USA > Iowa > Boone County > History of Boone County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 19
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When Henry and Andrew Schroeder reached the new world their combined cash capital consisted of but eleven cents. It had taken them seven weeks and five days to cross the ocean, so slow was the sailing vessel on which they were passengers. Their financial condition rendered immediate employment a neces- sity and they hired out to a dairy farmer of New Jersey, working for ten dollars per month. On leaving the east Henry Schroeder made his way to Wheat- land, lowa, covering the distance on foot from Davenport, thirty miles away. An uncle. Andrew Lentz, lived in Wheatland, where he was proprietor of a brick and tile works. Mr. Schroeder joined his uncle and afterward telegraphed for his brother in New York, who finally arrived upon the scene. Mr. Schroeder was somewhat handicapped after coming to this state, for his health gave way and he was ill for five weeks. As soon as possible, however, he began work as a farm hand. It was in the following spring that the father arrived and a year later sent for the others of the family. In the fall of 1869 Henry Schroeder came to Boone county, where he located upon a farm, where he lived until
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1871. He rented eighty acres of land for a year, his brother Adolph and his wife taking up their abode with him, the lady managing the affairs of the house- hold.
On the 14th of August, 1871, Mr. Schroeder was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Brugerman, who was a native of Germany and came to the United States in 1869. In the year of his marriage Mr. Schroeder left the farm and removed to Boone, where he spent one year in the brewery of J. E. Herman. He then embarked in the butchering business on his own account and after- ward added a stock of groceries. He now has one of the leading establish- ments in this city, conducting a large and growing trade. Many of his patrons have been with him through all the intervening years, a fact which indicates his honorable business dealing and his enterprising methods.
To Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder have been born six children: Andrew, who is now engaged in business with his father ; Henry, who is conducting a wholesale liquor house in Boone; Laura, the wife of J. P. Dougherty, of Colorado; Mary, at home ; John, who died in September, 1901 ; and Katrina, at home. The family is well known in Boone, where they have an extensive circle of warm friends. Their religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church and aside from his membership therein Mr. Schroeder is also connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is a democrat and has served on the city council. He stands for all that tends to promote the progress and upbuilding of the city and has given active support and financial aid to many movements that have greatly furthered the interests of Boone. He is today one of the older merchants of Boone and is justly accounted one of the self-made men. His life history proves that enterprise and determination are a sure foundation upon which to build prosperity, for those are the qualities. which he has employed in advancing toward his present enviable position as a business man.
C. H. LAST.
C. H. Last, who was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Boone , county for a number of years, has lived retired in Beaver since the spring of 1913. His birth occurred in England on the 16th of August, 1872, his parents. . being Richard J. and Rebecca (Garnham) Last, who were likewise natives of that country. The father, who followed farming in England throughout his entire business career, passed away in that country in 1884. The demise of the mother occurred in the year 1913.
C. H. Last was reared and educated in his native land and when twelve years of age left the parental roof to live with an unele. He worked in a store in England for one year. In 1890, when a young man of seventeen, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating in Champaign county, Illinois, where for two years he was employed as farm hand. On the expiration of that period he came to Boone county, Iowa, and here continued as a farm hand for one. year. He then rented a tract of land in Amaqua township and cultivated the same for eight years, at the end of which time he purchased one hundred and;
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sixty acres in the same township and began the improvement of the property. The operation of that traet claimed his attention for a number of years, and he annually gathered rich harvests which found a ready sale on the market. In the spring of 1913, having accumulated a comfortable competence, he put aside the active work of the fields, disposed of his farm and took up his abode in Beaver, where he purchased an attractive residence and has since lived in hon- orable retirement.
In November, 1895, Mr. Last was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Bakely, a daughter of Paul and Catherine (Agnew) Bakely, both of whom were natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States and located in Ohio, where Mr. Bakely was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1872. In that year he came to this county and purchased and improved a tract of land which he cul- tivated until his death in November, 1901. His widow has attained the age of eighty-one years and resides in Beaver, this county. Mr. Last is a republi- can in politics and a Methodist in religious faith. Both he and his wife enjoy an extensive and favorable acquaintance in the community and well merit the regard and esteem which are uniformly accorded them.
