USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 13
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GEORGE W. E. REIS.
George W. E. Reis carries on general farming on section 22, Lee township, and is regarded as one of the highly respected citizens of that community. He owns the south half of the seetion on which he lives and his farm of three hundred and twenty acres pays golden tribute to him for the eare and labor which he bestows upon it. He was born in Lee county, Illinois, on the 27th of June, 1878, and is a son of George and Margaret (Beitz) Reis, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to the new world in early manhood and womanhood. They were married in Illinois and settled upon a farm in Lee county, that state, the father owning there a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1881 they removed to Adair county, Iowa, buying two hundred and forty acres in Jackson township, and upon that place the parents of our subject remained until they were called to their final rest, becoming well known farming people of this county.
The youthful days of George W. E. Reis were spent in the usual manner of farm lads, his time being divided between the duties of the sehoolroom, the pleas- ures of the playground and the work of the fields. Through the summer months he assisted more and more largely in cultivating the erops and in 1902 he began farm- ing on his own aeeount, eultivating a traet of rented land. He was ambitious, how- ever, to own a farm and therefore carefully saved his earnings, so that in 1906 he bonght a place of two hundred acres in Cass county, upon which he lived until
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1912. He then traded that property for his present farm comprising three hundred and twenty acres of very desirable land on seetion 22, Lee township, Adair county. He immediately took up his abode upon that place and the following year erected a handsome residence. There are also good barns and other substantial outbuild- ings upon the farm, furnishing ample shelter to grain and stock and he uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. The farm is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and the methods which Mr. Reis employs are such as bring substantial returns.
Mr. Reis chose as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Miss Cath- erine Follmann, whom he wedded in January, 1904. She was a resident of Adair county and by her marriage has beeome the mother of six children, Veronica, George, Lawrence, Velma, Franeis and Leo. Mr. Reis votes the democratie ticket and in religious faith he and his wife are Catholics. He has made for himself a substan- tial place in business eireles and the rewards of earnest, persistent labor are today his, for he is now numbered among the men of affluence in Lee township.
JOHN B. SAWYERS.
During the past thirty-two years John B. Sawyers has been actively engaged in the operation of an excellent farm of four hundred and eighty acres which he owns on seetion 12, Grand River township. His birth oeeurred in Ohio on the 19th of October, 1856, his parents being George and Margaret (Gillespie) Sawyers, who spent their entire lives in the Buckeye state.
John B. Sawyers attended the common schools in the acquirement of an cduea- tion and spent the period of his minority under the parental roof. When twenty-one years of age he made his way to Madison county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for three years, while subsequently he was engaged in the cultivation of rented land for three years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 12, Grand River township, Adair county, to which he subsequently added until he now owns four hundred and eighty aeres. This has remained in his possession to the present time and its improvement and operation has continuously elaimed his attention. He planted a fine orchard thereon and in connection with the cultivation of cereals makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock, this branch of his business materially aug- menting his income.
On the 24th of July, 1883, Mr. Sawyers was united in marriage to Miss Barbara A. Drake, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of A. D. and Maria (Crumrine) Drake, who were also born in the Keystone state. They took up their abode on a farm in Madison county, Iowa, at an early day and there spent the remainder of their lives. To them were born five children, four of whom are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyers have seven children, as follows: T. J., who married Esther Christen- sen ; Mabel, who gave her hand in marriage to O. H. Hollen ; Graee M., a college student ; James R., who is an engineer by profession; Pearl, at home; John K., who is a graduate of the college at Ames and is also yet under the parental roof ; and Rosa. All of the children have enjoyed excellent educational advantages.
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN B. SAWYERS
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Politically Mr. Sawyers is a democrat and has ably served as school director and in other minor positions. He well merits the proud American title of a self- made man, for his present prosperity is attributable entirely to his own efforts, and he enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the successful and esteemed citizens of his adopted county.
JAMES F. LAUDE.
James F. Lande is secretary and manager of the Greenfield Creamery Company and bears the well earned reputation of being the greatest creamery expert in Iowa. Experience, laudable ambition and enterprise have brought him to this creditable position. Iowa claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Dubuque county, eight miles south of the city of Dubuque, on the 5th of April, 1848, his parents being Fred J. and Louise (Leclere) Lande, both natives of France, whence they were brought to the United States by their parents in their childhood days, the mother being but three years of age when she accompanied her father and mother to the new world, while the father was a youth of eleven years. They settled in the town of Mexico not far from Syracuse. New York, and in that locality Fred J. Laude and Louise Leclere were reared and married. In 1846 they removed westward to Dubuque county, Iowa, where they took up government land on which they resided until called to their final rest. Their old homestead is now the town site of Landeville.
