USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 44
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Mr. Glenny was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 19th of March, 1859, and is a son of Alexander and Ellen (Erwin) Glenny. The father, a native of Ireland, was of Scotch lineage and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to Canada, settling near Ottawa, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1870 he came to the United States, settling at Rockford, Illinois, where he gave his attention largely to agricultural pursuits. In 1881 he arrived in Black Hawk county, Iowa, settling on a farm on the Hudson road, five miles south- west of Waterloo. There he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in July, 1910, at the very venerable age of ninety-three years. His wife was a native of Canada and also came of Scotch ancestry. She still survives and resides upon the home farm in Black Hawk county.
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A. E. Glenny attended a select school in Canada and the public schools of Rockford, Illinois, being a youth of eleven years at the time of the removal of the family to the latter city. He was also a pupil in the Rockford Commercial College and was thus well trained for life's practical and responsible duties. Through the periods of vacation he worked upon the home farm with his father, whom he continued to assist in the development of the fields until he reached his twenty-first year. The first money which he earned was thirty dollars received for his share of the profits on two acres of potatoes raised on shares on his father's farm. With this thirty dollars and some borrowed money he purchased four cows, which he afterwards sold for one hundred dollars, and with the capital thus acquired he began the business of buying and selling wood. He also subsequently bought straw, which he hauled to the paper mills for one year. After coming to Black Hawk county he worked for his father by the month at a salary of twenty dollars per month. He was energetic, industrious and ambi- tious and, carefully saving his earnings, he purchased in 1882 eighty acres of land in this county, making a payment thereon and afterward meeting successive payments until the property was cleared of all indebtedness. He still owns that farm and subsequently he acquired other lands until he now has extensive prop- erty interests in this county, including two farms in Black Hawk township and two farms in Orange township, besides land in Grundy county. He continued to make his home in Black Hawk township up to the time of his marriage, when he removed to Orange township.
It was on the 23d of February, 1886, that Mr. Glenny wedded Miss Ella Lichty, a daughter of Jacob P. Lichty, who came to Black Hawk county from Pennsylvania in 1877. Following their marriage they removed to Orange town- ship and as the years passed Mr. Glenny engaged extensively and successfully in farming, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and deriving therefrom, as the result of abundant harvests, a substantial annual income. In 1900 he began the breeding of thoroughbred registered Aberdeen Angus cattle and soon established an enviable reputation in that line, his strain being found among many of the best herds throughout the middle west. For several years he was an extensive cattle feeder and he also bought cattle throughout the west and shipped into this county many of the stockers and feeders which he sold to the farmers in this section of the state. He was not only successful in tilling the soil and caring for his stock, but was first, last and all the time a business man. There was method in every undertaking with which he was identified and as a consequence he prospered. His business reached large proportions and he became one of the men of affluence in Black Hawk county. In 1908 he left the farm and removed to Waterloo and in IQUI built the handsome residence on Prospect Hill at No. 2409 West Fourth street where he now resides. He acquired an interest in the Black Hawk National Bank, of which he was subsequently made a director, and afterward was elected vice president of that institution.
To Mr. and Mrs. Glenny have been born two daughters, Lucile and Ruth Ione, both of whom were educated in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa. Mr. Glenny holds membership in Waterloo Lodge, No. 105, A. F. & A. M .: Tabernacle Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M .; Ascalon Commandery, No. 25, K. T .; Crescent Council, No. 16, R. & S. M .; and El Kahir Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .. of Cedar Rapids, while his wife and daughters are members of the Order of the
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Eastern Star. He and his family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Glenny is serving as a trustee. His life has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles and upright purpose. He has ever been found thoroughly reliable as well as progressive in business matters and he is one of Waterloo's citizens who accomplishes what he undertakes. He is today prominent as a man whose constantly expanding powers have taken him from humble surroundings into the field of larger enterprise and continually broadening opportunities and he has ever brought to bear upon the situation a clear under- standing that has enabled him to readily solve complex problems.
MARTIN BERNARDY.
Martin Bernardy, a native son of Black Hawk county, has found prosperity here and is the successful owner of a well stocked general store in Gilbertville. He was born on the 2d of May, 1884, a son of Henry and Mary (Shumnesh) Bernardy, both natives of Belgium. The father, who was born in 1837, died in 1895 and the mother, whose birth occurred in 1843, is still living at the age of seventy-one years. The father followed the occupation of a farmer in his native land for a few years after reaching maturity, but when about twenty- five years of age emigrated to the United States and settled in New York, where he taught a German school. After making his home in the Empire state for some time he removed to Iowa and began farming an eighty acre tract of land. As that was four decades ago, conditions were very different than those that prevail at the present time and he found much to indicate that this section of the country had lately been undeveloped prairie. He soon had his eighty acres under cultiva- tion, and his industry and good management was rewarded by the financial success that enabled him to purchase another eighty acres so that at the time of his death he owned a quarter section of valuable land. He divided his time and energy between the tilling of the soil and the raising of stock and found the combination profitable. At the time of his death he was residing near Jubilee in Fox township and although he returned to Belgium several times on a visit, he always considered the United States his home after his emigration here. He took a commendable interest in the affairs of his community and was as loyal a citizen as those who claim the United States as their birthplace. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party, and he held a number of township offices and also took an active interest in the work of the public schools. To his marriage with Miss Shumnesh were born nine children, of whom the subject of this review is the eighth in order of birth.
