USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 71
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On the 16th of February, 1876, Mr. Hamann was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Jockheck, a daughter of E. F. and Sophia Jockheck, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this volume. Their home has been blessed with seven children, six daughters and one son. Amanda S., whose birth occurred in Muscatine county on the 19th of November, 1876, is now the wife of William Trede, of Farmington township. Erena C., who was born in Farmington township on the 10th of September, 1878, is the wife of Fritz Schlunsen and resides on the old homestead. Regina M., who was born in Farmington township on the 19th of June, 1880, gave her hand in marriage to Albert Langmann, of Inland township. Hulda L., whose birth occurred in Farmington township on the 15th of April, 1883, is the widow of Herman Langmann and makes her home in Durant. Sophia Jane, who was born in Farmington township on the 24th of December, 1889, is still at home. George I .. , whose birth occurred in Farmington township on the 16th of May, 1892, is employed in the Scott County Savings Bank of Davenport. Norma D., born in Farmington township, August 16, 1895, attends the Durant public school.
Mr. Hamann's political views are in accord with republican principles but he does not consider himself bound by party ties and frequently casts an independent ballot, taking into consideration the capability of a candidate rather than his party affiliation. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to several positions of public trust. He is a member of the village
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council of Durant and served in a similar capacity while a resident of Bennett, this county. He has likewise acted as justice of the peace, school director and road supervisor in Farmington township, ever discharging his official duties in a most satisfactory and praiseworthy manner. Both he and his wife were reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church. They have a host of friends that is constantly increasing as the circle of their acquaintance broadens and all who know them speak of them in terms of warm regard.
GEORGE C. STATLER.
The proud position which Iowa has attained as one of the foremost agri- cultural states of the Union is attributable to the enterprising efforts of such men as George C. Statler who, living quietly upon his farm, puts forth persistent, earnest and effective effort in making the land productive and valuable. He is today the owner of an excellent property of two hundred and forty acres situated on section 12, Linn township, and the fields respond richly in large harvests, while the pastures afford an excellent feeding ground for the stock which he raises.
He was born at Linn Grove, March II, 1866, and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county. His father, Christopher Statler, was a native of Pennsylvania and accompanied his parents on their removal with their family to Ohio, at which time a settlement was made in Holmes county, where Christopher Statler spent the days of his youth and reached his majority. When a young man he continued on his westward way, reaching Linn Grove, Iowa, where he established a blacksmith shop, having previously learned the trade. At that time his shop was the only one between the Statler place and Muscatine. For a number of years he continued blacksmithing, doing much work for the early settlers of the community, and when the capital which he had saved from his earnings justified the purchase he invested in eighty acres of raw land, constituting the nucleus of the farm upon which George C. Statler now resides. The father at once began to break the sod and prepare the fields for cultivation and in the course of time bounteous harvests were gathered where the prairie grass was formerly found. He fenced the land, erected sub- stantial buildings and developed the farm along progressive lines. In his work he prospered and his success enabled him to extend the boundaries of his place until it comprised two hundred and forty acres. Here he reared his family and spent his remaining days. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Similda Parker, was born in Ohio and in her girlhood came to Iowa with her father, Samuel Parker, who was one of the early settlers from Ohio. Christian Statler remained a resident of Cedar county until his death, which occurred in 1881 when he was fifty years of age. His wife survived him for a long period, her death occurring in December, 1909. Their family numbered three sons and two daughters: George C .; Charles, a resident of California; May, the wife of C. E. Batdorf of Berkeley, California; Ida, the wife of Charles Rhoads, a farmer of Pioneer township; and William, deceased.
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The home farm was the playground of George C. Statler during his youthful days and also his training school for life's practical duties. He remained with his father until the latter's death and in his youthful days supplemented his primary education, obtained in the common schools, by six months' study in the high school at Mechanicsville. He remained upon the home place until after his father's death and then purchased the interest of the other heirs in the property. His time has been busily passed in cultivating the fields and raising and feeding cattle and hogs, his live-stock interests constituting an important factor in his business, for he ships from three to five carloads of fat stock each year and keeping the animals in good condition, he secures for them a ready sale on the market, thus materially augumenting his annual income.
