USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 46
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While residing in Richland township, Delaware county, Mr. Cowles served in all of the township offices, being elected assessor in the second year of his residence there. For two terms he was sheriff of that county, during which time the county seat was moved from Delhi to Manchester. For forty years he was postmaster of the office known as Compton, entering upon his duties in September, 1857, and when he retired from the postal service he was the oldest postmaster in the state. His son served as deputy postmaster until 1904, when the office was abolished and the district served by rural delivery. After Mr. Cowles left the sheriff's office in 1882, he took a contract to break the arable land on three seetions in Dickinson county, Iowa, between Spencer and Spirit Lake. He put fifteen plows and forty-five head of horses in the field and broke forty-five acres per day, which is a remarkable record for that time. Hle broke in all eighteen hundred and thirty acres and had the work done before the expiration of the time called for in the contract. He then took a contract for grading two miles of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road and completed the work in six weeks. In the meantime he had put in some six hundred acres of flax and by the time that he had it harvested and threshed the railroad had built a small spur to a convenient market place and ยท the flax was loaded from the machine to the cars. Mr. Cowles also plowed or backset the same land after the harvest, thus preparing it for the fall seeding.
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Sinee coming to Lamont he has taken various contraets for railroad and other work as he is never content when idle. In the summer of 1914 he built a house at Waterloo, Iowa, upon a lot which he had purchased. He hired carpenters and under his supervision the house was finished and a family living therein within six weeks from the time it was commenced. In 1893 Mr. Cowles, seeing the need of a bank in his community, as he was then extensively engaged in the stock business, indueed A. R. Loomis, of Manchester, Iowa, to start a bank at Lamont and the Lamont Savings Bank was accordingly opened for business with Mr. Loomis as its president and Mr. Cowles as vice president. The latter held that position until the 1st of January, 1910. when he sold his interest in the same.
Mr. Cowles was married in Kane county, Illinois, in January, 1854, to Miss Phebe Eddy, a native of Wyoming county, New York, who accompanied her parents to Illinois in 1837. Her father was the owner of three hundred aeres of fine land in Kane county and there passed away. She died in October, 1905, when seventy-six years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Cowles were born seven ehil- dren, six of whom are living, as follows : Harry F., a farmer of Beadle county, South Dakota, is a widower and has four children. E. E., who is engaged in the draying business in Manchester, is married and has a daughter, Edna. May married M. A. Fowler, whose home is at Lamont, although he owns land and farms to some extent. Anna married Harold Bergen, of Lamont, and they have two daughters. Ethan Smith Cowles, Jr., of Manchester, is the owner of a livery stable and also has the agency for the Standard Oil Company at that place. He is the owner of a tract of three hundred and twenty aeres of land in Red River Valley, North Dakota. He is married and has five daughters and two sons. H. D., of Waterloo, Iowa, is general manager of the Waterloo Man- ufacturing Company. He is a widower and has two sons and a daughter. One child, A. B., died of scarlet fever when three years of age.
Mr. Cowles is a member of the Freewill Baptist church of Madison town- ship, as was his wife. He gives his political allegianee to the republican party and cast his first vote in 1856 for Fremont for president. He voted twice for Abraham Lincoln and has supported every republican presidential eandidate since. IIe is a member of the Grand Army of the Republie, first belonging to the post at Manchester and later transferring his membership to Lamont. There is also a strong Woman's Relief Corps at the latter place. He is one of the most active men of his age in Lamont and his mental vigor is seemingly unimpaired. He is well known and highly esteemed both in this eounty and in Delaware county, where he lived for many years.
JACOB ZIMPHIER.
Jacob Zimpher, who owns and operates a valuable tract of land comprising one hundred and sixty aeres on section 17, Cono township, was born on that farm on the 16th of June, 1862, his parents being Jaeob and Magdelina Zim- pher, natives of Germany. The father emigrated to the United States in 1855, and after residing for a short time in Illinois, made his way to Buchanan
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county, lowa, here entering a tract of eighty aeres in Cono township that is now included in our subject's farm. He improved the property and was actively engaged in its operation until 1864, when he was drafted into the Union army, serving with the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry until December of that year, when he died at Savannah, Georgia, thus laying down his life on the altar of his adopted country. Jacob Zimpher, Sr., had marched with Sher- man to the sea and was ever a brave and loyal soldier who met danger un- flinchingly. The demise of his wife, who long survived him, occurred on the 27th of February, 1907.
Jacob Zimpher was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, completing his studies at Quasqueton. Subsequently he learned the carpen- ter's trade, working at that occupation in Quasqueton for ten years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Independence, this county, where he followed carpentering and also engaged in contracting for fifteen years. In 1909 he took up his abode on his farm in Cono township and has since devoted his attention to its further cultivation and improvement, also extending its boundaries by purchase until it now embraces one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. He has given careful attention to every detail of farm operation, his excellent property being a striking evidence of his care and practical labors throughout the years.
