USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 23
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HENRY W. COSTER.
The home farm of Henry W. Coster is situated on section 10, Shell Rock township, and comprises eighty acres of rich and pro- ductive land adjoining the corporate limits of the town of Shell Rock. The place is well improved with modern equipments and presents a neat and attractive appearance, indicative of the care- ful supervision of a progressive owner. Mr. Coster is a native of McHenry county, Illinois, born November 10, 1868. The fol- lowing year he was brought to Butler county by his parents, John and Minnie (Stamer) Coster, in whose family were three chil- dren, of whom Henry W., is the eldest. At the arrival of the family in this county they took up their abode upon a farm in Jefferson township, and there Henry W. Coster remained with his parents until 1892, when he was married. He then began farming on his own account about a mile from the old homestead, cultivating that property until 1906, when he sold out and bought
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his present farm of eighty acres adjoining Shell Rock. The place is well improved with good buildings, and the fields are carefully tilled according to modern scientific methods of farm- ing. For the past eighteen years he has made a specialty of breeding and raising Poland China hogs, which he exhibits at the local fairs, winning many premiums thereon. In addition to his farming and stock-raising interests he is president of the Hawkeye Telephone Company of Shell Rock.
In 1892 Mr. Coster was united in marriage to Miss Millie B. Echart, who was born in Butler county in 1872, a daughter of Louis and Mary (Frances) Echart. The father was a native of Germany and the mother of England, and they now reside in Shell Rock, Mr. Echart having retired from agricultural pur- suits. Mr. and Mrs. Coster have three children: Elma L., Hazel B. and Gretchen M. The eldest daughter is a graduate of the high school of Shell Rock of the class of 1912 and is now teach- ing in Jefferson township, where she first attended school and where her mother also attended school.
Mr. Coster votes with the republican party, and he served as township clerk for a number of years. He was also chairman of the township central committee for several years and has done all in his power to further the interests of the party and promote its success. He and his wife belong to the Congrega- tional church of Shell Rock, and he holds membership in the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Yeoman. Industry and determination have been the guiding points of his life, and year after year has found him in advance of the financial position which he previously occupied. He is now in comfortable circumstances, and his careful management argues well for future success.
A. D. SHEPARD.
A. D. Shepard, a highly respected farmer of Butler town- ship, living on section 5, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, December 2, 1852, his parents being Dexter C. and Usula Abigail (Wilder) Shepard. The father was a native of New England and in the opening year of the Civil war enlisted in the Seventh Vermont Volunteer Infantry. Going to the front, he died at New Orleans, while serving under General Butler. While a
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resident of the Green Mountain state he engaged in the lumber business, operating a sawmill for many years. He was a repre- sentative of one of the old New England families of Scotch descent, and the Wilder family also of Scotch lineage, was founded in New England in colonial days. Mrs. Shepard was born in Rutland county, Vermont, and passed away in Peoria, Illinois, when her son, A. D. Shepard, was but four years of age. She had two children, the younger being Irving G., of Valley county, Nebraska.
Left orphans at a very early age, the two boys went to live with their maternal grandparents upon a farm in Rutland county, Vermont. In 1868 A. D. Shepard arrived in.Jackson township, Butler county, Iowa, with a cash capital of twenty-six dollars, which he had saved from his earnings. Here he worked for his uncle, Benjamin Priest, for five years and then returned to Ver- mont, spending a year and a half in his native state. On the expiration of that period he brought his brother back with him to Iowa, where he gathered a herd of four hundred head of cattle, which he herded on the present site of Allison and in that locality. All through his life he has embraced every opportunity for se- curing honorable advancement in a business way, and after his marriage he began farming, which he has since followed in But- ler and Jackson townships, owning now sixty acres on section 5, Butler township.
It was in December, 1875, that Mr. Shepard married Miss Alice Sill, who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, June 17, 1857, and resided there until nine years of age, when she was brought to a farm in this county by her parents, George and Maria (Busch) Sill, who were natives of the Empire state, but spent their last days in Iowa, dying near Clarksville.
