USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 41
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buek shot. He was afterward in the battles of Kelly's Ford, Middleburg and others. In the fall of 1863 he took sixty-five invalids to Providence, Rhode Island, and later to the Lovell General Hospital at Portsmouth Grove, Rhode Island, on Narragansett Bay, where he acted as quartermaster sergeant, pur- chasing provisions and doing other such duties for three thousand men. From that place he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and joined his regi- ment-Company B, Twenty-first Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, under com- mand of Captain Stiles, who was appointed colonel of the post at Troy Road Barracks, New York. Mr. Currier was then appointed aeting captain of the company and quartermaster. In the fall of 1864 he was sent in charge of thirty men to Kingston, New York, where he received the big bounty men, taking them to New York and transferring them to the front. Mr. Currier was honorably discharged December 12, 1864.
After his return to the north he was appointed justice of the peace for Rock- ingham county, New Hampshire, in 1865 and also assisted his father in the office of United States revenue assessor. He came to Iowa in 1869 and purchased and herded a bunch of cattle on Lime Creek in Buchanan county. He was appointed deputy sheriff under the late John A. Davis and the same year was elected eon- stable for Washington township, in which position he served continuously until 1879. He was then elected sheriff and filled the office for three terms or six years, making a most creditable record, his duties being discharged without fear or favor and characterized by the utmost impartiality. He retired from the office as he had entered it, with the confidence and regard of all concerned, and took up his abode upon his farm near the hospital in Sumner township. He was next ealled to public office in appointment to the position of elerk of the judiciary committee of the house of representatives, his appointment coming from Hon. D. B. Hen- derson, chairman of the fifty-fourth congress. He was afterward doorkeeper in the house of representatives and later was transferred to the Soldiers' Life Roll of the house of representatives, of which he is now the president.
Mr. Currier has been married twice. He first wedded Mary E. Whitney, a daughter of J. G. Whitney, who was an expert meehanie and invented certain parts of Colt's firearms. To Mr. and Mrs. Currier were born three children : Maude W., the deceased wife of Samnel Pumphry; Isabel H., the wife of Pro- fessor F. B. Sturm; and Edward L. In December, 1904, Mr. Currier was mar- ried again, his second union being with Cora Gillett, a daughter of Albertus Gillett, a prosperous farmer and eattle breeder of Hazleton township. To this second marriage has been born a son, Rodney Powers, whose birth occurred in September, 1905.
Mr. Currier is a stalwart republican. He voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and has supported each presidential nominee of the republican party since that time. He still believes in its principles, advocating protection and progression along legitimate lines. He is identified with several fraternal organizations and is a well known Mason, having been initiated into the order in 1862 in Derry, New Hampshire. He belongs to the lodge, chapter and Knight Templar commandery at Independence, and he became a charter member of Independence Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He also had membership with the United Workmen, with the Legion of Honor, and is a member of E. C. Little Post, G. A. R. He proudly wears a little bronze button that indicates his active service on the field of battle
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through the darkest hours in our country's history, and through his membership in the post maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He has always been as true and loyal to his country in days of peace as in times of war and in his official service has proven himself a most capable and trustworthy incumbent in office.
GEORGE G. THOMPSON.
George G. Thompson, who was a farmer of Buchanan county and who passed away here, was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, in November, 1818. Upon removing to the west he settled first in Kane county, Illinois, in 1847, and remained there for some time. However, in February, 1865, he came to Iowa and purchased two hundred and forty aeres situated on section 36, Madi- son township, this county. He continued to cultivate his farm until his death and was known as a prosperous and wide-awake agriculturist, using improved machinery in the work of the fields and following progressive methods. His death, which occurred in February, 1890, was a loss to the agricultural interests of the community and was widely and sincerely mourned.
In 1840 Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Cynthia Surbaugh, who was also born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, on New Year's day, 1819. Their marriage occurred in their native state and she accompanied her husband successively to Illinois and to Iowa. To them were born seven chil- dren, all natives of Illinois with exception of the eldest who was born in West Virginia. They are as follows: Mrs. Mary Jane Preussner, residing near Dundee, Iowa ; Mrs. Martha J. Conner, living at Alta, Iowa; Henry B., in the state of Oregon; Mrs. Sabina Brigham, who makes her home at Alexander. North Dakota; George P., who lives in Lamont, Iowa; Mrs. Meleina Bond, a resident of Gresham, Nebraska; and John D., a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work. Mrs. Thompson died December 1, 1900. Both parents were well known in their locality and enjoyed the good-will and respect of all.
LOUIS SAUER.
For about thirty-five years Louis Sauer has occupied the farm which is now his home on sections 7 and 8, Newton township, although in the meantime he has extended its boundaries by additional purchase as his financial resources have increased. He is truly a self-made man, deserving much eredit for what he has accomplished, as he had no financial aid or influential friends to assist him at the outset of his business career.
