USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 32
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Henry Tempus attended school in Independence before the high school had been established. In early life he took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years, and in 1903 began farming, to which he has since devoted his energies. His place is situated about two miles from Independence and upon his farm he has a herd of forty head of pure-blooded Jersey cattle. His dairy is considered the finest in his part of the county and is frequently visited by those who are interested in modern dairy management. He supplies butter to many of the leading families of Independence, and his business along that line has reached extensive proportions. He also engages in raising Duroc- Jersey hogs and in the management of his interests is meeting with excellent success, for his judgment is sound, his industry indefatigable and his methods practical and progressive.
On the 17th of November, 1885, Mr. Tempus was united in marriage to Miss Nellie J. Sherman, who was born near Jesup, Iowa, a daughter of Jacob and Katherine (Breithaupt) Sherman, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born in 1832 and the latter in 1836. Her father came to the new world when about twenty-two years of age and in 1857 became the owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres near Jesup, which has since been in possession of the family. He died June 12, 1893, but his widow still survives and is now living in Jesup, at the age of seventy-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Tempus have been born five children : Peter F., born November 2, 1887; Ida Bertha, October 5, 1889; Earl Albert, September 22, 1891; Henry Charles, May 21, 1893; and Carl Harold, December 12, 1898. All are yet at home with their parents, and the family is widely and favorably known in Independence and throughout this part of the county.
Mr. Tempus holds membership with the Mystic Toilers of Independence, but is not active along fraternal or political lines, preferring to give his undivided
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attention to his business affairs, which, capably and intelligently directed, are bringing to him substantial success, so that he ranks with the leading farmers and dairymen of this part of the state.
ROBERT H. JAMIESON.
In connection with the story of business enterprise in Brandon and that sec- tion of the county, the name of Robert H. Jamieson should be prominently men- tioned, for he has figured largely in promoting real-estate dealing, banking and live-stock interests. Thus various lines of business still elaim his attention and make him one of the representative and valued residents of Buchanan county.
Mr. Jamieson was born in Jefferson township, May 6, 1875, a son of Walter and Martha (Newcomb) Jamieson. The father's birth occurred at Amboy Cen- ter, Oswego county, New York, January 22, 1843, his parents being Robert and Euphimia (McCollum) Jamieson, who owned and occupied a farm in that local- ity. In 1852 they removed with their family to Mayville, New York, where the father engaged in the tanning of leather. Robert Jamieson was a native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and spent his youthful days upon a farm in that country. Coming to the United States, he settled first at Amboy Center, New York, whence he removed to Mayville, as previously stated. There he was busily engaged in the conduct of his tannery until the 3d of August, 1861, when he enlisted for service as a member of the Seventy-second New York Infantry, re- maining at the front for almost a year. He was shot and instantly killed in the battle of Williamsburg on the 5th of May, 1862.
Walter Jamieson accompanied his parents on their removal to Mayville and when a youth of eighteen years he enlisted for service in the Civil war, enrolling as a member of Company G, Seventy-second New York Volunteer Infantry, on the 17th of July, 1861. He remained at the front for three years and later reenlisted. On the 2d of July, 1863, he was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and was honorably discharged March 4, 1864. On the 9th of September follow- ing he again offered his services to the goverment, joining Company B, Nine- teenth Regiment of the Veteran Reserve Corps, with which he continued until November 15, 1865, and was then honorably discharged. On the 12th of March, 1866, he returned to Mayville, New York, but after a short time left his old home in the Empire state and started westward to lowa with Buchanan county as his destination. He bought a farm a mile east of Brandon, in Jefferson township, and to the original tract of ninety-five acres kept adding from time to time until he is now the owner of two hundred and twenty-five acres constituting one of the excellent farms of Jefferson township. He is now seventy-one years of age, with a clear mind and his physical faculties as well in splendid condition. In a word, he is a very active, energetic man and his worth in the community is widely recognized. He has filled a number of local offices, serving for two terms as county supervisor and also filling the position of township assessor for twenty years.
