USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 38
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His birth occurred in Cedar township, this county, on the 6th of May, 1882, his parents being William and Sarah (Smith) Anton, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Wisconsin. William Anton was brought to the United States by his parents when six years of age, the family first locating in Wisconsin and a short time later coming to Black Hawk county, Iowa. The grandfather purchased land in Cedar township and successfully carried on farming until the year 1889, at one time owning five hundred and sixty acres of valuable land. William Anton, the father of our subject, was reared and educated in this county and as soon as old enough started out as an agriculturist on his own account, renting land in Cedar township from his father. He devoted his attention to the further development and improvement of the property and at the time of his father's demise came into possession of a tract of one hundred
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and sixty acres, which he cultivated successfully until the time of his retire- ment in 1911, when he purchased a handsome residence in La Porte City, where he has since made his home. He is now fifty-six years of age, has resided in this county for a period covering about a half century and is widely and favor- ably known as one of its prosperous and esteemed citizens. His wife also yet survives and has a host of friends here.
Albert L. Anton was reared and educated in Cedar township and remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age. Subsequently he cul- tivated rented land for six years, on the expiration of which period he took up his abode in La Porte City and embarked in the implement business, conducting an enterprise of that character for two years. At the end of that time he sold out and in association with his brother-in-law, August Stahnke, invested in land in Big Creek township, which they have since owned in partnership, the latter operating the farm. Mr. Anton purchased five acres of land and a nice home in La Porte City and has resided there continuously since.
On the 12th of September, 1906, Mr. Anton was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Stahnke, a daughter of Herman and Louise Stahnke, both of whom were natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in an early day and made their way direct to Black Hawk county, the father buying a tract of land in Big Creek township, which he improved and operated until 1900. The remainder of his life was spent in honorable retirement at La Porte City, where he passed away in February, 1912. The demise of his wife occurred in 1899.
Mr. Anton gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now ably serving as trustee of Big Creek township. His religious faith is that of the German Evangelical church. He has always remained in this county, and his life has ever been such as to command and merit the respect and regard of his fellow townsmen.
G. L. SMITH.
G. L. Smith, one of the leading and successful building contractors of Water- loo, maintains his offices at No. 628 Washington street and during the four years of his business activity here has become widely known as a general contractor for all kinds of structures. He was born near West Union, Fayette county, Iowa, a son of George and Roxena (Butler) Smith, both of whom are deceased. The father was a pioneer settler of Fayette county and followed general agri- cultural pursuits throughout his active business career.
G. L. Smith acquired his education in the country schools of his native county and after putting aside his textbooks followed farming until twenty-two years of age. Subsequently he served a five years' apprenticeship as a carpenter and afterward spent six years in the hardware business at West Union, Iowa. He next began working at his trade as a carpenter and contractor, being thus engaged there until 1910, when he came to Waterloo and continued the same activities on a more extensive scale. He has erected a large number of buildings in Waterloo and Cedar Falls and now enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the leading contractors of the former city. Through the able management of
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his interests he has contributed not only to his own prosperity, but his labors have proven an important element in the material upbuilding and development of his adopted county.
In 1896 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Holmes, a native of West Union, Iowa, and a daughter of James and Katurah Holmes. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children: Mildred L., a high-school student; and Warren H., who is also attending school.
Mr. Smith gives his political allegiance to the democracy but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for his party fealty. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, while the religious faith of himself and his family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He possesses many qualities that have commended him to the friend- ship and kindly regard of all with whom he has come in contact, and he is numbered among the valued and representative residents of Waterloo and Black Hawk county.
