USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 22
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Dr. Hoffmann was reared in Dubuque to the age of eighteen years and was a student in St. Joseph's College to the age of seventeen. He then began prepa- ration for his profession in the department of medicine of the Creighton Uni- versity at Omaha, Nebraska, where he remained as a student for four years and was graduated with the class of 1912. The M. D. degree was then con- ferred upon him, after which he went to Denver, Colorado, and was an interne in St. Anthony's Hospital for a year, gaining broad practical experience through hospital practice with its varied opportunities and demands. He then came to Waterloo and entered the St. Francis Hospital as an interne, remaining in that position for a year. On the expiration of that period he joined Dr. O'Keefe
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and Dr. Brown in a partnership that led to the adoption of the present firm name of O'Keefe, Brown & Hoffmann. He now has charge of the X-ray department at the St. Francis Hospital at Waterloo in connection with the conduct of a general practice which is now extensive and important. The offices of the firm are located in a suite of rooms in the Commercial Bank building.
Dr. Hoffmann holds membership in the Catholic church and with the Knights of Columbus. Ile comes of a family that has adhered to the democratic faith in politics and he, too, is an advocate of the party. He belongs to the Phi Beta Pi, a medical fraternity, and along strictly professional lines is connected with the Waterloo Medical Society and the Black Hawk County Medical Society. Although but a young man, he has already attained a most creditable position in professional circles that many an older practitioner might well envy.
GEORGE S. FERGUSON.
It is an unusual thing that four brothers of a family should continue in busi- ness together, for conditions and individual tastes usually separate them. How- ever, in the Ferguson family, which has been represented in this county since 1868, there are four brothers who are partners in the ownership of the business conducted under the name of the Ferguson Manufacturing Company. One of these brothers is he whose name introduces this review and who throughout the greater period of his active business life has been connected with industrial pursuits. He was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in 1862, a son of Edward and Isabelle (Cummings) Ferguson, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Albert R. Ferguson. The family arrived in this county in 1868. when George S. Ferguson was but a little lad, and their home was established on a farm eight miles northeast of Waterloo.
George S. Ferguson attended the district schools of Bennington township and afterward became a student in the Prairie Home Seminary. He worked in the fields when not busy with his text-books and remained at home until twenty- one years of age, when he went to South Dakota, where he took up a claim and in connection with its development operated a well drilling machine for one year. At the end of that time he returned to Iowa, where he engaged in the creamery business for about three years. He next purchased a drilling machine and devoted the succeeding five years to drilling wells. At the end of that time he was employed as a traveling salesman by the Kelley & Tannehill Company and represented that house upon the road for about fifteen years, his long con- tinued connection with the business indicating his capability and his faithfulness to the trust reposed in him by his employers. Others of the family were also in the employ of the firm, to whom the name of Ferguson stood as a synonym for reliability and capability. On leaving the road George S. Ferguson joined his brothers in the organization of the Ferguson Manufacturing Company and has since been general manager of the business, which is that of manufacturing well drilling machinery and supplies. His early experience in well drilling stands him in good stead in this connection, having brought to him a practical knowl-
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edge of the work to be done by the machinery which his company now manu- factures. He concentrates his energies upon this business and his close appli- cation and keen insight have been factors in its growing success.
On the 23d of December, 1894, Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Lemper, who was born in Galena, Illinois, a daughter of Paul and Anna (Cawthorn) Lemper, both of whom were natives of Illinois, whence they came to Iowa when Waterloo was a village and gave little promise of ever reaching its present metropolitan size and conditions. However, they took up their abode in Waterloo and the father engaged in the hardware business, in which he continued until a few years prior to his death, which occurred in the latter '80s. His widow still resides in Waterloo, occupying the old home on Franklin street. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have one son, Paul L., who is now a high-school pupil. They occupy an attractive residence at No. 302 Mobile street which Mr. Ferguson owns, together with other real estate in this city.
He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He usually votes the democratic ticket although he is inde- pendent in his political views and actions. At one time he served as township clerk of Bennington township, but he cares little for public office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon other interests. He belongs to Grace Methodist Episcopal church and high and honorable principles guide him in all life's relations.
HENRY F. HOPPE.
Henry F. Hoppe is the owner of a valuable property of one hundred and eighty-six acres situated on sections 4 and 5, Spring Creek township. He also has other real-estate holdings in the county and his land is the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift. He was born in Germany, October 5. 1879, and is a son of Carl L. and Christina (Tebbe) Hoppe, who are men- tioned in connection with the sketch of C. F. Hoppe, on another page of this work.
