USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 19
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and discharged his duties so acceptably that he was elected mayor of the town. This position he resigned when he removed to Carroll. He de- serves much credit for the record he has made, advancing through his own efforts from a humble position until he has become one of the prominent men of this section.
JOHN W. SMITH.
A spirit of self-reliance and an unalterable determination to accomplish an honorable purpose have been controlling elements in the life of John W. Smith, cashier of the Bank of Coon Rapids. He belongs to the class of men who win recognition in any line of business or in any profession on which they concentrate their energies-a class that leads in city, state or nation and is largely responsible for the prosperity the country now enjoys.
Mr. Smith was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, January 6, 1872, a son of Richard and Christina (Head) Smith, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was reared on a farm and then learned the harness- making and saddlery trade, but after working at his trade a few years re- turned to farming as his vocation. He and his wife came to Poweshiek county, Iowa, and in 1883 moved to Audubon county, ten years later tak- ing up their residence at Indianola where they are now living retired. They are both earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In their family were eleven children, the following of whom grew to maturity, namely : Edgar A., a resident of Ackworth, Iowa ; Oran J., of Indianola ; Richard L., of Ladora ; Elva C., who married Barton Morrison, of Girard, Kansas; William H., of Marshfield, Oregon; John W., of Coon Rapids, Iowa; and Charles C., of Panora.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Wesley Smith, was the head of a family of nine children, Henry, John, Acquilla, Cleaton, Wesley, Rich- ard, Russell, Elijah and Catharine. The maternal grandfather was Will- iam Head, a native of Ohio and by occupation a farmer. He and his wife came to Poweshiek county, Iowa, and subsequently moved to Greene county, settling at Jefferson where they spent the remainder of their days. Of their children seven grew to maturity, Joseph, Christina, Mahlon, Albert, Caleb, Sarah and Aaron.
John W. Smith made his home in Poweshiek county until he was eleven years of age and there received his preliminary school training. He re- moved with his parents to Audubon county and continued his attendance at the public schools, also becoming a student at Simpson College where he remained two years. He taught school in the country several terms and for one year filled the position of bookkeeper in the State Savings Bank of which Abraham Dixon was proprietor. After retiring from this position he served for eighteen months as bookkeeper and cashier under Jolın Lee in the Valley Bank. In February, 1902, he associated with War- ren Garst in organizing the Bank of Coon Rapids of which he has ever
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since been cashier. The bank has been ably conducted and is recognized as one of the substantial financial concerns of the county.
On the 25th of December, 1898, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Emma Zavitz, a native of Cedar county, Iowa, and a daughter of Abraham and Catharine (Camberling) Zavitz. To this union three chil- dren have been born, Forrest, Gerald and Kathryn. The father of Mrs. Smith was born in Canada and the mother in Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa and settled in Cedar county. Mr. Zavitz was a soldier in the Civil war and died in 1892 from the effects of a gunshot wound which he re- ceived in the arm many years before while gallantly fighting for his coun- try. His widow still survives and lives with her daughter in Coon Rapids. They had seven children all of whom are living, Abraham, Harriet, Ena, Ida, John, Emma and Edward.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Coon Rapids Methodist Epis- copal church and active workers in its behalf. He belongs to Charity Lodge, No. 187, A. F. & A. M., and also to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is in hearty sympathy with the principles and candidates of the republican party. He takes a great interest in the educa- tion of the young and for three years past has served as president of the school board, having also filled the office of chief of the fire department for two years. By the faithful discharge of every responsibility he has gained the confidence of the people of Coon Rapids and the surrounding region and is numbered among the most substantial and progressive citizens of the county.
JOHN B. BAEUMLER.
John B. Baeumler, the pastor of St. Augustine's Roman Catholic church of Halbur, established that parish in June, 1901, and has been a potent factor in its wonderful growth during the intervening ten years. His birth occurred in Bavaria, Germany, on the 21st of August, 1867, his par- ents being John and Margaret (Boyer) Baeumler. The father, born and reared in the province of Brevania, was a farmer by occupation and passed away when our subject was but three years of age. The mother of Father Baeumler still survives at the age of seventy-five years and makes her home in Germany. Her second husband was M. Hagler, who is also deceased.
