USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa: a record of settlement., Volume 2 > Part 24
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GEORGE ADAIR
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this section of the state and became widely known as proprietor of the Oakley Stock Farm.
Mr. Adair was born near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, January 21, 1847, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth Ellen (Smith) Adair. The father was born near Lexington, Virginia, October 31, 1813, and the mother's birth occurred in Michigan, March 24, 1824. Coming to Iowa, he settled in Muscatine county, east of West Liberty in 1837. He was accompanied by his younger brother, William. In the same year Elizabeth Smith arrived in company with her father and settled in the same locality. They were married at Cedar Rapids in 1840 and there resided until 1853. In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Adair drove an ox team across the country to the Pacific coast, being absent from home for two years. He was in hopes that the trip would benefit his health and found that it did. He spent some time in the mines, returning in 1851, and the following year he came to Butler county. Here he purchased forty acres of land of Alex Glenn and the following year purchased more land from Aaron Moore. Twelve blocks of the city of Shell Rock have been laid out on the forty acre tract which he purchased in 1852. The plat was recorded in 1855. It was in the spring of 1853 that he moved his family here, and that year he built a sawmill and dam across the Shell Rock river. He operated the mill, sawing for the settlers, and he also rafted timber down to Waterloo. He con- tinued in the mill until 1869.
However, in the meantime, in 1867, he opened a hotel known as the Shell Rock House and conducted it until 1878, when he went to Kansas to visit a son and daughter. He died at Smith Center, that state, on the 3d of September, 1879. He was most prominently identified with industrial activity in this county at an early day. He built, between 1855 and 1857, the west side flouring mill in' con- nection with his brother William, and soon after they sold their grist-mill to John F. Wright. In 1867, in company with E. W. Metzger, he built the east side flouring mill, which he operated for a number of years. He was thus closely associated with the busi- ness development of the community, and his enterprises were of untold value to the early settlers, who depended upon his oper- ations for breadstuffs and for lumber. He was one of the incor- porators of the first Methodist Episcopal church and erected the first house of worship in Shell Rock, it being the first church organ- ized in the county. He took an active and helpful part in the church work throughout the remainder of his life and his wife was Vol. II-16
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equally earnest in her cooperation with all that pertained to the moral development of the community. He was earnest in his sup- port of the temperance cause and in politics he was a democrat but never took an active part in politics aside from casting his ballot. He labored untiringly, however, to check the use of alcoholic bev- erages and was a member of the Independent Order of Good Tem- plars, the meetings of which were held in his house. His life was indeed one of usefulness to the community and his worth was ac- knowledged by all who knew him. His wife survived him for almost a quarter of a century and died in Shell Rock in 1902. She shared with him in all his good work for the benefit of his fellowmen and many have reason to bless their memory.
They had a family of nine children: Mary Jane, the eldest, became the wife of E. Town of Shell Rock, but is now deceased. John, of Sioux City, Iowa, enlisted in June, 1861, as a member of Company B, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry and after veteran- izing served until July, 1865. He participated in many battles, his first engagement being at Belmont, Missouri. He was a member of what was called the Hornet's Nest Brigade and took part in the battles of Shiloh and Lookout Mountain and the Atlanta cam- paign. He also went on the campaign through the Carolinas and participated in the grand review in Washington, D. C. Lucy Ann became the wife of R. D. Bowen of Smith Center, Kansas. George is the next of the family. William W. is living in Kansas. Eliza- beth Ellen is the wife of A. A. Allburn of Sioux City. Sarah Maria is the wife of Thomas Rawlings of Wakefield, Nebraska. Blanche A. became the wife of Charles Herrington of Wakefield, Nebraska. Nettie is the wife of George E. Mead of Shell Rock.
