USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa: a record of settlement., Volume 2 > Part 27
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JOHN H. ESSMAN.
John H. Essman, a progressive and successful farmer of Madi- son township, owning and operating two hundred and forty acres of choice land on section 20, was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 1, 1875. He is a son of Arend Essman, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work.
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John H. Essman came to Butler county with his parents in 1879, and was reared upon his father's farm in Madison town- ship, aiding in its operation until he reached manhood. After his marriage, which occurred in 1900, he located on a portion of his father's property and after renting this for some time purchased the farm, which he still owns. Upon it he has made a number of improvements, building a large two-story modern residence, a substantial barn, good cribs and convenient outbuildings. He has fenced and cross fenced his fields and has made his property one of the most attractive and valuable in the vicinity. In addition to general farming he engages also in raising graded cattle, good work horses and Duroc Jersey hogs, and he is widely known as a successful and progressive farmer and stock-raiser. He holds stock in the Butler County Telephone Company and also in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Dumont.
On the 21st of February, 1900, in Franklin county, this state, Mr. Essman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hirth, who was born in Grundy county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Essman have become the parents of four children: Lulu, Emma M., Arnold R. and John L.
The parents are members of the Reformed church. Mr. Ess- man gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is interested in public affairs without being active as an office seeker. He is one of the well known farmers and business men of Madi- son township and has the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
GEORGE H. MEAD.
George H. Mead, a well known and respected farmer, was born in a.log cabin on the old family homestead on section 15, Ripley township, where he still resides, his natal day being September 13, 1870. His parents were Henry C. and Julia E. (Horton) Mead. The father's birth occurred at Swanton, Vermont, October 24, 1835, and he was the fourth son in a family of twelve children. His youthful days were spent upon a farm in New England and when a young man he came to the west, living for several years with his brother Norman, in Illinois. In the fall of 1858 he returned to Vermont, where he married Miss Emily S. Phillips, and soon afterward he took his bride to Carroll county, Illinois,
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MR. AND MRS. GEORGE H. MEAD
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HENRY C. MEAD
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where they lived until 1861 and then removed to Butler county, Iowa, settling on a farm near Aplington. Later they took up their abode on what became known as the old home farm near Butler Center. In August, 1864, Mrs. Mead passed away and on the 18th of April, 1868, Mr. Mead was again married, his second union being with Miss Julia E. Horton, who was born at Lewis- ton, Niagara county, New York, April 14, 1843, and was the young- est of the seven children of Ira and Mariette Horton. After attending the public schools she became a student in the college at Niagara Falls, making her home at that time with an elder sister. She afterward went to the home of another sister in Fenni- more Center, Wisconsin, where she taught school for a few years before coming to Iowa. In the spring of 1864 she went to live with her sister, Mrs. E. C. Briggs, at Cedar Falls and taught school near there during the following winter. Following her marriage to Mr. Mead they traveled life's journey happily together for forty-one years. When he arrived in this county all he possessed was a yoke of cattle. When he died he was the owner of nineteen hundred and forty acres of valuable land, all in Rip- ley township with the exception of a quarter section in South Dakota. He bought and fed cattle, making most of his money in that way, and as he prospered he made judicious investments in real estate until his holdings were very extensive. After being in failing health for a number of years he retired from active busi- ness life, purchasing a pleasant home on Elm street in Allison, where his remaining days were passed. He always regretted the fact that he had to leave the farm, to which he made daily trips when able. He was one of the early settlers and valued citizens of the county and when he passed away there were not many living who had preceded him to this district. He met all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, yet as the years passed on worked his way steadily on toward the goal of success. He never neglected a duty, was loyal in citizenship, faithful in friendship and devoted to his family. He passed away in Allison, August 11, 1909. Later Mrs. Mead built a beautiful and commodious home in the city, equipped with all modern conveniences, and there she passed her declining days, her death occurring July 30, 1913. She had ever been most devoted to the welfare of her children and her example as a loving and tender wife and mother is one which may well be emulated. In the family were eight children: Mamie, who died in infancy ; George H .; Etta, who died in early childhood; Clara, the wife of A. W. Johnson, of Allison: Clark, who was a twin of Vol. 17-18
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Mrs. Johnson and died in childhood; Ada, the wife of Bert Rich- mond, of Ripley township; Alice, the wife of George Raisty, of the same township, and Rufus C., of Allison.
