USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 27
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On the 30th day of May, 1900, Mr. French was united in marriage to Miss Kate Wilson, whose birth occurred upon a farm a half mile east of her present home, her parents being Elzie and Maria (Kaufman) Wilson. both of whom were natives of Wayne county. Ohio, the former born August 8. 1844, and the
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latter on the 20th of August, 1853. They came to lowa on the 4th of May, 1864, and Mr. Wilson followed farming and stock raising, living for many years on a farm a half mile east of the French farm, save for a short time upon a farm in Buffalo township, later returning to the old homestead. Eventually, however, he left the farm, although he is still a resident of the county. For a number of years he was one of the stockholders and directors of the Commercial National Bank and was a holder of key No. 2 to the vaults. He never sought nor desired political office, vet filled the position of supervisor. To him and his wife were born two children, Mrs. French being the younger and the only daughter. She attended the city schools of Independence and pursued a course in music in Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio, and also studied in Chicago, thus developing her native talent. To Mr. and Mrs. French have been born two children: Mar- garet Wilson, born August 12, 1903; and Ruth Virinda, horn February 2, 1906.
In his political views Mr. French is a Republican and is now serving as a member of the board of county supervisors. He belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, in which he has taken the degrees of lodge and chapter.
ROBERT EPHRAIM LEACH.
The news of the sudden death of Robert Ephraim Leach, which was occa- sioned by an accident, on the 30th of August, 1914, came as a shock to Inde- pendence, as he was a man in the prime of life and possessed of great physical vigor. He was one of the leaders in civic affairs, prominent in fraternal circles and a business man of no mean ability. He was often referred to as the best educated man in Independence, and was proficient in many languages and also in higher mathematics. He did not admit all to intimate relationship. but those who were privileged in being his close friends held him in the highest honor, as they found him in all circumstances a man true to his word, even at the greatest material cost to himself, and unflinchingly loyal to any cause in which he be- lieved. For a number of years he was one of the leaders of the bar of Buchanan county, but for some time previous to his death he concentrated his energies upon the management of his estate and that of his aged father, Ephraim Leach. one of the pioneers of the county.
Mr. Leach, of this review, was born in this city on the 13th of February, 1869, a son of Ephraim and Mary E. (Tracey) Leach. A sketch of the father appears elsewhere in this work. The subject of this review was the only child born to his parents and was reared in Independence, attending the public schools of the city. However, his secondary education was acquired in Waterloo, and after being graduated from the high school there in 1886 he entered the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, and completed his course there with the class of 1889. After spending two years in post-graduate work in Harvard Univer- sity he entered the law department of the University of Iowa, from which he was graduated with his legal degree in 1894. His college career was one of unusual success, both in scholastic attainments and in the field of student activities. His scholarship was of a high order and won him election to Phi Beta Kappa, an hon- orary college fraternity founded at William and Mary in 1776 for the purpose of
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recognizing marked ability shown in college work and also with the aim of fostering the love of learning. That he held the respect and esteem of his college mates is apparent from the fact that he was elected a member of Beta Theta Pi, a leading college fraternity, and was president of Phi Delta Phi, a law fraternity.
After leaving law school he pursued his legal studies in the office of Wood- ward & Cook, and was in due time admitted to the bar. He subsequently prac- ticed his profession alone for a year, but upon the death of J. S. Woodward, formed a partnership with the latter's partner, J. E. Cook, and this law firm continued until about 1905. Mr. Leach then again practiced by himself for a time, but subsequently became associated with R. J. O'Brien in the formation of a law firm, which continued until January, 1909. At that time Mr. Leach withdrew from the firm and devoted his time and energy to the management of his other interests and those of his father. He was successful in everything that he undertook, bending the powers of his fine intellect, trained in the best schools of the country, to the accomplishment of whatever task he had in hand, and the association of his name with any project insured its validity. As a lawyer he was aggressive in the conduct of any case intrusted to him, his wide learning and his keen, vigorous mind making him an opponent much to be feared, and he won an unusually high percentage of the cases in which he ap- peared as counsel.
