USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 42
USA > Iowa > Audubon County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 42
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Lewis Waterbury
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.
bald. Politically Mr. Maxwell casts his vote with the Democratic party. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Parian Lodge, No. 321.
EWIS WATTERBURY is one of the prominent early settlers of the county in which he has lived since July, 1853. He was born in Onondaga County, New York, December 9, 1838. He is a son of Ste- phen Watterbury, a well-known pioneer of the township. Our subject was a lad of eight years when his father came to this country. Iowa was then a Territory. They lived three years in Jackson and Jones counties; they then went to Clayton County, Iowa, where they lived until 1853, when they came to this county, Fairview Township, seetion 17. There were only four families in the town- ship. Lewis was then fifteen years old; he was reared as a farmer, assisting to improve the homestead, where he grew to manhood. His education was received in the common schools. Mr. Watterbury was married No- vember 4, 1860, to Miss Rachel Watson, a daughter of Abram Watson, a pioneer of the county, now a resident of Oakland, Iowa. Mrs. Rachel Watterbury died March 21, 1862. Mr. Watterbury was again married June 11, 1863, to Miss Catharine Custer, daughter of Henry Custer, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. By this union six children were born-Eliza- betli, wife of Jesse MeCoy, of Nebraska; Grant, Ehna, Elmer, Charles and Isabella (deceased). The mother of these children died in September, 1875. Mr. Watterbury married his present wife December 21, 1879. She was Mrs. Susan Green, a daughter of Japheth and Eliza (Gates) Brown, born in Clermont County, Ohio, and reared in Liv- ingston County, Illinois. Mr. Watterbury
improved a farm of 100 acres in section 16, which he sold in 1881, and bought 240 acres of wild land where he now lives. He has made many improvements; has a good frame house, buildings for stock and grain, and everything conveniently arranged for farm- ing and stock-raising. He is a Republican, and east his first vote for Lincoln in 1860. He has served as township trustee, assessor, and as county supervisor for three years, filling these offices with entire satisfaction to the public. He is a member of the Masonic order, P'arian Lodge, of Harlan; and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Carthage Lodge. He is president of the Anti-horse- thief' Association of Fairview Township, and has been for several years. He has ever taken an active and prominent part in poli- ties and all publie enterprises. He is a man yet in the prime of life, and has the respect and confidence of all who know him.
H. LOUIS has been identified with the interests of Lincoln Township since 1886. Ile is a native of Snyder County, Pennsylvania, born November 21, 1841, and is a son of Jacob Louis, who was born in France and reared in Pennsylvania. When a youth our subject went to Milwan- kee, Wisconsin, where he remained three years. He received his edneation in the common schools of Pennsylvania and in the Milwaukee Academy. During the late eivil war he enlisted in August, 1862, in the One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company F, and served one year. He took an active part at South Mountain, Antietam, and was wounded at Fredericksburg and discharged on account of disability. Later he recruited a company for the Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
Infantry, Company D, and served as First Lientenant, later Adjutant, and finally Captain of Company C. He served until the elose of the war, his regiment being in Virginia most of the time. After the close of the war he lived in Logansport, Indiana, for a time, and in 1866 came to Shelby County, settling near Cuppy's Grove. He engaged in farming and school-teaching. While living here he was elected county supervisor under the old law (one from each township), and was one of the first elected under the new law (three in the county). He was elected county an- ditor in the fall of 1871 and served four years. In 1876 he settled on a farm in Lin- coln Township, where he lived six months; he then moved on the land now owned by Moses Hoskins, making many improvements. In 1882 he bought his present farm from M. K. Campbell, which contained 160 aeres; he owns 140 aeres adjoining this traet, so his home-farm contains 300 acres of land. It is one of the best improved places in the town- ship, and is known as Pine Grove Farm. There is a good two-story frame residence surrounded with evergreen and pine trees; there is a large barn, a windmill and all the equipments of systematic farming. Mr. Lonis makes a specialty of stock-feeding and raising. His official career has been marked with good judgment, and he has served with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. Politically he affiliates with the Democratie party. He is a member of Parian Lodge, No. 321, A. F. & A. M .; Mt. Zion Com- mandery, No. 49, and Olivet Chapter, No. 107; he is one of the charter members of the Blue lodge; he is a charter member of the G. A. R., Harlan Post, and was the second post commander. Mr. Louis was married Jan- nary 22, 1873, to Miss Fannie B. Fetter, of Pottawattamie County, a daughter of JJ. L. Fetter. Mr. and Mrs. Louis are the parents
of three children-John J., Fred and Annie. No man has been more prominent in the his- tory of the county than J. H. Lonis, and none have contributed more to the growth and prosperity than he.
