History of Boone County, Iowa, Volume II, Part 34

Author: Goldthwait, Nathan Edward, 1827- , ed
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer publishing company
Number of Pages: 712


USA > Iowa > Boone County > History of Boone County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 34


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has become an active factor in financial circles. He was one of the organizers of the Security Savings Bank, of which he remains a director, and he was one of the organizers of the City Trust & Savings Bank, of which he is also a director. He owns large real-estate interests, including both farm land and city prop- erty, and in all of his business affairs he displays sound judgment, unfaltering energy and marked persistency of purpose. His life has ever been one of usefulness and well directed activity. In company with his father and others, constituting a party of six, he went to Wurtemberg, Germany, and other parts of Europe. This proved a most delightful experience in his life.


On the 24th of June, 1896, John L. Goeppinger was united in marriage to Miss Ella Groetzinger, a daughter of Julius and Elizabeth (Shauwecker) Groetz- inger, the wedding being celebrated at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. Her father was a native of Reutlingen, Germany, born February 6, 1831, and is still living. Her mother, born July 31, 1837, at Columbiana, Ohio, died March 29, 1890, at the age of about fifty-three. John L. Goeppinger's marriage has been blessed with the birth of five children: Julius Louis, born May 9, 1898; Alfred Henry, born December 25, 1899; Katharine Louise, born January 2, 1902; Helen Eliza- beth, born March 8, 1908; and Walter William, born September 1I, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Goeppinger are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. They take a very active and prominent part in the church work. Mr. Goeppinger gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has found little time to fill public office and, in fact, has always preferred to leave that duty to others. In matters of citizenship, however, he is never remiss and has cooperated largely in many measures relating to the public good. He has served as one of the trus- tees of the Public Library, for ten years has been a member of the school board and for two terms was its president. Few men have done as much to advance the interests of education in Boone. His life has, indeed, been fruitful of good along many lines and all who know him entertain for him the highest regard by reason of what he has accomplished and the honorable methods which he has pursued in every relation of life.


GEORGE DANIEL THROCKMORTON.


George Daniel Throckmorton, owning and operating a good farm of eighty acres on section 19, Jackson township, was born on the 22d of May, 1862, in the town of Waynesburg. Greene county, Pennsylvania, which county was the home of the family for many years. There his father, Daniel Throckmorton, was born in 1817 and on reaching manhood engaged in farming in that county until 1869, when he brought his family to Iowa, locating upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Douglas township, Boone county. He was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for he passed away in 1872. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a democrat in poli- tics. While a resident of the Keystone state he held several county offices. In early life he married Nancy Ely, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, who is still living at the advanced age of ninety-four years and now makes her home in Luther. They had seven children, namely: Jonas E., who married


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Emeline Sellers and who is a resident of Sumner county, Kansas; Joseph, who married Lizzie Myers and died in Boone county; Caroline, the wife of Oliver Patterson of Colfax township, this county; James, who died in infancy; Lizzie, who first married Hartford Moss and after his death wedded John Elliott and lives in Luther ; Charles H., who married Lois Worbas and makes his home in Guthrie; and George Daniel, whose name introduces this sketch.


George Daniel Throckmorton was only about six years of age when the family . removed to Boone county, and in Douglas township he grew to manhood. He attended the public schools near his home, but at the age of seventeen laid aside his text-books in order to give his entire attention to the cultivation of the home farm, as his father had died when he was only ten years old. He was married January 11, 1887, to Miss Viola May Roderick, by whom he has two children : Eva M., now the wife of George L. Adix, of Jackson township; and Forest Cecil, who was born September 20, 1893, and is at home. For two years after his marriage Mr. Throckmorton resided upon the old family homestead, but at the end of that time removed to his present place on section 19, Jackson township, where he is successfully operating eighty acres. The republican party finds in Mr. Throckmorton a stanch supporter of its principles, and his wife is a member of the Christian church.


JOHN A. BURNSIDE.


