USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 15
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JACOB POTE.
Jacob Pote was long and actively identified with general agricultural pursuits in Adair county and is still the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land but since January, 1911, has lived retired in Bridgewater. His birth occurred in Henry county. Indiana, on the 26th of January, 1849. his parents being Samuel and Anna (Good) Pote. who were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively.
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They were married in Indiana and resided in Henry county until 1851, when they came to Iowa, locating on a farm in Cedar county. In 1875 they removed to Adair county, taking up their abode in Jefferson township, where the father passed away in October. 1884, when sixty-two years of age. The mother reached the age of seventy-two years, her demise occurring about 1898.
Jacob Pote was five years of age when the family home was established in Cedar county, Iowa, and there he was reared to manhood. On attaining his majority he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land in Cedar county, Iowa. In 1876, the year following his marriage, he went to Guthrie county, Iowa, but two years later moved across the line into Adair county. In 1884 he pur- chased an eighty-acre farm in Jackson township, the property lying a mile north and a mile east of Bridgewater, and in February, 1885, took up his abode thereon. Sub- sequently he bought additional farm land until at one time his holdings embraecd four hundred and forty aeres. Recently, however, he disposed of a quarter section, so that at present he owns but two hundred and eighty acres, which property is now being cultivated by his youngest son. In January, 1911, he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Bridgewater, where he has sinee lived retired in the enjoyment of well earned ease.
In January. 1875, Mr. Pote was united in marriage to Miss S. N. Taylor, by whom he had five children, four of whom survive, as follows: Guy J., who is a member of the firm of Herbert & Pote. well known druggists of Bridgewater; Cora M., the wife of Dr. R. R. Chapman, of Bridgewater; Cleo A., a successful jeweler of Fontanelle, Iowa ; and Paul MeKinley, who operates the home farm.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Pote has supported the men and measures of the republican party and during a number of years past he has held various township offices. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and are two of the eight members who organized the church in Bridgewater. Two others of the original eight are still living. Mr. Pote has made his home in Adair county for the past thirty-seven years and is justly entitled to representation in its annals as one of its well known and highly respected citizens.
FRANK L. GIBB. 1
Frank L. Gibb is a resident farmer of Summerset township, living on section 30, where well tilled fields respond to his eare and labors, rewarding his efforts with good crops. He is a native of the neighboring state of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Henderson county, on the 8th of April, 1880, his parents being Paul and Sarah (Patterson) Gibb. The father was born in Belfast, Ireland, and was of Scotch parentage, while the mother was a native of the state of New York. Crossing the Atlantic to the new world, Paul Gibb was residing in Henderson county, Illinois, at the time of his marriage. He and his wife began their domestic life there and con- tinued to reside in that county until 1881, when they came to Iowa, settling in Adair county. Four years later he purchased a farm in Richland township, which he con- tinued to cultivate and improve for eight years. He then sold that property and bought a farm in Summerset township, where he continued to make his home until
1
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1913, when he removed to Fontanelle, where he now resides. He has retired from active business, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
Frank L. Gibb was an infant when brought by his parents to Iowa and is indebted to the public-school system of Adair county for the educational advantages which he enjoyed and which fitted him for life's practical duties. In his youthful days he divided his time between the work of the fields and attendance at school and thus gained the practical experience in farming that proved so valuable to him when he started out on his own account. At twenty-two years of age he began farming for himself on a tract of eighty acres of land on section 34, Summerset township, which was given him by his father at the time he attained his majority. Later he added forty acres to his holdings. In 1915 he rented his own land and took a three years' lease on the Hulbert farm, situated a mile and a half south of Fontanelle and this he is now cultivating. His methods are at once practical and progressive and his work is so systematically managed that excellent results accrue. He annually harvests good crops and he has high-grade stock upon his place. Aside from his agricul- tural interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.
On the 22d of April, 1902, Mr. Gibb was united in marriage to Miss Myra Edsall, of Jackson township, and they have one child, Paul R. Mr. Gibb votes with the republican party. giving unfaltering allegiance to the organization because of a firm belief in its principles. His farm work, however, allows him but little leisure for activity in other directions. He is prompted by a landable ambition to attain success, ever looking to the welfare of his family, and by his careful manage- ment he is winning for himself a place among the representative agriculturists of Adair county.
JOHN H. MANGELS.