HILLIP SCHAFER, proprietor of a gro- cery store on the east side of the publie square, established himself in business Jannary 1, 1889. He has identified himself with the interests of Shelby County since 1869, at which time his residence there be- gan. Mr. Schafer is an American only by adoption, having been born in Germany, De- eember 14, 1841. He is the son of John and Charlotte II. Schafer, who emigrated to America when Phillip was a youth of fifteen years. Ile attended school in his native country, which is noted the world over for its fine system of education, until he was four- teen years old. On emigrating to America his parents settled in IIolmes County, Ohio, and there he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade. Mr. Schafer was united in marriage in Holmes County, Ohio, Febru- ary 11, 1864, to Miss Mary Ann Baker, a native of Holmes County, and a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Baker. The same year Mr. and Mrs. Schafer removed to Elkhart County, Indiana, remaining there five years. At the end of that time they came to Shelby County, Iowa, and settled on seetion 35, Har- lan Township. Their farm consisted of eighty aeres of wild land; as soon as possible Mr. Schafer had this under enltivation, and added many improvements to the place. Since his residence in Harlan he rents this place. He is an adherent to the principles of the Demo- cratie party. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church. They are the parents of five children-Henry, Elizabeth, Ellen,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Charlotte and John. Mr. Schafer is a thor- ough-going, reliable business man, and worthy the respeet of his neighbors and friends.
HARLES II. PAULK, of Lincoln Town- ship, has been identified with the inter- ests of Shelby County since 1876. He is a native of Germany, born November 15, 1851, and is a son of Christ and Lucinda Paulk. He was three or four years old when his parents emigrated to America and settled in Morgan County, Missouri. Here the family resided in peace and contentment until 1865 when they were obliged to leave on account of the molestations of the rebels; they came to Cedar County, Iowa, where Charles H. grew to manhood. He was reared on a farm and attended the public schools. In 1875 he bought 120 aeres of land in Lincoln Town- ship, upon which he settled in 1876; the land was wild and without any improvements. In 1877 he added to his first purchase forty aeres, and now owns 160 acres of as good land as Shelby County affords. He has a good residence, pleasantly situated, a large barn, and a windmill. Mr. Paulk pays espe- cial attention to raising high grades of live- stock, and is a success in this industry. His farm is three miles west from Harlan. Po- litically Mr. Paulk is a Republican. He is a genial bachelor, honorable in business, and one of the leading citizens of Lincoln Township.
ERDINAND VERING is a well-known citizen of Lineoln Township. Like many of our most successful farmers, Mr. Vering was born in Germany; his birthday was September 6, 1853, and he is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Dirkmann) Vering.
He attended seliool until he was fourteen years of age, and from that time until he was nineteen years old he worked on a farm. He sailed from Bremen on the steamer Strasburg and landed in New Orleans, Louisiana; thenee he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and thence to Menard, Illinois, where he engaged to work on a farm by the month. Here he remained until he came to Shelby County, Iowa, in 1878. He first bought 160 acres of land, but he has improved and added to this until he now has 240 acres in a fine state of culti- vation. He has a good residence surrounded with shade trees, buildings for stoek and grain, stoek-yard, stoek seales, and all conven- iences for stoek-raising and feeding. Mr. Vering was united in marriage in June, 1881, to Miss Cynthia Rau, of Shelby County, Iowa; she was born in Clayton County, Iowa, and is a daughter of Anton and Mary (Eberhardt) Ran. Mr. Vering and wife have five chil- dren-Katie, Joseph, Mary, Ana and Anton. Mr. Vering is a member of the Democratic party; he has served on the school board and has always taken an active interest in the re- ligious and educational advancement of the county. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
R. LEWIS DISBROW FROST, the pioneer druggist of Harlan, has been engaged in the business since 1863. He was born in Morrow County, Bennington Township, Ohio, August 23, 1834, and is the son of James and Laura (Knapp) Frost, na- tives of the State of New York. The Doctor was reared and educated in his native county. He was born with a natural gift in healing, and has always been very successful; he is possessed of a strong and robust constitution which has been of great nse to him in his
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
practice. In the beginning of the great re- bellion he enlisted in a home company in 1861. As early as 1854 Dr. Frost located in Guthrie County, Iowa, and was there engaged in the drug business until he came to Harlan in 1863. Since his residence in the last-named place he has had a large practice and a good trade; his store is on the south side of the public square, and a large stock of drugs and patent medieines can always be found there. Doetor Frost was united in marriage in Mor- row County, Ohio, May 19, 1854, to Lydia Jane Babcock. Ile is a member of the Har- lan Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 267.
