USA > Iowa > Boone County > History of Boone County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 54
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY
They attended the earlier schools of the county, receiving most of their educa- tion in the Elk Rapids school.
Leonard E. Johnson followed agricultural pursuits in early life. With the exception of about three years, which he spent in the Dakotas, he has been a con- tinuous resident of Boone county. Upon his return to this state he followed vari- ous trades, being employed for ave years in an implement store in Madrid. From IGIC to 1912 he was connected with the elevator in that city and in 1912 he pur- chased the property in partnership with Carl Lundahl and is at present success- fully engaged in the elevator business. They buy and sell grain and also deal in Toma and Illinois coal and seeds. Mr. Johnson has proved himself a most able business man and has been successful because he is up-to-date in his methods and always treats his customers with the greatest fairness and liberality. He has gained the confidence of all who have had business connections with him and his name stande high in commercial and financial circles.
In 1kg, Leonard E. Johnson married Miss Amanda C. Lundahl, who was born in Douglas township, February 10. 1868. There she attended school and grew to womanhood. Both her parents, Andrew and Johanna Lundahl, passed away in Boone county. They were natives of Sweden and came to America in 1865, locating on a Douglas township farm. They were among the pioneer settlers and the family was one of the most highly esteemed in the township. The father was most successful in his agricultural work and was considered a leader in instituting modern methods and trying out new ideas in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Lundahl had six children, as follows: Mrs. Westerberg. deceased; John C., residing in Madrid; Frederick. deceased: Frank, who resides in Canada; Victor, of Garden township; and Mrs. Leonard E. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was born in Boone county but her brothers and sisters were natives of Sweden.
Mr. Johnson gives his allegiance to the republican party. He was cierk of Douglas township from April 15. 1907, until he resigned the office in January, 1914, and discharged his duties to the great satisfaction of all concerned. Both Mr. and Mirs. Johnson are members of St. John's Swedish Lutheran church of Madrid, of which the former has been deacon for many years. He is one of the substan- tial citizens of Madrid and er.joys the high esteem and respect of the community.
WILLIAM R. MATT.
William P_ Matt, a prominent real-estate dealer of Bonne, was born in Col- um bana county Ohio, on the 6th of March, 1955. a son of Francis Silas and Mary Matt. His early boyhood was passed in his native state, but when he was eight years of age his parents brought him to Wisconsin, locating near Fond du Lac. That country was then unsettled. and the father located on new land. William R. Matt attended schon until fifteen of sixteen years of age, enjoying the usual educational opportunities of the time and region. The family then moved to Boone county. arriving here in the month of March. Settlement was made on a farm in Jackson township, where the father purchased a half section. He has since added to it until he holds title to two hundred and forty acres of fertile land.
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The home farm was wild land, and our subject helped to break the ground and to care for the crops when the soil had been prepared for planting and cultivation. This region then abounded in game and our subject spent much of his spare time hunting prairie chickens, deer and wolves. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age and then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land near Story City, Iowa. His newly acquired farm was unbroken land, but he was undaunted by this and began its improvement inmedi- ately. Hle built a small shanty, which remained his home for some time. He did all of the work of the farm and also the work of the house himself, and so efficient was he that prosperity came to him. He retained ownership of the farm for eleven years, during which period his marriage occurred. Ile returned to Boone in ISSS and here engaged in butchering. He was later for a time in the implement business and subsequently conducted a livery and feed concern and coal and wood yard. Previous to this he had been appointed policeman by Mayor P. Wells, serving for a year and a half. For the past twenty-six years he has been con- nected with the city fire department, being one of the oldest volunteer members thereof in point of length of service.