He was born in Dubuque county. Iowa, October 14, 1852, his parents being Henry and Mary (Richtenbach) Sauer. While he was still in the youthful period of life his parents removed with their family to Buchanan county, where he has since made his home. He is indebted to the public-school system of the state for the educational opportunities offered him and in their improvement he laid the
LOUIS SAUER
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foundation for his later success. He continued to assist his father until twenty- five years of age and then began farming on his own account, purchasing eighty acres of land on section 7, Newton township. With the coming of spring his fields were plowed and crops planted and in the course of time he gathered good harvests. Year after year the work has been carried steadily forward and success has attended him as time has passed on. Ile kept buying more land at intervals until he now owns two hundred and seventy acres altogether, including a finely improved tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, the original eighty- acre tract on section 7 and thirty acres of timber land in Cono township. He is deeply attached to this place, whereon he has lived for more than a third of a century, and its improvements bear the stamp of his individuality. His farm work is conducted along the most progressive lines and as the architect of his fortunes he has builded wisely and well.
In October, 1877, Mr. Sauer was united in marriage to Miss Mary Klotz, a daughter of Charles F. and Rachel (Hekel) Klotz. Unto them were born three children, as follows: Charles H., who follows farming in Newton township; Earl, at home; and Mary, who gave her hand in marriage to Andrew Miller, an agriculturist of Middlefield township. The wife and mother passed away in December, 1895, after a short illness, and on the 26th of February, 1897, Mr. Sauer was again married, his second union being with Catherine Schneider, a daughter of Christian and Catherina Schneider.
Mr. and Mrs. Saner hold membership in the Congregational church and his political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party. For many years he has served as school director and the cause of public education finds in him a stalwart champion. He is interested in all that means progress and improvement for his township and county and he gives willing aid to movements for the general good.
P. R. SULLIVAN.
P. R. Sullivan, the period of whose residence in Buchanan county covers forty-six years, has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the prosperous and enterprising farmers of Jefferson township, residing on section 17. His birth occurred near Montreal, Canada, his parents being Michael and Elizabeth (Marohna) Sullivan, the former anative of County Tipperary, Ireland, and the latter of Canada. Michael Sullivan emigrated to America as a young man and settled near Norton Creek, in Lower Canada, where he took up and improved a tract of government land. He operated the farm success- fully for a period of thirty years and then disposed of the property and crossed the border into the United States, coming to Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1868. Here he purchased a tract of wild land which he improved and cultivated throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in 1873. His wife, who long survived him, was called to her final rest in 1900.
P. R. Sullivan was a youth of fourteen years when he came with his parents to the United States and has since remained on the old home farm in Jefferson
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township, this county, meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of sueeess in his undertakings. The place comprises one hundred and sixty acres and is one of the productive and well improved farms of the community:
In 1886 Mr. Sullivan was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Brown, a daugh- ter of P. A. and Anna (Noland) Brown. The father, a native of Ireland, emi- grated to the United States as a young man and settled in Freeport, Illinois. Subsequently he married Miss Anna Noland of that place and there continued to reside for some time, eultivating a rented farm. Afterward he took up his abode in Winthrop, Buchanan county, Iowa, and here passed away. His widow later married Thomas Considine, of Littleton, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have been born five children, namely: Anna, Harry L., M. Franeis, Joseph and Alice.
Mr. Sullivan gives his political allegiance to the democracy and in religious faith is a Catholic. He is highly respected and esteemed in his community and enjoys the confidence and good-will of a large circle of friends, who have learned to appreciate his worth and his eommendable qualities of mind and character.
EDWIN V. FORRESTER.
Edwin V. Forrester belongs to that class of citizens who have ever been interested in making conditions better for the general farmer and stoek dealer. He devotes his attention to the tilling of the soil and is now the owner of one hundred and seventy-six acres, constituting one of the valuable farms of Sumner township, his home being situated on section 32. He is a pioneer of the county, for his birth occurred here in 1858. Ilis parents were James and Lucinda (Love- joy) Forrester. The mother was born in New York, April 31, 1827, and had reached the age of sixty-one years when death called her in 1888.