ILLIAM ROBERTS has been idell- tified with the interests of IIarlan Township since 1878. IIe was born at Dumfries Bridge, Yorkshire, England, November 3, 1844, and is a son of Joseph and IIannah H. Roberts, honest, hard-working, Yorkshire people. When old enoughi Will- iam went to work in a cotton factory, where he was employed several years. In 1870 he Ieft his native land and came to America, in company with his brother Benjamin; they came directly to Shelby County, where they had an acquaintance, J. W. Chatburn, a miller. William worked for Mr. Chatburn for fourteen months, and then went to Massachu- setts, where he found employment at his old trade in a cotton factory; here he remained five years, and saving his money, made pay- ments on land that he had purchased in Shelby County. In 1875 he made a trip to England, and remained there for two years, at the end of which time he came back to Shelby County. In 1881 he settled on his present home place, where he owns 160 acres of good land, one and one-half miles from HIarlan. The land is well adapted to the raising of stock and grain,
which pursuits Mr. Roberts is engaged in. Mr. Roberts was united in marriage May 13, 1866, to Miss Hannah Stock, a native of York- shire, England, and a daughter of George and Mary Stoek. By this union six children were born, five of whom are living-William, Ben- jamin, Nelly, Lney and Charles. Saralı May died at the age of ten months and fifteen days. Mr. Roberts was greatly bereaved by the death of his wife, which occurred February 26, 1888; she was a loving wife and a fond mother, and a consistent member of the Latter Day Saints church. Mr. Roberts is yet in his best years, and is an honest, industrious man; although he has seen trouble, he has done the best he could for himself and children. He is one of the highly respected men of the community.
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AMES JORGENSON is a member of the firm of Sonneland, Hammer & Company, dealers in general goods, Harlan. He was born in Denmark, October 8, 1854, and is the son of l'eter and Christina (Jensen) Jorg- enson. Until fourteen years old he attended school in his native country, and there acquired a good education. After leaving sehool he worked on his father's farm until he was nineteen years old, when he sailed from Co- penhagen for New York, making the voyage in eighteen days; on arriving at New York he eame directly to Harlan, Iowa. For three years he worked on a farm, and at the end of that time he obtained a situation with Eida- miller Brothers, as elerk in their general dry- goods store. Mr. Jorgenson held this position until Eidamiller Brothers sold out their busi- ness; he then entered into partnership with Mr. Sonneland and Mr. Ilammer, and they have established themselves in business under the firm name of Sonneland, Hammer & Com- pany. They carry a large stock of dry goods,
Yours Truly Pathway
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.
boots, shoes, staple and fancy groceries, and are popular young business men. Mr. Jorg- enson, like many of his countrymen, bas found a prosperous and pleasant home in the new world, and a chance to further his busi- ness and social interests.
