USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa: a record of settlement., Volume 2 > Part 15
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Charles V. Cave was reared in Clarksville and attended gram- mar and high schools in that city. He afterward clerked in the mercantile store conducted by Alfred Price, receiving during the two or three years of his connection with this concern an excellent practical business training. In 1888 he came to Greene and estab- lished here a branch store for Mr. Price, remaining manager of this enterprise until 1892. In that year he moved to Minnesota and started a lumber business at Ellsworth, but he disposed of his holdings at the end of a year and returned to Greene, purchasing an interest in the firm of which he is now senior partner. They commenced in a small way and extended the field of their business as their enterprise grew, and they now carry a large stock of lumber and building material besides farm implements, vehicles, coal and cement. The company also handles a large contracting and building business, its territory extending beyond Greene into the adjacent country. It employs from ten to fifteen men in the various departments and owns a modern business house, with im- plement rooms, lumber sheds and coal house and everything neces- sary for the able conduct of a large and growing business. Mr. Cave is recognized as a capable and discriminating business man and a farsighted financier and a great deal of the remarkable ad- vancement and growth of the concern with which he is connected is due to his energy, ability and enterprise.
In Greene, on the 27th of December, 1894, Mr. Cave was united in marriage to Miss Daisy Williams, who was born in Delaware county and lived there until she was eight years of age. She then moved with her parents to Osage county and later to Greene. She is a daughter of James W. Williams, one of the early settlers of Iowa, who located in this state in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Cave have become the parents of two children, Dorothy and Lawrence V.
Mr. Cave is well known in Masonic circles, holding membership in the blue lodge at Greene, the chapter at Clarksville and the Waterloo commandery. He has served as secretary of the blue lodge for ten or twelve years. In addition to this he is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias, which he joined in Clarks- ville, later transferring his membership to the Greene lodge. He has served through all the chairs and is now past chancellor, and
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he has besides represented both the Greene and the Clarksville lodges in the Grand Lodge of Iowa. He has been connected with business interests of Greene for many years and during the time has gained the confidence and esteem of the people of the city and an enviable place among public-spirited and progressive citizens.
IRVING H. HART.
Irving H. Hart, who has done valuable work as an educator for the past fifteen years, held the position of superintendent of schools in Allison from 1908 to 1912, and in the latter year was elected superintendent of schools in Butler county, in which capacity he is now ably serving. His birth occurred in Grinnell, Poweshiek county, Iowa, on the 3d of September, 1877, his parents being A. C. and Elizabeth (Biggar) Hart. It was in 1866 that A. C. Hart came to Iowa with his father, locating in Chickasaw county. By profession he is a school teacher. For the past three years he has resided in Washington, taking up his abode there in 1910. His wife's family came to Iowa from the Province of Quebec, Canada, in 1856, also locating in Chickasaw county. Mrs. Hart was called to her final rest in 1883.
Irving H. Hart, who lost his mother when a little lad of six years, was reared by his uncle, I. M. Fisher, at Allison, where he attended the public schools in the acquirement of his early educa- tion. Subsequently he pursued a course in liberal arts at Grinnell College and received his diploma from that institution in 1898, while in the army. In April, 1898, while still a college student, he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war as a member of Company K, Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out in December, 1898, having seen no active service. For the past fifteen years, as above stated, he has been identified with educa- tional work, and his labors in this connection have been attended with far-reaching and beneficial results. He has had charge of schools in the states of Missouri, Nebraska, Texas and Iowa. From 1908 to 1912 inclusive he served as superintendent of schools in Allison, Iowa, and is now acting as county superintendent of schools here, having been honored by election to that responsible position in 1912. For a short time-from May until October, 1908-he was also identified with journalistic interests as editor of the Butler County Tribune at Allison.
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At Hebron, Nebraska, on the 20th of December, 1902, Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Ida Fay Pew, by whom he has four children-two sons and two daughters. He attends the serv- ices of the Congregational church and in politics is a republican. Though still a comparatively young man, Mr. Hart has already attained a prominent position in educational circles, and is a highly respected and esteemed citizen of his community.
GEORGE A. MCINTYRE.
