USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
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were in very straightened financial circumstances when they arrived, and the uncles furnished a little home for them to live in the first year. All of the boys began to work and all remained at home until they married and made homes for themselves. All now own good places, and most of their success has been won in Butler county. In Wisconsin they cultivated a rented farm but after coming to Iowa purchased property and thus gradually worked their way upward until they gained a place among the substantial residents of the county. In the family were six chil- dren: Ed and Paul, who are resident farmers of West Point township; Mrs. Tina Fraese, now deceased; Dora, the wife of Louis Hummel, of West Point township; Gert of Jefferson town- ship; and Herman, who is living in Jackson township.
Gert De Bower was a little lad of but eight summers when he accompanied his parents on the voyage across the Atlantic. His youth was a period of earnest and unremitting toil because of the financial condition of the family, which made it necessary that he begin work at an early age. The habits of industry and determination, which he then developed, have clung to him through life and have constituted the foundation upon which his success has been built. From early youth he has worked in the fields and has at length gained the legitimate reward of his labors, being now the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred acres on section 8, Jefferson township, on which are two sets of farm buildings. His first purchase was one hun- dred and sixty acres, but he afterward bought the Baldwin farm adjoining, comprising two hundred and forty acres. He pur- chased the entire tract and is known as a most successful general farmer and stock-raiser. His fields produce excellent crops of corn, wheat and other cereals and in his pastures are seen high grades of stock. The work of improvement has been carried for- ward along progressive lines, and that he is a wide-awake, alert. and energetic business man is furthermore shown in the fact that he is a director of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Allison, a director of the Farmers Cooperative Butter fac- tory of Allison, a director of the Farmers Cooperative Telephone Company of Jefferson township and a director of the Butler. County Fair Association. He takes an active interest in the last mentioned, believing in anything that will stimulate activity and. promote the standards of farming in this part of the state.
In 1890 Mr. De Bower was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Hummel, who was born in Arlington, Columbia county, Wis-
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consin, June 12, 1867, and is a daughter of Frank Hummel, who was born on the ocean while his parents were coming to America. The mother of Mrs. De Bower was a native of Germany, and both Mr. and Mrs. Hummel were residents of Wisconsin until called to their final rest. Unto Mr. and Mrs. De Bower have been born ten children: Emma, who is the wife of Otto Ernest, of Schuyler, Nebraska, and has one child, Pearl; George, who is living with his sister Emma; and Elsie, Lawrence, Frank, Clar- ence, Elmer, Roy, Vernie and Alvin, all at home. All of the children were born in this county.
The family are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. De Bower gives his political indorsement to the republican party. He belongs to the progressive class of agriculturists, to whom this county owes her progress, upbuilding and improve- ment. He has indeed won the proud American title of self-made man. In America labor is king. The man who is willing to work and whose efforts are directed by intelligence can always win advancement. It has been in this way that Mr. De Bower has gained his present creditable position as one of the substan- tial residents of Butler county.
JAMES WARREN HICKLE.
James Warren Hickle owns and cultivates an excellent farm of one hundred and fifty acres, situated on sections 28 and 29, Butler township. He is a native of the neighboring state of Illi- nois, his birth having occurred in McLean county, near Bloom- ington, on the 2d of December, 1854. His parents were John and Hester (Van Gundy) Hickle, natives of Ohio, where they were reared and married. They later removed to Illinois, where they remained for ten years and in 1856 they came to Butler county, settling upon the farm which is now the home of their son, James W. Here the father carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred December 16, 1894, when he was eighty-two years of age, for he was born on the 24th of August, 1812. His wife, who was born July 7, 1820, was almost a nonagenarian at the time of her demise, on the 20th of June, 1910. In politics Mr. Hickle was a stalwart republican and held a number of local offices, the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He belonged
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to the Masonic lodge for thirty-six years, having become a charter member of the lodge at Clarksville. He was ever pub- lic-spirited and progressive in all of his relations to the commu- nity, promoted many projects for the public benefit and donated from his farm a tract of land for the Lowell cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. John Hickle were born the following children: Jacob H., now living in Clarksville; William, also a resident of that place; Alfred, a farmer of Jackson township; David, who died in 1909; James W .; Eliza, who lives with a brother; Charles, a resident of Butler township; and three who died in childhood.