The usual experiences of the farm lad fell to the lot of Henry F. Hoppe during his boyhood and youth. He was but five years of age when his parents came to the new world and therefore he was practically reared as well as edu- cated in Black Hawk county, attending the parochial and district schools. He re- mained at home until he reached the age of thirteen years and then started out in life on his own account, living by working as a farm hand. He was thus employed for eight years, during which time he practiced frugality as well as industry and acquired the capital that enabled him to purchase eighty acres of land in Spring Creek township. For five years he resided upon that farm and continued its cultivation, after which he removed to Waterloo, where he engaged in teaming for a year and a half. He next entered the employ of the W. E. Closson Medicine Company as traveling agent and was for five years thus en- gaged. He then resumed agricultural pursuits, returning to Spring Creek town- ship. At that time he purchased the old Seaman farm of one hundred and eighty-six acres on sections 4 and 5 and in the intervening years he has culti-
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vated this place and has added to it various modern improvements which make it one of the splendid farm properties of the district. It presents a neat and thrifty appearance and the well tilled fields annually return golden harvests. The place is well fenced and is divided into fields of convenient size in which are raised excellent crops of corn, wheat and other cereals. Mr. Hoppe still owns his original eighty acres on section 9 and from his property derives a substantial annual income.
Mr. Hoppe is the secretary for La Porte City district of the Maxfield Insur- ance Company. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is ever ready to support his position by intelligent argu- ment. He does not seek office, however, preferring that others should win the political positions. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He is truly a self-made man, for from the early age of thirteen years he has been dependent upon his own resources. At a period when most boys are in school he was earning his living and since that time he has had few idle hours, his dili- gence, determination and sound business judgment bringing to him the success which he now enjoys.
JOHN SMELSER,
For the past two decades John Smelser has lived retired in La Porte City, but for a number of years he was energetically engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Tennessee in October, 1826, a son of Henry and Betsy (King) Smelser, natives of Tennessee and Virginia respectively. The father was a farmer and cultivated land in the Big Bend state for some time. He subse- quently removed to Indiana with his family and eventually to Benton county, Iowa, arriving there when that region was still scarcely touched by civilization. He continued to devote his energies to farm work until his death, which occurred in 1889. His wife died in La Porte City in 1882.
John Smelser was reared and educated in the Hoosier state and when a young man of twenty years was there married and began farming upon his own account. In 1852 he came to this county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, later adding an additional forty acres. He improved his prop- erty, a part of which is situated over the line in Benton county, and operated his farm successfully until 1894, when he retired and removed to La Porte City, where he has since resided, enjoying the leisure made possible by his labor in former years.
Mr. Smelser was married in October, 1846, to Miss Mary A. Hogshire, and they became the parents of five children: John, a resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota ; Nettie, who died when an infant of eighteen months; Ernest, who lives in Minnesota ; Henry, residing in La Porte City ; and a child who died in infancy. The wife and mother was called to the home beyond in 1893 and five years later Mr. Smelser married Mrs. Mary A. Dooley, of La Porte.
Mr. Smelser is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in good standing and contributes of his means to the carrying on of its work and the spread of
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its influence. Since age conferred upon him the right of suffrage he has voted the republican ticket and held a number of local offices while living upon his farm, including that of township trustee. As an agriculturist he was alert. progressive and industrious, and his farm repaid his care and labor by yielding abundant crops, which brought a good price upon the market. His personality is one that inspires respect and confidence, and his probity and honor are never questioned.
JOSEPH LEWIS POWERS, M. D.
Dr. Joseph Lewis Powers, one of the most venerable citizens of Iowa, passed away in Waterloo on the 29th of October, 1914, when in the ninety-first year of his age, but his memory remains as a benediction and an inspiration to all with whom he came in contact, so high were his principles, so exalted his ideals, so generous, kindly and helpful his acts. He was born near Schenectady, New York, December 11, 1823, his parents being Lewis and Mehitable (Whitehead) Powers, natives of Vermont. He was three years of age when his parents removed to Newstead, New York, and was a youth of eleven years at the time of their emigration westward to Ohio in 1835. At the age of seventeen years he purchased his time from his father and through the following two years worked upon the farm.
Not content with the educational opportunities he had thus far received, he attended the schools of Ashland, Ohio, and also Granville College, and subse- quently he took up the profession of teaching. While thus engaged he devoted his leisure hours to the study of medicine and in further preparation for prac- tice he attended the Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, in the years 1847 and 1848. He afterward began the practice of medicine at Blendon, near Columbus, and in 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he made the long journey across the plains to the Pacific coast, where he arrived after traveling for one hundred and ten days. During the succeeding year and a half he conducted a medical and surgical hospital in addition to his work as a miner. He then decided to return to his Ohio home and started eastward with eighteen hundred dollars in gold, the savings of his year and a half. He returned by way of San Francisco and the Isthmus route to New Orleans, proceeded up the Mississippi to St. Louis and thence made his way to Morrow county, Ohio, where he invested in two hundred acres of land. He then rented his farm and afterward started on a three hundred mile horseback ride to the home of his affianced wife, Jannette S. Byam, who was then living in Iowa. They were married at Andrew, this state, on the 30th of December, 1852, and immediately returned to Ohio to begin their domestic life in a new log house which had been erected on the farm. They occupied that place for seven years and there their older children were born. At the end of that time they removed westward to lowa, settling in Homer township, Benton county, where Dr. Powers resumed the practice of medicine in connection with the development and improvement of his farm. There he lived for seven years, after which he went to Irving, Iowa, and opened an office, concentrating his energies upon his practice. In
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1876 he was graduated from the Keokuk Medical College, which at that time was the medical department of the University of Iowa. In 1878 he removed to Reinbeck, where he followed his profession for many years, but after the death of his wife he retired from active practice and spent his last years with his children.
