USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 16
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In 1909 Mr. Neu retired from active business but after a few months' rest visited the old scenes in Europe. His health, however, had become impaired and he returned to Iowa and on September 10, 1910, was called from earthly scenes at his daughter's house at Carroll. On the day of the funeral all business houses in Templeton closed in recognition of his worth. 'At the time of his death he was vice president of the Farmers Savings Bank of Templeton and president of the school board. Politically, he was allied with the republican party and although he was never a seeker of office he served one term with great acceptance to the people as mayor of Templeton. Starting in a strange country as a poor boy he became one of the foremost men in one of the leading counties of Iowa, and left a record to which his family and friends may ever point with pride. Mrs. Neu is living and makes her home at Templeton. She is a member of the Cath- olic church as was her husband. He always gave great credit to his wife for his advancement, ascribing his success very largely to her constant en- couragement and support.
WILLIAM F. CARPENTER.
William F. Carpenter, cashier of the Bank of Manning, was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, on the 14th of 'August, 1856, and is a son of William and Amanda M. (Holman) Carpenter, the father a native of Gloversville, New York, and the mother of Lancaster, Massachusetts. The father, who was a Baptist minister, came west in the early days, locating in Iowa, and preached at Greenfield, Afton and later Corydon. He re- tired from the ministry several years prior to his death and he and Mrs. Carpenter settled in Lake City, where they both passed away. They were
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the parents of two children : William F., who heads this sketch, and Helen M., the wife of Henry W. Crawford, of Lake City, Iowa.
The secondary education of William F. Carpenter was acquired in an academy in Franklin, New York, after the completion of which he began his career as a wage earner. His first position was a clerkship in a store in Sloansville, New York, which he retained for four years. In 1878 he accompanied his father to Iowa and they located on a farm in the vicinity of Orient, Adair county, which they cultivated for three years. In 1881 he went to Afton, Union county, where he held a position as bookkeeper for a year. On the 7th of November, 1882, he came to Manning to take the position of assistant cashier in the bank with Mr. Dutton, who later sold to Mr. Sutherland. He retained this position for three years, but then engaged in the real-estate and loan business with Mr. Bennett with whom he was associated for a year. They dissolved the partnership at the end of that time, Mr. Carpenter continuing alone for about two years thereafter. He subsequently became cashier in the Bank of Manning, withdrawing from this position when appointed postmaster of Manning, in which capacity he served for two and a half years. Resigning he re- moved to Des Moines where he was interested in a flour mill for a time. Returning to Manning he entered the service of Mr. Bennett as cashier of the German Savings Bank, where he remained until 1901 when he ac- cepted the same position in the Bank of Manning, with which institution he continues to be identified.
Sloansville, New York, was the scene of the marriage of Mr. Carpenter and Miss E. Adella Crandall, a daughter of James H. Crandall, and one daughter, 'Anita M., who is still at home, was born to them. Mrs. Car- penter is now deceased and after her demise Mr. Carpenter was united to his present wife, formerly Miss Blanche Patton, a daughter of U. L. Pat- ton, a well known resident of Manning.
Fraternally Mr. Carpenter is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge of Manning and the chapter at Carroll and he also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star. During the period of his residence here he has held a number of official positions, among them being that of postmaster, mayor and justice of the peace, in which capaci- ties he served efficiently.
MOSES M. CULVER.
Moses M. Culver, who is now living retired in Glidden, was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 15th of August, 1835, and is a son of Moses and Sarah (Merritt) Culver. The father was also a native of Canada, his natal day being the 25th of December, 1802. He was a son of 'Aaron Culver, a native of New Jersey, from which state he removed, in company with four of his brothers, to Ontario, Canada, where the brothers married four sisters and established quite a colony. Aaron Culver built and oper-
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M. M. CULVER
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ated the first grist mill in Ontario, continuing to be identified with this business until he passed away at the venerable age of eight-four years. He was the father of six children: David, Martha, Timothy, Moses, George and Aaron, all of whom are deceased.