Mr. Matt was married in 1882 to Miss Christine Hansen, a native of Denmark, who was brought to the United States by her parents when she was eight years of age. Six children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Matt as fol- lows: Emma, a graduate of a parochial school, formerly a teacher in Boone and Hampton, for two years principal in Hampton and now a teacher in the high school of the Sisters of Charity at Lincoln: Jennie, who was a teacher in the Boone county schools, but is now a Sister of Charity in Chicago ; Alice, a graduate of Sacred Heart school and for some time a stenographer in Boone, who married Paul Kelley, a conductor of the Northwestern Railroad : Mary, educated in a local school conducted by the sisters, and now a stenographer employed by Means Brothers of Boone: Katharine, for a number of years a teacher in Boone county ; and William, at school. Mr. Matt is a member of the Sacred Heart church and belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He is a democrat, stanchly upholding the principles of that party and invariably giving it his support at the polls. Hle has proven himself thoroughly reliable, whether in the city's service as a part of her defense against the ravages of fire, or in the capacity of a man of business, or as a private citizen, and as his fitting reward he enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him.
FRANCIS SILAS MATT.
The late Francis Silas Matt is still well remembered by the old-time residents of Boone, in which city he passed away in 1888 and of which he became a resident in 1868. He was born in Baden, Germany, in 1804 and early learned the shoe- maker's trade, which he followed in the army for sixteen years, being a company shoemaker. He was married in Germany in 1845 and in 1846 set sail for the United States in order to profit by the opportunities which he expected to find in this country. lle was not disappointed. Ile landed in New York, the sailing vessel on which he had made the trip being forty days in crossing the ocean,
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having encountered a heavy storm, The family located at first in Buffalo, New York, and there he followed his trade for two years, then went to Hanover town- ship, Columbiana county, where he conducted a shop and made shoes for the farming people and also for the men who worked on the canal. In 1864 Mr. Matt continued on his westward course, going to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he joined the father of his wife. On March 12, 1868, he came to Boone and bought a farm comprising half a section of land, and there he lived until 1888. He was a devout member of the Catholic church and was eighty-four years of age at the time of his death.
His wife, who was also born in Germany and whose birthday was April 15. 1824, was a daughter of Robert Denz, a German hotel keeper in the fatherland, who emigrated to America, his wife and family following him after he had been in this country one year, arriving here in 1846. He was a squire and road inspector while in the fatherland besides having been successfully engaged in hotel work. Both he and his wife died in Wisconsin. Mrs. Matt in the acquirement of her education attended a French school, as did her brothers and sisters. In her par- ents' family were the following children: Sylvester, who died in Alton, Illinois ; Mrs. Mary Matt ; Adolph, who was a prominent resident of Alton, Illinois ; Bertha, who died in Cherokee, Iowa ; Lizzie, deceased, of Fond du Lac; and Robert, who still resides on the home farm in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Matt had the follow- ing children : Fred Arnold, a soldier of the Civil war, who died in Boone, leaving a widow who now resides in that city; George, of Knox county, Nebraska, who is married : Joseph, of Sacramento, California ; Frank of Chicago, Illinois ; William R., who married Christine Hansen and who is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Charles, deceased; James, at home; and Mary, who is Mrs. John Hughberger, residing in California.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Matt were respected and esteemed residents of Boone, the former participating in many of the movements which were inaugurated in order to advance the interests of the city. Although he passed away twenty-five years ago, his memory still lingers with those who knew him and who knew of him nothing but good. He was kind, obliging, approachable and courteous and wherever he resided won the friendship of all those who came within the circle of his acquaintance.
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CARL FRITZ HENNING.
