USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 29
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
fession in Allison; Katie, the wife of Henry Maas, of Coldwater township; Hikko, of West Point township; William, of this review ; Helen, the wife of Herman Ladage, of Plainfield, Iowa; and Agnes, who is with her parents.
William Folkers was brought to the farm upon which he now resides when two weeks old and has since lived here, although he and his family now occupy a home separate from his parents. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. Fifteen years ago he took charge of the old homestead and has since relieved his father of all care and responsibility in connection with its cultivation. He now owns eighty acres north of Allison, adjoining the corporate limits, which he rents. He is capable and energetic in his business affairs and is justly accounted one of the leading farmers of his community.
In August, 1898, Mr. Folkers was united in marriage to Miss Lena Schroder, who was born in Illinois, June 30, 1876, and in her childhood days was brought to Butler county by her parents, John and Dora (Bane) Schroder, natives of Germany. Her father died here, but her mother is now a resident of Allison. Mr. and Mrs. Folkers have two children, Flossie and John. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, taking an active and helpful interest in its work. Mr. Folkers gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has no desire for public office. He feels that all of his time should be given to his busi- ness affairs, and he is an energetic man, persistent and reliable, who well deserves classification with the representative agricul- turists of the county in which he has spent practically his entire life.
HENRY DE GROOTE, SR.
Henry De Groote, Sr., a well known farmer of Albion town- ship, was born in Germany, October 8, 1857. He is a son of John and Trena (Harmes) De Groote, also natives of the fatherland, the former born in 1833 and the latter in 1824. The parents came to Iowa in 1884, and the father worked as a farm laborer in this state until his death, which occurred January 12, 1912. His wife has also passed away, dying March 31, 1891.
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Henry De Groote, Sr., is one of a family of three children. He acquired his education in the public schools of Germany, attending until he was fourteen years of age, after which he worked upon a farm in his native land until 1882. In that year he crossed the Atlantic to America and settled in Grundy county, Iowa, whence after eight years he came to Butler county, where he has since resided. In 1902 he bought two hundred and seven- ty-eight acres of land on sections 24 and 25, Albion township, and upon this property raises small grain and hay and is also extensively interested in dairying and stock-raising, keeping one hundred hogs, sixty head of cattle and twenty horses.
In Germany, on the 27th of November, 1880, our subject mar- ried Miss Antje Jacobs. They became the parents of ten chil- dren. Henry, Jr., is a farmer in Albion township. He married Lezzie Van Hauen, and they had four children. Trena has passed away. Joe lives at home. Anna married William Hassman, a farmer in Albion township, and they have three children. Jacob has passed away. The other members of this family are, Jacob, the second of the name, Harry, Thomas, Andrew and Greta.
Mr. De Groote, Sr., is a member of the Reformed church and a republican in his political beliefs. He is one of the most highly respected citizens of Albion township, where he has resided for many years and where he holds the esteem and confidence of all who are associated with him.
JOHN KALKWARF.
John Kalkwarf, a progressive and able agriculturist of But- ler county, owning and operating one hundred and fifty acres on section 1, Monroe township, was born in Germany on the 28th of September, 1855. He is a son of Henry and Flora (Sanders) Kalkwarf, also natives of that country, the former born in 1815 and the latter in 1824. The father, who was a linen weaver by trade, died in 1896, having survived his wife six years. They were the parents of seven children, Gertrude, Trena, Rena, John, Reint, Flora, and Fannie.
John Kalkwarf attended school in Germany until he was fourteen years of age and afterward worked on a farm in that country until 1883. He then came to America, settling in Grundy county, Iowa, where he engaged as a farm laborer for six years.
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In 1890 he came to Butler county and after renting land for four years bought one hundred and fifty acres on section 1, Monroe township. He has operated this property since that time and has been very successful, his general farming and stock-raising interests being today extensive and important. Mr. Kalkwarf raises hay, corn and oats, all of which he feeds to his stock, keep- ing on an average thirty head of cattle, forty hogs and nine horses. His animals are sold in the local market, where they command a high price and a ready sale.