Dr. Powers had two sons and three daughters: Dr. F. W. and L. E. Powers, both of Waterloo: Mrs. J. H. Welch, of Belle Plaine; Mrs. S. H. Cranmer, of Minneapolis ; and Mrs. J. A. Webb, of Waterloo, at whose home he was staying when death called him.
Dr. Powers was a man of strong Christian faith and spirit. He thought little of himself or his own interests but devoted his life to service for his fam- ily and for the uplift of humanity. When forty-five years of age he joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Irving and from that time forward was a very active church worker, making his religion a part of his everyday existence and not merely a matter of Sunday observance. On removing to Reinbeck he be- came a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal church of that place and he ever endeavored to make his life the expression of his Christian belief and of the teachings of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister.
That his life broadened in its outlook, in its perceptions and in its purposes is indicated by excerpts from letters which he wrote or from things that he said. At the time of the celebration of his silver wedding anniversary, in responding to the felicitations and best wishes of the friends that had gathered, in addressing his wife upon the part which she had filled so faithfully, he said, among other things, "As we enter another quarter of a century in the great race of life, if we fail to reach the golden anniversary of our wedded life, may we with these friends receive a rich and abiding crown in the Great Beyond." Twenty years later, upon reaching his seventy-fifth birthday, in writing a letter to one of his daughters, he said: "As we stand at the open door of the unwritten future with responsibilities pressing hard for a satisfactory solution, our riper experi- ence would dictate that duty performed may bring responsibility, but never failure nor dishonor. Live on the bright side of life, pressing hard to the right, that honest thought, abiding purpose and Christian living shall be an inspiration as we make toward the other shore." Five years later, at the age of eighty, on the occasion of the celebration of the golden wedding anniversary of his wedded life, in responding to the greetings of friends, he said: "There are times when sentiment lingers at the threshold of thought and the tongue falters; and we are almost mute in attempting to put into words, at such a time as this, a proper appreciation of abiding confidence and friendship. Pleasant memories remind us that twenty-five years ago a number of this company called upon us and left tokens of good-will on the occasion of our silver wedding. At that time we thought we were nearing Pisgah's height of human life; but tonight as memory sweeps over a quarter of a century, the flashlight of experience and duty reminds us that we were then only in the foothills of life's mission. As I stand in the twilight in the coveted height of four score years and view the plain below, I am reminded that the heart treasures are the brightest pictures hanging on the walls of memory, and richest fruitage is gathered from friendship's altar. Stand- ing at the open door of the unknown future and scanning the horizon of human life, I am glad that, amid all its failures, life is not all a dream, but is big with
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possibilities and hope. We must remember that it is individual purpose and effort-leaning hard to the right-that gives coloring to character and makes history worthy of a place on the tablet of memory." Later, at the age of eighty- seven, he took some pleasure in composing a poem of eight verses on "The Voyage of Life," which he has left to the family in his own handwriting. One of the verses reads as follows :
"Shadows may o'ertake you, on the way, And thus you wander, may go astray, Bethlehem's star, a light for thee, To brighten hope, a guide at sea."
The year following the death of his wife he wrote: "I am floating on the current of time, and in the passing of my eighty-eighth birthday, I am abiding my time for the call to come up higher." Upon the celebration of his ninetieth birthday, which was held December 11, 1913, upon which occasion many friends called and extended their best wishes for his future health and happiness, he said, among other things worthy of repetition: "Self is a mighty poor master ; self is the worst devil to contend with. My advice to the young is first, honesty, and a high regard for Christianity, for their own betterment and the betterment of society."
At all times Dr. Powers held to the highest ideals and constantly put forth effort for their adoption. The consensus of public opinion is that his was a most earnest and consistent Christian character. His presence as much as his professional aid constituted a stimulus and a blessing in the sick room. He held friendship inviolable; he was loyal to every duty and certainly the world is better for his having lived. He came to an honored old age with few pages in his life record that he might wish to erase; on the contrary his history is one which should serve to inspire and encourage others, as it points out the value of character, of noble living and of honorable purpose.
