USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 36
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In taking up the personal history of Sampson C. Hittle, we present to our readers the life record of one who was widely and favorably known in this county by reason of his aetive connection with public affairs as well as agri- eultural interests. He was educated in the common schools and through the summer months aided his father in the work of the fields, thus gaining practical experience in the best methods of tilling the soil. He remained upon the home farm until twenty-two years of age and then began cultivating his father's land on his own account. In addition to general farming he raised shorthorn cattle and made a specialty of Poland-China hogs. He remained a resident of Illinois until February, 1884, and then removed to Buchanan county, Iowa, where he so lived as to win the high regard and good will of all of his fellow eitizens. In the year of his arrival he purchased land and was the owner of one hundred and sixteen aeres in Washington township, which he cultivated with the aid of his son.
On the 5th of February, 1874, Mr. Hittle was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Albright, who was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, a daughter
MR. AND MRS. SAMPSON C. HITTLE
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of Frederick A. and Caroline (Specht) Albright, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to America in childhood. They were married in Penn- sylvania, where Mr. Albright followed the carpenter's trade, but after their removal to Illinois he turned his attention to farming. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he held membership in the Lutheran church. His family numbered thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Hittle was the fourth in order of birth. The father died in 1900, at the age of eighty-two years, and the mother passed away in 1902, at the age of seventy-five years. To Mr. and Mrs. Hittle were born seven children: Anna, the wife of W. A. Robin- son, a farmer and horseman of Buchanan county, by whom she has four children. Myrtle, Lucius, Wilner and Palmer; Elva, the wife of Palmer Ramsey, a retired farmer of Independence, by whom she has one child, Ruth Atta; May, who is a professional nurse; Harry L., a farmer of Leo, Alberta, Canada; Minnie, at home; Edna, the wife of Park Walker, a farmer of Hewitt, Minnesota, by whom she has one child, Delbart; and Arthur, who operates the home farm, which presents a neat and thrifty appearance, indicating his careful supervision and practical methods.
Mr. Hittle was a stanch republican in his political views, active in the work of the party, and he held some minor township offices. The religious faith of himself and family is that of the Presbyterian church and they are people of sterling worth who display many admirable traits of character and rank . high in the community in which they reside. They are living lives of usefulness and worth. and their many splendid qualities have gained for them high regard.
FRED RETZ.
Fred Retz, a successful stockman and prominent citizen of Lamont, is entitled to honor as a self-made man, his prosperity being due to his well directed labor. He was born near Berne, Switzerland, on the 20th of January, 1861, a son of Jacob and Mary (Heddicker) Retz, who in 1872 brought their family to the United States. They located first at Elkader, Iowa, where they lived for a short time and then removed to Elgin, Fayette county, Iowa, where they resided for many years. While there the father engaged in the sawmill business. In 1884 the family located on a farm near Manchester in Delaware county. In 1904 the father retired and the family removed to Lamont. He died there in 1908 at the age of seventy-three years and was survived three years by his wife, who died in 1911 when about the same age. They were Lutherans in religious belief. To their union were born eight children, of whom five are living. The youngest died in childhood at Manchester. Mrs. Ada Ryan lives in Lamont. Mrs. Hedwick Ryan is the wife of a farmer of Delaware county. Amiel and Albert are both farmers of that county. Mrs. Mary Stone resides in Buchanan county. Jacob, who died in 1910, was a farmer of Fayette county. Fred completes the family.
Fred Retz attended school in his native country and after emigrating to the United States was a student in night school for a time but his educational advantages were somewhat limited. Although his scholastic training was rather Vol TI-18
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meager, he received thorough instruction in the best methods of farming and through actual experience became familiar with all of the varied work to be done upon a farm. After reaching mature years he continued to eultivate the fields and was very successful in that oceupation. He still owns three hundred and thirty aeres of fine land, two hundred and fifty acres on section 2, Fremont township, and eighty acres in Madison township, adjoining Lamont. He now leases this property. In 1900 he moved to Lamont in order to give his family the advantages of the schools of the town, as he realizes the necessity of a good education if one is to win success in the present day. He owns a garage in Lamont and is vice president of the Farmers Savings Bank, which he aided in organizing. He is a man of marked business ability and sueeeeds in what- ever he undertakes.