George H. Mead has spent his entire life upon the farm which he now owns and occupies save for a period of four years. His early experiences were those which usually fall to the farm lad. He assisted in the work of the fields, acquired a public-school edu- cation and enjoyed such sports as the boys of the neighborhood delighted in. With advancing years he assumed the duties of manhood and is now the owner of the old homestead of seven hun- dred and twenty acres, together with a quarter section that his father gave him before he died. The farm has been well improved by George H. Mead and is a stock farm, Mr. Mead being exten- sively engaged in buying, feeding and selling stock. In business affairs he shows sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise, and his success is growing year by year.
On the 9th of October, 1898, Mr. Mead was united in marriage to Miss Lola Wagner, who was born in Monroe, Wisconsin, Decem- ber 26, 1880, and was six years of age when brought to this county by her parents, J. R. and Jane (Divan) Wagner, who now reside in Beaver township. Mr. and Mrs. Mead have three children : Hazel, born in May, 1899; Clifford, born October 9, 1902; and Ger- trude, May 6, 1906. In politics Mr. Mead is a republican and has filled the office of township trustee but has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which, capably conducted, are bringing to him substantial success.
JOHN HOHL.
John Hohl, proprietor of the Wabeek Hotel at Shell Rock. is a native of Switzerland, his birth having occurred at Rehetobel. in the canton of Appenzell on the 8th of August, 1856. His par- ents were John Jacob and Anna (Kellenberger) Hohl, whose entire lives were spent in Rehetobel. The father was a manufac- turer of curtains, conducting an extensive business which gave employment for about a half century to between one hundred and one hundred and fifty people. Not only in business affairs, but in other connections was he a prominent and representative citizen there. He acted as superintendent of the poor farm with-
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out pay for about ten years, and for nineteen years he was a mem- ber of the city council. At his own expense and assisted by others, he built for the benefit of the public a boulevard that obtained a fine view of Lake Constance. He took a delight in help- ing the needy and was ever ready to extend the hand of assistance to those who needed it. His life was indeed one of worth and value to the community in which he lived, and his wife was a much loved woman because of her many good deeds and her splen- did qualities of heart and mind. His death occurred in 1892 and his wife survived him for about a decade, both passing away when seventy years of age. Their children were seven in num- ber: John Jacob, a lieutenant colonel and a prominent man of Switzerland, where he died in 1912; Mrs. Albertina Bishofberger, who died in 1873; John; Rose, who died in childhood; Mrs. Anna Banziger, living at Lichtensteig in the canton of St. Gall, Switz- erland; Ernest, who died in infancy; and Arnold, of Rehetobel. John Hohl is the only representative of the family in the new world. He was graduated from the state college at Appenzell when fifteen years of age and also attended an academy near Geneva, winning second honors at his graduation in 1875. . On the 8th of August, 1876, he married Anna Katharina Schlapfer, who was born at Rehetobel, December 7, 1853, a daughter of J. J. Schlapfer.
In his youth and early manhood John Hohl worked with his father in his curtain and embroidery manufacturing establish- ment and afterward conducted a general store on his own account. This was destroyed by fire on the 21st of June, 1890, and Mr. Hohl lost all that he had.