The late John A. Burnside, father of Arthur M. Burnside of Boone, was for a number of years a resident of this state, although he spent his youth and earlier life in Ohio and also closed his career in that state. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in December, 1845, and was a son of Christopher and Ann J. (Miller) Burnside, both of Scotch extraction, although they were natives of the north of Ireland, whence they came as young people to America. Their mar- riage took place in Zanesville, Ohio. Christopher Burnside followed agricultural pursuits and both parents resided there until their demise.


John A. Burnside was the eldest of three sons and one daughter, all of whom are deceased. He was reared and educated in Muskingum county and after marrying there went, in 1869. to Ames, Iowa. Two years later he removed to Mills county, which was his home for four years. He then returned to Ohio, which state remained his residence until he passed away on September 14, 1883, near Adamsville, Muskingum county. In 1885 Mrs. Burnside returned to Iowa, locating on a farm near Ogden, which was her home until 1898. When her son, A. M. Burnside, was elected auditor of Boone county she removed to Boone and has since made her home with him.


In March, 1869, John A. Burnside married Miss Margaret P. Smyth, who was born near Zanesville, Ohio, a daughter of George and Mary (Lee) Smyth, the former of Scotch-Irish extraction, born in the north of Ireland. Mrs. Smyth was of the same stock, but a native of Pennsylvania. Both parents died in Ohio. In their family were eleven children, of whom two daughters besides Mrs. Burn- side are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Burnside were the parents of one son and three daughters: Arthur M .. who is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Mrs. J.


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J. McGregor, of South Dakota, who has two children, John Lowell and Margaret M. : Mrs. E. E. Beatty, who resides near Grand Junction, Iowa, and has one son, Homer Burnside; and Mrs. Webb Patterson, of West Boone, who is the mother of one daughter, Mary Priscilla.


John A. Burnside always gave his allegiance to the republican party. He served as a member of the Home Guards and held various offices in the localities in which he resided. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, and he always attended its services. Mrs. Burnside is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church of Boone and interested in its work. She belongs to the Hawthorne Club and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She is one of the best beloved women of Boone, in the moral, intellectual and religious progress of which city she has taken a helpful interest.


SAMUEL S. POWERS.


Agricultural interests find a worthy representative in Samuel S. Powers, who owns three valuable farms, one comprising one hundred and sixty-four acres on section 18, Beaver township, while the second of one hundred and sixty acres is a part of the old home place on section 28, Amaqua township. His third prop- erty, upon which he now resides, is an excellent farm of two hundred and eighty acres, lying on sections 28 and 33, Amaqua township. This is one of the best improved places of the county and forms a most attractive feature in the land- scape. Mr. Powers well deserves the reputation which he has earned of being a leading farmer of this section of the state. He was born June 11, 1855, in Illi- nois, his parents being William and Susan (Cline) Powers, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Washington county, Maryland. The father was reared in Maryland and there learned the miller's trade, which he followed through the period of his boyhood and early manhood. In 1854 he went to Illinois and purchased land in Carroll county, that state, and also in Ogle county. He improved his property and resided thereon until 1875, when he came to Boone county and made investment in five hnudred and sixty acres in Amaqua township. This he also developed, bringing his fields to a high state of cultivation, and he continued to operate his land for a long period. Finally, however, content with the success that he had already achieved, he retired from active life and removed to Beaver, where he resided until the death of his wife in 1900. He afterward made his home among his children until his own demise, which occurred in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Powers were people of the highest respectability and enjoyed the warm regard and enduring friendship of many with whom they came in contact.


Samuel S. Powers was reared and educated in Illinois and remained with his parents upon the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-six years. His boyhood was devoted to the acquirement of a public-school education and to the work of the fields, for at an early age he began assisting his father in farm work. His training was of a practical kind, that brought him the experience that has constituted the broad and substantial foundation upon which he has built his later success. Leaving home at the age of twenty-six years, he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land on sections 28 and 33, Amaqua township,


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and began the further development of the farm which is now his home. The result of his labors is seen in the excellent appearance of the place, for he has today one of the finest improved farms in the county. Laudable ambition has ever actuated him in his business career, and from time to time he has added to his holdings, which now include one hundred and sixty-four acres on section 18, Beaver township, and a quarter section in Amaqua township, which is a part of the old homestead. He raises full-blooded Chester White hogs and red polled Durham cattle, and his live stock interests are an important and profitable branch of his business.