OSEPHI H. KUHL, of Union Township, is one of the many leading and thor- oughly reliable citizens of Shelby County, Iowa, whose ancestors came from Germany. His parents, Mathias HI. and Margarette (Gla- son) Kuhl, are natives of the Rhine country, Germany. Mathias II. was brought up on a farm, and follows this occupation at the present time in Mills County, Iowa. When he had been married one year, he and his wife emigrated to America, the land whither so many ambitious sons and daughters of the Fatherland had gone. They are the parents of nine children, of whom Joseph H. is the oldest. He was born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, December 20, 1846, and passed his youth in the midst of agricultural indus- tries. His education was begun in the con- mon schools, and would have been extremely limited had it ended there. Without any in- structor after he had left school he mastered the reading and writing of the German lan- guage, and in every way possible supple- mented the narrow opportunities afforded him in his youth. At the age of seventeen years he made a trip across the mountains with a herd of cattle, and at the early age of thirteen years he embarked in the threshing business, which he followed almost every season for fifteen years. Mr. Kuhl was united in marriage, January 9, 1870, to Miss Mary Finken, daughter of Mathias and Kathrina (Gans) Finken, natives of Germany, who eame to America in 1855. Mrs. Kuhl is
also a native of Germany. After his mar- riage Mr. Kuhl rented a farm in Mills County, Iowa, and began a record in his own name. His eapital was not wholly tangible, being a large supply of pluck, energy and determination; but these are important fac- tors in any enterprise, and have not proven worthless in Mr. Kuhl's experience. For two years he remained in Mills County, and in 1873 he came to Shelby County and set. tled on eighty acres of wild land in West- phalia Township, in which place he was one of the first colonists. In 1882 he sold his farm, then consisting of 160 acres under good cultivation, and bought 160 acres in Union Township, which has ever since been his residence. He has placed this land under cultivation and made many improvements, having erected a fine two-story frame house, and the buildings necessary for the storage of grain and the protection of live-stock. He has planted eight acres of grove, and has thus done his share in the advancement of forestry in the treeless prairies. Mr. Kuhl was one of the prime movers in the organiza- tion of Westphalia Township, and in the establishment of the Westphalia Colony, one of the most prosperous German institutions in western Iowa. He was the first postmas- ter of Westphalia, and was the first postmas- ter at Earling. He still holds this position at Earling, and on first coming to the place he was engaged in buying and selling of grain in connection with his farming inter- ests. For some years he was in partnership with his brother Peter in the hardware busi- ness, but since January, 1888, he has devoted himself to his farming, the postoffice, and the ageney of the Milwaukee Land Company. He has charge of the company's lands from Council Bluffs to Manning, and has been a most profitable employe. He was largely in_ strumental in the rapid growth of the town
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
of Manilla, and has ever served the company to their best interests. He was elected to the office of county supervisor in the fall of 1881, and served until 1888, with honor to himself and perfect satisfaction to his constituents. HIe has represented his township in its vari- ous offices almost from the beginning of his residence within its borders. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, being one of the political leaders of the county. He owns 187 acres of land in the county. Mr. Kuhl is a self-made man, affable, courteous and public-spirited. For integrity of charac- ter and upright dealing he has no superior in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl are the parents of seven children-Kathrina, Nicho- las B., John M., Mary A., Michael H., Ed- ward N. and Anna.
- EORGE S. BARR, a native of Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, was born December 4, 1829, and is the son of James and Mary (Helt) Barr, natives of Pennsylvania. When George S. was ten years of age he came with his parents to Knox County, Ohio, or what is now Morrow County; here he was reared to farm-life and received his education in the district school. IIe is one of eight children, six of whom are living. February 2, 1854, Mr. Barr was united in marriage to Miss Eflie M. Brokaw, daughter of Jolin and Caroline (Buslı) Bro- kaw, natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Barr was born in Knox County, Ohio, February 26, 1833, and was one of a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Barr are the parents of three chil- dren-Wellington, Anna B. (deceased), wife of Charles Hannon, and Andrew J. Mrs. Hannon left two children-Leora and Well- ington, who reside with their grandparents. !
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barr con- tinued their residence in Ohio until 1867, when they came to Iowa, settling in Benton County, and remaining there three years. In 1870 they came to Shelby County and settled on a farmi of eighty aeres in Greeley Town- ship, which was then Grove Township; there were but few improvements on this place, a small traet having been broken and a log honse erected. An addition has been made to the dwelling, and barns for stock and grain have been built. When the Barr family came to this section there were but three families in the neighborhood. They encoun- tered many hardships, but they did it in true pioneer style. They have assisted largely in the upbuilding of the educational and social interests in the community, and are held in high esteem and respect by all who know them. Mr. Barr and two neighbors, Mallory Morgan and Isaac Fish, erected the first school-room in the northwestern part of Gree- ley Township; it was a small apartment, 12 x 14 feet, but served the purpose for two years. Mr. Barr has been officially identified with his township as trustee and as a member of the board of education. Politically he affil- iates with the Democratic party. Mrs. Barr is a member in good standing of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, being one of the first to have her name enrolled on the class-book in this part of Shelby County. In the be- ginning there were two besides Mrs. Barr in the class -- old Mother Brown and Mrs. Charles Brown-and from this small number the society has grown to its present proportions.
A. SAUNDERS, proprietor Greeley Stock Farm, Greeley Township, was born in Dane County, Wisconsin, Angust 4, 1857. He is a son of Charles and
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.
