USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 37
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Louis H. Destival attended the district schools and remained upon the home farm until he had attained his majority, dividing his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He then began farming on his own account and now resides in Hazleton town- ship upon a tract of land of seventy-five acres, which he has purchased. The soil is rich and productive, and he successfully engages in the production of crops adapted to climatic conditions. He also raises stock, making a specialty of mules, and for five years dealt in live stock in Hazleton in connection with farming.
In 1895 Mr. Destival wedded Miss Emma Lahner, a daughter of Antone and Clara Lahner. Her father, a native of Germany, remained there until about thirty years of age. He had a brother who served in the army under Napoleon. On coming to the new world Antone Lahner settled in Illinois and became an ex- tensive landowner of that state, winning success as the years went by through his judicious investments and carefully managed business affairs. About 1884 he removed to Iowa and settled on the farm now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Destival. He was an active democrat, a well read man and pronounced in his views. He passed away in 1890, at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife. who was born in Canada. is now living in Hazleton township at the age of sixty- two years. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Louis II. Destival are five children : Vietor L., Doris E., Louis D., Fern and Vivian, and the circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death.
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Mr. Destival has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Orients. He has been a lifelong resident of this county and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family that has been represented in the county for several years exceeding a half century.
A. D. MOUNT.
Iowa well deserves its reputation as one of the leading agricultural states of the Union. Its undulating prairie land offers excellent opportunities to the farmer and the state has become thickly settled with a class of enterprising farmers whose work is attended with excellent results. Among those who have busily and successfully tilled the soil in Buchanan county is A. D. Mount, now living on section 8, Jefferson township. He is also president of the Farmers Co- operative Exchange of Brandon. His birth occurred in this county October 28, 1865, his parents being Robert and Mary Jane (Rohn) Mount. The father was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and when twenty years of age came to the United States, establishing his home in eastern Pennsylvania. He became timekeeper and foreman at the rock quarries at Glendon and also engaged in teaching school there at night. He was thus busily engaged for a number of years, having scarcely an idle moment in all the twenty-four hours. He then married and removed to the middle west. settling in Jefferson township, Bu- chanan county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. This he carefully improved and developed, remaining thereon to the time of his death. He held membership in the Catholic church and gave his political alle- giance to the democratic party. It was in Easton, Pennsylvania, that he wedded Mary Jane Rohn, who was born in Bethlehem, that state, in which place both her father and mother passed away.
A. D. Mount spent his boyhood upon the home farm at Easton, Pennsylvania, and in 1874, when a youth of nine years, accompanied his parents on their westward removal to Buchanan county, Iowa, the father purchasing a farm in Jefferson township. He remained there with his parents until he reached the age of fourteen, at which time he accepted the position of foreman on con- struction work for the Burlington Railroad. He was also employed in a similar capacity on the Illinois Central but later he abandoned railroad work and went to Dakota, where he was employed as a harvest hand through one summer. In the following spring he made his way to Valentine, Nebraska, and on by wagon to the Pine Ridge agency, in South Dakota, where he was employed by the United States government in building schoolhouses in which to educate the Indians. In the fall of that year he drove overland from Pine Ridge to Run- ning Water, North Dakota, where he was in charge of a bunch of horses on a range. A short time afterward, however, he left that district and returned to Buchanan county, settling in Independence, where he remained through the winter. In the spring he accepted a position with the Illinois Central Railroad as construction foreman at Cherokee, Iowa, where he remained until February. He then returned to Independence and in the spring of that year rented the
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farm that had belonged to his father. Since then he has been closely associated with agricultural interests in this part of the state.
In the fall of that year Mr. Mount married Miss Sarah Burns, a daughter of James and Catherine Burns. Her father died August 6, 1912. Her mother was born in Ireland, came to the United States when a young lady and settled in New York, where she became the wife of James Burns. They removed west- ward to Independence, Iowa, where Mr. Burns purchased a house and worked by the day to the time of his death. His wife passed away in 1910, while he survived her about two years.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mount began their domestic life upon a farm, which they occupied until 1902. Later, however, that property was sold and Mr. Mount purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, Jefferson township, where he now resides. He has long been an active and progressive agriculturist and is prompted in all of his business affairs by laudable ambition. He sees the opportunities for advancement and has cooperated in many move- ments which have resulted beneficially to the community. He is now president of the Farmers Cooperative Exchange of Brandon, is a director of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company of Jesup and is a director of the Farmers Savings Bank of Brandon.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mount have been born seven children: Mrs. Mary Agnes Messingham, now living in Independence; and Raymond L., Robert V., Frank A., Gertrude L., Genevieve E. and Elmer J., all at home. The family have been reared in the faith of the Catholic church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Mount are members. His political indorsement is given to the democratic party. For four terms he was assessor of Jefferson township, and in 1910 was census enumerator for that township. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and has been consul and clerk of the local camp. His activities have touched various lines and all beneficially, and his work has been a factor in general progress and improvement as well as in his individual snecess.