In January, 1882, Mr. Powers was united in marriage to Miss Susan K. Gil- bert, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Hardnock) Gilbert, who were natives of Washington county, Maryland. The father went to Ogle county, Illinois, at an early day and there engaged in farming, securing land which he cultivated throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away March 25, 1905, and his wife died on the 24th of December, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Powers had a family of six children : Albert L., who died on the 7th of December. 1884; Samuel A., who is operating his father's farm in Beaver township; Elmer G., who is culti- vating one of his father's farms in Amaqua township; and Walter W., Lizzie and Daniel I., all at home. In his political views Mr. Powers is an earnest republican. He has never sought nor desired office, however, but has preferred to concentrate his energies upon business affairs. He has acted as school director in his township, and the cause of education and of religion find in him a stalwart champion. He belongs to the Brethren church, of which he is treasurer, and lie is president of the Cemetery Association. He is regarded as a public-spirited citizen, and his influence is always on the side of progress, reform and improve- ment.


AMAZIAH M. SHAEFFER.


Among the veterans of the Civil war residing in Boone county is Amaziah M. Shaeffer, who is also numbered among the early settlers of this section of the state. He has been active along many lines of life which have contributed to the public welfare as well as to individual success. For many years he held political office, and he has been equally active in church work so that his labors have been far-reaching and beneficial. He has been a resident of Iowa since 1855, at which time he settled in Boonesboro, and he was born in White county, In- diana, near Delphi, January 26, 1843. His paternal grandfather, Jolin Shaeffer, was a native of Germany, it is believed. However, in early life he lived in Penn- sylvania and thence removed to Ohio. He served as a soldier in the Mexican war and died in White county, Indiana. His son, Peter Shaeffer, was born in Pennsylvania and when quite young was taken by his parents to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he lived to the age of eighteen years, and then removed to White county, Indiana. He wedded Nancy Merriman and in 1855 they left the Hoosier state for Iowa, settling in Boone county, where the father died at the age of fifty-seven years. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in this


مكواة


MR. AND MRS. AMAZIAH M. SHAEFFER


سعد


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county at the age of thirty-three years. He married again, his second wife being Martha Price, who passed away in West, Iowa. Seven children were born to Peter Shaeffer, as follows: John R., who enlisted for service in the Civil war with the Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and was killed at the battle of Champion's Hill; Tillmann H., a resident of Hotchkiss, Colorado; Amaziah M .; Jasper, living in Oklahoma; Newton, whose home is in Marshalltown, Iowa ; Wil- liam, deceased ; and George W., who makes his home in Fraser, this county.


Amaziah M. Shaeffer was reared to the age of twelve years in the place of his nativity and then became a resident of Iowa. He is indebted to the public- school systems of Indiana and of this state for the educational privileges he enjoyed. On the 28thi of February, 1862, he enlisted in Boonesboro as a Union soldier, becoming a private of Company K, Sixteenth lowa Volunteer Infantry, for three years, or during the war. On the 18th of March, 1864, he veteranized and was honorably discharged at Goldsboro, North Carolina, on the 28th of March, 1865. His first captain, Michael Zetter, was killed at Shiloh. His next captain was Jesse Lucas, Alexander Weingardner being first lieutenant, while Colonel Alexander Chambers commanded the regiment. Mr. Shaeffer partici- pated in many of the most important battles of the war, including the engagement at Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, the battle of luka, the siege of Vicksburg, the Meridian raid, the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Nicajack Creek, Chattahooche river, Atlanta, and the celebrated march to the sea under Sherman. Later he was on detached duty for a time in a hospital at Atlanta and afterward participated in the battles of Savannah, Pocataligo, Cambechee river, Orangeburg, North Edisto river, Fayetteville and Bentonville. He then proceeded to Goldsboro with his command and was there honorably discharged.


