USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 14
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and is one of its active adherents, being at present a member of the council from the third ward. He has served very acceptably in this position the past six years.
On the 12th day of September, 1900, Frank J. Rettenmaier, the subject of this review, was married to Miss Anna C. Arts, a daughter of William and Christine (Manemann) Arts. They have four children, Wilbur F., Paul Wesley, Louis A. and Gerald J. Mr. Rettenmaier has from the time of casting his first ballot been a supporter of the democratic party. He served as school director in Carroll nine years and was president of the board three terms. From the time of his boyhood he has shown unusual business capacity and for two years after the death of his father managed two large farms belonging to the family. He earned the money by teach- ing to pay his expenses through college and has never permitted himself to yield to obstacles. He has always been a busy man and is justly recognized as one of the most valued citizens of Carroll.
FREDERICK W. WOHLENBERG.
Frederick W. Wohlenberg, cashier of the German Savings Bank at Manning, Carroll county, was born at Goose Lake, Clinton county, Iowa, on the 14th of February, 1880. He is a son of Ludwig A. and Anke (Om- men) Wohlenberg, the father a native of the province of Schleswig-Hol- stein and the mother of Oldermanburg, Germany. Mr. Wohlenberg emi- grated to the United States when a young man of twenty years, locating in Lyons, Iowa. For several years thereafter he worked in a mill, follow- ing which he engaged in farming in Clinton county, in the vicinity of Goose Lake. He has since retired and he and his wife are now residents of Lyons, Iowa. He is a member of the Deutcher Verein of Lyons and politically he is a democrat, and has served as a member of the school board.
Reared on the homestead in Clinton county, Frederick W. Wohlenberg spent his boyhood and youth in a manner very similar to other farmer lads. his early education being acquired in the schools in the vicinity of his father's place. Later he pursued a more advanced course in the Northern Illinois College of Fulton, after the completion of which he returned to the farm. Deciding that he preferred the life of a business man to that of an agriculturist he later went to Dyersville, where for a time he worked in a hardware store. From there he went to Ida Grove as bookkeeper in a bank, remaining there for two years. At the expiration of that period he went to Bagley as assistant cashier in the bank. Eighteen months thereafter he organized a bank in Lanesboro with which he was identified for a year. He subsequently went to Hubbard as assistant cashier in the bank there, but at the end of two years he removed to Beresford, South Dakota, where he held the position of assistant cashier. Returning to Iowa at the end of a year he bought an interest in the George Savings Bank at George, and for four years following filled the position of cashier in that institution. Dis-
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posing of his interest in 1910 he came to Manning and bought an interest in the German Savings Bank, where he is now acting in the capacity of cashier in addition to which he is also a member of the board of directors. Besides his official duties in connection with the bank, Mr. Wohlenberg en- gages in the life and fire insurance business and also handles real estate.
On the 20th of June, 1905, at Battle Creek, Iowa, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wohlenberg and Miss Katherine Henrietta Krause, a daughter of William Krause. The parents, who are now residents of Ida Grove, formerly lived on a farm in the vicinity of Battle Creek, Iowa, where Mrs. Wohlenberg was born on the 20th of January, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Krause are both natives of Germany, from which country they emi- grated to Iowa, where for many years the father, who is now retired, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. They affiliate with the German Lutheran church, while his political support Mr. Krause accords the democratic party.
Fraternally Mr. Wohlenberg holds membership in the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He casts his ballot for the men and measures of the democratic party, and while residing in Lanes- boro was town treasurer. Although he has been a resident of Manning for less than a year, Mr. Wohlenberg had made a very favorable impres- sion in business circles, and both he and Mrs. Wohlenberg appear to be popular socially.
CHRISTIAN H. DOHSE.
