USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 58
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crowned his efforts in this direction. He has also given much attention to stock- raising, specializing in high grades of all kinds, and this branch of his business is also proving most remunerative.
It was in the year 1899 that Mr. Schiele was united in marriage to Miss Emma Miller, who was born in Farmington township on the 28th of March, 1875, a daughter of William and Lena (Leith) Miller, natives of Germany. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schiele have been born two children, Carl and Helen.
In politics Mr. Schiele has been a stanch democrat since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and he has been active and helpful in promoting the interests of that organization in the community in which he has resided. A warm champion of the cause of education, he has served for several years as school director, five years in Farmington township and eight years in Iowa town- ship, and in the summer of 1910 was the democratic nominee for the office of county supervisor. Progressive and public-spirited in his citizenship, he has ever supported those measures which have had for their object the upbuilding and growth of the community in which he has resided, and his many excellent traits of character have constituted him a most valued citizen.
FRANK K. GLEASON.
There came into Iowa in the first half of the nineteenth century courageous men who undertook the task of developing the region hitherto inhabited by red men and the haunt of wild animals and wild game. It was a stupendous work that lay before them, but with undaunted spirit they accomplished it and laid the foundation for later progress. Then came the sons of these men who con- tinued the work which their fathers had begun and builded upon the broad foundations which the fathers had laid the superstructure of progress and pros- perity that has given Cedar county rank with the leading counties of this great commonwealth. Frank K. Gleason belongs to the latter class while his father was one of the pioneers who blazed the path of civilization here.
He was born April 10, 1861, on the farm where he yet makes his home, his parents being Myron W. and Amanda (Walbridge) Gleason, who are repre- sented on another page of this volume. The home farm was his playground in youth and his training field for life's cares, duties and responsibilities. The work of the fields early became familiar to him and his farm labors were alter- nated with attendance at the district school. He remained with his father until after he had attained his majority, and following his marriage operated the farm for a year. He then located where he now resides, renting five hundred acres of land for five years, after which he invested in two hundred and four acres. The further development and improvement of the place was at once begun, and his activity is manifest in the fact that he erected a large and com- fortable residence, also built two big barns, two double corn cribs and sheds that are necessary in protecting grain and stock from inclement weather. The golden harvests gathered in the late autumn are proof of his labor in the early springtime. He raises and feeds stock, fattening and selling from three
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to four carloads of stock each year. He has made a specialty of breeding Hereford cattle and now has a fine herd of high grade and pure blooded stock of seventy-three head. In fact he is one of the best known dealers in Here- ford cattle in this part of the state, much of his farm being given over to pas- ture lands, although he has also extensive and well cultivated fields upon his place of two hundred and sixty acres, which is situated on sections 15, 16, 21 and 22, Pioneer township. His resourceful business ability and recognition of opportunity have led him to reach out into other directions. He became one of the first stockholders and assisted in the organization of the Mechanicsville Telephone Company and for fifteen years he has owned and operated a steam thresher.
On the 5th of September, 1884, Mr. Gleason was married to Miss Fannie Ellen Guthrie, who was born and reared in Pioneer township and is a daughter of Smith Guthrie, who came from Pennsylvania, casting in his lot with the early settlers of Cedar county. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gleason has been blessed with two sons and a daughter: Guy S., a resident farmer of Pioneer township, who is married and has two sons, Oscar F. and Guy S .; Harry G., who is married and carries on farming in Pioneer township; and Lillie Belle, now a student in Cornell College, Iowa.
The family are widely and favorably known, the members of the household occupying an enviable position in the social circles in which they move. The name of Gleason has long been an honored one in Cedar county, having been found upon the county records through more than seven decades. The work in- stituted by the father has been carried on by the son, who has long occupied an enviable and creditable position among the practical farmers and stock-rais- ers of Pioneer township. The extent and importance of his live-stock interests have made him known far beyond the borders of the county, and his labors have been an element in advancing the grade of stock raised. In all of his busi- ness transactions he has never been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen and has pursued a policy which has never sought nor re- quired disguise.