John B. Baeumler remained under the parental roof until eleven years of age. He spent seven years in the parochial schools and when a youth of thirteen began earning his own livelihood. In 1882, when fourteen years of age, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating at St. Lucas, Fayette county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for six years. Subsequently he spent two years as a student in St. Francis Seminary near Milwaukee and then entered St. Lawrence College at Mount Calvary, Wisconsin, from which institution he was graduated with honors. During the following two years he studied philosophy in St. Joseph's College at
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Dubuque, Iowa, and then returned to St. Francis Seminary for a three- years course in theology. In June, 1897, he was ordained to the priest- hood and given an assistant pastorate in the Holy Ghost church of Du- buque, Iowa. under Rev. Father Feuerstein. At the end of four months he went to Le Mars, Iowa as assistant pastor, serving in that capacity for two years and eight months. In June, 1901, he came to Halbur, Iowa, and be- gan the work of establishing St. Augustine's parish. He opened the schools and parsonage in December, 1901, and the fine new church in 1904. The parish was organized with fifty-two families and today has eighty-one, while eighty-five children are in attendance at the schools. Upon arriving here Father Baeumler immediately undertook the task of building a church and schools. The Halbur parish was taken from the Roselle parish (a division being made by Archbishop Keane of Dubuque) and Bishop Gar- rigan of Sioux City dedicated the new church. The schools were erected at a cost of seven thousand dollars and the church building cost thirteen thousand nine hundred dollars, while the following expenditures were made for church furnishings: decorations, one thousand two hundred dollars; altars, seventeen hundred dollars; pews, nine hundred dollars; furnaces, four hundred and fifty dollars; bells, four hundred and fifty dollars; vest- ments, banners, statues, etc., twenty-one hundred dollars. The parsonage was constructed at a cost of thirty-three hundred and fifty dollars. On first coming here and with absolutely no funds Father Baeumler negotiated for eight acres of land and began to build. Ten years later the entire in- debtedness on the property and buildings had been discharged. Father Baeumler gave his personal attention to the work, overseeing all of the building. He has labored earnestly and zealously to do the work assigned him by his church and in a single decade has performed a mighty task. The schools are under the charge of three Franciscan Sisters of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Father Baeumler is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society of Iowa.
JOSEPH C. SCHWALLER.
After spending his entire life in Iowa Joseph C. Schwaller of Carroll is especially interested in this state and has proven one of its worthy and progressive citizens. He was born on a farm near Gutenberg, Clayton county, Iowa, July 21, 1855, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Weber) Schwaller, the former of whom was born in Switzerland and the latter in Germany. The father came to America in 1862 and was naturalized as a citizen as soon as he could secure the papers. He settled in Clayton county, Iowa, starting with forty acres of land, to which he added as his resources increased until he acquired fifty-eight acres. 'After improving his farm and thus largely enhancing its value he disposed of it and in 1874 bought one hundred and sixty acres in Roselle township. Carroll county. Subse- quently he purchased forty acres adjoining, thus becoming the owner of one
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of the beautiful farms of the township. He and his wife are now living in Carroll with the subject of this review. They are both sincere members of the Catholic church. Of seven children in their family five grew to maturity, namely: Joseph C .; William, deceased; August, of Fordyce, Nebraska; Henry, who now lives upon the old homestead; and Elizabeth, of Carroll. The grandparents on the paternal side both died in Switzer- land, but the grandparents on the maternal side came to America. They lived for a number of years in Ohio, but finally located in Clayton county, Iowa, where they spent their declining years. There were five children in their family.
Joseph C. Schwaller was educated in the district and parochial schools and the Gutenburg High School. He lived in Clayton county until nineteen years of age and then came to Carroll county with the other members of the family. He taught school a number of terms but was not entirely sat- isfied with this vocation and accordingly learned the watchmaker and jeweler's trade, which he has ever since followed. In 1902 he built a beau- tiful residence at No. 520 South Clark street in Carroll, into which he moved in December of the same year. He maintains his place of business in his private home. He came into possession of the old homestead which he sold to his brother Henry, but has not entirely relinquished his agricul- tural interests, as he owns three hundred and twenty acres of land east of Lethbridge in Alberta province, Canada. For twenty years or more he filled the position of secretary of the Mutual Fire and Tornado Insurance Company of Carroll county.