Farming and stock-raising constitute the chief sources of wealth in Car- roll county, for the soil is in every respect adapted to various crops and is particularly excellent for pasture land, enabling one to engage in either line of activity to great advantage. Among others who have utilized the oppor- tunities here offered is numbered Christian H. Dohse, a native of Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, where his birth occurred on the 18th of April, 1853. His parents, H. N. and Anna (Sievers) Dohse, were also born in the father- land, the former in Holstein and the latter in Schleswig. The father, hear- ing from his son Christian of the opportunities offered in the new world, brought his wife to America in 1870, and upon his arrival in this country made his way at once to Iowa, locating first in Clinton, Clinton county. A harnessmaker and tanner by trade, he followed those occupations in Clinton until 1882, when he came to Carroll county, and here he and his wife made their home with their son until their death, the former passing away in 1894, and the latter in 1898. Both were laid to rest in West Side cemetery.
Christian H. Dohse, the only child of this worthy couple, received his education in the schools of the fatherland, and he was a youth of sixteen years when he came to the United States in 1869. For four years after his arrival in Iowa he was engaged in farming in Clinton county, after which he came to Carroll county, locating upon his present farm on section 18,
MR. AND MRS CHRISTIAN H. DOHSE
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Arcadia township. The land had not yet been broken when it came into his possession, but with characteristic energy and determination he set about its improvement, and today he is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of highly developed and valuable land, upon which he has erected as fine buildings as can be found in the entire county. Although he carefully culti- vates the fields and ever maintains the neat and well ordered appearance of his farm, he gives the greater part of his time and attention to his live-stock interests, making a specialty of feeding blooded stock, and to this branch of his business is due the gratifying success which is today his.
On September 19, 1875, Mr. Dohse was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Lamp, and unto them have been born eight children, as follows: P. H., of West Side, Iowa; Willie T., on the home farm; LeRoy, engaged in farming across the road from his father's place; Henrietta, the wife of A. G. Schoengahn, of Crawford county, Iowa; Alfred E., also engaged in farming ; Irene, at home; and Alma and Christian, both now deceased.
The parents hold membership in the Lutheran church and are deeply interested in the work of that organization. Mr. Dohse gives his political support to the democratic party, and while a resident of Clinton county served as a member of the school board for four years. Since becoming a citizen of Carroll county he has acted on the school board of the West Side independent school for eighteen successive years and during ten years of that time was president of the board. Not only has he been a stalwart champion of the cause of education but has cast the weight of his influence on the side of all those measures which pertain also to the material and moral development of the community. The position which he has attained among the prominent and representative business men of Carroll county is due entirely to his own well directed efforts, and the substantial success which he has won is due to his endeavor and honorable and upright dealings with his fellowmen.
MATTHEW R. BARR.
The owner of a highly productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Arcadia township, Matthew R. Barr, now living retired at Carroll, is amply fortified against the possibility of material want. He has spent nearly forty years in Carroll county and through his self-reliance and earnest effort gained standing as one of the prosperous and substantial men of this section. He is a native of Scotland, born at Paisley, April 15, 1843, and a son of Andrew and Margaret (Reid) Barr. The father was born in the little village of Houston, Scotland, and gained his education at a night school. He went to Paisley as clerk in a cotton mill, continuing with that concern until he became manager of the mill. Notwithstanding the re- sponsible position which he had secured he was attracted to the new world in 1856. He came to America with his family and took up his home in Frontenac county, Canada, at the village of Flinton, engaging in farming Vol. II-8
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in the vicinity. In 1872 he came to Iowa and located on a farm five and one-half miles southwest of Carroll. He attained a position of acknowl- edged responsibility in the agricultural community. He passed away in 1903, at the venerable age of ninety-four years. His wife died in 1848, at the age of thirty-five. Both were sincere members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Barr devoted his attention principally to his business and was never a seeker of public office but in Canada served as assessor and col- lector. There were six children in the family, four of whom grew to ma- turity : John, deceased; Matthew R., of this review; Margaret, also de- ceased; and Duncan, who now lives at Hartington, Nebraska. John Barr was the paternal grandfather. He was a stone mason and a weaver and his wife was Ann Houston. In their family were three sons and one daughter, Archibald, John, Andrew and Janet, the latter of whom married a Mr. Gilmour. Andrew Barr, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in 1763 and died in 1834, at the age of seventy-one. His wife, Jean Speirs, was born in 1759 and died in 1849, having reached the advanced age of ninety years. The maternal great-grandfather. Archibald Houston, was born in 1745 and was an architect by profession. He died in 1817, at the age of seventy-two. His wife was Janet Burr, who died in 1797 at the age of forty-one years.