Mr. and Mrs. Shepard became the parents of ten children: George Earl, living in Conrad, Iowa; Ernest Dexter of Marshall county; Winfred Clyde, who is mentioned elsewhere in this vol- ume; Benjamin Howard, a resident farmer of Fremont town- ship; Eber Clarence, whose home is in Bremer county; Isadore Alice, who is in the telephone office at Greene; Edna Gertrude Ivers A., Addie U., and Forrest Eugene, all at home. The son, Benjamin, born in Jackson township, April 15, 1882, began farm- ing on his own account at the age of twenty-one years and now owns seventy-five acres in Dayton township, beside cultivating a rented farm of two hundred acres in Fremont township, where he resides. He was married in 1903 to Anna Ransom, a native
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of this county and a daughter of C. M. Ransom of Jackson town- ship. They now have two sons, Lester Albro and Burr Alonzo.
Mr. Shepard is a republican, stalwart in support of the party, and he has held a number of township offices in Butler township. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church. Those who know him esteem him for his sterling worth, for his integrity and his upright life. They recognize in him a self-made man, whose suc- cess is attributable entirely to his own labors.
AREND ESSMAN.
Among the representative and valued citizens of Madison township is numbered Arend Essman, who dates his residence in Butler county from 1879 and who during the intervening period has been an active factor in the agricultural, business and politi- cal life of the community. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, May 9, 1847, and grew to manhood there, acquiring his educa- tion in the public schools. In December, 1865, he emigrated to America and after his arrival in this country went immediately to Illinois, where he joined his brother Frederick, becoming a farm laborer. At the end of five or six years he rented land and engaged in farming there until 1879, when he came west to Iowa, where he also followed agricultural pursuits upon a rented farm. However, before the expiration of one year he purchased two hundred and forty acres upon which was a small house. Most of this land had been broken and Mr. Essman steadily carried forward the work of its further improvement, making it in time one of the valuable and productive farms in the locality. He later purchased more land and is now the owner of another farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres on section 31, Madison township. He has added to and remodeled the house and has now a large, two-story residence, modern and well furnished in every particular. There is almost a village of buildings upon his prop- erty, for in addition to his house he has two large barns, a gran- ary, a hog house, a cattle shed and a machine shop. The fields are fenced and cross fenced and he has set out a grove of forest, fruit and evergreen trees, which adds greatly to the appearance and value of the place. In addition to general farming Mr. Ess- man engages also in raising and feeding cattle and hogs, and his stock-raising interests are extensive and important. He was one
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of the promoters of the Butler County Telephone Company and of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Dumont, and he is also a stockholder in the Dumont State Bank.
In Ogle county, Illinois, March 6, 1873, Mr. Essman was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Nolte, a native of Germany, who came to the United States when she was fifteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Essman have become the parents of four sons: John H., a prominent farmer of Madison township; Henry F., who owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in Noble county, Minnesota ; and Fred W. and Herman B., assisting in the opera- tion of the home farm.
Mr. Essman votes the democratic ticket on national issues, but in local affairs supports the men whom he considers best fitted for office. On different occasions he has been elected a trustee of Madison township and served in all sixteen years in this position. He has also been active in educational work, serv- ing as township school treasurer for four years, and he has been a delegate to numerous county conventions and served on the petit jury. He and his family are members of the German Reformed church and are known throughout the township as people of the highest respectability. Throughout the long period of his residence here Mr. Essman has been a valuable factor in promoting community development along many lines, and his individual success places him among the prominent and leading citizens of the community
FARLEN B. MINER.
