USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 13
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Mr. La Mont completed his arrangements for a home of his own on the 27th of February, 1901, at which time he was united in marriage to Miss Elsie J. Cuthbertson. They now have a son and daughter : Donald Arthur, who is a sturdy little lad of ten years; and Mary Emma, an in- teresting maid of three years.
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Fraternally Mr. La Mont is a member of the Masonic order, the prin- ciples of which serve to guide him in all of his relations of life both private and public. He is not a man who aspires to public honors or conspicu- ously figures in township affairs but discharges to the best of his ability his duties as a citizen by concentrating his entire attention upon the de- velopment of his private interests, which in turn influence and react upon the community.
JOHN NOCKELS.
Of the well known citizens of Carroll none deserves respect in a higher degree than John Nockels, the pioneer clothier and merchant tailor, who is now living retired, having established the first merchant tailoring and clothing business in Carroll county. He was attracted to the United States as a young man, becoming an adopted son of Iowa, and today possesses a competence which he acquired through his industry and persistent appli- cation. He was born at Zahntveiler, in the Grand Duchey of Luxemburg, September 19, 1836, a son of Michael and Mary (Emeringer) Nockels, both of whom were natives of Luxemburg. The father was a farmer and a man of prominence in the community, becoming commissary in the Luxemburg army. He died in 1867 at the age of sixty-three years. There were six children in the family of Michael and Mary Nockels, namely : John, of this review; Frank; Jacob; Peter; Anna, widow of a Mr. Thiere and later of a Mr. Wolter; and Mary, who married John Steinmetz and is now de- ceased. The mother of these children passed away in 1847, and Mr. Nock- els married Miss Kate Eisching. They were the parents of five children, two of whom are now living-Marguerite, the wife of Joseph Dreher of Dubuque, Iowa; and Greta, now Mrs. James Gallagher of Chicago. The paternal grandfather was Nicholaus Nockels, also a farmer, who married Anna Schuman. They had five children, four sons and three daughters.
John Nockels was reared in Luxemburg, and received his education in the French and German schools. He learned the tailor's trade with which he was connected during his entire business career. On May 12, 1866, he landed from a vessel at New York and came direct to Dubuque, whither two brothers had preceded him. He worked at his trade later in Kalama- zoo, Michigan, and Chicago, Illinois, but returned to Iowa in 1869 and estab- lished a merchant tailoring business at Fort 'Atkinson, to which he added a retail clothing business. Seeking for a wider field he came to Carroll and in 1876 moved his family to this city, where he engaged in business until 1906, when he sold out to his sons Frank and John. He has since lived at ease no longer being obliged to devote his attention to financial concerns.
On the 15th day of June, 1881, Mr. Nockels was united in marriage to Miss Lena Meier, who was born at Evansville, Indiana. Her parents were natives of Alsace Lorraine, and her father served seven years in the French army before coming to this country. He and his wife both died at Evans-
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ville. They had four children-Mary, the wife of a Mr. Coon; Joseph, deceased; Lena, now Mrs. John Nockels and John, deceased. Four chil- dren came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nockels, namely: Frank, who married Louisa Nue and they have three children-John, Carl and Frank; Jacob; John ; and Louis.
Mr. Nockels is not identified with any religious denomination but his wife is a devout member of the Roman Catholic church. He is connected with the Masonic order, belonging to Lodge No. 264, A. F. & A. M., and Copestone Chapter, No. 78, R. A. M., both of Carroll. In political belief he adheres to the republican party, of which he is an earnest supporter. He is a good friend of education and has served as member of the school board. A man of large experience in life and broad views he has many friends in Carroll county who have found him to be straightforward, hon- est and true, at all times a genial and pleasing companion, and ever willing to assist in promoting the permanent welfare of others.
JACOB BLACK.
Jacob Black, who is now living retired in a pleasant home at Glidden, having arrived at the age of seventy-four years, has long been recognized as one of the substantial men of Carroll county and is one of its best and most favorably known citizens. He is a native of Prussia, Germany, born March 10, 1837, a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Frummel) Black, in whose family were nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely: John and Peter, who are deceased; Catharine, who married Benjamin Foagland and is also deceased; Jacob, of this review; Ann, who became the wife of Will- iam Roth and is deceased; Elizabeth, who married William Dusen, of Buf- falo, New York; Nicholas, who lives in Chautauqua county, New York; Francis, of North Evans, New York; and Frank, of Hamburg, New York.