James Warren Hickle was but two years of age when brought by his parents to Butler county. At that time he came to the old homestead farm and has hereon since resided. He owns one hundred and fifty acres of land pleasantly and conveniently located on sections 28 and 29, Butler township, not far from Clarksville. All the improvements have been made by the family, and the farm is now an excellent property, the land being divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, while substan- tial barns and outbuildings offer shelter for grain and stock. The latest improved machinery also facilitates the work of the fields and indicates the careful supervision of the owner. Mr. Hickle has always voted with the republican party and believes firmly in its principles.
JOHN P. ARENDS.
One of the active and progressive young business men of Aplington is John P. Arends, who since 1909 has conducted a large hardware, heating, lighting and plumbing establishment in the town. His birth occurred here November 13, 1884, his par- ents being John P. and Grace (Iben) Arends, both born in Ger- many in 1853. The father was the first hardware merchant in Aplington and was connected with that line of business here until his death in 1902. His wife survives him and still makes her home in Aplington. They became the parents of six children. The oldest, Arend P., is a salesman with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. He married Miss Minna Fink and they have become the parents of a daughter, Maurine. Gertrude lives at home; John P. is the subject of this review; Robert is also at home; and Henry was taken in as a partner with his brother,
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John P., in the hardware business in Aplington, in February, 1913. The youngest member of the family, Florence, lives at home. John P. Arends was graduated from the Aplington high school in 1899 and took a course in the Waterloo business col- lege, from 1900 to 1902. At the time of his father's death, in February, 1902, he was called upon to work in his father's hard- ware store, assisting his older brother, Arend P., in conducting the business until May, 1903, when the estate was settled. In December, 1903, he moved to Marshalltown, Iowa, but in 1909 returned to Aplington and established himself in business, open- ing a hardware, heating, lighting and plumbing concern. He has met with a gratifying degree of success and has now a large patronage accorded to him in recognition of his honorable and upright methods and his reasonable prices.
In Marshalltown, Iowa, on the 16th of May, 1905, Mr. Arends was united in marriage to Miss Bessie L. Hauser, a daughter of David Hauser, a retired farmer living in Union. Mr. and Mrs. Arends have four children : David R., Roger, John P., Jr .; and a son, born January 15, 1914, and not named at this writing.
Mr. Arends is independent in his political views. He is a young man' of energy, resource and capability, and he will undoubtedly be carried forward into still more important relations with business interests of the community.
PAUL J. GERDES.
The Evergreen Home Stock Farm, comprising three hundred and twenty acres of the finest land in Butler county, is the prop- erty of Paul J. Gerdes, and its excellent condition and modern equipment testifies to his progressive and practical agricultural methods and to the care and supervision which he bestows upon his property. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, March 26, 1866, a son of George P. Gerdes, a native of Germany, who emi- grated to America and located near Peoria, Illinois, where he worked in the coal mines for about thirteen years. In 1881 he moved to Iowa, settling on a farm in Carroll county, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying there in 1909. His wife survives him.
Paul J. Gerdes came to Iowa with his parents when he was about sixteen years of age and remained with his father on the
PAUL J. GERDES AND FAMILY
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farm until he reached manhood. He afterward worked as a farm laborer for four years and after his marriage, which occurred in 1891, he rented land in Butler county for five years and then pur- . chased his father's property of one hundred and forty-five acres. At the end of six years he sold this and moved to Butler county, buying the farm whereon he now resides. He owns three hun- dred and twenty acres of well improved land on sections 17 and 18, Madison township, and upon this he has made excellent im- provements, setting out a grove of evergreen and forest trees and providing his place with substantial buildings, including a scale house, a granary, corn cribs, a milk house and a garage. His place is known as the Evergreen Home Stock Farm and upon it he raises horses and a good grade of shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey crossed with Poland China hogs. He is a stockholder in the Butler County Telephone Company and in the Farmers Co- operative Elevator Company of Dumont. In addition to his home farm he owns eighty acres in Franklin county, and this place is also well improved and highly developed.