Following his return home Mr. Shaeffer recuperated and then took up active farm work, purchasing eighty acres of land in Hamilton county, Iowa, where he lived for two years. He then came to Boone county, settling in Dodge town- ship, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres. There he carried on farming for sixteen years, after which he sold that property and invested in one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he lived for seven years. Later he disposed of that farm and bought eighty acres a mile east of Boone, which he improved. In 1906 he once more sold out and, retiring from active farm life, took up his residence in Boone, where he now makes his home. He has greatly improved all of these different properties and has thus added to the agricultural progress of the county. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Potter county, South Dakota. His life has been a busy, useful and active one, and his labors have brought to him a measure of success which now numbers him among the men of affluence in his section of the state.


Mr. Shaeffer was married in Boone county, December 31, 1865, to Miss Dorothy Getzman, of this county, a daughter of Barnhart and Mary Getzman. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaeffer as follows: Leora M., who died in September, 1878, when twelve years of age; Lafayette M., who passed away in July, 1878, at the age of ten; Samuel R., whose death occurred in 1898 when he was twenty years of age; Maggie L., who married George Shafer and who departed this life in 1910; Elsie who became the wife of William Phipps of Idaho; and Russell G., who married Juanita Sifford and lives at New Hartford, Iowa.


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Mr. Shaeffer belongs to C. W. Crooks Post, No. 329, G. A. R., of which he is the present commander, and through his association therewith he keeps in close touch with many of his old army comrades. He is also a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. High and honorable principles have guided him in all life's relations, molding his character and making him a man worthy the high regard and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. While living in Dodge township he held office almost continuously, serving as road supervisor, as constable, justice of the peace and school director, and in all these positions he discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He has also been town- ship trustee and as such managed well the interests committed to his care. He has been equally active in the church, serving as steward and as chairman of the building committee during the erection of the Bethel church, to which he was a generous contributor. He possesses an even disposition and kindly spirit and has been very popular among his fellow townsmen. He was considered one of the best farmers and stock-raisers in this section of the state and did much to promote agricultural activity and to raise the standards of farming. His life has indeed been one of far-reaching influence and benefit and has won for him a good name, which is rather to be chosen than great riches. Nevertheless he has gained a substantial measure of this world's goods, and his record proves that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.


LLEWELLYN V. HARPEL.


Llewellyn V. Harpel is one of the most successful lawyers of Boone, being a member of the firm of Harpel & Cederquist, who do a very legal business. Mr. Harpel was born near East Liberty, Logan county. Ohio, and is a son of George and Minerva ( Vernon) Harpel, the latter a lineal descendant of a Mr. Vernon who was one of the eleven Friends who came over to this country with William Penn. The paternal grandfather, George C. Harpel. was born in northern Germany and was brought by his parents to America when but one year old, the family locating in Pennsylvania. They later removed to Carroll county. Ohio, where the late George Harpel, father of our subject, was born. The latter served three years and eight months in the Civil war in an Ohio regi- ment. He married in 1866, locating first in Logan county, Ohio, and in 1870 removed to Polk county, Iowa, where he operated a farm until about four years before his death in 1908, having removed to Boone in 1904. He was loyal to the democratic party and was quite influential in its local councils in Polk county.


Llewellyn V. Harpel spent his early boyhood on a farm in Polk county. near Sheldahl. He subsequently pursued a scientific course at the Iowa State Col- lege, graduating as a Bachelor of Science in 1887. He studied law at Drake University of Des Moines and in 1890 was admitted to the bar. He at first entered the law offices of Kauffman & Guernsey, attorneys in Des Moines, and did office work for them as clerk and stenographer until January 1, 1891. gaining valuable experience while so engaged. He then entered the office of John Shortley of Perry, Iowa, working on a salary basis for eighteen months, and formed at the end of that period a partnership with Mr. Shortley, under the firm


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name of Shortley & Harpel. On June 1, 1903, Mr. Harpel moved to Boone, succeeding Charles Whitaker in the firm of Whitaker & Cederquist. Later M. C. Creighton of Madrid was taken into the firm, the latter having charge of the branch office at that city. Upon his decease Mr. Cederquist took charge of the Madrid office, the firm now being Harpel & Cederquist. Mr. Harpel has all the qualities of which a lawyer may be proud. He has a clear, logical mind and an excellent memory, using both to advantage in presenting his arguments be- fore court and jury. He has handled a number of important cases and has concluded most of them to the satisfaction of his clients. He moreover enjoys a high reputation as a counselor and is frequently called in consultation in regard to difficult legal problems.