Mr. Retz was united in marriage in 1886 in Buchanan county to Miss Mary Stone, a native of Delaware county and a daughter of the late E. D. Stone, a pioneer of this part of Iowa, who died in 1911 at the advanced age of eighty- five years. He was very active and the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. His widow. who is eighty-five years old. resides upon the homestead. To Mr. and Mrs. Retz have been born five children, all natives of Buchanan county, namely : Mabel. the wife of Alonzo Jenks of Lamont ; Elsie, the wife of Roy Halleck, of Waterloo, by whom she has two sons; Earl, who manages his father's garage at Lamont ; Hazel, assistant cashier in the Farmers Savings Bank of Lamont : and Howard, at home.
Mr. Retz is independent in politics and has been so busy with his individual affairs that he has never accepted office except that of school director. Socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and his wife and daughters are members of the Rebekahs and the Pythian Sisters. He is one of the substantial and well-to-do residents of Lamont and has the satisfaction of knowing that all that he has accomplished is due to his own sound judgment and persevering labor. In achieving success he has followed methods that are above suspicion, and he holds the unqualified respect of all who know him.
JOHN JOSEPH NEY.
John Joseph Ney, a member of the Iowa bar enjoying a state-wide reputa- tion and since June, 1912, senior partner in the law firm of Ney & Bradley of Iowa City, was born in Sandusky, Ohio, June 8, 1852, a son of Patrick and Ann (Coreoran) Ney, who were natives of Ireland. After coming to America the father was employed largely at farm labor for a time. In New York city he was married and afterward removed with his wife to Ohio, where he entered upon the business of contracting. He graded several miles of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad and later purchased a farm at Arcola, a station on the road eight miles west of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Upon that farm were born the following children : Edward. Mary A .. Sara C., Patrick K., Michael J. and C. W., all of whom are yet living.
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In 1872 the family removed to the Ney farm in Newton township, Buchanan county, Iowa, and Patrick Ney, the father, continued as a successful farmer and contractor up to the time of his death. He came to this state from Indiana with a complete railroading outfit and graded the heavy work on what is now the Illinois Central west of Winthrop. When the company became financially embarrassed and was unable to pay off the men Mr. Ney, although not personally responsible, was liable for this debt, paid off his men and moved the railroading outfit to Austin, Minnesota. He afterward sold out his interest in a contract there and returned to his home in Indiana. Later he enlisted for service as a private in the Fifth Indiana Battery of Light Artillery and follow- ing his return from the war engaged as a contractor on the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw, the Fort Wayne & Grand Rapids and the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroads. He also built the Baker street and Clinton street sewers in Fort Wayne and completed a contract on the Grand Trunk Railroad in Michigan and another contract on the Paducah & Elizabethtown Railroad in Kentucky. He constructed the abutments of a bridge at Fairbank and Quas- queton in Buchanan county in 1871 and was a pioneer in the use of the prairie boulder for bridge work. He completed an important contract for the state of California on the Sacramento river, known as the debris work, and returned to his Iowa home again, subsequent to which time he made a visit to the scenes of his childhood in Ireland. Later he again came to Iowa and died at Dubuque in 1892, his remains being interred in the Catholic cemetery at Independence. Mrs. Ney was a sterling wife and mother and a most valuable helpmate. Both were enterprising, industrious, energetic people and they reared and educated a large family who are now a credit to their name.