Mr. Bernardy entered the public schools at the usual age and passed from grade to grade, receiving a good common school education. When twenty-five years old he started out upon his independent business career and decided that the mercantile field offered greater attractions than the work of a farmer. Up to this time he had remained upon the homestead and had aided in its operation. He became associated with J. P. Nemmers in the mercantile business and, the venture proving successful, he is still devoting his energies to it. The general store of which he is the owner is conducted along modern and progressive lines
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and Mr. Bernardy is always seeking to increase his service to his patrons, as he realizes that only in this way can a permanent business be built up. He is also a director and stockholder of the German Savings Bank.
Mr. Bernardy married Miss Loretta Gartner, a native of Fayette county, this state, and a daughter of Benjamin and Anna (Schmidt) Gartner, who are resi- dents of St. Lucas, Iowa. The mother is a native of Fayette county, this state. The father is a carpenter and builder by trade and owns considerable valuable farming property. He has been quite active in politics and is at present alder- man and marshal of St. Lucas, which offices he has held for several years. Of the five children in his family Mrs. Bernardy is the second in order of birth. Before her marriage she was a school teacher in the district schools of Black Hawk county and was successful in that profession.
Mr. Bernardy gives his allegiance to the democratic party and has held sev- eral township offices, proving efficient and conscientious in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him. Fraternally he belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and has been recording secretary therein for five years. He has based his course of action as a business man upon the principles of honesty, courtesy and efficiency, and the growth of his store has been the natural outcome of his energy and the wise direction of his affairs.
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FRANK J. SCHMITT.
Frank J. Schmitt is a pioneer hardware and implement dealer of Dewar and is successfully conducting business interests that place him among the repre- sentative merchants of the county. He was born in Barclay township in 1868, a son of Kasper and Matilda (Kunkle) Schmitt. The father, who was born in 1831, passed away on the 17th of November, 1902, and the mother, who was born in 1843, is now living on the old homestead in Barclay township. They were natives of Germany and in that country the father learned the car- penter's trade under the direction of his father. He worked at his trade and also followed farming until he came to the United States in 1855, when twenty- four years of age. He settled first in Ohio, where he was employed at his trade and also followed other tasks, but lived there only a short time, removing from the Buckeye state to Freeport, Illinois, where he again carried on farming.
In 1864 Kasper Schmitt arrived in Iowa and cast in his lot with the residents of Black Hawk county. He purchased wild land and began breaking the prairie. He made all of the improvements necessary in pioneer times and returning to Illinois, he was there married, after which he returned to his farm and resided thereon until the time of his death. He exemplified in his life the progressive spirit which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this part of the state and he took an active and helpful interest in public affairs, doing all in his power to further the upbuilding of the county, while at the same time he carefully advanced his individual interests. He was married twice, his son, Frank J., being the eldest of the eight children of his second marriage. The father was one of the most extensive landowners of the county, and was still the possessor of two hundred and forty acres at the time of his death, although
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to each of his sons he had given considerable property. In his investments he displayed sound judgment and as his financial resources increased he kept adding to his holdings until his real-estate interests made him one of the most prosperous citizens of the community. He always carried on general farming and at the same time made stock-raising an important feature of his business. He voted with the democratic party but had no aspirations for public office. He held membership in the Catholic church and was active in building its first house of worship in Barclay township.
Frank J. Schmitt attended the district schools of the county and was reared upon the home farm, thereon remaining until he reached the age of twenty-four years. He saw no reason to change his occupation, for he believed that a good living could be secured upon the farm by one not afraid to work. On leaving home he secured land and for about nine years carried on general agricultural pursuits on his own account. In 1900, however, he turned his attention to com- mercial pursuits, joining F. W. Fritz in the establishment of a hardware and implement business at Dewar, Iowa. In 1901 his brother Edward succeeded Mr. Fritz in the partnership, which was then maintained under the name of Schmitt Brothers. They still conduct the business, which has now reached large and profitable proportions.