On the 1st of February, 1889, in Grundy county, Mr. Kalk- warf married Miss Fraukelena Kliege, a daughter of Ernest and Foske (De Vries) Kliege, the former a well known farmer of that locality. Mrs. Kalkwarf died in 1909, when she was about forty years of age, leaving nine children, Lena, Florence, Henry, John, Gertie, Dena, Ernest, Elsena and Fred. Lena married Cornelius Jurgens, who is engaged in farming in Ripley town- ship.
Mr. Kalkwarf attends the German Reformed church and is a republican in his political beliefs. For six years he was a mem- ber of the school board, and he is at all times interested in com- munity affairs, cooperating heartily in all measures and projects for general advancement and growth. He has an enviable repu- tation in Butler county, holding the esteem and confidence of an extensive circle of friends.
FRANK S. KILSON.
The Tall Pine Stock Farm, situated on section 29, West Point township, is the property of Frank S. Kilson. It bears an ap- propriate name because of the fine pine trees upon the place, which were set out by Lewis Kilson, father of our subject. Here the son is conducting a profitable business as a stock-raiser, making a specialty of black polled cattle, his herd at the present time num- bering ninety head. He has come to be recognized as an authority upon stock-raising in this part of the state and his success pro- claims his judgment to be sound and his methods enterprising.
Frank S. Kilson was born in McHenry county, Illinois, June 28, 1854, and is a son of Lewis and Carry (Nelson) Kilson, both natives of Norway, born on the 28th of November, 1807, and in
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
June, 1822, respectively. Both came to the United States about 1831 and after spending a winter in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lewis Kil- son removed to Illinois. The mother of our subject on crossing the Atlantic went to Dane county, Wisconsin, and there became the wife of Iver Nelson. There were several children by that marriage but the husband and the children all passed away in Wisconsin. Following the death of her first husband Mrs. Nelson became the wife of Lewis Kilson. He, too, had been married before when in Illinois and there were three children by that union. These were : Anna, now the deceased wife of Silas F. Woodworth; Albert M., of Garden City, Kansas, who is a pioneer of that state and has served in the Kansas legislature ; and Martha A., the deceased wife of John Wilks, who has been a member of the senate of South Dakota. Following the marriage of the parents of our subject they established their home in Illinois, but in October, 1855, came to Butler county, Iowa, removing from Woodstock, Illinois, and taking up their abode upon what is now the old Kilson homestead. In June, 1855, Mr. Kilson had visited this section of the state and had secured a government claim. In fact, he had entered three eighty-acre tracts and he purchased other land until he was the owner of a half section. This he greatly improved, converting it into productive fields, and upon the farm he spent his remaining days, his life's labors being terminated in 1889. For eight years he had survived his wife, who died in 1881. In early life he was a mechanic, but throughout all his later years he followed farming. However, his labors ever displayed mechanical ingenuity and in the early days he made cutlery, after which he would go out and sell the knives. He also made candlesticks in Illinois before re- moving to this state and he was very ingenious in producing these different mechanical devices. He became a very well informed man, possessed ever a receptive mind and a retentive memory. After coming to the new world he adopted the customs of the country in every respect, even dropping the language of his native land and becoming thoroughly American. He never lost his love for his native land, but he had the strongest attachment for his adopted country and there could be found no native son whose loyalty was greater. In politics Lewis Kilson was a stanch repub- lican and he always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian de- nomination and he assisted in the building of a number of churches. In a word, he was a good citizen, ever deeply interested in the material, intellectual, political, social and moral progress of
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the county. He won a fair measure of success for his day and he lived to see the district in which he located become the habitation of a prosperous and contented people. When he arrived here Dubuque was the nearest railroad point and later a line was built to Cedar, Falls, and it was not until after the war that Butler county had a railroad. From pioneer times to the present the name of Kil- son has figured prominently in connection with the history of the county, its bearers taking active part in the work of upbuilding and development.