The year 1866 witnessed the arrival of Farlen B. Miner in this county, where he has resided continuously since, with the exception of a period of six years spent in Nebraska. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 21, Shell Rock township, and, although there were no buildings upon the place when he took possession, it is now a well improved property, equipped according to the modern methods of farm development. Mr. Miner was born in Green county, Wisconsin, September 13, 1859, a son of John W. and Rebecca (Dudgeon) Miner, who were natives of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, the former born in 1821 and the latter in 1827. They were married in the Buckeye state and about 1853 removed to Wisconsin, where they resided until
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1866. They then came to Butler county, settling in Shell Rock township, where both passed away, the father dying in 1881 at the age of sixty-one years, while the mother's death occurred in 1910, when she was eighty-three years of age. Mr. Miner had devoted his entire life to farming and thus provided a comfortable living for his family. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years he was one of the church trustees at Shell Rock. The family numbered thir- teen children. Thomas, who served through the Civil war as a member of the Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, died in Washington. Richard is living at Greene, Iowa. Charles makes his home at Ravenna, Nebraska, where he has filled the office of postmaster for sixteen years. Beth Ann is the wife of Julius Temple and resides near Greene. John H. is living at Loop Center, Nebraska. James makes his home at Ravenna, Nebraska. Edward A. is a resident of Grand Island, Nebraska. Farlen B. is the next in the family. Emma and O. C. are also of Greene. Sadie is the wife of Walter Curtis, of Waterloo. Marion and Mary were twins. The former died at the age of twenty-one years, and at the time of his death was county recorder of Butler county and was the youngest county officer in the state of Iowa. The latter is the wife of Albert Bonwell of Idaho. The oldest son, Thomas, was wounded at the battle of Resaca and was at the hospital at the time of the close of the war. He was also held as a prisoner in Libby prison for some time.
Farlen B. Miner came with his parents to Butler county in 1866 and has always lived in this locality since that time, save for a period of six years spent in Buffalo county, Nebraska, to which he removed two years after his marriage. He has been a life- long farmer and now owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 21, Shell Rock township. There were no buildings upon the place when it came into his possession, and he has since erected a substantial residence, good barns and sheds. He uses the latest improved machinery to carry on the work of the fields and is a leader rather than a follower in all that tends to promote progressive farming in this district.
In January, 1885, Mr. Miner was united in marriage to Miss Nettie L. Roberts, who was born in this county May 29, 1864, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Ann (Ayers) Roberts. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, died in this county in February, 1884, at the age of fifty-one years. The mother, a native of Illi- nois, died in 1868 at the age of twenty-nine years. They were
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married in this county and their remaining days were here passed, Mr. Roberts following farming and carpentering. Unto him and his wife were born but two children: Helen J., the wife of J. H. Richardson of Shell Rock; and Mrs. Miner. The latter has become the mother of six children: Ward R., of Whiting, Iowa, where he is overseer of a ranch; Leland R., who is draftsman in the Iowa Dairy Separator factory of Waterloo, Iowa; J. W., a student of Ames College; Ethel, attending the State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls; Merle M., a teacher in the rural schools of Butler county ; and Earl F., at home. The children have been provided with liberal educational advantages. The two eldest sons are graduates of Ames College, Ward having completed the course in agriculture and animal husbandry, while Leland pur- sued the mechanical engineering course. The former was judge on the college team that judged the stock at the International Stock Show in Chicago in 1908. J. W. Miner is pursuing a course in veterinary surgery, and the eldest daughter is studying home economics. It will thus be seen that the family are deeply interested in education along the broadening lines which lead to improvement in those things which have to do with the every day duties of business and home life.
In his political views Mr. Miner is a republican and is now serving as township trustee. He is a Mason, belonging to Shell Rock lodge, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family is widely and favorably known, the mem- bers of the household occupying an enviable position in social circles.
GEORGE ADAIR.
Among the pioneer settlers of Butler county George Adair is numbered. Six decades have been added to the cycle of centuries since he arrived in this section of the state. In fact no other resi- dent of Shell Rock has so long lived in this district and through- out the entire period he has played well his part as a public-spirited citizen and an honorable man. For sixteen years he has been president of the Shell Rock Creamery Company and for an ex- tended period was actively identified with farming interests. In fact he has contributed much of the agricultural development to
GEORGE ADAIR
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this section of the state and became widely known as proprietor of ยท the Oakley Stock Farm.