J. C. KOENEKE.
J. C. Koeneke is secretary and treasurer of the Iowa Real Estate & Invest- ment Company of Waterloo and belongs to that class of men whose ready recog- nition and improvement of opportunities have led to their success. His birth occurred in Bremer county, Iowa, in 1886, and, spending his boyhood and youth there, he supplemented his early educational training by study in the Waverly high school and afterward entered the State Agricultural College at Ames, being graduated from the dairy department of that institution with the class of 1905. He was afterward appointed milk inspector for the large creamery plant at Litchfield, Minnesota, where he remained for a year, and later he became asso- ciated with his uncle, who was assistant dairy food commissioner of Illinois. Some time later he became secretary and treasurer of the Iowa Real Estate & Investment Company of Waterloo, which handles its own property, building factories, homes or any structure that prospective purchasers require. The
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business of the firm is extensive and important and has constituted one of the effective and forceful elements in the upbuilding and progress of the city. He has never ceased to feel an interest in that line of work for which his college training qualified him and he is now a member of the board of directors of the Dairy Cattle Congress.
In 1909 Mr. Koeneke was married to Miss Hazel M. Cass, a daughter of J. F. Cass, vice president of the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Railroad Company, and they have one daughter, Virginia Louise.
Mr. Koeneke holds membership with the Evangelical church. His interest in public affairs also extends beyond the moral aspect to the upbuilding of those forces which contribute to the welfare and progress of the city along material lines. To this end he is a member of the Commercial Club and Board of Trade and of the Town Criers Club. He is a young man of capability, alert and ener- getic, and has made for himself a creditable position in the business world.
L. P. SINNARD.
America has aptly been termed the land of opportunity. In a country where effort is unhampered by caste or class diligence and determination can always win recognition. A resident of Waterloo for more than a quarter of a century, having arrived in this city in 1888, L. P. Sinnard is now well known as one of the partners in the firm of Sinard Brothers, leading grocers of this section of the state.
Iowa claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Kellogg, Jas- per county, in 1870. He is a son of Cyrus and Emily Sinnard and in his early boyhood accompanied his parents on their removal to Eddyville, Iowa, where he was reared to the age of seventeen years. He afterward spent a year in Omaha, Nebraska, and at the age of eighteen came to Waterloo, where he has now resided for twenty-six years. He has only been out of the state twice since that time and his close application to business and his unfaltering energy have brought him to a conspicuous and honorable position in the trade circles of his adopted city.
Almost immediately after his arrival here Mr. Sinnard entered the employ of Morrell & Turner, grocers, with whom he continued for about five years. He was afterward in the employ of other firms until the 2d of June, 1908, but throughout the entire period was actuated by a laudable desire of one day en- gaging in business on his own account. This hope soon saw its fulfilment when, in 1908, he and his brother formed a partnership under the firm style of Sinnard Brothers and embarked in the grocery trade on their own account in Waterloo. where the firm name has since become a household word. They began business in a little room on East Fifth street in the Ellis Hotel block and from the begin- ning success attended their efforts because of their unremitting diligence, their earnest desire to please their patrons and their thoroughly reliable business methods. On the Ist of August, 1912, they bought out the grocery business of A. H. Pinkerton at No. 216 West Fourth street and L. P. Sinnard took charge of this store and there developed the largest retail grocery business in West
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Waterloo. On the Ist of July, 1913, they removed their East Waterloo store to the present location at No. 320 East Fourth street, where they have very com- modious quarters. That business is in charge of R. C. Sinnard, mention of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. The Sinnard Brothers employ on an average of twenty-eight salesmen and others to take care of their business. They have four delivery wagons on the west side and two wagons and a large auto truck for delivery on the east side. Their trade has now reached extensive proportions, making them the leading grocers of Waterloo. They carry a most attractive stock of staple and fancy groceries, furnishing everything known to the trade in their line, and their stock equals in kind any to be found in the largest cities. In fact, their establishment would be a credit to a city of much greater size than Waterloo. They have always been most careful in the stand- ard of goods carried, in the personnel of the house and in the treatment ac- corded patrons, and as a result of their methods their business has grown year by year.
In 1893 Mr. Sinnard was united in marriage to Miss Emma Duke, who passed away in June, 1910, leaving three children: Marie, Duke and Margery. Mr. Sinnard belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Tribe of Ben Hur, to the Knights and Ladies of Security and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is also a member of the Commercial Club and the Young Men's Christian Association. He is, moreover, a public-spirited citizen and, strong in his individuality, he never lacks the courage of his convictions. He is well known for the sterling integrity and honor of his character, which have naturally gained for him the respect and confidence of men. He is widely and favorably known throughout Waterloo and Black Hawk county and his worth well merits the high regard which is uniformly given him.
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