History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 121

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316

USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 121
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 121

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change from eity to country life, upon the western prairie, was a great one, and it is no wonder that Mrs. Gould often sighed for the old home. But many changes have been wrought in the years that are gone. The little log cabin in which they first lived has long sinee been replaced by a more elegant structure. The farm has been improved, and they are now sur- rounded by all the comforts obtainable in the older countries. Mr. Gould has always been active in township affairs, holding at all times some one or more of the various local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Gould are the parents of four children, three of whom are living-Mary Louisa, living at home; Julietta A., wife of A. Montrouse; Josephine F., wife of John Vineent; Joseph D., who died in 1879, at the age of sixteen years. The family are active members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Gould has been one of the trustees of the church for many years.

Alonzo Gleason, a native of Burrillville, Rhode Island, was born in 1817. He re- eeived his education in the common seliools of that place and remained there until 1850. In that year he was married to Miss Lydia A. Wood, who, also, was born there. After their marriage the couple went to Providenee, where Mr. Gleason was employed in spindle forging. In the fall of 1854, with his family, he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and settled on see- tion 24, Jefferson township, where he now owns a well improved farm of 240 aeres, valued at $40 per aere. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason have been blessed with six ehil- dren-Earlville, Isabel, Lydia E., Leepha, Celia and Herbert O. Mr. Gleason is a

et Gleason.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

Republican and has held several of the local offices.

S. B. Phillips was born July 16, 1845, in the State of Rhode Island. Nine years after his birth the family moved to Bre- mer county, Iowa, and settled on a farm on section 14, Jefferson township, where they have sinee resided. Mr. Phillips re- ceived a good common school education, and followed farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Four- teenth Iowa Infantry, and served until honorably discharged in December, 1864. Upon again entering civil life, he returned to his home and, on the 17th day of Oe- tober, 1871, was married to Miss S. B. MeClure, a native of Indiana. Three ehild- ren have been born to them-Roy J., Ralph W. and Martha D. Mr. Phillips is a republican, and has held the office of director of school board, and is at pres- ent township clerk. He is superintend- ent of the Bethel Sabbath School, held in sub-district, number four.

II. T. Briden, son of William Briden, now of Janesville, was born in Cook county, Illinois, in 1837. When he was four years of age his parents returned to England, their native country, but the subjeet of this sketch remained in America with friends, and as his mother died dur- ing their stay in England, he has no recol- lection of seeing her. His fatherreturned to America in 1843, and settled in St. Joseph county, Michigan; there H. T. was reared on a farm and received but a limi- ted education .. In 1854, he came to Bre- mer county with his father and brothers, making the entire trip by them, being something over five weeks on the way. They settled in Jefferson township near

where Mr. Briden now lives. He remained with his father until he was twenty-three years of age, after which he rented land for some time, and in about 1861, his father presented him with the farm where he now resides. Mr. Briden has been a member of the school board for some time, and has held other minor offices in the town. He was married in 1860, to Miss Susannah Gish, a native of Marion county, Ohio. She came to Bremer county with her parents in 1855, and settled in Waverly. They are the parents of six children-William M., residing at home; Edward U., attending college at Cedar Rapids; Lulu Belle, Jacob A., Charles II. and Mary B. Mr. and Mrs. Briden and their oldest son are active members of the Methodist Church.

The present postmaster of Denver post- office-Guy Farnsworth-was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in 1837. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Cleve- land, Ohio, and later to Liverpool, Medina county, where Guy obtained his education. He first attended the common sehools and then spent two terms at Baldwin's Insti- tute, Barea, Ohio. Upon leaving school, he learned the machinists' trade, of his father, and followed this ocenpation at different points until 1857, when he came to Bremer county, landing in Janesville on the 15th day of September. On the 14th day of December (same year), he en- tered the employ of Holmes, Kelly & Kay, who, at that time were building a steam saw mill, remaining with this company, working at his trade, until 1861. During the fall of that year he opened a black- smith shop, in a building erceted by him- self for that purpose. In September, 1862,

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

he enlisted in Company B, 14th Iowa In- fantry, and served until honorably dis- charged, in December, 1865. Upon re- ceiving his dismissal from service, he returned to Jefferson City, and engaged in his present business. He was united in wedlock June 6, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth MeHenry, who was born in Indiana. Four children have blessed this union, three of whom are now living. Mr. Farnsworth is

a member of the Liberal League of North- ern Iowa. In the year 1877 he was ap- pointed postmaster of Denver postoffice, and still holds that office with great credit.