Mr. Leach was married on the 28th of June, 1894, to Miss Kate E. Wood- ward, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Woodward, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Leach were born four children : Robert Woodward ; Jerome Southwick, who is deceased ; Ephraim ; and Catharine, also deceased.
Mr. Leach was a member of the Presbyterian church and practiced in his daily life the teachings of Christianity. Fraternally he was prominent, belong- ing to Independence Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Aholiah Chapter, R. A. M. : Kenneth Commandery, K. T .; Crescent Lodge, K. P .: Wapsie Camp, M. W. A. : Indepen- dence Lodge, T. O. O. F .; and Anchor Homestead. B. A. Y .; and he was also affiliated with a number of other organizations, including the Harvard Chib of Chicago, the Buchanan County Bar Association, and the Iowa State Bar Asso- ciation. He was an accomplished linguist, being master of the English, German, Greek. Latin, French. Spanish and Italian languages, and able to translate to some extent two other foreign tongues. Not only was he gifted as a language student, but he was also a mathematician of exceptional ability. He realized the importance to a community of a good school system and he recognized also the fact that the best work can only be done when there is adequate equipment, and was the one man who did the most towards securing the fine new high school building, which is the pride of the city. A great many, disliking the idea of the expense of erecting a modern high school building. were in favor of patching up the old one, but Mr. Leach circulated a petition and secured a sufficient number of signatures to insure the success of the plan to ereet a new building.
Politically Mr. Leach belonged to the republican party, and was active in its ranks until 1912, at which time he joined the progressive party, and from that year until his death was one of the leaders of the new organization in this
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state. He was delegate from Iowa to notify Colonel Roosevelt of his nomination for president. He was candidate for Congress in this district upon the pro- gressive ticket and his energetic and telling campaign resulted in his polling many more votes than the politicians of the older parties believed possible. He was a man who, while quietly insisting upon his rights, was also scrupulous in the discharge of his duties and just to all men. In his family relations he was all that a man should be, and his friends found that his loyalty was unchanging and steadfast. His sense of obligation included the community in which he lived his entire life, and no citizen of Independence ever labored more unselfishly or sincerely for her welfare. He was a man of magnificent physique and his great strength and reserve force, coupled with his fine mind, enabled him to achieve much in diverse lines of endeavor.
A. ROY LUTHER.
A. Roy Luther, a real estate agent of Independence, and one of the native sons of the county, was born in 1880, a son of W. S. Luther, whose birth oc- curred in Castile, New York, April 1, 1833. In early life he was connected with a cousin in the foundry business, but at the outbreak of the Civil war all business and personal considerations were put aside and he joined the army as a member of Company A, One Hundred Forty-ninth Regiment, New York Vol- unteer Infantry. In the Dismal Swamp he contracted sickness which forced him to obtain a leave of absence. His trip home led to no improvement, and he was later obliged to resign. He went to the front as sergeant, and when he left the army he was holding the rank of second lieutenant. After the war he went to southern Ohio, where he remained for five years, engaged in the oil business, but he still maintained his home in Castile, New York.
In 1869 W. S. Luther arrived in Iowa, settling at Independence, where he engaged in the agricultural implement business, establishing the firm of Bartle, Luther & Brownell, which relation was maintained for fifteen years. Later he was at Ossian, Iowa, and at Austin, Minnesota, in the creamery business with C. W. Williams, and subsequently he returned to Independence. During the period of his early residence here he was also interested in a sash and door factory. It was in Castile, New York, in 1871, that he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Shea, who was born in St. John, New Brunswick, August 11, 1850. They became the parents of five children, who are yet living, all being residents of Independence, namely: W. S. and A. R., who are engaged in the real estate business; J. S., who is bookkeeper for the People's National Bank; W. P., who is associated with his brothers, A. R. and J. S., in the cigar business in Inde- pendence; and Mrs. J. B. Steinmetz, of Independence. The father died in March, 1914, in the faith of the Methodist church, in which he held membership. The mother survives.
