USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa: a record of settlement., Volume 2 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
Digitized by Google
151
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
the blue. He has been a lifelong republican and has enjoyed the acquaintance of a number of men prominent in public life, includ- ing Senator W. B. Allison, Speaker D. B. Henderson, Governor Gear and others. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are members of the First Congregational church of Allison, of which they were virtually the founders. They have always contributed liberally toward its upbuilding and support. Mrs. Fisher is the founder of the Benevolent and Patriotic Society, which was organized in 1898 and is still doing good work. In fact, their influence is always on the side of progress, reform and improvement and they hold to the highest standards of citizenship and of conduct as well as of business honor.
FRANK H. BROCKMANN.
Success has crowned the efforts of Frank H. Brockmann, who now makes his home in Clarksville, where he owns a large and attractive modern residence. For an extended period he has been identified with farming and stock-raising in this county and on the 8th of August, 1910, he purchased a half interest in the Great Western Elevator and in lumber and coal yards. The business is conducted under the style of Muller & Brockmann, Frank H. Brockmann, however, taking little active part in its management, his son Martin relieving him of the necessity of activity in that connection. He is now vice president of the State Savings Bank of Clarksville and his name is an honored one in commercial and financial circles. His birth occurred in Guttenberg, Clayton county, Iowa, July 24, 1858, his parents being Barnard and Gesina (Johnson) Brockmann, both of whom were natives of Germany but came to America in 1846, sailing to New Orleans and thence proceeding up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where they were mar- ried. For two years they were residents of Dubuque, Iowa, and then removed to Guttenberg, where their remaining days were passed, the father dying in 1863, at the comparatively early age of forty-two years, while the mother passed away in 1884, at the age of fifty-eight years. Mr. Brockmann was engaged in the manufacture of brick until 1858, when he purchased land and later carried on farming to the time of his death. Five years after losing her first husband Mrs. Brockmann was married to Fritz Kretzmeyer. There were no children of that marriage, but seven were born of
Digitized by Google
152
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
her first union: Joseph, who is now living in Rockford, Illinois; Mary, who became the wife of William Buchholz and died in Clarksville; Margaret, the widow of Henry Lundt, of Butler township; Katie, the deceased wife of Mike Gorsche; Frank H .; Matilda, the widow of Henry Busching of Waverly, Iowa ; and Au- gust, living in Clayton county.
Frank H. Brockmann was reared in the county of his nativity, spending his youthful days in the acquirement of an education and in farm work through the summer months, assisting his mother in the cultivation and improvement of the homestead. He re- mained in Clayton county up to the time of his marriage, which occurred on the 24th of January, 1884, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Meyer, who was born in Clayton county, September 27, 1863, a daughter of William and Mary (Brandt) Meyer, na- tives of Germany. Coming to America about 1846, the father settled in Cincinnati and in Guttenberg, Iowa, he wedded Miss Mary Brandt, who crossed the Atlantic some time after he had made the voyage. Their last days were spent in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Brockmann, the father, who was a farmer, passing away in 1903, at the age of seventy-five years, while the mother died in 1907, at the age of seventy-four years.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brockmann removed to Fremont township, Butler county, where they made their home continuously until 1912. He then retired from agricultural pur- suits and the family removed to Clarksville, where he erected a beautiful and commodious residence in the modern style of archi- tecture and equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences. His farm comprised two hundred and forty acres on sections 16 and 21, Fremont township, and was well improved by him. He raised the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also made stock-raising a feature of his place. He was also connected with important business interests in Clarksville in partnership with his brother-in-law, George Meyer, but sold out. On the 8th of August, 1910, he purchased a half interest in the Great Western Elevator and in lumber and coal yards that are now owned by the firm of Muller & Brockmann. They deal not only in grain, lumber and coal, but also in cement and all kinds of building material. Mr. Brockmann does not take an active part in the management of the business, however, but leaves this to his son Martin, for whom he purchased it. He is the vice president of the State Savings Bank of Clarksville and is now acting as president in the absence of that officer. He still owns his farm property in this county and recently
Digitized by Google
153
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
disposed of farming interests in Minnesota. He was the first treasurer of the Butler-Bremer Telephone Company and contin- ued in that position until his removal to Clarksville in 1912.