On the 13th of March, 1891, in Butler county, Mr. Gerdes mar- ried Miss Hattie Betten, a native of Germany, who came to Amer- ica when she was eight years of age and was reared in Carroll county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Gerdes became the parents of five children: Hilda, the wife of Albert Lowling; Dirk P., who is aiding in the operation of the homestead; George H .; and two children who died in infancy. The parents are members of the German Reformed church, and Mr. Gerdes gives his political alle- giance to the republican party. He is one of the progressive and representative business men of Madison township and in attaining the enviable degree of success which he today enjoys has con- tributed in substantial measure to community growth and develop- ment.
ROBERT G. WOLFENSPERGER.
Agricultural interests of Beaver township find a progressive and worthy representative in Robert G. Wolfensperger, engaged in general farming, dairying and stock-raising upon one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 32. He was born in New Hart- ford, Iowa, April 2, 1885, a son of Newton and Emma (Packard)
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Wolfensperger, the former born in Morgansville, Maryland, in November, 1861, and the latter in Grant county, Wiscon- sin, in 1868. The father came to Iowa about the year 1879 and his marriage occurred in Waterloo about 1884. He was con- nected with agricultural interests in that locality for a number of years thereafter and is now living retired in New Hartford. He and his wife have four children, Robert G., Lola G., Orrin E. and Orphia A. Members of this family have been in America for many generations. Mr. Wolfensperger's maternal grand- father, Robert Packard, was a mail carrier between Dubuque and Chicago in pioneer times and was several times shot by highway- men while discharging his duties.
Robert G. Wolfensperger acquired his education in the public schools of New Hartford and was graduated from the high school at the age of eighteen. He afterward worked on the farm with his father until 1907 and then entered the restaurant business in New Hartford, continuing in this for two years. In 1911 he rented his father's farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tion 32, Beaver township, and upon this property has since resided. He raises grain and hay, all of which he feeds to his stock, raising an average of fifty-five head of cattle, one hundred hogs and twelve horses every year. He ships to outside markets, but the products of his large and profitable dairy are all sold in the local market. Mr. Wolfensperger has met with a notable degree of success in the conduct of his farming interests and is recog- nized as one of the most able agriculturists in the county. He owns a half interest in one hundred and sixty acres in Mower county, Minnesota, and is a stockholder in the New Hartford Creamery Company and the Packard Power & Mining Company, of Gypsum, Colorado.
In New Hartford, on the 1st of September, 1909, Mr. Wolf- ensperger married Miss Myra Morton, a daughter of John and Emma (Cumming) Morton, the former a retired farmer living in New Hartford. He was born in Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1835 and came to Iowa in 1858. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fif- teenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served during the entire course of the Civil war. His wife was born in Ohio in 1850 and died in 1909. They had five children: Nina A., who has passed away; Anna S .; Ida I .; Charles A .; and Myra, the wife of the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfensperger have become the parents of two sons: Wendell E. and Harland Morton, born December 7, 1913.
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Mr. Wolfensperger is a member of the Baptist church. He is independent in his political beliefs and is connected frater- nally with the Modern Woodmen in America. He is a young man of energy, resource and capacity and will undoubtedly be carried forward into still more important relations with the agri- cultural life of the township.
HENRY E. DAY, M. D.
Dr. Henry E. Day, who for the past fifteen years has prac- ticed medicine and surgery in Dumont, was born in Somerset- shire, England, July 21, 1868, a son of John and Sylvia Day, also natives of England. The father engaged in farming in Somer- setshire until his death and afterward the mother and her chil- dren came to America, locating at Auburn, New York, where she still resides. She had two sons: Dr. Henry E., of this review; and Dr. W. E., a well known physician of Clarksville, Iowa.