PETER McNEE.
The period of Peter McNee's residence in Cedar county covers sixty-seven years-a period marked by many changes and by remarkable transformation. The settlers of that early day did not dream of what would come to this section within the next half a century, and there were even many who believed that the state would never become settled in its more remote districts, nor could they imagine that the railroad would penetrate into every nook and corner, connect- ing each little farming community with the great markets of the world. Indian tribes roamed at will in the central and western portion, wild game was to be had in abundance, and only here and there was to be found a little cabin show- ing that the progressive white race was beginning to understand and appreciate the value of the natural resources here offered. It was in this region where all
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the conditions of pioneer life existed that Peter McNee spent his youthful days, sharing in the hardships and privations which made possible the present devel- opment of the country. His birthplace was one of the little cabins of the early day, situated in Linn township upon a farm which his father had secured some years before. He was there born August 9, 1843, and is of Scotch lineage.
Duncan McNee, his father, was born in Scotland in 1804 and was brought to the new world by his parents, who with others crossed the Atlantic in the early part of the nineteenth century and settled in Upper Canada, near Perth, where Duncan McNee was reared to adult age. In that locality he married Catherine McIntire, also a native of Scotland. They took up their abode upon a farm in that locality and while there residing two children were born unto them. But the growth of Canada was slow and its future uncertain. The States were be- coming more thickly settled and though competition was greater advancement was more quickly secured. It was this fact that led Duncan McNee to cross the border in 1839 and cast in his lot with the pioneer residents of Cedar county, although at that time Iowa still remained a part of Wisconsin territory. The greater part of the land was owned by the government and Duncan McNee se- cured a claim in what is now Linn township. The surface of the earth was bound into a solid mass by the roots of prairie grasses that had grown there perhaps for centuries. It was a difficult task, therefore, to break the sod and render the soil rich and mellow. But plow and harrow did their work and by slow degrees the wild tract was transformed into cultivable fields. The boundaries of his farm originally inclosed one hundred and sixty acres but later he added to this until his place comprised two hundred and twenty acres. Upon this farm he reared his family and made his home until his life's labors were ended in death in 1887, when he was eighty-two years of age. His wife survived him for about fifteen years, passing away in 1902 at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Of their family of three sons and two daughters all lived to reach manhood or womanhood. The eldest, Finley McNee, went to Pike's Peak and is supposed to have passed away, as nothing has been heard from him in years. Marjory died after reaching womanhood. John is living in California. Peter is the next of the family. Margaret lives upon the old homestead.
Peter McNee can relate many interesting incidents concerning pioneer life in Cedar county. The work of civilization had not been carried far when as a boy he became identified with the growth and development being carried on here. As opportunity offered he attended the common schools but most of his atten- tion was given to the work of the fields. The desire to have a home of his own led to his marriage in Linn township on the 21st of March, 1875, to Miss Lavina Rate, who was born in Johnson county, this state, and is a daughter of William Rate, a native of England and one of the pioneer settlers of Johnson county, whence he afterward removed to Cedar county. Prior to his marriage he had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 35, Pioneer township, and to this farm he brought his bride. With added impetus for renewed effort he took up the task of developing the fields and improving the place, and year after year saw something worth while accomplished. In time he erected a two- story residence and added to the buildings upon the farm two good barns, a work
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house, cribs and machine house. He also adopted woven wire fence to enclose his fields and added to the productiveness of his land by tiling. As the years passed he prospered and later purchased another tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Pioneer township, which he rents. Again he made purchase of land and is today the owner of four hundred and eighty acres. He operates the home place and leases the remainder, deriving therefrom a substantial annual income. He raises and feeds cattle and hogs, selling the cattle off the pasture and shipping annually two carloads of hogs. He was also one of the promoters and stock- holders of the Mechanicsville Telephone Company and is interested in all lines of progress that contribute to the material upbuilding of the community.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McNee have been born five children : Maggie, at home; Ida, the wife of Lewis Crawford, a resident farmer of Linn township; Grover and Harry D., who assist in carrying on the home farm; and Rudolph, who com- pletes the family.