John H. Mangels, who passed away in Jackson township in 1906. was long and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in Adair county and here his widow now has extensive holdings. He was born in Germany on the 23d of September, 1840, and emigrated to the United States in 1865, when a young man of twenty-five years, locating first in Illinois. Subsequently he came to Adair county, Iowa, and took up his abode on a farm in Jackson township, here devoting his attention to gen- eral agricultural pursuits with excellent results throughout the remainder of his life. His widow still owns and operates the home farm of three hundred and thirty acres on section 2, Jackson township, and in connection with the cultivation of cereals best adapted to soil and elimate makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock. She likewise owns a quarter seetion of land on section 21. Jackson township, and two hundred and eighty-seven acres in Washington township, having purchased the latter tract since her husband's death. She is a woman of excellent business ability and good judgment, conducting her interests in a capable and energetic manner that insures their successful outcome.
In 1882 Mr. Mangels was united in marriage to Miss Minni Schroeder, a native of Germany and a daughter of Carl and Lena (Lang) Schroeder, who were also born in that country. The father emigrated to the United States and here passed away, but the mother died in her native land. Their family numbered nine children ..
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JOHN H. MANGELS AND FAMILY
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To Mr. and Mrs. Mangels were born five children, namely: John B., Francis, Max, Fred and Ernest.
Mr. Mangels died in 1906 and his remains were interred in the Fontanelle ceme- tery. He had made good use of the opportunities afforded in this country, and thus in his passing the community lost one of its substantial and representative citizens. Mrs. Mangels also enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance here, having won many friends during the long period of her residence in Adair county.
HUGH B. FARQUHAR.
Hugh B. Farquhar is the efficient mayor of Orient and in all his public service is actuated by a spirit of loyalty to the community and a desire for public progress. In his business connections he is well known as a stock buyer. He was born in Decatur county, Iowa, on the 26th of September, 1858, a son of Robert and Frances (Brown) Farquhar. The father, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, was born May 2, 1826, while the mother was a native of Huron county. Ohio. In 1849, when twenty-three years of age, Robert Farquhar came to the United States and for six years was a resident of New York, but in 1855 left that state and came to Iowa, settling in Decatur county. He was there married, at Garden Grove, in 1856, and turned his attention to farming, which he continued to carry on in Decatur county until 1868, when he came to Adair county, settling on section 1, Union township, having traded his Decatur county property for the Adair county farm. In 1889 he sold this land to his son Hugh B. and removed to Winterset, Madison county, where his remaining days were passed, his death there occurring August 5, 1911, when he was in the eighty-sixth year of his age. The mother survives and yet makes her home in Winterset, in the eighty-first year of her age.
Parental care and discipline and educational training fitted Hugh B. Farquhar for the practical and responsible duties of life. After attending the district schools he continued his education in the Garden Grove high school and in the Macksburg schools under Professor C. G. Snelling. He early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and after reaching manhood began farming on his own account. In 1881 he purchased eighty acres of land in Madison county and lived upon that place until he removed to southern Kansas for the benefit of his health, his lungs having become affected. He spent two years in that state and then returned to Adair county, where he purchased his father's farm, remaining thereon until 1898, when he took up his abode in Orient. He subsequently sold his farm and purchased the Sprague farm adjoining Orient. In 1901, in company with J. S. Carlysle and N. O. Gorman, he engaged in the grain business and later he bought out his partners and for some years conducted the business alone. In 1907 he sold his property and has since given his attention to buying and shipping stock, con- ducting the business along substantial lines, his sound judgment and sagacity win- ning for him substantial and growing success. In addition to his other interests he is a stockholder in the Orient Savings Bank.
Mr. Farquhar was married in 1882 to Miss Catherine Hamm, a danghter of George Hamm, deceased, who was a farmer of Madison county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Farquhar have been born four children, of whom three survive: Ralph B., Vol. II- 8
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cashier of the Orient Savings Bank; Lisle H., a resident of Santa Ana, California; and Kenneth R., at home.
Mr. Farquhar is an exemplary representative of the Masonie fraternity, belong- ing to Cypress Lodge, No. 539. F. & A. M. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and both are highly esteemed for their many sterling traits of character. In his political views Mr. Farquhar is a republican and for seven years was president of the board of education, his aetive championship of the public schools resulting in great benefit along that line. In 1914 he was elected mayor of Orient, which position he is now filling and he is giving to the city a businesslike and public- spirited administration, in which he has brought about reforms and introduced various needed improvements. He stands for progress in municipal affairs as well as along business lines and he does not hesitate to put forth the effort which will bring about community advancement.
SAMUEL KREPS.
Samuel Kreps. president of the Lincoln Mutual Telephone Company, of Green- field, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of March, 1850, a son of David and Martha ( Kluek) Kreps, who were also natives of Northumber- land county and came of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent, the ancestors on both sides of the family being among the pioneer settlers of Northumberland county. The Kreps family was among the must numerous of the county and the name is attached to many of the old landmarks and legal documents of the county. It is perpetuated in the Kreps church and the Kreps school and also in other ways. The parents of our subject were married in the Keystone state and four children were born to them ere their removal to the west. On leaving Pennsylvania they became residents of Indiana and subsequently of Illinois, while later they removed to Iowa, spending their last days in Tama and Benton counties.