On the 4th of July, 1868, Walter Jamieson was united in marriage to Miss Martha Newcomb, a daughter of George and Eliza (Hobson) Newcomb. She
MR. AND MRS. JACOB SHERMAN
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was born on a farm in Chautauqua county, New York. July 13, 1850, and with her parents came to Buchanan county, her father purchasing a farm of forty acres in Jefferson township. Later he bought an eighty-acre traet and then sold the original place. Upon his farm he continued to reside until his death, while his wife survived him and died upon the same farm in 1884. Their daughter Martha became the wife of Walter Jamieson in Waterloo, Iowa, and they be- gan their domestie life on the old home farm a mile east of Brandon. There they continued to reside until the death of Mrs. Jamieson, July 2, 1911, and the father now makes his home with his son Robert in Brandon.
Robert H. Jamieson spent his boyhood upon the old homestead farm a mile east of Brandon with the usual experiences that fall to the lot of the farm lad. He pursued his education in the publie schools and on the 5th of June, 1895, when twenty years of age, was united in marriage to Miss Anna Williams, a daughter of John and Lucinda (Couts) Williams and a granddaughter of Steven D. and Mary Ann Williams. John Williams was born on his father's farm in Indiana and when a young man made his way to Benton county, Iowa, purchasing a tract of land north of Vinton. His farm comprised two hundred and sixty aeres, upon which he resided, carefully cultivating the fields, to the time of his death, which occurred Mareh 1, 1913. His parents also went to Benton county, where their last days were passed. Mrs. John Williams, the mother of Mrs. Jamieson, was born in Pennsylvania and in her girlhood accom- panied her parents to Newhall, Benton county, Iowa, where her father entered a claim, seeuring one hundred and twenty aeres. This he eventually sold and took up his abode in Vinton, where he remained until the death of his wife in 1845. He survived her until 1889 and passed away in Newhall, Iowa. It was their daughter Lucinda who became the wife of Mr. Williams, and among their children was a daughter Anna, who became the wife of Mr. Jamieson. By the last marriage there have been born five children : Ruth L .. Mary E. and Walter J., all at home; George H .. who died in 1913; and Marlin G.
Following his marriage Mr. Jamieson began cultivating his father's farm, giving much of his attention to stock-raising and shipping. His business affairs were carefully, systematically and successfully conducted and he remained upon the farm until 1911, when he removed to Brandon. He still manages the farm, however, and is extensively engaged in the handling of stock and in the con- dnet of a real-estate business. In the year 1910 he sold to farmers and other citizens living within a radius of fifteen miles of Brandon cattle to the value of one hundred thousand dollars, and he is today one of the leading stock dealers of the county. For the past eight years he has been a director of the Brandon State & Savings Bank, and he is also manager of the Brandon Cooperative Ex- change, which deals in grain. lumber, coal and live stock. His real-estate affairs are managed with the same thoroughness and progressiveness that characterizes his activities in other fields of business. He is thoroughly conversant with prop- erty values and now has under course of construction six modern dwellings which are a credit to the city of Brandon. He was one of the leaders in the movement which made possible the building of the new electric railroad through Brandon and he subseribed a very liberal amount of stoek, also giving the right of way through forty acres of valuable land. He readily recognizes the oppor- tunities for growth and development in his section of the county and cooperates
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in all movements for the benefit and upbuilding of his city and surrounding country. He possesses initiative spirit and has a genius for devising and execut- ing the right thing at the right time, joined to everyday common sense. His activity and ability have marked him for leadership and his fellow townsmen have great faith in his judgment.
GEORGE W. WURTZ.
General agricultural pursuits claim the time and energies of George W. Wurtz, the owner of an excellent and well improved farm in Westburg township. His birth occurred near West Chicago, Illinois, in 1861, his parents being Chris- tian and Elizabeth (Boughman) Wurtz. The father, a native of Germany, emi- grated to the United States in 1848, and after two years he removed to West Chi- cago, Illinois, and has there resided continuously throughout the intervening sixty-four years. There he wedded Miss Elizabeth Boughman, who passed away in 1894.