Mr. Statler was married in Red Oak township in 1896 to Miss Phebe Murray, a daughter of William Murray, a native of Cedar county. They began their domestic life on the old Statler farm and there Mrs. Statler passed away April 28, 1909.
Politically Mr. Statler is a democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, although he is now serving his second term as township trustee. He has likewise been officially identified with the schools for a number of years and has been a delegate to the county conventions of his party. The Masonic fraternity finds in him an exemplary representative. He belongs to the lodge and chapter of Mechanicsville and to the commandery at Anamosa, also to the Mystic Shrine at Cedar Rapids. His has been a well spent life and its salient features have gained him the favorable regard of all with whom social or business relations have brought him in contact. His reliability in business affairs is well known, and he is today the owner of one of the excel- lent farms of Linn township. He has rented his land, while his attention is now given to the raising and feeding of stock, and he is recognized as one of the leading stockmen of this section of the state. While his business interests are growing in volume and importance, he does not allow this to detract from his public-spirited interest in the general welfare nor prevent his cooperation in movements which he believes will prove of benefit to the community.
CARL SCHAEFER.
Carl Schaefer, the owner of a quarter section of land in Farmington town- ship, has won a well merited measure of prosperity in the conduct of his agri- cultural interests and has long been numbered among the substantial and re- spected citizens of the community. His birth occurred in Germany on the 8th of September, 1854, his parents being Carl and Elizabeth Schaefer, who spent their entire lives in that country. He acquired a good practical education in the schools of the fatherland and after putting aside his text-books learned the stone-mason's trade, working at that occupation for four years prior to his emigration to the new world.
The year 1870 witnessed his arrival in the United States and for about three months afterward he was employed as a stone mason. Subsequently he
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began working as a farm land in Scott county, Iowa, being thus busily engaged for ten years. On the expiration of that period he rented one hundred and twenty acres of land in Scott county, devoting his attention to its cultivation until the time of his removal to Muscatine county, where he rented a farm of three hundred acres. By dint of unremitting industry and good management he eventually accumulated capital sufficient to enable him to purchase land of his own, coming into possession of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Farm- ington township, Cedar county, where he has carried on his agricultural interests continuously since. He has erected a fine new residence and has made improve- ments on the place until it is now lacking in none of the equipments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Schaefer chose Miss Caroline Sharfe, whose parents spent their entire lives in Germany. Unto our subject and his wife have been born seven children, all of whom still sur- vive, namely: Tillie, who is the wife of George Reimers and resides in Durant; Lizzie, at home; Minnie, who wedded Louis Krebs, of Scott county; and Tina, Louis, William and Caroline, all of whom are yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Schaefer is a democrat in politics and has served as school director for nine years, the cause of education ever finding in him a stanch champion. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias at Sunbury, while his reli- gious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church, to which his wife and children also belong. The period of his residence in this part of the state now covers four decades and he is therefore widely and favor- ably known here. He is numbered among those who left the fatherland to identify themselves with American life and institutions, who have pushed their way to the front and who are a credit alike to the land of their birth and that of their adoption.
JOEL M. WALKER.
After many years of busy activity, characterized by well directed effort and intelligently applied labor, Joel M. Walker is now living retired in the enjoyment of a handsome competency which ranks him foremost among the men of affluence in West Liberty, Iowa. Born in Belmont county, Ohio, May 27, 1850, he is a son of Lewis M. and Elizabeth (Oxley) Walker, natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Belmont county, Ohio, respectively. The family home was established in Cedar county, Iowa, in 1854, and in Iowa township, that county, both parents passed away, the father in 1896, when seventy-four years of age, and the mother on the 24th of December, 1909, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. In their family were two children: Joel M., of this review, and P. L., of Columbus, Ohio.