Mr. McNee has frequently served as a delegate to the county conventions of the democratic party, which he has supported throughout his entire life. There are no chapters in his life history that will not bear investigation and scrutiny. He has been honorable in business, fair and just in his treatment of his fellowmen, faithful in friendship and devoted to the welfare of his family, and as the years have gone by he has reached a most enviable position in the regard of his fellowmen.
JOHN P. WALTERS. 1
Among the residents of Tipton whose success in former years, won through independent effort in agricultural lines, now enables them to live retired, is num- bered John P. Walters. He was born in California on the 9th of November, 1854, during the residence of his parents, Henry and Mary (Thompson) Wal- ters, in that state. The father was born in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 9, 1821, and on attaining his majority secured employment on a canal boat, making the run between Lockhaven and Philadelphia. On leaving Penn- sylvania he became a resident of Carroll county, Ohio, where he resided for three years, and in the spring of 1846 arrived in Cedar county, Iowa. He was married January 27, 1848, to Mary Thompson, and in 1852 crossed the plains to California in company with many others, making the trip with an ox-team. Not meeting with the success that he anticipated in that state, he returned to Cedar county in 1856 and was thereafter continuously engaged in farming until his industry supplied him with a handsome competence that enabled him to spend his last years in retirement. He was a worthy citizen, highly esteemed by all who knew him, and his death, which occurred January 26, 1894, when he was seventy- three years of age, was the occasion of deep regret. His wife, a most estimable Mrs. Robert Gaige, Mrs. J. W. Argo, Mrs. James Fegley, Mrs. Frank Gay, Robert, John, George, Turner and Harry.
John P. Walters was only two years of age when his parents returned from California, the family home being established in Fairfield township, where they
JOHN P. WALTERS
MRS. JOHN P. WALTERS
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lived for one year while the father built a home on his farm two and one-half miles east of Tipton. Upon that property which was long the old family home- stead, John P. Walters remained until thirty years of age. He was married in 1884, at which time he purchased a part of his father's farm, and added to it a tract of one hundred and twenty acres. He is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable and productive land on section 34, Fairfield town- ship. He has brought the place under a high state of cultivation and has added many modern improvements. There he continuously and successfully carried on general farming until February, 1908, when he came to Tipton, and took up his abode in the Cobb residence, which he had previously purchased. This is a large, fine home, attractive in its furnishings and most hospitable.
On the 25th of December, 1884, Mr. Walters was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Smith, who was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, April 1, 1858, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Drake) Smith, who were early settlers of this state. They came to Iowa from Ohio and after living for a time in Cedar county, removed to Muscatine county, where their remaining days were passed. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walters were born three children: Wilma, Henry and Leonard. The sons are yet at home and the daughter is now the wife of Will- jam Werling, who resides upon her father's farm. They have one child, Donald.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Walters is an Odd Fellow and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life has been quietly and uneventfully passed, but the salient qualities of his career have won him the regard and good will of all with whom he has come in contact. He has resided continuously in this county for more than half a century, bearing at all times his part in the work of general progress and improvement and giving his influ- ence and aid in support of important public measures.
J. E. LARSON.
J. E. Larson, a member of the real-estate firm of Crew & Larson, of West Branch, in which connection he negotiates many important real-estate transfers as well as makes many loans, was born in Springdale township, this county, in 1881. He represents one of the old families of the county, being a son of M. and Sarah (Staples) Larson. The mother is now deceased, but the father re- sides near the corporation limits of West Branch, where he is engaged in the raising of vegetables. In their family were three children: Emma, the wife of H. L. Coppock, of Springville; J. E., of this review; and Eliza, the wife of T. A. Moore, of Plato, Iowa.