Dr. Henry E. Day remained in England until he was seven- teen years of age and acquired his primary education there. He crossed the Atlantic to America in 1884 and came direct to Iowa, locating first in Franklin county, where for a time he worked on a farm during the summer months, attending school during the winter. He afterward removed to Bristow, where he pursued his education, still spending his vacations working as a farm laborer. Having determined to study medicine, he entered the office of Dr. Hobson, of Bristow, later taking a course of lectures in the medical department of Iowa State University and graduating with the degree of M. D. in 1897. During his university course he remained with Dr. Hobson, studying under him and assisting him when not attending lectures. After his graduation he formed a partnership with Dr. Appleby and began the practice of his profession at Bristow, continuing there until his removal to Alli- son. About 1898 he came to Dumont, where he has since resided. He is recognized as a man of superior professional attain- ments, well versed in the underlying principles of medicine and in touch with the most advanced medical thought. His prac- tice has increased yearly in volume and importance and its pro- portions now place him among the most successful physicians and surgeons in his part of the county. Dr. Day is a member of the Butler County and the Iowa State Medical Societies and also
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of the Austin Flint Medical Association. He has been president of the county society and is well known in the affairs of all of these organizations. In addition to his professional practice he is local surgeon for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany and medical examiner for a number of life insurance com- panies.
On the 29th of December, 1907, in Hampton, Iowa, Dr. Day was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Coryell, a native of Iowa and a daughter of C. H. Coryell, one of the early settlers in Hampton. Dr. and Mrs. Day have three children, Mina E., Don- ovan H. and Clifford C.
Dr. Day was reared in the Episcopal church but he and his wife and family now attend the Methodist Episcopal church of Dumont. Fraternally Dr. Day is a Master Mason and is con- nected with the Allison blue lodge. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He has been for fifteen years in active prac- tice in Dumont and by his labors and high professional attain- ments has gained an enviable position in the regard of the public and in the ranks of the medical fraternity of Butler county.
CHARLES H. HUNT.
A farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 33, Butler township, pays tribute to Charles H. Hunt, who resided thereon for a number of years before he came to Clarksville, where he is now engaged in the fire insurance business. He was born in But- ler township, August 7, 1866, a son of Heman and Sarah (Hus- band) Hunt. He was the youngest of three sons and has been a lifelong resident of the township in which he still makes his home. The district schools afforded him his educational opportunities, and in his youth his time was divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playgrounds and the work of the fields. He early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil, and after he had attained his majority he began farming on his own account. He was thus engaged until 1909, and his quarter section of land was converted into rich and productive fields, while many substantial improvements were added to the farm and stand as monuments to his thrift and industry. For one year in early manhood he also engaged in teaching school and later worked in a bank at Shell Rock for nearly six years, or from
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the 15th of May, 1888, until the 20th of August, 1893. It was subsequent to that date that he purchased his present farm, which he continued to cultivate until he established his home in Clarks- ville, where he is now engaged in the fire insurance business. He has secured a liberal patronage, and the policies which he writes amount to a large figure annually.
On the 2d of December, 1896, Mr. Hunt was married to Miss Margaret M. Leeper, who was born near Heyworth, Illinois, and resided there until her marriage. Mr. Hunt belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and gives his political support to the republican party, believing that the principles of its platform are most conducive to good government. The fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boy- hood to the present time is an indication that his has been an active, well spent and honorable life.
ROBERT HUNTER.
Robert Hunter, carrying on general farming on section 4, Shell Rock township, his place being well improved according to modern methods of agriculture, was born in New York city, in March, 1850, a son of Samuel and Sarah (McBride) Hunter, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They came to the United States with two sons about 1850 and settled in New York city, where the father's death resulted from sunstroke when Robert Hunter was about two years of age. The mother afterward went to Belmont, Ohio, to live with an uncle and there passed away when her son, Robert, was about eight years of age. The family numbered four children: John S., living in Ohio; Samuel of Philadelphia ; Robert; and Sarah, the wife of L. W. Howard of Shell Rock township.
