USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 17
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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 deal 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 & De Buhr 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.
MR. AND MRS. P. J. DOWNING
MIPRARY
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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.
In Rockwell, Iowa, November 8, 1888, Mr. Downing married Miss Lucy McGarry, who was born in Fayette county and edu- cated in the public schools of that locality. Her father, James McGarry, was a pioneer of Fayette county and well known in the Vol. IT-12
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contracting and building business there. Mr. and Mrs. Downing became the parents of five children: John Henry, who is aiding in the operation of the homestead; James E., who died in 1900, when he was eight years of age; Mary ; Leo B. ; and Joseph.
Mr. Downing gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and he served as trustee of Bennezette township for three years and was for several years secretary of the school board of that township. His wife and daughter are members of the Royal Neighbors and he is identified with the Catholic Order of For- esters. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church. The Downing home is one in which courtesy and hospitality abound and in which the stranger is always made to feel welcome and at home. Mr. Downing is the owner of a fine automobile with which he is very generous, taking his friends on long rides through the country. He is popular in Butler county on account of his many acts of kindness, his geniality and his many sterling qualities of mind and character.
JOHN A. ROLFS, M. D.
Dr. John A. Rolfs, who since 1905 has been engaged in the general practice of medicine in Aplington, was born in Scott county, this state, December 26, 1873. He is a son of Maas P. and Mary (Niemeier) Rolfs, natives of Germany, the former born in the Dittmarsch in 1830 and the latter in 1848. The father was a teamster and farmer and died in 1890, his wife surviving him until 1907. To their union were born six children: Claus C., a retired employe of the Weirhauser Dinkman Lumber Company of Daven- port, in whose service he did creditable work for twenty-five years; Professor P. H., the dean of the Latin department of the University of Florida ; John A., of this review ; Mary C., a gradu- ate of the Iowa Agricultural college with the degree of Bachelor of Science ; William F., a physician and surgeon at Mullan, Idaho; and Fritz M., chief of the agricultural experimental station in South Carolina.
Dr. John A. Rolfs acquired his early education in the public schools of Scott county and afterward attended the Le Claire high school and the Iowa State Agricultural College, from which he was graduated November 9, 1892. He then enrolled in the Cook County Normal School and after the completion of his course engaged in
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teaching at Le Claire. He was principal of the Le Claire schools for two years and was afterward instructor in mathematics in Duncan's Business College at Davenport. Having determined to study medicine, he entered Drake University at Des Moines and was graduated from that institution in 1904 with the degree of M. D. He began the practice of his profession in Eldridge but after nine months removed to Aplington, where he has since re- sided. He engages in the general practice of medicine and has secured a large and representative patronage, for he is conscien- tious and thorough in his treatment of his cases and his skill and ability are widely recognized. Dr. Rolfs is registered as a biolo- gist in Germany and France and has paid particular attention to the study of this science. For the past eight years he has been health officer of Monroe and Washington townships and has proved unusually competent in the discharge of his responsible duties. He owns an attractive residence in Aplington and is wide- ly and favorably known both in social and professional circles.
On the 3d of September, 1902, at Davenport, Dr. Rolfs was united in marriage to Miss Mathilda Peters, a daughter of John Peters, a retired farmer living in that city. Dr. and Mrs. Rolfs have two children, Fred A. and Floyd O. Dr. Rolfs is connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Wood- men of America and is a republican in his political beliefs, serv- ing at the present time as chairman of the republican central committee. In his profession he adheres always to the highest ethical standards, and he is ranked with the leading representa- tives of the medical fraternity in this section of the state.
RICHARD H. WAUGH.
Richard H. Waugh is filling the office of county supervisor and rendering creditable service to his fellow citizens in that connec- tion. He makes his home on section 30, Butler township, where he has a well developed farm, having brought his fields to a high state of cultivation in accordance with the progressive methods of the present day.
Richard H. Waugh was born in Henry county, Missouri, Sep- tember 11, 1870, his parents being John W. and Julia A. (Hamil- ton) Waugh, who were natives of Montgomery county, Indiana. The father died in Henry county, Missouri, in 1910, at the age of
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seventy years, and the mother passed away at the age of thirty- six, when her son Richard was a lad of thirteen years. Both the father and mother were reared in the Hoosier state but removed to Missouri at the close of the Civil war and their remaining days were spent there upon a farm. The father engaged in rais- ing and feeding stock and was very successful in his undertakings. As he prospered he added to his holdings until he was the owner of fourteen hundred acres. In ante-bellum days he was a stanch advocate of abolition principles, and when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks and continued one of its stalwart supporters. His re- ligious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church and earnest Christian belief guided him in all of the relations of life. To him and his wife were born nine children: W. B., who for many years was connected with mining interests at Joplin, Mis- souri, but is now residing in California; Mattie, the wife of Ed Darr, of Blairstown, Missouri; James H., a wealthy farmer of Henry county, Missouri; Ed R., who has large farming interests in the same county; Richard H .; Mary, the wife of Dr. L. L. Smith, of Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Jennie Crist, deceased; Walter S., who resides upon the old homestead in Missouri; and Minnie, the wife of James Adair, of Chilhowee, Missouri.
Richard H. Waugh was reared in his native county, acquiring a common-school education and working upon the home farm until twenty-three years of age. On the 2d of October, 1893, he arrived in Butler county, having driven from the old home in a covered wagon in fourteen days. He was married here on the 8th of October of that year to Adelaide Witt, who was born in Clarks- ville. March 28, 1875, and when four years of age went to North Dakota, with her parents, R. E. and Sarah C. (Burton) Witt. The father was born in Dublin, Indiana, December 15, 1840, and her mother's birth occurred at Rockville, that state, in 1842. Mr. Witt removed to Iowa in 1854, settling in Butler county, and on the 1st of January, 1860, was married here to Sarah C. Burton. After they had lived for four years in North Dakota they went to Missouri, where they remained for two years and then returned to Butler county, Iowa, where Mr. and Mrs. Witt spent their last days, his death occurring May 27, 1909, while his wife survived until July 1, 1911. He followed farming during the greater part of his life yet was a machinist and followed the trade to some extent. He was living retired in Clarksville at the time of his demise. His family numbered three children : Frank L., of Shell
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Rock; Mamie, the deceased wife of Ed R. Waugh, of Henry county, Missouri; and Mrs. Richard H. Waugh. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Waugh have been born three children: Mark, nineteen years of age; Elizabeth, thirteen; and Harvey, ten.
Mr. Waugh has resided in or near Clarksville since coming to Iowa and has always engaged in farming. He now owns one hundred and thirty acres of land on section 30, Butler township, a mile and a half south of the town. He carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising, and his place is well improved with all the modern equipments and accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. In politics he has been a lifelong republican and for many years served as a trustee of Butler township, while at the present writing he is acceptably filling the office of county supervisor. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Eastern Star. They attend and support the Christian church of Clarksville, and they are widely and favorably known socially, the hospitality of the best homes of their section of the county being cordially extended.
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