USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 33
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FRED A. BUTHWEG.
The career of Fred A. Buthweg, a well-known clothing merchant of Audubon, this county, contains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete with well-defined purposes which, carried to successful issue, have won for him an influential place in the business circles of Audubon, and high personal standing among his fellow citizens of Audubon county. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance. The systematic and hon- orable methods which he has ever followed have resulted not only in win- ning the confidence of those with whom he has had business dealings, but also in building up a large and profitable business.
Fred A. Buthweg is a native of Germany, born in East Prussia on September 9, 1865, a son of Gottfried and Elizabeth (Wohlgemuth) Buth- weg, who arrived in America on October 10, 1880, later settling on a farmi in this county, where they spent the rest of their lives. They were the par- ents of but two children, both sons, of whom Fred A. is the elder, the other son, John, being now a prosperous and well-to-do farmer of Leroy township, this county.
Fred A. Buthweg was educated in the public schools of his native land and after coming to this country took a course in the high school at Audubon, brushing up his English. Subsequently he took a business course in the Omaha Commercial College at Omaha, Nebraska, and on February 25, 1884,
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began his business life as a clerk, at which work he continued for three years. He then went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he lived for one and one- half years, during which period he was employed as a clerk in a grocery store, attending school at the same time. In 1890 he returned to Audubon and engaged in the grocery business for himself, continuing in that line until 1904, in which year he disposed of his business to Hans Albertson, and engaged in the clothing business, which line of business he still continues, making a specialty of men's furnishings. He has built up a large and lucra- tive business in the city of Audubon and the surrounding country, and his store is one of the most popular in the county-seat town.
On June 27, 1895. Fred A. Buthweg was married to Mary Musson, daughter of Thomas and Sarah ( Boone) Musson, early settlers in Audubon county, they having come to the county in 1876, and to this union two chil- dren have been born, Harold and Florence, both of whom are living at home with their parents.
Mr. Buthweg has never held any public office and has never been espe- cially interested in politics. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
AUGUST ZIERKE.
No land has given to this country better citizens or more successful farmers than Germany, and many of these have come to Audubon county. Among the sterling citizens of German birth in this county is August Zierke, a well-known farmer of Cameron township, and the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in that township. Mr. Zierke was born on Febru- ary 7, 1850, in Germany, the son of Gottfried and Anna (Karl) Zierke, both of whom were born in that country. Gottfried Zierke was a farm hand in his native land and was so engaged all his life. He and his wife had eight children, only three of whom are living, and August is the only member of the family living in this county.
August Zierke received his education in Germany, and after leaving school worked out as a farm hand until he was twenty-six years old, when he decided to come to America. Upon arriving in this country he located near De Witt, Iowa, where he worked for one year for the Rock Island Railroad Company. He then removed to Poweshiek county, where he worked as a farm hand for four years, and then, in 1881, came to Audubon
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county. At that time the settlement of certain sections of this county had scarcely begun, and Mr. Zierke found himself among pioneers. For sev- eral years he worked in Cameron township, and then located on eighty acres of land, which he had purchased for nine dollars an acre before he came to Audubon county. He broke the sod, reduced the soil to a fine state of cul- tivation, and has made many improvements upon the farm, the same costing in the neighborhood of six thousand dollars. Mr. Zierke raises annually about forty acres of corn, and small grain amounting to at least fifteen or twenty acres. The corn usually yields not less than forty bushels to the acre. All of the grain raised on the farm is fed to hogs and cattle.
In 1887, August Zierke was married to Bertha Neitzel, daughter of Henry and Matilda Neitzel, to which happy union eight children have been born, Albert, Clara, Henry, George, Elmer, Carl, Ora and Ella. Only one of these children is married, Clara, who married Roy Somers, and has one child, Harold. The remainder of the children live at home with their par- ents. Mr. and Mrs. August Zierke are members of the German Lutheran church, in which faith their children have been reared, and Mr. Zierke is a Republican.
