USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 53
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Henry J. Hammerich is a native of Holstein, Germany, where he was born August 28, 1852. He is a son of Detlef and Lena (Stender) Hammerich, both
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
of Germany. He was educated in the public schools of his native land and after laying aside his books became a gardener, which is a vocation carried to a high degree of perfection in the old country. As a young man, ambitious of advanc- ing in life and seeing great difficulties facing him in the fatherland on account of the dense population and keen competition, he decided to come to America and in 1878 he landed under the stars and stripes. For four years after arriving in this country he worked as a farm hand, in the meantime acquiring the lan- guage and becoming accustomed to the new conditions with which he was sur- rounded. In 1881 he rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Sugar Creek township, this county, on which he continued for two years. At the expiration of that time he rented one hundred and twenty acres in Farmington township, which he conducted for one year. Then for eighteen years in Sugar Creek township he rented eighty acres, at the conclusion of which time, having by industry and good management acquired the necessary capital, he bought one hundred and ninety-two acres in Farmington township, which he cultivated for seven years. He had now reached a condition upon which his mind had been fixed for some time and to which his labors had been directed, and he sold his place and purchased the valuable farm of one hundred and sixty-eight acres upon which he now lives and for which he paid two hundred dollars an acre. Here he conducts general farming under the most favorable conditions and is known as one of the most substantial farmers in this part of the county.
On December 6, 1883, Mr. Hammerich was united in marriage to Miss Mary Magdalene Marolf, who was the first child born in the town of Wilton, Iowa, her natal day being July 11, 1850. She is a daughter of Peter and Anna (Nobs) Marolf, who were both natives of Switzerland and came to this country in 1848. They settled in Muscatine county and there the father departed this life April 6, 1881, and the mother died December 14, 1890. Three children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hammerich : Edward I., now deceased, who was born September 9, 1884; Louis, born January 16, 1886; and Edward, born November 14, 1887. Louis and Edward are both making their home with their parents.
Mr. Hammerich is identified with the democratic party but has never aspired to official position. He is essentially a man whose chief interests are in his work and one who values his home as the result of years of toil and well directed endeavor. He is known as a man of sympathetic nature, who readily responds to the call of distress and assists in any worthy enterprise that aims to advance the interests of the neighborhood. It is men of this character that have built up the country and made possible the numberless blessings with which we are surrounded.
HENRY WIESE.
Henry Wiese, who owns a quarter section of land in Springfield township, is one of the worthy sons that Germany has furnished to the United States, his birth having occurred in Westphalia on the 26th of September, 1859. His par- ents, Anton and Lena Wiese, passed away in the fatherland. He is the only sur- viving member of a family of nine children and was left an orphan at the early
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
age of thirteen. Being thus thrown upon his own resources, he secured employ- ment as a farm hand and was thus busily engaged until twenty years of age. In accordance with the laws of his native land, he then served for three years as a soldier in the German army.
In 1885 Mr. Wiese emigrated to the United States and during the first six years of his residence in this country worked at ditching. On the expiration of that period he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Springfield township but later disposed of the property and bought a tract of one hundred and ten acres in Massillon township. On the latter farm he successfully carried on agricultural pursuits until 1905, when he took up his abode on his present place of one hundred and sixty acres in Springfield township, which formerly belonged to his father-in-law. The property presents a well kept appearance and everything about the place is indicative of the careful supervision of the owner, whose methods are at once practical and progressive. His industry has ever been one of his salient characteristics and has been the measure of his success.
In 1886 Mr. Wiese was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Broecking, a na- tive of Germany and a daughter of Ernst Broecking, who was an early settler of Cedar county and is now deceased. Unto our subject and his wife were born three children, namely: Charles; William; and Henry, who died at the age of four years.
At the polls Mr. Wiese casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the democracy. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Evangelical church. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for the opportunities which he sought he found and improved and as a result is now one of the substantial citizens of Spring- field township.
JOHN MCCLURE.
John McClure is numbered among Tipton's pioneer settlers and for half a cen- tury was a resident of this city. He was widely known here and was numbered among the loyal sons that the county sent to the defense of the Union in the dark days of the Civil war. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1821, and was the son of James and Ruth (McClelland) McClure, who were also natives of the Keystone state, spending their entire lives in Westmore- land county, where they reared their family of six children: William, now de -. ceased ; Mrs. Violet Welch, who has also passed away; James, deceased ; John ; Mrs. Susan Elliott, deceased ; and Samuel, who is living in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.