Mr. Adair was born near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, January 21, 1847, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth Ellen (Smith) Adair. The father was born near Lexington, Virginia, October 31, 1813, and the mother's birth occurred in Michigan, March 24, 1824. Coming to Iowa, he settled in Muscatine county, east of West Liberty in 1837. He was accompanied by his younger brother, William. In the same year Elizabeth Smith arrived in company with her father and settled in the same locality. They were married at Cedar Rapids in 1840 and there resided until 1853. In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Adair drove an ox team across the country to the Pacific coast, being absent from home for two years. He was in hopes that the trip would benefit his health and found that it did. He spent some time in the mines, returning in 1851, and the following year he came to Butler county. Here he purchased forty acres of land of Alex Glenn and the following year purchased more land from Aaron Moore. Twelve blocks of the city of Shell Rock have been laid out on the forty acre tract which he purchased in 1852. The plat was recorded in 1855. It was in the spring of 1853 that he moved his family here, and that year he built a sawmill and dam across the Shell Rock river. He operated the mill, sawing for the settlers, and he also rafted timber down to Waterloo. He con- tinued in the mill until 1869.
However, in the meantime, in 1867, he opened a hotel known as the Shell Rock House and conducted it until 1878, when he went to Kansas to visit a son and daughter. He died at Smith Center, that state, on the 3d of September, 1879. He was most prominently identified with industrial activity in this county at an early day. He built, between 1855 and 1857, the west side flouring mill in con- nection with his brother William, and soon after they sold their grist-mill to John F. Wright. In 1867, in company with E. W. Metzger, he built the east side flouring mill, which he operated for a number of years. He was thus closely associated with the busi- ness development of the community, and his enterprises were of untold value to the early settlers, who depended upon his oper- ations for breadstuffs and for lumber. He was one of the incor- porators of the first Methodist Episcopal church and erected the first house of worship in Shell Rock, it being the first church organ- ized in the county. He took an active and helpful part in the church work throughout the remainder of his life and his wife was Vol. II-1G
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equally earnest in her cooperation with all that pertained to the moral development of the community. He was earnest in his sup- port of the temperance cause and in politics he was a democrat but never took an active part in politics aside from casting his ballot. He labored untiringly, however, to check the use of alcoholic bev- erages and was a member of the Independent Order of Good Tem- plars, the meetings of which were held in his house. His life was indeed one of usefulness to the community and his worth was ac- knowledged by all who knew him. His wife survived him for almost a quarter of a century and died in Shell Rock in 1902. She shared with him in all his good work for the benefit of his fellowmen and many have reason to bless their memory.
They had a family of nine children : Mary Jane, the eldest, became the wife of E. Town of Shell Rock, but is now deceased. John, of Sioux City, Iowa, enlisted in June, 1861, as a member of Company B, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry and after veteran- izing served until July, 1865. He participated in many battles, his first engagement being at Belmont, Missouri. He was a member of what was called the Hornet's Nest Brigade and took part in the battles of Shiloh and Lookout Mountain and the Atlanta cam- paign. He also went on the campaign through the Carolinas and participated in the grand review in Washington, D. C. Lucy Ann became the wife of R. D. Bowen of Smith Center, Kansas. George is the next of the family. William W. is living in Kansas. Eliza- beth Ellen is the wife of A. A. Allburn of Sioux City. Sarah Maria is the wife of Thomas Rawlings of Wakefield, Nebraska. Blanche A. became the wife of Charles Herrington of Wakefield, Nebraska. Nettie is the wife of George E. Mead of Shell Rock.
George Adair was a little lad of six summers when brought by his parents to Butler county, where he has resided continuously since, covering a period of sixty years. There is no resident of Shell Rock whose connection with the district antedates his and as a pioneer settler he has witnessed almost the entire growth and development of this part of the county. On the 14th of May, 1864, when a young man of seventeen years, he enlisted as a member of Company E, Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served for one hundred days. He has always been actuated by a spirit of patriotism and has ever taken a helpful part in upholding the in- terests of county, state and nation. His reminiscences concerning this county are most interesting. He recalls the first Fourth of July celebration which he ever witnessed. In fact it was the first held in this county, the celebration taking place at Shell Rock in
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1855. The people came in ox teams and on that occasion nearly every man, woman and child in the county was here.