EDGAR E. BRINTNALL.
The State Bank of Winthrop has for many years enjoyed the full confidence of the community and its resources have constantly grown. Much of this eon- tinued prosperity is due to the watchfulness and financial ability of its eashier, Edgar E. Brintnall, who for twenty-nine years has held that position and has virtually determined the policies of the institution.
He was born in Windham county, Vermont, April 17, 1852, a son of Ervin P. and Wealthy J. (Willey) Brintnall. The father was likewise a native of the Green Mountain state as were also his parents. Prosper and Amy (Johnson) Brintnall. Prosper Brintnall enlisted with a Vermont regiment for service in the War of 1812 and was a carpenter by trade. Both he and his wife lived to an advaneed age. His parents were Jonathan and Mary (Williams) Brintnall, the former of whom came to the United States from England and located in Massa- chusetts, later becoming a soldier of the Revolutionary war. His wife was born June 21, 1750, in Massachusetts.
EDGAR E. BRINTNALL
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Ervin P. Brintnall, the father of our subject, was reared in Vermont and there married, but in 1854 he removed to Illinois, locating at Elgin, where he followed the carpenter's trade until the summer of that year. He then came to Iowa for the purpose of looking over the country with the intention of settling here and as he did not wish to spend any more money than necessary upon the trip he walked from Delhi to Waterloo, a distance of fifty miles. He returned to Illinois and continued to reside in that state for a number of years but in 1864 removed to Iowa with his family and settled upon a farm in Byron township, one mile and a half north of Winthrop. The place comprised one hundred and sixty acres, which he seeured by trading his house and lot in Elgin for it. He devoted his energies to its cultivation for a number of years but eventually turned it over to his sons, making his home with the subject of this review in Winthrop until his death, which occurred on the 31st of January, 1911, when he was in his eighty-fourth year. He was an active republican and quite prominent. in local affairs. For several years he held the office of county supervisor and also served in a number of township offices. He was a member of the Congregational church and a deacon therein for many years, always manifesting the greatest interest in anything pertaining to its welfare. He followed his trade to some extent after removing to this county and the first Congregational church at Winthrop was one of the structures erected by him. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Wealthy J. Willey, was born in Keene, New Hampshire, in 1828, and was the daughter of Benjamin and Abigail (Burgess) Willey, likewise natives of the Granite state. Both families were of old New England stock. Her parents removed to Illinois with their family but her mother died when but forty-six years of age. Her father then lived with his children and from 1868 until his death, which occurred when he was about eighty years of age, made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Brintnall. She died in 1878, when about fifty years old. She was also an active and consistent member of the Congregational church and by her marriage had five children, namely: Edgar E., of this review ; Florence, the deceased wife of C. A. Frederick; Elmer; Herbert, a merchant of Marshall- town, Iowa; and Angie, an employee of the state at Clarinda, Iowa.
Edgar E. Brintnall was but an infant when the family removed to Elgin, Illinois, and his boyhood was spent in that city and upon a farm near Shaumberg until the removal of the family to this county. After completing the course offered by the public schools he entered Lenox College at Hopkinton, Iowa, and studied there for a time. He subsequently took a commercial course at Daven- port, Iowa, and then for a number of years taught school during the winter and assisted his father upon the farm in summer. In the fall of 1885 he aceepted the position of cashier of the Winthrop State Bank and has held the same ever since. The directors and the ~ther offieers of the bank have the utmost confidence in his ability and integrity and leave its management almost entirely to him, and during the many years that he has been cashier he has completely justified their trust in him. He is sanely progres 've and under his direction the institution has paid good dividends to the stockholders and has at the same time amply safe- guarded the funds of its depositors and extended credit in such a way as to foster the legitimate business interests of the community.
Mr. Brintnall was married on New Year's day, 1877, to Miss Laura H. Metealf, a native of Epworth, Dubuque county, Iowa, and a daughter of O. J. and Abbie
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(Freeman) Metcalf. A sketch of her father appears elsewhere in this work. She was reared and educated in Dubuque county and taught school before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Brintnall have a son, Harold E., who resides upon a part of his grandfather's homestead and engages in general farming and the breeding of registered Holstein cattle. He married Miss Mable Potter and they have two sons: Douglas Harold, a lad of seven years; and Edgar Samuel, an infant.