The father, who was born in County Wexford. Ireland, June 15, 1814, and who passed away in 1896, was in early life a stoneeutter. He was but seven years of age when brought to the United States, so that his education was largely acquired and his trade learned in this country. He was a contractor on the Erie canal and afterward settled on a farm in Wisconsin. He came first to Iowa in 1848, taking up his abode in Independence and devoting his time to teaming between Independence and Dubuque. He afterward turned his attention to general mer- chandising, becoming the proprietor of one of the first stores established in Inde- pendence. He was otherwise identified with the material upbuilding of the city through the establishment of its business interests. for he operated a brick and stone quarry. He purchased government land in Washington township and added to his holdings from time to time until he was the owner of six hundred and forty aeres, which traet included a part of what is now the eastern portion of Independence. In all of his business affairs his interests were carefully and systematically conducted and his efforts were of a character that contributed to publie progress as well as to individual success. He was an active factor in poli- ties in the early history of the county but he had no politieal aspirations. In the later years of his life he lived retired in Independence and when he passed away the county lost one of its honored pioneer settlers. No other town had been
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established in the county at the time of his arrival. Wild game of all kinds could be secured, for the forests were uncut, the territory uncultivated and only here and there had a hardy frontiersman established his home. There were no rail- roads and one had to haul produce a long distance to market. Mr. Forrester, however, saw the opportunities of the west and became identified with Buchanan county, contributing much to its early development.
Edwin V. Forrester was the youngest in a family of six children and in the schools of Independence acquired his education. At the age of eighteen years he started out independently in business as a laborer and was employed in different ways until he began farming in 1885. He first cultivated rented land and saved his earnings until his industry and careful expenditure had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase a farm. Today he is the owner of one hundred and seventy-six acres on section 32, Sumner township, and he has brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and made his place one of the highly improved farm properties of the county.
On the 15th of January, 1890, Mr. Forrester was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jardee of Hazleton township, a daughter of Nicholas and Elmira (Blon- din) Jardee, both of whom were natives of the state of New York, while the grand- parents were natives of France. Mr. and Mrs. Jardee are now residents of Inde- pendence. He made farming his occupation and at an early period in the develop- ment of Iowa he cast in his lot with its pioneer settlers, taking up his abode in Hazleton township, Buchanan county. He made his way from Dubuque to this district and here invested in land which he cultivated for many years, gaining thereby a comfortable competence that now enables him to live retired in Inde- pendence. Mr. and Mrs. Forrester have one child, Laura.
In his political views Mr. Forrester is a zealous republican, cooperating heart- ily in movements leading to the adoption of party principles. He does not seek nor desire office, however, but concentrates his energies upon his agricultural interests and is today one of the prosperous farmers of Buchanan county, where he has lived for more than a half century. He has seen wonderful changes as time has passed and the evidences of frontier life have given way before advanc- ing civilization. Long since all of the prairie land has been claimed, the forests have been ent away and the work of cultivation and improvement has been carried steadily forward until this is one of the rich agricultural sections of the state.
WILLIAM QUICK.
William Quick was for many years a successful merchant of Lamont but is now living retired from active life and has the distinction of being the oldest man residing in his town. He has lived here since 1874 and has been a resident of Iowa since 1856. In the fifty-eight years that have elapsed since he first came to this state marvelous changes have been wrought and he has done his share of the work of progress and civilization.
He was born in Steuben county, New York, August 26, 1835, a son of John and Anna (Loder) Quick. The father was born in New Jersey and was there
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reared to manhood. His marriage occurred in his native state and three of his children were born there. The family then removed to Steuben county, New York, where eight children were born. John Quick was of Dutch or German descent and was a farmer by occupation. He removed to southern Illinois, locating near the town of Claremont, where he died many years ago. His wife was also a native of New Jersey and died in New York. She likewise was of Dutch or German ancestry. Both Mr. and Mrs. John Quick were Presbyterians. One son, Jeptha, served in the Civil war. All of the children have passed away, save William.
The last named was reared and educated in Steuben county, New York, and was twenty-one years of age when he migrated to Iowa. In 1856 he settled in Delaware county, where he secured a claim and remained for two years, at the end of which time he came to Buchanan county and located in Madison township about three-quarters of a mile west of the small trading point then called Ward's Corners, which is now the thriving town of Lamont. He traded his claim in Delaware county for a farm of eighty acres in this county and located his family upon his newly acquired property. He improved the land and later purchased an additional forty acres, operating the whole tract for several years. He then removed to Lamont and the land is now owned by his daughter. While still upon the farm he taught school for thirteen winters at Ward's Corners. After moving to Lamont he engaged in the mercantile business until 1886, when he sold his store, and for the last twenty-eight years he has lived practically retired. He has, however, not entirely given up business but has been connected with real- estate operations in the town. He secured the land upon which the northern part of Lamont is now built, namely, the south one-half of the southwest quarter of section 14. Madison township. His present residence was one of the first dwelling houses built in that part of town, it being erected upon the site of the first residence there, J. B. Ward having built a house upon the same location a few years before. Mr. Ward settled here in 1853 and was for many years justice of the peace. Mr. Quick laid out the northern part of Lamont, or that part com- prised in the first, second, third and fourth additions. He erected the brick build- ing now occupied by J. D. Thompson, merchant, and has had much to do with the development of the town. He is now the oldest living resident of Lamont and is known to practically every person living in the town.