Peter Black, the father of our subject, came to America with his fam- ily in 1840 and settled on Eighteen Mile creek in Erie county, New York, eighteen miles from Buffalo, where he engaged in farming. He died at the age of sixty-seven, his wife being called away at the age of eighty-four years. They were both consistent members of the Catholic church. In his early manhood Mr. Black served as a soldier in the regular army in Ger- many. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Black. He was married in the old country and, his wife having died, he came to America and made his home with his son Peter in Erie county, New York, living to the age of more than seventy years.
In his early childhood Jacob Black, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was brought by his parents to the new world and has since made his home under the friendly protection of the American flag. He was reared on his father's farm and attended the old-fashioned subscription schools when the teacher boarded round. In 1858, having arrived at his majority, he started out to seek his fortune and first made his home near
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Brooklyn, in Poweshiek county, lowa, where he broke the prairie with ox teams. Subsequently he moved to Boone county and was appointed city marshal of Boone and also deputy sheriff, serving in those capacities with general acceptance to the people for ten years. In 1876 he rented a farm in Greene county, which he cultivated for four years, at the end of which time he purchased four hundred and fifty acres of good land in that county. This land he afterward divided and sold to his sons. In 1901 he removed to Glidden, which has since been his home. He owns an interest in three farms, one in Carroll county and two in Greene county and has met with more than the usual measure of success in his business.
On the 25th of December, 1857, Mr. Black was married to Miss Sarah R. Putnam, a native of Chautauqua county, New York, and a daughter of Major Harvey and Rebecca (Stewart) Putnam. The parents were natives of Vermont and moved to Chautauqua county, New York, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Black : Frank H., Edwin Jacob and William Harvey. Frank H. married Minnie Oppenheimer and they are now living upon a ranch in Sheridan county, Nebraska. They have two sons, Paul and William. Edwin Jacob Black is a farmer of Greene county, Iowa. He married Annie Gable and has seven children, Roy, Ralph, Raymond, John, Teddy, Merle and Marie. William Harvey Black married Belle Barnett and had three sons, Glenn, Hugh and Howard. The father of these children died in November, 1910. Mrs. Sarah R. Black departed this life in 1864 and on the 25th of December, 1865, Mr. Black was married to Miss Sarah R. Miller, a daughter of Mor- ris S. and Arvilla D. (Putnam) Miller. To this union eleven children have been born. Fred, who is a farmer of Greene county, married Minta Bor- dus and has six children, Clarence, Oscar, Elvin, Paul, Arvilla and Imo- gene. Hattie died at the age of one year. Charles, who is also engaged in farming in Greene county, married Stella McClurg and they became the parents of five children, Orville, Glee, Wayne, Ethel and Sadie. Emma, who married Edward Blackley and is the mother of five children, Edith, Naomi, Eva, Howard and Mary, now resides in Ralston, Iowa. Laura be- came the wife of William Gonse and they now live in Boone. Isabel, who married Asbury McClurg, became the mother of two children, Florence and Delma, and now makes her home at Olathe, Colorado. Albert, who is engaged in agriculture in Carroll county, married Edith Browers and has one son, Floyd. Clara is a teacher in the schools of Olathe, Colorado. Walter, who married Myrtle Jones and has a son, Rodney, is identified with agricultural pursuits in Carroll county. Katie is employed by the Glidden Telephone Exchange and Harry died at the age of five years.
