USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 24
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
John H. Hall accompanied his parents on their various remov- als, but at the age of fifteen years he reached Butler county, where he has resided continuously since 1861. He early became familiar with the arduous task of developing the new farm, and he has never hesitated to accomplish his purpose when it must be done at the cost of earnest, self-sacrificing labor. He has always carried on general farming, and the years have brought him pros- perity, so that he now has extensive landed possessions. His home place comprises three hundred and twenty acres on sections 25 and 26, Jefferson township, in addition to which he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 26, forty-five acres of timber on section 35, Jefferson township and two hundred acres in Shell Rock township, upon which his son now resides. He has long made stock-raising the principal feature of his farm work and handles high grades of stock for which he finds a ready and profitable sale upon the market. In purchasing cattle his sound judgment stands him in good stead. He is seldom, if ever, at fault in estimating upon the value of an animal, and when his stock are ready for the market their excellent condition insures a speedy sale.
On March 11, 1889, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Marie Manzel, who was born in Germany on the 17th of August, 1873. She lost her father when but eight years of age and in 1887 came to Iowa with her widowed mother and a brother, Henry Manzel, who is living in Shell Rock township with his mother, who, having married again, is now the wife of Carl Cole- man. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have become the parents of six chil- dren : John, at home; James, living on his father's farm in Shell Rock township; Martha and Isaac at home; Lillian, who is a student in Osage Seminary; and Ruth, who completes the family ..
Mr. Hall has an excellent home for his family. The farm upon which he resides has been in the possesssion of the Halls; for over forty years, John H. Hall having purchased his first quarter section from his father. The purchase price was thirty- two hundred dollars, of which sum his father allowed him one thousand dollars as a present. It was prairie land and John H. Hall broke the sod and planted his crops, so cultivating the wild tract into productive fields. He also at once began making sub- stantial improvements, and his progressive methods, as the years have gone by, have wrought radical changes in the appearance of the place, which is today one of the fine farms of Butler county. In politics Mr. Hall was always a republican until 1912,
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since which time he has voted with the prohibition party. He and his wife belong to the Baptist church of Shell Rock, and they are held in high esteem, their many excellent traits of heart and mind endearing them to a large circle of warm friends.
CHARLES K. YOST.
Charles K. Yost, living on section 6, Ripley township, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, March 28, 1845, a son of Jacob and Julia (Kauffman) Yost. The father was born in a house that stood on the dividing line between Pennsylvania and Mary- land and his natal year was 1809. The mother was a native of Ohio, and they were married in the latter state. In the spring of 1852 they arrived in Linn county, Iowa, where Mrs. Yost passed away in the fall of the same year. The father afterward removed to Toledo, Tama county, Iowa, where he remained until 1858, conducting a grocery store in that town. He next came to Butler county, settling in Madison township, but afterward re- moving to the vicinity of West Fork about 1866. There he passed away at the venerable age of eighty-two years. He was a shoe- maker and followed that trade in early life and to some extent after coming to this county, working at the trade at the time when all shoes were made by hand. He also owned a farm in Madison township, which he afterward sold and purchased one in Ripley township. In Toledo he married, but his second wife passed away two years later, leaving no children. His third wife was Eveline B. Scott. There were five children by the first marriage : Mrs. Mary Ann Riddle, deceased; Sarah Jane, the widow of David Mason, residing at Meriden, Connecticut, where her hus- band was overseer of a large woolen mill; Josiah, who enlisted from this county as a member of Company C, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was discharged owing to disability but later reenlisted, his death occurring since the war; Charles K .; and Mrs. Elizabeth Tarr, who died in California. By the father's third marriage there were the following children: J. B., living in Minnesota; Lucretia, deceased; George, also of Minnesota; E. E. and Lincoln, who are residents of Ripley township; Sher- man, of Ripley township; Luther, of Hancock county, Iowa; Cornelius, whose home is in Minnesota; and Rachel, the wife of John McLaren, of Ripley township.
