USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 26
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In politics G. P. Harms has always been a stanch republican since becoming a naturalized American citizen and has taken an active part in political affairs, being much interested in the sig- nificant and vital questions of the day. In 1900 he was called
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upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in February of that year, her death being deeply regretted by many friends as well as by her immediate family. She was a member of the Ger- man Lutheran church, to which Mr. Harms also belongs. He assisted in founding the church of that denomination at Vilmar and afterward organized the church in Jefferson township known as the Friedens German Lutheran church. Thus he has gone on doing good in one way or another as the years have passed, and his life record is fraught with many kindly deeds. To him and his wife were born five children: Henry W .; Tina, the wife of Wil- liam JJ. Poppen, of Jefferson township; Kate, the wife of F. A. Poppen, of the same township; Minnie, who married H. Foulkon, of Rockwell, Iowa; and Ed, living in West Point township.
Henry W. Harms was brought to America when but six weeks old and has been a resident of Butler county from the age of seven years. He has always followed farming, to which occupation he was reared, early becoming familiar with the best methods of till- ing the soil and caring for the crops. He is now the owner of the old homestead of three hundred and twenty acres and is most pleasantly situated in life. His attractive home, occupying an elevation that enables him to look far over the country, is large and built in an attractive style of architecture. In the rear are large barns and substantial outbuildings and his modern and highly improved farm machinery indicates his progressive spirit. He makes stock-raising an important feature of his busi- ness and uses all of the grain which he produces. He now handles about one hundred head of cattle and two carloads of hogs annually and his business affairs are capably and successfully managed. In 1913 he purchased another farm, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty acres near Riceville, Howard county, Iowa. In addition to his agricultural interests he was a director of the Farmers Savings Bank of Allison and he is now a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator of Allison and president of the Jefferson Central Telephone Company. His business judg- ment is sound and his discrimination keen, and as the years go by his well directed interests contribute to public prosperity as well as to individual success.
Mr. Harms has been married twice. In 1894 he wedded Talka Hoodjer. who died in June, 1900, leaving five sons, Gerhard, Claus, Edward. William and Henry. In 1901 Mr. Harms married Miss Alcha Hoodjer, a sister of his first wife. Both were born in Ger- many and came to America about 1892. Their father was Claus
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Hoodjer. There have been seven children born of the second mar- riage, Grace, Mattie, Walter, Ella, Gertrude, John and Paul. The religious faith of the family is that of the German Lutheran church, and their loyalty thereto is pronounced, while their sup- port is generous and helpful. Mr. Harms is a progressive republi- can and for four years has been trustee of his township. He is ever active in conserving interests for promoting the public wel- fare and his influence is always on the side of progress, truth, reform and improvement.
CHARLES E. CHURCH.
Charles E. Church, a valued and representative citizen of Parkersburg, prominently connected with business interests as the proprietor of a modern garage, was born in Waverly, Iowa, March 1, 1866. He is a son of Francis M. and Fannie (Brown) Church, the former born in New York state in 1836 and the latter in DuPage county, Illinois, in 1839. The parents came to Beaver township, this county, in 1869 and the father died in that locality October 6, 1910. In their family were ten children: Cora, who died at the age of three; Mary A., who passed away on the 14th of October, 1910; Fred A., who resides in Waterloo; Francis E., of Sinclair, who married Lydia Card, by whom he has four chil- dren; Charles E., of this review; Florence A., who married Charles A. Dean, a farmer in Waterloo, by whom she has seven children; Sarah J., who makes her home in Waterloo; Eva, who became the wife of Byron Norton, of Shell Rock, and died leav- ing eight children; Arthur E., at home; and Jennie, who married Arthur Robertson, an electrician in Chicago, by whom she has two children.
Charles E. Church engaged in farm labor until he was thirty- two years of age and then moved to Parkersburg, where he estab- lished himself in the livery business. At the end of two years he purchased a restaurant which he conducted for four years, after which he was in the saloon business for a similar period of time. He then purchased a hotel in Parkersburg and after conducting it for five years rented the establishment and became interested in a garage, which he has since owned. He has met with an enviable degree of success, for he is a farsighted and resourceful business man, quick to recognize a business opportunity and capa-
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ble of carrying forward his plans to successful completion. He has valuable property interests, owning besides his hotel a garage, two fine residences in Parkersburg and a half section of land in North Dakota.