While his business affairs have been extensive and important Mr. Brockmann has also had time to capably perform the duties of citizenship and in that connection has fully met every obliga- tion that has devolved upon him. He has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party and was its nominee for the . office of county treasurer in 1912, at which time he received a large vote. For twenty-seven years he was school treasurer of district No. 5, Fremont township, and for many years he was a trustee and during the last six years of his residence in Fremont township he filled the office of assessor.
Mr. and Mrs. Brockmann became the parents of six children, but lost their first-born, Carrie, at the age of five years, and their third child, Lydia, when a year and a half old. Those who still survive are Martin, Hulda, Albert and Edwin. The first named, residing with his father, now conducts the grain, lumber and coal business. The parents are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Clarksville and their influence is always on the side of progress, reform, justice and truth. The life record of Mr. Brock- mann may well serve to inspire and encourage others, for he came to this county empty-handed, his only capital being industry and commendable ambition. He realized that there is no royal road to wealth, but that persistent effort, thrift and honesty will bring one at length to the goal of prosperity. He therefore cultivated those qualities and he is today one of the substantial citizens of the county. The most envious cannot grudge him his success, so honorably has it been won, so worthily used.
JOHN NEVINS, M. D.
Dr. John Nevins, a resident of Greene for the past thirty years and today accounted one of the most prominent and representative members of the medical profession in Butler county, was born in Laporte, Indiana, June 11, 1857. His parents afterward moved to, Valparaiso, where he began his education, later taking a high -. school course in Hampton. His parents passed away when he was: a mere boy, and his progress in the world has been due to his own efforts and determination. There were three small children at the:
Digitized by Google
154
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
time of the parents' death. Our subject attended Lombard Uni- versity at Galesburg, and after leaving he taught school two years in various places, after which he moved to Greene. In this city he engaged in the drug business for some time, being a registered pharmacist, and this led to his interest in the science of medicine, which he studied under a preceptor for two years. He then took three courses of lectures at Rush Medical College in Chicago and was graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1886. Immediately afterward he formed a partnership with Dr. Huckins and engaged in general practice. After four years the association was discontinued and since that time Dr. Nevins has been alone. In the course of years he has built up a large and rep- resentative practice and has won a high place in public regard, for he has become known as a conscientious, skillful and able phy- sician, well versed in underlying medical principles and keenly alive to the responsibilities which his profession entails upon him. He has remained always a close and earnest student, keeping in touch with the most advanced medical thought, and in addition to this he completed in 1900 an extensive post-graduate course. He built and operates a hospital in Greene and is greatly interested in the growth of the institution, which is completely appointed, being provided with neat and well furnished apartments for patients and a well equipped operating room.
In Greene, in 1904, Dr. Nevins was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Haggerty, who was born in the vicinity of that city. Dr. Nevins is independent in his political views, supporting men and measures rather than parties. He has never sought public office. however, for his attention is centered upon his profession, in which he has won that distinction and prominence which come only as the result of unusual merit and ability and which are especially praiseworthy when, as in the case of Dr. Nevins, they have been gained by one who from early youth has been compelled to rely solely upon his own powers and resources.
MURRY P. JONES.