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Charles K. Yost came to this county with his father about 1858 and has here since resided, covering a period of fifty-five years, in which he has witnessed almost the entire development, progress and upbuilding of the county. He has always followed farming and at one time owned four hundred and sixty-five acres but has since sold a portion. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres in this county and two hundred acres in Richland county, North Dakota. He has two hundred acres in the home place, which is well improved, being supplied with all the equip- ments and accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. He has resided on this place since 1883 and is now practically living retired, having rented his farm to a son-in-law. There are two sets of buildings upon the place, and everything indi- cates the progressive spirit of the owner.
In 1871 Mr. Yost was united in marriage to Miss Aurilla Kin- caid, who was born in Rockford, Illinois, June 4, 1851, a daughter of Edwin and Catharine (Kershner) Kincaid, who were natives of Maine, the former born in March, 1825, and the latter in April, 1828. They were married in the Pine Tree state and about 1850 came to Illinois with their one son. Other children were added to the family after their arrival here. Both parents died in Rip- ley township about 1890, only a week apart. They lived for six years in Wisconsin before coming to Iowa, whither they traveled with ox teams in 1859. They had ten children : Louis, now living in Oklahoma; Mrs. Yost; William, who died in Oregon; Myrtie, the wife of William Reed, of Oregon; Jessie, the wife of John Randolph, of Washington; Eugene, whose home is in Texas; Clara, the widow of Robert Smith, of Oregon; Ella, the deceased wife of Amos Vogt; and Edwin, who died in childhood. They had an adopted son that died in early life.
Mr. and Mrs. Yost became the parents of six children: Wil- liam Quincy, now living in Minnesota; Della, the wife of Irvin Knoll, living upon her father's farm; Edwin, who is on his father's farm in North Dakota and also owns two hundred acres, cultivating, therefore, four hundred acres; Clara, the wife of Hugh Mosher, of Dubuque; Lela, the wife of Richard Ludeman, of Parkersburg; and Charles L., at home. The maternal grand- father of Mrs. Yost was James Kershner, a native of France, born on the Rhine. He served for fifteen years and six months in the army under Napoleon. His wife, Mrs. Dereva Kershner, was born on the German side of the Rhine. Coming to America, they settled in Maine, where they died at an advanced age. The
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paternal grandfather of Mr. Yost served in the German army in time of war.
In his political views Mr. Yost is a republican, stanehly sup- porting the principles of the party. He served as township trus- tee for a number of years and since 1874 has been school treasurer of school No. 3 in the district of Fort Sumter. He has in this connection paid all of the school teachers and has boarded over thirty of them. He and his wife are United Brethren in religious faith and are members of the Hitesville church in Rip- ley township. He is today one of the valued citizens of the county, a man whose well spent life has gained for him the high and well merited regard of those with whom he has been brought in con- tact.
CLARENCE W. SOESBE.
A young man of energy, resource and discrimination, Clarence W. Soesbe has been closely connected with financial interests of Greene since he began his active career and has risen to be vice president of the Merchants National Bank. He has other im- portant business connections and is well known in the city and vicinity as a progressive, able and farsighted business man. He was born in Greene, this state, September 1, 1880, and is a son of E. W. Soesbe, who was born in Jones county, Iowa, November 11, 1851. The grandfather, William Soesbe, was a native of Ken- tucky, born in 1810. He was one of the first settlers in Jones county, Iowa, having taken up his residence there in 1839. E. W. Soesbe grew to manhood in that locality and in 1870 moved to Butler county, locating in Greene. In this city he married Miss Carrie L. Cross, a native of Butler county and a daughter of J. J. Cross, who entered land in Fremont township in pioneer times. E. W. Soesbe was a lawyer by profession, being associated with his brother, S. W. Soesbe. S. W. Soesbe was the first station agent at Greene, filling that position for a number of years. In 1883 the two brothers formed a partnership with J. B. Shepardson, organ- izing a private bank in Greene, the firm name being Soesbe, Shep- ardson & Company. This was reorganized in 1903 as the Merchants National Bank with E. W. Soesbe as president and his son, Clarence W., as cashier. Six months later the father died and Mr. Shepardson was made president, an office which he still holds. Mrs. E. W. Soesbe still retains her residence in Greene.