Mrs. Black was born at Arkwright, Chautauqua county, New York, February 5, 1845. Her father was born near Utica, New York, and her mother in Vermont. They removed to Wisconsin in 1847 and arrived in Poweshiek county, Iowa, in 1855. The father died at Glidden in 1902. having then arrived at the age of eighty-four years. His wife still sur- vives, being now ninety-one years old. In their family were seven children, Ellen, Sarah R., Hattie, Flora, Della, Marcus and one died in infancy. The
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paternal grandfather of Mrs. Black was John Miller and his wife was Louisa Post. They died in Wisconsin and had a family of nine children. The grandfather on the maternal side was Harvey Putnam, a native of Ver- mont, a direct descendant of General Putnam of Revolutionary fame, who was a carpenter and farmer. He married Rebecca Stewart and they both died in the east, each having lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years. Their bodies repose in the old burying ground at Cherry Creek, Chautau- qua county, New York. Mrs. Black's father was a sailor before his mar- riage and at the time of the Civil war served most creditably for three years in Company H, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Black are identified with the Friends church, of which they are earnest supporters. Notwithstanding his religious views, Mr. Black recognized at the outbreak of the great rebellion the supreme im- portance of the preservation of the Union and of the abolishment of slavery and enlisted in Company H, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was rejected, however, on account of soreness of his eyes. In politics he is in hearty accord with the principles of the republican party. A man of unquestioned honor and of great industry and perseverance, he gained a leading position in this section of the state, which he has held for many years. He has drawn about him a goodly number of friends, who have un- limited confidence in his judgment and personal integrity. His success was gained through persistent application and honest effort and it would be difficult, indeed, to find in Carroll county a more worthy representative of 'American citizenship than Jacob Black.
FRED A. TOOVEY.
Fred A. Toovey, who has been successfully engaged in the drug busi- ness at Dedham for the past eighteen years, is well known as one of the prominent and influential citizens of the town and now holds the office of mayor. His birth occurred at Victor, Iowa, on the 13th of January, 1869, his parents being William and Julia A. Toovey, the former a native of Lon- don, England, and the latter of Lockport, Illinois. William Toovey, a druggist, took up his abode at Victor, Iowa, in 1866.
Fred A. Toovey attended the Victor high school and in 1890 completed a course of study at Drake University of Des Moines. He entered a drug store when a youth of seventeen and has been identified with the drug trade continuously since. In April, 1893, he came to Dedham, purchased the drug establishment of Thomas Hughes and has conducted the same to the pres- ent time. His stock is large, carefully selected and attractively arranged and a liberal patronage is accorded him. He is likewise the manager of the Dedham Telephone Company and was its sole owner until March 1, 191I.
On the 27th of March. 1895, at Victor, Iowa, Mr. Toovey was united in marriage to Miss Rose N. Postin, a native of Blue Grass, Scott county, Iowa. They have one child, Beatrice P., who is now twelve years of age.
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Mr. Toovey is a democrat in his political views and, though not an office seeker in the generally accepted sense of the term, has been chosen by his fellow townsmen for positions of public trust. He served as a member of the town council from April, 1894, until April, 1900, and from the latter date until April, 1910, held the office of mayor. In April, 1911, he was re- elected mayor and is therefore the present incumbent in that responsible position. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Charity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Coon Rapids, Iowa, and to Copestone Chapter, R. A. M., at Carroll, this state. His life is actuated by high and honorable principles, manifest in his business and social relations and in his connec- tion with public interests. He exercises his official prerogatives in support of various movements for the welfare and progress of the community and his influence is always found on the side of justice, truth and right.
ALOIS KESSLER, M. D.
Few men of Carroll county are more generally known than Dr. Alois Kessler of Carroll. He is now serving his fourth term as county coroner, a position he has filled with great satisfaction to the people, and for over twenty years he has engaged in successful practice at Carroll. He was born at Solon, Iowa, April 22, 1858, son of Jacob and Christina (Wolters) Kessler, both natives of Bavaria, Germany. The father was born at Lohr and the mother at Landau. He was by trade a blacksmith. He served in the German army in 1848, and in 1855 came to America and took up his residence at Solon, Iowa, subsequently spending eight years in the copper mines of northern Michigan. The family lived in Solon four years and from that place moved to Iowa City, later settling at Atlantic, Iowa, in 1870, where he continued during the remainder of his days. He died in 1907. having reached the advanced age of eighty-one years. The be- loved wife and mother survives and is now living at Atlantic. She is a member of the Catholic church as was also her husband. There were four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Kessler, namely: Alois, of this review ; Jacob, deceased ; Joseph, who lives at Auburn, Iowa; and Anthony, of Atlantic. Jacob Kessler, the paternal grandfather, was the head of a large iron foundry in Germany. He had several brothers in the Rus- sian campaign of Napoleon and all of them were frozen to death during the disastrous retreat of the French army from Moscow. There were nine children in their family-Frank, William, Michael, Jacob, Alois, Adolph, Catharine, Joseph and Nicholas. The maternal grandfather was Anton Wolters. He came to America and settled at Solon. Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In his family were five children-Michael, An- thony. Nicholaus, Christina and Mary.