John McClure was a resident of his native county until coming to Tipton, Iowa, in 1858. He was reared upon a farm and his youth was a period of earn- est and unremitting toil. He worked as a laborer until the removal to the west, and, thinking that he might have better opportunities in this section of the country, he came to Iowa and continued a resident of Tipton until his demise, which oc- curred on the 29th of December, 1898. At the time of the Civil war he espoused
MRS. ELLEN MCCLURE
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
the cause of the Union, enlisting at Tipton in the spring of 1861 as a member of Company A, Fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. This was the first company that left Cedar county. He served for twenty-three months and was then hon- orably discharged owing to physical disability. After he had recovered his health he spent several months in the employ of the government, caring for the horses in the corrals. After the war he followed various occupations, leading a busy and active life.
Mr. McClure was married in Tipton, May 26, 1875, to Mrs. Ellen (Lett) Smith, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 9, 1837. When four years of age she was brought to Tipton by her parents who came to Iowa in 1841. She has since made her home here and is now the oldest resident of Tipton. Her early education was acquired in select schools and when public schools were or- ganized, she continued her studies through that medium of education.
Her parents were Abraham and Elizabeth (Barnhart) Lett. The former was born in Virginia in 1791 and the latter in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio and the mother died when her daughter Ellen was but four years of age, after which Mr. Lett wedded Elizabeth Southern in Tipton. His death occurred in 1865, while the stepmother of Mrs. McClure passed away on the 9th of Octo- ber, 1891. In the family were five children: Mrs. Elizabeth Tuthill, now de- ceased; Mrs. Margaret Highsmith, who has also passed away; Mrs. McClure; Alvin, deceased, and John, who is living in York county, Nebraska. When the Lett family arrived in Tipton, they were accompanied by Samuel Aker and his family, who came from Ohio, and both families lived in a one-room log house until Mr. Aker could build him a home. There were fifteen in one room. It was in that cabin that Mrs. McClure's mother passed away. At that time there were only seven buildings in Tipton, so that Mrs. McClure has been a witness of the growth and development of the town. She has been a member of the Old Set- tlers Association of Cedar County since its organization and served as its pres- ident for one year.
Mr. McClure was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and gave his political allegiance to the republican party. In his passing the county lost one of its well known early settlers. Mrs. McClure has a vivid recollection of the early days and recounts many interesting incidents concerning Cedar county when the work of progress and civilization had scarcely been begun here. She is very widely and favorably known throughout this part of the state and her retentive memory makes her word authority upon many questions of local history.
FRANK L. OWEN.
Frank L. Owen, one of the representative farmers and stock-raisers of Center township residing on section 14, belongs to a well known and honored family that has long been identified with the agricultural interests of this com- munity. He was born on his present farm, August 12, 1876, a son of Josiah and Mary Jane (Welty) Owen, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this volume. His father, who was born April 16, 1837, died on the
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24th of December, 1908, but his mother is still living and now makes her home in Tipton. In their family were the following children: May, the wife of F. W. Reeve of Peabody, Kansas; Ada Florence, the wife of C. E. Chapman of Tipton, Iowa; Frank L., of this review; Alice, at home with her mother; Fred W., a farmer of Center township; and Ralph E., at home.
With the exception of four years Frank L. Owen, has spent his entire life upon the farm where he now resides, three years of that time living in Kansas and one year in Oklahoma. He attended the public schools and under the able guidance of his father early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, so that on starting out in life for himself he was well qualified to engage in his chosen profession. For three years he engaged in farming upon rented land but now owns and operates two hundred and forty acres of the original homestead, comprising three hundred and forty-six acres. He follows general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs for the market.
Mr. Owen was married in 1898, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah E. Downing, who was born in Fairfield township, July 5, 1873, and is a daughter of George W. Downing, now of Iowa township, this county. Three children blessed this union, namely: Genevieve Florence, Edwin Harry and Raymond Paul. Mr. Owen is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the county which they have always claimed as home.
ALBERT N. HEMMINGWAY.
Albert N. Hemmingway, widely and favorably known throughout Cedar county, has won a highly gratifying measure of success in his operations as a farmer and stockman and is the owner of about one thousand acres of land in this county. He resides on a tract of land comprising one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, Springdale township, known as the Evergreen Valley Stock Farm.