Mr. Schwaller still enjoys single blessedness but has never taken kindly to hotel life and appears well satisfied with his own home, which is sup- plied with every comfort and convenience that could be desired. He is a member of the German Catholic church and politically is in sympathy with the democratic party. He is a quiet, unassuming man, and is highly respected on account of his irreproachable character. Although his place of business is in the extreme southern part of the city he receives more work in watch repairing than he can readily perform.
DAVID F. EVERTS.
A well known citizen of Glidden, who for nearly twenty years has been officially connected with the banking interests of the town, is David F. Everts, president of the Farmers Bank. He was born in Hinsdale, Cat- taraugus county, New York, on the 25th of September, 1846, and is a son of Charles and Angeline (Kemory) Everts. The father was a native of Plainfield, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, born in the 20th of Novem- ber, 1818, and the mother of Tompkins county, New York, her natal day being the 18th of August, 1823. In their family were four sons and three daughters, in order of birth as follows: John N., Sarah E., David F., Clara E., Peter, Charles W. and Mary E.
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David F. Everts was reared at home, acquiring his education in the public schools of his native town. Being desirous of trying life in the west and feeling confident that it afforded better opportunities for young men, he left the parental roof at the age of eighteen years and came to Iowa, locating in Scott county on the 23d of September, 1864. On the 25th of June, 1873. he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 29, Richland township. Carroll county, which he immediately began to culti- vate. He met with such excellent success in his efforts in this direction, that he was later able to add another eighty acres to his holdings. Mr. Everts continues to be engaged in farming but is especially interested in stock-raising, giving a great deal of attention to thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. In 1892 he was elected director of the First National Bank of Glidden, which position he resigned at the ex- piration of eight years, when he became president of the Farmers Bank of Glidden. He has ever since been the head of the latter institution, dur- ing which time he has fully demonstrated his efficiency in that direction.
On the 14th of December, 1873. Mr. Everts was united in marriage to Miss Edith Hickson, who was born in Scott county, lowa, on the 17th of May, 1852. Unto them have been born two sons and three daughters : Thomas W .; Joseph H .; Hattie E., the wife of George Blinn; Hannah L., who married Thomas Ribble; and Edith 'A., the wife of Charles Corbin.
In matters of citizenship Mr. Everts is public-spirited and progressive. He takes an active and helpful interest in local politics and served for six years as treasurer of Richland township and he has also been a school di- rector. Reliable and trustworthy, he is well adapted to the position he is now filling, as the stability of any financial institution depends upon the confidence of the public in its officers.
TAYLOR GUY.
A native of Massachusetts, Taylor Guy, now living retired at Carroll, was early attracted to Iowa and in this state he has made an excellent record, attaining years ago a handsome competence. He was born in War- ren. Worcester county. Massachusetts, December 5. 1853. a son of John and Susan (Taylor) Guy, record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He lived in Massachusetts until twelve years of age and in Clinton county, Iowa, for five years, then coming to Carroll county where he has since principally made his home. He was reared under his father's roof and gained his early education in the district schools. He continued at home and assisted his father until he arrived at manhood and then began farm- ing upon his own account on land which he rented from his father. After two or three years he purchased eighty acres in Eden township which he greatly improved, so that it became one of the most valuable farms of the size in this section. In the fall of 1895 he moved to Atlantic, Cass county, Iowa, and lived retired several years, but since 1900 has made his home at
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Carroll. He built a beautiful residence at No. 910 North Main street, which is provided with modern improvements and is one of the attractive homes of the city. As a business man he was highly successful and ac- cumulated four hundred and forty acres of land, part of which he sold off, being now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres in this county.
