USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 28
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Jacob Wackerbarth was the fifth in order of birth in a family of six chil- dren. He attended school in Germany and when sixteen years of age came to the United States, arriving in Independence on the 3d of May. 1872. He made his way direct to this city from New York and here engaged in the trade of carriage making, which he had previously learned in Germany. This pursuit he followed about one year, at the expiration of which time he went to Chicago and worked in a sash and door factory nearly one year, when he returned to Independence and again engaged in the manufacture of carriages. which he followed about two years. In the month of July. 1876, he returned to the old country, where he remained about four months, settling up his father's estate. Immediately after his return he went into the retail boot and shoe business in Independence. With him in this business, G. A. Steinmetz was engaged, which connection finally led to the formation of the firm of Steinmetz & Wackerbarth. In 1881 Mr. Wackerbarth engaged in the lumber business under the firm style of Zinn & Wackerbarth. That connection was maintained for seven years, at the end of which time Mr. Zinn sold out to Mr. Thomas Blamer, leading to the organization of the present firm, known as the Wackerbarth & Blamer Com- pany. Of this corporation Mr. Wackerbarth is the president and is active in the control of an extensive and growing enterprise. This by no means indicates the limit of his business activity. however. for he is the president and was one of the organizers of the Independence Canning Corporation. is president of the Independent Ice Company and president of the Gedney Company, which owns and manages the hotel and opera house at Independence and also controls a
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similar business at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and at Atkinson, Nebraska, as a company ranch and business property. The ranch comprises thirteen hundred and twenty aeres of land and on it the company is extensively engaged in rais- ing eattle and horses. In addition Mr. Wackerbarth is a stockholder in the Commereial State Bank, is president of the Kelley Canning Company of Wav- erly, Iowa, and is a stockholder of the Sherman Smith Manufacturing Com- pany. He is preeminently a business man and one who has wielded a wide influence in commereial, industrial and agricultural cireles.
On Christmas Eve, 1879, oceurred the marriage of Mr. Wackerbarth and Miss Pauline Zinn, a native of this county and a daughter of Eckhardt and Mary Zinn, both of whom were natives of Hesse-Cassel, Germany. Mr. Zinn came to Iowa in 1850, being one of the pioneers of this county and carried on business as architect and contractor for some years. Later he turned his atten- tion to the lumber trade, taking into partnership with him his son-in-law, Jacob Wackerbarth. Mrs. Wackerbarth, who was the third in a family of seven ehil- dren, died on the first of February, 1893, leaving four children. The eldest, Fred J., was born October 8, 1881, graduated from the Independence High School in 1900, and is now vice president of the Wackerbarth & Blamer Lum- ber Company and is assistant treasurer of the Independence Canning Corpora- tion. In July, 1913, he married Maud Stephens Volk of Rock Island, Illinois. The three daughters, Minnie P., born July 6, 1883, Carrie E., born November 9, 1885, Neva R., born February 16, 1891, are all residing in Independence. They are all graduates of the Independence High School, Carrie E. also grad- uating from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, and Neva R. from Northwestern University at Evanston. Illinois.
In 1897 occurred the second marriage of Mr. Wackerharth, this union being with Miss Minnie Wolters, a native of Wisconsin. Her father was born in Ger- many and became an early settler of Allamakee County, Iowa, where he had large land holdings. To Mr. and Mrs. Wackerharth have been born two chil- dren : Carl A., who was born December 25, 1898, and Erwin H., born Decem- ber 13, 1900. The parents are active members of the German Presbyterian church. Having ever concentrated his energies upon his business affairs, Mr. Waekerbarth has a wide cirele of friends in the business world. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their improvement has made steady advancement, ranking today as one of the representative business. men of the county, strong, forceful and resourceful, ready to meet any emergeney and controlling his interests with the clear judgment and sagacity that ulti- mately win success.
WILLIS G. KIEFER.