Frank S. Kilson is the eldest of six children, the others being: George E., who for the past thirty years has lived in California, spending twenty-seven years of this time as station agent at Sati- coy ; Alice, the wife of J. T. Thompson, of Norfolk, Nebraska, whose father, Charles Thompson, established the Iowa Central Stock Farm of Butler county; Charles Grant, living two and a half miles southeast of Allison; Walter L., who was born in 1866 and died in 1905; and Oscar, who died at the age of three years. A half-brother, Albert M., enlisted from Butler county in 1864, in the Second Iowa Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, while his son Charles was in the Spanish-American war, was shot in the Philippines and now resides in Scott City, Kansas.
Frank S. Kilson, numbered among the honored pioneer resi- dents of the county, has here resided since the fall of 1855, arriv- ing when a babe of little more than a year. He has always carried on farming, starting out in business life on his own account at the time of his marriage, and after his father's death he pur- chased the interests of the other heirs in the home place and is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land on section 29, West Point township. It is an attractive place, con- stituting one of the pleasing features in the landscape, and most of the improvements upon the farm are tangible evidences of the thrift and enterprising spirit of the owner. The soil is very fertile and he raises large crops, which he cultivates according to the most modern methods. He also keeps good stock and is well known as a dealer in cattle, making a specialty of black polled cattle, of which he now has ninety head. Many of these are full-blooded animals, which he raises for beef.
In 1883 Mr. Kilson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Knight, who was born in Wisconsin in 1860 and came to Butler county with her parents, Henry and Sarah (Dye) Knight, who were natives of England and spent their last days in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kilson have two children: Carrie, the wife of Rob-
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ert A. McKernan, of West Point township; and Lanta Dale, at home.
Mr. Kilson, whose worth as a citizen is widely recognized, has served his township as clerk for twenty years and has held a num- ber of road and school offices. He always votes with the republican party. His religious belief is indicated in his membership in the Christian church at Bristow. Fraternally he is well known, be- longing to Vulcan Lodge, No. 498, A. F. & A. M., the Royal Arch chapter at Clarksville and Garfield Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Bristow. The Kilsons are one of the old families of the county and Kilson Creek was named in honor of Lewis Kilson. From pioneer times to the present representatives of the family have been numbered with the valued, leading and representative citizens of this part of the state, at all times taking active and helpful interest in every- thing pertaining to the general welfare.
C. I. BOLTON.
C. I. Bolton, a pioneer settler of Butler county and today one of the prominent and substantial farmers of Beaver township, was born in Cedar county, this state, July 12, 1856, a son of John Henry and Mary Bolton, natives of West Virginia, the former born in 1819 and the latter in 1830. The father died in 1897 at the age of seventy-eight and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in New Hartford. Twelve children were born to their union : John; James L .; Anna E .; Mary J .; Sarah; C. I., of this review; William L .; Oscar J .; Minnie C .; Charles H .; Louis ; and Martha.
C. I. Bolton acquired his education in the district schools of this county, attending until he was nineteen years of age. He then turned his attention to farming and has been identified with agricultural pursuits since that time. He came to Butler county about the year 1867 and when he began his active career pur- chased the property on section 5, Beaver township, upon which he has since resided. The years have brought him success, promi- nence and substantial fortune so that he is today numbered among the men of worth and ability in his community.
Mr. Bolton has been twice married. In 1880 he wedded Miss Flora H. Whipple, who died in 1885, leaving four children as follows: Myrtle, Mabel, Ida and Edna E. In 1886, Mr. Bolton
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married Miss Edna E. Dorens, and they have become the parents of four children: Cecil, Jane, C. I., Jr., and Mary.
Mr. Bolton is independent in his political beliefs and inter- ested in public affairs, although not active as an office seeker. He has been a resident of Butler county for forty-six years and during the greater part of that time has been connected with agricultural interests. He has gained a gratifying degree of suc- cess in the conduct of his personal affairs and has also contribu- ted materially to the general growth.