George A. McIntyre, an attorney of Shell Rock and the mayor of the town, was born at Paw Paw, Lee county, Illinois, February 27, 1856, a son of Abijah S. and Sarah (Sawyer) McIntyre. The father was born in the vicinity of LaPorte, Indiana, and the mother's birth occurred in Lee county, Illinois, November 24, 1832. They were married in the latter state, October 6, 1853. The father was of Scotch descent, his father having been a native of Scotland. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Sawyer, served as a drummer boy in the War of 1812. He was of English descent and was born in 1793, while his death occurred October 11, 1872. George A. McIntyre well remembers him as a tall, large man. He was a school teacher for many years and spent the greater part of his life in Lee county, Illinois, but at an early day in the development of Iowa, came to this state. His last years, however, were passed in Marshalltown, Iowa. He was the owner of a farm near Albion and when Abijah S. McIntyre brought his family to Iowa they stopped for a while at the farm of Mr. Sawyer. Abijah McIntyre when a young man was a cooper by trade, but afterwards studied medicine and then turned his attention to its practice, entering upon the work of the profession about the time that he married Sarah Sawyer. She was a nurse, and while her husband, who was the only physician in Paw Paw, was performing his professional duties she did all of the nursing in important cases for him. The father died in Albion, Marshall county, Iowa, when his son. George, was six years of age. He had two sons by a former mar- riage, Horace and William and a daughter Laura. The sons en- listed from Dixon, Illinois, for service in the Civil war and George A. McIntyre remembers them marching away with their com- pany. Horace was killed while serving in the army, but William is now a practicing physician living near Lincoln, Nebraska. He
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was at one time a professor in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Nebraska. The mother died at the home of her son, George A., on the 6th of January, 1909. On the 23d of June, 1866, she became the wife of Gideon G. Aurmeyer and they had one child, Frank G., now in Neligh, Nebraska. George A. McIntyre has an own sister, Alice, who is the wife of Henry Teft of Reno, Nevada.
George A. McIntyre was reared in the family home at Albion, where he attended the public schools and the seminary following its establishment. There he received instruction from Professor Samuel G. Smith and Professor T. B. Taylor, both of whom be- came prominent educators and the latter became a member of the law firm of Taylor and Evans of Hampton, Iowa. Mr. McIntyre engaged in teaching school for two years and afterward entered the law department of the State University at Iowa City in 1876. He was graduated therefrom in 1877. He was also a member of the first second year class in the law department and graduated therefrom in 1878. He then began practice at Marshalltown, where he remained until 1881, when he removed to Allison, Butler county. There he continued in active practice until 1884, when he came to Shell Rock. He was editor and publisher of the Shell Rock News from that date until 1898, and at the same time he continued in the practice of law. In 1896 he was elected county attorney and served until 1900, filling the position for two con- secutive terms. In politics he has always been a republican and active in political work. At four different periods he has served as mayor of Shell Rock, his occupancy of the office covering a more extended period than that of any other incumbent in the position. His elections always came unsolicited and at the present time he is serving by appointment to fill out an unexpired term. Mr. Mc- Intyre has also been attorney for the town since 1884. He has been admitted to practice in the state and federal courts and has been an active representative of the profession since his admission to the bar.
In 1877 occurred the marriage of George A. McIntyre and Miss. Hanna Moreland of Marshalltown, Iowa, who died April 4, 1881, leaving a daughter, who was born July 5, 1879, and is now a stenog- rapher at Imperial, California. She was graduated from a busi- ness college in Cedar Rapids and also in Chicago. In 1882 Mr. McIntyre was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Jones, a daughter of Captain J. R. Jones, and Angeline B.
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Jones, the former having won his title by service in the Civil war. He was also sheriff of this county for three terms.
Fraternally Mr. McIntyre is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Shell Rock and the chapter at Clarksville.