August Zierke is not only one of the substantial farmers of Cameron township and one of its good citizens, but he is also popular in Cameron township. Though he has never held office, he is a man who is well informed on public questions, and is considered a wide reader. His primary inter- ests, however, are his family and his farm, and to these he devotes most of his attention.
H. N. CHRISTENSEN.
One of the most extensive farmers of Cameron township, this county, if not the largest landowner in that section of the county, is H. N. Chris- tensen, who, coming to America with little or no means at his disposal, set to work diligently as a farmer, and during a period of less than thirty years, which he has spent in this country, has become one of the most skillful farm- ers in Audubon county. Trained for the vocation of farming in his native iand, he was well equipped to take up this occupation scientifically upon com- ing to America, and this accounts to some extent for his large success in farming.
H. N. Christensen was born on October 13, 1865, in Denmark, the thriving little kingdom which has given to this country, and especially to
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Audubon county, so many of her enterprising and successful citizens. Mr. Christensen's parents, Peter and Kate Christensen, were farmers in Den- mark and are still living in that country. The father served in the Dan- ish-Prussian war of 1848 and has a splendid military record as a conse- quence of that service. He and his wife have five children, four of whom are living in this country.
H. N. Christensen received practically all of his education in Denmark and upon leaving school took up farming with his father and was engaged in this vocation until 1887, when he came to America. His education, how- ever, has been supplemented by home study and wide reading, and he is regarded as one of the well-informed men of Cameron township today. Upon coming to America Mr. Christensen located in Cameron township, this county, and worked as a farm hand until 1899. Being frugal and economi- cal in his habits of living, he naturally saved some money during this period of twelve years when he was working on various farms in Cameron town- ship, and presently was able to make a start as a farmer on his own account. From the very beginning of his farming operations Mr. Christensen has prospered, and now owns sixteen hundred acres of land. He raises four hundred acres of corn and two hundred and fifty acres of small grain each year, besides annually feeding from two hundred and fifty to three hun- dred head of cattle and at least two hundred head of hogs. More than thirty thousand dollars has been invested in improvements on the Cameron township farm of Mr. Christensen. Of the total acreage, at least one hun- dred and sixty acres is in hay, and Mr. Christensen also keeps a consider- able acreage in pasture, which he finds necessary on account of the great number of cattle he raises.
In 1897 H. N. Christensen was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Cameron, nee Grife, daughter of John Grife, a well-known and successful farmer of this section of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen have no children.
Mr. Christensen is a Republican and takes a keen interest in political matters, but he has never been a candidate for office, his large farming inter- ests having kept him so busily engaged that he has had little time for politics. He is deeply interested in civic movements and worthy public enterprises, however, and his support may always be depended upon when private assist- ance is needed.
Mr. Christensen is a man of charitable and humane impulses, friendly and cordial in all of the relations of life. He is not only well known in Cameron township, but well liked by all the people of this section of the county. Mr. Christensen deserves great credit for the zeal, energy and deter-
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mination with which he attacks the problems of farming and for the hon- orable, upright character of all his dealings with the public. He is a worthy citizen of this great county and state.
SIMEON C. CURTIS.
It is a well-known fact that public opinion expressed through the medium of the all-powerful press, rules this country. It was the insistent cry of the public that forced through the last two amendments to the Con- stitution of the United States. Public opinion, however, would be useless unless it had the opportunity to find expression, and there is no way in which public opinion can expend its full power and wield its tremendous influence except through the newspapers. For this reason it is not too much to say that the newspapers of the country are the real rulers; that they have more power in shaping the destinies of the nation than Congress itself. It was a very wise provision which was inserted in the Constitution by the fathers of this great republic that freedom of the press should be assured for all time to come. There are few towns in Iowa today that do not have a publication of some kind, and the newspaper directory gives several hun- dred publications of one kind or another in the state. Among the influen- tial Democratic newspapers of the western part of the state is the Audubon Advocate, which stands as an excellent and influential medium for the expression of the voice of the people of this county.
