USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 19
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to America about 1856, settling in Illinois, where he engaged in farming. In 1886 he moved to Butler county and followed agri- cultural pursuits here until his death in 1907. His wife has also passed away, her death having occurred in 1911. In their family were ten children: John, Christ, Katie, William, Claus A., Peter H., Henry, Emma, Herman and Anna.
Claus A. Iblings acquired his education in the district schools of Stephenson county and in public school in Parkersburg, Iowa. After he laid aside his books he worked for two years as a farm laborer and then spent a similar period of time operating rented land. In 1895 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Mon- roe township and to this has since added one hundred and twenty acres, these two properties constituting his present holdings. He raises fine grades of hay, corn and oats and has important stock- raising interests, keeping thirty head of cattle and nine horses. He is also a large dealer in real estate and a stockholder in the First National Bank of Parkersburg and has been very success- ful in the conduct of his business interests.
On the 5th of March, 1894, Mr. Iblings married Miss Matie Slight, a daughter of Martin and Geeske (Junchens) Slight, the former a well known farmer in the vicinity of Parkersburg. Mr. and Mrs. Iblings have become the parents of six children. Earl, Grace, Martha, Annetta, Mathilda and Carl. Mr. Iblings is a member of the Baptist church and is a republican in his political views. He has gained an enviable reputation as a practical farmer and a progressive and farsighted business man.
WALTER G. AUSTIN.
Walter G. Austin, manager of the Austin estate and president of the Austinville Savings Bank, was born in Washington town- ship, this county, on the 20th of December, 1872. He is a son of Henry and Sarah M. (Smith) Austin, the former born in England in 1844 and the latter in New Jersey in 1840. The father came to America when he was two years and a half old and settled with his parents in Michigan, but he grew to manhood in Grant county, Wisconsin. He afterward moved to Washington township, Butler county, Iowa, and remained one of the prominent and representa- tive farmers of that locality until his death, which occurred in 1911, he having survived his wife six years. They were the par-
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ents of three children: Walter G., of this review; Alice E .; and Clarence W.
Walter G. Austin acquired his education in the district schools of Washington township and in the Waterloo Business College, which he attended for three years. After he laid aside his books he settled in Austinville, where in 1893 he took charge of his father's grain, coal, lumber and live-stock business. For the past three years he has been manager of the Austin estate, which is large and important, calling for the services of a man of unusual business ability and executive power. Mr. Austin is also presi- dent of the Austinville Savings Bank and a powerful factor in financial circles.
On the 12th of May, 1897, Mr. Austin married Miss Cora F. Dahn, a daughter of Fred E. and Minnie (Filk) Dahn. Mr. and Mrs. Austin have three children, Marguerite, Donald and Beryl. Mr. Austin is a member of the Presbyterian church and a repub- lican in his political beliefs. He is one of the prominent business men and highly respected citizens of Austinville and of Washing- ton township, and he enjoys the esteem and good-will of all who are brought in contact with him.
HARM VAN HAUEN.
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Harm Van Hauen, one of the substantial and representative farmers of Albion township, was born in Germany, November 12, 1855. He is a son of Henry and Hattie (Johnson) Van Hauen, also natives of the fatherland, the former born April 4, 1824, and the latter August 5, 1824. The parents came to Iowa in 1878, and the father engaged in farming in this state until his death, March 8, 1908. He had survived his wife since April 4, 1904. Seven children were born to their union, Fannie, Henry, Harm, Okke, John, and two children who died in infancy.
Harm Van Hauen attended school in Germany until he was thirteen and one-half years of age and then accompanied his parents to America, completing his education at Florence Sta- tion, Illinois. At the age of sixteen he began working on his father's farm and so continued until 1878, when he moved to Butler county, renting a tract of eighty acres. He later pur- chased eighty acres of land, to which he added forty acres, paying for this last piece of property eighteen dollars and seventy-
Vol. II-13
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five cents per acre. He disposed of this in 1893 and in the same year bought one hundred and eighty acres on sections 31 and 32, Albion township. He has since made his home upon this prop- erty, whereon he engages in general farming, dairying and stock- raising, keeping forty head of cattle, seventy-five hogs and twelve horses.