CLARENCE W. SOESBE
LENOX
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Clarence W. Soesbe was reared in Greene, acquiring his early education in the public schools of the city. He was graduated from the high school in 1896 and he later worked for one year in a bank. At the end of that time he entered the State University at Iowa City and was graduated from the liberal arts depart- ment in the college of law in 1901, receiving numerous honors. He afterward returned home and entered his father's bank as cashier, a position which he held for two or three years. At the end of that time he was elected vice president and this responsible posi- tion he still holds, his energy and ability being important factors in developing the extensive business which the bank controls. Mr. Soesbe acts as agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee and is engaged also in the real-estate busi- ness, handling improved farming lands in Butler and adjacent counties.
In West Branch, Iowa, on the 14th of June, 1904, Mr. Soesbe married Miss Clara Stuart, a native of Iowa, born in Johnson county. She was educated in the State University, graduating in 1902, and together with Mr. Soesbe, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and other societies. Mr. and Mrs. Soesbe have two sons, Earl W. and Lee S. The parents are members of the Greene Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Soesbe has served as recording steward for the past nine years. They are very promi- nent in church and Sunday school work and well known in religious circles. A native son of Greene, Mr. Soesbe has thor- oughly identified his interests with those of the city, his activities touching various phases of its public and business life. He is a progressive and able citizen and a careful and conscientious busi- ness man and he holds the confidence and esteem of the entire com- munity.
FREDERICK TOLL.
Frederick Toll, one of the esteemed residents of Shell Rock, who in former years was actively identified with agricultural, stock-raising and dairying interests and other business affairs in Butler county, contributing to its material growth as well as to his individual success, was born in the province of Bromberg, Cedeneth, Prussia, Germany, May 9, 1839, his parents being Christian and Carolina (Werner) Toll. The mother died when
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her son, Frederick, was but six years of age, and the father after- ward married Johannah Udehart. In 1858 they crossed the At- lantic, made their way to Chicago, where they spent the winter and afterward resided for several years at Howard, McHenry county, Illinois. In 1863 they came to Butler county and settled in Jefferson township, where their remaining days were passed.
The father was a brick manufacturer of Germany, owning and operating a brickyard there, but after coming to this coun- try he followed farming. Unto him and his first wife were born six children : Caroline and Charles, both deceased; Frederick, the third in order of birth; Adolph, who has also passed away; Mrs. Minnie Apfel of Shell Rock; and Herman, of Washington. Unto the father's second marriage were born two children : Mrs. Johan- nah Jacobs, of Clarksville; and Augusta, of Chicago.
Frederick Toll spent the greater part of his boyhood and youth in his native land and there learned the brick maker's trade with his father. He followed that pursuit until he came to the United States, landing at New York on the 8th of October, 1858. He soon afterward joined his parents and resided with them until after the removal of the family to Iowa. At the time of his marriage he started out in business independently, pur- chasing one hundred and twenty acres of school land two miles east of Butler Center, for which he paid two dollars per acre. It was entirely wild and unimproved, when it came into his posses- sion. He had no capital when he started out in life on his own account, but he was allowed ten years in which to pay for the property and, carefully saving his earnings, he was not only able to discharge his indebtedness, but also to add to his land, making purchases from time to time until he was the owner of six hun- dred and forty acres of good farm land and eleven acres of tim- ber. The entire tract is situated on Jefferson township, save one hundred and forty acres in Butler township. Mr. Toll made stock- raising the principal feature of his place. He raised a large number of hogs each year and also handled cattle. He conducted a dairy, milking twenty-three cows, at one time and he was a director in the Cooperative Creamery Company of Coster. He resided in Jefferson township for forty years, from 1863 until 1903, when he retired to Shell Rock, where he has since lived in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.