John J. Ney, spending his youthful days under the parental roof. devoted his attention to the acquirement of an education, supplementing his study in the schools by a law course and thus winning admission to the bar on the 9th of September, 1875. IIe became a member of the firm of Lake, Harmon & Ney and later formed the firm of Burchart & Ney. In 1884 he was elected circuit judge to fill out the unexpired term of B. W. Lacy and in 1886 was elected district judge and again chosen to that office in 1890. He resigned to accept the position of resident professor of law in the Iowa State University in 1894 and upon removing to Iowa City formed a law partnership with Milton Remley, the then recently elected attorney general of the state. Mr. Ney continued in law practice as a member of that firm and also filled the position of resident professor through the four succeeding years. His partnership with Mr. Remley was dissolved in 1904, after which Judge Ney continued alone in practice until June, 1912, when the present law firm of Ney & Bradley was formed at Towa City. He is an eminent member of the bar of this state and his record on the beneh is in harmony with his record as a man and lawyer, being characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty and a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. His knowledge of the law is comprehensive and exact and his growing ability has brought him to a place of distinction among the leading attorneys of Iowa. He served as city attorney of Independence in 1877 and as mayor in 1878, and save for the last named position his official service has always been along the strict path of his profession. His political allegiance has ever been given to the democratic party.
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At Chicago, on the 3d of October, 1878, Judge Ney was united in marriage to Miss Emily Frances Colby, a daughter of Abram Maher and Mary A. Colby. To this marriage there were born the following named: Marian, Francis J., Philip R., Genevieve F. and John J., all born in Buchanan county before the removal to Iowa City. The eldest son was married to Miss Ora Hewitt, of Sidney, New York, in 1913, and they now reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mrs. Emily Ney passed away in 1893 and was laid to rest in Independence. On the 20th of February, 1904, at Iowa City, Judge Ney wedded Anastasia Mullin, a daughter of William and Ellen Mullin, of lowa City.
The religious faith of Judge Ney and his family is that of the Catholic church. He has membership in the Commercial Club and in the Elks Club of Iowa City. He is widely known throughout the state as an able and learned lawyer, and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit he has worked his way upward until he occupies today a commanding position among the leading lawyers of the Iowa bar.
JOHN BERRIDGE.
John Berridge is a retired farmer living in Lamont but still owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres on sections 20 and 21, Madison township, which is operated by his son, and one hundred and sixty acres in Fayette county, Iowa. He was born near Union Mills, Indiana, January 17, 1849, a son of William and Sarah (Miller) Berridge. The former was born in Cranfield, England, in 1830, and in the early '40s came to America, settling in Ohio. He subsequently removed to Michigan, making his home in Sturgis, that state. In 1861 he located in Ilinois and in 1907 he passed away in Pecatonica, that state. He was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah Miller, who was also born in Cranfield, England, in 1832, and who passed away in Pecatonica, Illinois, in 1912. To their union were born four children: Susie, deceased; George, who is living at Bangor, Michigan ; Joseph, deceased ; and John of this review.
When still a child the last named accompanied his parents to Michigan and later moved with them to Ilinois. He remained at home until twenty years of age, when he came to Lamont, Iowa. He was pleased with conditions here and for five or six years rented land in the vicinity of Lamont. At the end of that time he purchased the farm of two hundred and forty acres which he still owns and devoted his time and energy to its cultivation until 1903. In that year he retired and moved to Lamont, where he now resides. During his active life he was a thoroughly alert and progressive farmer and realized a gratifying profit annually from the sale of his grain and stock.
In 1873 Mr. Berridge was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Rowse, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Mary ( Wood) Rowse. The father was born in England in 1832 and passed away in Manchester. Delaware county, Iowa, in 1899. His wife was born in New York state, of German descent. in 1834, and died at Man- chester, Iowa. To their union were born six children : Eliza, now Mrs. Berridge ; George, a resident of Aurora; William, whose home is in Canada; Mary Ann. deeeased ; Hattie, living in Sioux City, Iowa ; and Lottie, a resident of Oelwein.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Berridge were born five children: LeRoy Earl, the oldest, was born April 7, 1874, and died on the 13th of the following October. Grace, born November 3, 1875, is married and lives in Glidden, Iowa. Albert, born November 4, 1878, is married and resides on the home place. Laura, born September 12, 1881, engaged in teaching in western lowa for a time but is now the wife of C. G. Curtis, a resident of De Smet, South Dakota. Robert, born November 1, 1887, died in Des Moines when twenty-one years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Berridge belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, are active workers in the cause of religion, and he is president of the board of church trustees. He is a republican in politics and fraternally belongs to Lamont Lodge, No. 656, 1. O. O. F. Mrs. Berridge is a member of the Royal Neighbors and is also a member of the Woman's Relief Corps of Lamont. He is connected with a number of the business interests of the town, being a director of the Lamont Savings Bank and president of the local creamery. He has not only won financial success but has also gained the respeet of his fellow citizens, who esteem him as a man of incorruptible integrity and of marked public spirit.