He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both at Shell Rock. His political support is given to the republican party, and he is ever interested in the welfare of county, state and nation. He is known as the father of the primary in Butler county, being a leader in the movement that secured its adoption. He used his paper to advo- cate the cause and his efforts resulted in the volunteer use of primaries in this county before the state law was passed requir- ing it. This was a protest against the wrongful manipulation of the old caucus system. Mr. McIntyre was a candidate for the office of state senator from the district comprising Butler and Bremer counties in a contest with E. W. Soesbe and later with Charles Gates of Greene. Mr. McIntyre took an active part in the formation of the Republican state league and was president of the third congressional district and was chairman of the national committee of league work. He represented the league in indorsing a presidential candidate for nomination in 1896. This was in the interest of Senator Allison and in accordance with the constitution of the league. This work took him to Washington and to New York city. He has always been more or less active in politics and at all times has been actuated by a spirit of devotion to the public good. Progress and patriotism might be termed the keynote of his character.
BAINBRIDGE LEAVENS.
Bainbridge Leavens, now in his eightieth year, is living on a farm on section 25, Butler township, not far from Shell Rock. He is the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, and his holdings represent a life of industry and thrift, for all his pos- sessions have been acquired through his own efforts. Mr. Leavens was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, July 1, 1834, a son of Stephen and Juliet (Merrick) Leavens. The father was born in Massa- chusetts, August 16, 1802, and the mother's birth occurred in New York, August 20, 1809. When their son Bainbridge was two years of age they started for DuPage county, Illinois, but the
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father died while en route. The mother continued on her way to Illinois and while living in that state married again. She had three children by her first marriage, and there were two sons and a daughter by the second union. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Leavens were Stephen, who was born March 31, 1830, and is now deceased; Bainbridge; and Francis, born July 24, 1836, who has also passed away.
Bainbridge Leavens remained in DuPage county with his mother until he came to Butler county, in 1857, casting in his lot with the early settlers of this part of the state. He took up his abode upon the farm which is still his home, his stepfather having entered the land in his name. The patent issued in 1854 is signed by President Franklin Pierce, and gives Mr. Leavens title to the southwest quarter of section 25, range 92. It has never passed from his possession and is still occupied by Mr. Leavens, who now has three hundred and sixty acres, constituting a rich and produc- tive farm, while he and his sons have elsewhere in the township five hundred acres. His life has been devoted to general farming and stock-raising, and his business affairs have been capably man- aged, bringing him a substantial and well merited return for his labors.
On the 22d of October, 1862, Mr. Leavens was married to Miss Adaline E. Wheeler, who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, April 22, 1838, and came with her parents to the middle west. She died in December, 1882, leaving three children: Eu- gene Le Roy, who operates the home farm for his father, and who was born September 15, 1863, and married Julia H. Wood, by whom he has three children, Adaline, Ethel and Bainbridge; Niles Wheeler, born May 14, 1865, who was accidently killed by the dis- charge of a gun in 1888; and Martin Bailey, born April 21, 1875, who married Ethel Corey. They reside in California and have one son, Martin Bailey, junior.
Since casting his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856, Bainbridge Leavens has always voted for the candidates of the republican party until 1912, when he cast a ballot for Roose- velt, thus announcing his support of the progressive movement. For nine years he served on the board of county supervisors and his reelection to the office, in which he remained for three terms, indicated his capability, efficiency and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He is a Mason, belonging to Escal- lop Lodge, No. 261, A. F. & A. M., at Shell Rock and to Jethro Chapter, R. A. M., at Waverly. Mr. Leavens is truly a self-made
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man. He owes his success entirely to his persistent, earnest lab- ors. While he lost his father at an early age, his stepfather was kind and helpful to him, so that he did not recognize the loss of his natural parent. He was trained to habits of industry and economy and thus given an excellent foundation upon which to build success. Wishing to make his fortune on the frontier, he came to Iowa in a covered wagon drawn by oxen, reaching his destination after about a month's travel, the Mississippi river be- ing crossed by a ferry-boat. When they were in the middle of the river the cattle came very near sinking the ferry and some- thing had to be done. A man of much strength, who was a passen- ger on the boat, then pushed the cattle into the river and they swam across, the boat being thus saved from sinking. During the first year of Mr. Leaven's residence here five young wolves were dug out of a hole by his farm and he tamed one of them so that it became very gentle and played like a dog.
