USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 20
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Mr. Tate is a republican in politics and has served as school director for three terms, while for six years he held the office of trustee of Warren township. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Chris- tian church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is likewise an honored member of McPherson Post, No. 33, G. A'. R., at Manning, Iowa. The evening of life finds him looking back upon an active, useful and honorable career, happy in the regard and esteem of all with whom he has been associated.
EMANUEL CONNER.
The agricultural interests of Carroll county find a worthy representa- tive in Emanuel Conner, who is the owner of over three hundred acres of rich and productive land within its borders and makes his home on sec- tion 7, Union township. His birth occurred in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 4th of June, 1854, his parents being George and Melissa (Sigler) Con- ner, who were likewise natives of the Buckeye state. His paternal grand- father was also born in Ohio and reared a family of four children, namely : David, George, Lucy and Felix. John Sigler, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ohio and a farmer by occupation. Both he and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Rachel Hoskins, lived to attain Vol. II-11
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a ripe old age and were buried in Carrollton cemetery of Union township. Unto them were born ten children, namely: Martin, Jack, Melissa, Jane, Jerry, Emanuel, Narcissus, George, Francis M. and John W.
George Conner the father of Emanuel Conner, was reared in Ohio and followed steamboating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. In 1852 he removed to Lee county, Iowa, and turned his attention to general agricul- tural pursuits. In 1855 he and his brother John walked from Lee county to Panora in Guthrie county and entered a tract of land east of old Car- roll. They believed the locality unfit for habitation at that time and did not settle here until 1862, George Conner taking up his abode in Richland township, Carroll county, in October of that year. He first came into pos- session of a farm of eighty acres and augmented his holdings by addi- tional purchase as his financial resources increased until at the time of his death he owned between twelve and thirteen hundred acres. When he passed away in 1900, at the age of seventy-one years, the community mourned the loss of one of its most substantial and respected citizens. His widow still survives him and has attained the age of about seventy-six. Both Mr. and Mrs. George Conner were Methodists in religious faith. Unto them were born ten children, eight sons and two daughters, as follows : Emanuel, of this review; Luther, who is a resident of Watertown, South Dakota ; John, who is deceased; Buchanan, living in the state of Washington ; Clar- inda, the wife of William Foxworthy, of Glidden, Iowa; Frank, of Union township; Ezeriah; Narcissus, the wife of Harry Piper, of Union town- ship; Oliver, who makes his home in Richland township; and Loxie.
Emanuel Conner was but an infant when his parents first came to this state. The period between his tenth and twenty-first years was spent on his father's farm in Carroll county. In the acquirment of an education he attended the district schools. During the first year following his mar- riage he cultivated rented land and then purchased a tract of eighty acres on section 5, Union township, partially improving the property. After dis- posing of the place he bought twenty acres on section 7, which he later sold, again purchasing his previous farm. Subsequently he bought forty acres of his present farm and later came into possession of a tract of about eighty acres, which he received as his share of his father's estate. He also owns one hundred and twenty acres in Newton township and another farm of sixty-eight acres in Union and Newton townships, so that his landed holdings aggregate over three hundred acres. His undertakings as an agriculturist have been attended with a gratifying measure of success and have won him a place among the prosperous and representative residents of the community.
On the 22d of July, 1876, Mr. Conner was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Grace, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, on the 5th of January, 1858, her parents being John and Jennie (Monroe) Grace, natives of Penn- sylvania and Ohio respectively. Her paternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer by occupation. Unto him and his wife were born fourteen children, namely: Eunice, Catharine, John, Nelson, Mary, Eliza, Sarah, Jackson, Hannah, Michael, Daniel, Lois and two others. Mrs.
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Conner was one of two children who lived to maturity, her brother being George. Her father, John Grace, was twice married, his first union being with Miss Phila Pearsall, by whom he had four children : Emily, Sarah, Phoebe and William. Mrs. Jennie ( Monroe) Grace was also twice mar- ried and by her first husband had three children : Harriet, Frank and John. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Conner has been blessed with four chil- dren. Effic, who gave her hand in marriage to Richard Tuel, is now the mother of six children : Hazel, Gladys, Bonnie, Iris, John and Marjorie. Belle, the wife of E. O. Sigler, now has four children : Inez, Velma, Ralph and Floyd. Ethel is the wife of Zen Bradley, by whom she has one child, Duane. Alma is at home.