Matthew R. Barr passed the first thirteen years of his life in his native land and received his education in the common schools. He came to Amer- ica with his father at the age of thirteen and was married in Canada. In 1872 he arrived in Carroll county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in 'Arcadia township, which he greatly improved by the erection of build- ings and fences and by setting out shade and ornamental trees, making it one of the pleasing features of the landscape. He prospered in his busi- ness and continued upon his farm until March, 1907, when he moved to Carroll. He now resides with his wife in a beautiful home which he erected at 715 North Crawford street. He has not entirely given up his interest in agricultural pursuits as he still owns his farm.
In November, 1866, Mr. Barr was united in marriage to Miss Mary Thompson, a daughter of Archibald Thompson, of Canada. Three chil- dren were born to this union: Agnes, now living in Canada, who married Harry Shartell and has three children, Agnes, Richard and Matthew Reid; Andrew, who is a carpenter and lives at Brunswick, Nebraska; and Mary Jane, of Toronto, Canada, who married Ward Snyder and has three chil- dren. The mother of these children having been called away, Mr. Barr was married in the fall of 1874 to Miss Mary Gardner Hunter, a daughter of William and Mary (Struthers) Hunter, and five children have come to bless this union : Elizabeth, now living three miles from Carroll, who mar- ried F. A. Myers and has one son, Vernon; Margaret, living four and one- half miles southwest of Carroll, who married Rollo Pascoe and is the mother of three children, Lois and Donald and Evon, twins; William, who is now a practicing physician at Wells, Minnesota; Matthew, at home, who married Ruby Ingram and has one daughter, Helen; and James, now en- gaged in the practice of law at Waterloo, Iowa. Mrs. Mary G. Barr was
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born in Leeds county, Canada, near Smith Falls, May 24, 1845. Her par- ents were natives of Scotland, her father having been born in Paisley and her mother in Glasgow. The family came to Iowa in 1873 and located in Arcadia township, Carroll county, the mother being called from earthly scenes in the year following at the age of sixty-two. The father died in 1878, at the age of sixty-four. There were three children in the family, Robert, James and Mary. Robert Hunter, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Barr, married Elizabeth Campbell in Scotland. They emigrated to Canada and there spent the remainder of their days. The maternal grandfather was James Struthers.
Mr. Barr of this review trained his children to habits of industry and usefulness, thus enabling them to become intelligent and progressive mem- bers of society, capable of assisting in the advancement of those with whom they are associated. He has always been a friend of education and good government and by his example has advanced the cause of peace and pros- perity. A patriotic citizen of his adopted state, he has no reason to regret selecting Carroll county as his home, for here he has found friends and also a competency.
HERMAN F. BRUGGEMAN.
The attractiveness of Iowa as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders, be- lieving that her advantages and opportunities are equal if not superior to those to be secured in other parts of the country. Herman F. Bruggeman was born in this state, the place of his nativity being Arcadia township. Carroll county, and the date of his birth March 23, 1874. His father, 'Adolphus Bruggeman, was born in Westphalia, Germany, and came to the United States when about twenty-four years of age. He landed at New Orleans, Louisiana, and remained in that city for a few months, after which he made his way up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where he resided seven years. being there engaged in the bakery and confectionary business. He next went to Cumberland county, Illinois, where he took up the occupation of farming. and at the end of eight years there spent came to Carroll county, Iowa, two years before the subject of this sketch was born. Con- tinuing in agricultural pursuits, he located on section 11, Arcadia township. on a tract of raw land, every acre of which he broke himself. He concen- trated his efforts on its further development and cultivation, and, erecting good buildings upon the place. it was not long before he had a highly im- proved property. He became very successful in his agricultural enterprise, and at the time of his death was the owner of more than four hundred acres of valuable land. His death occurred in 1909. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Stahlhut, passed away when her youngest son was but eighteen months old. In their family were six children, as follows: Angusta, who passed away in infancy; Emma J .. the wife of
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John Hofeldt, of South Dakota; Pauline, residing in Arcadia ; Frank A., who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Louisa, whose death occurred at the age of three years; and Herman F., of this review.