J. E. Larson was reared upon the home farm to the age of thirteen years, when he began earning his own livelihood. He was for ten years employed as a clerk in West Branch, spending seven years of that period in a drug store, dur- ing which time he also pursued a course in pharmacy at the State University at Iowa City. Two years ago he entered the real-estate, loan and insurance busi- ness and a year later admitted J. C. Crew, who owns a large farm near the town,
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to a partnership in the business. They now have an extensive clientage and oc- cupy offices over the Citizens' Savings Bank. Mr. Larson is thoroughly con- versant with the real-estate situation, knows all the property that is upon the market and is thus enabled to assist his patrons in making advantageous pur- chases and sales.
In 1903 Mr. Larson was united in marriage to Miss C. Rose Pettis, a native of Johnson county and a daughter of Andrew and Delia (Lincoln) Pettis. Her father is now deceased, but her mother resides in Iowa City, Iowa. Mr. Larson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is serving as its treasurer. Although yet a young man he has made a creditable position in the business world and his ability augurs well for further success in the future.
FREDERICK R. WOODHOUSE.
Frederick R. Woodhouse, who has won a gratifying measure of success in, his operations as a farmer and stock-raiser, is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of rich and productive land in Farmington township. His birth occurred in Muscatine county, Iowa, on the 15th of August, 1859, his parents being John and Lydia (Rand) Woodhouse, who were born, reared and married in New Hampshire. The father, whose natal day was November 23, 1830, took up his abode among the pioneer settlers of Iowa in the late '50s, cultivating rented land in Muscatine county for a few years. In the early '6os he came to Cedar county and after operating a rented farm for a short time bought land of his own, later adding to his holdings by additional purchase from time to time un- til he had accumulated eight hundred acres in this county. He was widely recognized as a man of excellent business ability, sound judgment and keen dis- crimination and gained the regard and friendship of all with whom he came in contact. When he passed away in March, 1907, the community mourned the loss of one of its most prosperous and respected citizens. He was twice mar- ried and had seven children by his first wife, six of whom are yet living, as fol- lows: Fannie I .; Frederick R., of this review; George H .; May W .; Lulu B .; and Guy E. Harry is deceased. For his second wife John Woodhouse chose Miss Malissa A. Patterson, by whom he had one child, Rush L.
Frederick R. Woodhouse obtained his early education in the district schools . of this county, afterward pursued his studies at Carthage, Illinois, for nine months and later spent two years in the academy at Wilton, Iowa. After put- ting aside his text-books he assisted his father in the work of the fields, thus gaining practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. On starting out as an agriculturist on his own account he rented eighty acres of land and afterward operated a quarter section as a renter. Prospering in his undertakings, he was eventually enabled to buy land of his own, coming into possession of his present place of two hundred and eighty acres in Farmington township. He has brought the farm under a high state of cultivation and improvement and also erected a fine new residence. He an-
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nually harvests good crops and likewise derives a gratifying income from his stock-raising interests.
On the 4th of April, 1882, Mr. Woodhouse was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Harris, a daughter of J. B. and Anna M. (Dorwart) Harris, who came to Iowa from the state of Ohio. The mother passed away in March, 1904, but the father still survives and makes his home at Wilton, Iowa. Unto our sub- ject and his wife have been born three children. George Raymond, whose birth occurred on the 9th of March, 1883, is a practicing physician of New Liberty, Iowa. He wedded Miss Cora Healy and they have one child, Keith Wallace, whose natal day was October 7, 1909. Harry Lloyd, who was born April 24, 1886, resides on a portion of his father's farm. His wife bore the maiden name of Stella Fayette Nauman. Earl Harris, whose birth occurred December 20, 1895, is still under the parental roof.
In politics Mr. Woodhouse is a stanch republican but the honors and emolu- ments of office have never had any attraction for him. He and his family at- tend the Baptist church. Mr. Woodhouse has remained a resident of this part of the state from his birth to the present time and that his life has ever been upright and honorable is indicated by the fact that the associates of his boy- hood and youth are still numbered among his stanch friends and admirers.
HENRY AHRENS.