The elder son was but four years of age when brought by his parents to Iowa, the journey being made by way of the Ohio river to the Mississippi and up the latter stream to Muscatine, from which place they traveled overland to Iowa
JOEL M. WALKER
MRS. JOEL M. WALKER
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township, Cedar county. There on the home farm Joel M. Walker was reared to manhood, and during the period of his boyhood and youth assisted in the cultivation of the fields, becoming familiar with the various phases of farm life. Because there were no schools near enough for him to attend, his educational training was necessarily very meager, and he was twelve years of age before the opportunity presented itself for him to study, his course even then being limited to two summers and a part of a winter. Broad reading and observation, however, extended his general knowledge, and in the school of experience he learned many valuable lessons concerning life and its responsibilities. Upon attaining man's estate he wisely chose the occupation to which he had been reared as his life work and began his independent career as the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Iowa township, which served as the nucleus of his later extensive holdings. A keen business man, he also possessed a laudable ambition to succeed and a spirit of energy, enterprise and determination which not only stimulated his efforts in early manhood but have proved salient qualities throughout his entire life. As the years passed and he prospered he added to his original purchase until he possessed three hundred acres on section 28, all in one body, and also became the owner of several smaller tracts, one of sixty acres, another of eleven acres and twenty acres of timber land, his aggregate possessions amounting to four hundred and fifty-one acres of rich Iowa land. Naturally fertile, it responded readily to the care and attention bestowed upon it and annually yielded rich harvests. Under his wise management the home farm became one of the most highly cultivated and valuable properties in the locality, equipped with a five thousand dollar residence and other modern and up-to-date improvements to the value of ten thousand dollars, including private waterworks and everything that goes to make up a model farm of the twentieth century. Mr. Walker is one of the stockholders of the Citizens Bank of West Liberty.
In 1875 Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Maria P. Gifford, who was born in Morgan county, Ohio, March 7, 1852. In the year 1854 she was brought to Iowa by her parents, Burton and Rebecca Gifford, both of whom passed away in Iowa township, Cedar county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walker were born six children, namely: Clare, the wife of William Branson, of Springdale; Loretta, who married Charles McCann, of Iowa township, Cedar county ; Vera and Glen, twins, who married Robert and Alma Pinney, respectively, who were also brother and sister and resided in Iowa township; Zella, the wife of Fred Ridenour, of Iowa township; and Wilma, yet at home. All of the children have had good educational advantages, being graduates of the Springdale high school with the exception of Vera, who was compelled to give up her course on account of ill health. All are well established in life and have good homes, and all reside within the borders of Iowa township, Cedar county, so that a three-hours' ride in an automobile will permit Mr. Walker to visit any one of them.
Although reared by Quaker parents, Mr. Walker is now identified with the Presbyterian church, in which he and his wife hold membership and in the work of which they are actively and helpfully interested. 'A' republican in politics, the honors and emoluments of office, however, have never held any attraction for him, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his private interests. Winning
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notable success in his agricultural enterprise, his history indicates clearly the value and power of close application, of earnest endeavor and of honorable pur- pose, and as a result of these qualities he today ranks among the substantial and wealthy residents of this community.
DEAN A. BENNETT.
Dean A. Bennett now owns and carries on the old Bennett homestead farm of one hundred and eighty acres, situated on section 4, Linn township, in addition to which property he likewise cultivates another tract of forty acres. His life record is an illustration of what may be accomplished by earnest toil and per- severing effort, and his example should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others. His birth occurred on the farm where he now resides May 15, 1881, and his entire life has been passed in Cedar county.
His father, Tilghford Bennett, was born in Indiana in 1842 and was the son of Asa Bennett, who was one of the early settlers of Cedar county, arriving about 1852, at which time he bought the land and opened up the farm that is now known as the old homestead property. He became owner of four hun- dred acres and with characteristic energy he transformed the tract from wild prairie land into productive fields. He also built a house and barn and set out young trees, which now constitute a fine grove.
