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 45

Author: W.S. Dunbar and Co.. pbl
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, W.S. Dunbar & co.
Number of Pages: 852

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 45
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 45

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ships and struggles to gain for them a home. They started in married life with comparatively nothing, having only a team of horses and willing hands. They are the parents of seven children-Joseph L., Benjamin F., Stella E., Henry M., Leroy, Albert and Amy. The last two are twins; they are all at home. Mr. Olson was elected county supervisor in 1886, in which capacity he still serves. He is a staunch Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Farmers' Alliance. His father died in 1886, and since that time his mother has made her home with him.

W. COX, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 27, Harlan Town- ship. He was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, March 6, 1843, and is a son of J. M. Cox, a minister well known to the citizens of Harlan, and Mary (Trotter) Cox. W. W. was a lad of seven years when his father went to Wisconsin, and lived there two years; then the family came to Jasper County, Iowa, where our subject grew to manhood. He was trained to a farmer's occupation and was educated in the common schools. Hle was married in Jasper County, July 28, 1864, to Miss Lucinda E. Woody, a native of Law- renee County, Indiana, who came to Jasper County with her parents at the age of seven years. Her father and mother were James W. and Asenath (Meglemer) Woody. In 1868 Mr. Cox came to this county and bought forty acres of land and built a small frame house. Now things are changed; the small dwelling has been replaced by a fine residence built in modern style, and there are 189 aeres of land in the farm. In 1886 Mr. Cox did his building at an expense of $1,600; there are barns for stoek and grain, and all the sur- roundings indicate the prosperity and thrift

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of the owner. Mr. Cox is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He and his wife are the parents of eight children-James M., Mary A., John M., Harvey B., William A., Olive Lillian, Carl M. and Laura Daisy. Mr. Cox has formerly affiliated with the Dem- ocratie party, but in 1888 he voted the Union Labor ticket. Ile is one of the leading citi- zens of the township, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.

EORGE HAWLEY, a native of Sanga- mon County, Illinois, was born Sep- tember 14, 1824, and is the son of Pierce and Saralı (Schrader) Hawley, pioneer settlers of Illinois. He was reared in the county of his birth, and remembers the time when Springfield was a hamlet and Chicago was supplied with but one store. He was in his fourteenth year when his parents removed to Caldwell County, Missouri; there they re- mained over a year, and then on account of their religious faith, that of the Latter Day Saints, they were compelled to leave the State. In company with the total church membership they returned to Illinois, and re- crossed the river to Lee County, Iowa; there they resided three years and then removed to Black River Falls, Wisconsin. There they lived for one year and then went to Texas. During their stay in Texas the first jail was erected in the city of Austin, and our subject was one of the principal workmen. Although reared to farm life he learned the carpenter's trade, and made it his chief occupation. Mr. Ilawley was married July 4, 1846, to Ann Hadfield, daughter of Samuel and Mary A. Hadfield. She was born in England, April 14, 1830, and at the age of twelve years came to America. Mrs. Hawley died September 16, 1887. When Mr. Hawley was married

his brother John and his sister Priscilla were married with the same ceremony, at the same time, in the church at Austin, Texas, by Lyman Wright, one of the apostles of the church of the Latter Day Saints. After his marriage Mr. Hawley continued to reside in Texas until 1854, when he removed to the Cherokee Nation, and there engaged in mill- building for two years. In 1856 he removed to Utalı Territory, settling in Pine Valley, Washington County ; there he engaged in the saw-mill and Inmber business-the manufact- ure of looms, spinning-wheels and reels. He made this his home for fourteen years, and in 1870 he came to Grove Township, Shelby County, and settled on an unimproved farm of 140 acres. Ile has made all the improve- ments necessary to a comfortable home, and has placed the land, which he has increased to 180 acres, under good cultivation. Mr. Hawley is a Democrat, and has represented his township as trustee. For forty-five years he has been an elder in the church of the Latter Day Saints, and his family are also members of the same society. Mr. and Mrs. Hawley are the parents of eleven children --- Martha (deceased), George C. (deceased), Mary L. (deceased), wife of O. E. Holcomb; Maroni (deceased), Gideon M., Rosina, wife of David Jenkins; Sarah, wife of Benjamin Parker; Isaac L., Joseph, Lillian E., and William, at home.