THOMAS SPARKS.
Thomas Sparks was one of Boone county's pioneers, settling permanently in Boonesboro in 1852. From that year until his death he continuously resided in this neighborhood. passing away in August. 1909, in his ninety-fourth year. He had taken up his residence in the city of Boone several years before his death, his widow now making her home at No. 116 Benton street.
Mr. Sparks was born in Pennsylvania, near Brownsville, December 23, 1815, and as a boy of ten years removed with his parents to Tuscarawas county, where his father was engaged in the cultivation of a farm. When about twenty years of age Mr. Sparks of this review returned to his mother's people in Pennsylvania, where he completed his education and also taught school. Later he took up the same profession in Iowa, in Pottawattamie county. He made his first trip to Boone county in 1847 or 1848 and entered eighty acres of land but did not remain at that time. In 1852 he married in Pennsylvania and subsequently located six miles south of Boone in Worth township, this farm remaining his home until the fall of 1903. The original homestead comprised eighty acres, and he also owned one hundred and twenty acres of timber, and later bought another eighty acres, his total holdings consisting of two hundred and eighty acres. When Mr. Sparks arrived here his land was raw prairie, but he set himself to its cultivation and as the years passed developed one of the most valuable farms in his neighborhood. He had given considerable attention to surveying and was elected the first county surveyor of Boone county, laying out Boonesboro. From 1903 until his death he resided at No. 621 Tenth street, Boone, and there passed away.
On March 15, 1852, Thomas Sparks married, in Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, Miss Esther Ann Dunn, a native of that state, who was born November (), 1828. She accompanied her husband on the trip to Iowa, the journey being
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THOMAS SPARKS
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made by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and by ox teams from Keokuk. Their first home in Worth township was a log cabin, and later Mr. Sparks there built one of the first frame houses, the entire building being constructed of native walnut. In their family were the following children. L. D., of Boone; F. C., a widower and also a resident of this city, his daughter Gladys making her home at Ames; Asenath D., who is the widow of Lewis Fisher, Jr., and has two children; John C., an engineer of the Northwestern Railroad for years and a resident of Boone, who has one son; Mrs. Nettie J. Hitsman, who lives near Luther. Boone county, and has two children; Robert, a railroad employe who makes his headquarters in Kansas City; Playford, of Boone, who has been twice married and has two children by his first union; Frank, who died as a soldier in Manila during the Spanish-American war and left a widow and a child, the former now also deceased; Eugene V., who was a ranchman of Colorado, where he passed away, leaving a widow ; and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Sparks was a stanch whig but later voted the democratic and subse- quently the republican ticket. He lived to the ripe old age of ninety-three years and in him the city of Boone mourned one of the veteran pioneers of this district.
His widow sold one of the farms after his death and bought a home at No. 116 Benton street, where she now resides. There her son, F. C. Sparks, also lives. He was born February 11, 1854, and married Miss Anna Likely, who died in 1900, leaving one daughter. Mrs. F. C. Sparks' parents were among the early settlers near Fort Madison, Iowa. Mrs. Thomas Sparks and her son are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the former having been con- nected with that organization since she was fifteen years of age. She first attended services at the Brown schoolhouse and later at the Boone schoolhouse near their home. She also was a member of a class at the Gildey school, then attending services at the College Chapel church and later at the Methodist Episcopal church at Luther but now is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Boone. She is now nearing her eighty-sixth birthday, yet she is energetic and agile and still participates in many of the activities of life.
LEWIS BOONE.
Lewis Boone, a representative of the family in whose honor the county of Boone was named, was born in Worth township, this county, on the 11th of October, 1861. His parents, Tyler and Mary (Nutt) Boone, were both natives of. Putnam county, Indiana, and took up their abode among the earliest settlers of Boone county, Iowa. The family came overland to this county from Indiana, its representatives settling in Worth township and also in Des Moines town- ship. Tyler Boone, the father of our subject, still resides in Worth township, but the mother there passed away in 1903. Their children are five in number, as follows : Lewis, of this review: Philip, who is a resident of Athberton, Montana ; Mrs. Julia Luther, living in Sioux City, Iowa ; Mrs. Eva Burlingame, who makes her home in Madrid, Iowa ; Mrs. Minnie Hull, of Worth township. All were born and reared in Worth township, this county.
