USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa: a record of settlement., Volume 2 > Part 17
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JAMES H. CARPENTER.
Since 1905 James H. Carpenter has owned and operated a fine farm of eighty acres on section 7, Beaver township, and on this property engages in general farming, dairying and stock-raising with gratifying success. He has been a resident of Butler county since 1880 but was born in New York state, July 8, 1850. His par- ents, Henry and Maria (Cookingham) Carpenter, were also na- tives of the Empire state, the former born in 1812 and the latter in 1827. The father came to Iowa in 1879 and engaged in farm- ing in this state until his death, which occurred in 1884. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1910. Nine children were born to their union, Melissa, Sarah J., James H., Antoinette, Augusta, Margaret, George, Ada B. and Arabella.
James H. Carpenter was educated in the public schools of New York state, attending until he was thirteen years of age. In 1875 he moved to Bremer county, Iowa, and there engaged in farm- ing for five years. At the end of that time he moved to Butler county and in 1884 took up his residence in Parkersburg, where for thirteen years he engaged in contracting and building, meet- ing with gratifying and well deserved success. He continued ac- tive at this occupation until 1905, in which year he moved to Beaver township, buying eighty acres of land on section 7. Here he raises hay and oats which he feeds to his stock, keeping on an average thirty head of cattle, thirty hogs and five horses. He also operates a dairy, and his wife has three or four hundred chickens, which she sells in the local market.
In Fond du Lac county, Wisconsn, February 3, 1870, Mr. Car- penter married Miss Emma F. Carpenter, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Mason) Carpenter, the former a well known farmer of that locality who died in 1907, at the age of seventy-five. His wife
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has also passed away, dying in 1901, when she was sixty-nine years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter became the parents of six chil- dren. Daniel H., who was born in 1875, is a carpenter and farmer in Beaver township. He married Miss Alma Ganoung. The next child, who was born in 1877, died in infancy. Lucelie M., born in 1878, married Stewart Bennett, a carpenter of Parkersburg, and they have one son, Harold E. James H., born in 1880, is now de- ceased. Arvilla was born in 1882. Minnie E., who was born in 1889, married Dennie L. McDowell, a farmer in Jefferson town- ship.
Mr. Carpenter is a republican in his political beliefs. He was school director for district No. 9 for several years and accom- plished a great deal of effective work in the cause of education. His attention is, however, largely given to the conduct of his farm which, under his able management, has become one of the valuable properties in this vicinity.
JUDGE J. R. FLETCHER.
Nature endowed Judge J. R. Fletcher with strong mentality and his developing powers made him a leader of public thought and action in Butler county for many years. He reached the ripe old age of seventy-eight years and through the entire span of his life commanded the respect, confidence, good-will and honor of his fellow townsmen. He was born in Bedford Springs, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1835 and died in Clarksville, Iowa, July 19, 1913, when in his seventy-eighth year. He was the second of the eight children born to William and Elizabeth S. (Rippey) Fletcher, the former a native of Bedford county and the latter of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. They spent their entire lives in the Keystone state, and the father followed merchandising.
Liberal educational opportunities were accorded Judge Fletcher so that he had ample opportunity to develop the talents with which nature endowed him. Following his graduation from a private school he attended college in Pittsburgh and later entered upon the study of law under the direction of his uncle, John Blodgett, being admitted to the bar when yet in his 'teens. Thinking the West would constitute a better professional field for a young man, he made his way to Iowa and engaged in practice in Rock Island, Illinois, and in Davenport and Le Claire, Iowa. He
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also became a land agent and bought land in Butler county on his own account, making investments until he owned one thousand acres three miles west of Clarksville. At that time Clarksville was the county seat of Butler county, and taking up his abode in the town, he engaged in the practice of law for several years but did not find the profession altogether congenial and decided to develop his farm. He built a fine residence thereon and resided there for a short time, engaged in raising high-grade stock, but eventually he gave up the stock business and rented his farm. Much of his life, however, was given to the management of agri- cultural interests, and he derived therefrom a substantial annual return.