Willis G. Kiefer, cashier of the Hazleton State Bank and also interested in real-estate dealing, belongs to that class of business men whose enterprising efforts are an element in public progress and prosperity as well as in individual success. A native of St. Joseph county, Indiana, he was born October 24, 1868.
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His father, Jacob Kiefer, was born in Portage county, Ohio, in 1842 and was of German descent. his father, George Kiefer, having been born near the Rhine. in Germany, in 1812, while the mother, Mary Ann (Schale) Kiefer, also a native of that country, was born in 1815. They came to the United States in early life, the father arriving in 1832. He settled in New York and afterward removed from that state to Ohio, where he purchased land. By trade he was a weaver and he continued in that business in addition to clearing and cultivat- ing his land. In 1847 he removed to Indiana and again he cleared a tract of land and converted it into cultivable fields, maintaining his home thereon until 1872. when he removed westward to Iowa, settling in Independence, where he worked with his brother in the coopering business.
Jacob Kiefer was reared in Indiana and in 1861 responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting at Mishawaka, that state, as a member of Company F, Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He held the rank of sergeant at the time of his discharge. He participated in many important engagements, includ- ing the battles of Jackson, Corinth. Iuka, Vicksburg, and Champion's Hill. He was on duty under General Sherman until 1865 and went with him on the famous march from Atlanta to the sea. He was never wounded and was the only one of those who enlisted from his home town to return alive. He became a resident of lowa in 1869 and has taken a very active part in public affairs in Bnehanan county, his influence always being on the side of progress, upbuild- ing and improvement. He served for nine years as a member of the board of supervisors and for the past seventeen years has been postmaster of Hazleton. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church, of which he is a loyal representative. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge and is an active and valued member of the Grand Army post at Hazleton, in which he has filled the office of com- mander.
Willis G. Kiefer is the eldest son in a family of three sons and four daugh- ters. Four of the number yet reside in Iowa and three in Buchanan county. Brought to this county in infancy, Willis G. Kiefer attended the country schools of Hazleton township and afterward became a student in the Upper Iowa Uni- versity at Fayette, being graduated on the completion of the commercial course and also pursuing to some extent the normal course. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority but at the age of sixteen years began teaching in the distriet schools and also followed the same profession in the primary department of the town schools for one term. Later he was ad- vaneed to higher grades and when he was twenty years of age was a teacher at Gurnee, Illinois. When twenty-one years of age he was married and retired from the profession of teaching to become a factor in financial eireles of Hazle- ton. Ile joined the Kiefer Brothers Banking Company, with which he remained as bookkeeper and teller until May, 1893. He then organized the Hazleton State Bank, of which he became cashier. his father-in-law. T. E. MeCurdy. becoming its president. Mr. Kiefer is the heaviest stockholder in the bank, which has been established upon a paying basis, its safe conservative policy recommending it to the general support of the public. He is also interested in the real estate business and has negotiated many important property transfers.
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In 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr. Kiefer and Miss Inez L. McCurdy, a native of Buffalo township and the only child of Timothy E. and Kathryn (Nelson) McCurdy, the former born in New Comerstown, Ohio, in 1843, and the latter in Buchanan county, Iowa. in 1859. Mr. McCurdy came to this state immediately after the Civil war, in which he saw active service for one year as a member of an Illinois regiment. He was wounded in battle and returned home. After coming to Iowa he began farming in Buffalo township and was closely identified with agricultural interests there for about two decades, retir- ing from active farm life in 1885. Ile is now president of the Hazleton State Bank and has interests in other financial institutions of lowa. He has filled the office of county supervisor, is now the capital extension representative and has been representative from his district in the general assembly. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his opinions carry weight in its local councils. He has labored untiringly to secure success for the party and in all matters of citizenship maintains a progressive and helpful attitude. To Mr. and Mrs. Kiefer has been born a daughter, Laura Ruth, whose birth oc- curred in Hazleton on the 2d of April, 1901.