George Adair was a little lad of six summers when brought by his parents to Butler county, where he has resided continuously since, covering a period of sixty years. There is no resident of Shell Rock whose connection with the district antedates his and as a pioneer settler he has witnessed almost the entire growth and development of this part of the county. On the 14th of May, 1864, when a young man of seventeen years, he enlisted as a member of Company E, Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served for one hundred days. He has always been actuated by a spirit of patriotism and has ever taken a helpful part in upholding the in- terests of county, state and nation. His reminiscences concerning this county are most interesting. He recalls the first Fourth of July celebration which he ever witnessed. In fact it was the first held in this county, the celebration taking place at Shell Rock in
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1855. The people came in ox teams and on that occasion nearly every man, woman and child in the county was here.
Through his boyhood George Adair attended the district schools and worked in his father's sawmill. Since 1869 he has been identi- fied with agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of three hun- dred and sixty acres of valuable land two miles southeast of Shell Rock. He still gives supervision to the place, although his son is actively operating it. The farm is splendidly improved and has upon it an immense barn fifty-two by ninety feet, also two con- crete silos and every modern improvement. The place is known as the Oakley Stock Farm and Mr. Adair was the first breeder of Holstein cattle in this locality, continuing the breeding business for thirty years. While he is not active in the operation of the farm, he keeps in touch with every feature of the business and, moreover, he has for the past sixteen years been president of the Shell Rock Creamery Company, a cooperative creamery business which is incorporated. For fourteen years he was president of the Butler County Farmers Institute and he is a life member of the County Fair Association, of which he has been a director and treasurer. His association with the last two organizations indi- cates his deep interest in all that pertains to the development and improvement of the county along agricultural lines.
In 1872 Mr. Adair was united in marriage to Miss Ella Mason, who was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, July 5, 1853, and in 1856 was brought to Iowa by her parents, who located in Madi- son township, this county, but afterward removed to Cedar Falls and later came to Shell Rock. Her father, William Mason, was a native of England and was a woolen manufacturer. After com- ing to Iowa he purchased a half interest in a woolen mill in Shell Rock. While in Massachusetts he married Amelia Murgatroyd, also a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Adair became the parents of five children : Claude Duvall, who is living on his father's farm, married Inez Temple and they have five children, Rex G., Zella Leone, Keith C. and Forest C., twins, and Victor Bruce. Allison G. was the second in order of birth and died at the age of two years, and ten months. Allen L., the third of the family, is a resident of Eagle, Idaho. He married Hilda Benson and they have two daugh- ters, Ellen A. and Esther. Ada Lucile is the wife of A. F. Garner of Shell Rock township and they have two sons, George Mathias and Vernon Adair. William Mason, of Shell Rock, married Maude Irma Goodsell and is employed as a butter maker in the Shell Rock Creamery.
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In his political views Mr. Adair is a democrat and has been his party's candidate for county supervisor and for representative. For thirty-three years he has been identified with the Odd Fel- lows Society and was chairman of the board of trustees of the Orphans and Old Folks Home of the Odd Fellows at Mason City. His life has been one of intense and intelligently directed activity. As the years have gone by he has put forth his effort in such a way that substantial results have accrued. His labors have enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and gradually he has advanced until he now occupies a position among the substantial citizens of the county.
JOHN H. HALL.
John H. Hall is the proprietor of the Sunnyside Stock Farm, one of the valuable properties of Jefferson township. Its name indicates the uses to which it is largely put, and the owner is regarded as one of the leading stock-raisers of his district. A native of Herfordshire, England, he was born August 27, 1846, his parents being James and Martha (Day) Hall, who were natives also of the same shire. The year 1854 witnessed the arrival of the family in the state of New York, settlement being made at Richwood flats, Saratoga county. Six months later they resumed their journey across the country with De Kalb county, Illinois, as their destination. Seven years were there spent and in 1861 they came to Butler county, Iowa, settling in Jefferson township. While in England the father was a shepherd, but in America followed the occupation of farming. He was in very close financial circumstances when he crossed the Atlantic but his indefatigable energy, perseverance and capable management made him a wealthy man, his landed possessions comprising seven hundred acres at the time of his death, which occurred in 1891, when he was seventy years of age. His wife died in 1900, at the age of seventy-two. Their children were seven in number: John H .; James, living in Jefferson township; Elizabeth, the wife of Al Nicholas of West Point township; Maria, the wife of Levi B. Knapp of Shell Rock; Joseph, who died at the age of sixteen years; Isaac, living in Minnesota; and Charles of Shell Rock. The last three were born in the United States.