Mr. Fletcher also figured prominently in public life. He was one of the first county judges of Butler county and was defeated for congress in the republican convention by only one vote. He secured a position in the Department of the Interior at Washing- ton, where he remained for about three years and then returned to Butler county, erecting a commodious and attractive residence in Clarksville, from which point he superintended his farming inter- ests, making his law practice a side issue from that time forward.
In 1867 Judge Fletcher was married to Miss Fannie Water- man, who was born in Allegany county, New York, and in early childhood went to Moline, Illinois, with her parents, by way of New Orleans and the Mississippi river. She was graduated from the public schools of Moline and from the Illinois State Normal school. She began teaching when but twelve years of age, having classes in the Moline schools, and when but fourteen she was given a country school. She continued actively in the work of teaching to the time of her marriage and was one of the teachers in Le Claire, Iowa, when she formed the acquaintance of Judge Fletcher. They had no children of their own, but they reared several little girls, all of whom on reaching womanhood became school teachers. The Fletcher home is ever noted for its hospi- tality and good cheer and is a favorite resort for many friends.
Judge Fletcher was a lifelong republican, save that in 1896 he supported Bryan. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and in his life embodied its teachings concerning mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. One of the local papers said of him, "He was a great student and a constant reader, a deep and conscientious thinker and a fluent talker. His ready command of the English language remained his best asset and it was a pleasure to converse with him. His friends respected him for his amiable disposition,
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his gentle refinement of manner and his intense love of nature. In the affairs of the community in which he resided he was always ready to do what he could that right might triumph."
He leaves behind him an untarnished name and the memory of his life is cherished by all who knew him. His sterling qualities made him honored and respected wherever known and most of all where he was best known.
FRED H. TOLL.
The attractiveness of this county as a place of residence is indicated in the fact that so many of her native sons have remained within her borders after attaining man's estate, feeling that nowhere else could better opportunities be secured or better advan- tages enjoyed. Among her farming people who have always lived in the county is Fred H. Toll, who was born in Jefferson township, December 25, 1870, a son of Frederick and Jane (Borchers) Toll, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former having been born near Berlin, May 13, 1839, while the latter was born in Han- over on the 3d of September, 1844. She was but nine years of age when brought by her parents to America, the family home being established in Illinois, while Frederick Toll came just before he had reached the age when he would be called upon for military service in Germany. He was a youth of about nineteen when he arrived in Illinois, and it was on the 4th of July, 1867, in Waverly, Iowa, that he married Jane Borchers. They began their domestic life upon a farm in Jefferson township, Butler county, and there lived for many years. About 1902 Mr. Toll retired from active business cares and removed to Shell Rock. He had been very successful in his business life, for he started out empty-handed and at the time of his retirement was the owner of six hundred acres, while at the present writing, in 1913, his landed possessions aggregate six hundred and sixty acres. He is one of the exten- sive and prosperous landowners of the county, and his life record should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished when honesty, industry and ability lead the way. To him and his wife were born eight children: Florence, the deceased wife of Ed C. Trager; Fred H .; Charles A., William and George O., all of whom reside in Jefferson township; Irving P., whose home is in Albion township; Carrie,
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the wife of Ray Betts, of Shell Rock; and Clarence, who resides upon the old homestead in Jefferson township.
Fred H. Toll spent his youth as do most farm boys, dividing his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He was early trained to habits of industry and he has always carried on general agricul- tural pursuits in Jefferson township, being now the owner of two hundred and fifty acres of land on section 5, together with a five- acre tract of timber land in Ripley township. For eighteen years he has lived upon this place and carries on general agricul- tural pursuits and the raising of high-grade stock of all kinds. In fact, his livestock is the principal feature of his place, and its sale brings to him gratifying annual returns. His farm is well improved as the result of the enterprising efforts and progressive ideas of the owner, who keeps abreast of the times in every par- ticular so that his farm has become one of the attractive places in Jefferson township, giving evidence of a spirit of modern enter- prise and successful achievement. His activities, too, have reached beyond his farming interests, for he is now a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Allison and a stockholder in the Star Telephone Company of Shell Rock, and the Mapleleaf of Allison.