Moses Culver was reared in his native town, remaining a member of the paternal household until he had attained his manhood at which time he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Merritt, also of Ontario, and a daughter of Isaac Merritt. Subsequently Mr. Culver entered his father's mill, where he continued to work for fourteen years. At the expiration of that period he developed lung trouble and was compelled to withdraw from business, his demise occurring in 1835. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Culver, in order of birth as follows: Daniel, who was born on the 2d of March, 1821, died on the 12th of April, 1821; Dudley, born on the Ioth of February, 1822, died on the 23d of July, 1823; Levi, born on the 23d of September, 1823, died on the 6th of December, 1836; Loder, who was born on the 4th of November, 1825, died in 1900; Jane, born on the 29th of October, 1827, died on the 30th of May, 1841; Mary, born on the 19th of September, 1829, died in 1868; William, born on the 3d of Sep- tember, 1831, died on the 19th of March, 1841; Nancy, born on the 2d of November, 1833, died in 1896; and Moses our subject. In 1842 Mrs. Cul- ver was married to the Rev. William Appleford and they became the par- ents of two children: Ruth, who married Belford Slater of Ogle county, Illinois, and has four children ; and Jane, who is deceased.
Moses Culver was reared at home acquiring his education in the com- mon schools of Canada. At the age of fifteen years he came to Illinois. where he worked by the day until he had acquired the means to continue his studies and then entered the Mount Morris Seminary, where he was a student for a few terms, teaching in the meantime. In 1860, subsequent to his marriage, he removed to a farm of eighty acres which he had pur- chased in Carroll county, Illinois. He remained there engaging in general farming until 1866 when he sold his farm and removed to Nebraska. 'At that time the capitol was located at Omaha, but there was no certainty of its being the permanent seat of the state government, so Mr. Culver decided to locate at Lincoln. He purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, about twenty-five of which he planted for a grove and in 1874, when the legislature was seeking a farm upon which to establish the state experi- mental station, it decided upon Mr. Culver's property, paying him fifty-five dollars per acre for his land, which at that time was considered to be an excessive price.
On October 11, 1860, Mr. Culver was united in marriage to Miss Kath- erine Lawrence, a daughter of John and Lydia (Johnson) Lawrence, the father a native of England, from which country he emigrated when a youth, and the mother of Canada. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Culver: Stella, who married the Rev. S. W. Lauck of Western Can- ada and has three children, Lorin, who is married and has one boy ; Vera ; and Edith, who is at home; John, also of Western Canada, who married Miss Addie Stevens and has four boys, Merritt, Eugene, Robert and Vol. II-9
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Lewis; and F. G., who is living in Glidden and married Miss Ella Wheeler and has four children, Emery, Jessie, Stella and Margaret. Mrs. Culver passed away in 1868, while they were living in Lincoln, Nebraska, in which city she is buried.
Mr. Culver's eldest son, John, has a very good start in life for a young man. He used to be a draftsman in the employ of the McCormick Har- vester Company, which firm sent him to Paris in charge of their exhibit in 1900, but his health failed and he was compelled to seek outdoor em- ployment and went to Western Canada, where he is farming.
On February 21, 1870, Mr. Culver was again married, his second wife being Miss Rachel Payne, a daughter of Henry and Jane (Boak) Payne, natives of West Virginia and the parents of eight children. One child, a boy, who died in infancy, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Culver. In 1875 they removed to Colorado where they resided for a year, when they returned to Iowa and settled in Glidden where he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land. They have resided here now for thirty-five years continuously, being among the old settlers of the town.
Mr. and Mrs. Culver do not affiliate with any particular church but give their support to all. In fact they are in full accord with anything that will tend to advance the moral worth of county, state and nation. In politics Mr. Culver is a republican but he has never been an office seeker. Both he and his wife are highly regarded in the town where they have lived for so many years, during which time they have noted the rapid progress and development of Carroll county, which has become one of the agricultural centers of the state.
EDWIN F. OLMSTEAD.