His son, Tilghford Bennett, was reared upon this farm and eventually suc- ceeded to its ownership. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Mary J. Filloon, a native of Cedar county and a daughter of William B. C. Filloon, one of the pioneers from Ohio. To provide for his family Mr. Bennett followed the occupation of farming, cultivating and improving his place as the years passed by, making a specialty of raising and feeding cattle. He reared his family upon his farm and spent his last days there, his death occurring in 1903. His wife died the following year and both were laid to rest in Mechanics- ville cemetery. The father was one of the well known and prosperous farmers and business men of the community and the sterling traits of manhood which he displayed in every relation of life brought him the confidence and kindly regard of all who knew him. The family numbered five sons: Archie O., who is living in Medford, Oregon; William M., a resident of Lisbon; Virgil M., whose home is in Mechanicsville; Dean A .; and Rue, who is located in Glenwood, Iowa.
Dean A. Bennett was reared as was most farm boys but had superior educational opportunities inasmuch as he attended Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, after completing the common-school course, while later he pursued a course in the Cedar Rapids Business College. Liberal intellectual training, therefore, qualified him for the responsible duties of life. He remained with his father until the latter's death, after which he bought out two of the heirs and succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead, whereon he now resides. The place is a good property of one hundred and eighty acres, situated on section 4, Linn township, and in general farming and stock-raising Mr. Bennett is meeting with success. A large residence which he erected stands in the midst
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of the farm and near by are good barns and outbuildings. He feeds and fattens Poland China hogs, keeping pure blooded stock, and is, moreover, well known as a breeder and dealer in shorthorn cattle. He has a herd of forty-five head of pure blooded and high grade shorthorns and is known as one of the prominent live-stock dealers of the county, his success in business being the result of close application, careful management and keen discernment.
Mr. Bennett was married in Linn township on the 8th of March, 1905, to Miss Dollie T. Stine, who was born and reared in this county and is a daughter of John Stine. Mrs. Bennett is a lady of liberal education. She attended Cornell College and afterward engaged in teaching for three years. She has become the mother of two children, Dean Audis and Mary Bueta.
The parents are members of the Coon Creek Methodist Episcopal church and are people of genuine personal worth, highly esteemed for their many excellent traits of character. Mr. Bennett belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Mechanicsville and politically is a democrat. He has served as township trustee but has not been active in his search for office, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon business affairs that require his immediate attention and are bringing to him substantial success. He has always lived in this county and the fact that many of his warmest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time is an indication that his has been an honorable and upright life.
FRED E. BRITCHER.
Fred E. Britcher is the owner of Elmdale Stock Farm, a well kept property comprising two hundred and forty acres of good land on section 31, Dayton township. He also has another farm of one hundred and six acres near Clarence and is one of the well known and prosperous agriculturists of this part of the state. His birth occurred April 2, 1872, on the farm where he now resides and here he was reared and educated, his preliminary course, acquired in the common schools, being supplemented by study in the high school of Clarence. He afterward engaged in teaching for a few terms and imparted readily and clearly to others the knowledge he had acquired. He then took charge of the home farm for his father and managed its interests for some time before his father's death. His early training at farm labor well qualified him for this experience and his efforts have been attended with substantial and gratifying success.
Mr. Britcher was married in Dayton township on the 14th of September, 1900, to Miss Emma A. Miller, a native of Ohio, who was reared and educated in Cedar county, her father being Albert Miller, a well known farmer of Dayton township. The young couple at once began housekeeping upon the old Britcher homestead and in the intervening years Fred E. Britcher has made some notable improvements and changes on the place. He has rebuilt and remodeled the house, has put up a good barn, has divided the place into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, has enhanced the productiveness of the land by tilling
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and has made other substantial improvements. There are now two sets of buildings upon the farm. In addition to his home property Mr. Britcher in 1909 purchased a tract of land of one hundred and six acres near Clarence and cultivates the greater part of it. He is widely known as a breeder of and dealer in shorthorn cattle and also raises and fattens cattle and hogs for the market, shipping from two to three carloads of cattle and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head of hogs each year. Resolute purpose constitutes one of the elements of his success and he is justly ranked with the active and progressive business men and farmers of Dayton township.