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Lewis Boone grew to manhood in his native county and attended the com- mon schools in the acquirement of an education. He was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits until 1902, when he came to Madrid and for the past twelve years has there been employed as a laborer.
In Worth township Mr. Boone was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth Dyer, a native of Coles county, Illinois, and a daughter of Joseph and Nancy Dyer, who took up their abode among the earliest settlers of Boone county, Iowa, locating in Worth township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They had twelve children, five of whom survive, namely: Mrs. Anna Hurley, of Greene county, Iowa ; Mrs. Elizabeth Boone; Mrs. Vina Huffman, a resident of Worth township: Lawrence, living in Colfax township; and Matthew, of Worth township. All were reared in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Boone have two sons: William, who was born June 17, 1885, and resides with his parents in Madrid; and Roe, born December 14, 1890, who is a resident of Dubuque county, Iowa. Both were born, reared and educated in Worth township.
Mr. Boone gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has ably served as a member of the school board in Worth township. He is identified fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America at Madrid, and both he and his wife are devoted members of the Christian church of Worth township. Mr. Boone has spent his entire life within the borders of this county and enjoys an extensive acquaintance here. His family is directly descended from Daniel Boone and was represented among the pioneer settlers of both Indiana and Iowa.
HORACE C. PAYNE. -
Horace C. Payne is a partner in a large and profitable livery business of Boone, conducted under the name of Payne Brothers. He was born in this city in July, 1876, a son of Samuel Payne, of whom mention is made on another page of this work. The public schools afforded him his early educational priv- ileges, and he afterward attended a business college. He then embarked in merchandising and subsequently learned the jeweler's trade, which he followed for six years. Then, on account of ill health, he turned his attention to the buying and selling of horses, handling only those of high grade. A mare which he sold for two hundred and fifty dollars was three years later sold to the Vanderbilts, together with three others as a four-in-hand team, for fifty thon- sand dollars. In 1903 Horace C. Payne purchased a third interest in a livery business in connection with his father and brother. He is now in line for the position of government buyer of horses and mules for the army. The livery stable conducted by Payne Brothers is a large and well equipped one and they own a number of excellent horses and a fine line of carriages. They make it their purpose to please their patrons, and their business has now reached large and gratifying proportions.
On the 22d of April, 1901, Mr. Payne was united in marriage to Miss Rose M. Parkin, a native of Indiana, and unto them have been born two children: William P., born April 5, 1902; and Josephine, born in November, 1908. Mr.
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Payne votes with the democratic party and keeps well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day, but does not seek nor desire office. Fraternally he is an Elk, and he also belongs to the Yeomen, while his religious belief is that of the Episcopal church. He has many friends in this city, where his entire life has been passed and where the genuine worth of his character has won recognition in the loyal regard of many with whom he has been brought in contact.
OSCAR WILLIAM WESTERSTROM.
Oscar William Westerstrom is a successful stone, brick and cement contractor of Madrid. He is a native of Boone county, his birth having occurred in Elk Rapids, May 21, 1876. His parents were Gustav William and Johanna Sophia (Sell) Westerstrom, the former born in Sweden, July 5. 1839, and the latter in the same country June 22, 1849. The father is living in Madrid, but his wife passed away in that city on March 30, 1896. Their marriage took place in Rock- ford, Illinois, in 1869 and six children were born to them : Anna Olivia, who was born February 12, 1870, and died in Madrid, January 6, 1891 ; Mrs. Emma Sophia Hultman, born March 18, 1872, of Madrid; Mrs. Nellie Ottilia Alsin, born April 5, 1874, the wife of Carl A. Alsin ; Oscar William, of this review ; Henry Martin, born August 26, 1879, who died in 1880; and Henry Elmer, born on May 8, 1882, residing in Madrid. The three eldest children were born in Rockford, Illinois, and the younger ones in Boone county, where all were reared and educated.