James F. Laude was reared under the parental roof and after attending the district schools continued his education in Lenox Collegiate Institute at Hopkinton, Iowa, where he made excellent nse of his time. his standing at the first term being ninety-nine and two-fifths per cent. During his second term he had for a teacher the late Samuel Calvin, for many years state geologist of Iowa. Following the com- pletion of his studies he devoted himself to farming. He was married in his twen- tieth year, on the 31st of December, 1867, to Miss Eugenia Valley, a native of France. At the age of cighteen years he was as large as he is now, standing six feet tall and weighing one hundred and eighty-five pounds, while few men could do as much work as he. While Mr. Laude was born and rearcd in Iowa, his children could not speak a word of English when entering school. He devoted his attention to farming in his native county until 1878, when he removed to Jones county and bought a farm of two hundred acres, which he afterward increased by an additional one hundred acres. There he lived for twenty-two years and in 1900 he came to Adair county, where he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Grove township. A year later he sold that property and purchased the Lee Christ farm of two hundred and forty acres in Summerset township. The follow- ing spring he bought the N. C. Gibbs farm, also in Summerset township, and abont 1908 he sold that place and the same day became owner of the Samuel Allen farm of eighty acres in Summerset township. A few days later he invested in one hn- dred acres lying across the road and in 1901 he became owner of his town prop- erty in Greenfield, where he has two acres, on which stands a comfortable and attractive residence which he has occupied since becoming the owner thereof. He still owns three hundred and eighty acres in Summerset township and an eighty Vol. II- 7
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acre farm near Flint, Michigan, and from his property holdings derives a gratifying income.
In 1900 the Greenfield Creamery Company was organized. Mr. Laude had previously been secretary and manager of a creamery company in Jones county and his reputation for business ability in that connection had become known to the Greenfield company and he was offered the position of secretary and manager of the newly organized company. Three days after his arrival he made ont the bill for the machinery for the new creamery. He began his work with the company at a salary of twelve and a half dollars per month and today receives a salary of one hundred and twenty dollars per month. He has built up a business of between one hundred and twenty-five and one hundred and thirty thousand dollars a year, making this the most important industry in the county. He was the dominant factor in the erection of the new briek ereamery building about 1906. It was an uphill fight on his part and when the vote was taken for the proposition it passed with only one-half majority. Prior to the election Mr. Laude guaranteed to pay for the new building in three years out of the sinking fund and the building was erected and paid for without the issue of additional stock. The product of the Greenfield plant is unsurpassed in the entire United States. At the Louisiana Pur- chase Exposition in St. Louis it received the silver medal and in the awarding of the medals the Hutchinson, Minnesota, product which received the gold medal was so exactly like the Greenfield exhibit that it was impossible for the judges to decide and they drew lots for the decision. The first butter maker under Mr. Laude was subsequently appointed deputy United States dairy commissioner and later was made United States creamery inspector and educator. There is no man in all the country with more expert knowledge of the creamery business and of more profi- eient skill in this direction than Mr. Laude and his ability in that connection has made his name known throughout the entire country. In addition to his ereamery business Mr. Laude is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Greenfield.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lande have been born eleven children: Emma, Eugenia, Ada, William. Alfred, Lulu, Lottie. Peter, Lney, Fred and one who died in infancy. The parents and nine of the children are members of the Presbyterian church and the family is one prominent in the community. In his political views Mr. Laude is a republican, and keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, his vote is intelligently cast. He concentrates his energies, however, upon his busi- ness affairs and steady advancement has attended him, the Greenfield Creamery Company being now widely known.
CHARLES F. ROARK.
Charles F. Roark, county elerk of Adair county, was born in Earlham, Madison county, Iowa, April 1, 1872. He is a son of James R. and Sarah A. (Nevitt) Roark, the former a native of southern Virginia, while the latter was born near Springfield, Ohio. After residing for a time in Illinois they came to Iowa in 1861 and the father purchased a tract of land in Madison county, after which he engaged in farming to the time of his death, which occurred in December. 1900. His widow
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survives and now resides with a daughter, Mrs. S. E. Smith, of Valley Junction, Iowa.
Charles F. Roark was educated in the district schools and afterward pursued a two years' academic course in the Dexter Normal school at Dexter, Iowa. At the end of that time he turned his attention to the profession of teaching and for three years was identified with educational work. He was afterward employed in con- nection with his father's ice and coal business at Valley Junction for four or five years and in 1899 he became associated with the lumber business, becoming con- nected with a lumber firm in Valley Junction, with which he remained for five years. Still later he went to Greene county, where he was employed for one year in the same business, and in 1906 he came to Greenfield to represent H. E. Neubert, a nonresident member of the Myers Lumber Company, Inc. Mr. Roark was con- nected with that firm for eight years, having charge of the office and doing much of the buying and managing of the business. Throughout his business carcer he was known for his thorough reliability, his enterprise and his careful management.
