USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 60
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Following the death of her husband Mrs. Shrope took charge of the home farm and in its management displayed good business discernment and execu- tive ability. Her latent powers were called forth to meet the situation and she proved herself able to cope with it. She not only managed the business but from time to time has made good improvements, erecting the residence which she occupies, also a barn, a shed for the cattle and a work house. She also has purchased ten acres of timber land and in her business affairs has met with grati- fying and well merited success. Desiring to keep the farm intact, she paid her
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children for their interest in the estate and is now sole owner of an excellent property situated on section 35, Pioneer township.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shrope were born six children, three sons and three daughters. Henry, who has been blind from his youth, was educated in the blind school at Vinton, Iowa, and resides with his mother. Louisa became the wife of L. B. Albaugh and died, leaving six children. Charles grew to man- hood, was married and at his death left a wife and two children. Cordelia be- came the wife of John McNee, removed to California and died in that state. Amanda became the wife of Alfred Herpst, who died leaving two children, and she now resides on the Shrope place near her mother. James, the youngest of the family, is a farmer of Pioneer township.
Mrs. Shrope attends and contributes to the support of the Presbyterian church of Mechanicsville. The family are well known and are numbered among the early settlers of the county, Mrs. Shrope witnessing much of its growth and progress during fifty-five years in which she has made her home in this locality. She has seen prairie grasses replaced by fields of wheat and corn, little cabins torn down to make way for commodious modern farm residences, has seen im- proved grades of stock introduced and modern machinery take the place of old agricultural implements. At all times she has kept in touch with the trend of progress, recognizing the fact that therein lies the path to success.
ALFRED C. BAKER.
Alfred C. Baker needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he is widely known as one of the prosperous farmers of Linn township. His resi- dence in the county covers thirty-five years, during which period he has estab- lished himself as a capable agriculturist, the proof of his industry and well di- rected labor being found in his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is a well improved and valuable property.
England claims him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Glou- cester on the 17th of April, 1852. He was there reared to the age of nineteen years and during his youth worked with his father at the carpenter's trade. He is largely a self-educated man and acquired his knowledge in a considerable measure since attaining his majority. The favorable reports that reached him concerning America and her opportunities proved a call which he could not with- stand and, bidding adieu to friends and native land, he sailed for the new world in 1872, making his way direct to Wisner, Nebraska. There he worked at the carpenter's trade for a brief period but the same year came to Cedar Rapids and entered the employ of a banker, caring for his horses and stock. Later he se- cured farm work in Linn county and in 1875 came to Cedar county, where he worked by the month for several years, being in the employ of one man for three years. He also engaged in laying tile for a year but was ambitious to en- gage in business on his own account and at length rented a farm which he culti- vated for about five years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings and about 1886 purchased eighty acres of land, constituting the home farm upon
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which he now resides. He then began the further development of the property and afterward extended its boundaries by the additional purchase of eighty acres adjoining. He has erected a good two-story residence, and upon the place are two large barns, one thirty-six by fifty-six feet and the other thirty-one by thirty-two feet. There is also a substantial chicken house, hog house and gran- ary, together with corn cribs and machine sheds, and he uses the latest improved agricultural implements in carrying on the farm. He has also raised and fattened stock, feeding about a carload of hogs each year. He has high grade cattle upon his place and owns a registered shorthorn bull. He is a man of resourceful busi- ness ability and accomplishes what he undertakes, thus moving steadily forward to the goal of success.
On the 12th of March, 1883, Mr. Baker was married in Cass township, Cedar county, to Miss Amelia Herbst, a native of that township, where her girlhood days were spent in the home of her father, Henry Herbst, one of the pioneer settlers from Germany. Two sons and a daughter have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Baker : Charles A., Lillie and Burdus J.
Mr. Baker holds to the political faith of the democratic party upon ques- tions of national importance but casts an independent local ballot. Since com- ing to America he has made three trips back to the old world, his first visit being made in 1878, when he remained three months. In 1902 he returned to his na- tive land and in 1908, accompanied by his youngest son, he revisited the scenes of his boyhood and youth. He started out in life empty handed and is a self- made man who has been both the architect and builder of his fortunes. He ar- rived in Mechanicsville with a capital of five dollars and faced the necessity of at once securing employment that he might have the necessities of life. He possessed laudable ambition, however, joined with industry and perseverance, and it is upon these qualities that honorable success is ever based.
G. B. HUTCHESON.
Having spent his entire life, with the exception of one year, in Iowa town- ship, Cedar county, G. B. Hutcheson is therefore well known to the citizens of that locality, who recognize in him a man of good business ability, and his well directed efforts in former years now make it possible for him to live retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil without further re- course to active labor.