Mr. Kiefer has membership with the Knights of Pythias and with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He takes no active part in politics but is an earnest worker in the Methodist church, serving at present as one of the trustees, while formerly he was superintendent of the Sunday school. IIe gives generously to the support of the church and does not hesitate to give his time to further the various lines of church work. His interest in the welfare and upbuilding of the community is deep and sincere and is manifest in many tangible efforts for public progress. His work of a public nature has been as resultant as have his efforts in business life and he is today accounted one of the foremost citizens of Hazleton and Buchanan county in connection with financial affairs.
W. C. KENNEY.
W. C. Kenney has been identified with general agricultural pursuits in this county for nearly a half century. owning and operating an excellent farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres in Westburg township, and for the past twenty-eight years has also conducted a general store at Shady Grove, in Jef- ferson township. His birth occurred in Concord. New Hampshire, in 1847, his parents being Joseph M. and Helen (Osbourn) Kenney, who were likewise na- tives of that state. In 1854 the family home was established in Dodge county, Minnesota. where the father bought a tract of government land.
W. C. Kenney, who was a little lad of seven when he accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Minnesota, attended the public schools in the aequire- ment of an education. In 1867, when twenty years of age, he came to Buchanan county. Iowa, and purchased a farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres in Westburg township, in the operation of which he has been actively engaged to the present time, the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which be bestows upon them. In 1886 he em- barked in the mercantile business at Shady Grove and has remained the pro-
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prietor of a general store at that place throughout the intervening twenty-eight years, being accorded a gratifying and well merited patronage and being widely recognized as an enterprising and reliable merchant.
In 1867 Mr. Kenney was united in marriage to Miss Comantha Boyles, by whom he has three children, namely: Fred C., G. W. and Frank E. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for a period of twelve years acted as postmaster of Shady Grove, making a most creditable record in that connection. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Siloam Lodge, No. 222, at Jesup, Iowa. Mr. Kenney is a man of exemplary character, reliable in business, progressive in citizenship and faithful to all ties and obli- gations, and he commands and holds the confidence and regard of all who are associated with him.
HAROLD A. HOUSHOLDER, M. D.
Dr. Harold A. Housholder, of Winthrop, is still a young man but has already achieved a position of leadership in medical circles of his locality. He was born in Fremont township, this county, October 23, 1881, a son of Alva C. and Ella T. (Parson) Housholder, the former a native of McHenry county, Illinois, born in 1850. His father, Henry Honsholder, was a native of Pennsylvania and upon coming west first settled in Indiana, where he farmed for a number of years, later removing to Illinois. He died, however, in Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1880. His ancestors were Holland Dutch but the family was established in this country many years ago. The name originally was Haus-Halter. Henry Housholder married Miss Elizabeth Casterline, a native of Indiana and of English extraction. Alva C. Housholder was reared and educated in Illinois and removed with his parents to this county in 1876, his father buying a farm upon which stood a tavern on the old road connecting Dubuque and Sioux City. Alva C. Housholder bought a farm north of Winthrop, which he operated until his father's death when he returned to his father's farm and conducted the same until 1884, when he returned to his own property and followed agricultural pursuits until 1889, when he purchased a general store in Winthrop, which he conducted successfully until 1894, when he sold out and again bought land in this county. After farming his place for two years he sold it and in 1899 removed to Van Buren county, where he bought land which, however, he soon disposed of. Hle then went to Clark county, Missouri, where he rented land for two years, but in 1905 went to Bentonsport, Iowa, where he lived for some time, after which he located at Quasqueton, living there for three years. At the expiration of that time the family removed to Center, Oliver county, North Dakota, where the father took up a homestead, which he improved. Since receiving a deed to the same he has rented it and is now living at Fort Clark, North Dakota. His wife was born in Ogle county, Illinois, and they had three children : Franeis L., who is engaged in the practice of dentistry at Minot, North Dakota ; Harold A., of this review ; and Netta Elizabeth, the wife of II. H. Kenyon, a banker of Zap, North Dakota.