Among the citizens of Butler county who have been identified with her agricultural interests, but have won success sufficient to enable them to now live retired is Murry P. Jones, of Allison, who at one time was the owner of an excellent tract of land in this
Digitized by Google
155
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
section which he brought under a high state of cultivation, convert- ing it into a model farm. He was born in Erie county, New York, August 3, 1839. His father, Nathaniel Jones, was a native of Mont- gomery county, New York, and became a pioneer of Erie county, to which he removed in 1814. He had previously served for one year as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was married in Erie county to Miss Adaline Spaulding, a native of New Eng- land and their remaining days were passed on a farm in that county, the mother only being about forty-four years of age at the time of her demise, while the father reached the advanced age of seventy-four years. They had a family of four sons and six daughters, of whom Murry P. Jones is the youngest son, although three of the daughters were younger members of the family. Four of the daughters are still living and two of the sons, the brother of our subject being J. M. Jones of Anamosa, Iowa.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Murry P. Jones in his boyhood and youth. He worked in the fields through the summer months and attended school in the winter seasons, and after reaching manhood he engaged in farming in Erie county, New York until 1879, when at the age of forty years, he came to Butler county, and has since resided within three miles of his present home. He made farm- ing his life work, but retired about twelve years ago. He was the owner of a quarter section of rich land which he brought under a high state of cultivation, transforming it into productive fields from which he annually gathered good harvests.
On the 14th of November, 1867, Mr. Jones married Miss Amelia Horton, who was born in Erie county, New York, July 17, 1847, a daughter of Hiram and Jane (Underhill) Horton, who were natives of New York and spent their entire lives upon farms in Erie county, where their parents had located in pioneer times removing from the eastern part of the state to Erie county, where they experienced the usual hardships and privations incident to pioneer life in a forest country. Mrs. Jones was the third in a family of five children and by her marriage has become the mother of five children. Dr. Perry Horton Jones, the eldest, is a dentist and farmer living near Fort Meyer, Florida ; Lenora J., is the wife of Grant Hardman of Park Rapids, Minnesota; Ward Murry has been a teacher in the agricultural college at Ames since his gradu- ation therefrom in 1897; Ira Weston, who was graduated from Ames in 1903, studied law for two years in Des Moines and then went to Yale, completing his course there in 1906, since which
Digitized by Google
156
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
time he has practiced his profession at Clear Lake, Iowa; and Helen M., who is a graduate of the domestic science department of the Ames agricultural college, is now teaching in the State Agri- cultural College of Kansas at Manhattan. The eldest son is a . graduate of the dental department of the State University at Iowa City. The youngest daughter is a native of Butler county, but the other children were born in Erie county, New York, although reared in this state. The son, Ward M., now has a leave of absence for one year and is giving his time to alumni work in Iowa. He has edited and managed the paper called the Alumnus for several years.
Mr. Jones was reared in the Universalist faith and has led an upright, honorable life. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he has always given his political support to the republican party since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He has never sought nor desired office, however, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which have been capably managed and have brought him the success that now enables him to live retired.
M. F. STANTON.
M. F. Stanton, familiarly known as Colonel Stanton, is one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of Coldwater town- ship, owning and operating a fine farm of one hundred and twenty- two acres on section 8. He is moreover an auctioneer of considerable reputation, and he has made this branch of his activity very important. He has lived in Iowa since 1867 and in Butler county since 1884, but he was born in Washington county, Wiscon- sin, December 27, 1865. His father, Thomas Stanton, was a native of New York and there grew to manhood and married Miss Anna Martin. After his marriage he moved west to Wisconsin, settling in Washington county where he resided for a few years. In 1867 he moved to Iowa, locating in Chickasaw county, where he pur- chased land and opened up a farm, engaging in agricultural pur- suits in that locality for many years.