On the 22d of February, 1889, in Waverly, Iowa. Mr. Church married Miss Hannah Card, a daughter of Lyman Card. a pioneer of Butler county. Mr. and Mrs. Church have two children, Ray- mond C. and Harry S. The elder son married Miss Anna Becker, a daughter of John Becker, a farmer in Parkersburg, the mar- riage taking place on the 4th of September, 1912.
Mr. Church is connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been road superintendent and school director, proving himself a reliable and capable public official. He holds the esteem and confidence of all who have personal or business rela- tions with him.
W. M. NESBIT.
W. M. Nesbit, a resident farmer of Jefferson township, highly respected for his sterling worth, makes his home on section 28 and is the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and ten acres which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. He was born in Freeport, Illinois, December 17, 1853, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Case) Nesbit, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Vermont. They were married in Freeport, and there the father died of cholera during the infancy of his son. W. M. Nesbit. The mother passed away in Cedar Falls, Iowa, when the son was eleven vears of age. He was the elder of two children, his sister being Eva, the wife of William Shorter, of Mount Grove, Missouri.
Following the removal of the family to Iowa, W. M. Nesbit resided in Blackhawk county until he came to Butler county in 1875. He has since lived upon his present farm with the excep- tion of a period of two years. His entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits and prospering in his undertakings, he has become the owner of two hundred and ten acres situated on section 28. Jefferson township. Only about sixty acres had been placed under the plow when he took possession. Since then he has splendidly improved the property according to modern meth-
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ods of farming. A fine, large residence stands in the midst of well tilled fields, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates the careful supervision of the owner.
On the 7th of March, 1874, Mr. Nesbit was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Hayes, who was born in Jefferson township, October 21, 1855, and has the distinction and honor of being the first white child born there. Her parents are William M. and Rachel (White) Hayes. The father's birth occured in West Vir- ginia, October 17, 1824, and the mother was born in New York on the 15th of September of the same year. They were married at Shabbona Grove, Illinois, and in October, 1843, became resi- dents of this county. Mr. Hayes was the first white settler in Jefferson township. He entered land on West Fork Bottom and resided there throughout the remainder of his days. He broke the prairie with ox teams and performed all the arduous tasks necessary in the cultivation and development of the new farm. The neighbors were few and widely scattered. In 1864 Mr. Hayes was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 12th of February, 1864. He long survived and passed away March 13, 1897. In politics he was a stanch republican, while his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which organization he took an active and helpful part. In the Hayes family were nine children: Elizabeth, who was born February 9, 1844, became the wife of John Dilts, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Susan, born July 16, 1847, died November 6, 1863; Nancy Ann, born January 24, 1849, became the wife of Arlo Marchant, a civil war veteran, and died August 12, 1904; Miles, born December 4, 1850, died July 1, 1851; Calista A., born in April, 1852, became the wife of James Shorter, of Shell Rock. who was a Civil war soldier; James, born February 8, 1854, died on the 30th of September of the same year; Mrs. Nesbit; Ben- jamin D., born February 7, 1858, is now residing near Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Louisa, born August 30, 1860, is the wife of George Richardson, of Montana. Mrs. Nesbit was born in one of the old time log cabins but now resides in one of the finest homes in Jefferson township. The residence contains ten rooms and is finished in pine and oak with cypress floors. It is con- veniently arranged and tastefully furnished and one of its charms is its warm hearted hospitality.
Mr. and Mrs. Nesbit have one child, Arthur B., who was born January 27, 1879, and is now a young man of thirty-five years. Mr. Nesbit exercises his right of franchise in support of the men
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and measures of the republican party, and for the past twelve years he has been township clerk. He is a Mason, belonging to Compass Lodge, No. 239, A. F. & A. M., Parkersburg. His sali- ent traits of character are such as commend him to the good-will and confidence of all, and as the years have passed by he has gained a prominent position among the substantial farmers and highly respected citizens of Jefferson township.