Mr. Conner is a republican in politics and has held the offices of school director and township trustee for a number of years. He is a worthy ex- emplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Charity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Coon Rapids. Both he and his wife have accepted the faith of the United Brethren church. Mr. Conner is a typical western man, possessing the spirit of enterprise which has been the dominant factor in upbuilding this section of the country, and in Carroll county he has made an excellent record, gaining for him the trust and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact or who know aught of his history.
HYMAN KRENSKY.
Hyman Krensky, who is well known as a business man of Carroll and also as an active worker in the Masonic fraternity, is a native of Be Elestock, Russia. He was born 'April 3, 1862, a son of Abraham and Hannah Krensky. His father was a cloth dealer and ran freight wagons from Be Elestock to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Warsaw. He died in 1882 at the age of sixty-two, his wife having passed away in 1858, being then fifty years of age. There were five children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Krensky, three of whom are now living, namely : Moses, of Be Elestock; Jessie, the wife of Leaza Goldberg, also of Be Elestock; and Hyman, the subject of this review. The paternal grandfather was Moses Krensky whose wife was Fanny Krensky. He was a cashier for forty years for a man named Zabladosky who was very wealthy and was a large dealer in timber. Among the children of Mr. and Mrs. Krensky were Abraham, Zippara, Samuel, Jacob, and Joseph B., the last of whom died when young.
Hyman Krensky was reared in his native town and received his edu- cation there. After reaching maturity he became foreman of a tract of timber land for his father until his father died. He then engaged in brick and timber business for himself. In 1883 he was married and five years later, being a man of ambition and courage who believed that larger oppor- tunities awaited honest effort in America than he could expect to find in Russia, came to this country, landing at New York in January, 1888. His
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financial resources were exceedingly limited and he started at the bottom of the ladder at Bethlehem, Connecticut, as a peddler of tinware, carry- ing his merchandise upon his back. Later he worked in a hat factory for a dollar a day and then went to Newark, New Jersey, where he found employment in a lead factory. On December 20, 1888, he arrived at Car- roll, Iowa, and from this place went to Auburn, in Sac county, and peddled for three years in that section. His wife came from Russia with the son Moses, who was then five years old, and they moved to Elm Grove, Cal- houn county, and engaged in farming for three years, also for one year in Leake Creek township and four years in Jackson township, in the same county. In 1900, having attained a competency, he sold out and located at Carroll, where he has since successfully engaged as a dealer in hides, furs and scrap iron.
In 1883 Mr. Krensky was united in marriage in Russia to Miss Re- becca Gruzofsky, a daughter of David and Gittel Gruzofsky. Her father came to America in 1893 and his wife arrived about three years later. They are now living in Chicago and keeping a grocery store. There were six children in their family, Charles, Ezra, Rebecca, Lena, Ida and Yenta. Four sons came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Krensky, Abraham Moses, Jacob Milton, Samuel Harris and Joseph Louis.
Mr. and Mrs. Krensky are sincere believers in the Old Testament and are members of the Hebrew church. Fraternally he is connected with Signet Lodge No. 264, A. F. & A. M., and Copestone Chapter No. 78, R. A. M. His son Moses is also a member of the Masonic order and is secretary of the chapter. Politically Mr. Krensky casts his ballot in sup- port of the democratic party. He came to America a poor man, but in addition to his flourishing business is now the owner of a fine residence at Clark and Sixth streets, also of a residence at the corner of Seventh and Court streets and a business house on East Fifth street, having by his industry and good management accumulated a competency. He is en- terprising and public-spirited and takes a great interest in the general wel- fare and advancement of the community, hence he is numbered among the highly respected citizens of Carroll.
JOHN HOFFMANN.