A. ALBERTUS, of Portsmouth, is a prominent and well-known dealer in imported horses. He makes a specialty of English shire horses, and has spent much time and money in introducing valuable breeds into western Iowa and Nebraska. He has been very successful in this business, and is known as one of the best judges of draft

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horses in the county. Ile and his brother were among the first to bring imported horses into the county; they have bought and sold many valuable horses, and are well known for their strictly honorable dealing. J. A. Al- bertus was born in Sauk County, Wisconsin, July 26, 1863, and is the son of F. D. Al- bertus, a prominent citizen of Panama, Iowa. In 1874 he came to Shelby County and there grew to manhood, receiving the advantage of a public-school education. In 1886 he was married to Miss Louisa Williams, of Ports mouth. The result of this union has been two children-Maria and Robert G. In pol- ities Mr. Albertus stands with the Republi- ean party. He is of a genial disposition, and has won an enviable position in the business circles of Portsmouth.

EV. JOSEPH B. HUMMERT was born in Quincy, Illinois, March 25, 1860. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Lubecke) Hummert, who came from Han- over, Germany, their native place, to Amer- ica about the year 1849. They first resided in St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1852 removed to Quiney, Illinois, where they still reside. Joseph B. was the fifth of a family of ten children. His primary education was re- ceived in the private Catholic schools of Quiney, Illinois, and when he had attained his thirteenth year he studied one year under the private tutorship of Father Reinhart, of Quiney. He then took a thorough classical and philosophical course at St. Francis Semi- nary, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His the- ology he studied at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated in 1885, and in September of the same year he was ordained from this institution, by his pastor, the Right-Rev. H. Cosgrove, at Davenport,

Iowa. Soon after his ordination he entered into active ministerial work, as assistant to the Rev. J. C. White, at Marengo, Iowa. In November of the same year he was sent to take charge of the missions at Portsmouth, Panama and Earling. During the first year, as pastor of these missions, he resided in Portsmouth, and erected a church and par- sonage in that place. At the expiration of this year his residence was changed to Earl- ing, by the Right-Rev. Bishop, where he now resides. Being the first pastor sent to these missions, he found them destitute of church property. During the time he has been with these congregations, two churches, one at Portsmouth and one at Panama, have been erected, and a good two-story building has been erected at Earling, which is used for school and church purposes. For the present the church services are held in the upper story, and the lower floor is devoted to the school and residence of the Franciscan Sisters who have charge of the school. The school at this time numbers over 100 pupils. The congregation at Earling are planning to erect a commodious chnreh building the coming year, 1890, at a cost of $20,000. They have an elegant parsonage, built in 1888, at a cost of $2,000. It has eight rooms, is heated by a furnace, and does credit to the congregation at Earling. The Rev. Father Hummert has labored with untiring zeal in behalf of his congregation, and has been repaid by seeing a growing interest and increasing efforts on their part in the canse which lies so near his own heart.

HARLES ROBINSON, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, July 11, 1824, and is the son of Asa and Hannalı (Strattan) Rob-

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inson, natives of Virginia and West Virginia respectively. Being a farmer's son, our sub- ject was reared to that occupation, and re- ceived his education in the common schools. At the age of fifteen years he removed with his parents to łowa, settling in Jones County, where he remained one year, and then went to Cedar County. Here Mr. Robinson, Sr., resided until his death, which occurred in 1862. His wife had died in Ohio, when our subject was thirteen years old. Charles re- mained with his father until he was twenty- seven years old, when he was married and removed to Jones County, Iowa. llis mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth T. Reynolds occurred March 7, 1851. She is a daughter of Will- iam and Nancy (Forgey) Reynolds, natives of Tennessee, and was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, September 9, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are the parents of nine children -Nancy E., wife of John Easterly; John W., Hannah L. (deceased), Lineoln A., Lanra A., wife of George Casey; Clemence M., wife of Horatio Sykes; Eliza, wife of Asa E. White; Theresa J. and Charles A. Mr. Robinson resided in Jones County until 1875, when he removed to Shelby County and settled on a farm of 160 acres of partially improved land, three miles southwest of Ilar- lan. Here he made his home for six years, when he purchased 120 acres of wild land in Greeley Township. This he has greatly im- proved by erecting a fine frame residence and buildings for stock and grain, and plant- ing two acres of grove. Since his first pur- chase Mr. Robinson has added eighty acres to his farm, making his farm 200 acres, all of which is under the finest cultivation. Mr. Robinson is a man of push and energy, which is shown by his beautiful home and its surroundings. He has done much toward the improvement and advancement of the county, and well deserves the position and

respect which he commands in the com- munity. Mr. Robinson has met with his share of adversity. In 1860 all his pos- sessions, except his land, were swept away in the great tornado, and one season his crops and orchard were ruined by a hail storm, but despite all this his energy and courage never forsook him, and to-day he is enjoying the fruits of his labors. Ile is a member of the Republican party, and has served on the board of education and as road supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are worthy members of the Christian church.