Alois Kessler lived in various places with his parents and received his early education in the common schools. He early showed an inclination for educational pursuits and graduated from the Iowa City Academy in
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1882. Matriculating in Iowa State University, he took the literary course and was graduated with the title of A. B. in 1886. Having decided to devote his attention to the practice of medicine he entered the Hospital College of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, and was graduated from this institution with a degree of M. D. in 1888. He began practice at Carroll the year following and has since continued without interruption in that city. Professionally, he is identified with the Carroll County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, and the American Medical Asso- ciation. He has from the start been closely devoted to his profession, and in the field to which he has turned his attention has found ample room for the exercise of talents which have brought him well merited rewards.
On the 9th day of October, 1889. Dr. Kessler was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Bauer, daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Lentz) Bauer. The parents were both born at Baden, German. The father came to this country at the age of twelve years and the mother when she was about twenty. After their marriage they lived at Evansville, Indiana, and later at Buffalo, New York, locating in Iowa City, Iowa, about 1860. There were seven children in their family-Catharine, Joseph, Barbara, Charles and Henry, twins; Thomas, and Abilene. The paternal grandfather was Joseph Bauer and the grandfather on the maternal side was Michael Lentz. Six children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Kessler, namely: Marie, who died in infancy; Alois, who was called away January 5, 1911, at the age of sixteen ; and Carl, Leo, Lilliain and Ardan, all of whom are at home.
The success of Dr. Kessler has been due to his adaptability to his profession and to habits of close observation and study which he formed early in life. Being gifted with a cool and clear judgment he is generally able to diagnose his cases correctly and few have a more comprehensive knowledge of remedies. He is a constant student and keeps fully abreast of the great advances made in all departments of a profession which calls for the application of the keenest discrimination and also for the most unselfish service. Politically, he is in sympathy with the democratic party and fraternally, is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Cathi- olic Order of Foresters. He and his wife are sincere members of the Catholic church.
CHARLES H. LUDWIG.
'A resident of Carroll county for nearly forty-five years, Charles H. Ludwig is thoroughly familiar with the resources of this section, and as a business man has had large experience, meeting with a goodly measure of success. He was born in Millhaus, Germany, November 28, 1853, son of Martin and Anna Mary Ludwig. The father learned the harnessmaker's trade in his native country, and believing that more favorable conditions prevailed in America than he saw about him in Germany, he crossed the ocean to the new world during the Civil war and lived for several years at
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Dubuque, Iowa, engaging in farming. In 1867 he settled in Carroll county, where he passed away at the age of seventy-six years. His wife is still liv- ing and has reached the advanced age of eighty-five. She is a sincere mem- ber of the Catholic church as was also her husband. He served as a soldier in the war of 1848 in Germany and was an industrious man of excellent character. There were eleven children in the family, seven of whom are now living, namely : James J., of Buda, Iowa; Frank, whose home is near Auburn, Iowa; Charles H., of this review; Joseph, of Carroll; Josephine and Anna, both of Carroll; and Victoria, now the wife of Joseph Shalle, of Buda.
Charles H. Ludwig came to America with his parents when he was about eleven years of age. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended the district schools, assisting as he grew up in work about the house and in the fields. His first employment was as clerk in the general store of De Wayne & Arts at Carroll, with which firm he continued for seven years, and thus gained a good general knowledge of mercantile busi- ness. He next formed a partnership with H. E. Stevens and they con- ducted a general store next to the postoffice in Carroll. Finally Mr. Lud- wig bought his partner's interest and associated with his brothers, Christ and Charles H., carried on the store. This business was closed out in 1909 and in 1910 Mr. Ludwig and his son William started the Racket Store, also carrying groceries. The enterprise has proven successful, being under ex- perienced management, and the patronage has shown a steady increase.