Born in Iowa township on the 29th of August, 1853, he is a son of Joseph L. and Sarah Ann (Polk) Hutcheson, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. They were married in Ohio, after which they came to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1841, the father here entering a tract of eighty acres of land on section 5, Iowa township, upon which he spent his remaining days. He be- came a successful farmer, devoting his entire life to that occupation, and at the time of his death was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich farming land. He passed away on the 26th of August, 1885, at the age of sixty-seven
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years and four months, his death occurring on the farm which he had entered upon arriving in this county. His wife passed away on the 3d of December, 1873, at the age of fifty-three years, eight months and twenty-one days. In their family were eight children, namely: Mary, the deceased wife of Cornelius Swinehart; Margaret, who married G. M. Scott, of West Liberty; Jane, the de- ceased wife of J. S. LaRue; Rebecca, who married W. H. Maxon and has also passed away; Robert B., who died when but one year old; G. B., of this review; Moses, who passed away when an infant of six months; and Sarah, who married Jacob Kaufman and has also passed away.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for G. B. Hutcheson during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent on the old homestead in Iowa township, and his time was passed in the usual manner of country lads of that day, being divided between acquiring an education in the country schools and assisting in the work of the farm. He early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the farm bred lad, and thus, amid the busy environ- ment of country life he laid the foundation for a successful future. Upon at- taining man's estate he wisely chose as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared, and with the exception of one year spent in merchandising in Atalissa, Muscatine county, he devoted his entire attention during his active busi- ness career to that occupation. In 1883 he removed to his present farm, a well improved tract of two hundred and fifty acres located on sections 5 and 8, Iowa township, which has been brought to its present high state of cultivation through his wise direction and careful management. As the years have passed and he has prospered in his undertaking he has added many improvements to his farm, the place being now equipped with two sets of good buildings, all in excellent repair-the result of his energy and thrift. In the conduct of his farm he in- troduced all of the modern accessories for facilitating labor, employed the most progressive and up-to-date methods, and that his labors have been crowned with merited success is indicated by the fact that it is now possible for him to live retired, leaving the management of his interests to others, while he enjoys the rest that comes as a result of well directed effort and labor intelligently applied.
It was in September, 1879, that Mr. Hutcheson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Roberts, who was born in Iowa township, Cedar county, on the 22d of September, 1854, a daughter of William Preston and Martha (McManus) Roberts, both natives of Ohio. Her parents, who were married in their native state, came to Iowa in the early '40s, being numbered among the pioneer settlers of this state, and here the mother passed away on the 2d of June, 1902, at the age of seventy-four years, four months and nine days. She had long survived her husband, whose death occurred June 2, 1864, while visiting in Columbus, Ohio, passing away at the comparatively early age of forty-four years, four months and twelve days. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hutcheson was blessed with five children, as follows: Claudie, the wife of George Linn, of South Da- kota; L. C., superintending the operation of his father's farm, who married Edith Kester; May, the wife of Peter Wingert, living in Center township, near Tipton ; Charles R., a student at the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa ; and Everett L., a student at Springdale high school, who still resides at home.
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Mr. Hutcheson has given his support to the democratic party since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has preferred that his duty as a citizen should be done in a private manner rather than in public office. His interests, however, are thoroughly identified with those of Cedar county, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to bene- fit his section of the county or advance its wonderful development. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of the county.
JOHN HENEKS.
The home farm of John Heneks lies on sections 3 and 10, Linn township, and comprises two hundred and eighty acres of rich land that is well improved and indicates the careful supervision of the owner, whose methods are at once prac- tical and progressive. The leading features of the place-the cultivation of grain and the raising of stock-are both carefully carried on.
Mr. Heneks is a native of Linn township, born March 27, 1859. His father, David Heneks, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1838 and was there reared and educated. In early manhood he learned the millwright's trade, which he followed for some time. Before leaving Pennsylvania he was married to Miss Mary Keiser, also a native of Philadelphia. Removing westward to Iowa, they settled in Cedar county about 1856, and for three years resided upon a farm in Linn township. Later David Heneks removed with his family to Jackson county, Kansas, driving across the country with an ox-team. Taking up his abode there he made his home in that locality throughout his remaining days. For a time he followed farming but later sold his land and turned his attention to the operation of a flourmill. His death occurred April 19, 1909, while his wife passed away July 4, 1906.
John Heneks, when his father and mother went to Kansas, remained in Iowa with his grandparents. He was then a lad of three years and was reared upon a farm here. He attended the district schools but is largely self-educated, experi- ence, observation and reading having made him a well informed man. On the 3Ist of August, 1882, he was united in marriage in Linn township to Miss Melissa Andre, a native of this county and a daughter of Andrew Andre and a sister of A. P. Andre, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.