In 1914 Mr. Roark became a factor in political circles of Adair county. He was nominated on the republican ticket for the office of county clerk and after a well managed campaign was elected to the position by a handsome majority, so that he is now serving in that capacity. In this connection he is as true and faithful to the interests intrusted to his charge as he was during his association with commer- cial affairs. In addition to his other interests he is the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Sully county, South Dakota.
In October, 1900, Mr. Roark was united in marriage to Miss Annie Y. Smith, of Lincoln township, this county. They are both members of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Greenfield. Mr. Roark also belongs to Greenfield Lodge, No. 375, I. O. O. F .; to Greenfield Camp, No. 153, M. W. A .; to Oak Grove Circle, No. 117, W. O. W .; and to Martha Lodge of the Rebekahs. He is one of the progressive men of Adair county, numbered among its representative citizens, and he has gained - a creditable position in the public regard by a close conformity to the highest stand- ards of manhood and citizenship.
N. LOUIS BAUDLER.
N. Louis Baudler, who is one of the well-to-do and substantial farmers of for- eign birth in Adair county, now owns three hundred and sixty acres of valuable farm property, the land on which he makes his home being located on section 5, Summerset township. He was born in Germany. March 19, 1869, a son of Ernest Baudler, who is mentioned more at length in the sketch of J. F. Baudler on another page of this work.
N. Louis Baudler was reared in his native land to the age of fifteen years, hav- ing in the meantime acquired his education in the schools there, from which he graduated in 1883. He had a strong desire to test the truth of the reports which he had heard concerning the opportunities which were to be enjoyed in America and accordingly, in the spring of 1884, in company with his brother. C. Christ Baudler, he set sail for the United States two days after he had celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of his birth. Upon landing on American shores he at once made his
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way to Adair county and during the two subsequent winters he attended school in order to acquire a knowledge of the English language. Upon arriving in this county Mr. Baudler at once secured work as a farm hand in the employ of his brother, J. Fred Bandler, with whom he remained twelve years. During this time he earefully saved his earnings in the hope of one day becoming the owner of land and in the year 1892 this ambition was realized and he became the possessor of one hundred and sixty aeres, located on seetion 5. Summerset township. However. for about four years he rented this land and continued to work for his brother.
On the expiration of that period, or in 1896, Mr. Bandler made arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Melanie Purmeister, who was likewise a native of Germany and who emigrated to this country three years prior to the arrival of Mr. Baudler. The young couple at once took up their abode upon Mr. Bandler's farm, which has continued to be their home to the present time. He is there engaged in general farming and since making his first purchase of land he has inereased his holdings by the purchase, in 1911, of two hundred aeres, one hundred and sixty of which lie in Jackson township and forty aeres in Eureka town- ship. It will thus be seen that he has worked earnestly and that suecess has come as a merited reward.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Baudler has been blessed with two daughters and three sons, Emma E., Ernest P., Albert J., Louisa C. and Fritz H., all still at home. The family are members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Baudler is a republican in his political affiliations, but has never been active in public affairs. preferring rather to do his duty as a private eitizen. He and his family fully merit the high regard which is accorded them and he is elassed among the representative and substantial farmers of Adair county.
JOHN W. PORTER.
Adair county has been signally favored in the class of men who have oeenpied her publie offiees. for on the whole they have been devoted to duty and have been capable of meeting the responsibilities that have come to them. Among this number is John W. Porter, now county sheriff, in which position he is discharging his duties without fear or favor. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Jefferson township, Adair county, April 13, 1883. his parents being David D. and Anna F. (Julian) Porter. The father was a native of Johnson county, Iowa, and the mother of Missouri. When a young man of eighteen years David D. Porter removed to Adair county in company with his brother John M .. who is now a resident of Walnut township. The mother of John W. Porter was brought to this eounty in her carly girlhood by her parents who settled in Walnut township, and David D. Porter and Anna F. Julian were married in this county and began their domestie life in Jefferson township. They have sinee made one or two removals but are now residents of Jefferson township. To them have been born seven children, as follows: John W .; Graee B., who married Gilbert A. Foster, of Lee township, Adair county : Ollie M., who married Vern C. Clark; Louisa, who married Harl F. Dorsey, of Greenfield : James, of Greenfield; George, who is living in the county ; and Mary, now Mrs. Harley Hall. of Greenfield.
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John W. Porter spent his youthful days in the usual manner of farm lads, divid- ing his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of his education. He had entered the public schools but as early as his fifteenth year became a wage earner and for some time afterward worked as a farm hand in the neighborhood. In fact he devoted eight years to that work and at the end of that time learned the barber's trade, which he also followed for eight years, conducting a shop of his own in Greenfield during much of that period. At the November election of 1914 he was made the nominee of the democratic party for the office of sheriff of Adair county and while it was necessary to overcome a normal republican majority of eight hundred he was elected by sixty-four votes in excess of his opponent, a fact which indicates his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him.