WILLIAM A. TOLL.
The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the annals of Butler county without learning that the Toll fam- ily has played an active and prominent part in shaping the events which have contributed to the progress and upbuilding of this section of the state. The Tolls are, indeed, one of the worthy pioneer families and of this family William A. Toll is a worthy representative. He was born August 2, 1874, in Jefferson town- ship, upon a farm adjoining his present place of residence, his parents being Frederick and Jane (Borchers) Toll, who are now living in Shell Rock. Seven of their children are yet living and of this number William A. Toll was the fourth in order of birth. With the exception of a year or so spent in Shell Rock he has always made his home in Jefferson township. He purchased the electric light plant at Shell Rock and operated it for about two years, when he returned to the farm. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, early receiving practical training in the best methods of tilling the soil. He took his place in the field almost as soon as old enough to handle the plow and gave his father the benefit of his services up to the time of his marriage, since which he has carried on general farming on his own account. He rents from his father a tract of land of two hundred acres on section 16 and also leases a quarter section elsewhere, so that he is extensively engaged in farming. His life is a busy and useful one, in which he is accomplishing substantial results, yet he never sacrifices the business interests and opportunities of others to his own advan- tage. In addition to cultivating the fields he makes live stock an important feature of his place and is now specializing in the rais- ing of Hampshire hogs and fine-wool sheep. For a time he was associated with W. H. Betts in the ownership of fine race horses, continuing in that connection for ten years. Personally he owned
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Echo, Jr., which won a five thousand dollar purse at Hamlin, Minnesota, with a pacing record of 2:71/4 in 1905. He only lost one race that season and on that occasion came out second. His horse, however, was sick at the time. Echo, Jr., proved to be one of the largest money winners in the United States that year. Mr. Toll also owned the sire of Echo, with a record of 2:19, and the dam of Sis Havock. He was likewise the owner of Bell Charleston, with a record of 2:171/4, and he has had many fine colts. From his boyhood he has been interested in fine horses and is never without some excellent specimens of the noble steed.
Mr. Toll was married February 19, 1902, the lady of his choice being Miss Myrtle Hewitt, who was born in Charles Mix county, South Dakota, August 29, 1882. Her sister Mabel was the first white child born in that county and they are daughters of Wil- liam and Jennie (Kirk) Hewitt. Her father is deceased, but her mother still resides in Butler county. Mr. and Mrs. Toll lost one child, Byrl, who died in his fourth year. Mr. Toll was reared in the German Lutheran faith, and his wife is a member of the Congregational church and together they attend its services and contribute to its support. In politics he is a republican, and his worth as a citizen has been recognized in his selection for many township offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. He belongs to the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges at Shell Rock, and both he and his wife are con- nected with the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. They have a very wide acquaintance in the county with which their circle of friends is almost coextensive. The hospitality of the best homes is gladly given them, and in their own home they maintain the cordial welcome of pioneer times. As people of sterling worth they are widely known, and as a business man Mr. Toll is reckoned with those who, while promoting individual interests, also con- tribute to the public welfare and prosperity.
JOHN H. ESSMAN.
John H. Essman, a progressive and successful farmer of Madi- son township, owning and operating two hundred and forty acres of choice land on section 20, was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 1, 1875. He is a son of Arend Essman, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work.
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John H. Essman came to Butler county with his parents in 1879, and was reared upon his father's farm in Madison town- ship, aiding in its operation until he reached manhood. After his marriage, which occurred in 1900, he located on a portion of his father's property and after renting this for some time purchased the farm, which he still owns. Upon it he has made a number of improvements, building a large two-story modern residence, a substantial barn, good cribs and convenient outbuildings. He has fenced and cross fenced his fields and has made his property one of the most attractive and valuable in the vicinity. In addition to general farming he engages also in raising graded cattle, good work horses and Duroc Jersey hogs, and he is widely known as a successful and progressive farmer and stock-raiser. He holds stock in the Butler County Telephone Company and also in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Dumont.
On the 21st of February, 1900, in Franklin county. this state, Mr. Essman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hirth, who was born in Grundy county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Essman have become the parents of four children: Lulu, Emma M., Arnold R. and John L.