John Hoffmann, who for more than twenty years has been identified with the lumber business in Manning, was born in the province of Schles- wig-Holstein, Germany, on the 23d of November, 1848, and is a son of John and Frauke (Thede) Hoffmann. The parents were also natives of Schleswig-Holstein, the birth of the father having occurred on the 3d of December, 1818, and that of the mother on the 23d of March, 1818. Accompanied by his wife and family John Hoffmann emigrated to the United States in 1866, arriving here on the 3d of July. They located in Scott county, Iowa, where the father worked as a farm hand for three
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years, although in the old country he had followed the carpenter's trade. In 1869 he bought forty acres of land which he cultivated for five years and then disposed of to come to Carroll county. Here he purchased eighty acres in Washington township, continuing its cultivation until his retire- ment about 1884, when he and his wife removed to Manning. Here he passed away on the 6th of February, 1889, while the mother survived until the 11th of December, 1896. They were both members of the German Lutheran church, and his political support Mr. Hoffmann accorded the democratic party. They were the parents of six children: Margaret, the wife of Henry Severs; Wiebke, who married Christian Grube; John, who is our subject ; Carson; Frauke, the wife of Henry Herman ; and Henry a retired business man. All are now residents of Manning.
The education of John Hoffmann was acquired in the schools of Ger- many, after the completion of which he became a sailor on the Eider river. He emigrated to the United States with his parents, being at that time eighteen years of age, working as a farm hand until the fall of 1875. Com- ing to Carroll county at that time he became associated with George Tank, and for six years thereafter they ran a threshing outfit. In 1881 they also engaged in the lumber business, which enterprise they conducted in part- nership until 1897, when Mr. Tank withdrew from the company. Mr. Hoffmann then took his sons into the business with him, continuing under the firm name of Hoffmann & Sons.
Mr. Hoffmann was married on the 30th of August, 1871, to Miss Mag- dalena Tank, a daughter of Christian and Franke (Lutze) Tank, of Man- ning. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tank were natives of Schleswig-Holstein, the father's natal day having been the Ist of December, 1826, and that of the mother the Ist of May, 1828. The father engaged in farming in the old country until 1868, when he emigrated with his wife and family to the United States, locating in Scott county, Iowa. He continued to follow ag- ricultural pursuits there until 1875, at which time he removed to Carroll county, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington township. He retired to Manning about 1887, and there he passed away on the 28th of November. 1907, but his wife survived until the 28th of October, 1909. They were both members of the Lutheran church, and in politics he was a democrat. He served for three years in the German army, participating in the war of 1848. To Mr. and Mrs. Tank there were born four children: George, who is a resident of Manning; Magdalena, now Mrs. Hoffmann, who was born in Schleswig-Holstein on the 4th of Sep- tember, 1855; Christian, who is a resident of Washington township; and Caroline, the wife of August Schroeder, of Crawford county.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann numbering ten, of whom four are deceased. are as follows : Herman, who is living in Manning : Henry and Amelia, both of whom are deceased; Clara, the wife of A. W. Wheeler, of Hanford, California; Henry, who is engaged in the hardware business in Ilarlan, lowa; Rosa, who is at home; John and Louis, deceased; and Frank and Harry, also at home. On the 14th of October, 1878, Mr. Hoff-
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mann's house in Washington township was destroyed by a tornado, at which time his son Henry was killed.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann affiliate with the Lutheran church; fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Rebekah Lodge. Politically he is a democrat, and for fourteen years he served as a member of the town council. He was also on the school board for one term and a school director of the township for two terms. Mr. Hoffmann has always directed his life in accordance with high ideals of activity and integrity, and is esteemed as one of the progressive citizens of the community.
JOSEPH VONNAHME.
The family of which Joseph Vonnahme is a representative has long been established in Carroll county and is one of the honored and respected fam- ilies of this district. The first of the name to locate within the borders of this county was Bernard Vonnahme, the father of our subject, who was born in Westphalia, Germany, and about the year 1868 came to the United States. He first located in Illinois but later, in the early '70s came to Iowa, locating in Carroll county, purchasing a tract of unimproved land on sec- tion 16, Kniest township. There he established his home and for a num- ber of years followed the occupation of farming. He was one of the ear- liest settlers of this township, and from the first took an active and help- ful part in public affairs, being numbered among the most valued and re- spected citizens of this community. He was a strong advocate of advance- ment and progress in local affairs and was the first president of the Mutual Fire Association, of which he was one of the founders. He also possessed a deeply charitable nature and constantly sought the best interests of his fellowmen. He aided in building three Catholic churches in Carroll county, and was himself an exemplary member of that denomination, while his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. His death occurred in 1905, and his remains were interred by the side of his wife at Mount Carmel, who had passed away in 1896. Like her husband she was born and reared in Germany, and was a lady of excellent traits of character. Their family numbered seven children, namely: Joseph, of this review; Anton, a farmer of Kniest township; Mary, a sister of the La Crosse Order, at La Crosse, Wisconsin; Frank, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; John, a resident of Wheatland township; Henry, who operates the old homestead and is also mentioned on another page of this history ; and Agatha, who makes her home with her brother Henry.