On the 13th of March, 1879, at Parkersburg, Mr. Van Hauen married Miss Mary Boomgaarden, a daughter of Okke Boom- gaarden, and they have become the parents of eleven children. Hattie married Ben Adolph, a farmer in Marion township, and they have four children, Tillie, Hermann, Marie and one as yet unnamed. Okke became the wife of Trina De Groote, a farmer in Albion township. Lizzie married Henry De Groote, Jr., a farmer in Albion township, and they have four children, Henry, Harm, Anna and one who died in infancy. Fannie became the wife of George Wildefur, a farmer residing in Mason City, and they have two children, Benjamin and Harm. Amelia married Claus Klaasen, a farmer in Lyon county. The other members of the family are Henry, Harm, Jr., Ella, John, Marie, and a child, who died in infancy.
Mr. Van Hauen is a deacon in the German Reformed church and a republican in his political beliefs. For fourteen years he has been president and a director of the school board and is now trustee of Albion township, discharging his duties in a creditable and farsighted manner. He holds a high place among the repre- sentative citizens in his locality and his worth is widely acknowl- edged.
JOHN ROTTINK.
It is not as easy task to sever home ties and go thousands of miles away from those among whom one's life has been passed. It requires courage to cast in one's lot in a community which has no connection with the old home, but this John Rottink did and he feels that he has had no occason to regret the step. He was born in Holland, October 4, 1850, and is a son of Gerrit and Jo- hannah (Buttega) Rottink, of whose family of nine children he is the second. He was the first of three brothers to come to Iowa, and the other two are still residents of this county and are men- tioned elsewhere in this volume. All three had worked in a weav-
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ing factory in Enschede before crossing the Atlantic. John Rot- tink was employed in the factory from the time that he was seven and a half years of age until he reached the age of twenty- four years when he came to the United States. He left home, however, on attaining his majority and the first year thereafter the only money which was not expended for actual necessities was eight cents which he paid for apples. He saved money with which to come to the United States, it requiring five years to accumu- late enough to meet the expenses of the trip. In 1874 he crossed the Atlantic and made his way direct to Butler county, Iowa, where he worked for three and a half years on a farm for Louis Hoffe. During the first four months he received fifteen dollars per month and through the winter was paid but ten dollars per month. The succeeding year he was paid eighteen dollars per month for a part of the time and twenty dollars for the remainder, and during the last year he was paid twenty-five dollars per month acting as overseer of the farm. He afterward worked for a year for Joe Linn, after which he rented a farm for two years. He next bought eighty acres and to this he added as he could until he is now the owner of four valuable farms, aggregating eight hun- dred acres. He operates only the home farm himself, comprising one hundred and twenty acres on section 6, Jefferson township. All of the farms have been well improved by him and in connec- tion with tilling the soil, he has engaged in masonry, carpenter work and painting.
He now has a good home situated on a hill commanding a fine view over an area of twelve miles of prairie country. In addition to his Iowa property he at one time had two hundred and seventy acres in Texas which he sold, and he now has one hundred and sixty acres in Missouri, together with one hundred and seventy acres on section 4, Ripley township, and two hundred and eighty acre on sections 20, 21 and 28, Jefferson township. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and both branches of his busi- ness have proven profitable.
When twenty-nine years of age Mr. Rottink was married in Cedar Falls, Blackhawk county, to Carolina Negel, who was born in Butler county, November 16, 1861, a daughter of John H. Negel, who was from the same town in Holland as her husband .. He now resides in Shell Rock and is almost a centenarian. He- settled in Illinois when but seventeen years of age and later be- came a pioneer of Butler county, where he purchased land for two dollars and a quarter per acre. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rottink:
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have been born seven children: Hendrick, who died in infancy ; Horace E., living in western Canada; Etta, the wife of William Dailey, of Shell Rock; Amy, the wife of Meno Van Sam, of Ben- nett township; Levi, at home; Fenie, wife of John Clear, living near Parkersburg; and Helen, at home. All of the children were born in Jefferson township. The parents are members of the Evangelical church, and Mr. Rottink has always been a republican since he became a naturalized American citizen. His life record should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished when one is willing to work and one's labors are directed by intelligence. Energy and perseverance have brought him to his present enviable position as one of the prosperous farmers of the county.