In a review of the business men of Carroll, proper mention should be made of Edwin F. Olmstead, a well known tinner and plumber who pos- sesses the characteristics of industry and perseverance which lead to ac- knowledged success. He was born in Calhoun county, Iowa, August 18, 1873, a son of William and Clara (Robbins) Olmstead, both of whom were natives of Illinois. The father was reared on a farm in his native state and after reaching maturity came to Lake City, Iowa. Subsequently he removed to Carroll county and lived at Arcadia and Glidden. In 1875 he took up his residence at Carroll and ran a livery barn for five years. He then removed to Sheridan township and engaged in farming, but in 1887 returned to Lake City and went into the real-estate business, also handling organs and pianos. His wife now resides at Carroll. Edwin Olmstead, the paternal grandfather, was a native of New York and a settler of McHenry county, Illinois. There were four children in his family, Viseny, William, Esther and Silas. The maternal grandfather was John C. Robbins. He engaged for a number of years in stock-buying. He was married three times and has outlived all of his wives. Mrs. Clara
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Olmstead, the mother of our subject, was the only child of John C. and Jane Robbins. William and Clara Olmstead were the parents of eight children, namely: Emma, now Mrs. H. A. Scott, of Rockwell City, Iowa; Edwin F., the subject of this review; Lulu, the wife of C. C. Struck, of Carroll; Ray, deceased; Ella, the wife of G. H. Townsend, of Carroll; Ezra P. Olmstead of Valley Junction, lowa; and Clara and Grace, both of whom are living in Carroll.
Edward F. Olmstead was reared in Calhoun and Carroll counties, liv- ing most of the time in town. He secured good advantages of education in the public schools and in October, 1889, began learning the tinner's trade with which he has ever since been identified. On the 7th of July, 1910, he opened an establishment of his own on Main street in Carroll and is meeting with a fair share of success in his undertaking.
On the Ist day of June, 1895, Mr. Olmstead was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Metzger, a daughter of Charles C. and Carrie (Richter) Metzger. One son, Charles E., has been born of this union. Mrs. Olm- stead was born at Grand Junction, Iowa. Her father was born in Ger- many and the mother in New York state. He came to America at the age of sixteen and took up his abode in eastern Iowa, subsequently becom- ing one of the early settlers of Grand Junction, where he died in 1905 at the age of sixty-five years. His wife is still living in Grand Junction. In their family were eight children, William F., Charles, Sarah, Frank, Theresa, Guy, Harry and Roy.
Mr. Olmstead began at his trade more than twenty years ago and by diligence and enterprise acquired the capital necessary to make an inde- pendent start as a tinner and plumber. He understands his trade in every detail and as he conscientiously aims to give satisfaction to his patrons, has attained a deserved reputation for reliability. In politics he adheres to the republican party.
JOHN FRANK MACKE.
John Frank Macke, for many years successfully engaged in farming and now living retired at Carroll, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 4, 1848. He is a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Albis) Macke, both of whom were natives of Oldenburg, Germany. The father served for three years in the German army after arriving at maturity and in 1843 emigrated to America, making his home for a short time at Cincinnati. Later he removed to Franklin county, Indiana, and engaged in farming. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years and passed away in 1907. His wife died forty-eight years previously, in 1859. They were both devout members of the Catholic church. The grandparents on the paternal side were Bernard and Agnes Macke. He was a carpenter and there were three children in their family-Bernard, 'Agnes and Mary. The maternal grandfather was Fred Albis, a farmer of Germany. Of his children three
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came to America-Fred, Mary and Bernardina. Five children were born to Bernard and Elizabeth Macke, namely: John Frank, of this review; Mary, wife of Herman Harmeier of Hayman, Indiana; Bernardina, wife of Bernard Harmeier of Cincinnati, Ohio; Elizabeth, who became the wife of John Grundemeier and is now deceased ; and Bernard, also deceased.
John Frank Macke removed with his parents when he was a lad of seven years to Franklin county, Indiana. He began working for himself at the age of eleven, thus becoming early acquainted with hard labor. After reaching manhood he went to Stearns county, Minnesota, and worked at Melrose two years, coming to Carroll county, Iowa, a year later, where he rented land. Subsequently he purchased eighty acres in Eden town- ship, which he improved and after a few years acquired eighty acres ad- joining, thus making a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which under his management became highly productive. He lived for several years at Templeton but since 1907 has made his home at Carroll.