Mr. Brintnall was in his early life a stanch republican but of late years has supported the prohibition party, as he believes that the liquor problem is one of the great issues before the American people at the present time. He has been nominated by his party for a number of offices, including that of auditor of the state, congressman and county treasurer. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church and he has been the leader of the choir for the past forty-eight years, a record that is seldom equalled. He owns part of the old Brintnall homestead in this county but the management of the bank demands practically all of his time and energy. He is recognized as an astute business man, as a public-spirited citizen and as a man of incorruptible integrity and is held in high esteem by his fellow townsmen.
MARWOOD LEVI SHORT.
Marwood Levi Short was born in Ontario, Canada, August 26, 1861, but from the age of ten years has lived in Buchanan county and is now actively identified with the farming interests of Hazleton township. His father, James W. Short, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1834, and in 1856 made the voyage across the briny deep to Canada, where he engaged in farming for a number of years. Hle wedded Mary Prout, who was born in 1840, and in the year 1869 they left Canada for the United States, settling in Tama county, Fowa. They removed to Buchanan county, in 1871, and Mr. Short purchased land in Buffalo township, where he lived until 1880. He then took up his abode in Hazleton township, where the family has since resided. He carried on gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and his business affairs were capably and suc- cessfully managed. In the later years of his life he removed to Hazleton, retir- ing from active, business, and at the time of his death he was a resident of Min- nesota. His widow survives and now lives with her children in lowa. Late in life he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Marwood L. Short, who is one of a family of thirteen children, was but eight years of age when the family crossed the border into the United States, so that he was largely reared in Tama and Buchanan counties. His youthful days were spent upon his father's farm, which he helped to improve, early be- coming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the erops. When he married he began his domestic life upon a rented farm, there living for three years, at the end of which time he found that he had saved a sufficient capital to enable him to become a property owner. He then purchased his father's farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has since lived. The place gives evidence of his careful supervision and indicates that his
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methods are at once practical and progressive. Annually his fields bring forth good harvests and in his barns and pastures is found high grade stock. Beside his other interests he is a stockholder in the Iowa State Bank of Hazleton.
On the 24th of September, 1891, Mr. Short was married to Miss Mabel Miller, a native of this county and a daughter of William and Florence (Irvin) Miller, both of whom were natives of Scotland, born near Aberdeen. The father, who was born in 1835, passed away in 1900, and the mother's death occurred in 1880. On coming to the new world William Miller first settled in Canada. but afterward came to the United States, taking up his abode in Hazleton township, Buchanan county, in 1856. He drove across the country and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers. The township was then unimproved prairie land, only a few settlements having been made within its borders, and there was much game to be had in this part of the state. There were no railroads at the time of his arrival and the work of progress and development seemed scarcely begun. He took an active interest in the work of general improvement and his labors resulted beneficially for the community as well as himself.
To Mr. and Mrs. Short have been born six children: Myrtle, who is the wife of Guy Allen, living on a farm in Hazleton township; Carl, upon the home farm; Wendel, who is now attending business college in Oelwein; Harold; Grace; and Florence. Mr. Short holds membership with the Guardians of Liberty, and he and his family occupy an enviable position in social circles, the hospitality of the best homes of this section of the county being freely accorded them. His life has been in a measure quietly and uneventfully passed, but he has displayed the sterling qualities of perseverance, energy and reliability in business and has made for himself a ereditable place among the wide-awake and progressive farmers of Hazleton township.
B. F. NABHOLZ.
General farming finds a worthy representative in B. F. Nabholz, who is the owner of an excellent tract of land of two hundred and eighty acres on sections 25 and 36, Jefferson township, where he now resides. The place presents a neat and attractive appearance that is indicative of the careful management and practical methods of the owner. Mr. Nabholz is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Linn county in 1870, his parents being David aud Susan (Kronmiller) Nabholz, more detailed mention of whom is given in the sketch of J. D. Nabholz in this work. The educational opportunities which he enjoyed were those afforded by the public schools and upon the home farm he was trained in the work of the fields, early gaining wide knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and harvesting the crops.
When twenty-two years of age Mr. Nabholz was united in marriage to Miss Abbie De Nio, a daughter of Philip and Loretta (Houck) De Nio, of Brandon. Her father was born in New York in 1827, was reared and educated in that state and afterward married Miss Houek. In 1855 he removed westward to Jones county, Iowa, where he rented land, continuing its cultivation for two years. In 1857 he came to Buchanan county, casting in his lot with its pioneer
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settlers. He took up his abode in Jefferson township, where he purchased a farm about four miles north of Brandon, comprising one hundred and twenty acres of rich and cultivable land. Year by year he carefully tilled the soil. bringing his fields to a high state of improvement. In 1894, however, he put aside the active work of the farm and removed to Jesup, where he remained for two years and then went to Brandon, where he resided until called to his final rest in 1902. His wife survives him and is now living with a daughter in Jef- ferson township at the age of seventy-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Nabholz have been born three children: Mabel, F. W. and Ethel, all yet at home.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nabholz began their domestic life in Jefferson township, where he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land that now constitutes one of the valuable and highly improved farms of the county. It is equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences and in its operation Mr. Nabholz has ever displayed a progressive spirit. He has kept in touch with the advanced methods of farming, as is indicated in the fact that he built the first silo in Jefferson township. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and every phase of practical and progressive modern farm life finds expression on his place. His large crops are carefully and systematically harvested and handled and he also has good grades of stock.