A pleasant home life had its beginning in his marriage to Miss Mynelia Fellows, who was born in Jefferson township, August 24, 1870, and is a daughter of Arthur G. and Catharine (North) Fel- lows. The father was born in New York, July 17, 1847, and the mother's birth occurred in Pennsylvania, October 27, 1843. They arrived in Butler county in 1868, and Mr. Fellows continued to make his home here until his demise. It was on the 16th of Decem- ber, 1869, that he married Catharine North, after which he pur- chased what is now the Toll farm, becoming the owner of eighty acres in October, 1870. Upon this place he resided until his death, which occurred May 22, 1884. His widow survived him for about nine years, passing away March 1, 1893. They were the parents of two children, Mrs. Toll and Clara, the latter the wife of Charles Toll, a brother of our subject and also a resident of Jefferson township. As the years passed Mr. Fellows prospered in his chosen life work and, adding to his holdings, was the owner of one hundred and seventy acres of rich farm land when he died. There were no buildings upon this place when he made his first purchase, but he energetically began the work of improvement and that work has been still further carried on by Mr. Toll since he came into
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possession of the property. Mrs. Fellows left Pennsylvania when a little maiden of six summers and was a resident of Ohio until she came to Iowa. She started for this state with her first husband, who died, however, while on the way. She then returned to Ohio, but five years later, or in 1867, came to Iowa. Here she married Mr. Fellows and in 1870, they became the owners of the farm upon which Mrs. Toll has lived from her infancy, save for one year after her marriage, when they resided upon a rented farm in the neigh- borhood. Mr. Toll purchased from his sister-in-law her interest in the property and has added eighty acres to the original tract, so that he is now the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and fifty acres, constituting one of the fine properties in Jefferson township. In the midst of the place stands a comfortable resi- dence, in the rear of which are good barns and substantial out- buildings and these in turn are surrounded by well kept fields annually producing rich harvests as a reward for the care and labor bestowed upon them.
As the years have gone by Mr. and Mrs. Toll have become the parents of seven children: Elsie C .; Vera, who died at the age of six years; Arthur, who has also passed away; Vern; Hazel; Ken- neth and Marjorie. Mr. Toll is a member of the German Lutheran and Mrs. Toll of the Congregational church, and Mr. Toll is a re- publican in politics. He has served for some years as township trustee and has made a creditable record in office. In fact, he is a public-spirited citizen and one whose loyalty to the interests and welfare of the community is widely acknowledged.
JACOBUS VALENTINE.
Jacobus Valentine, proprietor of a large variety store in Ap- lington, was born in Germany, October 24, 1870. He is a son of Ausbrand and Bouke (Adams) Valentine, also natives of the fatherland, the former born in 1815 and the latter in 1839. The parents came to America in 1884 and settled in Iowa, where the father engaged as a farmer until his death in 1889. His wife sur- vives him and makes her home in Aplington. Ten children were born to their union: Katie; Joe and Lambert, who have passed away; Anna; Suanetta; Jacobus, of this review; Elizabeth; Gertte; Joe and Lambert, the second of the name.
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Jacobus Valentine attended school in Germany until he was twelve years of age and then came to America with his parents, pursuing his studies in the public schools of Iowa. He afterward worked upon his father's farm until 1889, in which year he moved to Aplington, opening a jewelry store. He afterward conducted a photographic studio and eventually disposed of this in order to establish himself in his present business. He has now a stock valued at thirty-five hundred dollars and controls an important patronage, which has been accorded to him in recognition of his honorable business methods and his reasonable prices.
At Aplington, March 4, 1899, Mr. Valentine married Miss Matie Jurgena, a daughter of Albert and Flora (Putcher) Jur- gena, the former a well known farmer of this locality. Mr. and Mrs. Valentine have two children: August A. and Flora M. Mr. Valentine is a member of the German Reformed church and a democrat in his political views. He has valuable property inter- ests in Aplington, owing besides his store building a comfortable residence, in which he and his family reside. He is one of the most highly respected business men of the city and holds the esteem and good-will of all with whom he is associated.