Friends wanted to help him to start again, but he declined the assistance, not wishing to be under obligations to anyone and later he decided to come to the United States to here build up his fortunes anew. He planned that his wife should remain in Switz- erland for two years and in 1891 he sailed for the United States as a steerage passenger, Denver, Colorado, being his destination. From New York he proceeded to Denver, traveling in an immi- grant train that was four days en route. He spent eight months in that city, where he found plenty of friends but no work as times were hard. Later in the year he went to Bower, Nebraska, where he joined one of his old classmates of Switzerland, who was proprietor of German Nurseries. With him Mr. Hohl remained for nine months. He then went to Omaha, where he continued for a few weeks, but times were hard and business dull
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there and he walked from Omaha to Stuart, Iowa, in January, 1893, when the thermometer was sixteen degrees below zero. He was four days and four nights in covering one hundred and five miles. On the way his companion stole some ducks, which they sold to a poultry house, but Mr. Hohl declined to take them or to help carry them or to receive a dollar from their sale, although he had not a cent in his pocket. Arriving at Stuart, Iowa, he secured a position as night clerk in a hotel and for seven years remained in the employ of the same man, his wife joining him there and also working in the same hotel. When his first em- ployer sold out Mr. Hohl continued to work for his successor for three years, managing the hotel. In 1903 he entered the hotel business on his own account at Stuart and won success during the three years thus spent. He afterward remained at Waterloo, Iowa, for six months, conducting Hotel Royal, but his financial resources were not strong enough to meet the demands of the business and he removed to Greene, Butler county. He con- ducted the Commercial Hotel for nearly six years there, after which he sold out and came to Shell Rock on the 18th of June, 1912. The Wabeek Hotel here was remodeled and refitted accord- ing to modern ideas, and he has built up a now widely extended reputation for chicken dinners and for good service.
The hotel has become a favorite resort with the traveling public. Many automobile parties from Waterloo and other points, come here for the famous chicken dinners, which are served every day of the year. When Mr. Hohl left Greene, one of its newspapers, the Iowa Recorder, made the following com- ment: "John Hohl has gone and there is no one who can fill his place in the community. His motto, 'be cheerful' was his guide at all times, prosperity or adversity alike, and stick to it he would. Those 'marble cake' arms, that 'bald spot', a pinch of 'copen- hagen', the 'elastic step', and the familiar greeting, all gone! John is now a resident of Shell Rock, where he and his good wife will run the hotel and they surely know the hotel business and we know they will please their patrons and make friends. We wish them success in every way."
Mr. Hohl is a big-hearted, generous-spirited man always ready to help the needy and nothing gives him more pleasure than to supply a meal to a hungry man who is without the means to pay for it. He is always ready to contribute to a worthy cause and is a public-spirited and loyal citizen. In politics he has been a stanch democrat since becoming a naturalized American citizen
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in 1896. He had the pleasure of introducing the Hon. W. J. Bryan to an audience six months after becoming an American citizen, in the campaign of that year. Mr. Hohl has entertained at his hotel six of the governors of Iowa. He has contributed liberally to the church and has furthermore shown the spirit of helpfulness and generosity in his adoption of a little lad now known as Richard Hohl. The only children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hohl, twins, died in infancy. Although the early years of his residence brought to him hardships and difficulties, Mr. Hohl never re- gretted his determination to come to America and as the years have gone by has met with a fair measure of success. More than his material gain he has gained the regard, good-will and friend- ship of all with whom he has come in contact.
JOHN B. BURROUGHS.