Mr. Schmitt was married in 1893 to Miss Johanna Murphy, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Mary ( McLaughlin) Murphy, who were natives of Ireland. The father came to the United States when a young man and worked as a laborer in the east but when he came to Iowa took up the occupation of farming and became the owner of land which he cultivated in a practical manner that brought good returns. He also engaged in stock-raising. In the later years of his life he put aside all business cares and lived retired in Dewar. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt have been born three children, as follows : Gertrude, who is now a student in Our Lady of Victory Academy of Waterloo; and Walter and Lawrence, both of whom are attending school in Dewar, lowa.
The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and Mr. Schmitt holds membership with the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus. His political alle- giance is given the democratic party and he has been very active in community affairs, holding nearly all of the township offices. In 1914 he was elected with- out opposition to the position of supervisor from Fox, Poyner and Barclay town- ships and is now serving on the county board. He is a progressive, wide-awake man, keeping in touch with the spirit of the times and interested in all measures that affect the welfare and progress of the community.
J. W. HENDERSON.
J. W. Henderson, treasurer of the William Galloway Company, has been a resident of Waterloo for eight years and has become well established in public regard as a leading representative of industrial and manufacturing activity here. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Tama county in 1881. He completed his public-school education by a course in the high
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school at Gladbrook, Iowa, and later attended Drake University at Des Moines, being thus qualified by liberal educational training for the activities and respon- sibilities of business life. He then became connected with the lumber trade at Bevington, Iowa, where he remained for a year and then went to Vancleve, Iowa, as an employe of the S. C. Lee Lumber Company of Des Moines, spending a year and a half there as yard manager. On the expiration of that period he came to Waterloo and entered the employ of the William Galloway Company as clerk in charge of all of the accounts in the accounting department. Two years later he was advanced to the position of treasurer of the company and continues in that connection, being therefore an officer in one of the largest and most impor- tant productive industries of the state. He is a young man of laudable ambition and has always displayed industry, energy and determination in the conduct of business affairs with which he has been connected and his present position is a most enviable one.
In 1908 Mr. Henderson was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret Grace Gallo- way and they have one son, William Wallace. Mr. Henderson belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and to the Waterloo Club. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church and theirs is an enviable social position, the hospitality of the best homes being cordially extended them, while the good cheer of their own home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.
THOMAS F. McDONNELL.
Thomas F. McDonnell, a carpenter and contractor of Waterloo, has gained an enviable reputation for conscientious and thorough work as a member of the firm known as Thomas F. McDonnell & Company, one of the leading contracting firms of the city. He was born in Fairbank, Iowa, on the Ist of August, 1871, a son of Thomas and Emeline ( Meyers) McDonnell, natives of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania respectively. In the early '6os they emigrated to Iowa and pur- chased a farm in Buchanan county, where the mother passed away in 1902. The father continued to live there until 1906, when he retired and removed to Oel- wein, where he is still living. They were the parents of thirteen children : Mary, who died in infancy ; Thomas F., of this review; William, deceased; Ella, the wife of Martin Prebble, of Fairbank, Iowa; Margaret, who married James D. Cowley, of Waterloo; Rose, the deceased wife of Mathew Harman, of Oelwein ; John, who is living in Canada ; James, deceased; Leo, of Survey, Nebraska ; Edna, the wife of Roy Wolf, of Oelwein; Genevieve, who makes her home with her brother, Thomas F .; Benjamin, who is a bookkeeper for the firm of Thomas F. McDonnell & Company ; and Clarence, deceased.
Thomas F. McDonnell attended the district schools near his father's farm in the vicinity of Oelwein until he was eighteen years of age and thus acquired a good education. He then learned the carpenter's trade and was employed by others for eight years. In 1904 he began contracting, conducting his business alone until 1914, when he became associated with Arthur A. Shippy, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The firm is known as Thomas F. McDon- nell & Company, general contractors. Mr. McDonnell has confined his attention
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altogether to the building of residences and is recognized as an authority in that line. In 1907 he and Burt Land became interested in a sawmill business in Waterloo and in Wisconsin and they continued in that connection for seven years.
On the 28th of December, 1900, Mr. McDonnell was united in marriage to Miss Laura Prebble, a native of this state and a daughter of Fletcher and Mercy (Oncie) Prebble. Her father was a native of Indiana and her mother of Iowa. Mr. Prebble was during his active life a farmer and also a contractor but is now living retired in Waterloo, having survived his wife since 1900. To Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell have been born two children: Lawrence, whose birth occurred on the IIth of July, 1906; and Iva, born June 21, 19II.
Mr. McDonnell generally supports the republican party but reserves the right to cast an independent ballot if he thinks best to do so. He has proven his ability as a contractor and is considered one of the successful business men of Waterloo, where he is also held in high esteem for his admirable personal char- acteristics.
IRA FINCH.