Mr. Quick was married on the 3d of October, 1853, in New York state to Miss Mary Townsend, also a native of Steuben county, New York, born June 15. 1836. Her parents were Ansel and Betsy (Rogers) Townsend, both of whom died when she was quite small. The mother was a Baptist in her religious faith. Mrs. Quick died on the 23d of June, 1895, at Lamont. She was the mother of five children, two of whom are living. Viola and Bion both died in childhood. Mina is the wife of G. M. Bills, of Adrian. Texas, and they have four children. Willie died when an infant of six months. Frank M. is the wife of Thomas Kelsh, the present postmaster at Lamont. Mrs. Kelsh was for a mimber of years prior to her marriage a teacher in the Lamont schools.
Mr. Quick is a democrat and has served as justice of the peace, as town clerk, and for twenty years as school treasurer. For one term he was mayor of Lamont and in all of his official connections has proved conscientious and able. Socially he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Pythian Sisters. His wife was
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also a member of the latter organization. He has lived to an advanced age and his years are full of honor and worthy accomplishment, and he has the esteem and warm regard of many friends.
D. G. DOUGLAS.
D. G. Douglas carries on general farming in Jefferson township, his home being on seetion 17, where he is cultivating one hundred and twenty acres of rich land. He is numbered among the native sons of the county, born in 1868. His paternal grandparents were natives of Scotland, the grandfather being a highlander. In that country he followed farming and later became the founder of the family in the new world. The father, William H. Douglas, was a native of Preston county, Virginia, and there spent his boyhood days. When twenty years of age he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining the Fourteenth Regi- ment of Virginia Volunteers, with which he remained until 1864, when he was honorably discharged. He then returned home and in 1865 came to Iowa on a visit, spending a brief period in Fayette county. In the spring of 1866 he aecom- panied his brother and uncle on an overland trip to Kansas City, Missouri, after which he returned to his old Virginia home and was there united in marriage to Miss Harriet Hannah, also a native of Preston county. In 1868 he returned to Iowa and began operating the farm of his brother, J. H. Douglas. Later he engaged in the live-stock business and carried on operations along that line to the time of his death. His political indorsement was given to the republican party. Throughout the long period of his residence here he displayed many sterling traits of eharaeter and his energy and trustworthiness in his business affairs, his cordiality and geniality in social cireles won for him the warm regard and high respect of all with whom he was brought in contact.
D. G. Douglas spent his youthful days under the parental roof and pursued his education in the distriet schools of Jefferson township. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for him through that period. He was well trained in the work of the fields and thus became qualified to carry on farming on his own account when later he started out for himself. In early manhood he wedded Miss Dora E. Lizer, a daughter of David and Ann (Murphy) Lizer, of Jefferson township. Her father's birth occurred on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio, his parents being John and Mary Lizer. He came to Buchanan county when this district was still a frontier region, making the journey across the country in wagons. He settled a mile south of the Douglas farm, purchasing two hundred and one acres of wild land, on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made. With characteristie energy he began its development and in course of time transformed the raw tract into highly cultivated fields, upon which he and his wife spent their remaining days, becoming recognized as leading representatives of agricultural pursuits and as worthy citizens of the community. David Lizer, the father of Mrs. Douglas, lived upon the farm adjoining Mr. and Mrs. Douglas until 1894, when he removed to Jesup. Later, however, he returned to the Douglas farm, there remaining until his death. which occurred when he was seventy-nine years of age. His widow survives and
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has now reached the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas have four children, Glenn, Lloyd, Beulah and Velma.
D. G. Douglas occupies the old home farm of J. H. Douglas, who was one of the pioneer residents and valued citizens of this eounty. After his father's death D. G. Douglas received assistance from his uncle, J. H. Douglas, and is today busily engaged in the further development and improvement of one hundred and twenty acres of farm land, which he has brought to a high state of cultiva- tion. In the midst of the place stand substantial and commodious buildings, which in turn are surrounded by well tilled fields. Everything about the farm is indicative of the progressive spirit and careful supervision of the owner, whose work has been attended by a substantial measure of success so that he is now one of the prosperous agriculturists of the community.
OTTO HAMMELMANN.
Otto Hammelmann, well known as a representative and prosperous agricul- turist of Buchanan county, is the owner of a productive farm embracing two hundred and fifty acres on section 33, Westburg township. His birth occurred in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. on the 23d of September. 1866, his parents being August and Augusta (Strausburg ) Hammelmann, both natives of Germany, where they were married on the 6th of August, 1864. They emigrated to the United States in June, 1866, locating in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, where the father secured employment as a farm hand. after which he worked in a sawmill. Subsequently he purchased a tract of forty acres, which he sold, and rented a small adjoining farm. Later he bought ninety-two acres of land and continued its operation throughout the remainder of his active business carcer. He is now living in honorable retirement at Millersville, Wisconsin, where his wife passed away in June, 1912, at the age of seventy-nine years.
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