Henry Otto Meier is a native of Ger- many, and was born December 5, 1844. When he was thirteen years old, the fam- ily came to America, and soon after their arrival, settled in Jefferson township, Bremer county, where they have since re- sided. Henry received a good common school education, in both the German and English languages. On the 4th of. April, 1869, he was married to Miss Mina Bod- eker, a native of Germany, born in 1848. They have had three children-Herman, Henry and Anna. The family are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Meier is a democrat, and has held nearly all of the local offices.

H. W. Briden, one of Jefferson's enter- prising and much respected farmers, is a son of William and Mary Briden, both natives of England, and was born in Illi- nois, about sixty miles from Chicago, in 1840. Soon after his birth his parents re- turned to England, where his mother died. After a short stay he returned to America with his father and was reared on a farm in St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he received a common school education. In

1854 he .came to Iowa with his father and settled in Jefferson township. Mr. Briden attended school in the primitive log school house, for about three years, after coming to this county. He has always kept out of politics, and has never accepted any of the offices of the town, excepting serv- ing as a member of the school board, which position he held for some time. IIe has, since 1854, lived on the farm where luis father first settled, and, since that date, has never been out of the town, except on sliort visits to friends in the east. A por- tion of his extensive farm, which consists of 430 acres, is the piece of land on which Charles McCaffree settled, it being the first claim taken by any white man in Bremer county. Mr. Briden is one of those unassuming, retiring men that are always respected, and rarely, if ever, make an enemy. By hard work and good management, supported by liis most ex- cellent wife, he has accumulated a large competency, and is probably the wealth- iest man in Jefferson township. He was married in 1864 to Miss Marian Spencer, a native of Mieliigan. She came to Janes- ville with her parents in 1855, where her father died in 1861, after which she re- turned to Michigan, where she remained until 1863. They are the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living --- George William, Adell, Francis A., Ger- trude, Jennie, Pearle and Earle, (the lat- ter died in infancy) and De Witt.

Worthy J. Tibbetts, a native of Bremer county, was born in Jefferson township on the 4th day of February, 1857. When fourteen years old, he went to Oswego, Kansas, where he received a good common school education, and afterwards took a

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

commercial course at Crawford Commer- cial College, Fort Seott, Kansas, grad- uating therefrom in 1877. The year suc- ceeding his graduation, he returned to Bremer county, and has sinee resided in Jefferson township. April 7th, 1880, he was married to Miss Alice Winner, born in Belvidere, Illinois. They have onc child-Gertrude B. Mr. Tibbetts is a staunch Republican, and has held several of the town offices.

C. L. Bodeker, whosc parents were pioneers of Jefferson township, is a native of Germany, born in 1842. When he was ten years old, the family came to America, and settled in Cook county, Illinois, where they remained four years, and then re- moved to Bremer county, Iowa, settling in Jefferson township. The son reecived an excellent education in the German lan- guage. During the year 1866, he was married to Sophia Meier, who was also born in Germany, in the year 1845. She came to America, with her parents, wlien thirteen years of age, and grew to woman- hood in Bremer county. Six children have been born to them-Henry, Lorenee, Sophia, Herman, Anna and William. The family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Bodeker is a Republean, and has held nearly all of the town offiees.

Ilenry C. Krech, who is a native of the Prussian Province of Saxony, was born in 1819. Hle received a good common school education in his native language, and when twenty years old went to Franec, and dur- ing his residence there, mastered that language. In 1844 he returned to Prussia, and entered the army, as a private, in the artillery serviec; and, after some time, was

promoted to the Assistant Surgeon's school, where he remained until he left the army, in 1847. The following year he was re- called to the army, and again served for some months. Upon receiving his dis- missal, he immediately enlisted in the war of the rebellion, known as the rebellion of 1848. In the spring of 1849, he left his native country for the "Land of Liberty," and upon arriving here, settled in West- chester county, New York, where he re- mained nine years, and then emigrated to Bremer county, Iowa. He settled in Jef- ferson township, and engaged in the occu- pation of painting and carpentering. In 1867 he purchased a steam saw mill, moved it to Jefferson City, and has since been engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Krech has been married four times. His first marriage was in 1853, to Rachel Gren- ning, a native of Germany, who bore him six children. His second wife was Katie McDonald, born in Scotland; the third, Lizzie A. Miller, born in Ohio. Mr. Krech's last marriage took place July 22, 1880, his wife's maiden name being Susannah Miller. Hc has held several of the local offices, and iu polities is a greenbacker.