Simeon C. Curtis, manager of the Audubon Advocate, was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on June 30, 1869, the son of S. R. and Bersheba (Hef- lin) Curtis, natives of Illinois, who removed from Illinois to Iowa in 1871 and located in the town of Avoca, Pottawattamie county. They purchased a farm near Avoca and resided thereon until 1899, in which year the fam- ily took up its residence in Audubon, S. R. Curtis having lost an arm through an accident; it being necessary for him to retire from active labor. S. R. Curtis died in Audubon in 1909. He was the father of nine children, four of whom are still living, Ned, of Audubon, Robert, Grace and Simeon C. The mother of these children lives in Audubon.
Simeon C. Curtis attended the district school and the Avoca high school. For some time after the ending of his school days he traveled in the West, and on his return home engaged in the printing business with A. P. Cramer. of Avoca, in the office of the Avoca Herald. He worked in that office for
SIMEON C. CURTIS
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three years, and in 1888 came to this county, locating at Audubon, where he entered the employ of Frank D. Allen, publisher of the Advocate. In the fall of 1900, R. C. Spencer and Mr. Curtis purchased the Advocate and became the sole owners, with Mr. Spencer holding a two-thirds interest in the business.
On November 27, 1895, Simeon C. Curtis was married to Ada May Dennis, a daughter of Charles A. Dennis, to which union three children have been born : Mildred, deceased ; Garland H., aged fourteen years, and Thelma, who is twelve years of age.
S. C. Curtis is politically allied with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of the Audubon blue lodge and the chapter of the latter order. He is painstaking and thorough in all he under- takes and is generally found in the forefront of all matters which are intended to advance the best interests of his home community.
FRED H. COTTON.
The biographies of representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the pride of their families and the community. It is a source of regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men, in the ranks of whom may be found farmers, mechanics, teachers, lawyers, physicians, bankers, and men identified with other vocations and profes- sions. Fred H. Cotton is distinctively one of the leading citizens of Exira township, and as such has made his influence felt among his fellow men, having earned a name for enterprise, integrity and honor as the proprietor of a grocery store at Exira, which has a large and liberal patronage from the people of Exira and vicinity.
Fred H. Cotton was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, on September 7, 1874, a son of Henry and Christina (Huyck) Cotton, natives of New York state. After his marriage, Henry Cotton located in Madison county, Wis- consin, where he took up a land warrant which his father had given to him. He broke the sod on this land and was very successful during the short time he remained there. He subsequently returned to the state of New York, but after remaining there a short time returned to Wisconsin, remaining there a few years, at the end of which time he came to Iowa, locating in
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Mitchell county, where he conducted a grist mill for many years, later mov- ing to Vinton, Iowa, where he took up the agency for the sale of the Fair- banks scales. Henry Cotton and wife were the parents of seven children, namely : Charles E., who lives at Cheyenne, Wyoming; Edwin D., a resi- dent of Exira; Dell, who married William Quinn; Anna F., who lives at Atlantic, Iowa; Fred H., the subject of this sketch; Earl, deceased, and George M., a resident of Auburn, Nebraska.
Fred H. Cotton attended the public schools at Vinton, Iowa, and after leaving school took up farming, later clerking in a general store for a time. When the Spanish-American War broke out he enlisted for service, in April, 1898, in Company G, Forty-ninth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out at the close of the war. Shortly afterward he came to this county, locating at Exira, where he clerked for his brother, Edwin, until 1908, in which year he started in business for himself. He has increased his stock and business each year, and altogether has been very successful.
In May, 1907, Fred H. Cotton was married to Catherine Crane, the daughter of John Crane, and to this union one child has been born, Chris- tina. Mrs. Cotton was born in Exira. this county. Her parents were natives of Ohio and Tennessee, respectively, who moved to Audubon county, Iowa, during pioneer times. Her father followed farming pursuits all his life and died in 1907. John Crane and wife were the parents of five chil- dren, Harry, Catherine, Dell and two who died in early childhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Cotton are members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Cotton is identified with the Masonic fraternity and with the Knights of Pythias. He is an ardent Democrat, but has never held office, the cares of his business having been too great to permit his active participation in political affairs.
MARTIN SMITH.