L. STANLEY, proprietor of the pioneer meat market of Harlan, started the business in that place in the spring of 1871, and continued in the trade until 1881. IIe then sold the business and engaged in farming in Jackson Township until 1887, when he returned to Ilarlan and re-engaged in this occupation. This market affords an excellent assortment of all kinds of meat, fish and vegetables in their season. Mr. Stanley has a good trade which he has won by fair and upright dealing. The subject of this notice was born in Lonisa County, Iowa, June 12, 1837, and is the son of T. J. and Rachel (Hoskins) Stanley, natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. The parents were among the first settlers of Lonisa County, and when J. L. was five years old they removed to Whiteside County, Illinois, in which place lie was reared and educated. In 1860 he re- turned to JJefferson County, Iowa, and there resided until he came to Ilarlan. Mr. Stan- ley was married in 1864 to Miss Lucinda Hodgen. They are the parents of nine ehil- dren -- Henrietta, Lemuel, James, Isaac, Charles, Elizabeth, John, Elsie and a baby girl. In politics Mr. Stanley affiliates with

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the Democratic party. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.

REDERICK W. LOEIIR, farmer and stock-raiser, and dealer in agricultural implements at Earling, under the firm name of Loehr & Langenfeld, has been iden- tified with the interests of Shelby County sinee 1873. He was born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, January 26, 1850, and is the son of Quirin and Dora T. (Strabul) Loehr, natives of Prussia. The father came to America when eighteen years old, and the mother eame when about fifteen years of age. They were both reared in Wisconsin, and after their marriage settled in Fond du Lac County, where Mr. Lochr engaged in the mercantile business. The youth of our sub- ject was spent on the farin, in the store and in the common schools, where he received his early education; lie afterward attended Call- away College. He resided with his parents until his marriage to Annie May Langenfeld, which occurred in November, 1872. The fol- lowing spring he came to Iowa and purchased 330 acres of wild land in Westphalia Township; then there was but one house between Har- lan and Galland's Grove. He returned home the following year and moved his family to the county. He built a shanty, and broke forty acres of ground the first year; thus the improvement of his farm began, and by hard work and good management he has one of the finest farms in the county. In early days Mr. Lochr had to haul his grain to and drive his live stock to Shelby, Avoca, or Dunlap; at the latter place he has received 17 cents a bushel for corn, and 2 cents per pound for hogs. Mr. Loehr pursued the occupation of farming and stock-raising until the fall of 1888, when he engaged in the sale of farm-

ing implements. Mr. and Mrs. Lochr are the parents of seven children-Quirin E., Dora, Jacob, Johannah, Nicholas, Catharine an 1 Mary. Ile and his wife are members of the German Catholic church and attend the serv- ice at Westphalia. Mr. Lochr has served as township trustec, and on the board of school directors. Several times he has been elected to the office of justice of the peace, but never qualified. He was elected first trustee of the township. In the fall of 1887 he was elected supervisor of the county, and is the present incumbent of the offiec.

C. POTTER was born in Whiteside County, Illinois, September 22, 1854, and is a son of Martin and Salina (Perry) Potter, natives of the State of New York. He was reared and educated in his native county. September 2, 1875, Mr. Pot- ter was married to Miss Phobe Richmond, daughter of Daniel Richmond. The result of this union is five children - Wyman, Edna, Glenn M., Hazel K. and Grace. Mr. Potter is proprietor of one of the leading blacksmithi and wagon shops in Harlan; he has had thir- teen years' experience in the business, and thoroughly understands conducting it suc- cessfully and to the best interests of his patrons. He is in the prime of life, and is among the highly esteemed business men of Harlan. Mr. Potter is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 267.