John Oltrogge, one of Bremer county's pioneers, was born in Germany, in 1827. There he grew to manhood and received a good common school education. He came to America in 1856, and after spend- ing one year in Illinois, came to Bremer county, Iowa, first loeating in Maxfield township, where he remained twelve years, and then removed to Jefferson township, where he lived until his death, which oc- curred on the 3d of January, 1882. Dur- ing the year 1855, he was married to Miss Minnie Grupc, who still survives him.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

They have had three children-John, who now carries on the farm; Minnie and Henry. The family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Wm. Bayer, one of the enterprising men of Jefferson township, was born in Ger- many, August 14, 1829. Hc remained in his native country until nineteen years old and while there learned the trade of black- smithing. In 1848 he came to America, and the three succceding years, followed his trade in Boston, Massachusetts. H then came as far west as Chicago, and in 1864, came to Bremer county and opened a blacksmith shop in Jefferson township, where he has since been engaged in bus- iness. Mr. Bayer is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. At present he is a member of the town board. On the 19th of May, 1856, he was married to Miss Mary Peter, a native of Germany. They have had twelve children-William, Rudolph, Lou- isa, Johanna, Lina, Mary, Anna, Sophia, Lizzie, John, Frederick and Amelia. Mr. Bayer and family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Ernst G. Brandt, one of the leading farmers of Jefferson township, was born in Germany, in 1837. He came to America in 1855, and soon after his arrival settled in Cook county, Illinois. Five years later he came to Bremer county, Iowa, locating in Maxfield township, where lie lived until 1868, and then settled in Jefferson town- ship, where he now resides, and owns one of the finest farms in the county. It con- tains 545 acres, and is valued at $30 per acre. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Nirge, born in Germany, in 1834, but who came to this country with

her parents when a small child. Ten chil- dren have blessed this marriage, eight of whom are now living-Henry, Sophia, Ernst, Emma, Herman, Bertha, Louis and Theodore. Mr. and Mrs. Brandt are mem- bers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Brandt believes in democracy, and has held nearly all of the town offices.

J. W. Calease, a native of Germany, was born in 1841. Five years after his birth, the family came to America and located in Wisconsin, where they lived for eight years, and then moved to LeSueur county, Minnesota. At seventeen years of age J. W. left home for Illinois, remain- ing there until the first year of our late rebellion, when he enlisted in Company B, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and served until honorably discharged, in August, 1865. Upon receiving his dismissal he re- turned to Illinois, but after remaining there a short time, came to Bremer county, Iowa, where he has since resided, with the exception of four years spent in Frank- lin and Butler counties. He was married in 1870, to Martitia Messinger, who was born in Jefferson township, in 1852. They have five children-Olive, Lydia, Bertha, Harley and Phoebe. Mr. Calease is a republican, and at present holds the office of constable. Both he and his wife belong to the Christian Church.

John Homrighaus was born in Ohio, in 1844. Six years after his birth, the fam- ily moved to Illinois, and there John ob- tained his education and reached man- hood's cstate. In 1863 he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and settled in Jefferson township, where he has since resided His principal business has been farming, but he also learned carpentering and

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

wagon-making, following those occupa- tions for a number of years, in Jefferson City. During the year 1872, Mr. Homrig- haus crossed the ocean and traveled through the countries of Germany and France. He is a staunch republican, and has held the office of justice of the peace, six years. In 1880, he read law with H. Bezold, of Waterloo. He also took the census of his township, during the same ycar. He was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ottman, a native of Illinois, in 1873. In 1882, Mr. Homrighaus was elected county supervisor from the second dis- trict, which office he now holds.