Carl Fritz Henning is now engaged in the bakery, grocery and delicatessen business at No. 1004 Story street, Boone, enjoying a large and profitable trade. He is one of the old and respected citizens of this city, where he has resided since 1865. He was born in Ahrensbock, Germany, and was brought to America when but seven weeks old. His birth occurred March 14. 1865, his parents being Henry Rudolph and Anna Catherina Dorothea ( Meins) Henning, the former born in Borghorst, Germany, October 13. 1837. The father attended school in his native land until fourteen years of age and then learned the baker's trade. Emigrating to the United States with his wife and family in 1865, he made the journey by sailing vessel from Hamburg to New York and from the latter place
MR. AND MRS. HENRY R. HENNING
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came directly to Davenport. Iowa. At that time one had to pay a toll in order to cross the bridge over the Mississippi river and as their money was exhausted a difficulty confronted the family, from which they were saved by a kind old lady, who paid their fee so that they could cross. After a three months' stay in Davenport the family came to Boone, where the father opened a bakery of his own. He had first tried to find employment in the mines but failed. He walked to Davenport to seek work, but, being unsuccessful, returned to Boone, where he began business as a baker, arching over his first brick and clay oven with saplings which he cut. His bakery was located on what is now Keeler street and he was confronted with many difficulties before he could launch his business. He had no money and at the store of Mr. Udall tried to obtain flour on credit but was refused. A gentleman, however, went his security for five sacks upon hearing his story. The returning soldiers bought his bread and Mr. Henning was able to pay Mr. Udell for the flour the very next day. Succeeding in business, he enlarged his plant as his means permitted and subse- quently bought property on Eighth street, next to where the Virginia Theater is now located, thereon erecting his shop. The soldiers used to entrain there for their destination and Mr. Henning would provide them with pies and coffee which his wife would sell to them on the trains. Mr. Henning died August 17, 1900, and was buried in Boone. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, of which he was one of the founders with the Hermans and Goeppingers. He gave his allegiance to the democratic party and was stanch in his support of that organization. His wife, also a devout Lutheran, died at the age of seventy- six years, in September, 1913. In their family were seven children, five of whom passed away when quite young, while Henry William Adolph, who was born May 11, 1870, died in May, 1900.
Carl Fritz Henning attended German schools of Boone from his fifth year, subsequently entering the English public schools, where he continued his educa- tion for two years, passing into the higher grades. The school of which he was a pupil was standing on the site of the present city hall and at that time the principal was Charles Tucker, who now conducts a grocery store on the opposite side of the street from where Mr. Henning's establishment is located. After he laid aside his text-books, Mr. Henning became an employe in the dry-goods store of William F. Wilson and subsequently worked for Mr. Hollymain, who was then at the head of the firm of Worcester & Hollymain. Mr. Henning gained much valuable knowledge and remained with this firm until his father needed him in the conduct of the grocery and bakery. He continued in his father's store until the latter retired and then accepted a position as salesman in the establish- ment which is now conducted under the name of the J. C. Petersen Company. He remained with this concern for a few years, when his health failed and he occu- pied for one and a half years the position of circulating manager for the Evening Republican. He subsequently held a position in the clothing store of Mr. Olmstead. In the fall of 1908 he was elected clerk of the courts of Boone county and re-elected in 1910, serving two terms and discharging his duties to the great satisfaction of all concerned. On December 6, 1913, he opened his present grocery and bakery at No. 1004 Story street and although the establish- ment has been in existence only a short time, he already enjoys a large patronage. Mr. Henning is justly entitled to the success which has come to him, for he Vol. II-27
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is a thoroughly able business man and conducts his enterprise with the utmost fairness toward his customers.
On the 5th of August, 1894, Mr. Henning was married in Boone to Miss Mina Kaul, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Gunder, and to them the following children were born: Dinnie Dorothea Wilhelmina, who was born Sep- tember 7. 1896, and attended the public and high schools; Marie Martha Eliza- beth, born December 30, 1900. attending school; and Henry Rudolph Adolph, born May 9, 1903, also attending school. Mrs. Henning was born in Neumunster, Germany, January 27, 1873, and was educated in the schools there. She was nineteen years of age when she came with her brother Henry to the new world and located in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Peter Kanl, is a carpenter in fine wood and still lives in Germany at the age of seventy-seven years. Her mother, who before her marriage was Anna Harris, died in Germany in 1888 at the age of fifty years, and three years later the father married Miss Anna Rathge.
Mr. Henning has always participated in the progress and development of his city, to which he has contributed in a quiet way. He is not a politician in the ordinarily accepted sense of the word but is loyal to his party and to the public interests. He has been much interested in bird life and has collected a number of specimens which are now on exhibition in the Boone library. There is much that is commendable in his career and such success as has come to him is well merited.
WILLIAM P. BURKHART.