John B. Burroughs is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, who has to his credit active participation in many of the hotly contested battles that led to the preservation of the Union. In days of peace his attention has been given to general agricul- tural pursuits, and for forty-six years he has resided upon the farm which is now his home, on section 34, Jackson township. He was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, May 1, 1837, and is a son of Jeremiah and Betsy (Seal) Burroughs, who were also natives of that state, in which they spent their entire lives, the father there following the carpenter's trade. The family num- bered six children: Joseph, who enlisted in a New Jersey regi- ment and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; Mrs. Jane Rinehart, who died in New Jersey; John B .; Charles, who died in New Jersey; Samuel, who enlisted from Illinois near the close of the war and died in Tennessee while serving his country; and Robert.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for John B. Burroughs in his boyhood and youth, which were passed in his native state. As he approached manhood, however, he began considering the subject of a life work and of a favorable location and resolved to try his fortune in the middle west. In 1859, therefore, he left New Jersey and made his way to DeKalb county, Illinois, where he was living at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. On the 15th of June, 1861, he
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offered his services to the government and was for three years a member of Company D, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. For about a month he was in Missouri chasing Price. The regi- ment arrived in Fort Donelson a half hour after his surrender, but participated in the battle of Shiloh and in other engagements. Mr. Burroughs was ever a brave and loyal soldier, faithfully dis- charging every duty that devolved upon him.
With the close of the war he returned to Illinois and worked as a farm hand until his marriage. He then came to Iowa in 1867 and took up his abode upon his present farm. He first pur- chased eighty acres of land and when he had succeeded in making a final payment on the place he purchased another eighty acres. Again, when his indebtedness on that was discharged, he bought other tracts and eventually became the owner of six hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land. He has a quarter section in Jackson township and two hundred and forty acres across the road in Jefferson township. There were no improvements upon the original tract of eighty acres when it came into his possession, but with characteristic energy he began the development of the farm, erected substantial buildings, planted his crops, divided the place into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and secured the latest improved machinery for planting and harvesting. He has always carried on stock-raising in connection with general farming and both branches of his business have proven profitable.
In Illinois, in 1866, Mr. Burroughs was united in marriage to Miss Susan Buck, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1844 and when a young lady went to Illinois. The children of this mar- riage were ten in number: Elizabeth, the wife of Pierce Thomp- son, of Shell Rock; John, who died at the age of fifteen years; Frank, of Minnesota; May, a resident of California; Robert, whose home is in Jackson township; Alfred, also of the same township; Vivian, the wife of Ray Randall, of Dayton township; Margaret, the wife of John Martin, of Nora Springs; Grace, the wife of Frank Booker, of Rochester, Minnesota; and Lela, at home.
Mr. Burroughs exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has held some school offices, but has never been ambitious for political prefer- ment. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic at Allison and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. His is a creditable life record, and he has been as true and loyal to his country in days of peace as when he followed the old flag
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upon the battlefields of the south. His life on the whole has been quietly passed, but has been characterized by many substantial qualities, including persistency of purpose, laudable ambition and honesty in all business relations.
JOHN COSTER.
Agricultural interests found a worthy representative in John Coster, living on section 22, Jefferson township. He was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, March 3, 1847, his parents being John and Louise (Grove) Coster, whose destination at the time of their emigration to the new world was McHenry county, Illinois, where they arrived in 1860. The father died in that state, but the mother long survived and passed away in Butler county, Iowa, in 1899, at the home of her son, John, when she had reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years. She had five children, three born of her first marriage and two of the second union. Henry Yarcow lives at Shell Rock. Minnie Yarcow became the wife of John Porman, but both died in this county. Dora mar- ried John Wilson and both are deceased. Fred Coster remained in the fatherland and there passed away. John is the subject of this review.
John Coster was a lad of thirteen years at the time of the emigration to the new world, and after living in Illinois for nine years he came to Butler county in 1869, when a young man of twenty-two. He has since resided in Jefferson township upon the farm which is now his home, with the exception of one year. He was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits until about ten years ago, when he retired from active life, although he still makes his home on the farm. He is the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land, all in one body, and for about thirty-two years he was extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs. He made a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs and won prizes and sweep- stakes at the local fairs. In the early days he operated a thresh- ing machine for fifteen years, and the various branches of his business were so conducted that he gained substantial and well deserved success, being now numbered among the men of affluence in his county. A little village which sprang up in his neighbor- hood was called Coster and a postoffice was established there, but
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it was discontinued when the rural free delivery route was insti- tuted.