M. F. Stanton was reared in Chickasaw county, remaining upon the homestead until he was seventeen years of age. He then moved to Butler county where he worked as a monthly farm laborer for. seven or eight years. In 1893 he located in Greene and turned his
Digitized by Google
MR. AND MRS. M. F. STANTON
Digitized by
RY
Digitized by
159
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
attention to the livery business, conducting a profitable enterprise of this character for three years. He later purchased a farm in Coldwater township, but sold this property in 1899, buying a farm in Bennezette township of one hundred and twenty acres, which he farmed for five years, selling this in 1904. He then bought the place upon which he now resides. Upon it he has erected sub- stantial buildings and he has installed modern labor saving ma- chinery, keeping everything about the place up-to-date in every particular. He engages in general farming and is also extensively interested in stock-raising, keeping graded cattle, horses, hogs and sheep. The farmers' annual picnic, an occasion of much impor- tance to the community, is held in the beautiful walnut grove situ- ated on Mr. Stanton's present farm. In 1909 he took a course in auctioneering at Trenton, Missouri, and in a class of sixty-five students, passed his examination with a very high average grade, reaching as high as ninety-eight in some departments. Since com- pleting this course he has conducted a number of sales in Butler, Floyd, Bremer and other counties and is well known as a suc- cessful auctioneer.
On the 23d of May, 1893, in Greene, Mr. Stanton married Miss Teresa Downing, a daughter of J. E. Downing and a sister of P. J. Downing, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Stanton was born and reared in Butler county and was for some years engaged in teaching. She and her hus- band are the parents of four children: Catherine Anna; Ella Marie; Leo Ambrose; and Teresa Genevieve. Politically Mr. Stanton is a stanch democrat and is interested in public affairs, although not active as an office seeker. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Greene Catholic church and are people of exemplary character, commanding and holding the respect and warm regard of all who come in contact with them.
JAMES P. MARTIN.
James P. Martin is a self-made man and as the architect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well. He knows what hard labor means and he also knows that success will crown earnest, persistent and honorable effort. He is today the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, one-half of which lies on sec- tion 25, Jackson township, and the remainder across the division
Digitized by Google
160
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
line, in Butler township. It is, however, all in one farm. Mr. Martin is a native of Northamptonshire, England. He was born October 1, 1850, and is the eighth in a family of fifteen children, whose parents, John and Hannah (Perrin) Martin, spent their entire lives in England, where the father was a shepherd. Three of the children, William, James and Mrs. Katharine Shannon, now of Kansas, came to the United States.
James P. Martin spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native country. He had few advantages but he was ambitious to make the most of his opportunities and believed that he might more rapidly win success in the United States. Accordingly, in June, 1871, he crossed the briny deep and made his way direct to Clarksville, coming by stage from Waverly to this place. He has resided in this county continuously since and throughout the entire time has been connected with farming interests. He did not have a dollar when he arrived and, in fact, was in debt for most of his passage. He was industrious, however, and did not fear earnest, persistent labor. He worked out by the month for five years and six months and then rented land for about ten years, during which time he carefully saved his earnings until his perseverance and industry enabled him to purchase land. He has since owned two other farms and his possessions now comprise one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land lying in Jack .. son and Butler townships. The place is well improved and he has brought his fields to a high state of cultivation. This farm was secured from the government by Douglas Marquand, who sold it to his son, from whom James P. Martin was the pur- chaser.
On the 13th of March, 1877, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Hattie R. Shadbolt, who was born in Clarksville, April 17, 1850, and is a daughter of Jerome and Louise Shadbolt. Her father is now deceased but the mother resides in Clarksville and the family history is given on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the parents of five children: Lulu Hannah, the wife of W. J. Sutcliff, of Waterloo, Iowa; Anna Margaret, the wife of Robert Burroughs, of Jackson township; John J., at home; Orin William, of Waterloo; and Charles Levant, also of Waterloo.
Politically Mr. Martin has always been a republican until the last election, when he became identified with the progressive wing of the party. He is now serving for the fifth year as township trustee and has made a creditable record in public office. He has
Digitized by Google
161
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
also filled a number of school offices and is a stanch believer in the cause of public education as one of the bulwarks of the nation. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge and religiously with the Methodist Episcopal church at Clarksville. His life record may well serve as a source of inspiration and encourage- ment to others, showing what may be accomplished. One seeing him comfortably situated upon his pleasant farm in Butler county can hardly realize what a period of toil was encompassed in his youth and early manhood. For a few years he worked on a farm with teams in England and his last four years in that country were spent as a gamekeeper on an estate of five thousand acres in Northamptonshire. During the first two years and a half of his residence in America he worked in Coldwater with his brother William, who now resides in Jackson township, and during sev- eral succeeding years he was employed by his uncle, Jeremiah Perrin. He always held to the laudable ambition of one day becoming the owner of a farm and he never lost sight of this pur- pose, which he ultimately realized, winning a foremost place among the substantial and prosperous farmers of his community. He and his wife made their first trip back to their old home in England in 1912 and it was a most pleasurable occasion, renewing the friendships of early youth and looking upon the scenes amid which his childhood was passed.