His birth occurred in that township on the 27th of February, 1853, his parents being E. D. and Maria (Negus) Hemmingway, both of whom were born near Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio. The father's natal day was No- vember 6, 1825, while the mother's birth occurred on the 29th of March, 1827. They came to Cedar county, Iowa, with their respective parents in 1844. E. D. Hemmingway passed away in California, while his wife died in Springdale township, this county, on the 9th of April, 1893. Their children were as follows: Auley P., who resides in Gower township; Albert N., of this review; Mattie C., the wife of C. G. Swofford, of South Dakota; Ida, who died at the age of fifteen months; and Israel E., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
When still but an infant Albert N. Hemmingway was taken to Johnson county, Iowa, by his parents and there he continued to reside for twenty- five years. After returning to this county he made his home in Gower town- ship until 1907, since which time he has resided on his present farm on sec-
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tion 8, Springdale township. The property, which is well improved, com- prises one hundred and sixty acres and is known as the Evergreen Valley Stock Farm, situated a mile and a half southeast of West Branch. Through- out his entire business career Mr. Hemmingway has been extensively engaged in farming and in the raising and shipping of stock, having continuously car- ried on the latter branch of activity since 1876. He has bred Percheron horses on an extensive scale and has shipped all kinds of stock to the Chicago market. In addition to his home place he owns a farm of four hundred acres in Gower township, ninety-three acres in Cass township and three hundred and thirty- one acres in Linn township, so that his land holdings in Cedar county em- brace about one thousand acres. He likewise has a tract of one hundred and fifty acres in Jones county and has long been numbered among the most sub- stantial and respected citizens of this part of the state.
In 1878 Mr. Hemmingway was united in marriage to Miss Ada Adams, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, on the 26th of June, 1857, her parents being James M. and Sophia (Dudley) Adams. The father's birth occurred near Cleveland, Ohio, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day at Hamburg, Erie county, New York. They came to this state in 1840, were married here and spent most of their lives in Johnson county. James M. Adams passed away in Cedar county but is still survived by his widow. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hemmingway were born eight children, namely: Elwood, who resides in Cass township; Monroe, of Gower township; Grant, living in Linn township; Linna, the wife of H. G. Gleason, of Pioneer township; Grace, Emery and May, all at home; and Eva, who died in infancy.
Mr. Hemmingway is a republican in politics and an active worker in the local ranks of the party but has never sought office as a reward for his fealty. His entire life has been spent in this part of the state, and the fact that he is most liked where best known is an indication that his salient characteristics are such as command the respect, confidence and good will of his fellowmen.
AMOS CLARK.
Amos Clark has devoted his life to the work of the farm and is the owner of a tract of land of eighty acres in Farmington township, whereon he has made his home since 1865, the year of his arrival in Cedar county. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Meigs county, February 9, 1844. His parents were Caleb and Rebecca (Gorsuch) Clark. The father was born in Maine and the mother was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio, where Caleb Clark followed the occupation of farming to the time of his death, which occurred February 2, 1853. His widow survived him for some time and died at the home of her son Amos in Cedar county, Iowa ..
Amos Clark spent his youthful days in his parents' home but was not quite nine years of age when his father died. His educational opportunities were those offered by the common schools. At the time of the Civil war, although still in his teens, he joined the Ohio State Militia and saw some
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
lively times during the Morgan raid, for the militia companies were called out and prepared for the defense of the state against the invasion of the Con- federate troops. After the close of the war, when a young man of twenty- one years, Mr. Clark came west to Iowa, settling in Cedar county, where he purchased eighty acres of land in Farmington township that has now been his home for forty-five years. Here he has labored industriously and energetically, planting his crops in the early springtime, continuing their cultivation through the summer and gathering his harvests in the autumn.
On the 26th of January, 1867, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Ann Jane Lambe, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah Lambe, both of whom died in Ohio when Mrs. Clark was but a young girl. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born three children who are yet living, and their eldest daugh- ter, Lillie, who became a successful school teacher, is now deceased. The others are: Mary Emma, now the wife of Mack McGillivray, a resident of Muscatine county, Iowa; Luella, the wife of Charles Covell, who is living in Muscatine county ; and Lizzie, the wife of Henry Rath, a resident of Tipton, Iowa.
The parents are members of the Presbyterian church at Wilton and are loyal to its teachings and interested in its work. Mr. Clark votes the republi- can ticket, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise but he has never sought nor desired office, preferring to live the quiet life of the farmer. He is one of the oldest residents of Farmington township and is widely and favorably known in this part of the county.
WILLIAM B. REEDER.
William B. Reeder, long identified with agricultural interests in Cedar county but now living retired in Tipton, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, November 8, 1832, and is the eldest in a family of four sons and one daughter, whose parents were George and Sophia (Stroub) Reeder, natives of Maryland and of Pennsyl- vania respectively. They resided in Ohio during a portion of the first half of the nineteenth century, and in 1850 came with their family to Iowa, spending their remaining days upon a farm in Cedar county, where they met the usual ex- periences and privations of pioneer life until the efforts of the early settlers had introduced all the advantages and comforts known to the older east. Further mention of the family is made in connection with the sketch of J. W. Reeder on another page of this volume.