On December 22, 1867, Mr. Coster was married to Miss Minnie Stamer, who was born in Schwerin, Germany, in 1844, and came alone to the United States. They became parents of two sons and a daughter: Henry W., living at Shell Rock; John, of Mus- catine, Iowa; and Mary, the wife of Newton Ranmega, of Coster.
The parents are members of the United Evangelical church of Coster, and for twenty-seven years Mr. Coster has been super- intendent of the Sunday school and a most active worker in the church. His political indorsement is given to the republican party, and for eleven consecutive years he filled the office of town- ship trustee. Then a period elapsed in which he was not in office, but at the present time his incumbency in that position covers four years. He is much interested in everything tending to stim- ulate agricultural development and progress among the farmers and stock-raisers and for eight years has been president of the Butler County Fair Association. He is also interested in the Farmers' State Bank of Shell Rock. When he came to Iowa, accompanied by his wife and one child, his possessions consisted of eighty dollars in money, three horses and two cows. He at first rented eighty acres of land, which he cultivated for two years, during which period he carefully saved his earnings and then bought eighty acres of the farm upon which he now resides, pay- ing seventeen dollars per acre. To this he has added as his finan- cial resources have increased until he is now the owner of a valuable property, which is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift.
THOMAS A. GOUGH.
More than a century ago Washington said that "agriculture is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man," and this statement has found verification in all the ages. Upon the successful tilling of the soil depends all other business activity and this country draws her wealth greatly from her agricultural states, chief among which is Iowa-the corn center of America. Among the worthy representatives of farming interests in Butler county is Thomas A. Gough, who is living on section 4, West Point town- ship.
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THOMAS A. GOUGH
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He was born in Jackson township, March 18, 1860, and is a son of William and Susannah (Walsh) Gough. The father, born in England in July, 1817, died in May, 1907. The mother, born in Ireland about 1825, came to the United States when twenty-five years of age, while William Gough arrived in this country at the age of thirty-five. They were married in Illinois and came to Iowa nearly sixty years ago, settling first in Jones county, whence they came to Butler county. They had but one child at that time, the others all being born in this county, where Mr. and Mrs. Gough spent their remaining days, their last years being passed in retire- ment in Bristow, where Mrs. Gough departed this life in 1901, at the age of seventy-six. They had eight children: Caroline Par- 'melia, the wife of J. W. Kephart, of Dumont, Iowa; William Clark, of Yellow Medicine county, Minnesota; George Walker, living in Clarksville; Joseph Jeremiah, of West Point township; Thomas A .; Elizabeth Jane, the wife of B. H. Corey, of Bristow; James Edward, who died at the age of three and a half years; and a daughter who died in infancy ..
Thomas A. Gough has known no other home than Butler county, his entire life being passed within its borders, and thus for fifty- three years he has been a witness of its growth and development, taking an active part in all that has pertained to its progress. He has carried on farming and stock-raising and has engaged in buy- ing cattle, making shipments to Chicago for the past quarter of a century. In addition to his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 4, West Point township, he owns one hundred and sixty acres in Yellow Medicine county, Minnesota, and he also has gold mining interests in Colorado. For forty-two years he has lived on the place which is still his home. There were only three houses within sight when he came here, although one could look for miles across the prairie. No roads had been laid out and the work of civilization and development seemed scarcely begun, yet Butler county was. even then becoming fast settled by an enterprising class of citizens, who soon converted her wild prairies into pro- ductive fields. The splendid appearance of Mr. Gough's farm is attributable entirely to his own labors. He fenced his land and erected all of the present buildings upon his place, while his father set out a grove and Thomas Gough planted an orchard of three hundred trees. The grove consists of maple, willow and cotton- woods and adds much to the pleasing appearance of the farm. Mr. Gough has long been numbered among the leading stockmen of the county, feeding about three carloads of cattle each winter. He has
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