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John H. Hall accompanied his parents on their various remov- als, but at the age of fifteen years he reached Butler county, where he has resided continuously since 1861. He early became familiar with the arduous task of developing the new farm, and he has never hesitated to accomplish his purpose when it must be done at the cost of earnest, self-sacrificing labor. He has always carried on general farming, and the years have brought him pros- perity, so that he now has extensive landed possessions. His home place comprises three hundred and twenty acres on sections 25 and 26, Jefferson township, in addition to which he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 26, forty-five acres of timber on section 35, Jefferson township and two hundred acres in Shell Rock township, upon which his son now resides. He has long made stock-raising the principal feature of his farm work and handles high grades of stock for which he finds a ready and profitable sale upon the market. In purchasing cattle his sound judgment stands him in good stead. He is seldom, if ever, at fault in estimating upon the value of an animal, and when his stock are ready for the market their excellent condition insures a speedy sale.
On March 11, 1889, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Marie Manzel, who was born in Germany on the 17th of August, 1873. She lost her father when but eight years of age and in 1887 came to Iowa with her widowed mother and a brother, Henry Manzel, who is living in Shell Rock township with his mother, who, having married again, is now the wife of Carl Cole- man. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have become the parents of six chil- dren: John, at home; James, living on his father's farm in Shell Rock township; Martha and Isaac at home; Lillian, who is a student in Osage Seminary; and Ruth, who completes the family.
Mr. Hall has an excellent home for his family. The farm upon which he resides has been in the possesssion of the Halls for over forty years, John H. Hall having purchased his first quarter section from his father. The purchase price was thirty- two hundred dollars, of which sum his father allowed him one thousand dollars as a present. It was prairie land and John H. Hall broke the sod and planted his crops, so cultivating the wild tract into productive fields. He also at once began making sub -. stantial improvements, and his progressive methods, as the years have gone by, have wrought radical changes in the appearance of the place, which is today one of the fine farms of Butler county. In politics Mr. Hall was always a republican until 1912,
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since which time he has voted with the prohibition party. He and his wife belong to the Baptist church of Shell Rock, and they are held in high esteem, their many excellent traits of heart and mind endearing them to a large circle of warm friends.
CHARLES K. YOST.
Charles K. Yost, living on section 6, Ripley township, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, March 28, 1845, a son of Jacob and Julia (Kauffman) Yost. The father was born in a house that stood on the dividing line between Pennsylvania and Mary- land and his natal year was 1809. The mother was a native of Ohio, and they were married in the latter state. In the spring of 1852 they arrived in Linn county, Iowa, where Mrs. Yost passed away in the fall of the same year. The father afterward removed to Toledo, Tama county, Iowa, where he remained until 1858, conducting a grocery store in that town. He next came to Butler county, settling in Madison township, but afterward re- moving to the vicinity of West Fork about 1866. There he passed away at the venerable age of eighty-two years. He was a shoe- maker. and followed that trade in early life and to some extent after coming to this county, working at the trade at the time when all shoes were made by hand. He also owned a farm in Madison township, which he afterward sold and purchased one in Ripley township. In Toledo he married, but his second wife passed away two years later, leaving no children. His third wife was Eveline B. Scott. There were five children by the first marriage: Mrs. Mary Ann Riddle, deceased; Sarah Jane, the widow of David Mason, residing at Meriden, Connecticut, where her hus- band was overseer of a large woolen mill; Josiah, who enlisted from this county as a member of Company C, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was discharged owing to disability but later reenlisted, his death occurring since the war; Charles K .; and Mrs. Elizabeth Tarr, who died in California. By the father's third marriage there were the following children: J. B., living in Minnesota; Lucretia, deceased; George, also of Minnesota; E. E. and Lincoln, who are residents of Ripley township; Sher- man, of Ripley township; Luther, of Hancock county, Iowa; Cornelius, whose home is in Minnesota; and Rachel, the wife of John McLaren, of Ripley township.