Mr. Nabholz gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has supported sinee age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but while he votes for republican candidates, he has never sought nor desired office for himself. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and the ruling spirit of his life is found in his religious belief. making him a man upright and reliable in every connection and honored wherever he is known.
CLARENCE M. WHITNEY.
The farmers of Buchanan county are progressive and up-to-date and are prosperous as a whole, as this is one of the best agricultural sections of the state. Clarence M. Whitney, who owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land on section 26, Madison township, is energetic and alert, always seeking for improved methods or machinery, and his wisely directed labor yields him a comfortable annual income.
He was born in Madison township. December 29, 1865. a son of the late David M. Whitney, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He was reared upon the home farm in Madison township and at the usual age entered the public schools. completing the course offered. He subsequently attended the University of Upper Iowa at Fayette and then taught for one term at Fremont Center. this county. However, the greater part of his life has been occupied in farming and he has found it a congenial and profitable calling. He owns and operates a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres which constitutes the northeast quarter of section 26, Madison township, and follows diversified farming, giving considerable attention to the raising of graded stock.
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In 1892 Mr. Whitney was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Wilkins, who was born in Jesup in 1867, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Goodrich) Wilkins, who came to this county in 1863 and located at Jesup. Her father was a wagonmaker and followed that trade until his death, which occurred in 1890 when he was sixty-one years of age. He was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, and as a young man went to Winnebago county, Illinois, being married in 1861 at Rockford, that state. His wife was a school teacher for a number of years previous to her marriage. Mr. Wilkins worked in a carriage factory in Rockford for some time but subsequently removed to this county, as before stated. He was a Presbyterian in religious belief and his wife was a Methodist. The latter died in 1898 at the age of fifty-four years. Mrs. Whitney is the only one of their children now living. A sister died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, about four years ago, and a brother died at Lamont and a sister died at Mount Auburn, Iowa, a number of years ago. Mrs. Whitney was reared at Jesup and remained at home until her marriage. She has become the mother of four children: Winfred, usually known as Fred, Glenn, Eva and Angie, all at home.
Mrs. Whitney is a member of the Baptist church and takes a lively interest in everything affecting its welfare. Mr. Whitney is a republican in politics and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wife are natives of this county and have spent their entire lives here, always manifesting the spirit of true citizenship which places the public good above private interests and individual gain.
C. F. STUMMA.
C. F. Stumma, proprietor of a garage and dealer in automobiles in Brandon, was born in Jefferson township, Buchanan county, in 1869, a son of Frederick W. and Ernestina (Hartzberg) Stumma, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of their son W. F. Stumma. The boyhood days of C. F. Stumma were spent upon the home farm with the usual experiences of the lad who divides his time between the duties of the school room, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields.
Our subject continued at home until twenty-four years of age and then made arrangements for having a home of his own in his marriage to Miss Emma Luloff, a daughter of August and Fredericka (Harp) Luloff. The father, a native of Germany, came to the United States in his boyhood days in company with his parents, who settled in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They purchased goverment land, securing one hundred and sixty acres, a part of which was covered with timber. At that place August Luloff was reared and in 1861 he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in the Union army, in which he served for three years. when he was honorably discharged. He then returned to his home in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and there married Miss Fredericka Harp, a daughter of Alexander and Minnie Harp. For five years he engaged in farming on his father's land and then removed westward to Iowa, settling in Jefferson township. this county, where he purchased a valuable tract of one hundred and sixty aeres. Upon this farm he remained until death called him on the 23d of August. 1896. His widow
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survives and is now living with a son at Cedar Rapids at the age of sixty-six years. She, too, is a native of Germany and was brought by her parents to the new world, the Harp home being also established in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where her father purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. This he at once began to develop and improve and lived thereon for nineteen years, after which he and his family also became residents of Jefferson township, Buchanan county, where Mr. Harp bought one hundred and twenty acres of land. He employed the same practical methods in tilling the soil here and became recognized as an enterprising agriculturist of his community. His wife died in 1884 when sixty-three years of age. Mr. Harp survived for some time and was living with his daughter, Mrs. Weiser, of Black Hawk county, when he passed away in 1894. He was a republi- can in his political views and was a member of the German Lutheran church.
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