, July 4, 1860, a daugh- ter of Andrew Knudson. Their children are Edward K., Ralph Jesse, Charles Glenn, William J. and Kenneth Arza. The oldest son was graduated from the civil engineering department of Cornell College in 1905 and received the C. E. degree in 1906. The second son was graduated from Cornell College in 1909 and is now professor of English in the Methodist Episcopal College in Rome, Italy. Charles Glenn is a student in the Wesleyan University at Mitchell, South Dakota, and the two younger sons are pupils in the home school.
Mr. Mather has ever been a warm friend of the cause of education and has given his children excellent advantages in that direction. For nine years he served as president of the school board, having in charge the only high school outside of an incorporated town in the state of Iowa. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He is a member of the Phi Delta Phi law fraternity of the State University. In his youth he joined the Society of Friends but in 1883 transferred his membership to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has since been a loyal supporter. In his business career he has displayed ver- satility as well as enterprise and progressiveness and has thus succeeded in what he has undertaken.
HERBERT E. WORRALL.
Herbert E. Worrall, whose entire life has been spent within the borders of Cedar, his native county, is a representative of an old and honored pioneer family which was established here in 1854 by Nathaniel and Ann (Barnett) Worrall, the grandparents of our subject. They were born in Harrison county, Ohio, and came to Iowa in 1854, locating in Iowa township, Cedar county, where both passed away. In their family were eleven children, namely: George, a resident of California; John, of Iowa township; Thomas, who passed away in infancy; Jonathan and Sarah Gifford, both deceased; Eleanor, of Cedar Rap-
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ids; Isaac, who died in infancy; Harriett King, of Columbus, Ohio; Elizabeth and Emily, who have both passed away; and Rebecca, who died in infancy.
Of this number John Worrall, who was born in Morgan county, Ohio, Octo- ber II, 1828, became the father of our subject. He left his native county in 1856, arriving in Cedar county, Iowa, in October of that year and has since made this his home. He is numbered among the early settlers of this region, and during his residence here has witnessed remarkable changes which have been wrought in the community as primitive customs have given way to modern methods and the progressive march of civilization has transformed it from a frontier district to rich and valuable farms. He is one of the very few old set- tlers still living to whom the incidents in the early life of the community are matters of personal experience and knowledge rather than of history, and his mind forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. He came to this section empty-handed but was actuated by a spirit of am- bition and determination to succeed. He operated a rented farm for a number of years, during which time he carefully managed his affairs so that at length he was able to purchase a place of his own, becoming the owner of eighty acres, and from the beginning prosperity attended his efforts. He followed farming throughout his active business career and with the passing years added to his original holdings, purchasing a tract of eighty acres situated in Guthrie county. He has since, however, disposed of his property to his children and is now liv- ing in honorable retirement, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. Energetic, industrious and persevering, his, nevertheless, has been the quiet life of a man whose interests have centered about his home and family, and his personal worth and sterling characteristics have won him the respect and high esteem of his fellowmen. He has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal church from early life, holding membership at the present time in the church at Springdale. A stanch advocate of republican principles since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, he has never, however, been an office seeker as a reward for party fealty. He was a personal acquaintance of John Brown and was present at Springdale when the latter held a sale of mules and wagons, which he was disposing of after a hasty trip from Kansas to Missouri. A man by the name of John Cole was auctioneer, and, not proving prompt enough in conducting the sale, his place was taken by Mr. Brown, who closed out the balance of the stock. One of the wagons was purchased by Gilbert Smith and was kept for many years as one of the pioneer vehicles of the locality. It was finally destroyed by fire when his barn was burned down.
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