The parents are members of the Reformed church. Mr. Ess- man gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is interested in public affairs without being active as an office seeker. He is one of the well known farmers and business men of Madi- son township and has the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
GEORGE H. MEAD.
George H. Mead, a well known and respected farmer, was born in a.log cabin on the old family homestead on section 15. Ripley township, where he still resides, his natal day being September 13. 1870. His parents were Henry C. and Julia E. (Horton) Mead. The father's birth occurred at Swanton, Vermont, October 24, 1835, and he was the fourth son in a family of twelve children. His youthful days were spent upon a farm in New England and when a young man he came to the west, living for several years with his brother Norman, in Illinois. In the fall of 1858 he returned to Vermont, where he married Miss Emily S. Phillips. and soon afterward he took his bride to Carroll county, Illinois,
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MR. AND MRS. GEORGE H. MEAD
HENRY C. MEAD
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where they lived until 1861 and then removed to Butler county, Iowa, settling on a farm near Aplington. Later they took up their abode on what became known as the old home farm near Butler Center. In August, 1864, Mrs. Mead passed away and on the 18th of April, 1868, Mr. Mead was again married, his second union being with Miss Julia E. Horton, who was born at Lewis- ton, Niagara county, New York, April 14, 1843, and was the young- est of the seven children of Ira and Mariette Horton. After attending the public schools she became a student in the college at Niagara Falls, making her home at that time with an elder sister. She afterward went to the home of another sister in Fenni- more Center, Wisconsin, where she taught school for a few years before coming to Iowa. In the spring of 1864 she went to live with her sister, Mrs. E. C. Briggs, at Cedar Falls and taught school near there during the following winter. Following her marriage to Mr. Mead they traveled life's journey happily together for forty-one years. When he arrived in this county all he possessed was a yoke of cattle. When he died he was the owner of nineteen hundred and forty acres of valuable land, all in Rip- ley township with the exception of a quarter section in South Dakota. He bought and fed cattle, making most of his money in that way, and as he prospered he made judicious investments in real estate until his holdings were very extensive. After being in failing health for a number of years he retired from active busi- ness life, purchasing a pleasant home on Elm street in Allison, where his remaining days were passed. He always regretted the fact that he had to leave the farm. to which he made daily trips when able. He was one of the early settlers and valued citizens of the county and when he passed away there were not many living who had preceded him to this district. He met all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, yet as the years passed on worked his way steadily on toward the goal of success. He never neglected a duty, was loyal in citizenship, faithful in friendship and devoted to his family. He passed away in Allison, August 11, 1909. Later Mrs. Mead built a beautiful and commodious home in the city, equipped with all modern conveniences, and there she passed her declining days, her death occurring July 30, 1913. She had ever been most devoted to the welfare of her children and her example as a loving and tender wife and mother is one which may well be emulated. In the family were eight children: Mamie, who died in infancy ; George H .; Etta, who died in early childhood; Clara, the wife of A. W. Johnson, of Allison: Clark, who was a twin of Vol. II-18
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Mrs. Johnson and died in childhood; Ada, the wife of Bert Rich- mond, of Ripley township; Alice, the wife of George Raisty, of the same township, and Rufus C., of Allison.
George H. Mead has spent his entire life upon the farm which he now owns and occupies save for a period of four years. His early experiences were those which usually fall to the farm lad. He assisted in the work of the fields, acquired a public-school edu- cation and enjoyed such sports as the boys of the neighborhood delighted in. With advancing years he assumed the duties of manhood and is now the owner of the old homestead of seven hun- dred and twenty acres, together with a quarter section that his father gave him before he died. The farm has been well improved by George H. Mead and is a stock farm, Mr. Mead being exten- sively engaged in buying, feeding and selling stock. In business affairs he shows sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise, and his success is growing year by year.