SAM KANOUSE.
Sam Kanouse, numbered among the prosperous, representative and progres- sive agriculturists of Jefferson township, owns and operates a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 33. ITis birth there occurred on the 15th of February. 1866, his parents being Benjamin and Elizabeth (Monbeck) Kanouse. The father was born on a farm in Ohio on the 27th of June, 1827, and acquired his education in the public schools of that state. On the 23d of October, 1851, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Monbeck and during the next two years operated a rented farm. Subsequently he came to Buchanan county, Iowa, entering a forty-acre tract of government land in Jefferson township which he improved and on which he made his home for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to the Buckeye state, where he operated a rented farm for two years and then again came to Jefferson township, this county, taking up his abode on the farm of forty acres which he had entered from the government and residing thereon for a number of years. Subsequently he dis- posed of the property and for a short time cultivated a rented tract in the vicinity, while later he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land south of Brandon, in Jefferson township, whereon he spent the remainder of his life. His demise occurred on the 20th of February, 1893, and the community thus lost one of its representative agriculturists and respected citizens. His wife passed away soon afterward. She was also a native of Ohio and was reared and educated in that state.
Sam Kanouse spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the old home farm near Brandon and attended the public schools in the acquirement of an educa- tion. General agricultural pursuits have claimed his time and energies through- out his entire business career and he has always remained on the old homestead, operating the same in accordance with the most practical and modern methods. He is likewise interested in a threshing outfit operated from Brandon and has.
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long been numbered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of his native county.
In his political views Mr. Kanouse is a democrat and is widely recognized as a loyal and public-spirited citizen who does everything in his power to promote the general welfare. He owns stock in the new electric railroad running between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His entire life has been spent in Buchanan county, and he enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its bor- ders, so that this record cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers.
JOHN FEST.
The life record of John Fest indicates what may be accomplished when energy and industry lead the way. Although he started out as a farm hand working at a small salary, he is today the owner of six hundred acres of rich land situated in Newton township, his home place being on section 9, where he has lived for more than three decades.
He was born in Dubuque county, January 15, 1857, and comes of German ancestry, his parents, Charles and Louisa (Klotz) Fest, both being natives of Germany. The father crossed the Atlantic when thirty-three years of age and settled in Galena, Illinois. He was a mason by trade and became a master mechanic. After emigrating to the new world he worked at his trade until 1867. After living for some time in Dubuque county, lowa, he went to Wisconsin, where he owned forty acres of land. He employed a man to cultivate his fields, while he continued to work at his trade, and in 1867 he came to Buchanan county, where he purchased eighty acres of wild land covered with brush, the tract being situated in Newton township and constituting a part of the present possessions of his son John. With characteristic energy the father began the development of this place and continued to break the sod, till the fields and cultivate his crops until 1880, when he retired and returned to Germany, where he spent his remain- ing days, his death occurring in 1889. His wife was but two years of age when brought to the United States and her last days were spent in Decatur county, Iowa, where she passed away in 1900.
John Fest was reared and educated in Cassville, Wisconsin, and with his parents came to Iowa upon their return to this state. He remained with them until 1879, when he began working as a farm hand, being employed in that way for five and a half years. He next rented the old home place, which he cultivated for two years, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the farm, which is located on seetion 9, Newton township. With characteristie energy he began its further development. and improvement and today has one of the best improved properties in the county. He has cultivated this farm continuously since September, 1883, and understands thoroughly the best methods of tilling the soil and producing his crops. This is evidenced in the fact that success in substantial measure has attended his efforts, enabling him to add from time to time to his holdings until his possessions now aggregate six hundred acres of rich land, most of which is in Newton township. He is engaged in the raising of thoroughbred Aberdeen Angus cattle. Belgian horses and Duroe Jersey hogs
JOHN FEST
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and his live-stock interests are an important feature of his business, adding materially to his annual income. He is also a stockholder in the Robinson Lumber Company at Robinson, Iowa.