In 1867 Mr. Toll was united in marriage to Miss Jane Borcher, who was born in Hanover, Germany, September 3, 1851, and went to New Jersey in 1854 with her parents, Carl and Christiana
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(Hinemeyer) Borcher. In the year 1856 the parents left New Jersey and removed westward to Illinois, coming in 1865 to But- ler county, her father taking up farming in Ripley township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Toll were born eight children: Flora, who became the wife of Ed Trager and died leaving two children; Fred H. and Charles A., who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume; William A., living in Jefferson township; George O., a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; Irving of Swanton; Carrie, the wife of Roy Betts of Shell Rock; and Clar- ence, who is living on the old homestead in Jefferson township.
In his political views Mr. Toll is a republican, having voted for the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He is one of the pioneer settlers of this part of the state, there hav- ing been but two houses on the Butler Center road at the time of his arrival. He hauled his goods to Cedar Falls, which was the nearest railroad market, and he underwent many of the hard- ships and privations of pioneer life. He can recall many changes which have occurred during the half century of his residence in the county, for work of development and improvement has done away with all of the pioneer conditions and brought about a condi- tion of progressive prosperity that is most gratifying.
FRED W. CROSS.
Among the men of Fremont township who have risen by the force of their energy and ability to a place of importance in busi- ness circles is numbered Fred W. Cross, a well known farmer and stock-raiser. In the course of many years' residence here he has accumulated valuable holdings and now owns in conjunction with his sons three fine farms on section 15. He was born in Bremer county, Iowa, June 4, 1857, and is a son of Jackson J. Cross, a native of Cattaraugus county, New York. The father there resided until he was seventeen years of age and learned the carpenter's trade. He afterward worked at building railroad bridges in Ohio and Indiana for a number of years and then removed to Illinois, where he married Miss Permelia Ballard, also a native of Cat- taraugus county, New York. In 1853 Jackson Cross came to Iowa, settling at Syracuse, Bremer county, where for a time he engaged in contracting and building. Later he located on a farm on section 1, Fremont township, buying one hundred and fifty-
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six acres, fifty-six of which he afterward sold. Upon the one hundred acres remaining he resided for a number of years, becom- ing a prosperous and substantial agriculturist. He later removed to Chickasaw county, settling in Nashua, where he now resides. He held various positions of public trust and responsibility in Fremont township and was well and favorably known in this locality.
Fred W. Cross was reared at home and aided in the operation of his father's farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He married in 1882 and immediately afterward took up his residence upon a portion of the farm which he now owns. At that time he purchased eighty acres of land in Fremont township and after breaking the soil began the work of improvement and cultivation. He set out a grove and an orchard and remodeled the house, which is now an excellent two-story residence. He also erected a barn and convenient outbuildings. From time to time he purchased more land and now owns in conjunction with his sons four hun- dred acres on section 15, this being divided into three farms. They make a business of raising high-grade shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and heavy work horses, and they have made this branch of their business extremely profitable.
On the 8th of March, 1882, in Floyd county, Mr. Cross mar- ried Miss Evelyn Porter, who was born in Chickasaw county, but reared in Floyd county. For a number of years previous to her marriage she engaged in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Cross became the parents of five children: Charles, an evangelist; Harry, who is married and operates one of his father's farms; Fred and Vic- tor, partners with their father in his farming and stock-raising operations; and Edith, a successful school teacher.
ALFRED HICKLE.
Alfred Hickle is engaged in general farming on section 26, Jackson township. His life record contains no spectacular phases but proves what may be accomplished when industry and per- severance become the salient features in a man's life. He was born in McLean county, Illinois, March 2, 1846, and was a little lad of seven summers when brought to Iowa by his parents, John and Hester (Van Gundy) Hickle, who are mentioned in connec- tion with the sketch of W. J. Hickle on another page of this work.