One of the well-known and highly respected farmers of this county, now living retired, is Martin Smith, who was born in County Galway, Ireland, on May 1, 1838, the son of Patrick and Anna (Lutney) Smith, the former of whom was a road contractor and followed this business all his life, dying in Ireland in 1844. His wife, who was the mother of five children, of whom Martin Smith is the only one now living, also died in 1844.
Martin Smith came to America with his sister when he was eleven years old and located in New York City, where he attended school, selling news-
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papers to assist in paying his way. After leaving school he took up the car- penter trade and followed that until the Civil War broke out. On August 17, 1861, Mr. Smith enlisted in Company E, Ninth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and, serving in three different regiments, was in the service of the Union army continuously until the close of the war. He was engaged in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and a number of skirmishes, and when mustered out of the service was attached to the army of General Burnsides. Mr. Smith has an honorable military record and performed brilliant services in behalf of his adopted country during the period of civil strife. He was one of the guard during the execu- tion at Washington of the conspirators connected with the assassination of President Lincoln.
Returning to New York City at the close of the Civil War, Mr. Smith resumed work at his trade and was thus engaged until 1867, in which year he moved to Aledo, Illinois, where he rented a farm, remaining there until 1880, when he came to Audubon county, locating in Lincoln township, where he purchased eighty acres of virgin land at six dollars and twenty-five cents an acre. After breaking the sod, Mr. Smith moved to Melville township, where he bought eighty acres of land at fourteen dollars an acre. He later increased his holding to one hundred and sixty acres and was actively 'engaged in farming until 1899, when he retired and moved to Audubon, having acquired a substantial competence for his declining years.
In 1860, Martin Smith was married to Julia McCarty, to which union two children were born, both of whom died early in life. After the death of Mrs. Julia (McCarty) Smith, Mr. Smith married Anna Welsch, who died a few years later, whereupon Mr. Smith married Mary Lowmer, daugh- ter of John F. and Mary Lowmer, natives of Bavaria, Germany. No chil- dren were born either to the second or third marriage.
Martin Smith is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic and has served as commander and delegate to state conventions several times. He has been officer of the guard in the local post for twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Smith is identified with the Republican party.
Few men deserve more credit for their part in the growth and develop- ment of this country than Martin Smith, who, during the Civil War, gave four of the best years of his life to the service of his country, and who, since the end of that great war, by his labors has assisted in the develop- ment of this great agricultural region. Martin Smith is a good citizen, a credit to the community in which he has lived for so many years.
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WILLIAM SHAW.
The following is a brief sketch of a man who, by close attention to business, has achieved marked success in the world's affairs, and has risen to an honorable position among the enterprising farmers of Audubon county. His record is a plain one, rendered remarkable by no strange or mysterious adventures, no wonderful and lucky accidents and no tragic sit- uations, he being simply an estimable citizen, whose integrity and strong personality have forced him into an admirable notoriety, which his modesty never would have sought, and he commands the respect of his contempo- raries, he having created a deep impression upon the life of the community in which he has lived for so many years.
William Shaw is one of the largest landowners in Audubon county, if not the largest. He owns over seventeen hundred acres of land, ten hundred and seventy-three acres of which are in Cameron township, two hundred and thirty-eight acres of which are in Lincoln township, and a hundred and six- ty-six and five-tenths acres of which are in Leroy township. Mr. Shaw at present is farming four hundred and twenty-five acres, which comprises the home farm. He has a fine house of eighteen rooms, thoroughly modern, situated on a hill, surrounded by trees and shrubbery and flowers. All of the out-buildings are neat and well kept, the whole place bespeaking the pros- perity and good taste of its owner.
Mr. Shaw feeds annually sixty head of cattle and at least one car-load of hogs every year. He raises one hundred and twenty acres of corn, which yields him fifty bushels to the acre. Mr. Shaw has six sets of buildings on his estate, and altogether carries on the most extensive operations of any farmer in Audubon county.