At the usual age the last named entered the public school at Arcadia, and after mastering the branches of learning therein taught became a pupil in the high school, from which he was graduated in due season. He began agricultural pursuits on his own account when nineteen years of age, taking up his abode on his present farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Ar- cadia township. He at once began its improvement and has since made substantial progress, greatly advancing his individual interests through his well directed efforts and his close application to business affairs. He has brought his farm under a high state of cultivation and in addition to its operation also engages in raising stock, both branches of his business prov- ing sources of substantial annual revenue.
Mr. Bruggeman was united in marriage when only twenty-one years of age, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Kaspersen. Unto them have been born six children, as follows: Clara and Arthur, yet at home; Anna, deceased; and Elsie, Esther and Elmer, also still under the parental roof. In politics Mr. Bruggeman has been a life-long republican, giving stalwart support to that party although the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He and his wife both hold membership in the German Presbyterian church, in the work of which they are helpfully in- terested, and they are both well known throughout this community, being held in the highest esteem by everyone. As the result entirely of his own efforts Mr. Bruggeman has attained a high degree of prosperity and his success is all the more honorable because of the high principles which have ever governed his life.
HENRY SCHENKELBERG.
America, whose name has become a synonym for opportunity, has long been the objective point for enterprising foreigners whose ambitious spirit has prompted them to seek broader advantages along business lines than could be offered by their native country. Among those who in young man- hood sought a home and fortune in this country is numbered Henry Schen- kelberg, who was born in the Rhine province, Germany, on the 29th of December, 1867. His parents, William and Catherine (Olbertz) Schenkel- berg, were also natives of the fatherland and there spent their entire lives. In their family were ten children, as follows: Peter, at home; P. W., re- siding in Carroll county; Henry, of this review; Gertrude, Katherine and Christ, all of Germany; Father Schenkelberg, a priest of Charter Oak, Towa : and Mat, W. P. and Bernard, who also remain in the old country.
Henry Schenkelberg spent the early period of his boyhood under the parental roof, and he remained a pupil in the parochial schools of his na- tive country until fourteen years of age. At that early period of his life
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he began providing for his own support and after working for others for about four years he left the fatherland and came to the United States, his passage being paid for by his brother P. W., who had already established his home in this country. He made his way at once to Carroll, Carroll county, Iowa, and for a time was employed as a farm hand in this locality. He was desirous, however, of engaging in business independently, and, possessing a determined spirit and resolute will, he labored earnestly and industriously, carefully saving his earnings until, in 1900, he had accumu- lated sufficient means with which to purchase his present home. This farm, located on section 25, Kniest township, consists of one hundred and sixty acres and is a well developed property, thoroughly equipped for success- fully carrying on agricultural pursuits. He is a general farmer, practices rotation of crops, has closely studied soil and climatic conditions and the cultivation of the various cereals, so that his fields yield abundant harvests in return for the care and labor bestowed upon them.
In the year 1893 Mr. Schenkelberg was united in marriage to Miss 'Anna Petershon, born in this country of German parentage, and unto them have been born nine children, all yet at home, as follows: Mary, Theresa, Catherine, Bernard, Peter, Elizabeth, Henry, Anna and Hildegard.
Although the successful conduct of his agricultural enterprise has de- manded much of Mr. Schenkelberg's attention he has, however, found time for outside interests and is now serving as secretary of the Mount Carmel branch of the Roman Catholic Protective Association of Iowa, and is gen- eral agent for the Iowa Mutual Insurance Company of Des Moines. His re- ligious faith is indicated by his membership in the Catholic church at Mount Carmel, while his political support has ever been given to the democratic party. For four years he served as township trustee and is one of the public- spirited and active citizens of this community. He is a self-made man, and as the architect of his own fortune has builded wisely and well. He recognizes that the invariable law of destiny accords success to tireless in- dustry when it is guided by sound judgment, and year after year he has carefully labored to win the substantial position which he now occupies, while the honorable methods which he has ever followed have commended him to the confidence, respect and good will of his fellowmen.