A. Roy Luther attended school in Independence and when seventeen years of age enlisted as a member of Company E, Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, for service in the Spanish-American War. He served for one year in Jacksonville, Florida, in Savannah, Georgia, and in Cuba, and while at Jack-
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sonville suffered from typhoid fever. After his return he went into the post- office as junior elerk, remaining there under several different postmasters, or for a period of fourteen years. In November, 1912, he entered the real estate and insurance business, and now confines his attention to real estate dealing, being an active representative of that line of business.
Mr. Luther was united in marriage to Miss Maude Higby, a native of Fair- bank, Iowa, and they have one child, Elizabeth May, who was born September 2, 1910. Mrs. Luther was for six years on the concert stage, in which connection she traveled all over the United States and through its colonial possessions.
Mr. Luther belongs to the Masonie fraternity, and is a chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias. He also has membership with the Spanish War Veterans, and in politics he is an active republican, doing all in his power to promote the growth and further the success of the party. Ile has made a com- mendable record in business cireles and possesses the enterprise and energy which overcome difficulties and obstacles and advances steadily toward the goal of prosperity.
LOUIS F. KLOTZ.
A student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the records of Buchanan county without learning that the name of Klotz figures prominently on its pages from pioneer times to the present, especially in connection with the agricultural development of this region-and agriculture is the principal source of the prosperity and advanced condition of the county today. Among those actively engaged in farming in Newton township is Louis F. Klotz, who resides on seetion 9. It was in that township that he was born on the 12th of February, 1873, his parents being Charles F. and Rachel (Hekel) Klotz, of whom mention is made in connection with the sketch of George W. Klotz, on another page of this volume.
As the years of boyhood and youth passed, Louis F. Klotz divided his time between the acquirement of a public school education and the work of the fields. He early received practical training in the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, and through the period of his minority remained with his par- ents. He then started out in life on his own account by renting land from his father, and eventually inherited one hundred and twenty acres of land on see- tion 9. Newton township, and upon that farm has since resided. Ilis life of ac- tivity, enterprise and progressiveness is evidenced in the excellent appearance of his place, which is lacking in none of the equipments of the model farm. Every- thing is well kept. the place is divided into fields of convenient size by substan- tial fences, and good barns and outbuildings furnish ample shelter for grain and stock.
On the 6th of March. 1894, Mr. Klotz was united in marriage to Miss Edith M. Ironside, a daughter of James and Matilda (Fike) Ironside. To Mr. and Mrs. Klotz have been born three children, namely: Gertrude M., nineteen years old; and Franklin L. and Donald D., who are sixteen and eight years of age, respectively.
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In addition to his farming interests Mr. Klotz is a stockholder in the Kiene Store Building Company. He has always been actuated by a spirit of progress in business affairs, and he believes just as thoroughly in advancement in public connections. He is a stanch advocate of the temperance cause and expresses his opinions in this particular at the ballot box by casting his vote for the pro- hibition party. He has filled the office of justice of the peace for one term and at the present writing is serving as road supervisor-a position of growing . importance in this age when public opinion is concentrated upon the subject of good highways. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America, and with the Union Federation lodge. He belongs to the Congrega- tional church of Kiene, and is one of its trustees and superintendent of the Sunday school, doing all in his power to further the growth of the church and extend its influence. His has been a well spent life, as is attested by the high regard in which he is uniformly held, while many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present.
WILLIAM C. FALCK.