Joseph Vonnahme, whose name introduces this review, was born in Delaware county, Iowa, April 29, 1869, and during his infancy was brought to Carroll county. He received his education in the Catholic schools of this neighborhool and for several years during the period of his youth engaged in herding cattle. He remained at home until twenty-seven years of age,
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when he took up agricultural pursuits on his own account, and for two years operated his present farm as a renter. He then purchased the tract, consisting of one hundred and ninety-nine acres, and here he has since engaged in general farming. He has greatly enhanced the value of his property by introducing many modern improvements, and it is now one of the desirable farms of the township. Prosperity has attended his efforts throughout the intervening period and as his financial resources have in- creased he has added to his holdings until he now is the owner of consid- erable real estate in Nebraska and South Dakota.
Mr. Vonnahme was married, in 1897, to Miss Mary Becker, and unto this union have been born eight children, as follows: Bernadine, John, Rosa, Frank, Mary and Aloysius, all at home; Henry, deceased; and one who passed away in infancy. The parents hold membership in the Cath- olic church at Mount Carmel, and Mr. Vonnahme belongs to the Roman Catholic Protective Association. His political faith is that of the democ- racy and although he is not an active politician, he takes the deep interest in public affairs that all true Americans feel, keeping himself well in- formed regarding the paramount issues of the day and at all times stanchly supporting the candidates and principles of his party. He is a man who is in every way aggressive and his industry and high moral character merit the confidence and respect of his fellowmen.
HENRY R. PASCOE, M. D.
Although he began practice less than five years ago Dr. Henry R. Pascoe has attained a well established reputation as one of the conscien- tious and capable physicians of Carroll. He was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, November 28, 1877, a son of John B. and Phillippa (Williams) Pascoe, both of whom were natives of Grant county. The father came to Carroll county, Iowa, in 1878 and settled in what is now Carroll township. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land which he greatly improved and to which he later added eighty acres, making a beautiful farm of two hundred and forty acres. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Calhoun county near Rockwell City. Henry Pascoe, the paternal grand- father, was a native of England. He came to America and settled in Grant county, Wisconsin, at an early day. He died at Cuba City, Wis- consin, in 1891, being then seventy-two years of age. The maiden name of his wife was Grace Bowden. She is still living and has arrived at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. There were seven children in their family-John B .; Harriet, widow of William Stephens; Mary, widow of Richard Stephens; Annie, wife of George Ralph; William; Samuel; and James. The maternal grandfather was Nicholas Williams, also a native of England. He engaged in mining in the old country and later came to 'America and became a farmer of Grant county, Wisconsin. He died at the age of eighty-three. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Will-
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iams, passed away at the age of eighty-five. Their children were Sarah, who became the wife of W. G. Tregloan, and is now deceased; Mary, widow of Thomas Osborne; Emma, widow of John Varker; Phillippa, mother of our subject; Thomas; Hannah, now Mrs. John Ralph; John M .; Ella, who married D. C. Kinsman and is now deceased; and Mildred, wife of E. J. Rogers. Four sons were born to John B. and Phillippa Pascoe, namely: Henry R., of this review; Rollo N., J. Howard, and James Arthur, all of whom live in Maple River township, Carroll county.
Henry R. Pascoe was brought by his parents to Carroll county in his infancy and was reared upon his father's farm. He received his pre- liminary education in the district schools and later attended Simpson Col- lege at Indianola, Iowa, graduating in 1902. Having decided upon the study of medicine he entered the medical department of the Northwestern University at Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1906, with a. degree of M. D. He has since engaged in practice at Carroll. It was not long after he established himself in this city before his ability received recognition and he soon gained a liberal share of patronage. He maintains offices in the Masonic Temple.