Louisa (Keeley) Saunders, natives of Eng- land. C. A. grew to manliood in his native county, and in 1873 came to Iowa, settling in Nishnabotna Township, Crawford County, where he remained until 1879. He then purchased forty aeres of wild and unim- proved land in Grecley Township, Shelby County, where he has since made his home. He has added to his first purchase until he now owns 320 acres in a body. He has placed it all under most excellent cultivation, and lias made many valuable improvements in the way of buildings. He was burnt out in 1886. He has done his share toward promoting for- estry, having planted eight acres of grove. Mr. Saunders's farm is located about one mile sonth of Manilla, where he is engaged in breeding fine horses; he has taken especial care in the propagation of good breeds of live-stoek, and has done mneh to elevate the standard in the county. When he started in life his only capital was energy and phnek, coins always above par in the market. He has risen to a position of wealth and influence in the county, and is a fair example of what a man can accomplish in this country. Mr. Saunders was married May 4, 1877, to Miss Bertha, daughter of John and Anna (Ilayes) Theobald, who was born January 1, 1862. They are the parents of seven children- Louisiana, Maud A., John R., Blanche N. (deceased), William B., Charles and Victoria. Politically he gives his support to the issues of the Republican party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
SAAC J. FISH, of Greeley Township, has been identified with the interests of Shelby County since 1870. He was born in Erie County, New York, November 26, 1828, and is the son of Samuel and Catha-
rine (Landis) Fish, natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. Until eighteen years of age Isaac resided in his native State, being trained to agricultural pursuits, and at- tending the common schools of that day. After leaving home, his first venture was made in the livery business at Toledo, Ohio. Here he remained one year, and then enlisted in Company H, First Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, to serve in the Mexican war. At the close of the war he returned to New York, remaining there two years. He then came west as far as Ohio, stopping there for a short time. The next year he was en- gaged in work on the Northern Indiana & Southern Michigan Railroad, which was then being constructed. His next residence was in De Kalb County, Illinois, at Shabbona Grove, where he remained one year; thence lie removed to Dixon, Illinois, where he re- mained two years. In 1854 he came to Iowa and engaged in the United States mail service, working on various parts of the route as far west as Denver, Colorado. After retiring from the mail service he settled in Jasper County, Iowa, thence removed to Benton Connty, and in August, 1870 eame to Shelby County, settling on a farm of eighty acres in Greeley Township, which was then known as Grove Township; the land was then an un- broken traet of wild prairie, and the family have had many hardships to encounter; but they have courageously faced them all, and now have one of the best improved places in the township. Mr. Fish first erected a small frame residence which answered all require- ments until it was destroyed by fire in 1888; he then built a large dwelling which is a comfortable and tasteful structure. At the time of their settling in Shelby County, there were but few neighbors, but the small onm- ber promoted soeiability, and all made the most of their limited pleasure. The country
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
then abounded with wild game. Mr. Fish has been identified with the board of educa- tion in his distriet, and has served as super- visor. Hle affiliates with the Democratic party. October 10, 1861, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Lyon, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hoak) Lyon; she was born August 22, 1841, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and came to Iowa about the year 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Fish are the parents of six children-Katie (deceased), Harry, Jennie, wife of George Jones; Eliza, Minnie (deceased), and Amasa. They are worthy and consistent members of the Methi- odist Episcopal church.
AMES IVEY, a native of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, was born February 27, 1842, and is a son of Richard and Sarah (Pasco) Ivey, natives of England. James is the oldest of a family of seven children, all of whom are living. When he was one year old his parents removed to Iowa County, Wisconsin, where the parents still reside. Ile was reared to a farmer's life in Wiscon- sin, and received but a limited education owing to the lack of school facilities. Being a close observer he has acquired a fund of information that enables him to attend to any business that may devolve upon him. Mr. Ivey was married September 3, 1865, to Miss Eliza Theobald, daughter of Frederick and Mary (Goldsmith) Theobald, natives of England. Mrs. Ivey was born on Prince Edward's Island, October 10, 1845, and at the age of two years was taken by her parents to Iowa County, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Ivey are the parents of six children-Mary, wife of Edward Saunders; Alvin, Sadie L., James Roy, Lillian and Jennie B. In 1874 Mr. Ivey removed from Wisconsin to Shelby
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