The population of Iowa is largely made up of those who either had their birth in or trace their ancestry back to Germany, and among those whom the fatherland has contributed to the citizenship of this great commonwealth is numbered Henry Ahrens. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on the 16th of March, 1861, and is a son of Claus Ahrens, who was also a native of that country and came to America in 1881. He located in Muscatine county, Iowa, and was there engaged in the bee industry until the time of his death, which occurred on the Ist of June, 1891. He had been a soldier in the Ger- man army and while participating in the battle of Etsted lost one of his legs. Ere leaving Germany he had been married to Miss Sophia Laschancky, who was born in that country and passed away in the Iowa home, June 5, 1894.
Spending the period of his boyhood and youth in his native country, Henry Ahrens did not wait for his parents to come to the new world, but in 1877, . as a boy of sixteen years, made the long voyage across the Atlantic, deter- mined to seek his fortune in this country, where he had heard opportunity was great and fortune favored those who were ambitious and industrious. Upon arriving in the United States he came directly to Iowa and for two years was engaged as a farm hand in Muscatine county. Later he was employed in a similar capacity for three years in Scott county, and for three years in Ne- braska, and then, with the capital which he had carefully saved from his earn- ings in the meantime he purchased eighty acres in the latter state, which he operated for two years. Returning to Iowa he rented a farm of one hundred acres in Cedar county for a time, after which the place became his by purchase,
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and later he added another tract of eighty acres which he bought from the Wright estate on the 5th of January, 1908. He is now the owner of one hun- dred and eighty acres, all lying in Inland township, and here he carries on gen- eral farming and at the same time devotes considerable attention to stock-rais- ing. Both branches of his business are proving most profitable, for he has car- ried on his affairs along the most progressive and modern lines, has been sys- tematic in his methods and careful in his management, and success has come as the logical result of close application and indefatigable industry and goes to prove how essential are those elements in the life of the successful farmer.
When seeking for a companion on life's journey Mr. Ahrens chose Miss Amelia Ehrecke, who was born in Muscatine county, June 15, 1863, a daugh- ter of Gottlieb J. and Johanna (Smeltzer) Ehrecke, natives of Germany, who came to America in the early '50s. Both are now deceased, the father passing away on the 16th of January, 1898, and the mother on the 7th of December, 1900. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens are three sons and two daughters, all yet at home, as follows: Emma, born on the 19th of August, 1889; Her- man, on the 19th of September, 1890; Arnold, on the 10th of February, 1893; Rudolf, on the 16th of June, 1896; and Elsie, on the 25th of August, 1899.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Ahrens has given stalwart support to the democratic party and is now serving as school director, the cause of education finding in him a stanch advocate. He and his wife hold membership in the German Lutheran church and are well known and esteemed throughout the community in which they reside for their many excellent traits of character. In his life Mr. Ahrens has happily combined those sturdy quali- ties characteristic of the Teutonic race with the livelier element of progress which dominates the American people-a combination which is proving a potent force in the attainment of success in business lines.
M. Y. BEALER.
One of the most active and enterprising business men of Cedar Valley is M. Y. Bealer, superintendent of the Cedar Valley Stone Quarry, an extensive and most important industrial enterprise, constituting a factor in the prosperity and business activity of the community as well as a source of individual profit to the owner. Prompt, energetic and notably reliable, Mr. Bealer has estab- lished himself in a high position in public regard both as a business man and citi- zen.
He was born in North Liberty, Johnson county, Iowa, in 1874, a son of E. J. C. and Molly C. (Stephens) Bealer. The former was born in Switzerland in 1841, and when two years of age was brought to the United States by his par- ents, Elmer J. and Mary A. Bealer, who settled in Ohio, but in 1854 came to Iowa, establishing their home in Johnson county, where Mrs. Bealer passed away. He moved to Nebraska and died in that state. Reared under the paren- tal roof, E. J. C. Bealer eventually became a bridge contractor and continued in that line of business until he turned his atention to quarrying in 1884. While
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