George W. Wurtz was a man of forty years when in 1901 he came to Bu- chanan county, Iowa, and purchased the farm in Westburg township which he has since operated. Success has attended his undertakings as an agriculturist and he is justly entitled to representation among the substantial and enterprising citizens of the community.
In 1890 Mr. Wurtz was united in marriage to Miss Emma Arnold, her father being Jacob Arnold, a native of Germany. He emigrated to the United States as a young man, settling first at West Chicago, Illinois, and in 1866 purchased a tract of land in Cono township. Buchanan county, Iowa, taking up his abode among the early settlers here. His demise oceurred when he had attained the age of seventy-one years. Our subject and his wife have five children, namely : Christopher JJ., Rose Nellie, George W .. Emory Earl and Pearl Emma. Mr. Wurtz belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and in his home community is well known and highly esteemed as an upright and honorable citizen.
EDSON A. LEWIS.
Iowa offers splendid opportunities to the agriculturist, as lands are naturally rich and arable and respond readily to the care and cultivation bestowed upon them. The man, therefore, who wisely and systematically directs his labors in the tilling of the soil ean readily win success and this Edson A. Lewis has done. For a long period he was elosely connected with farming interests in Buchanan county, but is now living retired in Hazleton. He was born in Essex county, New York, April 19, 1850, a son of Allen A. Lewis, whose birth occurred June 22, 1823. and who is now living in Hazleton at the unusual age of ninety-one years. He is a son of James and Daphne (Allen) Lewis, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire. The father passed away in 1854 at the age of sixty-nine years, while the mother died in the year 1879. James Lewis followed the occu-
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pation of farming, as had his father, Abel Lewis, who was one of the patriots of the Revolutionary war and served for eight years, from 1775 to 1783, as an aid on the staff of one of the generals in the Revolutionary war.
Allen A. Lewis continued in the same occupation which had been followed by his father and grandfather. In early manhood he married Levisa Mckenzie, who was born in the state of New York, August 28, 1825, and is now living at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. They are perhaps the most venerable couple in this county. Mrs. Lewis is a daughter of Robert Mckenzie, who was born in Essex county, New York, October 20, 1792, and died at the age of sixty- seven years. His wife, Mrs. Jemimah (Strong) Mckenzie, was born June 8, 1792. Robert Mckenzie was private secretary to and lieutenant on the staff of a general who commanded the American troops near Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. It was in early life that Allen A. Lewis removed from New Hampshire to New York and after remaining for an extended period in that state he came to Iowa in 1864. In New York he served as captain of a rifle corps of the State Guards, but could not enter the army at the time of the Civil war because of his health. Following his removal to the west he settled in Hazleton township, this county, and began farming. He brought his fields to a high state of cultiva- tion and also engaged extensively in stock-raising, making a specialty of handling sheep. He had one of the best improved farms of the county, his home being an attractive and substantial residence, and upon the place were also good barns and outbuildings and the latest improved machinery of the day. He was always active in republiean affairs in his township and held several local offices, although he was never an aspirant for political preferment. Mrs. Lewis has always been very active in the Methodist church and today, at the age of eighty-nine, does more real church work than many of the younger women of the congregation.
Edson A. Lewis acquired the rudiments of an education in the district schools, which were taught in the farmers' homes, as there were no schoolhouses at that period. Being an only son, he remained with his parents, assisting his father in the farm work, and together they acquired three hundred and five acres of land. As the years went on the son more and more largely relieved his father of the work of the farin and he has always featured stock-raising as an important branch of his business. He handles high grade stoek and in this, as in other branches of his farm work, displays progressive methods, keeping in touch with all the modern ideas which mark progress along that line. He has seen Buchanan eounty grow in many ways. but there is no more noticeable evi- dence of advancement than is to be seen in the means of eonveyanee, for when the family first came here even buggies were very uncommon and today it is no unusual thing to find the farmer, as well as the townsman, using his motor car. Edson A. Lewis became an active worker upon the home farm when but sixteen years of age and worked persistently and energetically for a long period until. having become the possessor of a handsome competenee, he put aside business eares and is now living retired.