William Shaw was born in Scotland on March 1, 1850, the son of James and Elizabeth (Rennie) Shaw, farming people in that country, both of whom are now deceased. Robert, a brother of William Shaw, lives in Ohio. A sister, Mrs. Alice Schooler, lives in Canada. William Shaw was married in Scotland on June 26, 1878, to Margaret Taylor, who was born on September 17, 1853, in Ayrshire, made famous by Robert Burns, Scot- land's national poct. She is a daughter of James and Agnes (Foote) Tay- lor, also farming people, and she had two sisters, Mrs. Agnes Wallace and Mrs. Isabelle Dikes, who also came to America, but both of whom are now deceased. In 1880 William Shaw and wife came to America, coming west with little delay. While Mrs. Shaw stopped for a time at her sister's home
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in Illinois, Mr. Shaw came on to Davenport, Iowa, finally coming to Audu- bon county, where he purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres of raw prairie land in section 19 of Cameron township, at fifteen dollars an acre, and from that time he prospered. In 1890 he purchased more land and has continued buying land ever since, having been remarkably successful in his farming operations. His land has cost him fifteen, twenty, one hundred and forty and one hundred and seventy-five dollars an acre, the latter price having been paid when he purchased land in 1915.
To William and Margaret (Taylor) Shaw eleven children have been born, all of whom are living save one, as follow: Agnes Fulton, born on June 21, 1879, married Ora Mischler, of Cameron township; James Taylor, February 22, 1881, married Nettie Wenig, of Cameron township; Elizabeth Rennie, February 22, 1881; William Wallace, May 5, 1883, died on April 17, 1889; John Slimen, November 20, 1884, residing in Gray, married Mabel Welsh; Margaret, November 5, 1887, wife of Charles King, of Cameron township; Isabelle, May 5, 1889, wife of William Summerville, of Carroll county ; Jessie, July 10, 1891 ; Archena, May 24, 1894; Pearl, February 25, 1897, and Effie, August 20, 1899.
It is a noteworthy fact that William Shaw purchased the first groceries and merchandise ever sold in the town of Gray. He also purchased the first pair of trousers sold in that town. Mr. Shaw is a Republican, and served as trustee of Cameron township for six years, giving a most efficient and satisfactory administration. He also has been school director for twelve years, his service in this connection having done much for the betterment of the schools. Though Mr. and Mrs. Shaw and family are members of the Presbyterian church, they all attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM NORTHUP.
Among the worthy citizens of Audubon, whose residence in this county has contributed in no small degree to the prestige of the vicinity, is William Northup, ex-sheriff and well-known live-stock dealer, familiarly known as "Dick" Northup. While laboring for his individual advancement, Mr. Northup has at the same time contributed liberally of his time, energy and ability to worthy public movements, and has been honored by the people of Audubon county with election to one of the most important offices in the gift of the people of this county. Aside from his political service, Mr.
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Northup has been successful in a business way, and is known as one of the substantial citizens of Audubon county. He is enterprising, progressive and broad-minded, possessed of pleasing and agreeable manners, and is, from many standpoints, a man who must be pointed out as one of the leading citizens of this section of the state.
William Northup was born on August 18, 1859, in Iowa county, Iowa, the son of Nathan and Harriet Northup, who are referred to elsewhere in this volume. When eight years old, William Northup moved with the fam- ily to Nebraska, where he lived for eight years. The family then returned to Iowa county, where they lived until 1880, in which year they came to Audubon county, and here William Northup began life for himself. He assisted his father on the farm, breaking the raw prairie land, and also worked for the neighbors during the first season after coming to this county, and in 1881 rented land in Leroy township, after which he returned to Iowa county, where he worked in a brick plant for one year, but after his mar- riage, in the fall of 1882, came back to Audubon county and rented a farm for three years. At the end of that time he purchased eighty acres of im- proved land in Cameron township, upon which he lived for two years, at the end of which time he sold the farm and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Douglas township, on which he lived for thirteen years. In 1901 Mr. Northup sold this latter farm and purchased two hundred and forty acres in Cameron township, where he lived for two years, or until his elec- tion as sheriff in 1903. He took his office in 1904 and served two terms and an extra year, making in all five years. Since his retirement from office in 1909 he has been engaged in the grain and live-stock business and has been very successful.
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