William C. Falck is one of the leaders in commercial and financial circles of Lamont, being president of the Farmers Savings Bank and also a well known merchant, dealing in coal, grain, feed and farm and power machinery. He was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of May, 1871, a son of Lorenz and Amelia (Zilliot) Falck. The father was born near Strasburg, Germany, and was brought to America by his parents when a child of seven years. The family resided for a time at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, whence, in 1848 or 1849, they went to Fort Atkinson, Iowa. The grandparents of our subject passed away in this state, the grandfather being more than eighty years of age at the time of his demise. Lorenz Falck grew to manhood in Iowa and then returned to Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where he was married. He lived there for some time but in 1874 removed to Win- neshiek county, Iowa, where he made his home until 1890. when he located upon a farm in Fayette county which he had purchased. He devoted his time to its cultivation until April, 1914, when he retired, and he has since resided at Strawberry Point. He owns about four hundred acres of land, which is oper- ated by his sons, and also holds title to other property. In the days before the railroads McGregor was the market to which they hauled their grain and stoek. The mother of our subject was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. of German ancestry. Her parents were brought as children to America from Alsace-Lorain and were married in the Keystone state. She passed away in the fall of 1878, leaving five children. one son and four daughters, the latter being: Mrs. Carrie Haines, a resident of Davenport, Iowa : Mrs. Emma Haines, who passed away in Davenport; Ida, the wife of J. B. Wiesender, of Fayette county, this state : and Elizabeth, who resides with her sister, Mrs. Wiesender. The father was married twice, Miss Anna Falck becoming his second wife. She is still living. To their union were born nine children, eight of whom survive; Sophia, at home; Fred, a farmer residing near Ridgeway, Iowa; Theodore, who is mar-
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ried and lives upon a farm near the homestead in Fayette county ; Charles W., Walter and Leon, all living upon the home farm; and Saloma and Freda, both at home.
William C. Falck was reared in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and there attended the public schools in the acquirement of his elementary education. He subse- quently was a student in the Breckenridge school at Decorah, Iowa. After reaching maturity he came to this county and purchased land in Madison town- ship, which he cultivated assiduously until 1913. He still owns two farms in that township. In November, 1913, he removed to Lamont and purchased the coal, feed and machinery business formerly owned by James Carr. In the eom- paratively short time that has since elapsed the patronage has grown rapidly and the business is steadily increasing in volume. He handles the best grades of anthracite and eastern bituminous coal, feed of all kinds, grass seeds and also the best makes of farm and power machinery. His practical knowledge of agricultural implements and of the best seed has been of great value to him in his mercantile enterprise, as it enables him to buy to advantage. His busi- ness methods are above reproach and he has won immediate recognition as a progressive and efficient business man. Aside from his store he is connected as president with the Farmers Savings Bank, which was organized in 1910. He was one of those who established the bank and was a member of its first board of directors. He has been president for the past three years and for a year previous to his election to that position was vice president. He has been con- nected with the institution since its organization and not a little of the credit for its continued prosperity is due to him.
On the 13th of October, 1897, Mr. Falek was united in marriage in Fayette county, Iowa, to Miss Anna Wolfe, of Scott township, that county, and they have become parents of nine children. Two were born in Clayton county, six in Fayette county and one in Buchanan county. They are as follows: Elsie, Ida, Dorothy, Lydia, Louis, Helen, Otto, Irma and Myra, all at home.
Mr. Falck is a republican and has served in various local offices. The family belong to the Lutheran church and the parents are active in its work. Mr. Falck owns his residence in the northwestern part of town and also, as previ- ously mentioned, two fine farms in this county. He is a man of financial acumen and this, coupled with his industry and enterprise, insures him success in his business undertakings. Ilis strict adherence to high standards of conduct and his agreeable personality have gained him a place in the warm regard and high esteem of many.
SAMUEL T. SPANGLER.