After acquiring his education in the distriet schools Samuel Kreps was married on the 22d of December, 1870, to Miss Mary E. Taylor, of Freeport, Illinois, although he was not yet twenty-one. The spring following his marriage he began farming for himself as a renter in Stephenson county, Illinois, and in 1873 he came to Iowa, establishing his home in Adair county, where he carried on farming for two years as a renter. During that period, however, he bought eighty acres in Grand River township, making a cash payment on the property of fifty dollars. The traet was then raw prairie and it became necessary to break the first furrows and otherwise do the pioneer work in the development of the farm. He built thereon a little frame dwelling, fourteen by eighteen fect, which cost him sixty dollars. He sold his corn for nine cents a bushel and other erops brought prices comparatively low. However, he carefully managed his business affairs and continued the work of the farm and as the years passed he prospered. After living in Grand River township for seven years he removed to Harrison township, where he resided for an extended period and where he still owns the home plaec of two hundred and eighty acres, beside a small traet of timber land. In the fall of 1883 he removed into Stuart, where he was engaged in merchandising for twenty-two months but indoor work did not agree with him and he returned to the farm, where he resided until the fall of 1912. He then
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came to Greenfield, where he has since lived. He has been associated with the Lin- coln Mutual Telephone Company for the past twelve years as a member of its board of directors and for the past six years has filled the position of president of the company, which was organized fourteen years ago and which has since grown to be the largest local telephone system in the state of Iowa. Mr. Kreps is also a stoek- holder and member of the board of directors and a member of the executive eommit- tee of the First National Bank of Greenfield. While he was an Adair county farmer there were many business enterprises with which he was associated and his sound judgment and enterprise proved factors in their growing success. He also served as administrator of many estates and is one of the very able business men of Adair county. His connection with any project praetieally spells suceess for the enter- prise, for it is his habit to carry to completion whatever he undertakes and in notable degree he secures maximum results with minimum effort, which is the secret of all business success.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kreps have been born seven children, five of whom are yet living: Alda T., now the wife of Albert Beeman, of Oakland, California ; Myrtle, the wife of T. W. Burns, of Macon, Georgia; Edna M., the wife of Ernest Smith, of Toledo, Ohio; Bessie, the wife of Harry Wentz, of Knoxville, Iowa; and Jesse J., who is engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery at Wallace, Idaho.
Mr. Kreps is a member of Crusade Lodge, No. 386, A. F. & A. M., and belongs also to St. John's Chapter, No. 76, R. A. M. In politics he is a republican and for many years filled various township offices. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian church, with which they have been identified for thirty-eight years. They have contributed generously to its support, taken an active interest in its work and in this and other ways have done much to further the welfare of the community. Mr. Kreps is a most progressive business man, systematie in all that he undertakes. His labors have been a strong and potent force in the development of the telephone com- pany of which he is now the chief executive and his life is a practical demonstration of the fact that industry and reliability are a sure foundation upon which to build prosperity.
R. H. BARR.
R. H. Barr is the owner of a well appointed drug store at Fontanelle and is accounted one of the leading business men of that town. Close application has been a salient feature in his growing prosperity and honorable dealing has also been an element in his sueeess. He was born in Pottawattamie county, near Elliott, Iowa, on the 24th of September, 1883, and is therefore yet a comparatively young man, while his success is such as many a man of twiee his years might well envy. His parents, George R. and Rena (Westover) Barr, were married in Dixon, Illinois. The former is a native of Maine and the latter of Minnesota. Following his marriage Mr. Barr brought his bride direet to Iowa. settling in Pottawattamie county, where he had previously purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of land. For a long period he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits and in 1895 he removed to Elliott, where he engaged in merchandising, being identified therewith for three
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years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and bought a grist mill at Sten- nett, Montgomery county, operating the mill for four years. He then sold out and removed to Red Oak and a year later he was made superintendent of the Montgomery county poor farm, which he managed for four years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Red Oak and in October, 1914, he removed to Fontanelle, where he is now living retired.
His son. R. H. Barr, spent his youthful days in his parents' home and acquired a publie-school education, which was eompleted by graduation from the high school of Elliott, Iowa, with the class of 1900. He then attended the pharmaceutical department of the Highland Park College in Des Moines and was there graduated with the class of 1905. Subsequently he made his initial step in his business eareer as an employe in the drug store of A. H. Miles, of Des Moines, but after two or three months he removed to Rippey. Greene county, where he was employed as a pharmaeist for nine months, working for B. F. Osborn. In November, 1906, he came to Fontanelle and established himself in the drug business, buying the drug store of Miss Lula Snelson. As owner and manager of this business he has won a place in the front rank among Fontanelle's successful and enterprising merchants. He earries a large line of drugs and druggists' sundries and his business methods eom- mend him to the confidenee and support of the general public.