On the 25th of December. 1878. occurred the marriage of Mr. Lewis and Miss Abbie C. Beers, who was born in New York. December 23. 1852, a daughter of Benjamin Beers, who at an early age became a cabin boy on a sloop used as a provision ship in the War of 1812. He was born in Vermont in 1799 and passed away at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife, who bore the maiden
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name of Susanna Barton, was an own cousin of Phoebe and Alice Cary and was born at Sandy Hill, Argyle county, New York, in 1810. Her life record covered a span of eighty-two years, being ended in 1892. Both removed in their youth to Essex county, New York, and there Benjamin Beers followed the cooper's trade. He afterward began farming in that state, owning a traet of land. In early manhood he was an active whig and upon the dissolution of that party he joined the ranks of the new republican party. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, frequently called him to publie office. Both he and his wife remained residents of the Empire state until called to their final rest. Mrs. Lewis had a brother, George W. Beers, who was a non-commis- sioned officer in the Civil war and died from wounds received at the battle of Antietam. There were twelve children in the family, of whom Mrs. Lewis was the eleventh in order of birth. Both of her parents held membership in the Baptist church and took a most active and helpful part in its work, doing all in their power to advance moral progress.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born three sons. Ralph Clifton, born in 1879 and living upon a farm in this county, married Clara Follmer and has two children, Ross and Mabel. Both the parents have attended the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. Harry C. died at the age of seventeen months. Allen Barton, born in 1886, is a graduate of the Oelwein Business College at Oelwein, Iowa, and married Miss Bernice Few. He is engaged in the hardware business at Whitehall, Illinois, and is a very active church worker. The eldest son is serving as a school director.
About thirty years ago Mr. Lewis, acknowledging the power of the Supreme Being, became an active worker in the Methodist church and has done mneh to increase the influence of the Prairie Grove church and also of the Methodist church of Hazleton. He has reared his family in that faith and has lived to see his sons also become active in church work. Mr. Lewis has served as a teacher and as superintendent in the Sunday school, as a trustee and steward in the church, and has filled other of its offices, being now the church librarian. He is an ardent temperanee worker and was a most earnest supporter of the Good Templars during its existence. He now has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America. It will be easily seen that his life is aetuated by high and honorable principles and that he has labored effectively for the uplift and benefit of mankind, never deviating from a course which he believes to be right nor faltering in his allegiance to a cause which he has esponsed.
HENRY F. SUHR.
Henry F. Suhr was for an extended period actively engaged in general farming in Buchanan county but has retired from agricultural life and makes his home in Hazleton, where he has business connections as viee president of the Iowa State Bank of Hazleton and as president of the Hazleton Farmers Telephone Company.
He was born in Hessen, Germany, May 10, 1857, and was the second in a family of five children whose parents were William Henry and Wilhelmina
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(Prasuhn) Suhr. The father's birth occurred in Hessen, in 1826, while the mother was born in 1828. William H. Suhr carried on farming to a limited extent in that country, where he owned a small tract of land, but thinking that better business opportunities might be secured on this side the Atlantic, he sailed for the United States in 1868 and made his way across the country to Iowa, settling at Dyersville. There he worked on the railroad until 1870, when he removed to Buchanan county, settling in Washington township, where he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, there devoting his attention to general farming and stock-raising until his death. He took out his naturaliza- tion papers, becoming a citizen of the United States, and his study of the political situation and questions of the day led him to give his allegiance to the republican party. He held several local offices but was not very active in politics. He was, however, a devoted member of the German Presbyterian church, acted as one of its early elders and took a most helpful interest in the various lines of church work. He died in 1898 at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife passed away in 1906 at the age of seventy-nine years. All of their children were born in Germany, save one, and three of the family are yet residents of Buchanan county.