F. L. CHAMBERLAIN.
F. L. Chamberlain, president of the Chamberlain Machine Works of Water- loo, is a native of Winthrop, Iowa, born in 1877, and is a son of A. M. Cham- berlain, whose birth occurred in Illinois in 1856. The father was brought to Iowa by his parents in 1859, his father, Dr. M. A. Chamberlain, settling at Winthrop, Buchanan county. He was the first physician to locate in that county and took an active part in the pioneer development and upbuilding of his sec- tion of the state. A. M. Chamberlain was reared in Iowa and with his father and a brother conducted a general store in Winthrop. About 1889 A. M. Cham- berlain built the second creamery in Iowa at Winthrop and later owned and operated a number of creameries at various points in this state. He was one of the prominent figures in the development of that industry in Iowa and his efforts proved a resultant factor in the attainment of success. He was a man of undaunted energy and determination and in due course of time he garnered the harvest of his labors, becoming one of the substantial citizens of his sec- tion of the state. He wedded Ida A. Pulis, who was born in Winthrop, and they reared a family of three children, of whom two are living: Marjorie, of Waterloo; and F. L., of this review.
The family was represented in the Civil war by the grandfather, Dr. M. A. Chamberlain, who enlisted for service at St. Paul in a Minnesota regiment. It was assigned to duty in quelling the Indian troubles of the northwest. When that task was accomplished the regiment was ordered to Dubuque and thence to Chicago, where it was stationed for some time. Finally, however, it pro- ceeded southward to Nashville, Tennessee, and from that point entered upon military operations in the south. Dr. Chamberlain was surgeon and chaplain of his regiment, thus doing valuable service for the soldiers until mustered out of the army at the close of the war at Washington, D. C.
F. L. Chamberlain was reared in Winthrop, Iowa, and was educated in the schools of that place and of Waterloo. For a number of years he was employed
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as a traveling salesman and later became associated with his father, A. M. Chamberlain, who established the Peerless Cream Separator Company in Water- loo about 1895. This was one of the first cream separator manufactories in the west. The son was associated with his father in the business for about three years, after which he and his father established the Chamberlain Machine Works, manufacturing cream separators and accessories. This is the only manu- facturing concern of its kind in the world. The business was incorporated in 1905 for one hundred thousand dollars. F. L. Chamberlain is the president and treasurer : I. A. Chamberlain, vice president, and C. M. Sherrill, secretary. They built and own their present quarters on Sycamore street, the building being an L-shaped structure, the main part of which is thirty by one hundred and twenty feet, with the L forty by eighty feet. The building is two stories in height and they employ from thirty to seventy workmen. They do a jobbing business all over the country and they issue annually a seventy-page catalogue which gives an explicit account of their manufactured product. Of this cata- logue they send out annually eighty thousand copies. Mr. Chamberlain is also interested in the Twentieth Century Gas Machine Company.
In 1906 Mr. Chamberlain was united in marriage to Miss Lena Elkin, of Tuscola, Illinois. He has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he also belongs to the Sons of Veterans, the Commercial Club and Board of Trade, and the Town Criers Club. He has always lived in Iowa and the enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this state has been manifest in his career. Waterloo is rapidly forging to the front as an industrial center, and Mr. Chamberlain is among those who are con- tributing to its welfare and reputation in this connection.
STEPHEN E. FERGUSON.
The name of Ferguson is well known in connection with industrial enter- prise in Waterloo and Stephen E. Ferguson is one of four brothers, who in a partnership are conducting a growing and profitable business in the manufac- ture of well drilling machinery and supplies under the name of the Ferguson Manufacturing Company. This is one of the more recently established indus- trial concerns of Waterloo but already has attained substantial success.
Stephen E. Ferguson was born in New York state, May 26, 1866, and was less than a year of age when brought by his parents to Iowa. An account of their removal and a more extended mention of the father and mother is to be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the life history of Albert R. Ferguson.