JOHN A. ZIMMERMAN.
John A. Zimmerman, one of the active and progressive farmers · and stock-raisers of Bennezette township, owning and operating three hundred and sixty-five acres of well improved and valuable land, was born in Johnson county, Iowa, August 9, 1862. His father, Christopher Zimmerman, was born in Switzerland, the land of the Alps, in 1813 and was reared in his native country. He later went to England, whence after five years he crossed the At- lantic to America. He located first in Virginia and from that state enlisted for service in the Mexican war. After his discharge he came to Iowa and located in Johnson county, where he mar- ried Miss Catherine Boller, born near the river Rhine in Germany. In 1854 Christopher Zimmerman purchased land in Linn county. buying three hundred and twenty acres, which he improved and cultivated for some time. He afterward sold this tract and re- turned to Johnson county, buying forty acres, to which he added from time to time until he was finally the proprietor of a farm of two hundred acres. He remained a resident of that locality for many years thereafter, dying upon his property June, 1893, when he was eighty years of age.
John A. Zimmerman was reared in Johnson county and ac- quired his education in the schools of Iowa City. He later learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years, after which he spent a similar period of time as a butter maker. He re- mained in Iowa City until 1894 and then moved to Butler county, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Bennezette township. Upon this he built a small shanty, in which he lived while he carried on the work of opening up and improving his farm. From time to time he bought more land and has now exten-
JOHN A. ZIMMERMAN
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
sive holdings, owning three hundred and sixty-five acres. Upon this he has just completed the erection of a two story hollow-tile, rough cast finish residence, one of the finest and most modern in the county. He has a good barn, granary and hog house and other substantial buildings and the entire place is well improved in every particular. The fields are fenced and crossfenced and Mr. Zimmerman has also provided a grove and orchard. In addition to general farming he is a stock breeder and dealer on an extensive scale, raising pure-blooded Aberdeen Angus cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and Percheron horses. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company at Aredale and was a promoter of the Bennezette Farmers Telephone Company.
On the 19th of March, 1890, Mi. Zimmerman married Miss Julia A. Parsons, and they have become the parents of seven chil- dren, Charles W., Minnie Etta, Fred, Kate, Wilbur, Nellie and Wanda. Mr. Zimmerman is a member of the blue lodge Masons and has passed through all the chairs of Zion Lodge, No. 32, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand. He is a progressive republican but has never taken more than a citizen's interest in politics. He is interested in the cause of education and for a number of years past has been identified with school work as a director. He is one of the best known citizens of Bennezette township and his con- tributions to its general growth and development have been many and substantial.
JAMES E. MILLER.
James E. Miller needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, because of his long and close connection with the busi- ness and social interests of Butler county. For over thirty years he was closely and prominently identified with commercial activ- ity in Greene, but he now makes his home in Mason City, Iowa, where he is the correspondent and representative of Lamson Brothers & Company of Chicago. Mr. Miller is a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, clearing his business through Lamson Brothers & Company of Chicago. During all the years of his residence in Greene his activities touched closely the business and public interests of his community, and he was regarded as one of the prominent, influential and valued citizens. Iowa, too, num- bers him among her pioneer residents, for he has lived in this
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state since 1856. He was born in Carroll county, Indiana, Janu- ary 7, 1853, and is a son of A. and Anna (Harter) Miller, the former a native of Ohio, in which state he was reared to man- hood. He afterward removed to Indiana, settling in Carroll county, where he engaged in farming for several years. In 1856 he started overland with team and wagons and took up his abode in Roundgrove, Floyd county, Iowa, just north of Greene. There he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land within two and a half miles of the town and at once began to break the sod, fence and improve the fields and do all the other work necessary to opening up and cultivating a new farm. For several years thereafter he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits, but in 1873 he sold his homestead and removed to Vernon county, Missouri, where he purchased four hundred acres of land. For nineteen years thereafter he cultivated this property, becoming prominent and influential in agricultural circles. He died upon his farm in 1892, having for three years survived his wife, who passed away in 1889.