HOULIHAN BROTHERS.
Beaver township finds progressive and worthy representatives of its agricultural interests in John and Thomas Houlihan, comprising the firm of Houlihan Brothers, farmers and stock- raisers on section 35. They are members of one of the best known pioneer families of this locality, their father, Maurice Houlihan, having been one of the first settlers in this part of Iowa. He was born in Ireland in 1823 and when he was twenty years of age emigrated to America, landing in New Orleans. He there worked as a laborer and afterward on railroad construction, mak- ing his way from New Orleans to Dubuque, Iowa. From Dubuque he moved to Cedar Falls. He became the first section boss on the Illinois Central Railroad in New Hartford. At a very early date he moved into Butler county and took up land in this locality when pioneer conditions prevailed everywhere and when Indians were camped on the river bank two hundred feet from the home of the subjects of this review. Maurice Houlihan cultivated and im- proved eighty acres of land on section 35, Beaver township, and remained a resident of this locality until his death in 1888. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Bridget Moore, was born in Ireland in 1821 and died in 1886. In this family were four children, Anastasia, John, Thomas and Maurice. All are single with the exception of the last mentioned, who has been three times married. He now makes his home in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin.
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John and Thomas Houlihan and their sister Anastasia were educated in the public schools of Butler county and the brothers have been engaged in farming since the beginning of their active career. They and their sister own two hundred and thirty-five acres of land lying on sections 34 and 35, Beaver township, and upon this fine property they reside. They raise hay and grain and keep sixty head of cattle, two hundred hogs and eight horses. The Houlihan Brothers have been very successful in the conduct of their interests, steadily carrying forward the work of developing their holdings along progressive and practical lines, and they have now one of the finest and most modern farms in this locality. They are stockholders in the New Hartford Creamery Company and own the site and buildings of the New Hartford Farmers Savings Bank, one dwelling in New Hartford, four lots and one business building. They are resourceful and farsighted business men, careful in the management of their extensive interests and able to carry forward to successful completion whatever they un- dertake. They are members of the Roman Catholic church and give their political allegiance to the democratic party. In busi- ness circles they have attained an enviable reputation, and their personal characteristics have gained them the esteem and confi- dence of many friends.
B. F. HAMILTON.
B. F. Hamilton, living on section 8, Butler township, has fol- lowed farming throughout his entire life and for twelve years has lived at his present place of residence, where he carries on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He was born in Franklin county, Iowa, March 26, 1878, and is a son of William and Martha (Quiggle) Hamilton. The father, a native of Ire- land, was born August 20, 1834, and after arriving at years of maturity he was married November 17, 1856, to Miss Mary Dave, by whom he had five children: Mrs. Mary Etta Hance, of South Dakota ; Margaret Elizabeth, deceased; John W., living in Minne- sota; George, also a resident of that state; and James Atlas, of Franklin county, Iowa. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Hamilton was again married, his second union being with Miss Martha Quiggle, who was born in this country in 1844, but was of German and Scotch descent. They were married in De Witt county, Iowa,
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the father having come to this state when sixteen years of age, while the mother accompanied her parents to Iowa in her early girlhood. Following their marriage they removed from DeWitt to Franklin county and thence came to Butler county, where the father died June 5, 1896, when in his sixty-second year. The mother survives and is now living in Elgin, Illinois. The children of this marriage were: Ada Maria, now deceased; William H., a resident of Colorado; Mary Etta, who has also passed away; B. F .: and Oliver Lyle, deceased.