RICH A. VOOGD.
Rich A. Voogd, manager for Voogd & Company, general mer- chants of Aplington and also well known in business circles as a . successful real-estate dealer, was born in Grundy county, Iowa, February 19, 1874, a son of Abe and Bena (Rykena) Voogd, na- tives of Germany. The father came to America in the early '60s and after residing in Illinois for six years moved to Grundy county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until his dec." in 1882. His wife survives him and makes her home in Aplington. Four children were born to their union. Oltman is editor of the Aplington News. He married Miss Clara Paul and they have four children, Abe, William, Margaret and Paul. Rich A., is the sub- ject of this review. Dick married Miss Lila Austin, a daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of Butler county. Abe is engaged in the general merchandising business. He married Miss Thina Hooker.
Rich A. Voogd acquired a public-school education, attending until he was fifteen years of age. He has been in the general mer-
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chandise business since that time and has risen to be general man- ager of the enterprise operated by Voogd & Company in Apling- ton. In addition to this he is manager of Voogd & Company's elevator and also deals extensively in real estate, being a recog- nized authority on land values. All of his interests are carefully and conservatively conducted and his success has placed him in an enviable position in business circles.
Mr. Voogd married in Aplington on the 3d of March, 1894, Miss Bena Weiss, a daughter of Fred Weiss, formerly in the grain business here. The father died in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Voogd have three children: Fred R., Beulah and Edward. Mr. Voogd attends the Presbyterian church and is a democrat in his political beliefs. He is widely and favorably known in Aplington as a careful and reliable man of business and as a progressive and public-spirited citizen.
H. N. REINTS.
H. N. Reints, a representative and successful business man of Kesley, for the past twelve years connected with banking inter- ests here, was born in Aplington, this county, June 27, 1879. He acquired his primary education in the public schools of that city and afterward took a commercial course at Des Moines Business College. After leaving school he went to work in his father's store, where he clerked for a year and a half, after which he under- took the management of the lumberyard at Aplington, which had been purchased by Reints & DeBuhr and which they conducted successfully. In June 1900, the firm of Reints & DeBuhr decided to establish a branch lumber and banking business at Kesley, Iowa, Mr. Reints being now cashier and manager of the institution which they founded. In 1911 they built a large brick business block, which they have equipped as a modern bank, and here they carry on a general banking business, dealing also in real-estate and insurance. They control a large and representative patronage, for Mr. Reints has the confidence and esteem of the people of the city and is held in high respect in business circles.
On the 27th of June, 1912, Mr. Reints was united in marriage to Miss Minette Rabe, who was born and reared in Chickasaw county, acquiring her education there and at Fayette and Nora Springs. Mr. Reints has just completed the erection of a modern residence in Kesley, and he and his wife are well known in social
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circles. He was one of the promoters of the Tri-County State Bank, organized in North Dakota in 1908, and he held the position of president of that institution for five years, until he disposed of his interest. He is a man of energy, resource and capacity, and these qualities will undoubtedly carry him still farther forward on the road to success.
CHARLES A. TOLL.
; Charles A. Toll needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the county. His birth occurred in Jefferson township, about a mile south of the farm on which he now lives, October 19, 1872, and he is the third in a family of eight children born of the mar- riage of Frederick and Jane Toll, of whom mention is made else- where in this volume. His youthful days were spent under the parental roof and in retrospect one can see him as he trudges off to school, a farm boy, to master the branches of learning taught in the district. He was continually learning, too, as he tramped through the fields-learning lessons taught in the school of ex- perience-and he is today a well informed man. He has always been content to follow the occupation to which he was reared- that of farming-which George Washington said: "Is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man."