Reared upon the old homestead farm in Bennington township, this county, Stephen E. Ferguson early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. During the school sessions he pursued his studies in one of the district schools of Bennington township and afterward enjoyed the advantage of further instruction in the State Normal School at Cedar Falls and also in Cornell College. In early manhood he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in the rural schools for a number of years and
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then turned his attention from professional to commercial pursuits by entering the employ of the Hurst & Corson Grocery Company in the capacity of book- keeper. Later he engaged in the insurance business for a number of years, carrying on that business until he joined his brothers in organizing the Fergu- son Manufacturing Company and establishing the factory which they, now operate. He represents the firm upon the road as traveling salesman and like his brothers devotes his entire time to the business. He has secured for the company many substantial patrons and has contributed in large measure to the continuous growth of the undertaking.
Mr. Ferguson also owns desirable real estate in Waterloo and farm lands in Texas. He resides at No. 154 Harrison street. His name is on the mem- bership rolls of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Court of Honor and of Grace Methodist Episcopal church, associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. For almost a half century he has resided in this county and has been an interested witness of the changes which have occurred and the work that has been wrought in bringing the county from pioneer conditions to its present state of development and progress.
F. J. KOEPKE.
F. J. Koepke is a well known representative of activity in the field of insur- ance. He handles all kinds of insurance, including lightning, tornado and burglary insurance on banks, residences and mercantile interests. He also han- dles surety and fidelity bonds and the working men's compensation. He has his offices at No. 502 Marsh-Place building in Waterloo and his life is a very busy one because of the many clients that he has secured and the steady growth of the business since he embarked in this field of labor.
Mr. Koepke is a native of Germany. He was born October 17, 1855, à son of Joe and Sophia Koepke. The mother died in Germany and the father after- ward married again in that country. He came to the United States in 1872 and settled in Denver, Bremer county, Iowa, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until he had acquired a substantial competence. He then put aside business cares and took up his abode near Raymond, Iowa, where he passed away in October, 1888. His widow still survives and is now eighty-nine years of age. By his first marriage were born two sons: F. J., of this review ; and Henry, who is extensively engaged in wheat-raising in Umatilla county, Oregon. There was also a daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Conrad Widman but died in 1913. By the father's second marriage there were two daughters: Louisa, the wife of Charley Snebly ; and Sophia, who married Christ Venter, of Black Hawk county, Iowa.
F. J. Koepke came to the United States with his father when seventeen years of age. In the meantime he had acquired his preliminary education in the schools of Germany and after reaching Iowa he attended school in Bremer county. When his text-books were put aside he began farming and after following that occupation for two years he came to Waterloo, where he served an apprentice-
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ship in the shops of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, where he was em- ployed for eighteen years. He then became a traveling salesman for the Water- loo Gasoline Engine Company of Waterloo, Iowa, and for ten years he operated a dairy in this city. He then opened an insurance office, handling all kinds of insurance. IIe is also now renting houses and dealing in real estate in addition to other lines of business activity. He has land interests in Minnesota and a fine home and other residence property in Waterloo. He is determined and energetic and brooks no obstacles that can be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort. He knows that reliable dealing will win public confidence and that business will result therefrom, and the principles which have guided him in all of his business dealings are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
In 1883 Mr. Koepke was united in marriage to Miss Mary Proeshold, who was born at Fort Dodge, Iowa, a daughter of Godfrey and Christina Proeshold, both of whom were natives of Germany and on coming to Iowa cast in their lot with the pioneer citizens of Fort Dodge. Mr. and Mrs. Koepke have nine children: H. C., who is now a minister of the gospel, preaching in Hardin county ; Louise, the wife of E. O. Bertram, of Benton county; Carl C., of Waterloo, who is with the Schanlan System & Accounting Company of Chicago and Waterloo; Alma, who attended the Waterloo Business College and is now a stenographer in her father's office: L. G., who is manager of the shoe depart- ment for the firm of Lightbody & Wingate at Superior, Wisconsin; Clara, who is a graduate of the Waterloo Business College and is employed as a stenog- rapher by I. J. Koover : Ernest W., who is with the Fowler Wholesale Grocery Company ; Herbert, a student in the high school; and Helene, who is attending a German school.