WILLIAM D. COYKENDALL.
A good farming property of one hundred and sixty acres in Union town- ship engages the attention of William D. Coykendall, who was born in Clinton county, Iowa, on the 26th of December, 1859. He is a son of Dan- iel and Elizabeth (Scott) Coykendall, both natives of the state of New York. Daniel Coykendall was a son of Joel and Betsy (Driggs) Coyken- dall, the father a native of the Empire state. The mother was a daugh- ter of Daniel Dow Driggs, a distinguished lieutenant of the war of 1812 who was wounded at Sacket Harbor. He married Minerva Steel whose
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father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Both Mr. and Mrs. Joel Coykendall attained a ripe old age, making their home in the state of New York where he followed farming. To them were born seven children: Daniel, Joseph, Jane, Melvina, Elizabeth, Cyrus and Morris, three of whom, the first and the last two were volunteers in the Civil war. Daniel Coyken- dall was reared to manhood in the state of his birth, from whence he moved to Illinois, locating in the vicinity of Canton, Fulton county, where he en- gaged in farming. From there he removed to Iowa about 1857, settling in Clinton county, where he was residing at the breaking out of the war. He enlisted as a private in Company D, Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and went to the front. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Scott Coykendall, was a daughter of Nathan Scott, in whose family were eleven children: William, George, Nathan B., Emily and Elizabeth, while the others died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Coykendall were born eight children, five of whom attained maturity : Nathan, who is a resident of Harper, Kansas; Alice, the deceased wife of A. E. White; Edwin, who is living in Alexandria, Minne- sota ; William D., our subject ; and Flora, the wife of S. J. Alger. The mother passed away in 1874, at the age of forty-nine years, following which the father made his home with his son William D. and his daughter, Mrs. Alger, until his demise, which occurred at the age of eighty-six years, on the IIth of December, 1910.
The early years in the life of William D. Coykendall were spent on the homestead where he was born in Clinton county, whose district schools provided him with an education. As the mother passed away when he was only fourteen years old, he knew little of home life during his youth, very soon thereafter going to work by the month as a farm hand. 'After he had acquired the capital and experience to enable him to begin to work for him- self, he rented some land in Clinton county, which he cultivated for two years. In 1883 he came to Carroll county, locating within a mile of his present homestead. He first bought fifty-three acres which he operated for two years with such success that he was able to add to his tract another fif- ty-three acres. At the present time he owns one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he has placed a number of improvements.
On the 19th of October, 1881, Mr. Coykendall was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Bottomly, a daughter of John and Emma (Gaddis) Bot- tomly. Mrs. Coykendall was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and is of English extraction, her parents having emigrated from the mother coun- try in childhood. They were married in Massachusetts, whence they mi- grated to Martin county, Minnesota, where they bought stock and intended to take up a claim, but located in Illinois instead. Mr. Bottomly passed away in Missouri in 1897, at the age of about seventy-one years, while the demise of his wife occurred in Kansas City in 1886, after she had passed the fifty-eighth anniversary of her birth. The paternal grandfather, John Bottomly, who was a farmer in England, took for his wife Sarah Tetlow, and to them were born thirteen children. Those who attained maturity were as follows: John, Seth, Robert, James, Mary, Elizabeth and Hannah. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Gaddis, was a native of Scotland, as the name
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would suggest, his vocation being that of a sailor. He married Mary Gill and to them were also born thirteen children, eleven of whom reached ma- turity, namely : William, Joseph, James, Hannah, Mary, Isabel, Eleanor, Margaret, Emma, Jane and Sarah. Mr. Gaddis passed away in Providence, Rhode Island, but his wife, who survived him twenty-three years, was liv- ing in Hanover, Illinois, at the time of her demise. Mr. and Mrs. John Bottomly were the parents of seven children, four of whom lived to ma- turity : James ; Sarah J., now Mrs. Coykendall; John C. and Mary Emma.
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