James E. Miller was three years of age when he was brought by his parents to Iowa. He was reared on his father's farm in Floyd county and from early youth assisted in its operation, remaining at home until twenty-four years of age. He then pur- chased land in the same locality, which he cultivated for five years, and then traded for one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle, which he fattened and shipped to Chicago, realizing an excellent profit upon his stock.
During the time Mr. Miller owned his farm he engaged also in the hotel business in Greene, conducting a popular hostelry there for three years. He afterward established a grocery and general merchandise store there, and when he disposed of this engaged in the grain business. He erected a large elevator and for twenty-one years thereafter operated the elevator and con- tinued in the grain trade, which he conducted upon an extensive scale. In 1912 he disposed of his interests at Greene, but in the meantime, in 1900, had established an elevator at Independence and in 1901 a similar enterprise at Packard. He still owns these elevators but maintains his residence in Mason City, Iowa, where he is now the correspondent and representative of Lamson Broth- ers & Company of Chicago.
In Roundgrove, Iowa, in 1877, Mr. Miller married Miss Mary Martin, and they became the parents of four children. The eld- est, John W., is engaged in railroading in Glenwood, Minnesota,
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W. F. is in the grain business at Packard. Anna Mabel married Harry Putnam, a rancher in Lordsburg, California. The young- est child, Gladys, is a student in the Greene high school. Mrs. Miller passed away in April, 1911. In September, 1912, Mr. Mil- ler was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Sophro- nia Knox, of Greene, Iowa.
Mr. Miller is affiliated with the republican party and has held various offices of public trust and responsibility. He served for two terms on the town board, was for seven years town marshal and was for five years deputy sheriff during the same time. In addition to this he has served as delegate to numerous county conventions. He is well known in fraternal circles, holding mem- bership in the Masonic blue lodge at Greene and in the Eastern Star, to which his wife also belonged. In 1875 he joined the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, an organiza- tion which at that time had five degrees instead of three. Mr. Miller is past grand of the subordinate lodge and is also a charter member of the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Miller has been steward for years. He was formerly numbered among the most prominent and public-spirited citizens of Greene and this posi- tion he gained through many years of upright living and straight- forward dealing, but in August, 1913, he removed to Mason City, where he and his wife now make their home, Mr. Miller's busi- ness project being a large and important one.
HENRY FREY.
Henry Frey, a farmer of Washington township, owning two hundred acres of excellent land, was born in Germany, January 30, 1871. He acquired his education in the public schools of Germany and Illinois, having been but eleven years of age when his parents came to America. He stayed with his parents and helped in the farm work, continuing thus until he was twenty-one, when he entered the College of Commerce in Freeport, Illinois. Upon the completion of his course he engaged in teaching, fol- lowing this occupation for three years. In 1893 he and his brother Harm purchased a threshing outfit and after they had operated this for seven years Mr. Frey of this review rented land. In 1898 he bought eighty acres in Butler county and to this he
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has added from time to time until he now owns two hundred acres. He raises hay, corn and oats and is also interested in stock breeding, keeping twenty-five head of cattle, sixty hogs and eight horses.
In Washington township, on the 1st of April, 1895, Mr. Frey was united in marriage to Miss Gertie Van Loh, a daughter of George Van Loh, a farmer, who passed away at the age of twenty- four years. Mr. Frey is independent in his political views and has served as township trustee and president of the school board. He is numbered among the representative citizens, devotes con- siderable of his time to gospel ministry and kindred work and has the esteem and confidence of an extensive circle of friends.
EDWIN L. NORTON.
For almost sixty years Edwin L. Norton has been a resident of Butler county and is one of its extensive landowners. His home place, known as the Oak Ridge Stock Farm, is located at Nortons Corners on section 32, Shell Rock township, and there he engages in raising high-grade stock, including horses, cattle and hogs. He has now traveled life's journey for seventy-five years and as one of the pioneer settlers of this locality, his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
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