The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the records of Black Hawk county without learning that the Finch family has been closely and prominently connected with the work of development and upbuilding here since pioneer times. Ira Finch was born in Lester township, this county, the date of his birth being November 23, 1862. He is descended from one of the old families of Pennsylvania and representatives of the name were living in the Wyoming valley at the time of the memorable Indian massacre, some of them losing their lives at the hands of the redmen. His father, William Bennett Finch, was a native of Pennsylvania, born June 19, 1819, and on the 13th of August. 1853, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Stroh, who was born in that state on the 27th of March, 1831. She was a daughter of Peter Stroh, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1805, and was drowned in the Susquehanna river on the 9th of October, 1840. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Julia Ann Nihart, was born in Monroe county, Penn- sylvania, November 14, 1805, and passed away in October, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Stroh were the parents of seven children: Amos, who was born September 6, 1827; Henry, born January 10, 1829; Elizabeth, born March 27, 1831; John. whose birth occurred in April, 1833; Mary, born October 21, 1835; Sarah, July 21, 1837 ; and Lydia, April 3, 1840. All were born and reared in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where the parents had settled in pioneer times.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. William B. Finch began . their domestic life in the Keystone state but afterward heard and heeded the call of the west, believing that they would find better opportunities in this new and growing country. They made the overland trip from Pennsylvania and took up their abode in Independence, while subsequently they removed to Lester township, this county, becoming active factors in the pioneer development and improvement of this section of the state. The father devoted his energies to general agricultural
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pursuits and was thus engaged to the time of his death, which occurred in Lester township, October 4, 1880, when he was sixty-one years of age. His wife long survived him and died on the old home farm in Lester township, January 15, 1907, when in the seventy-sixth year of her age. They reared a large family, as follows : George, who was born at Quasqueton, Iowa, April 6, 1855, and passed away September 30, 1857; Henry, who was born August 1, 1856, and died in Wisconsin, May 15, 1908; William, who was born July 11, 1858, and died at Hayes City, Kansas, April 13, 1878; Mrs. Julia Higbee, who was born August 7, 1859, and is now living in Montana; Amos, who was born March 6, 1861, and is now a resident of Wisconsin; Ira, of this review; Levi, who was born July 20, 1865, and is now residing in Fairbank ; Frank, who was born June 30, 1866, and is operating the mill at Fairbank; and Ellen Jane, who was born August 1, 1873, and died August 20, 1880. With the exception of the eldest child all were born and reared in Lester township.
Through the period of his youth Ira Finch aided in the work of the home farm and pursued a public-school education. He also attended the Iowa State Teachers' College for one year and for a year taught school, after which he returned to the farm. He has since followed the occupation of farming, having no desire to change his vocation, and today he is the owner of two hundred and seventy acres of choice land on section 12, Lester township, one hundred and thirty acres on sections 13 and 24, and ninety-three acres on sections 16 and 17, Fairbank town- ship, Buchanan county. The tract of two hundred and seventy acres and that of ninety-three acres are both well improved, the fields having been brought to a high state of cultivation. The home is commodious, is well furnished and attractive, and in the management of his business interests Mr. Finch has so conducted his affairs as to win a substantial competence.
At Littleton, Iowa, on the 18th of February, 1889, Mr. Finch was united in marriage to Miss Ruhama Elliott, who was born March 7, 1865, in Lester town- ship, on the farm where she now lives. Her parents, Andrew and Hannah (Wil- son) Elliott, were among the pioneer settlers of the county. Both were natives of Ohio, the former born February II, 1828, and the latter April 14, 1826. They were married in Quasqueton, Iowa, December 14, 1854, and removed from that place to Lester township the following year. Mrs. Elliott was a daughter of Samuel Wilson, who was born February 8, 1797, and died in Buchanan county on the 27th of February, 1870. In 1817 he married Dorcas Miller, who has also passed away. Their daughter Hannah became the wife of Andrew Elliott and for many years they resided in Lester township, enjoying the high regard, good-will and confidence of those with whom business or social relations brought them in contact. They became the parents of five children : Mrs. Jane Addeman, who was born April 3, 1857, and is now residing in Fairbank township; Mary Ann, who was born February 23, 1859, and is now deceased; Charles Wilson, who was born June 3, 1860, and is living in Fairbank ; Elizabeth R., who was born June 13, 1863, and has passed away and Mrs. Finch, who is the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott continued residents of Lester township until called to their final rest, the father departing this life on the 15th of July, 1895.
To Mr. and Mrs. Finch four children have been born. The eldest, Wilber Wilson, born March 4, 1890, attended the district schools, was graduated from the high school at Fairbank and spent one year at the Oelwein Business College
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and is now residing in Fairbank township. Charles E., born April 7, 1893, attended the common schools, was graduated from the Fairbank high school and also spent one year in the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls and one year in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. He is now assisting his father in the operation of the home farm. Lester, born December 5, 1896, is attending the high school at Fairbank and Elizabeth, born June 8, 1901, is also a student in Fairbank.
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