The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the records of this county without learning that the Burkhart family was early established in Peoples township and it was there that William P. Burkhart was born on the 17th of April, 1863, on the section where he now lives. His father, Paul Burk- hart, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, and on removing to the west cast in his lot with the early settlers of Boone county, where he followed farming until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then enlisted for service in the Second lowa Battery, went to the front and died at Memphis, Tennessee, in 1864, while doing active duty for the Union. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amanda McDonald, was born in Michigan and, surviving her husband, now resides in Boone, lowa. In their family were two children: Mrs. Maria Rebecca Cunning- ham, who was born in Polk county, Iowa, in 1860, and is now residing in Van Meter, this state; and William P., of this review. Both were reared in Peoples township, where the Burkhart family settled when the work of progress and de- velopment seemed scarcely begun in this part of the state.
William P. Burkhart was reared in Peoples township and like most lads of the period pursued his education in the district schools near his home, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm and school life for him in his youthful days. Since then with the exception of a period of three years he has engaged in farming and stock-raising on his own account.
Mr. Burkhart made arrangements for having a home of his own through his marriage in Boone county on the 29th of March, 1888. to Miss Nellie Miller, who
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY
was born in La Grange county, Indiana, May 24, 1868, and in 1885 came to Iowa with her parents, who settled in Peoples township. Her father, David Miller, was a native of Ohio, born January 4, 1831, and he is now residing in Wood- ward at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Asenath Day, was born in Ohio, December 31, 1843, but died in Wood- ward, January 31, 1901, a little over fifty-eight years of age. There were seven children in the Miller family, all of whom are living, as follows: Frank, who was born in September, 1862, and resides in Indiana ; Mrs. Rose Taylor, born July 13, 1864, a resident of Woodward; Charles, who was born January 3, 1866, and makes his home in Texas; Mrs. Burkhart of this review; Mrs. Ida Stiles, who was born December 26, 1871, and is now residing in Runnells, Iowa; Mrs. Flora Albaugh, whose birth occurred in December, 1874, and who makes her home in Cedar Rapids; and Clyde, who was born October 18, 1884, and is a resident of Alli- ance, Nebraska.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart has been blessed with three children. Gaylord Roy, born June 6, 1889, attended the common schools of the neighbor- hood and afterward entered Highland Park Business College of Des Moines. He is now residing on the old family homestead in Peoples township. Lola Fay, born December 1, 1894, attended the common schools, was for a year a pupil in the Woodward high school and is now engaged in teaching in Peoples town- ship. William Ralph was born April 17, 1904, and is still in school. All of the children were born upon the home farm in Peoples township. This farm is a tract of one hundred and eighty acres of choice land on section 12, in addition to which Mr. Burkhart owns eight acres on section II, of the same township, and upon this place are two sets of good buildings and other improvements, none of the accessories of the model farin of the twentieth century being lacking. Mr. Burkhart raises high grades of stock, and his farm presents a neat and thrifty appearance, indicating his careful supervision and his practical and progressive methods. He is determined and energetic, and his well formulated plans are promptly and successfully executed, so that as the years have gone by he has acquired a gratifying competence. His political allegiance is given to the repub- lican party, but he has never sought nor desired public office. He has served, however, as school director and is interested in various projects and measures which tend to promote the welfare of the county and advance its interests in many ways.
J. P. CARREL.
J. P. Carrel, actively engaged in the produce business in Woodward since 1909, was born in Peoples township, Boone county, May 29, 1881. His father, James William Carrel, was a native of Decatur county, Iowa, born on the 8th of Feb- ruary, 1852, and in 1860 he was brought by his parents to Boone county, the fam- ily being among the carly settlers of this part of the state. Here he was reared and educated, becoming actively identified with agricultural interests. He mar- ried Catharine Nason, who was born in New York, April 8, 1853, a daughter of John and Catharine Nason, who in 1855 left the east and made their way west-
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY
ward to Iowa, settling in Council Bluffs, where they cast in their lot with the pioneers who were the founders and promoters of the then little city.