From the age of eight years B. F. Hamilton has lived in But- ler county and has a wide acquaintance among its citizens. He has always followed farming, save for a period of a few months, in which he engaged in the marble business at Charles City. For twelve years he has remained upon his present farm, comprising one hundred acres on sections 5 and 8, Butler township, his resi- dence standing on section 8. The place has been well improved by Mr. Hamilton, who carries on general farming and stock- raising. His modern and progressive methods are followed by excellent results.
On the 1st of March, 1899, Mr. Hamilton married Miss Flora Gabby, who was born in Butler township in 1880, a daughter of Beveridge T. and Ellen (Henney) Gabby, the former deceased and the latter a resident of Clarksville. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have two children; Lyle and Grace. Mr. Hamilton is a Mason in full sympathy with the principles of the society. In politics he is a republican, stalwart in support of the party principles. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of township trus- tee and was then elected to the position which he is now filling. For the past eight years he has been president of the township school board, and the cause of education finds in him a warm and stalwart friend, who does all in his power to further the inter- ests of the schools.
HERMAN ROTTINK.
Herman Rottink, busily engaged with agricultural pursuits, has owned and operated his present farm on sections 26 and 27, Butler township since 1899. It is situated on the Shell Rock river from which it derives its name of Riverview Farm. It is unsur- passed in beauty, equipment and progressiveness by any farm of
HERMAN ROTTINK
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Butler township and the owner has every reason to be proud of the record which he has made as an agriculturist, having worked his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence. He was born in the Netherlands on the 1st of January, 1849, and is a son of Gerrit and Hannah (Buttega) Rottink, who spent their entire lives in their native land, the father acting as gardener for wealthy families.
Herman Rottink was the youngest of a family of nine chil- dren, two of whom came to the United States. He arrived in the year 1883, hoping to find better opportunities in the new world than he could secure in his native land. While in Holland he had served for four years, from 1869 until 1873, in the army. He worked in a cotton factory in Holland and understands the manu- facture of all kinds of cotton cloth. He did not see any chance of rapid progress along business lines, however, and attracted by the more favorable opportunities of the new world, he came to the United States, accompanied by his wife and two children, arriving in Butler county in 1883. He had incurred an indebtedness of one hundred and one dollars in order to come to the new world and during the first year he worked out as a farm hand, but the second year he rented the land. He practiced rigid economy and care- fully saving his earnings at length secured a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase his present farm in 1899. It comprises two hundred and forty-eight acres on sections 26 and 27, Butler township, and when he took possession the buildings upon it were an old house, which was a combination of brick and frame, an old barn and an old corn crib. He now has a large three story modern residence of eight rooms, a big barn eighty by forty feet with hip roof and sheds and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock.
He carries on general farming and stock-raising and has every reason to be proud of the fact that he has made the Riverview Farm the finest in Butler township. He has also become a stock- holder in the Farmers State Bank of Shell Rock and in the Shell Rock Creamery.
In 1873 Mr. Rottink was married to Miss Swenna Schmidt, who was born in Hanover, November 28, 1848. The children of this marriage are seven in number: Greit, at home; Hannah, the wife of K. Pitcher, living on a neighboring farm; Emma, the wife of Ernest Graham of Clarksville; Herman, twin brother to Emma. now assisting in the work of the home farm; Cora, the wife of Hollie Pulis of Butler township; Sarah, at home; and Mary, the
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wife of Al Kimball of Clear Lake, Iowa. The five younger chil- dren were born in this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Rottink hold membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church and they have become widely and favorably known during the thirty years of their residence in this county. Mr. Rottink may truly be called a self-made man and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. Starting out in life empty- handed he has worked his way steadily upward and determina- tion, energy, frugality and industry have been the crowning points in his career.
HIRAM E. FRENCH.