On the 1st of January, 1909, Mr. Porter was united in marriage to Miss Mertic B. Williams, of Greenfield, and to them has been born a son, Donald D. Mr. and Mrs. Porter are members of the Christian church, loyal to its teachings and helpful in its work. He is a genial, courteous gentleman, who has many friends throughout the county and is justly numbered among its representative citizens. -
JOHN M. REID.
John M. Reid, owning and operating an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29. Orient township, is widely recognized as one of the suc- cessful agriculturists and progressive and public-spirited citizens of the county. His birth occurred in Jasper county, Iowa, on the 5th of April, 1869, his parents being James H. and Augusta C. (Metteer) Reid, the former a native of West Vir- ginia and the latter of Scott county, Iowa. Charles Metteer, the maternal grand- father of our subject, was one of the early pioneer settlers of Scott county, this state. James H. Reid, father of J. M. Reid, removed to Scott county, Iowa, in 1854, when a youth of nineteen years, and was there married. Soon afterward he took up his abode on a farm in Jasper county, continuing its cultivation during his active business career and passing away thereon in 1908. His widow survives, however, and now makes her home across the county line, in Polk county.
John M. Reid acquired his education in the district schools and also pursued a course of study in the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines. Subse- quently he embarked in the hardware business at Mitchellville, being thus engaged for three years, while during the following five years he cultivated rented land in Jasper county. In 1900 he came to Adair county and for seven years was here identified with agricultural pursuits as a renter, while in 1907 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Orient township. Suc- cess has attended his undertakings in gratifying degree, the well tilled fields annu- ally yielding golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.
In 1893 Mr. Reid was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Hill, of Jasper county, by whom he had nine children, eight of whom are yet living, namely: Kenneth L., Florence E., Mildred A., Dorothy A., John V., Charles F., William E. and Marian L. All are still under the parental roof.
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Mr. Reid gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for years has been an active worker in its local ranks. During the past six years he has served as a member of the board of township trustees and he has also acted in the capacity of township assessor and as a member of the school board, making a eredit- able record as a most efficient and trustworthy publie official. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Mitehellville Lodge. No. 363, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church, with which his wife is also affiliated. His publie-spirited devotion to the general good is manifested in many ways, including a loyal support of all the projects and measures which are undertaken for the upbuilding and wel- fare of the community.
FRANK HERBERT.
Frank Herbert, senior member of the firm of Herbert & Pote, well known druggists of Bridgewater, has been actively engaged in business in that town for more than a quarter of a century and enjoys and enviable reputation as one of its foremost citizens. His birth occurred in Henry county, Illinois, on the 4th of September, 1856, his parents being Thomas M. and Delia E. (Pinney) Herbert, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Ellenville, New York. Their mar- riage was celebrated in Illinois, to which state the mother accompanied her parents when a maiden of sixteen or seventeen years. Thomas M. Herbert was left an orphan at the age of about fourteen years and was thus early thrown upon his own resources. In 1819 he joined the gold seekers in the overland rush to California and after his return began reading law under the preceptorship of the late Judge I. N. Preston of Iowa. Subsequently he took up the practice of law in Henry county, Illinois, and in 1881 came to Adair county, Iowa, locating on a farm in Washington township, where he passed away in 1889 when in the seventy-first year of his age. His wife, long surviving him, was called to her final rest in Jannary. 1907. On her mother's side she was a granddaughter of a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war named Cornelius Baldwin.
Frank Herbert was reared to manhood under the parental roof and obtained his education in the city schools of Woodhull, Illinois. He then took up the profes- sion of teaching, acting as an instructor in the district schools for about twenty terms and proving an able educator. imparting elearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. In 1887 he began the study of pharmacy in the drug store of Dr. E. W. Reagan, of Bridgewater, and in 1890 he passed the state board examination and was duly registered as a pharmacist. The previous year he had purchased an interest in the drug store in which he had received his in- struetion and in 1891 became sole proprietor of the business. In 1901 he admitted Guy J. Pote to a partnership. this relation having since been continued under the firm style of Herbert & Pote. They carry a large and carefully selected line of drugs and druggists' sundries and are accorded an extensive patronage in recogni- tion of their progressive and reliable business methods.
Mr. Herbert is a stanch republican in his political views and has served as a member of the town council, making a creditable and commendable record in that
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connection. He maintains pleasant fraternal relations through his membership in Bridgewater Lodge, No. 271, I. O. O. F., and Massena Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Active and efficient in everything he undertakes, he has gained the confidence not only of his neighbors and friends but of a wide circle of acquaintances throughout the county.
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