Mr. and Mrs. Heneks began their domestic life on a farm which he rented and after five years he purchased eighty acres of land, giving his attention to its cultivation and improvement. From time to time he added to his property as his financial holdings increased and now has almost three hundred acres. There are good buildings upon the place and everything is kept in repair. The fields are fenced with woven wire and all the latest improvements and accessories of a model farm are here to be found. He has a gasoline engine for grinding feed and an elevator to unload and lift the corn to the cribs, and he has built a hog house with cement floor. There are fine driveways upon the place and he has set out
JOHN HENEKS AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
both a grove and orchard, which constitute attractive features of the farm. The well improved property of today is an indication of his well spent life, his untiring industry and his progressive ideas. In connection with the cultivation of the fields he raises and feeds considerable stock, making a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs, of which he fattens and ships about two carloads each year. He has a fine registered shorthorn male and is engaged in the breeding of shorthorn cattle, having now an excellent herd upon his place.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heneks have been born three sons and two daughters: Eldora, the wife of Harvey Ellison, a resident farmer of Linn county ; Alva Ada, who is engaged in teaching; Floyd Parker, who assists in carrying on the home farm; John Ivan, who is also upon a farm; and Willard, who is attending school.
Politically Mr. Heneks is a republican and has served as township trustee and justice of the peace. He has also been a member of the school board for years and for a long period served as president of the board. He has been called to serve on the petit and grand juries and has frequently been a delegate to the county conventions. In the discharge of his duties he has ever displayed un- faltering loyalty to the best interests of the community. He and his wife are members of the Reformed church and their good qualities of heart and mind have endeared them to many friends. Mr. Heneks has spent his entire life in this county, devloping one of the best farms in Linn township, and in other ways he has aided materially in improving and upbuilding this section of the state, being well known as a public-spirited citizen of tried integrity and worth.
TIMM PAUSTIAN.
An enterprising and prosperous representative of agricultural interests in Farmington township is Timm Paustian, the owner of a rich and productive tract of land comprising one hundred and eighty acres. His birth occurred in Scott county, Iowa, on the 15th of October, 1858, his parents being Joachim and Katherine (Steffen) Paustian, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born on the 22d of July, 1826, while the mother's natal day was August 4, 1828. After emigrating to the new world Joachim Paustian took up his abode in Scott county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for about five years. On the expiration of that period he rented a farm of eighty acres in Scott county and later rented a quarter section of land. Subsequently he pur- chased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in that county, there carrying on general agricultural pursuits until called to his final rest on the 22d of Novem- ber, 1888. His wife likewise passed away in Scott county, her demise occurring on the 18th of December, 1893.
Timm Paustian, who was the third in order of birth in a family of seven children, obtained his education in the district schools of Scott county and as- sisted his father in the operation of the home farm until he had attained his ma- jority. After leaving the parental roof he worked as a farm hand for about five years and at the end of that time rented one hundred and sixty acres of land in Muscatine county. Subsequently he purchased a farm of one hundred and
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
eighty acres in Farmington township, Cedar county, the further cultivation and improvement of which has claimed his time and energies continuously since. In addition to this property he owns two and a half lots in Durant and also has a house and barn in that town. His home farm is well improved in every particu- lar, the buildings thereon including a fine residence, a good barn and other nec- essary structures for the shelter of grain and stock. The soil, which is naturally rich and productive, yields abundant annual harvests, while his stock-raising in- terests also prove a source of gratifying revenue to him.
On the 8th of March, 1880, in Davenport, Mr. Paustian was united in mar- riage to Miss Katherine Watcke, a daughter of Hans and Annie (Ewolt) Watcke, who were natives of Germany and came to this country in 1856. The mother passed away in Durant, Iowa, but the father still survives and makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Paustian. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children, five sons and one daughter, the record of whom is as follows: Herman, a resident of Muscatine county, wedded Miss Annie Schorr, a daugh- ter of Jacob Schorr, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. Louis, living in Farmington township, this county, married Miss Clara Miller, a daugh- ter of William Miller, whose sketch also appears on another page of this work. Hugo, Emil and Victor are all at home. Alma is the wife of Adolph Petersen and makes her home in Davenport.
When exercising his right of franchise Mr. Paustian supports the men and measures of the democracy, being a firm believer in its principles. He now holds the office of school director, having served in that capacity for the past four years. He and his family belong to the German Lutheran church and do all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. Mr. Paustian has had no false standard of life, but, aware that earnest and indefatigable labor constitutes the basis for advancement in the world's work, has been diligent in seeking and winning prosperity, and that he has lived honorably is manifest in the fact that he enjoys the respect and confidence of those who have known him from boyhood.