Henry F. Suhr was a lad of thirteen years when he arrived with his parents in this county, within the borders of which he has since made his home. He attended the Robinson school in Washington township and when not busy with his text-books worked in the fields, continuing to assist his father in the develop- ment of the home farm until twenty years of age, when he started out in life on his own account and worked for nearby farmers for about three years. He then began farming on his own account and after cultivating rented land for a year invested in one hundred and twenty acres in Hazleton township. Upon that tract he made his home for about twenty-one years and annually gathered good harvests and also successfully raised stock, his business affairs being wisely and intelligently directed so that he gained gratifying success. At length he left the farm and took up his abode in Hazleton, where he is connected with the Iowa State Bank as vice president and with the Hazleton Farmers Telephone Company as the president. At this writing he looks after the latter's interests in road work.
On the 30th of November, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Suhr and Miss Alice McFarland, a native of Linn county, Iowa, and a daughter of Thomas and Almanda (Lee) McFarland, both of whom were born in Virginia. The latter was a daughter of Daniel R. Lee, who was a brother of General Robert E. Lee. Strongly related in blood, they held opposing views at the time of the Civil war, for Daniel R. Lee enlisted with his son at Indianapolis, Indiana, for service in the Union army. Thomas McFarland was reared upon a farm in Virginia and about the year 1853 arrived in Iowa after having resided for a time in Indiana. He was married in this state to Almanda Lce and returned to Indiana when his daughter, Mrs. Suhr, was three years of age. He had made the trip from Indiana to Iowa with ox teams and used oxen in his farm work. On returning to the Hoosier state he lived near Crawfordsville and was employed as a sawyer in the lumber mills of that locality. In 1874 he again came to Iowa, settling in Linn county, where he carried on farming. He spent the last part of his life, however, in Pendleton, Oregon. In his family were nine children,
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of whom Mrs. Suhr is the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Suhr have adopted two chil- dren : Ida May James, now the wife of E. F. Latham, of the Hazleton Telephone Company, by whom she has two children, Thelma A. and Opal Lucille; and Arthur H., a farmer of this county, who is married and has two children, Norma and Loraine W.
Mr. Suhr is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. He votes with the republican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire political pref- erment. Practically his entire life has been passed in Buchanan county and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progres- sive present, for he can relate many interesting incidents of the early days as well as of later progress and improvement. He has manifested in his life many substantial qualities and thus it is that he enjoys the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has been associated. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as a trustee. He is one of its earnest members, his belief finding exemplification in his daily conduct.
GEORGE GERSTENBERGER.
George Gerstenberger has extensive property holdings in this county, his landed possessions aggregating five hundred aeres, and in all of his farm work he follows the most progressive methods. He is a native of Dubuque county, Iowa, born November 27, 1864. His father, Franz Gerstenberger, was born in Germany in 1828 and there learned and followed the miller's trade until 1860, when he bade adieu to friends and fatherland and sailed for the new world. Making his way across the country, he settled first in Dubuque, where he resided until 1865. That year witnessed his arrival in Buchanan county, where he turned his attention to farming, purchasing both prairie and timber land. He had about two hundred and sixty acres and he brought his farm to a high state of cultivation. He planted shade trees, set out an orehard and made his place most attractive in appearance, as well as most productive through the employment of modern methods. For about six years he lived retired prior to his death, which occurred in 1882. He was a democrat in polities, but without aspiration for office. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Teresa Ernst, was born in Germany in 1830 and is now living at the advanced age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of six children, of whom George was the fourth in order of birth, and three of the number are now living in this county.
George Gerstenberger, reared in Iowa, enjoyed such educational advantages as the common-school system of the state afforded and during his youthful days early became familiar with the best methods of carrying on farm work. He started out independently when twenty-five years of age, purchasing land, since which time he has carried on farming on his own account. He is today the owner of the old family homestead of two hundred and sixty aeres and an addi- tional tract of two hundred and forty acres, making in all about five hundred aeres. He has seventy-five acres planted to eorn, fifty aeres in oats and much of the remainder in hay, and not a little of his crops is used for his stoek-raising.
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