J. RAMSAY, proprietor of a meat market on the south side of the square, Harlan, deserves and receives the pat- ronage due a well-kept market. He is a practical and experienced butcher, and is a

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.

popular and reliable business inan. Mr. Ramsay was born in Maryland, March 26, 1852, and is the son of Hugh C. and Eliza- beth (Whitford) Ramsay. He was reared and educated in his native State, and at the age of twenty-seven years emigrated to Iowa, re- maining in Lincoln Township, Shelby County, for a few months. After this short residenee in Iowa, he went to northwestern Missouri and lived there a few years. Not yet satis- fied with the different sections of the west he had visited, he went to Saunders County, Ne- braska, which was his residence until he came to Ilarlan in 1888. Mr. Ramsay was married at the age of twenty-nine years to Miss Anna C. Dayman, of Saunders County, Nebraska. They are the parents of two children-Eliza- beth and Raymond. Politically Mr. Rain- say affiliates with the Democratic party.

G. FAY was born April 24, 1853, in Tama County, lowa. Ile is a son of John and Aun (Dearborn) Fay, who were pioneers of Tama County, there being only nine white settlers in the county when they came there. John Fay was a native of Pennsylvania, and his wife was born in Indi- ana. When R. G. Fay was five years old he was taken to Indiana for a time, and after- ward to Missouri. He lived in Clark County, Missouri, for several years, being reared to the occupation of a farmer, and attending the publie schools. Not being satisfied with a farmer's calling he went to Mechanicsville, Iowa, and there learned the carpenter's trade. Iu 1882 Mr. Fay came to HIarlan, and en- gaged in contraeting and building, employing several workmen in the business. At the present time he is dealing in coal, agrieult- ural implements, wagons and road-carts; he sells over 150 ear loads of coal annually, and

transaets a large business in the other lines of his trade. Ile is a live, energetic man, and is one of the pushing citizens of IIarlan. Mr. Fay was married in 1882 to Miss Catha- rine Miller.

AMUEL SLATES, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, born November 12, 1826, is the son of Conrad and IIannah (Funk) Slates, both natives of Virginia. He was reared on a farmn and was educated in the common schools of the day, school then being held in an old-fashioned school-house, built of logs; the educators corresponded with the house, being of the erndest sort. When he had attained his majority he learned the coop- er's trade, which he followed in connection with farmning and carpentering for about eighteen years in Ohio and Indiana. Ile was married December 2, 1847, to Miss Mary Long, who died April 24, 1856; by this union four children were born -Jeremiah, Franklin, William I'. (deceased), and Mary. IIe re- mained in Carroll County about seven years after his first marriage, when he removed to Putnam County, Ohio, and then returned to Carroll County; from there he went to Union County, thence to Martin County, Indiana. While in Indiana he met and married Luere- tia Sminmers; she was born March 12, 1830, and died November 15, 1881. Seven children resulted from this marriage-Sarah A., John, Hannah, Alice, Samnel and Edward; one died in infancy. In 1866 he came to Shelby County, Iowa, with his family, and settled in seetion 18, Douglas Township, on an eighty- acre traet of wild land; he has gradually in- creased his estate until he owns 800 acres of Shelby County's land. Ile has made many improvements and has made a success finan- cially. He was married for the third time

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June 8, 1882, to Sarah Thomas. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Methodist Episcopal church. Jeremiah Slates, the oldest son of Samnel and Mary Slates, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, October 7, 1848; when he was ten years old his father moved to Indiana, and afterward to lowa. They settled on a wild piece of prairie land, and have done much to improve and eultivate it. Mr. Slates was reared to farm life and has always followed it. When a young man he learned the cooper's trade under his father, but never followed it; he is also a practical carpenter, having erected all of his own build- ings, which are neat and substantial. He has a pleasant home, a fine farm house, and barns for stoek and grain; he has planted a grove and an orchard. IIe has 320 acres of good land in sections 9 and 10, which has been improved mostly by himself. Ile is one of the pioneer farmers of the county, and has undergone most of the hardships ineident to pioneer life, He devotes himself to farming and stock-raising, and his surroundings indi- cate that he is a man of push and ambition. He was married March 5, 1876, to Ida Baker, daughter of R. E. and Almira Baker; Mrs. Baker's maiden name was Riddle. Mrs. Slates was born in Starke County, Illinois, February 4, 1858. They have four children- George R., Richard A., Harry H. and Pluma E. Mr. Slates has held the office of road su- pervisor and has served on the school board. He takes an active interest in educational affairs, and everything tending to the advance- ment of the county. He is a Republican.