On the 29th of March, 1893, Mr. Zimpher was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Kress, a daughter of Jacob and Minnie (Uthe) Kress, pioneer set- tlers of Buchanan county. They came here about 1855, and the father still resides on the home place in Cono township at the age of eighty-three years. The mother, however, is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Zimpher have two children, Irma L. and Donald J., who are eighteen and fourteen years of age respectively.
In politics Mr. Zimpher is a staneh republican, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Brotherhood of America. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He has remained in Buchanan county from his birth to the present time and is well entitled to representation in its annals as a substantial agriculturist and highly esteemed citizen.
CHESTER W. BUTTERFIELD.
Chester W. Butterfield is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and twenty-one acres on sections 29 and 32, Newton township, and to the cultiva- tion of his fields he is now devoting the greater part of his time and atten- tion, his efforts being attended with substantial success. He was born in Cono township in October, 1875, a son of Willard E. and Mary Butterfield. His youthful days were spent upon the home farm and he early became familiar with the work of plowing, planting and harvesting, taking his place in the fields in the early spring and there laboring until the crops were har- vested in the late autumn. Through the period of his youth, however, there was always opportunity given him for attending the public schools of Walker and thus he acquired a good practical education, fitting him for the later duties of life.
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Mr. Butterfield remained with his parents and gave his father the benefit of his services until he reached the age of twenty-five years, when he started out in life on his own account by renting a tract of land which he cultivated for five years. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Cono township and lived thereon for two years, but at the end of that time sold the property and invested in a tract of one hundred and twenty-one acres on sections 29 and 32, Newton township, which he now owns. The place is highly improved, and in the intervening years, to the present time, he has carefully tilled his fields and developed his farm, until it is now one of the valuable properties of that section of the county.
On the 17th of October, 1900, Mr. Butterfield was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Cooper, a daughter of William and Fannie (Campbell) Cooper, and to them have been born five children: Dora V., twelve years of age; Arley C., aged eleven ; Fannie R., nine; Gertrude M., six ; and Lee C., who is but one year old. The parents hold membership in the Christian church and throughout the community in which they live are held in high esteem.
Mr. Butterfield is one of the school directors and has served in that posi- tion for two years. He belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America, and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has a broad- minded interest in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of town and county and aids willingly in every movement for the general good. He has never been afraid of work, either for the advancement of his individual interests or for the public gain, and his industry and diligence constitute the foundation upon which has been builded his success.
NICHOLAS MEYER.
Nicholas Meyer has resided in Buchanan county since 1876 and in the inter- vening years has contributed in no small degree to the agricultural development of his locality. He owns and operates a splendid farm of four hundred aeres on seetions 17 and 18, Buffalo township, and carries on farming and stoek-raising. He was born in Raeine county, Wisconsin, January 4, 1857, a son of Peter and Annie (Eppers) Meyer, natives of Kolen, Prussia, and Luxemburg respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation and won a fair measure of success. In his youth he came to America and was married in Wisconsin. He died in 1913, at the advanced age of ninety-one years, having for several decades survived his wife, who died when she was but fifty-seven years of age. They were Catholies in religious faith and in his political belief he was a democrat and served as supervisor of Racine county for some time.
Nicholas Meyer is the fifth in order of birth in a family of the twelve children, of whom nine are living. Of those deceased one died in Buchanan county and the others in Wisconsin. Mr. Meyer of this review attended the publie and paro- ehial schools in the acquirement of an education and remained at home assisting his father until he was about nineteen years of age, when in 1876 he came to this county. where a friend lived, and here found employment as a farm hand. He
NICHOLAS MEYER
MRS. NICHOLAS MEYER
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was so occupied for two years and then rented land in Buffalo township which he operated for some time. In 1879 he bought his first farm, an eighty acre tract, which was the nueleus of his present property, now comprising four hun- dred acres. He paid twenty dollars an acre for his first land and moved upon it immediately after receiving the deed for it. He has since made his home there and the additional land which he has purchased has been adjoining so that his four hundred acres is all in one traet. He earned by his own hard labor the money necessary to purchase the first eighty acres and all that he has bought since has been secured in the same manner, his success being due to his own energy and good management and the loyal assistance of his wife, which is a source of justifiable pride to him. He follows general farming and stock-raising, and is one of the progressive and alert agriculturists of the county, being always ready to utilize any new method or improved implement that promises to enable him to work more efficiently. On the 2d of May, 1902, he had the misfortune to have his barn struck by lightning and the fire that followed destroyed all of his outbuildings, stock, machinery, hay and grain, in fact everything but the residence being burned to the ground at a complete loss. With characteristic energy, however, he rebuilt and today has everything in excellent condition. For twenty seasons he operated a threshing machine and never threshed less than seventy thousand bushels of grain and as high as one hundred and ten thou- sand bushels.