DR. HAROLD A. HOUSHOLDER
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Dr. Housholder was reared in this county and was graduated from the public schools of Winthrop. In the fall of 1900, when a young man of nine- teen, he entered the Iowa State Academy, a private institution of high grade, from which he was graduated in 1901. He then entered the medical department of the State University of Iowa, which on the 15th of June, 1905, conferred upon him the degree of M. D. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Quasqueton, this county, where he remained until 1909. In that year he went to Center, North Dakota, but on the 1st of October, that year, located at Minot, that state. After three years spent there he returned to Winthrop, Iowa, and in the two years that he has been in practice here he has gained a reputation as a practitioner of excellent training and scrupulous conscien- tiousness. He is an accurate observer and his years of practice have given him a definite knowledge and a certainty of decision that cannot be acquired in any other way. He is a member of the county and state medical societies and of the American Medical Association and in this way keeps informed as to the methods used by progressive physicians and surgeons elsewhere and also as to the newest discoveries and theories in the more abstract fields of medical science. His practice is representative and is steadily growing and his col- leagues in the profession entertain for him a sincere respect.
On the 27th of December, 1905, Dr. Housholder was united in marriage to Miss Lelia M. Bloom, of Winthrop, and to their union two children have been born, Maurice Leonard and Shirley Claire. The Doctor votes the democratic ticket in national affairs but at local elections is nonpartisan. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which she takes a keen interest, and he is a member of the Masonic order. They are popular socially and hold the full confidence and respect of all who have been brought into contact with them.
JOHN L. WALKER.
John L. Walker, a prominent and prosperous agriculturist residing in West- burg township, has devoted his attention to farming throughout his entire busi- ness career and has met with excellent results in his operations. His birth occurred in Black Hawk county, Iowa, in 1859, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Hall) Walker, both of whom were natives of Scotland, the former born in 1827. Emigrating to the United States, William Walker took up his abode on a farm near St. Charles, Illinois, and subsequently removed to Black Hawk county, Iowa, where he bought land at a dollar and a quarter per acre. Later he augmented his holdings by additional purchase and at the time of his , death owned five hundred acres of valuable land. His demise occurred on the 1st of January. 1895. He was a Presbyterian in religious faith and a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity. His wife had come to the United States with her parents in 1844 and the family home was established in Illinois, in which state she was married. The young couple then took up their abode in Black Hawk county, Fowa. To them were born nine children, as follows: Eliza. Agnes, Frank, J. L., William, Mary, F. C., Nettie and George.
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John L. Walker was reared under the parental roof and obtained his edu- cation in the public schools. After putting aside his text-books he assisted in the operation of the home farm for two years and subsequently purchased a tract of land adjoining the homestead, cultivating the same for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he purchased his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Westburg township, Buchanan county, which he has operated continuously and successfully since, annually harvesting bounteous crops which find a ready sale on the market.
In 1884 Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Hallmon, a daughter of Samuel Hallmon, who is a native of Pennsylvania and settled in Black Hawk county, lowa, in 1867. He is now living retired at Jesup. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have nine children, namely: F. F., Robert W., Blanche E., Ruth A., Karl E., Quincy S .. Dewey E., John P. and William K.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Walker enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him, and while he has attained to individual prosperity, has done much toward raising agricul- tural standards and has contributed by his labor toward making this one of the most prosperous farming sections of the state.
OSCAR J. METCALF.