RANK CROUCH has been a resident of the State of Iowa since 1871, with the exception of three years spent in Ne- braska. He was born in Saratoga County, 32

New York, Angust 18, 1845, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah Crouch. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received the advantage of a common-school education. When there was a call for men to defend the flag of this nation, he enlisted in the One Ilundred and Forty-second Infantry, Com- pany G, and served his country faithfully for one year, when he was honorably discharged. He lived in Carroll County, Illinois, until 1869, when he removed to Eldora, Iowa. IIe remained there one year and then went to Tama City, Iowa, making that place his home until 1871. Ile then came to Shelby County, and engaged in farming until 1884. It was at this time that he went to Burt County, Nebraska, and resided three years. Upon his return to Harlan he became the proprietor of the livery, feed and sale stables one bloek east of the southeast corner of the square. This livery barn was built in 1880 by Swain && Brazee, and has room for 120 head of horses. Mr. Crouch keeps a good supply of horses and carriages, and is deserving of the popularity he has won. He was married No- vember 27, 1872, to Addie Turpin, of Shelby County; the result of this union is three children-Jessie, Earl and Pardon. Politi- cally Mr. Crouch affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of the G. A. R., Harlan Post, and is a member of the Baptist church.

ORENS JACOBSON, one of the enter- prising farmers of Shelby Township, came here in 1872. He was born in Denmark, Mareh 15, 1844, a son of Peter and Catherine (Christianson) Jacobson. He lived in his native place until he was twenty-three years of age; he went to school until he was fourteen years old, when he worked on a

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farın. In 1867 he sailed from Copenhagen to Leach, Scotland, then via Liverpool, Eng- land, to New York, landing at Castle Garden. He first went to New Jersey, where he worked on a farm for a time; then he went to Long Island, then to Connectieut, and from there to Minnesota, where he remained for a short time. Ilis last inove was to Jas- per County, Iowa, where he worked one year. With his brother Andrew he came to Shelby County, driving an ox team. The first sea- son he broke prairie, and in the fall went to Adair County, Iowa, where he lived until 1872, when he came to Shelby County again. In 1874 he settled on the land where he now lives. It was wild prairie when he came here, but he has made a good farm of it. Ile has eighty aeres, a good story and a half house, a barn, sheds for cattle and eribs for grain. Everything shows industry and thrift. Mr. Jacobson was married in Shelby County, October 24, 1870, to Miss Mary Jacobson, who was born in Denmark. She came to this country when she was eighteen years old. She was a danghter of Nels and Mary Jacobson. By this marriage eight children were born-Anna, Peter, Lonie, Tina, Chris- tian and Winnie. Two children died-An- drew, seven years old, and Willie, eighteen months old. Our subject is a Republican. Ile has served as school director. He is in the prime of life, is kind to all, honest in his business transactions, and one of the snecess- ful farmers in the township.

EWIS W. FRY, a native of Franklin County, Indiana, was born April 24. 1865. Ile is the third child of Daniel and Rachel Fry. His childhood was passed in his native county until his seventh year, when his parents removed to Shelby County,

Iowa; here he has since made his home, with the exception of three years spent in Avoca and Denison, Iowa. During this time he was engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery. Mr. Fry was brought up on a farm, and received the training usually given farm- ers' sons. His literary education was obtained in the common schools. At the age of four- teen years he began the study of veterinary surgery, and applied himself with great zeal to inastering this profession. He took a thorough course of lectures, and when he embarked in the profession he was probably as well equipped as any man entering the business. Ile practiced three years, but owing to ill-health he was obliged to abandon his work. Hle then turned his attention to breeding and raising fine grades of live-stock. llis thorough knowledge of veterinary sur- gery is of great advantage to him in this business. Mr. Fry's farm of eighty-six aeres lies in the northeast quarter of section 23, Union Township, one-half mile west of De- fiance. He was married December 1, 1887, to Miss Cora B. Luxford, daughter of Will- iam and Barbara Luxford. She was born in La Salle County, Illinois, September 25, 1866. They are both members of the United Brethren church.

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Author: W.S. Dunbar and Co.. pbl Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, W.S. Dunbar & co. Number of Pages: 852

Author: W.S. Dunbar and Co.. pbl
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, W.S. Dunbar & co.
Number of Pages: 852