Mr. Meyer was married in Wisconsin in 1879 to Miss Mary Maller, who was born in Milwaukee county, that state, November 17. 1859, a daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Weis) Maller. both natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States during their early youth and were married in New York. After three years spent there they removed to Wisconsin and lived in Milwaukee county until about 1905, when they went to Racine county. Both died about 1909, the father at the age of eighty-six years and the mother at the age of eighty-three years. In their family were six sons and two daughters, of whom four sons and both daughters survive. Mrs. Meyer has a brother who also lives in this state. The family are Catholies in their religious belief.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have become the parents of nine children. Rev. Father Alfred P. was educated at Dubuque and St. Paul and was ordained to the priest- hood on the 13th of June, 1908. He is now pastor of the Catholic church at Watkins, this state. Tillie was graduated in music at Strong's College of Music, Dixon, Illinois, and taught for two years previous to her marriage. She is now the wife of Charles O'Connor of Chicago and they have one child, Helen Eileen. Edwin J. was graduated from the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Chicago and is practicing his profession in that eity. Joseph T., a graduate of the same school, is also practicing in Chicago. Raymond J. graduated from Professor Strong's College of Music at Dixon, Illinois, and subsequently studied in Chi- cago. He taught for a time at Shenandoah and is now a teacher of music in the State Normal school at Warrensburg, Missouri, specializing in the violin and piano. Irene was graduated in music and in the scientific course from the west- ern Normal College of Shenandoah. She taught school for a time and is now at home. Agnes is now Sister Maurice of the Convent of the Visitation at Dubuque, Iowa. Leon is attending St. Joseph's College at Dubuque and Mary is attending Notre Dame Seminary at Independence, Iowa. Vol. II-23
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Mr. Meyer is a republican in politics and has served as township trustee. He has been a candidate for representative from Buchanan county, which indi- cates the important place that he holds in local republican circles. For many years he has been school treasurer and has discharged the duties of that office with great conscientiousness. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. The family belongs to the Catholic church of Hazleton and do all in their power to further the spread of its influence. Mr. Meyer is a stockholder in the Hazleton Bank and is one of the successful residents of the county as well as one of its public-spirited and trustworthy citizens.
JOHN C. SHERRETS.
John C. Sherrets is a retired farmer living in Quasqueton. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1860, a son of Isaac and Matilda (Page) Sherrets, both of whom were natives of Tuscarawas county, the former born in 1832 and the latter September 29, 1837. In early life Isaac Sherrets worked in his father's gristmill in the Buckeye state and afterwards followed farming there. In 1864 he came to Iowa and settled on a farm which he owned south of Quasque- ton. He also worked to some extent in a mill but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred in 1865. He carried on general farming and stock-raising and was the owner of eighty acres of land. His widow survived him and was well known in the community in which she lived as an active member of the Methodist church.
John C. Sherrets was but four years of age when brought to this county. He attended school in Quasqueton to the age of eight years and afterward con- tinued his studies in the district schools of Cono township. When twenty years of age he began farming in that township and continuously followed agricul- tural pursuits until December, 1911, when he retired from business life and again took up his abode in Quasqueton. He was formerly the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land and carried on general farming and stock- raising but has since disposed of his property. After his return to Quasqueton he engaged for a time in the sale of the Ford cars as agent at this place but is now living retired upon a small tract of land in the town.
In 1880 Mr. Sherrets was united in marriage to Miss Hattie E. Newell, a native of Cono township and a daughter of John and Lucy E. (Gay) Newell. The family lived for fifty years in the same house. The father was born in New York in 1812 and died at the age of seventy-six years. The mother's birth occurred in Hubbardston, Massachusetts, in 1817, and she had reached the very advanced age of ninety-two years when ealled to her final rest. In early life Mr. Newell worked on the canal in Ohio and also in the timber country. On con- ing to Iowa in 1858 he settled in Cono township, Buchanan county, easting in his lot with the early pioneer settlers. He used ox teams in breaking prairie and shared in many of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. His father enlisted for service in the War of 1812 and was killed in battle. John Newell held several local township offices and was prominently and helpfully associated with the work of general development and progress. In the early days
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school was held in his home and he afterward assisted in building schoolhouses. His daughter, Mrs. Sherrets, taught school in early womanhood. By her mar- riage she became the mother of five children. Elbert, of Quasqueton, married Anna Gunderson and has three children: Ellen, Luella and John. Mary is the wife of Fred Crawford, a farmer of Cono township, and they have two children, Maude and Thomas. Phillip, who is engaged in the grocery business in Quasqueton, married Lila Diltz and has one child, R. V. Hazel and Ida are at home.