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Their family numbered seven children, of whom Alfred is the third in order of birth. He remained with his parents upon the farm in Butler township until he enlisted for active service in the Civil war in 1863, as a member of Company G, Eighth Iowa Cavalry. He served for two years and one month, or until the close of hostilities, and participated in a number of hotly con- tested battles, which led up to the final victory that crowned the Union arms.
Following the close of the war Alfred Hickle returned home and assisted his father to the time of his marriage in 1870. He then took up his abode upon a farm belonging to his father in Butler township, residing there for twelve and a half years, or until he purchased his present farm on the 17th of April, 1882. He first became the owner of eighty acres, but has since extended the boundaries of his place until it now comprises one hundred and sixty acres on section 26. No improvements had been made upon the place when it came into his possession, although the prairie sod had been broken and some crops had been planted. Mr. Hickle made all of the improvements, erecting a substantial residence and good barns and outbuildings, and he also set out all of the trees. There was no shade upon the place when he took possession, but today fine growing trees add to the attractive appearance of his place. During the past thirty-one years he has done much hard work here, and the farm shows the result thereof, being today one of the highly cultivated and well improved places of Jackson township.
On the 15th of May, 1870, Mr. Hickle was united in marriage to Miss Annie McClintock, who was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, April 21, 1852, and on the 28th of March, 1865, came to this county with her parents, J. H. and Ruth (Winchell) McClin- tock, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. Their last days, however, were spent in this county. They had a family of three sons and three daughters, and two sons and two daughters are yet living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hickle have been born two children. Alvin D., the elder, resides on his father's farm and married Gertie Arts, and they have three chil- dren-Dora Anna, Grace Ruth and Robert Alfred. Florence Mabel is the wife of George Woolridge of Tripp county, South Dakota. They have four children: Clarence Warren, Dorothy Viola, Donald Ernest and Ruth A.
Mr. Hickle is a republican in his political views and is a pub- lic-spirited citizen, whose support can be counted upon to further
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measures and movements for the general good. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and is as loyal to his country in days of peace as when he followed the old flag upon the battle- fields of the south.
REV. JOSEPH J. GOUGH.
From early pioneer times the name of Gough has been closely associated with the agricultural development of Butler county and this section of the state and at the present writing Joseph J. Gough is engaged in active church work, while at the same time he carries on his farming and stock-raising interests. He has always believed with Lincoln that "there is something better than making a living-making a life," and, while he possesses the laudable ambition of providing well for his family, he has also found time and opportunity to aid in the establishment of those principles which are ever factors in upright, honorable manhood. His birthplace was his father's farm, four miles northwest of Clarksville, and his natal day June 12, 1858. He was the fourth in a family of six children born to William and Susannah (Walsh) Gough, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of Thomas A. Gough on another page of this work.
Joseph J. Gough has spent his entire life in Butler county save for four years, from 1879 until 1883, passed in Valley City, North Dakota. He broke prairie for one season and had a pre- emption claim of a quarter section of land. He also speculated in cattle and horses. With the exception of this period of four years he has always been identified with farming interests in Butler county and for twenty-two years he operated a threshing machine here. For a quarter of a century he has resided upon his present place, being now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich and valuable land on sections 3 and 10, West Point township, his home being situated on the latter section. When he purchased this it was raw prairie, not a furrow having been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, but with char- acteristic energy he began its development, recognizing the pos- sibilities here offered. He turned the sod for the first time upon his quarter section, fenced the land, took out the stones and erected all of the buildings upon the place, which is now a well improved property, lacking in none of the accessories of the model
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farms of the present age. His time has been given to the cultiva- tion of crops best adapted to soil and climate and to the raising of stock of all kinds, and both branches of his business have proved profitable, owing to his capable management and enterprising spirit. He is recognized as a man of sound judgment and keen discrimination, and his cooperation is regarded as a valuable factor in the management of other interests. He is identified with the Farmers' Cooperative Elevator Company of Allison, of which he was secretary for a time, and he is also a stockholder of the West Point Mutual Telephone Company.
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