Mr. Ludwig was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Knewth, and five children have been born to them, namely: William, Frank, Charles, Ed- ward and Louise. Mr. Ludwig and his wife are both consistent members of the Catholic church. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Col- umbus, and ever since casting his first ballot he has been in sympathy with the democratic party and has been an active worker in its behalf. The confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens was shown at the city elec- tion of 1910, when he was chosen as assessor. He is highly popular and is regarded as one of the capable and progressive men of Carroll.
FRANK J. RETTENMAIER.
Throughout a busy life Frank J. Rettenmaier, of Carroll, has shown an enterprise and progressiveness that are accepted the world over as pro- phetic of success and the results in his case have been highly gratifying. He is today one of the best known men of the city and his efforts have been rewarded with a handsome competency. He was born in Blackhawk county, Iowa, May 19, 1873, a son of Joseph and Mary (Berger) Rettenmaier, the former of whom was a native of Wurtemberg and the latter of Bavaria, Germany. Mr. Rettenmaier, Sr., came to America at the age of seventeen years and made his home for a while in Pennsylvania. About seven years later he became one of the pioneers of Blackhawk county, Iowa. In the
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fall of 1874 he moved to Carroll county and settled in Kniest township, near Mount Carmel, upon two hundred and forty acres of land. He later pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres, making a farm of three hundred and sixty acres which he developed until it became one of the valuable proper- ties in that part of the county. He died in 1889 at the age of fifty-seven years, but Mrs. Rettenmaier is still living and has arrived at the venerable age of seventy-seven. She is a member of the Catholic church as was also her husband, who served as county supervisor for six years and was a member of the board when the new courthouse was built at Carroll, being one of the well known and substantial citizens of the county. There were ten children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Rettenmaier, eight of whom grew to maturity, namely : Lena, the wife of Joseph Reinhart, of Wagner, South Dakota; Charles, who lives near Mount Carmel, in Carroll county ; Elizabeth, the wife of John Giesing, of Carroll; David H. and Catharine, both of Carroll; Mary, who married Ed Thurlimann and is now deceased ; Frank J., the subject of this review ; and Joseph F., also of Carroll.
Frank J. Rettenmaier was reared on his father's farm and secured a preliminary education in the district schools. He came to Carroll in the fall of 1893 and attended the local college, taking a business course from which he was graduated in June, 1894. He then became a student in the teacher's course which he completed in 1895. In February of the following year he entered the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, becoming a student of the scientific course from which he was graduated with the de- gree of B. S. in 1899. He then entered Highland Park College at Des Moines and pursued a course in pharmacy, receiving his diploma and reg- istration in the spring of 1900. Having now thoroughly prepared himself, he associated with his brother, Joseph F. Rettenmaier, also a registered pharmacist, and bought out J. W. Hatton and they have since continued in the drug business together. They maintain a large and well selected stock of drugs, medicines, books, wall paper, paints, oils, and druggists' sundries and receive a liberal share of patronage.
David Rettenmaier, the second son of Joseph and Mary Rettenmaier, was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools. He con- tinued at home until 1890 when he moved to Carroll and entered the em- ploy of Woodward Brothers, implement dealers, with whom he continued for thirteen years. He was then connected for a little over a year with F. G. Peterson. He is now engaged in general mercantile business in Car- roll.
On the 18th day of November, 1890, Mr. Rettenmaier was united in marriage to Miss Mary Maus, a daughter of Henry and Magdalene Maus, and seven children have blessed this union, Anna, Eva, Clara, Hildegard, Leo, Hillarius and Irma. Mrs. Rettenmaier was born in Jasper township. Her parents were natives of Germany and are now deceased. There were three daughters in their family: Lizzie, who married John Pietig and is deceased; Katie, the wife of Charles Rettenmaier; and Mary, now Mrs. David Rettenmaier. Mr. and Mrs. Rettenmaier are both members of the Catholic church. Politically he gives his support to the democratic party
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