An old Indian trail crossed the farm from northeast to south- west and was from eight inches to a foot wide and where nothing impeded it was as straight as a line. Every phase of pioneer life is familiar to Mr. Leavens. The nearest railroad point was at Dunleath, opposite Dubuque. No roads were cut through at the time of his arrival in Butler county. He has witnessed the advance of land values from one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre to one hundred and seventy-five dollars per acre. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present, and he relates many interesting incidents of the early days when Butler county was on the frontier. He has lived to see wonderful changes and has borne his full share in the work of development.
DIRK ROTTINK.
Various countries have furnished citizens to Butler county and America has been termed a great melting pot where the na- tionalities have been fused into an American citizenship wherein are blended the strongest, most stable and most commendable characteristics of the different peoples. At all events, the sons of Holland, now living in Butler county, are recognized as a valu- able element here and to this class belongs Dirk Rottink, who was born in Holland, on the 5th of May, 1864, a son of Gerrit and Johan-
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DIRK ROTTINK AND FAMILY
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nah (Buttega) Rottink, who spent their entire lives in their native land. Dirk Rottink is the seventh in order of birth in a family of nine children. His brothers, John and Herman, came to the United States, John being the first to cross the Atlantic, then Dirk and last Herman. All still reside in Butler county, and sketches of Herman and John Rottink are given elsewhere in this volume.
Reared in his native land, Dirk Rottink was employed in a weaving factory until he came to Iowa, in 1882, when a youth of eighteen years, his brother having sent him a ticket and sev- enty-five dollars in money with which to come to the United States. He traveled as a steerage passenger across the Atlantic, joined his brother in this county and began work on a farm at fifteen dollars per month. He was employed in that way for four years, after which he rented a farm for seven years. He next purchased eighty acres of land in Beaver township, which he cultivated for ten years and then sold that property, investing in his present farm of two hundred and eighty acres on sections 8 and 9 Rip- ley township. Here he carries on general farming and stock- raising and has been very successful since starting out in life for himself in the new world. He has recently completed a modern residence of eight rooms and is preparing to take life easy, let- ting his sons operate the farm. He prefers, however, to live in the country rather than in town as so many do who practically retire from farm life.
In 1886 Mr. Rottink was united in marriage to Miss Johannah Menkens, who was born in Holland, April 20, 1851, and came alone to the new world in 1883. They have four children who are living: Anna May, Henry D., Willie H. and Harry John, and they lost three children in infancy. The living children all yet remain at home and the sons are operating the farm, which will net them about five thousand dollars for the present year, of which sum they give their father one thousand dollars.
Mr. Rottink resided in a city in his native land and worked at the weaver's trade, but on coming to America he decided to de- vote himself to agricultural pursuits and has always remained upon the farm. He made two trips back to the old country, going first in January. 1908, and again in November of the same year, returning from the second trip in 1909. These trips made him more than ever satisfied with his home in Iowa, for in Hol- land he saw people who had worked harder than he and yet who had nothing, while he was in possession of a good property and
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a substantial income. In politics he has been a republican since the right of franchise was conferred upon him in 1887. He is a member of the Evangelical church in Ripley township, and his life has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles, never permitting him to take advantage of another. He has al- ways depended on industry and determination for his success and has therefore also won an honorable name.
CHARLES BORNEMAN.
For a number of years past Charles Borneman has been closely and influentially connected with agricultural and stock-raising in- terests of Butler county and is today one of the largest landown- ers in Madison township, his holdings comprising eight hundred acres. He is numbered among the early settlers in Iowa, his resi- dence here dating from 1877, but he was born in Germany in 1853. He remained in his native country until he was fourteen years of age and began his education in the public schools. In 1867 he came to America and joined his older brother, Fred, in Evansville, Indiana, where he worked on a farm during the summers and attended school in the winter months. In 1877 he came to Iowa and for a time worked by the month on a farm in Franklin county. After his marriage, which occurred in 1877, he rented land for several years and finally purchased one hundred and sixty acres on the county line in Butler county, a tract which forms a portion of his present farm. This was all wild land which Mr. Borneman broke, fenced and improved, providing the place with a com- fortable dwelling. From time to time he added to his holdings until his farm reached its present extensive proportions, making him one of the largest landowners in his locality. On the east side of his section, facing the road, Mr. Borneman has erected a two- story modern house and has provided the place also with a good barn, a granary and corn cribs, and convenient outbuildings shel- tered from the wind by a grove of forest and evergreen trees. In addition to general farming he also engages in stock-raising on an extensive scale and his interests, being carefully managed, have brought him an enviable degree of success.