Mr. and Mrs. Britcher have two children, James A. and Genevieve E. Mr. Britcher belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and his wife to the Presby- terian church. His political faith is given to the republican party and while he has never sought nor desired political office, he is now serving as president of the school board. His labors in behalf of education have been far-reaching and beneficial for he regards the public school as the bulwark of the nation and does everything he can to further its interests and promote its efficiency.
CHRISTOPHER H. F. NIENABER.
Christopher H. F. Nienaber, who passed away in Farmington township on the 25th of February, 1900, there carried on general agricultural pursuits through- out his entire business career, his labors being crowned with success. His birth occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 10th of October, 1855, his parents being Frederick C. and Maria (Fintel) Nienaber, both of whom were natives of Ger- many. The father's natal day was June 14, 1818, his birthplace being Wal- denhussen, Mecklenburg, while the mother was born in Hanover on the Ist of January, 1825. They were married in Germany and emigrated to the United States in the early '50s, first settling in St. Louis, Missouri, and later removing to Scott county, Iowa. There Frederick C. Nienaber followed farming through- out the remainder of his life, passing away in Walcott on the 26th of January, 1900. The demise of his wife there occurred on the 25th of January, 1887. Their children were ten in number, our subject being the fifth in order of birth.
Christopher H. F. Nienaber obtained his early education in the district schools of Scott county and later pursued a course of study in the German school at Lu- zerne, Iowa. He remained in Scott county with his father, assisting in the work of the fields, until twenty-one years of age, when he came to Cedar county, the year of his arrival here being 1876. Purchasing a quarter section of land in Farmington township, he there carried on general farming and stock-raising throughout the remainder of his life, winning a well merited prosperity in his undertakings as an agriculturist. At the time of his death, however, he had in- debtedness against his land, which his widow and sons at once set about to liquid- ate and through faithful and persistent effort and careful management soon had the farm clear of incumbrance and the improvements since made on the farm denote the successful outcome of their endeavors. They have enlarged the house and erected a new barn, outbuildings, etc.
MR. AND MRS. C. H. F. NIENABER
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On the 24th of February, 1881, near Durant, Iowa, Mr. Nienaber was joined in wedlock to Miss Maria Catherine Christine Horst, a daughter of Detlef and Anna Catherine Margaret (Sellhorn) Horst. The father was born in Hohen- vestedt, Holstein, Germany, on the 30th of June, 1837, while the mother's birth likewise occurred in Barfeldt, Holstein, her natal day being December 30, 1833. Detlef Horst crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1855, first locating in Rock Island, Illinois, where he worked as a teamster for four years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a tract of land near Moline and in ad- dition to farming also worked as a teamster for about eight years. He then came to Durant, Cedar county, Iowa, and rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Farmington township, being successfully identified with general agri- cultural pursuits in the vicinity of Durant for twenty years. Subsequently he embarked in business as the proprietor of a restaurant at Wilton, Iowa, conducting the same for about twenty years or until the time of his retirement. Both he and his wife still survive and make their home in Wilton. Unto them have been born eight children, Mrs. Nienaber being the eldest. Our subject and his wife became the parents of three children, all of whom are yet living. Edward Chris- topher, who was born on the 17th of May, 1882, wedded Miss Esther Globes and resides in Farmington township. Albert Detlef, whose birth occurred on the 18th of June, 1884, married Miss Mabel M. Lenker and lives on a farm ad- joining that of his mother. Charles Adolph, whose natal day was April 29, 1888, is still at home with his mother.
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