On July 20, 1892, Llewellyn V. Harpel married Miss Kate Stevens, extended mention of whom follows. They have one son, Gates Harpel, who is a senior in the Iowa State College. Mr. Harpel of this review is a Master Mason and was the first master of the lodge at Boone to serve in the Champlain Memorial Masonic Temple. He is a Chapter Mason and a Knight Templar and also is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World. being very popular in all of these organizations. For about twelve years he was a democrat and within that period served as city solicitor of Perry. He then gave his allegiance to republicanism for about ten years and is now affiliated with the progressive party, being thoroughly in accord with the aims of that organization. He is a valuable, useful citizen who participates in all the move- ments which are undertaken in order to advance the interests of Boone city and Boone county.


KATE STEVENS HARPEL, M. D.


Mrs. Kate Stevens Harpel, the wife of Llewellyn V. Harpel, who is mentioned in the preceding sketch, is successfully engaged in medical practice in Boone. She was born near Springfield, in McHenry county, Illinois, on October 22, 1867, and is a daughter of Asher M. and Johanna (Chesley) Stevens. Her paternal grandmother, who in her maidenhood was Miss Julia Kellogg, was a granddaughter of an officer of the American Revolution and a member of the Kellogg family whose history in both this country and Great Britain has been so well written.


Mrs. Harpel of this review was but six months of age when her family removed to Cerro Gordo county, lowa, later settling on a farm in Owen township, which is still owned by members of the family. Her mother died in 1878, leaving seven children, the youngest of whom was three years old. Kate, with an older sister, did the housework for the family, attending at the same time the district school. At the age of fifteen she went to Mason City for the purpose of attending high school, by permission of her family, but without means or assistance except that she had a place where she could work for her board and expenses. Despite this outside work she covered a double course in two years, graduating within that period from a four years' course and at the head of her class. She was immediately offered a position in the Mason City public schools and taught fifth


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grade pupils until 1887, when she entered the Iowa State College, having saved the means to defray one year's expenses from her teaching. The other three years of her college course were cared for by what she was able to earn while teaching during the winters and by service as assistant college librarian. In 1890 she received the degree of Bachelor of Letters, ranking second in a class of forty- four. The college commencement being held in November, she taught the balance of the school year in the Marshalltown public schools and the next year acted as principal of the Webster City high school.


In July, 1892, Miss Stevens was united in marriage to Llewellyn V. Harpel, an attorney at law, and they lived in Perry for eleven years, then removing to Boone, their present home. Her only son, Gates, was born in 1893. During her residence in Perry she filled for six months a vacancy as high-school teacher and served for three years by popular election on the board of education, assisting in organizing the Wednesday Study Club, which is still in existence. Having received a doctor's degree from the medical department of Drake University, where she was matriculated, she began the regular practice of medicine in 1903 and has ever since been very successful as a physician. She is careful in diagnosis and has made few mistakes, if any. Many are those who have come to her and who have found relief by reason of her treatments. To her professional and home duties she has also added church work in the Universalist church and Sunday school and club work, being an organizer of the Outlook Club and serving for two years as its president. She is moreover active in the Political Equality Club, the Civic League and the Iowa Women's Medical Association and is a past com- mander of the Ladies of the Maccabees and a past worthy matron of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Harpel has been of utmost value to her community, being a leader in all movements which are undertaken for the betterment of mankind. She is a noble representative of American womanhood, and although she is active in so many public and semi-public capacities, she has not lost a particle of that sweet womanhood of which we all are so proud.




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