In Franklin county, September 25, 1877, Mr. Borneman mar- ried Miss Sophia Nulty, a native of Germany, who was brought to America at the age of seven and reared in Franklin county.
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To this union were born eleven children, three of whom have passed away. Those living are: Minnie, born December 4, 1878; Adolph, born January 27, 1880; Sophia, born August 19, 1887; Fred C., born October 19, 1890; William, born February 10, 1893; John C., born September 15, 1895; Louie, born May 30, 1898, attending school; and Bertha, born May 4, 1908. Adolph, Fred C., William and John C. are all aiding in the operation of the home- stead. Charles, whose birth occurred December 6, 1884, died in 1910 at the age of twenty-five. Henry, born November 11, 1882, passed away at the age of one and a daughter, Lena, born June 7, 1904, died February 9, 1905.
Mr. Borneman is independent in his political views, support- ing men and measures rather than parties. He served as road master for a number of years and was for eighteen years school director, the cause of education finding in him an earnest and able champion. He has been a delegate to a number of county conven- tions and has served also on the grand and petit juries. He and his family attend the United Brethren church. His is a splendid example of the value of energy, perseverance and enterprise in attaining success, for he began his independent career upon rented land and by frugal living and intelligent management has worked his way upward to success, standing today among the large land- owners and representative farmers and stock-raisers of his locality.
JAMES ALLAN.
From bonnie Scotland came James Allan, who still has strong love for the land of his birth as well as an ardent attachment for the land of his adoption, which has afforded him advantages that have enabled him to win success and become one of the men of affluence of Jefferson township. He makes his home on section 4, and although he was practically empty-handed when he came to the new world, he is now the possessor of a farm valued at fifty thousand dollars. He was born at Callander, Perthshire, Scot- land, May 15, 1839, and is a son of Benjamin and Christina (Mc- Laughlin) Allan, who spent their entire lives in the land of hills and heather. James was the third in order of birth in their family of nine children, of whom but two are now living, his sister being Mrs. Christina McFarland, a widow residing in Cedar Rapids.
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James Allan, who is her junior and the only other living mem- ber of the family, spent not only his youth and early manhood in Scotland, but remained there to the age of forty-four years, com- ing to the United States in 1883. His investigations of the oppor- tunities offered in this land, led him to send for his family the following year. He had learned and followed the stone cutter's trade in his native country, and he took up work at his trade after coming to Iowa and only recently ceased to labor along that line. On bringing his family, however, he established his home upon a farm, which he yet owns and occupies. His first purchase com- prised eighty acres, but as his financial resources increased he ex- tended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises three hundred and twenty acres on section 4, Jefferson township. James Allan now leaves the active work of the fields to others, his son having charge of a part of it. The place is the visible evidence of a well spent life, for he was but eleven years of age when his father, who was a practicing physician, passed away in Scotland at the age of forty-eight. It became necessary soon afterward for James Allan to earn his own livelihood and from that time forward he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He bought his first eighty acres for eighteen dollars per acre, but when the deal was completed he still owed eight hundred dollars on the transaction. He gave his wife eighteen dollars, all that he had left, with which to meet the family expenses and then sought work at his trade, while the farm work was conducted by his wife and children. As a stone cutter he earned money necessary to develop the farm and the family passed through hard times. When nec- essary to go to town on business, he would frequently be all day without a meal, but perseverance and energy conquered all diffi- culties and the farm property today is worth fifty thousand dol- lars. Mr. Allan has always regretted that he did not come to the United States earlier, but in the comparatively brief period of his residence here he has made rapid progress and is today numbered among the men of affluence in his community.
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