On the Ist day of January, 1877, Mr. Guy was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Perry, a daughter of John and Linda Perry. She was called away eleven months later and on the Ist of June, 1881, Mr. Guy was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Alice Campbell, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, a daughter of Abel and Eliza (Findley) Campbell, both natives of Pennsylvania. They removed to La Salle county, Illinois, about 1878 and came to Carroll county, settling at Templeton, where the father died at the age of eighty-four years. The mother died at Atlantic, at the age of eighty-two and her body now reposes beside that of her husband in the cemetery at Templeton. There were eleven children in their family those beside Alice being: Caleb; Walker, who lost his life in the Civil war; William, now living at Missouri Valley, Iowa; Hamilton, of Anita, Iowa; Mary, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Jennie, of Gerry, Oklahoma; John, of Streator, Illinois; Albert, who lives in Kansas; Morgan, of South Dakota ; and Newton C., of Humboldt, Nebraska. Mrs. Alice Guy, the second wife of our subject, died June 30, 1910, having then arrived at the age of fifty-two years. She was a woman of many admirable traits of character, who was greatly admired by a wide circle of friends in this community. George Guy and his family make their home with Mr. Guy, the subject of this review. The brother, George, married Alveretta Hart, a daughter of J. W. and Rebecca (Dierduff) Hart, and they have two children, John Clifford and Ione.
Mr. Guy of this review votes in support of the candidates and princi- ples of the republican party, but has never been an office seeker, as his in- terest has been centered in his business. He became a thorough farmer and displayed an ability in the various branches of agriculture and stock-rais- ing that yielded liberal returns. On account of the good qualities he has shown in the various relations of life he has many friends in Carroll and Carroll county.
JAMES A. FLANSBURG.
The career of James A. Flansburg, freight and ticket agent of the Chi- cago & Northwestern Railway at Glidden, presents an interesting illustra- tion of the effect of well applied industry in the accomplishment of a wor- thy object in life. He has held the position he now fills since 1893 and is known as one of the thoroughly capable agents of the Northwestern Rail- way system. He was born in Albany, New York, May 22, 1861, being a son of Walter and Mary (Furman) Flansburg, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father was reared near 'Albany, his father being
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one of the pioneers of that section. Walter Flansburg removed to Illinois in 1846 with his brother James and purchased government land in Stephen- son county, two miles from Freeport. On account of illness he sold out and returned to New York, leaving his brother in Illinois. He engaged in farming in New York state and also at the shoemaker's trade until 1866, when he came with his family to Iowa and took up his home in Cedar county, two miles north of Clarence, where he acquired one hundred and sixty acres of good land. He died upon his farm in 1907, at the age of eighty-six, his wife passing away at the age of eighty-four years. They were both members of the Methodist church. They had twelve children, eleven sons and one daughter. The sister was the firstborn and died at the age of five years. The other members of the family were: Wesley, who died at the age of twenty-eight; Oscar, who died at the age of forty- two; Orlando, now living at Clarence; Robert J., of Yale, Iowa; James A., subject of this review; Elmer, of Mechanicsville, Iowa; Hiram F., of Springville, Iowa ; Garrett V., of Minnesota; Walter, of Mechanicsville : William, who died at the age of seventeen; and Ira, who died in infancy. William Flansburg, the paternal grandfather, was one of the pioneers of Albany county, New York, and was a farmer and shoemaker. He lived to the age of ninety-three years and among his children were James, William, Peter, Walter and Jane. Grandfather Furman on the maternal side was also a native of New York and a farmer. Of his children the names of three were Mary, Storm and Robert.
James A. Flansburg came to Iowa with his parents at the age of five years and was reared on his father's farm in Cedar county. He attended the district schools and also possessed advantages of education at the pub- lic schools of Independence, graduating from the Independence high school in 1879. He followed the carpenter's trade for three years and then, in 1882, became connected with the Chicago & Northwestern Railway office at Clarence, continuing one year, after which he went to Baldwin, Jackson county, Iowa, as telegraph operator and agent for the same line. After a short time he was transferred to Onslow, where he continued two years. He was then transferred to Lowden, Iowa, remaining there until 1891. For the past twenty years he has been freight and ticket agent and operator at Glidden. Possessing a gentlemanly address and marked ability in his business, he is unusually efficient and is one of the popular citizens of Glidden.