January 27, 1871, in Minnesota, Mr. Macke was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ann Boos, daughter of John and Mary (Kreier) Boos, and to this union fifteen children were born, eight of whom are now living, namely : Elizabeth of Templeton, who married John Vollmer and they have five children-Ellen, Mabel. Etta, Leola and Julia ; Michael, a farmer of Eden township, who married Anna Stein and they have four children- Chloris, Julia, Edwin and Lawrence; Anna of Sioux City, Iowa, who mar- ried John Foster and they have seven children-Arthur, Joseph, Herbert, Hazel, Marie, Harold and Anna; Mary of Templeton, who married Frank Vollmer and they have eleven children-Bertha, Florence, Maggie, Joseph, Michael, Loretta, Marie, Clara, Isabel, Leo and Charles; Joseph, a farmer near Templeton, who married Maggie Trecker and they have four chil- dren-Frank, Joseph, Michael and Leo; John, who married Rose Broder- ick and is now managing a store in Templeton for his father; William, who assists his brother in the store; and Charles, who is connected with a furniture store in Carroll. The mother of these children passed away May 28, 1893, having then arrived at the age of forty years. She was a native of Utica, New York, and her parents were natives of Germany. They came to Carroll county in 1876 and located in Eden township. The father is deceased but the mother is now living in Carroll and has arrived at the age of eighty-seven years. On the 22d day of February, 1897, Mr. Macke was married to Mrs. Margaret Deitring, who was born at Du- buque, Iowa, widow of Bernhard Deitring and daughter of Joseph and Johanna (Hanisch) Buchheit. The father of Mrs. Macke was a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and the mother of Westphalia, Germany. They came to this country and settled at Dubuque, where the mother died No- vember 4, 1904, being then sixty-two years of age. The father is now liv- ing in Sioux City, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Macke are members of the Catholic church and sincere believers in its teachings. He is identified with the Roman Catholic Mu- tual Protective Society, and politically, gives his support to the demo- cratic party. He has not sought public office, but served most acceptably
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for six years as township trustee and for fourteen years as roadmaster. He has led an active and useful life and now enjoys in a large degree the regard of his associates and of all with whom he comes into contact.
WILBUR H. PORTER.
Among the native sons of Illinois who are well established in Iowa is Wilbur H. Porter, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Glidden and also now filling the office of mayor of the town. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, June 15, 1877, a son of Erwin and Amanda E. (Sel- lers) Porter, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was reared in the Buckeye state and after arriving at manhood moved to La Salle county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. Later he came with his family to Carroll county, and established his home upon three hundred and sixty acres of land in Glidden township, which he improved and provided with most of the modern conveniences. Here he lived until 1900, when he took up his residence in Glidden, but after three years he and his wife removed to Guthrie, Oklahoma, where they now reside. They are both members of the Presbyterian church. In their family were eight children: Anna, the wife of George P. Halsted, of Guthrie, Oklahoma; Alice I., who died at the age of eighteen years; Wilbur H., of this review ; Clifford R. and Roy E., both of whom are of Guthrie; Zella E., who is engaged in teaching in the public schools of Guthrie; Earle S., a graduate of the University of Oklahoma; and one who died in infancy. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Robert Porter, a native of Ohio and by occupation a farmer. There were eight children in his family, Mary, Maggie, David, Cyrus, Mat- tie, William, Amanda and Erwin. The maternal grandfather was also a native of Ohio and in his family were three children, William, Amanda and Alice.
Wilbur H. Porter came from La Salle county. Illinois, to Iowa with his parents at the age of thirteen and has ever since made Carroll county his home. He was reared on his father's farm and after securing his prelim- inary education in the public schools of Glidden went to Dixon, Illinois. and took a course at the Dixon Business College, which proved of great practical benefit to him in after years. After returning home he engaged as clerk in grocery stores for several years until the fall of 1901. when he en- tered the First National Bank as bookkeeper. 'After being connected with this institution for eighteen months he was appointed assistant cashier, which position he has filled to the general satisfaction of the officers and patrons of the bank. He is the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land, which is located near Elgin, in Morton county. North Dakota, and in business affairs has shown a judgment that has produced very satis- factory returns.