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Charles K. Yost came to this county with his father about 1858 and has here since resided, covering a period of fifty-five years, in which he has witnessed almost the entire development, progress and upbuilding of the county. He has always followed farming and at one time owned four hundred and sixty-five acres but has since sold a portion. He' now owns two hundred and eighty acres in this county and two hundred acres in Richland county, North Dakota. He has two hundred acres in the home place, which is well improved, being supplied with all the equip- ments and accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. He has resided on this place since 1883 and is now practically living retired, having rented his farm to a son-in-law. There are two sets of buildings upon the place, and everything indi- cates the progressive spirit of the owner.
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In 1871 Mr. Yost was united in marriage to Miss Aurilla Kin- caid, who was born in Rockford, Illinois, June 4, 1851, a daughter of Edwin and Catharine (Kershner) Kincaid, who were natives of Maine, the former born in March, 1825, and the latter in April, 1828. They were married in the Pine Tree state and about 1850 came to Illinois with their one son. Other children were added to the family after their arrival here. Both parents died in Rip- ley township about 1890, only a week apart. They lived for six years in Wisconsin before coming to Iowa, whither they traveled with ox teams in 1859. They had ten children: Louis, now living in Oklahoma; Mrs. Yost; William, who died in Oregon; Myrtie, the wife of William Reed, of Oregon; Jessie, the wife of John Randolph, of Washington; Eugene, whose home is in Texas; Clara, the widow of Robert Smith, of Oregon; Ella, the deceased wife of Amos Vogt; and Edwin, who died in childhood. They had an adopted son that died in early life.
Mr. and Mrs. Yost became the parents of six children: Wil- liam Quincy, now living in Minnesota; Della, the wife of Irvin Knoll, living upon her father's farm; Edwin, who is on his father's farm in North Dakota and also owns two hundred acres, cultivating, therefore, four hundred acres; Clara, the wife of Hugh Mosher, of Dubuque; Lela, the wife of Richard Ludeman, of Parkersburg; and Charles L., at home. The maternal grand- father of Mrs. Yost was James Kershner, a native of France, born on the Rhine. He served for fifteen years and six months in the army under Napoleon. His wife, Mrs. Dereva Kershner, was born on the German side of the Rhine. Coming to America, they settled in Maine, where they died at an advanced age. The
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paternal grandfather of Mr. Yost served in the German army in time of war.
In his political views Mr. Yost is a republican, stanchly sup- porting the principles of the party. He served as township trus- tee for a number of years and since 1874 has been school treasurer of school No. 3 in the district of Fort Sumter. He has in this connection paid all of the school teachers and has boarded over thirty of them. He and his wife are United Brethren in religious faith and are members of the Hitesville church in Rip- ley township. He is today one of the valued citizens of the county, a man whose well spent life has gained for him the high and well merited regard of those with whom he has been brought in con- tact.
CLARENCE W. SOESBE.
A young man of energy, resource and discrimination, Clarence W. Soesbe has been closely connected with financial interests of Greene since he began his active career and has risen to be vice president of the Merchants National Bank. He has other im- portant business connections and is well known in the city and vicinity as a progressive, able and farsighted business man. He was born in Greene, this state, September 1, 1880, and is a son of E. W. Soesbe, who was born in Jones county, Iowa, November 11, 1851. The grandfather, William Soesbe, was a native of Ken- tucky, born in 1810. He was one of the first settlers in Jones county, Iowa, having taken up his residence there in 1839. E. W. Soesbe grew to manhood in that locality and in 1870 moved to Butler county, locating in Greene. In this city he married Miss Carrie L. Cross, a native of Butler county and a daughter of J. J. Cross, who entered land in Fremont township in pioneer times. E. W. Soesbe was a lawyer by profession, being associated with his brother, S. W. Soesbe. S. W. Soesbe was the first station agent at Greene, filling that position for a number of years. In 1883 the two brothers formed a partnership with J. B. Shepardson, organ- izing a private bank in Greene, the firm name being Soesbe, Shep- ardson & Company. This was reorganized in 1903 as the Merchants National Bank with E. W. Soesbe as president and his son, Clarence W., as cashier. Six months later the father died and Mr. Shepardson was made president, an office which he still holds. Mrs. E. W. Soesbe still retains her residence in Greene.