On the 25th of May, 1882, Mr. Flansburg was married to Miss Gene- vieve Ferguson, who was born near Clarence and is a daughter of Joseph P. and Persis (Delamater) Ferguson, the father being a native of Indiana. He died at Clarence, at the age of seventy-six years, but the mother is still living at that place. They had seven children, four of whom survive, Mamie. Genevieve, Josie and Joseph P. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flansburg, Dovie Veva and Joseph Earl. Mr. Flansburg is not connected with any religious organization but his wife is a valued mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is identified with Haggai Lodge, No. 291, A. F. & A. M. of Glidden, Iowa, and Copestone Chapter, No. 78,
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R. A. M., of Carroll, Iowa, also holding membership in the Modern Wood- men of America, the Homesteaders and the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers. Politically he gives his allegiance to the republican party and, al- though he has not sought public office, has served as member of the coun- cil at Lowden and Glidden, also as town clerk at Lowden. He has ever been active and competent in his work, either as a public official or in busi- ness affairs, and both he and his wife are highly respected by the entire community.
MARTIN V. TATE.
Martin V. Tate, living on section 24, Warren township, has resided on his present farm since 1883 but put aside the active work of the fields in 1908 and has since enjoyed honorable retirement. His birth occurred in Jennings county, Indiana, on the 4th of October, 1839, his parents being Enos and Sarah (Thomas) Tate, who were natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. The father, in company with his three brothers, Jolın, James and William, removed from Kentucky to Indiana, taking up his abode among the earliest settlers of Jennings county. There he followed farming and made his home until called to his final rest in 1845. His wife long survived him, passing away in Oregon five years ago. Their children were as follows: George Washington Tate, whose demise occurred in Oregon in 1906; Elizabeth, who was the wife of James Hueston and died in southern Iowa thirty-five years ago; Louisa, who passed away in Oregon, first gave her hand in marriage to John Briner and subsequently wedded William Rodman; Martin V., of this review; Sarah Jane, who was the wife of John Cameron and died twelve years ago; Mary Ellen, who is the wife of Samuel Laman, an agriculturist of La Fayette, Oregon ; and Julia, the wife of Colonel Smith, of La Fayette, Oregon.
One year after her husband's demise Mrs. Sarah Tate located on a farm in Keokuk county, Iowa, where our subject remained until 1862, when he went to the front in defense of the Union as a member of Company H, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, having enlisted at South English, Iowa. He remained in the army for three years and participated in numer- ous engagements, including the battle of Jenkins Ferry in Louisiana. On the expiration of his term of service he was mustered out at New Orleans and when hostilities had ceased returned home with a creditable military record. having never faltered in the performance of any task assigned him. Ile resumed farming in Keokuk county and in 1883 came to Carroll county, locating on section 24, Warren township, where he has resided continuously since. On first coming here he purchased a quarter section of land, sold eighty acres of it and later bought another quarter section near Manning, while subsequently he purchased a quarter section adjoining his homestead. He now leases the property to his two sons and has lived retired for the past three years. The sons carry on general farming and also raise and
M. V. TATE
MRS. M. V. TATE
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feed hogs. Four acres are planted to fruit, the land is well tiled and the farms are highly improved in every particular. The old California trail crosses Mr. Tate's farm. The "forty-niners" came west along this trail, and for years after Mr. Tate took up his abode on his present homestead, wagon trains passed through his lands en route to Carroll. The divide here is the highest point in the state. Mr. Tate had chosen Iowa as a permanent location because of the fact that his father had been west years before and the black soil of this state had struck his fancy. His mother had two brothers in Keokuk county and urged her husband to locate there while en route west.
On the 5th of November, 1868, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Mr. Tate was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Jane Hucston, a daughter of Jabos and Eliza (Hale) Hueston, who were at that time residents of Henry county, Iowa. The father passed away at Clarinda, Page county, while the mother's demise occurred in Henry county. Unto our subject and his wife were born four children. Eliza is the wife of Samuel Keat, an ex- tensive farmer and stockman of Warren township, Carroll county, by whom she has eight children: Harry, John, Mabel, Emma, Albert, Arthur, Nellie and Georgia. Albert wedded Miss Lois Lathrop, a daughter of Calvin and Louisa Lathrop. Her father died in Nebraska, but her mother is still liv- ing at Red Oak, Iowa. Albert Tate resides on one of his father's farms. Unto him and his wife has been born one child, Arlo. Mary Ellen Tate passed away when a maiden of eight years. Luther, an agriculturist of Warren township, resides with his parents.
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