. Mr. Sherrets holds membership with the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Brotherhood of America. In both organizations he has been active and has held office. During his boyhood days in this county there were still many Indians and he wrestled and played with the Indian boys. He has lived to see remarkable changes and his memory forms a connecting link between the primi- tive past and the progressive present. In the work of upbuilding and improve- ment he has borne his share and at all times has represented a high type of citizen- ship in Buchanan county.
WILLIAM H. KRAPF.
William H. Krapf is the owner of a highly improved farm comprising one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 16, Cono township, and in its operation has won a gratifying degree of prosperity. His birth occurred in Germany on the 8th of May, 1867, his parents being Ludwig and Catherine (Zeeb) Krapf, both of whom were natives of the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany. The father followed farming in early manhood but subsequently became identified with railroad interests and continued thus throughout the remainder of his life. His demise occurred in Germany in 1905, while his wife passed away in 1892.
William H. Krapf spent the first seventeen years of his life in the land of his nativity and during the last two years of that period was employed as a farm hand. Crossing the Atlantic to the United States, he arrived in New York on the 1st of May, 1884, and thence made his way to Delavan, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand until 1887. On the 1st of February of that year he removed to Linn county, Iowa, and was there employed as a hired hand until 1891, when he rented a tract of land which he cultivated for a period of nine years. On the 1st of March, 1900, he came to Buchanan county and purchased eighty acres of land on section 16, Cono township, while subsequently he bought an additional tract of forty acres, devoting his time and energies to. the further cultivation and improvement of the property until 1906, when he abandoned agricultural pursuits. At the end of two years, however, he returned to the farm and he has remained thereon continuously since, having won a most enviable measure of success in the conduct of his agricultural interests and now owning a valuable and excellently improved property.
On the 1st of February, 1891, Mr. Krapf was united in marriage to Miss Eveline Cook, a daughter of Edmund and Alice Cook, both of whom were natives of Linn county, Iowa. The father, who spent his entire life in that
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county and devoted his attention to farming throughout his active business career, passed away in 1892. The mother, however, survives and resides on the old home place. To William H. and Eveline (Cook) Krapf were born four children, as follows: Carl, who is eighteen years of age; Ray, fourteen years old; and William and Alice, who are thirteen and eight years of age respec- tively. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 17th of Decem- ber, 1905, after four days' illness. On the 6th of March, 1908, Mr. Krapf was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Madge (Cooper) Templeman, a daughter of William and Fannie (Campbell) Cooper, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Robert A. Cooper, brother of Mrs. Madge Krapf. By her first husband, who passed away in 1901, Mrs. Krapf had two children, Neva B. and Floyd William, who are fifteen and thirteen years of age respectively. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Krapf have two children, Olive Flossy and Ola Florence, twins, who are five years old.
Mr. Krapf gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as township clerk, secretary of the school board and road superintendent, ever discharging his public duties in a prompt and capable manner. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Coming to the new world as a youth of seventeen, he eagerly availed himself of the opportunities here afforded and has worked his way steadily upward to a position among the prosperous and representative citizens of his community.
WILLIAM ARNOLD.
William Arnold is the owner of one of the most highly improved farms in Buchanan county, comprising one hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 27 and 28, and also has a tract of similar size on section 22, Cono township. His birth occurred in that township on the 11th of March, 1871, his parents being Jacob and Katherina (Kantz) Arnold, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work.
William Arnold was reared to manhood in the township of his nativity and attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education. ,When twenty-six years of age he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land for four years. He then purchased a tract of one hun- dred and twenty acres from his father on sections 27 and 28, Cono township, improved the property and has operated the same continuously since with the exception of a period of nine months spent in North Dakota, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty aeres which he still owns. At the time of his father's demise he fell heir to one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 22, Cono township. Success has attended his efforts as an agricul- turist, for he follows modern methods and scientific principles in the cultiva- tion of the soil, his being one of the model farms of the vicinity. He is a stock- holder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Walker, Iowa, and the Farmers Land Company of Waterloo, Iowa, and has won recognition as one of the substantial and representative citizens of his native county.
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On the 7th of May, 1896, Mr. Arnold was united in marriage to Miss Carolina Wurtz, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Bachman) Wurtz, both of whom were natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in an early day and took up their abode near West Chicago, Illinois, where the father purchased a farm where he is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have been born eight children, as follows: Irving O. W., who is eighteen years of age; Christian J., a youth of sixteen ; Gertrude V., who is fourteen years old ; Ber- niee A., who is twelve years of age: George E. and Hazel who are eight and six years of age respectively ; Cecil G., whose demise occurred on the 5th of April, 1910; and Laverna D., one year old.
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