On the 15th of June. 1904. Mr. Porter was married to Miss Jennie Walter, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Henry A. and Alice
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(Adams) Walter. The parents were also born in the Keystone state but came to Glidden, Iowa, about 1885, where they took up their permanent residence. The father was accidentally killed by the cars at Glidden on the 7th of March, 1911. He had arrived at the age of seventy-two years, three months and four days. The mother still lives at the old homestead in Glidden. There were five children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Walter, Harry, Jennie, Alice G., Charles C. and Effie. Henry A. Walter was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Felmley, and to this union two children were born: Emma, who is the wife of C. M. Fout, of Wor- land, Missouri; and Annie, who married Harvey Keubler and lives near Lanesboro, Iowa. Mr. Walter was a man of sturdy character and a brave and loyal citizen. He served as a private in the Civil war in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
Mr. Porter and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the platforms and candidates of the republican party. He served as recorder of Glid- den for six years. He was elected mayor in 1910 and is now in the sec- ond term in that office. Possessing an attractive address and also the ability to make friends, he has a large circle of acquaintances in Carroll county and is recognized as one of the substantial and progressive men of the county, for whom the future is bright with promise.
SAMUEL DAVIS HENRY.
Samuel Davis Henry, editor and proprietor of the Coon Rapids Enter- prise and also for many years postmaster of Coon Rapids, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, October 10, 1854. He is a son of John D. and Mary (Cleaver) Henry, both of whom were born in Kentucky. The father was a carpenter by trade but devoted his attention during the principal part of his life to farming. He took up his residence in Shelby county, Indiana, but in 1868 removed to Ottawa county, Kansas, where he en- gaged in agriculture. In 1884 he retired from active labor, making his home at Coon Rapids. He is now eighty-five years of age. His wife died in 1863, at the age of thirty-five. She was a Quaker but he is a pronounced believer in Spiritualism. At the time of the Civil war he served for one year in the Union army. There were six children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Henry, three of whom grew to maturity, namely: Almira, who married George Casson and is now deceased; Samuel Davis, of this re- view; and Lyman, who is publisher of the Daily Herald of Charles City, Iowa. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Samuel Henry. In his family were two sons and a daughter, the names of the sons being John D. and James. The grandfather on the maternal side was a wagon maker and a general mechanic. He and his wife lived to be well advanced in years and both of them died in Indiana.
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Mr. Henry of this review was fourteen years of age when he removed with his parents to Kansas and in the common schools of the Sunflower state received his preliminary educational training. His early education, however, has been supplemented by extensive reading and by observation, inquiry and contact with the world, so that today he is one of the best in- formed men on many subjects to be found in this part of the state. In 1874 he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he followed the flour miller's trade. In 1883 he became associated with his brother, Lyman, and they purchased the Coon Rapids Enterprise. In 1884 he acquired the interest of his brother in the paper and has since conducted it in his own name. The paper is published weekly and has a general circulation in the county, being one of the well established republican organs of Iowa. Mr. Henry has prospered financially and is the owner of the Coon Rapids Electric Light Plant and the Coon Rapids Garage. He is also a stockholder in the Bank of Coon Rapids.
On the 3d of October, 1876, Mr. Henry was married to Miss Mary E. Stimson, who was born at Hartford, Iowa, and is a daughter of William R. Stimson. The parents were both natives of Ohio and settled at Hart- ford, this state. The father served in the Civil war for three years, being wounded while discharging his duties as a defender of the Union. He died in Ohio but the mother is still living and makes her home at Dayton, Ohio. In politics Mr. Henry is a stalwart republican and has given his earnest adherence to that party ever since lie cast his first ballot. He was appointed postmaster of Coon Rapids by President Mckinley in 1897 and was reappointed by President Roosevelt, serving as postmaster until May 20, 1911, almost fourteen years. He has discharged the responsibilities of the office in a manner that has met the hearty approval of the officials at Washington and of the people of Coon Rapids. He lost his wife by death in 1898, and in June, 1911, was married to Miss Josephine C. Sever at Des Moines, Iowa.
GEORGE E. RUSSELL.
One of the highly successful farmers of Carroll county is George E. Russell, who is now living retired at Carroll in the enjoyment of ease which he earned by many years of highly directed effort. He comes of good New England ancestry and was born in the town of Cornville, Som- erset county, Maine, June 12, 1843, son of Alden and Hanna (Hilton) Russell, both of whom were natives of the Pine Tree state. The father was a farmer and died in Skowhegan, Maine, in 1907 at the age of eighty- four years, his wife having passed away at the age of seventy-two. He was for many years a member of the state militia and he and his wife were identified with the Methodist church. Of their family five attained maturity, namely : George E., of this review; Horace B., who still makes his home at Cornville, Maine ; Clara A., wife of Frank Bell of Los Angeles,
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