The family are of the Lutheran faith. They reside at No. 233 Maple street in Waterloo, and the hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Koepke is a democrat in politics but not an office seeker. He is preeminently a business man, giving the greater part of his attention to his business interests with the result that success in a creditable measure has at- tended him.
JAMES R. VAUGHAN.
It is a trite saying but one that cannot be contradicted that there is always room at the top; but the great majority of men do not possess the ambition or the indefatigable energy that enable them to advance beyond their fellows on the highroad of life. James R. Vaughan, however, is one who, with a nature that could never be content with mediocrity, has passed on to leadership in those fields into which he has directed his activities. In Waterloo he is successfully engaged in business as a dealer in all kinds of farming implements and automo- biles, and his position in the country is indicated in the fact that he is the presi- dent of the Dairy Cattle Congress. He has always lived in the middle west and is actuated by the spirit of enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this section of the country.
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Mr. Vaughan was born in Henderson county, Illinois, April 24, 1858, and in 1868 his parents, James and Emily (Redman) Vaughan, came with their family to Black Hawk county, where the father purchased a large tract of land, to which he kept adding from time to time until at his death he was the owner of eight hundred and twenty acres of rich, productive and valuable land in Black Hawk county. For his first purchase of land he paid four dollars per acre and the tract is now worth at least two hundred dollars per acre. His holdings were all in one body and are still kept intact as the James Vaughan estate. In addition to acquiring this extensive farm, which he conducted according to the most modern and progressive methods, he was extensively engaged in raising and shipping stock, making a specialty of cattle and hogs, and was also well known as a large dealer in horses, handling standard bred draft horses. That his judgment was sound, his sagacity keen and his enterprise unfaltering is a fact indicated in his continually growing success, which placed him among the prosperous residents of the county. He died in 1899 and is still survived by his widow, who makes her home at No. 703 West Park avenue in Waterloo. Her father was Rezin Red- man, who built the first frame house erected in Burlington, Iowa, owning at that time all of the land upon which the city of Burlington now stands. James and Emily Vaughan had a family of nine children, of whom eight reached manhood or womanhood: Mrs. Richard Holmes, a resident of Waterloo; James R., of this review ; Mrs. Jennie C. Petra, the wife of C. A. Petra, of Waterloo; Mrs. James Loonan, whose husband is an extensive stock raiser in Orange township, Black Hawk county; Mrs. George H. Sawyer, whose husband is public-school superintendent at Osage, Iowa; Mathew C., who is engaged in the real estate business at Waterloo; Arthur C., of Waterloo, who is associated in business with his brother James ; and William G., a commercial traveler of Minneapolis.
James R. Vaughan was a lad of about ten summers when he accompanied his parents to this county, where he continued his education in the public schools and also in the State Normal School at Cedar Falls. For a number of years he successfully engaged in teaching in Black Hawk county and through the period of his early life gained broad experience along agricultural lines. In October, 1885, he came to Waterloo and bought the farm implement business of Thomas Cascaden, at which time he organized the firm of Holmes & Vaughan, which relation existed for five years, at the end of which period he purchased Mr. Holmes' interest and carried on the business alone until 1912, when it was incor- porated as the Vaughan Implement Company, with an authorized capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, of which forty thousand dollars was paid up. The officers of the company are: James R. Vaughan, president ; Jake Blough, vice president ; and B. E. Vaughan, secretary and treasurer. They handle a complete line of farm implements, together with all kinds of heavy machinery and all kinds of vehicles, including automobiles. They also do a large business in transfer and storage. The business is conducted along both wholesale and retail lines and during the season the house is represented on the road by several traveling sales- men. They make shipments all over Iowa and adjoining states and their trade is constantly increasing, theirs being one of the most extensive and important commercial enterprises of Waterloo. In connection with Thomas Cascaden, Jr., Mr. Vaughan purchased a farm of about one hundred acres known as the Clements farm, which they platted and sold, and the revenue from this went to
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the establishment of factories, which constituted the first move toward the upbuilding of a greater Waterloo.