On the 9th of October, 1898, Mr. Mead was united in marriage to Miss Lola Wagner, who was born in Monroe, Wisconsin, Decem- ber 26, 1880, and was six years of age when brought to this county by her parents, J. R. and Jane (Divan) Wagner, who now reside in Beaver township. Mr. and Mrs. Mead have three children: Hazel. born in May, 1899; Clifford, born October 9, 1902; and Ger- trude, May 6, 1906. In politics Mr. Mead is a republican and has filled the office of township trustee but has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which, capably conducted, are bringing to him substantial success.
JOHN HOHL.
John Hohl, proprietor of the Wabeek Hotel at Shell Rock, is a native of Switzerland, his birth having occurred at Rehetobel. in the canton of Appenzell on the 8th of August, 1856. His par- ents were John Jacob and Anna (Kellenberger) Hohl, whose entire lives were spent in Rehetobel. The father was a manufac- turer of curtains, conducting an extensive business which gave employment for about a half century to between one hundred and one hundred and fifty people. Not only in business affairs, but in other connections was he a prominent and representative citizen there. He acted as superintendent of the poor farm with-
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out pay for about ten years, and for nineteen years he was a mem- ber of the city council. At his own expense and assisted by others, he built for the benefit of the public a boulevard that obtained a fine view of Lake Constance. He took a delight in help- ing the needy and was ever ready to extend the hand of assistance to those who needed it. His life was indeed one of worth and value to the community in which he lived, and his wife was a much loved woman because of her many good deeds and her splen- did qualities of heart and mind. His death occurred in 1892 and his wife survived him for about a decade, both passing away when seventy years of age. Their children were seven in num- ber: John Jacob, a lieutenant colonel and a prominent man of Switzerland, where he died in 1912; Mrs. Albertina Bishofberger, who died in 1873; John; Rose, who died in childhood; Mrs. Anna Banziger, living at Lichtensteig in the canton of St. Gall, Switz- erland; Ernest, who died in infancy; and Arnold, of Rehetobel.
John Hohl is the only representative of the family in the new world. He was graduated from the state college at Appenzell when fifteen years of age and also attended an academy near Geneva, winning second honors at his graduation in 1875. On the 8th of August, 1876, he married Anna Katharina Schlapfer, who was born at Rehetobel, December 7, 1853, a daughter of J. J. Schlapfer.
In his youth and early manhood John Hohl worked with his father in his curtain and embroidery manufacturing establish- ment and afterward conducted a general store on his own account. This was destroyed by fire on the 21st of June, 1890, and Mr. Hohl lost all that he had.
Friends wanted to help him to start again, but he declined the assistance, not wishing to be under obligations to anyone and later he decided to come to the United States to here build up his fortunes anew. He planned that his wife should remain in Switz- erland for two years and in 1891 he sailed for the United States as a steerage passenger, Denver, Colorado, being his destination. From New York he proceeded to Denver, traveling in an immi- grant train that was four days en route. He spent eight months in that city, where he found plenty of friends but no work as times were hard. Later in the year he went to Bower, Nebraska, where he joined one of his old classmates of Switzerland, who was proprietor of German Nurseries. With him Mr. Hohl remained for nine months. He then went to Omaha, where he continued for a few weeks, but times were hard and business dull
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there and he walked from Omaha to Stuart, Iowa, in January, 1893, when the thermometer was sixteen degrees below zero. He was four days and four nights in covering one hundred and five miles. On the way his companion stole some ducks, which they sold to a poultry house, but Mr. Hohl declined to take them or to help carry them or to receive a dollar from their sale, although he had not a cent in his pocket. Arriving at Stuart, Iowa, he secured a position as night clerk in a hotel and for seven years remained in the employ of the same man, his wife joining him there and also working in the same hotel. When his first em- ployer sold out Mr. Hohl continued to work for his successor for three years, managing the hotel. In 1903 he entered the hotel business on his own account at Stuart and won success during the three years thus spent. He afterward remained at Waterloo, Iowa, for six months, conducting Hotel Royal, but his financial resources were not strong enough to meet the demands of the business and he removed to Greene, Butler county. He con- ducted the Commercial Hotel for nearly six years there, after which he sold out and came to Shell Rock on the 18th of June, 1912. The Wabeek Hotel here was remodeled and refitted accord- ing to modern ideas, and he has built up a now widely extended reputation for chicken dinners and for good service.
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