Oscar J. Metcalf, who throughout the entire period of his life bore a most enviable reputation as an upright business man, a progressive citizen and a friend and neighbor of sterling worth, figured for many years as an active factor in the commercial circles of Buchanan county. Mr. Metcalf was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, on the 3d of August, 1830, a son of Eli S. and Laura (Barker) Metcalf. His paternal grandparents were natives of Scot- land, but emigrated to the United States. settling in Massachusetts, where his father, Eli S. Metcalf, was born. The latter was a farmer by occupation and in the fall of 1830 removed to Ohio by wagons and settled in Huron county, which was a part of the Western Reserve. Ile cleared the land of the timber and undergrowth that covered it, but only lived seven years after removing to that state. He is buried in the New Haven, Ohio, cemetery. The mother of the subject of this review was also a native of the Bay state, although her parents were born in England. She died when her son Oscar JJ. was but five years of age and, as his father died two years later, he was thrown upon his own re- sources when a mere child. He was one of three children, the elder being Eli F., a farmer residing at Dell Rapids, South Dakota, while the younger is Ange- line, the wife of Daniel Bruner, a farmer of Sonoma county, California.
Left an orphan when but seven years of age, Oscar J. Metcalf afterward lived with Ames Ogden, a Virginian, who was then residing in Huron county. Ohio, to whom he gave the benefit of his labors until he reached the age of eighteen years. His opportunities and advantages were extremely meager dur- ing that period. He attended only parts of three terms of the district school in the woods of Ohio. At the age of eighteen, however, he went to Oberlin, where he worked at odd jobs to pay his way through Oberlin College. He also
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learned and followed the carpenter's trade while there and in the fall of 1854 he came to Iowa, settling at Dubuque, where he engaged in teaching school through the winter months and working at his trade through the remainder of the year until about 1860. The spring following his arrival in this state he purchased one hundred acres of land in Hancock county, for which he paid one hundred and twenty-five dollars, or the usual government price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. However, he continued to follow carpentering and teach- ing until 1860, when he purchased a store at Epworth, Dubuque county, which he conducted until 1872, and at the same time dealt in grain and live stock at that place. IIe met with substantial success in the business, but eventually sold out and removed to Winthrop, where he established a lumber, grain and coal business. He first dealt only in grain, but afterward purchased a lumberyard. He handled almost all of the grain that was shipped from Winthrop and also sold practically all of the coal that was used in the town for many years. He made good improvements in the way of building an elevator and coal and lum- ber sheds. Because of failing health he sold his elevator, warehouse and lum- beryard in 1899 and retired, but when his health improved he again purchased an interest in a lumberyard and personally looked after his business affairs up to the time of his demise, which occurred when he was eighty-four years of age. He also engaged in dealing in real estate and was a notary public, holding a license as such for many years and witnessing the signing of many important documents.
Mr. Metcalf was united in marriage in Dubuque county, Iowa, on the 1st of November, 1855, to Miss Abigail, Freeman, a native of Lorain county, Ohio, who died at Epworth, this state, on the 7th of June, 1869, leaving three children, namely : Laura Hattie, the wife of Edgar Brintnall, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work; Sherman A., who died when fifty-two years of age and left two children; and Oscar Eli, who died when thirty-two years of age. Mr. Metealf was married the second time, Miss Isabella Frater becoming his wife on the 21st of February, 1871. She was born in Durham, England, on the 14th of March, 1851, a daughter of Ralph and Mary (Stott) Frater, both likewise natives of that country. Her father was a landowner and stock dealer and in 1856 went to Australia, where his death occurred. In 1867 his widow came with her three daughters to Iowa, joining a son and uncle who resided in Far- ley, this state. She remained at that place until her death, which occurred when she was eighty-three years of age. She was a member of the Church of England and a woman of estimable character. Mrs. Metcalf was about sixteen years of age when brought to this county and was but nineteen years of age when married. She gave her husband's three motherless children the same loving care which she bestowed upon her own children, who were three in num- ber, namely: Belle, now the wife of Dr. B. H. McKeeby, a dentist of Cedar Rapids, by whom she has two sons; Mollie A., the wife of Dr. HI. H. White, a dentist of Chicago; and Mildred, at home. Mrs. Metcalf is the fortunate pos- sessor of a lovable, cheerful disposition which binds her friends to her in strong ties of affection. She and her daughters are members of the Congregational church.
Mr. Metcalf was a republican in his political belief and cast his first ballot for Fremont as president. However, in local affairs he often voted independ-
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