On the 17th day of October, 1906, Dr. Pascoe was united in marriage to Miss May Larimer, a native of Chariton, Lucas county, Iowa, daugh- ter of G. W. and Emma (Ward) Larimer. There were four children in the family of which she was a member-Guy Wayne, May, Edith and Robert. Two children came to brighten the home of Dr. and Mrs. Pas- coe, namely : Paul L., and Phyllis Harriet.
Dr. Pascoe belongs to the modern school of practitioners and is thor- oughly up-to-date in everything pertaining to his profession. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the principles upon which the practice of medicine is based and few men of his age are able to make a more satis- factory application of these principles-hence his patrons are steadily in- creasing in number. He and his wife are valued members of the Meth- odist church and politically, he is identified with the republican party. Fraternally, he holds membership in Signet Lodge No. 264, A. F. & A. M.
GILBERT EATON.
Gilbert Eaton, one of the representative and respected residents of Glidden, has been successfully engaged in the furniture and undertaking business here for the past thirty-six years. His birth occurred in Wind- ham county, Connecticut, on the 19th of August, 1840, his parents being Horace and Mahala (Doty) Eaton, natives of Connecticut and Vermont respectively. His paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Eaton, was also a native of Connecticut and a farmer by occupation. He died in middle life. Unto him and his wife, Mrs. Sybil Eaton, were born the following children: Horace, Joseph P., Edwin, Samuel, Henry, Eben, William. Sarah, Lucy
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and Eliza. The maternal grandfather of our subject was born in Ver- mont and also followed farming as a life work.
Horace Eaton, the father of Gilbert Eaton, was a wool sorter. He died at Wilsonville, Windham county, Connecticut, in 1896, when eighty- nine years of age, passing away in the faith of the Congregational church. By his first wife, who died at the age of thirty-four years, he had four children, namely: George, Gilbert, Horace and Edward. By his second wife, who bore the maiden name of Eleanor Young, Horace Eaton had two children: Albert, who is deceased; and Ellen, the wife of Charles Kelly, of Wilsonville, Windham county, Connecticut.
Gilbert Eaton was reared at Wilsonville, Windham county, Connecti- cut, and obtained his education in an academy. After putting aside his text-books he entered the woolen factory of his uncle Joseph, being thus employed for some years. Subsequently he enlisted in Company K. Sev- enth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that command for three years and ten months and holding the rank of first sergeant. At the battle on Melvin Hill, near Richmond, he received a gunshot wound in his left shoulder. He likewise participated in the engagements of Port Royal, South Carolina, Olustee, Florida, Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and Morris Island and went with Butler up to Richmond. After returning from the war he removed to Illinois, settling in De Kalb county. In 1870 he came to Iowa and made his home in Calhoun county until 1875, which year witnessed his arrival in Glidden, Carroll county. Here he has re- sided continuously since, conducting an extensive furniture and under- taking establishment. He has built up a large and profitable business and is widely recognized as one of the substantial and leading citizens of the community.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Eaton chose Miss Martha A. Curtis, a native of Douglass, Massachusetts, and a daugh- ter of Bryant and Patience Curtis, who were likewise born in that state. Removing to Illinois, they spent the remainder of their lives in De Kalb county, both attaining a ripe old age. Their children were seven in num- ber, namely: Joanna ; Sarah ; Mary ; Martha ; Elijah; David, who died in a Confederate prison as a Union soldier ; and Nathan. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have been born eleven children. David C., a carpenter and builder of Glidden, wedded Miss Sylva Rigdon, by whom he has five children. Lilly passed away when three years of age. Mary Jessie, residing at Dunlap, Iowa, is the wife of George Gleason and has four children : Edward, George, Irvin and Curtis. Frank, a carpenter and builder of San Francisco, California, has one son, Frank, Jr. Junia is employed in his father's store. Jason is the secretary and treasurer of the Western News- paper Union in the city of Oklahoma. Rudolph is the secretary and treasurer of Eastman Brothers' paint house at Oklahoma. Edward, a stenographer employed at Shawnee, Oklahoma, has one son, Donald. Horace G., a rural mail carrier in Glidden, Iowa, married Miss Jennie Bell and has three children: Wilbur, Belle and Robert. Elva is employed
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