While Mr. Vaughan has been a most active factor in business circles and his success alone would entitle him to mention as a representative citizen of Water- loo, he has yet found time and opportunity to extend his efforts into those fields which work for the intellectual and moral progress of the community and has had marked influence along those lines. He is president of the board of trustees of Des Moines College, is president of the Baptist state convention of lowa and has been most active in furthering the moral progress of the community. He belongs to the First Baptist church of Waterloo, is a member of its official board and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for seventeen years. For a quarter of a century he was the first tenor in the church choir and thus along musical as well as other lines has aided in the upbuilding of the church. Fraternally Mr. Vaughan is a Mason and has attained the Knights Templar degree in the commandery. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias and he belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, cooperating heartily in its plans and purposes for the upbuilding of the city. Socially his connections are with the Waterloo Club and the Town Criers Club.
Mr. Vaughan has been married twice. He wedded Miss Winnie Fish and following her demise he married Miss Bertha Edwards, a daughter of A. J. Edwards. He has two sons, James Gordon and Herbert Edwards. The family is one of prominence in the community, enjoying the high regard of all.
It would be unfair to complete the record of James R. Vaughan without indicating his interest in affairs relating to the upbuilding of the community along agricultural lines, this being manifest in the fact that he is now president of the Dairy Cattle Congress. He has studied various phases of the dairy prob- lem and has done much to further activity in that field along progressive lines. In fact, progress has been the keynote of his character in every relation. It has carried him to the front rank among the business men of Waterloo and has made him an influential factor in advancing the public welfare. He is honored wherever known and most of all where he is best known.
WILLIAM H. GIVEN.
Only a year has passed since William H. Given came to Waterloo and yet in that period he has firmly established himself as an active and progressive business man, being now assistant general manager of the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Railroad Company. A native of Ohio, he was born in Coshoc- ton on the 2d of June, 1858, and is one of the six sons of Judge Josiah Given, who was a member of the supreme court bench, serving as a representative of the highest judicial tribunal of Iowa for twenty years. He was indeed one of the most eminent jurists of the state and few men have left a more lasting impression upon the judicial history of Iowa not only because of legal ability but also by reason of possessing that high character which impresses itself upon a community.
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When a youth of sixteen years W. H. Given entered the railway service as a messenger boy on the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad, after which he was connected with that road in different capacities until 1887. During the last two years of that time he was traveling freight agent with the road. From 1887 until November, 1890, he acted as traveling freight agent with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad and from 1890 until 1900 was trainmaster for the Des Moines Valley division of the same road. He was then made superintendent of the southwestern division and so continued until 1903, when he was advanced to the superintendency of the Des Moines Valley division and so continued until 1909. In that year he became superintendent of the Minnesota division and so remained until June, 1912. He was then engaged in special railroad service until September 1, 1913. when he came to Waterloo to accept the posi- tion of assistant general manager of the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Railroad. His previous experience well qualified him for the duties of this position. He is thoroughly familiar with the line of work which he has under- taken and his efforts have given entire satisfaction to the company.
On the 2d of June, 1892, Mr. Given was united in marriage to Mrs. Carrie (Mitchell) Drabelie, who is a daughter of Judge John Mitchell, of Des Moines, and who by her former marriage had one son, J. M. Drabelle. Mr. Given is well known in Masonic circles. He has attained the Knights Templar degree in the commandery and has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He holds membership with the Commercial Club and Board of Trade of Waterloo, with the Grant Club of Des Moines and with the Town Criers Club of Waterloo. His views of life are sane. He looks at every ques- tion from a practical standpoint and he sees opportunity for community as well as for individual advancement. Accordingly he cooperates in plans and proj- ects for the public good and Waterloo numbers him among its citizens of worth.
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