It was in Boone county, in 1875, that James William Carrel wedded Catharine Nason, and they became the parents of eight children, the first two being born in Cass township and the others in Peoples township, upon the family homestead which the father there established. In order of birth they are as follows: Mrs. Mary Nelson, who was born June 14, 1876, and is residing in Boone, Iowa; Wil- liam Edward, who was born September 28, 1877, and is living on the old home farm in Peoples township; Everett, who was born May 17, 1879, and is now a resi- dent of Mankato, Minnesota ; J. P., of this review ; Nellie, who was born May 18, 1884, and is residing with her mother in Woodward ; Mrs. Grace Guthrie, who was born May 16, 1886, and is also a resident of Woodward; Grover, who was born December 19, 1888, and is living in Peoples township; and Eugene, who was born November 5, 1892, and is a resident of Woodward. The Carrel family have a well improved farm in Peoples township, which is the property of the mother. From an early day the family has been widely and favorably known in this sec- tion of the state. They stand for all that is progressive not only along agricul- tural lines, but in those fields of activity which promote culture, intellectual, esthetic and moral progress.
Spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, J. P. Carrel attended the public schools near the old home and through the summer months aided in the work of the fields. After his text-books were put aside he concentrated his energies upon farming and stock-raising, in which he engaged until the fall of 1907, when at the age of twenty-six years he removed to Woodward, where he conducted a draying business for two years. In 1909 he turned his attention to the produce business and is now extensively engaged in handling general pro- duce, including butter, eggs, cream, poultry, etc. He has built up a good business at Woodward, his establishment furnishing an excellent market for the producers of his section of the county, and his trade is now extensive.
In his native county, on the 4th of February, 1903, Mr. Carrel was united in marriage to Miss Mary Vickroy, who was born in Dallas county, Iowa, Febru- ary 11, 1882, and was reared to womanhood in this community. She attended the common schools while spending her girlhood days in the home of her pa- rents, Charles and Elizabeth (Walters) Vickroy, both of whom were natives of Woodward. In their family were the following named: Joseph. now a resi- dent of Peoples township; Edward, living in Montana; Mrs. Kate Barger, of Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Carrel of this review; Mrs. Lottie Shannon, of Woodward; and George, who also makes his home in Woodward.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carrel has been born a daughter. Kathryn Eloise, whose natal day was November 13, 1904, and who is now a pupil in the public schools of Woodward. In his political views Mr. Carrel is a democrat, earnest in his support of the party yet not an office seeker. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he belongs to Woodward Lodge, No. 460, I. O. O. F., and the Modern Woodmen Camp of Woodward, while both he and his wife are connected with the ladies auxiliary of the latter, known as the Royal Neighbors. From pioneer times the Carrel family has been represented in this section of the state, following the arrival of the grandfather, Philip Carrel, in Boone county, and since that time representatives of the name have taken an active and helpful
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY
part in the work of progress and improvement. They have always cooperated in measures and movements that have been features in advancing the welfare of the community along many lines, and the name of Carrel is now a synonym for pro- gressive and honorable citizenship throughout Boone county.
JOHN J. CALLAHAN.
John J. Callahan has held for several years a position of trust with the Wood- ward Creamery Company of Woodward, Iowa, and is also engaged in buying and selling real estate. He, moreover, has improved several lots and also owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Winnebago county, it being under high cultivation and improved with substantial buildings.
Mr. Callahan was born in Morgan county, Illinois, August 1, 1864, and when but five weeks of age removed with his family to Missouri. His parents were Edward and Jane (Woodrow) Callahan, the former born in Scotland. The father was a coal miner and engaged in that work in Missouri until 1867, when the fani- ily came to Boonesboro, Boone county, Iowa, in the same year in which the North- western railroad was completed to Boone, and have been residents of this locality ever since. They removed to where the present Boone viaduct is now located, and in 1869 we find the family settled in Peoples township, the parents being num- bered among the most highly respected residents of the neighborhood. The parents both died in that township, the mother passing away January 5, 1911. To them were born six children, as follows : Mrs. Belle Ottaway, residing in Kiowa county. Kansas : John J., of this review ; Mrs. Jean Lemaster, of Peoples township; Ed- ward W., residing in Woodward; and Allen and May, both deceased. The three youngest were born in Peoples township and all were reared there and attended the common schools.
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