JAMIN B. TRACY.
Jamin B. Tracy, who has been engaged in the nursery business for about twenty years, during the past ten of which he has main- tained his nursery in Greene, is a native son of Butler county, born in Coldwater township, November 12, 1870. His father. Edward Tracy, was born in New York state, May 16, 1835, and was reared and educated there. On February 25, 1856, he married Miss Hannah B. Backus, a native of Genesee county and soon afterward they moved west to Iowa, arriving in Butler county, March 18, 1857. The father preempted land in Coldwater town- ship, securing one hundred and seventeen acres, to which he later added eighty acres, which he purchased. Upon this property he made substantial improvements and he continued to carry for- ward the work of its development until 1910, when he sold the place and purchased a home in Greene, where he has since lived
Digitized by Google
162
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
retired. For a number of years he was identified with the local republican organization and he has held various positions of pub- lic trust. He supported John C. Fremont in 1856 and since the organization of the republican party, has voted for every repub- lican nominee, until 1912, when he joined the ranks of the pro- gressives. He and his wife became the parents of five children: Rachel Ann, who married R. Palmatier, and who died April 13, 1913, leaving one son; Charles H., residing in Greene; Carrie. the wife of Frank Harlenske, of Pratt, Kansas; Jamin B., of this review; and Nettie, who lives at home.
Jamin B. Tracy was reared upon the home farm and acquired his education in the country schools. His advantages along this line, however, were limited and he is largely self-educated. He remained upon his father's property until he was twenty-five years of age, and then turned his attention to the nursery busi- ness, establishing a nursery upon the farm in 1893. In partner- ship with his brother, Charles H. Tracy, he acquired about twenty acres which he planted in nursery stock and evergreens, build- ing up a large and representative patronage and continuing in his original location for about eight years.
There are numerous farms throughout Butler county which have excellent fruit trees, which were supplied from the Tracy nursery. There are also a number of groves of white and Scotch pines and Norway balsam firs, which came from the same source. In 1903 the nursery stock was moved to Greene, Jamin B. Tracy purchasing a tract of land on the west side of the city. His suc- cess has continued uninterrupted and he is today numbered among the progressive and substantial business men of the city. In 1905 he established a lumberyard in connection with his nursery, putting in a good supply of lumber and building material, and he now controls an important and growing trade along this line.
On the 3d of July, 1895, in Elma, Iowa, Mr. Tracy married Miss Elcina McDonnell, who was born and reared in Howard county, but later moved to Floyd county. She was educated in Marble Rock and was a teacher for a number of years. She is the daughter of John and Christina (Fallgatter) McDonnell, na- tives of Canada and Wisconsin respectively and early settlers of Howard county, Louisiana. Mrs. McDonnell died February 17, 1895. Mr. McDonnell is now a resident of Roberts, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy became the parents of three children: Mearl V .; Edward Daniel; and Lucile E. Mrs. Tracy is a poultry fancier of considerable reputation, and breeds white Plymouth Rock
Digitized by Google
:
163
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
chickens and white Pekin ducks and white Embden geese. She has entered exhibits at numerous poultry shows and has taken a number of premiums. Mr. Tracy is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has served through all the chairs and is now past grand. He and his wife are members of the Rebekahs and they attend the Methodist Epis- copal church. They are people of the highest respectability well known and greatly esteemed throughout Coldwater township where they have a representative circle of friends.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.