On the 12th of September, 1883, Mr. Fest was united in marriage to Miss Janet A. Ironsides, a daughter of James and Matilda A. (Fike) Ironsides. The father, a native of Scotland, crossed the Atlantic to Canada in early life and in 1852 came to Iowa, settling in Newton township, Buchanan county, where he purchased land and devoted his remaining days to general agricultural pursuits. He died June 19, 1908, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, and his wife, a native of Canada, passed away January 19, 1909, at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Fest became the parents of six children, as follows: Alva James, who resides at home and operates one of his father's farms; Matilda A., who gave her hand in marriage to William J. Frank, an agriculturist of Newton town- ship; Julia M., who is the wife of George W. Franck, also a farmer of Newton township; Mary E., a maiden of thirteen summers ; Ralph E., who is eleven years of age; and Grace, who passed away in June, 1899.
Mr. Fest is the oldest member of the Odd Fellows society living in this section of the county, his membership being in the lodge at Troy Mills. He also has membership in the Modern Woodmen of America and in the Protestant Methodist church, while politically he is a republican. His has been an active, busy and useful life. He has never allowed obstacles nor difficulties to bar his path, regarding them rather as an impetus for renewed effort. He has worked with unfaltering purpose and indefatigable energy to achieve success and his life record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, show- ing what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do and when laudable ambition finds expression in intelligently directed effort.
LOUIS H. DESTIVAL.
Louis H. Destival was born in Buchanan county in 1871 and is a repre- sentative of one of the old pioneer families, established here in 1859. At the present time he is carrying on general farming and stock-raising and makes his home in Hazleton township. His father, Charles E. Destival, was born in Switzerland in 1833 and his grandparents were Isaac and Susan Destival, also natives of the land of the Alps.
When fifteen years of age Charles E. Destival came to the United States and was employed in the east in a brickyard. In 1853 he arrived in Iowa, journeying westward with an emigrant train of ox teams and wagons. Hc began work on the railroad which was then being built from Dubuque to Manchester, and in 1859 he came to Independence, where he was employed in a brewery until 1861. The following year he was married and in 1863 he left his young wife for active service at the front, having enlisted in Company K of the Ninth Iowa Cavalry, under Captain Shawhan of Sigourney. He served for two years, lacking five weeks, and was largely engaged in scout duty and in fighting bushwhackers. On one occasion he had his horse shot from
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under him but personally sustained no injuries. He became a second eor- poral and color bearer and made a most creditable military record through his loyalty and bravery. He now maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. After the close of the war he returned to Buchanan county, where he engaged in farming and also in clearing land for his neighbors, ridding it of brush and timber. He still owns farm property in this eounty and for many years was actively engaged in tilling the soil, but for the past decade has lived retired in Hazleton. Prior to the Civil war he gave his political allegiance to the demo- cratic party, but in 1860 he voted for Abraham Lincoln and has since supported the republican party.
In 1862 Charles E. Destival was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Eldridge, who was born in Syracuse county, New York, in 1846. Her father, also a native of the Empire state, born in 1813, died in 1867. His wife, Mrs. Salina Eldridge, was likewise a native of New York. Mr. Eldridge followed farming in the east until 1854, when he came to Iowa, settling on the present site of Oelwein, although the town was not established at that time. His wife taught the first school in Oelwein. He afterward removed to Independence and later lived in Hazleton township to the time of his death. He was a demo- crat in politics and filled a number of publie offices, his neighbors having great confidence in his ability and trustworthiness. To Mr. and Mrs. Destival were born six children, who are yet living: Edward, of Hazleton township, who is married and has six children ; Carrie, the wife of L. Walker, by whom she has five children; Lena, the wife of Mat Hitchin, of Hazleton, and the mother of one child; Mrs. Effie Nelson, of Oakland. California, who has three children ; Louis H., of this review ; and Edith, the wife of T. Lahner, of Hazleton township.
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