Oscar William Westerstrom attended the public schools of Madrid. His father was a mason, and he applied himself to the same trade, learning the busi- ness under the direction of the father. Mr. Westerstrom is at present a most successful stone, brick and cement contractor of Madrid, his services being in great demand. He is an able business man and highly efficient in his line of work. He enjoys the confidence of all who have business transactions with him because of his fair and honest methods.
On August 23, 1899, Mr. Westerstrom married Miss Ethel Westerberg, who was born in Garden township, Boone county, March 1, 1878. She is a daughter of A. P. and Emma Lundahl Anderson Westerberg, who were natives of Sweden, the former born in Westergotland on the 17th of July, 1840. When sixteen years old he was confirmed in the Lutheran church, and when a young man of twenty- six he emigrated to the United States, locating in Boone, Iowa, in 1866. He first was connected with the bridge-building department of the Chicago & North- western Railway, continuing with that corporation for nine years. He then bought a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Garden township, where he successfully followed agricultural pursuits, gradually extending his farm until it embraced two hundred acres. He passed away in. Madrid on the 22d of Sep- tember, 1909, highly esteemed and respected by his fellow citizens. His wife died on the old home farm in Garden township and he subsequently married Mrs. Christina Westland, who bore him a son, Lester Roosevelt Westerberg, a resi- dent of Madrid. By his first union he had eight children: Mrs. Maude Sund- berg, who resides in Garden township; A. R. Westerberg, a prominent resident
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of Madrid; Mrs. Ethel Westerstrom; Frank, a resident of Boone; Mrs. Esther Krantz, of Madrid; Edwin, of Longmont, Colorado; Mrs. Blanche Peterson, who makes her home in Garden township; and Zylph, deceased. All these chil- dren were born and reared in Garden township.
Mr. and Mrs. Westerstrom have two children: Edna Gertrude, born August 14, 1900; and Russell William Theodore, born February 16, 1906. Both are at- tending the public schools of Madrid. Mr. and Mrs. Westerstrom are members of St. John's Lutheran church, to which they give their moral and material sup- port. They live in a handsomely furnished home in Madrid, besides which Mr. Westerstrom owns valuable personal property. Politically he is a republican, well conversant with the public issues of the day, although he has never cared to enter the political arena. He has many friends in Madrid, enjoys the highest reputation in business circles and socially is very popular.
PETER T. NELSON.
Peter T. Nelson, a resident of Boone for the past forty-five years, has been actively engaged in the lumber business here for three decades and is now at the head of the well known firm of P. T. Nelson & Sons. His birth occurred in Sweden on the 28th of March, 1845, his parents being Thorkel and Ellen (Peterson) Nelson, who were likewise natives of that country and have passed away. To them were born six children, as follows : Nelse, Andrew T. and Olai. all of whom are deceased; Peter T., of this review ; John T., a resident of Los Angeles, California ; and Hans T., living in Boone, Iowa.
Peter T. Nelson became identified with the milling business when a youth of sixteen and was thus engaged until he had attained the age of twenty-three. In 1869 he emigrated to the United States and took up his abode in Boone, Iowa, being here employed at railroad work for three years. Subsequently he spent twelve years at the tailor's trade and on the expiration of that period embarked in the lumber business, in which he has been engaged continuously and success- fully since. He purchased an interest in the Farrow Lumber Company and in 1905 bought out his associates and admitted his two sons, Emil L. and Alfred E., to a partnership. The firm has since conducted business under the style of P. T. Nelson & Sons and is a successful enterprise, its members being widely recognized as men of excellent executive ability, sound judgment and unas- sailable integrity.
On the 26th of November, 1872, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Norlin, who passed away in 1893 and who bore him six children, namely : Charles and Edward, both of whom are deceased; Emil L. and Alfred E., who are associated with their father in business; Nellie, the wife of A. F. Nelson, of Boone; and Arthur, who has passed away. On the 6th of January, 1897, Mr. Nelson was again married. his second union being with Miss Augusta Gustafson.