William B. Reeder spent the first eighteen years of his life in the county of his nativity and thence made his way direct to Tipton in 1850. The family home was established about three miles northwest of the city and there he continued to reside until 1895, when he removed to Tipton, having in 1894 erected his present home at No. 1107 Seventh street. He still retains ownership of the old farm, a tract of two hundred acres of rich and valuable land, which he converted into productive fields, gathering therefrom abundant harvests. In all of his farm work he was practical and progressive, determined and resourceful, and in
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W. B. REEDER
MRS. W. B. REEDER
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
the basic industry of agriculture he found a field for his success. His attention in a business way has been given only to farming, save that after removing to Iowa he engaged in teaching school through the winter months for five years. He is financially interested in the City National Bank of Tipton, serving as one of its directors since its organization.
In 1858 Mr. Reeder was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Wiggins, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 12, 1840, and arrived in Cedar county, Iowa, in the fall of 1852. She died September 15, 1906, and in her death Mr. Reeder lost one who had for forty-eight years been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. In their family were six children: Ida is the wife of Frank Foster, of Boston, Massachusetts. Emma is at home. Fred L., is a resident of Tipton. Frank G. resides on the home farm. Martha, born in 1874, became the wife of Homer Wroten, and died April 1, 1905. Mertie B., born in 1879, became the wife of Louis Beed and departed this life in Sep- tember, 1907. All the children with the exception of the oldest daughter are graduates of the Tipton high school and all attended Cornell College, Martha, Frank and Emma having graduated there. Emma was a teacher for about two years and for nine years was connected with the Young Women's Christian As- sociation work as a general secretary, spending four years of that time on the Pacific coast. Fred, Frank and Martha also engaged in teaching school for a time. For two years Martha was secretary of the Young Woman's Christian Associa- tion at Kalamazoo, Michigan, having previously spent two years in the Chicago training school.
In his political views Mr. Reeder has always been a republican but in recent years has been much more independent, considering the capability of the candi- date rather than his party affiliations at local elections. He has reported to the National Agricultural Bureau at Washington, D. C., since its organization during the first administration of Grover Cleveland. He has always taken a very helpful and active part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church since aid- ing in building the West Bethel church in 1857, where he still holds membership." His life has conformed to its teachings and its principles have found exemplifica- tion in his treatment of his fellowmen and his conduct of his business affairs.
WILLIAM STUHR.
William Stuhr, who devotes his attention to the operation of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Springfield township, is an agriculturist whose labors have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. His birth occurred in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on the 15th of July, 1858, his par- ents being Marx and Catherine Stuhr, who were married in that country. In 1862 they emigrated to the United States, locating at Wheatland, Clinton county, Iowa, where the father worked as a day laborer until 1870. In that year he came to Cedar county and purchased the farm of one hundred and twenty acres which is now in possession of our subject. The property was but slightly im- proved at that time but he set resolutely to work and soon had a model farm.
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He carried on agricultural pursuits with excellent results until a few years prior to his death, when he took up his abode in Lowden, there living in honorable retirement until called to his final rest about 1903 at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife also passed away in Lowden about 1903, having attained the age of seventy-seven years. Unto them were born nine children, three of whom still survive.
William Stuhr remained with his parents until they retired, early gaining practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops as he assisted his father in the work of the fields. When his father put aside active business cares he purchased the old homestead place and has since given his time and energies to its operation. The many substantial improve- ments which now adorn the property were placed there by himself and his father and stand as monuments to their thrift and enterprise. Mr. Stuhr cul- tivates the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and annually gathers rich crops which find a ready sale on the market.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Stuhr chose Miss Sophia Meyer, likewise a native of Germany. Their union was blessed with nine children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are as follows: Will- iam, Charles, Anna, Lena, Julius, Fritz, Emil and Hugo.
Mr. Stuhr is a stanch democrat in politics but has never sought office as a reward for his party fealty. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church but is not a communicant thereof at the present time. The period of his resi- dence in Cedar county covers four decades and he well merits the high regard and esteem which is so uniformly accorded him.
RICKLEF LUNSCHEN.
Ricklef Lunschen, who now makes his home in Tipton, is well known through- out Cedar county as one of its most successful and prosperous agriculturists and stock-breeders. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on the 7th of February, 1840, and his par- ents, Fritz and Johanna (Woge) Lunschen, spent their entire lives in that country, the father being a farmer by occupation. In the family were three children, but the two sisters of our subject remained in Germany until their death.
In the land of his birth Ricklef Lunschen passed the days of his boyhood and youth, acquiring a liberal education usually furnished to the sons of the fatherland. It was in 1868 that he came to America and on reaching New York proceeded at once to Scott county, Iowa. He was accompanied by his wife, for he had married on the 17th of April, of that year, Miss Sophia Volk- mann, who was also born in Oldenburg, February 13, 1843. They started for the new world one month after their marriage. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lunschen, six of whom are now deceased, those living being: Charles, who is living in Brookings county, South Dakota; Pauline, the wife of William Lee, of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Frieda, at home.
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