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CLARENCE W. SOESBE
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Clarence W. Soesbe was reared in Greene, acquiring his early education in the public schools of the city. He was graduated from the high school in 1896 and he later worked for one year in a bank. At the end of that time he entered the State University at Iowa City and was graduated from the liberal arts depart- ment in the college of law in 1901, receiving numerous honors. He afterward returned home and entered his father's bank as cashier, a position which he held for two or three years. At the end of that time he was elected vice president and this responsible posi- tion he still holds, his energy and ability being important factors in developing the extensive business which the bank controls. Mr. Soesbe acts as agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee and is engaged also in the real-estate busi- ness, handling improved farming lands in Butler and adjacent counties.
In West Branch, Iowa, on the 14th of June, 1904, Mr. Soesbe married Miss Clara Stuart, a native of Iowa, born in Johnson county. She was educated in the State University, graduating in 1902, and together with Mr. Soesbe, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and other societies. Mr. and Mrs. Soesbe have two sons, Earl W. and Lee S. The parents are members of the Greene Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Soesbe has served as recording steward for the past nine years. They are very promi- nent in church and Sunday school work and well known in religious circles. A native son of Greene, Mr. Soesbe has thor- oughly identified his interests with those of the city, his activities touching various phases of its public and business life. He is a progressive and able citizen and a careful and conscientious busi- ness man and he holds the confidence and esteem of the entire com- munity.
FREDERICK TOLL.
Frederick Toll, one of the esteemed residents of Shell Rock, who in former years was actively identified with agricultural, stock-raising and dairying interests and other business affairs in Butler county, contributing to its material growth as well as to his individual success, was born in the province of Bromberg, Cedeneth, Prussia, Germany, May 9, 1839, his parents being Christian and Carolina (Werner) Toll. The mother died when
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her son, Frederick, was but six years of age, and the father after- ward married Johannah Udehart. In 1858 they crossed the At- . lantic, made their way to Chicago, where they spent the winter and afterward resided for several years at Howard, McHenry county, Illinois. In 1863 they came to Butler county and settled in Jefferson township, where their remaining days were passed.
The father was a brick manufacturer of Germany, owning and operating a brickyard there, but after coming to this coun- try he followed farming. Unto him and his first wife were born six children: Caroline and Charles, both deceased; Frederick, the third in order of birth; Adolph, who has also passed away; Mrs. Minnie Apfel of Shell Rock; and Herman, of Washington. Unto the father's second marriage were born two children: Mrs. Johan- nah Jacobs, of Clarksville; and Augusta, of Chicago.
Frederick Toll spent the greater part of his boyhood and youth in his native land and there learned the brick maker's trade with his father. He followed that pursuit until he came to the United States, landing at New York on the 8th of October, 1858. He soon afterward joined his parents and resided with them until after the removal of the family to Iowa. At the time of his marriage he started out in business independently, pur- chasing one hundred and twenty acres of school land two miles east of Butler Center, for which he paid two dollars per acre. It was entirely wild and unimproved, when it came into his posses- sion. He had no capital when he started out in life on his own account, but he was allowed ten years in which to pay for the property and, carefully saving his earnings, he was not only able to discharge his indebtedness, but also to add to his land, making purchases from time to time until he was the owner of six hun- dred and forty acres of good farm land and eleven acres of tim- ber. The entire tract is situated on Jefferson township, save one hundred and forty acres in Butler township. Mr. Toll made stock- raising the principal feature of his place. He raised a large number of hogs each year and also handled cattle. He conducted a dairy, milking twenty-three cows, at one time and he was a director in the Cooperative Creamery Company of Coster. He resided in Jefferson township for forty years, from 1863 until 1903, when he retired to Shell Rock, where he has since lived in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.
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