Heinrich Braun was born in Hanover. Germany, in 1830. Hc obtained a com- mon school education in his native coun- try, and followed the occupation of farm- ing until 1857, when he came to America, locating in Kane county, Illinois, where he passed the following cight years. At the expiration of that time, he came to Iowa, and settled in Jefferson township, Bremer county, and embarked in the grocery busi- ness, which branch of trade he has since followed. He was married in March, 1859, to Miss Minnie Haasc, also born in Hanover, but who, when a child, came to America, with her parents, and settled in Illinois, where she lived until 1865. Nine children have blessed this union, cight of whom are now living-Lewis, Carolinc (wife of Charles Moehling), Louisa, Henry, Mina, Frank, William (deceased), Herman and Anna. Mr. Braun's family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Lewis Becker is a native of Germany, born in 1843. His carly life was passed on his father's farm, in the country of his

birth; but when seventeen years old, he came to America, and soon after landing located in Chicago, Illinois. Onc year was spent in that city, and then he enlisted in Company H, 4th Missouri Cavalry, and after serving three years and three months, he was honorably discharged, because of sickness. Upon receiving his dismissal from service, he returned to Chicago, and in 1866 came to Bremer county, settling in Jefferson township, where he has since lived. During the year 1866 he was mar- ried to Caroline Bcarsterfield, who also was born in Germany. Five children have been born to them-Henry, Fred, Mina, Anna and John.

Samuel Saylor was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1823. He received a common school education and remained on tlie homestead until he had reached his major- ity. At that time he began working at the carpenter trade, and continued to fol- low that occupation for twenty-seven ycars. In 1848 he was married to Miss Sarah Dull, a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. During the year 1860, witlı his family, he moved to Waterloo,, Iowa, wliere lic lived and followed his trade, for cleven ycars, at the expiration of which time, he came to Jefferson town- ship, and engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Saylor are members of the Methodist church. Nine children have been born to them, of whom six arc now living- Amanda, Anna, Mabel, William, Charles and Albert.

Hermann Baumann was born in Ger- many, on the 7th day of July, 1846. He received a common school education in luis native country, and therc grew to man- hood. At fourteen years of age he began

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

learning the shoe-maker's trade, and after serving his apprenticeship, followed that oeeupation while in that country. In 1868 he emigrated to America, and settled in the city of Chicago, where he worked at earpentering. About three months after his arrival in Chicago, he made a short visit to-Michigan, and upon his return (in the fall of 1868) was married to Miss Ma- tilda Wendorf, who is a native of Ger- many, born in 1843. Soon after their marriage the young couple moved to Os-

wego, Illinois, where Mr. Baumann entered the employ of H. Helle, boot and shoe dealer, where he remained until 1874, and then moved, with his family, to Jefferson eity, Bremer county, Iowa, and became engaged in his present business. Mr. Baumann is a republican. He is at pre- sent assistant postmaster of Denver post- office. Both he and his wife belong to the German Lutheran Church. Six ehildren lave blessed this union-Emma, Otto, Herman, Caroline, Lewis and Martha.

CHAPTER XXIV.

LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP.

This district comprises all of township | 92, north of range 14, west of the fifthi prineipal meridian, except the south tier of seetions. It is bounded on the northi by Polk township, on the south by Washi- ington, on the east by Warren, and on the west by Butler county. It is watered by the Cedar river, which enters on scetion 4, running thence in a southerly course through sections 9, 17, 16, 21, 22 and 27, leaving the township from the latter see- tions. Along the banks on either side of this stream is found the only timber in the township. Back from the stream on both sides the land is a rolling prairie. The soil is generally a dark sandy loam. The population is somewhat mixed, Americans largely predominating.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in this township was James Collier, who located on the north- west quarter of seetion 15, in 1850, where he opened a blacksmith shop. He re- mained until sometime in 1852, when he removed to Minnesota.

Shortly after J. G. Baker settled on sec- tion 26, where he died.

During the next year, James Estep, W. O. Edgington, John R. Buckmaster, Daniel Walters, Isaae Null, Samuel Arm- strong and William Wilsey effeeted set- tlements.

James Estep settled on section 17, where he remained about one year, and then left the county. The place is now owned by Geo. R. Rayner.

HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

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W. O. Edgington made selection on see- tion 16, remained a few years, and then moved from the county.