Through his boyhood George Adair attended the district schools and worked in his father's sawmill. Since 1869 he has been identi- fied with agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of three hun- dred and sixty acres of valuable land two miles southeast of Shell Rock. He still gives supervision to the place, although his son is actively operating it. The farm is splendidly improved and has upon it an immense barn fifty-two by ninety feet, also two con- crete silos and every modern improvement. The place is known as the Oakley Stock Farm and Mr. Adair was the first breeder of Holstein cattle in this locality, continuing the breeding business for thirty years. While he is not active in the operation of the farm, he keeps in touch with every feature of the business and, moreover, he has for the past sixteen years been president of the Shell Rock Creamery Company, a cooperative creamery business which is incorporated. For fourteen years he was president of the Butler County Farmers Institute and he is a life member of the County Fair Association, of which he has been a director and treasurer. His association with the last two organizations indi- cates his deep interest in all that pertains to the development and improvement of the county along agricultural lines.
In 1872 Mr. Adair was united in marriage to Miss Ella Mason, who was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, July 5, 1853, and in 1856 was brought to Iowa by her parents, who located in Madi- son township, this county, but afterward removed to Cedar Falls and later came to Shell Rock. Her father, William Mason, was a native of England and was a woolen manufacturer. After com- ing to Iowa he purchased a half interest in a woolen mill in Shell Rock. While in Massachusetts he married Amelia Murgatroyd, also a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Adair became the parents of five children : Claude Duvall, who is living on his father's farm, married Inez Temple and they have five children, Rex G., Zella Leone, Keith C. and Forest C., twins, and Victor Bruce. Allison G. was the second in order of birth and died at the age of two years, and ten months. Allen L., the third of the family, is a resident of Eagle, Idaho. He married Hilda Benson and they have two daugh- ters, Ellen A. and Esther. Ada Lucile is the wife of A. F. Garner of Shell Rock township and they have two sons, George Mathias and Vernon Adair. William Mason, of Shell Rock, married Maude Irma Goodsell and is employed as a butter maker in the Shell Rock Creamery.
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In his political views Mr. Adair is a democrat and has been his party's candidate for county supervisor and for representative. For thirty-three years he has been identified with the Odd Fel- lows Society and was chairman of the board of trustees of the Orphans and Old Folks Home of the Odd Fellows at Mason City. His life has been one of intense and intelligently directed activity. As the years have gone by he has put forth his effort in such a way that substantial results have accrued. His labors have enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and gradually he has advanced until he now occupies a position among the substantial citizens of the county.
JOHN H. HALL.
John H. Hall is the proprietor of the Sunnyside Stock Farm, one of the valuable properties of Jefferson township. Its name indicates the uses to which it is largely put, and the owner is regarded as one of the leading stock-raisers of his district. A native of Herfordshire, England, he was born August 27, 1846, his parents being James and Martha (Day) Hall, who were natives also of the same shire. The year 1854 witnessed the arrival of the family in the state of New York, settlement being made at Richwood flats, Saratoga county. Six months later they resumed their journey across the country with De Kalb county, Illinois, as their destination. Seven years were there spent and in 1861 they came to Butler county, Iowa, settling in Jefferson township. While in England the father was a shepherd, but in America followed the occupation of farming. He was in very close financial circumstances when he crossed the Atlantic but his indefatigable energy, perseverance and capable management made him a wealthy man, his landed possessions comprising seven hundred acres at the time of his death, which occurred in 1891, when he was seventy years of age. His wife died in 1900, at the age of seventy-two. Their children were seven in number: John H .; James, living in Jefferson township; Elizabeth, the wife of Al Nicholas of West Point township; Maria, the wife of Levi B. Knapp of Shell Rock; Joseph, who died at the age of sixteen years; Isaac, living in Minnesota; and Charles of Shell Rock. The last three were born in the United States.
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