Following the mother's death the family was scattered, Robert Hunter remaining with the uncle until his death and afterward living with the uncle's eldest son until he, Robert, had reached the age of twenty-two years. At that time he removed to Hamilton county, Iowa, but five years later came to Butler county and has since resided on his present farm comprising one hundred and twenty acres on section 4, Shell Rock township. He paid twenty- five dollars per acre for this property, which is today worth one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. He carries on general farming
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and stock-raising, and the fields yield him golden harvests, while his annual income derived from his stock is also a gratifying one.
In 1882 Mr. Hunter was united in marriage to Miss Parintha A. Robins, who died in Shell Rock township in 1891. The chil- dren of that marriage were: Naomi, a school teacher of the county; Clifton, a farmer of Shell Rock township; Ethel, who died at the age of two years; Bertha, at home; and Laura, who died at the age of three years. For his second wife Mr. Hunter chose Miss Minerva Oberdorf, whom he wedded in 1896, and they have a daughter, Ruth. Mr. Hunter has long been a resident of this county and has witnessed much of its development and improvement, always taking an active part in measures for the general good. He is also interested in the moral progress of the community and is a consistent member of the Baptist church of Shell Rock.
HENRY WILSON.
Henry Wilson derives a gratifying and substantial income from his farm of two hundred and forty acres on sections 19 and 20, Jefferson township. His property is well improved, his home being situated on section 20, and the land is today worth one hun- dred and fifty dollars per acre, owing to the excellent care he has given it and his practical, systematic and scientific methods of development. Illinois numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in McHenry county, June 1, 1862. He is a son of John M. and Dora (Coster) Wilson, who were natives of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. They were married about 1860 in McHenry county, Illinois, Mr. Wilson having for seven years resided in this country, while his wife had but recently arrived at the time of her marriage. In 1869 they removed to this county, taking up their abode in Jefferson township. He always made farming his life work and became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. In addition to tilling the fields he raised considerable stock and milked many cows. For five years he had from five hundred to seven hundred head of cattle, which were herded over the prairie, and he milked as high as forty cows, being assisted in the work by his sons, the boys being thus kept busy. Removing to Dumont, he there established a creamery and a general merchandise business, which he conducted
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for eight years. He was recognized as a man of sterling qualities, and his word was always regarded as good as his bond. He was an enterprising business man, a hard worker, persistent, deter- mined and progressive, and as the years went by he achieved a success that was well merited. His educational opportunities were extremely limited. He could not read nor write, and yet no one could surpass him at figuring in his head and the result was always accurate. He possessed strong native intelligence and throughout his entire life learned continuously in the school of experience. In politics he was a stanch republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party. He was also an active and faithful member of the German Evangelical church, taking a most helpful part in its work and was the builder of the house of worship for that denomination at Dumont. To him and his wife were born six sons: Henry; John and Harvey, who are residents of Jefferson township; Christ, living in Dumont; Charley, also of Dumont; and William, of Dougherty.
Henry Wilson was only about seven years of age when the family came to this county, and here he has since made his home. The public schools afforded him his educational opportunities, and his business training was received under the direction of his father. During the eight years in which the family resided at Dumont he assisted his father in conducting the creamery busi- ness and the store, and for thirteen years altogether he was engaged in the manufacture of butter. With the exception of the period spent in Dumont he has always been a resident of Jefferson town- ship. He has made most of the improvements upon his tract of two hundred and forty acres, which he purchased ten years ago of Samuel Williams, one of the pioneer settlers of the county, who entered the land from the government. Mr. Wilson paid fifty dollars per acre for this property, and it is today worth one hundred and fifty dollars, owing to the improvements which he has placed upon it and the high state of cultivation to which he has developed the fields. He makes live stock the principal fea- ture of his farm, keeps high grades of horses, cattle and hogs and milks from eighteen to twenty-five head of cows, his dairy products finding a ready sale. Mr. Wilson is also a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Allison and is secre- tary and treasurer of the Central Jefferson Telephone Company. He is an alert, energetic business man with keen sagacity and sound judgment, and these qualities have been the salient forces in bringing him the success he now enjoys.
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