In his political views Mr. Nelson is independent, supporting men and measures rather than party. He has never sought nor desired the honors and emoluments of office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business interests, which have brought him well merited prosperity. He is now the only surviving or-
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ganizer of the Swedish Mission church and still resides on the same lot where he was first married more than four decades ago. Coming to the new world in early manhood, he eagerly availed himself of the opportunities here afforded and worked his way steadily upward to a foremost place among the substantial and respected citizens of Boone county.
RICHARD F. SMALLEY.
Richard F. Smalley, who has lived retired in Boone for the past seven years, was busily engaged in the pursuits of farming and stock-raising in this county throughout his active business career and still owns a quarter section of land in Jackson township. His birth occurred in Illinois on the 16th of December, 1841, his parents being Edward and Susan (Wiley) Smalley, natives of Ohio. They came to Iowa in 1854 but a short time later removed to Minnesota. In 1867, however, they returned to Boone county and the following year Mr. Smalley here purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. To him and his wife were born eight children, as follows: Sarah Ann, who is the widow of Duane Bentley and resides in Boone; Thomas J., a resident of Des Moines township, Boone county ; Richard F., of this review; Mary E., who is deceased, as is also her husband, Hosea Bullard of Winneshiek county ; Malinda, the wife of Charles W. Mix, of Sumner, Iowa; Catherine, who gave her hand in marriage to T. J. Murphy, of Norman, Oklahoma; Harriet E., who is the widow of Harvey Casteel and resides in Dodge township, this county; and William, of Jackson township, this county.
Richard F. Smalley devoted his attention to agriculture throughout his active business career, following the pursuits of farming and stock-raising with excel- lent success. In 1907 he removed to Boone, purchasing a residence at No. 2129 Story street, where he has since lived retired in well earned ease. He still owns one hundred and sixty acres of valuable and productive land in Jackson township and has long been numbered among the prosperous and representative citizens of the community.
On the 23d of March, 1868, Mr. Smalley was united in marriage to Miss Ellen E. Bentley, her parents being Thomas and Paulina (Churchill) Bentley, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. In their family were thirteen children, namely: Allison D. and Levina P., both of whom are deceased; Marcus L., a resident of Boone; Layton B., also living in Boone; Adelia M., who is the widow of H. J. Ehrhart and resides in Boone ; Edward J., of Marshalltown; Mrs. Ellen Smalley ; George W., who is deceased ; Charles A., residing in Boone; Gardner A., who makes his home in Webster City, Iowa; Elmer, residing in Fraser, Iowa; Frank, of Webster City, this state; and Mary, the wife of William Smalley, of Jackson township, Boone county.
Mr. and Mrs. Smalley have six children: Albert R., who is a resident of Jackson township, this county ; Emma L., the wife of L. O. Hutson of Jackson township ; Nellie M., who gave her hand in marriage to Arthur Carlson, of San- born county, South Dakota ; Alfred F., who is a carpenter by trade; Libbie E., the wife of James McDonald of Sanborn county, South Dakota; and Katie V., at
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home. In politics Mr. Smalley is a prohibitionist, stanchly advocating the prin- ciples set forth by this party. His religious faith is that of the Free Methodist church. Earnest effort and intelligently directed labor constituted the salient features of his business career, while his life has been governed by high prin- ciples that have gained for him the respect and good-will of his fellowmen.
ROBERT REYNOLDSON.
Robert Reynoldson has lived retired in Boone for the past eight years after a successful career as a farmer and stock-raiser in Des Moines township. He was born in Cambridgeshire, England, November 11, 1845, and is a son of Robert and Mary (West) Reynoldson, who crossed the Atlantic in 1857, locating in Canada. They came to Boone county in November, 1865, but in 1872-3 removed to Boone county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded land and where the parents resided until their deaths. He passed away in the 'Sos, aged eighty- five years, and his wife died when she was about sixty years old. They were members of the Church of England and devout adherents of that faith. Of their twelve children eleven were born in England and the youngest in Canada. All those who lived to maturity attained substantial positions in life, four sons now making their home in Nebraska. Four daughters are also living, and they quite frequently visit their oldest brother, the subject of this review.
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