Samuel T. Spangler, deceased, was one of the prominent pioneer farmers and stock dealers of Buffalo township, representing that class of men who have laid broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present prog- ress and prosperity of the county. He was born in Maryland on the 11th of June, 1829, a son of George V. and Rebecca (Cleggett) Spangler. The father was a farmer and the owner of a number of slaves. Hle removed from Maryland
MRS. SAMUEL T. SPANGLER
SAMUEL T. SPANGLER
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to Ohio when his son Samuel was nine years of age and in the Buckeye state the boy was reared, having the usual experiences which fall to the lot of the farm lad who divides his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of a common-school education.
When twenty-one years of age Mr. Spangler bought a farm in Ohio and cultivated it until 1856, when, attracted by the business opportunities of the growing west, he came to Iowa, making the journey by rail to Dubuque and thence by wagon to Buchanan county, settling in Buffalo township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land. With characteristic energy he began its development and improvement, turning the sod and bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation as the years went on. He traded horses for this land without seeing the property ahead of time, but there was no disappointment awaiting him in the rich and arable soil of this county. Hle successfully developed and improved his farm, which is still in possession of the family, and he added to his holdings from time to time until he became the owner of about fifteen hundred acres, which he still retained at his death and left as a valuable estate to his widow. He was also among the pioneer stock- raisers of the county, making a specialty of handling thoroughbred Durham cattle, which had excellent opportunity to graze upon his broad pastures. For his stock he always received good prices and thus his different business affairs brought him substantial success. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Aurora Savings Bank of Aurora, this county, was elected its first president and so continued until his demise.
On the 31st of July, 1851, Mr. Spangler was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Adams, who was born in Keene, Ohio, December 29, 1833, a daughter of John Q. and Lavina (Walker) Adams, who were natives of Massachusetts and of Maine, respectively, the father being a second cousin of John Adams, president of the United States. Mr. Adams was a mechanic and farmer and in an early day removed westward to Ohio, where he owned a large tract of land. He was born in 1800 and died at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife, who was born in 1807, passed away at the age of eighty-three years. Their daughter, Mrs. Spangler, remained under the parental roof until the time of her marriage and in 1856 accompanied her husband to Iowa, since which time she has lived upon the old homestead farm, where they took up their abode fifty-eight years ago. She spends, however, much time in travel and in visiting relatives. She became the mother of three children: Ella L., the wife of A. T. Flickinger, a practicing attorney of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Emma, the wife of John Meyer, of Byron township; and George F., mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
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Mr. Spangler voted with the democratic party and was called by popular suffrage to represent his district in the state legislature for one term. He was also justice of the peace in pioneer times and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, "winning golden opinions from all sorts of people." He pre- ferred, however, to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which were of growing importance, and thus was he occupied until his death, which occurred April 29, 1907. He left behind him the record of a well-spent life, characterized by enterprise and honor in business and fidelity to duty in every relation. He lived to witness many changes from pioneer conditions to later day prosperity Vol. II-14
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and progress, his memory forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. Wherever he was known he was held in high esteem and most of all where he was best known-a fact indieative of a life of upright manhood.
JACOB WACKERBARTH.
Jacob Wackerbarth, president of the Waekerbarth & Blamer Lumber Com- pany of Independence, is a business man of marked energy, identified with vari- ous corporations which feature largely in the development, upbuilding and material progress of Independence. Tireless energy, keen perception and ability to plan and perform are salient factors in his life record and he possesses in large measure the quality of common sense, which is too often lacking in the business world, its absence being the cause of the great majority of failures. A native of Germany, he was born in Hesse-Cassel on the 30th of May, 1855. His father, Heinrich Waekerbarth, and mother, Anna E. Kaiser Wackerbarth, were both natives of Hesse-Cassel. His mother died when her son Jacob was only eighteen months old. In his native country Heinrich Wackerbarth fol- lowed farming, owning extensive lands, and he was also mayor of the village in which he lived. He was a prominent and influential citizen of the community in which he made his home. He never neglected the higher, holier duties of life in meeting the demands of a more material character which were made upon him, but was ever an active and faithful member of the Reformed church.
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