LUKE ENLOW.
The student of Cedar county's history does not carry his investigations far before he learns that the name of Enlow figures prominently in connection with the annals of this section of the state. Luke Enlow belonged to a family that has been prominently and actively associated with the work of progress and im- provement here. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, October 11, 1832, and was the seventh in order of birth in a family of eight children, whose parents were James and Ruth (Hewitt) Enlow, natives of Pennsylvania. On leaving the Keystone state they removed to Ohio, where their remaining days were passed. Their family numbered eight children: Mrs. Emily Shreeve, who died in Ohio; Mrs. Susan Whinery, who also passed away in that state; Mrs. Re- becca Pennock, who died in Ohio; Mrs. Mary H. Cope, who died at West Branch, Iowa; Samuel, whose sketch. appears elsewhere in this volume; Luke;
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Thomas, who died in Cedar county ; and Jonathan, who died when a young man in Ohio.
Luke Enlow spent his youthful days in his native county and remained a resident of Ohio until he came to Iowa, with the exception of a single year spent in Indiana. He arrived in Cedar county in March, 1854,-a young man of twen- ty-one years. He secured a companion and helpmate for life's journey when, on the 12th of September, 1856, he wedded Miss Cynthia Ann Gruwell, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, September 12, 1837, and had been a school- mate of her husband during her youthful days. In 1854 she came to Iowa with her parents, Moses and Ann (Carr) Gruwell, who were natives of Stark county, Ohio. They located in Gower township, three miles north of the present site of West Branch, Mr. Gruwell entering four hundred acres of land from the govern- ment. There he developed and improved a farm, upon which he continued to make his home until his death. Following his demise his widow removed to West Branch, where her remaining days were passed. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Mrs. Enlow; Thomas, who died in West Branch leaving a widow and three sons; Hiram I., a resident of California; Samuel C., living in West Branch; Mrs. Esther Neagus, who died in Springdale; Charles C., a resident of Minnesota ; Mary P., the wife of Abner Edmundson, of Wash- ington ; and Eliza Lloyd, who died in West Branch.
Following their marriage Mr. Enlow and his bride located upon a farm in Hardin county, Iowa, where they lived for twelve years. They then returned to this county and settled three miles north of West Branch in Gower township. It was a tract of eighty acres, which he at once began to cultivate and improve. As he prospered in his undertakings he added to this a tract of forty acres and later he bought eighty acres more, making a total of two hundred acres, which he continued to cultivate and develop until 1892. He brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and they returned to him splendid crops as a reward for his care and labor. For his products he found a ready sale upon the market and thus year by year he prospered until he came to be numbered among the substantial citizens of the county. He continued to engage in farming until 1892, when he retired to West Branch, where his remaining days were passed. The family still own eighty acres of the old home farm, while the remainder was sold to his son.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Enlow there were born five children: Dora L., who died at the age of thirty-two years; J. Walter, who owns and resides upon the old home place in Gower township; Ella, at home; Esther Bell, the wife of T. D. White, of West Branch; and Ethel, who died in her third year. The old home- stead farm has been owned by only three white men. It was entered from the government by Mrs. Enlow's father and a part of it was purchased by her hus- band, while now it is owned by her son.
Mr. Enlow was an active member of the Society of Friends and aided liber- ally in building the Honey Grove Friends church. After his removal to West Branch he united with the Friends church there and remained one of its loyal supporters and active workers until his demise. His life was ever in harmony with its teachings, and he was widely known as an upright and honorable man, who merited the confidence and good-will which were universally extended him.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
In politics he was a stanch republican but never consented to hold office save in connection with the schools. He was interested in matters of progressive citi- zenship, however, and gave his support to many measures and movements for the public good.
Mrs. Enlow still resides in West Branch, where she is widely and favorably known. For fifty-six years she has been a resident of Cedar county and her memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. There is little today to indicate the condition of things which existed at the time of her arrival. As she traveled westward with her parents one month was consumed in making the journey from Ohio to Iowa with wagons, for there were no railroads at that day. They had a wagon loaded with their household goods, while a two-seated carriage was occupied by the family. With the ex- ception of the two youngest children, who were born here, all made the long journey across the prairies from Ohio to Iowa. Mrs. Enlow can remember the time when the town of West Branch had no existence and other flourishing towns and villages of this part of the state were little more than hamlets. She has seen the wild lands converted into fine farms and the primitive homes replaced by large and substantial dwellings, giving every evidence of the prosperity which has blessed the county as the result of the energy and business enterprise of its citizens.
FREDERICK W. OWEN.
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