In 1907 Mr. Barr was united in marriage to Miss June Carpenter, of Rippey, Iowa, by whom he has one child. Miriam Mildred. In his political views Mr. Barr is a republican. interested in the work of the party and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its suecess. At the present time he is a member of the town couneil. He belongs also to the Commercial Club and is in hearty sympathy with its plans to promote the business interests of his town. He belongs to Fontanelle Lodge, No. 138. A. F. & A. M., and to Fontanelle Lodge. I. O. O. F .. while he and his wife hold membership in the Congregational church. guiding their lives by its teach- ings and aiding generously in its support. They have many warm friends and they are cordially received in those homes where intelligenee and true worth are accepted as the passports into good society.
ALBERT M. FOSTER.
Albert M. Foster, a progressive young agriculturist of Lee township. owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land on seetion 26 constituting one of the valuable farms of Adair county. His birth occurred in Jasper county. Iowa, on the 12th of August, 1879, his parents being Charles and Margaret J. (Abbott) Foster, who were born, reared and married in Ohio. Immediately following their marriage, which was celebrated some time in the '50s, they eame west to Iowa. loeating in Jasper county, where they resided for many years. In the spring of 1883 they came to Adair county, Charles Foster purchasing the farm which is now in the possession of our subjeet. He continued its operation throughout the remainder of his life and won success in his undertakings, the community losing one of its substantial and esteemed citizens when he passed away on the 2d of May. 1914. His wife was ealled to her final rest in January. 1912.
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Albert M. Foster was but in his fourth year when brought by his parents to Adair county and has remained within its borders continuously to the present time. He attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education and on reaching man- hood began farming in conjunction with his father, with whom he was associated in agricultural pursuits until the latter's death, when he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the home farm. The place comprises one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land on section 26, Lee township, and yields a gratifying income to its owner, who carries on the work of the fields in a most progressive and able manner. He is a stockholder in the Greenfield Creamery Company and widely recognized as one of the prosperous and enterprising citizens of the community.
On the 29th of July, 1901, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Grace B. Porter, a daughter of David Porter, of Lee township, this county. To them have been born two children but only one survives, David. In his political views Mr. Foster is a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party. At all times he has been true to the obligations and responsibilities that have devolved upon him in every relation of life and therefore well merits the esteem and goodwill which are uniformly accorded him.
A. K. REED.
A. K. Reed is president of the Orient Savings Bank and for a long period was actively identified with agricultural interests in Iowa. In his farming operations he laid the foundation of his success and he is still the owner of five hundred and eighty acres of valnable farm land. He was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, May 5, 1853. and is a son of Andrew and Letitia (Henry) Reed, both of whom were natives of Ireland but were born of Scotch parentage. They were reared and married on the green isle of Erin and about 1840 came to the United States, establishing their home in Pennsylvania, where they lived until 1851, when they came west to Iowa, settling in Dubuque county. Later they removed to a farm across the line in Jones county, Mr. Reed entering the land from the government on a land warrant. With characteristic energy he began the development of that property. About 1874 he came to Adair county, taking up his abode on section 22, Orient township, purchasing the east half of the section. Four years afterward he went to Kansas and became the original pioneer settler of Thomas county, continuing his residence there until he was called to his final rest in 1891, when he had reached the age of eighty years.
The educational advantages afforded by the district schools of Iowa were those which A. K. Reed enjoyed during his boyhood and youth. His opportunities were somewhat limited save in those offered on the farm. He remained at home and assisted his father until 1879, at which time he was married, and began farming for himself, renting land in Orient township, this county. He saved his earnings and in 1881 purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 13, that township. The following year he removed on to that place and there lived for about four years, or until 1886, when he became a resident of Thomas county, Kansas, where he preempted one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. After two and a half years' residence there he re- turned to Adair county, where he has since made his home and in the interim he has purchased other land from time to time until he now owns five hundred and eighty
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aeres. all of which lies in Orient township, save eighty acres in Union township. His farm property is valuable and gives evidence of his care and supervision. Year after year Mr. Reed carefully developed his place, utilizing the latest improved machinery and carrying on the farm work according to the most modern methods. In December, 1913, he removed to Orient, where he now lives, although he still gives personal supervision to the management of his farm lands. He is president of the Orient Savings Bank and bends his efforts to administrative direction and executive control. In all his business career he has been classed with the wide-awake, alert and enterprising men who form their plans readily and carry them forward to suc- cessful completion. His business activity has been characterized by the strictest honor and his success is the merited reward of his efforts.
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