Hiram E. French carries on general farming on section 8, Butler township and is the owner of a well improved place con- stituting the northeast quarter. The changes he has made have converted this into a valuable farm from which he annually gathers good crops as the reward of his industry, perseverance and sound judgment. A native of Grant county, Wisconsin, he was born May 30, 1858, and is the son of George and Persis (Scott) French. The father's birth occurred in Montreal, Can- ada, in 1818, and the mother was born in Chautauqua county, New York, February 17, 1834. With her parents she removed westward to Freeport, Illinois, and thence went to Wisconsin. George French also lived for a time in Freeport, before remov- ing to Wisconsin, but it was in the latter state that they were married, the wedding being celebrated in Grant county, Decem- ber 6, 1854. Sixteen years later, or in 1870, they came to Butler county, Iowa, and their remaining days were spent here upon the farm. The father died February 15, 1897, having for about fourteen years survived his wife, who passed away April 2, 1883. They were active members of the United Brethren church and throughout their earnest Christian lives displayed many ster- ling traits of heart and mind. They had five children: Mrs. Em- ma Crawford, who died in Oregon; Hiram E .; Emery, who also passed away in Oregon; Delbert, who died in Clarksville: and one son, who died in infancy.
Hiram E. French was a lad of twelve summers at the time the family removed to Iowa, and here he has since lived, being actively identified throughout his entire life with general agri-
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cultural pursuits. He is today the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, constituting the northeast quarter of section 8, But- ler township. Upon the place is a fine old home, which was built by his father-in-law, who was a carpenter and owned the eighty acre tract on which the house is located. There are good sheds and barns for the shelter of grain and stock, all of which were built by Mr. French, and the farm presents a neat and thrifty appearance, indicating his careful supervision and practical, pro- gressive methods.
On the 27th of April, 1881, Mr. French was married to Miss Jessie Shadbolt, who was born in Clarksville, May 31, 1863, and has spent her entire life in this county. She is a daughter of Jerome and Louise (Main) Shadbolt, who were natives of New York and were married in Wisconsin. They were early settlers of Butler county, and the father died in this county, but the mother is now living in Clarksville. Mr. and Mrs. French have become the parents of three children: Clem E., who was born August 2, 1883, and died February 12, 1884; Loraine J., the wife of Ervin Klingman, who resides on a farm near her father's; and Earl H., who was born June 22, 1898, and died May 18, 1901. The daughter was born March 20, 1886. The parents are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. French gives his political support to the republican party. He has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and the care with which he has managed his farming interests, combined with his industry and persever- ance, have brought him substantial and well merited success.
JOHN REWERTS.
John Rewerts, carrying on general farming and stock-raising upon a fine property of one hundred and twenty acres on section 10, Madison township, was born in Iowa, October 9, 1875, and is a son of Johan Rewerts, a native of Germany. The father came to America when he was a young man and settled immediately in Grundy county, Iowa, where he married Miss Tetta Boedeker. He afterward purchased a tract of wild land in Madison township, Butler county, and opened up a new farm, gradually adding to his holdings until he owned one hundred and thirty-seven acres in his homestead as well as three other fine properties in the
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vicinity. He is today one of the valued and respected residents of Madison township and has reached the advanced age of seventy- six years.
John Rewerts was brought to Butler county in 1879 and reared upon his father's farm in Madison township, acquiring his educa- tion in the district schools. When he was twenty-three years of age he rented land in Madison township and at the end of three years rented another tract from his father which he afterward purchased and whereon he still resides. He has made excellent improvements upon it, fencing the fields, setting out fruit, shade and ornamental trees and adding to the buildings and equipment. He raises a good grade of Durham cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and work horses, and his extensive interests are managed always in a capable and progressive way. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company and also in the Butler County Telephone Company.
On the 7th of January, 1903, Mr. Rewerts was united in mar- riage to Miss Jabena Ruter, a native of Madison township, and they became the parents of two children, but one, an infant son, died in 1912. The other is a daughter, Tetta Tena.
The parents are members of the German Reformed church of Dumont. Mr. Rewerts gives his political allegiance to the repub- lican party and served as a member of the school board for a num- ber of years. He is a progressive, practical and successful farmer, and he holds the esteem and confidence of all who are in any way associated with him.
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