Mr. Toll remained with his parents up to the time of his marriage and then purchased his present property, known as the William Marlow farm, becoming the owner at that time of two hundred and forty acres. He has since added an eighty acre tract, so that he now has three hundred and twenty acres lying on sec- tions 4 and 9, Jefferson township, together with a six acre tract of timber land on section 28, and twenty-seven acres adjoining the fair grounds in Allison. He has made many substantial improve- ments upon his home place, which is one of the best equipped farms in the district. In 1912 he built a large barn forty-four by sixty-six feet with twenty foot posts and a hip roof. It has con- crete flooring and is a model stock barn fully equipped with everything to promote the care of the stock. All of the other out- buildings upon the place are good and are kept in a state of excellent repair. Most of these were erected by Mr. Toll, who car- ries on his farming along scientific lines, while at the same time he
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is familiar with all of the practical phases of the business. He raises high-grade stock of all kinds and engages in breeding horses, keeping a fine stallion. He also feeds about two carloads of cattle each year and from two to three carloads of hogs annually. In addition he is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Allison, in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Com- pany of Allison, in the Allison Opera House and in two local tele- phone lines. His investments have been judiciously made and have brought to him a very gratifying financial return. In addi- tion to his other interests Mr. Toll is a stockholder in the County Fair Association and acted as superintendent of the horse depart- ment in 1913. In 1910 he set out upon his place an acre of catalpa trees which is today called the best grove in the state.
On the 29th of April, 1897, Mr. Toll was married to Miss Clara M. Fellows, who was born in Jefferson township February 6, 1873, and is a daughter of Arthur and Catharine (North) Fellows. Our subject and his wife now have two children, Lois and Esther. Mr. Toll votes with the republican party and keeps well informed on the vital questions of the day. He has served as a township trus- tee but prefers to concentrate his efforts upon his business affairs. He belongs to the Lutheran church and his wife to the Congrega- tional church, and they are both people of sterling worth, enjoy- ing in full measure the regard and esteem of all with whom they have come in contact. Within recent years Mr. Toll has become well known in business and financial circles, and at all times his record has been characterized by constructive measures. He has never been known to take advantage of the necessities of another in business transactions, his enterprise and energy being the foun- dation of his well known prosperity.
P. J. DOWNING.
P. J. Downing is numbered among the early settlers of But- ler county, his residence here dating from 1867. He has wit- nessed a great deal of the growth and development of the locality and since reaching maturity has borne an active and honorable part in the work of advancement, winning success which places him among the prominent and substantial farmers of Coldwater township.
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He was born in the northern peninsula of Michigan, January 22, 1861 and is a son of John E. and Catherine (Moroney) Down- ing, natives of Ireland. The father remained in that country un- til he was twelve years of age and then emigrated to America, settling in Massachusetts, where he worked in a factory until 1857. In that year he came west to Michigan and engaged in copper mining in the northern peninsula. He was married in that state in 1859. In 1861 he came to Iowa, settling in Buchanan county, where he engaged in farming for six years, and in 1867 removed to Butler county, where he took up a homestead of eighty acres on sections 25 and 26, Bennezette township. This he broke and improved, adding to his holdings from time to time until he finally owned three hundred and twenty acres. This property he afterward rented and removed into Greene, where he engaged in the livery business for some time. He died in this city about 1908, having survived his wife about three years.
P. J. Downing was the second in order of birth in a family of twelve children, of whom ten are still living-six boys and four girls. He was reared upon his father's farm in Bennezette township and remained at home until he grew to manhood, aiding in the operation of the homestead. When he began his independ- ent career he purchased eighty acres of raw land in Bennezette township, broke the soil, fenced his fields and carried on the work of cultivation for a number of years. About 1897 he purchased an eighty acre tract in Coldwater township and to this he has made additions from time to time, owning six hundred and forty acres of valuable land; four hundred in the home farm, one hun- dred and sixty in another tract and eighty acres in Bennezette township. Upon his property he has erected a modern two story residence, a large barn, a machine house and a hog house, and he has set out a good orchard and a fine grove of pines, which forms an excellent wind break north and west of his house. In addition to general farming he is extensively interested in stock- raising and has valuable herds of high-grade cattle and a number of horses and hogs. He was one of the promoters of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company and the Farmers Cooperative Creamery of Greene and is well known and highly regarded in business circles.
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