John R. Buckmaster came from Indiana, and located on section 17. Here he re- maincd until about 1859, when he went to Missouri.

Wm. Wilsey settled on section 16, but removed to Sioux City during the fall of 1853. The land is now owned by J. Andrews.

Daniel Watters settled on section 10, where he remained until his death in 1866.

In 1852 came William Powell, Samuel Beclah, E. M. Wright, Nathan Payton, Nathaniel Harris and brother, with their cousin, M. Sumner.

William Powell selected a place in sec- tion 27, on land now owned by William Scudder. He moved to Jefferson township in 1855.

E. M. Wright was from Wisconsin and settled on section 15, where he remained until 1865, when he removed to Linn county and thence to Nebraska.

Nathan Payton came from Ohio and lo- cated on section 3, where he lived about two years and then moved to Waverly.

Nathaniel Payton, with his brother and cousin, settled on section 4, where the brother died. Nathaniel, with his cousin, returned to Massachusetts, from whence they came.

Mason Evcland, the oldest living settler in LaFayette township, and son of John and Elizabeth (Jones) Eveland was born in Calhoun county, Illinois, January 18, 1817. His father was a native of Virginia, while his mother was born in New York Statc. In 1823 his father moved to Ful- ton county, Illinois, and was the second

white settler in that county. His father died in 1832 and his mother followed in 1851. As his father was constantly in ad- vance of civilization, young Mason liad but very few advantages of education. In September, 1851, soon after the death of his mother, he came to Bremer county, arriving here October 3. He located in Jackson township on land now owned by J. K. L. Maynard, where he entered a farm, but in 1852 sold it and took a claim of 320 acres in LaFayette township, and in Janu- ary, 1853, located on this farm, 237 acres of which he still owns. February 5, 1836, he was married to Miss Lucinda Stuffle- beam, a native of Kentucky. Of the ten children, Henry, Charles, John, James, Austin, Lucinda, now Mrs. John W. Fer- guson, and Robert Boone, are living. Mr. Eveland was the first white child born on the military tract in Illinois, between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

William A. Pelton made a selection on section 10, during the same year. He is still a resident of the township. He is a native of New York State, born in Chatau- qua county, June 26, 1828. He is a son of Ransom and Mary B. (Waggoner) Pelton. In 1842 his parents came west to McHenry county, Illinois, and settled on a farm, W. A. remaining with his father until he had helped him to get a home of eighty acres. He then engaged in railroading and work- ing by the month until 1853, when he turned his steps westward, coming to Bre- mer county, where he entered his present farm of 160 acres, on section 10; but he made no improvements until after the war. At the breaking out of the rebellion he was among the first to answer the Nation's call, from this county. Enlisting, July 10, 1861,

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

in Company G, Ninth Iowa, as a private, he was soon afterward promoted to Cor- poral, in which capacity he was honorably discharged, at Louisville, Kentucky, in July, 1865. He immediately returned to his farm, in Lafayette township, which he began to improve, and, in 1866, built his present residence. He held, previous to the war, the office of township elerk. In polities he is a republican. He has been a. member of the Baptist Church for some time. In 1867 he was united in wedloek with Miss Permelia Wright, a native of Wisconsin. She bore him two sons-Ran- som D., and Willie Wright-and died, in 1877, at the age of twenty-nine years. In February, 1882, Mr. Pelton married Calista G. Cutler, who was born at Peoria, Illinois.

Among those who came this season and soon after, were John. Miles, Heman Miles, Horace Wallace, John Worthing- ton, Edward Tyrrell, William Vandiver, Justus Hall and Isaae Null. Then others eame in more rapidly. Sketches of a few prominent citizens are here given, indiea- ting the general character of the settle- ment.

Jacob M. Eveland, second son of Henry and Aurenna (Miller) Eveland, was born in Fulton county, Ill., April 21, 1841. In 1854, his parents moved to Bremer county, and settled in Lafayette township, where Jacob has sinee resided, excepting two and one- half years spent in Davis County, Iowa. IIis educational advantages were very limited, as he had to assist his father in preparing their future home. In 1875, he bought his present farm, on section 10, on which he has since resided. In January, 1868, he was married to Miss Angeline Stufflebeam, daughter of Joshua and Polly

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 121

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1316

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316