USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
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as clerk in a drug store of Kansas City. Myra is the wife of Dr. E. R. Stealy, of Dunlap.
Mr. Eaton is a republican in politics and for several years served as justice of the peace in Calhoun county. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Haggai Lodge, No. 369, A. F. & A. M., of Glidden, Iowa; and Copestone Chapter, No. 78. R. A. M. He also maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in N. P. Wright Post, G. A. R., of Glidden. Upright and honorable in all the relations of life, his word is considered as good as his bond, and he has the entire confi- dence and respect of those with whom he comes in contact either in busi- ness or social affairs.
WILLIAM HUMPHREY, D. D. S.
Dr. Humphrey opened an office in Carroll, March 15, 1888, as a young dentist. He soon attracted a lucrative patronage and has for many years been one of the leading dental surgeons of the city. He was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, April 22, 1862, a son of Erastus B. and Sarah (Paschal) Humphrey, the former of whom was born at Lancaster, New York, and the latter in Whiteside county, Illinois. The father learned the machinist's trade to which he devoted his attention for a number of years. He moved to Canada and thence to Illinois and engaged in farming in Whiteside county. In 1900 he came to Clinton where he has since lived retired. He and his wife are identified with the Methodist church and are active workers in its behalf. Nathanial Humphrey, the paternal grand- father, was born in Vermont and was a cooper, also becoming a tavern keeper. He served as a drummer boy in the war of 1812. There were eight children in his family, seven of whom grew to maturity, Albert, Charles, Mary, George, Porter, Erastus and Saralı. The maternal grand- father, John Paschal, was a native of West Virginia and an early settler of Illinois, being one of the four earliest arrivals in Whiteside county. He was married to Nancy Shael and they had eight children, David, Ben- son, Jane, Frank, James, Sarah, Annie and Jolin. Nine children came to brighten the home of Erastus B. and Sarah Humphrey, six of whom sur- vive, namely: William. the subject of this review; Albert, now living in Chicago; Frank, of Clinton; Alice, who is the wife of Charles Tracey, of Eads, Colorado; Charles, a dentist, who is engaged in practice at Grand Junction, Iowa; and Rollin, a druggist of Elliot, Iowa.
William Humphrey was reared until the age of fourteen on his father's farm and then went to Morrison, Illinois, where he continued until he attained the age of manhood. He attended the district schools, Morrison High School and the Dixon ( Illinois) College, later becoming a student in the dental department of the Iowa State University from which he was
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graduated with the degree of D. D. S. in 1889. He has since actively en- gaged in practice at Carroll.
On the 28th of February, 1888, Dr. Humphrey was united in marriage with Miss Estella M. Blue, a native of Whiteside county, Illinois. Her father was born in Scotland. He came to this country when nine years of age and in 1849 yielded to the gold excitement and crossed the plains to California. Returning, he organized a party which left Illinois in the spring of 1851 and became lost in a great blizzard in Kansas. All of the party are supposed to have starved or frozen to death except Mr. Blue who was found by Indians and thus his life was saved. He served for four years in the Civil war, during a portion of which time he was a pris- oner in Libby prison at Richmond, Virginia. The mother of Mrs. Hum- phrey passed away when the daughter was quite young but the father lived to be well advanced in years. There were three children in the family: Nettie, who married George Horner; Estella M., who became the wife of William Humphrey; and Lottie, now Mrs. George Fitzsimmons. Daniel Blue, the grandfather on the paternal side, was a native of Scot- land and became one of the early settlers of Whiteside county, Illinois. Three children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Humphrey, Glen Herbert, Helen Adella and William Rollin.
Dr. Humphrey and his wife are members of the Methodist church and both have taken active part in all the different departments of church work. During nineteen years of his residence in Carroll, Dr. Hun- phrey has filled the position of superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school. Mrs. Humphrey has given much attention to the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. The demand for her as a speaker in behalf of this organization being state-wide. He belongs to Signet Lodge No. 264, A. F. & A. M., and Copestone Chapter No. 78, R. A. M., and is also identified with Carroll Lodge No. 279, I. O. O. F. Politically he gives his support to the republican party and although he has not sought public office he served for seven years as a member of the school board of Car- roll. 'As is indicated by this review, Dr. Humphrey is a public-spirited and highly useful citizen, assisting most earnestly in the training of the young and also contributing his part toward the promotion of friendly relations between his fellows.
JOSEPH SCHWEERS.
Joseph Schweers, whose entire life has been devoted to that occupa- tion which George Washington described as "the most useful as well as the most honorable" a man can follow, is one of the prosperous and pro- gressive farmers of Carroll county. He is one of Iowa's native-born citizens, his birth having occurred in Dubuque county on the 19th of March, 1856. His parents, Herman and Elizabeth (Kremer) Schweers, were both born in Oldenburg, Germany, where they were reared and mar-
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ried, and about 1846 they sought a home in the new world, locating first in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later they came to Iowa, taking up their abode in Dubuque county, where they passed their remaining years. The father was a sailor in the old country, but after arriving in the United States took up the occupation of farming. He passed away in 1889, but his wife still survives, making her home in Dubuque county, at the remarkable age of ninety-four years. In their family were several children, including three sons who are all living, as follows: Henry, a resident of Dubuque county, Iowa; Joseph, of this review; and Clem, also of Dubuque county.
Joseph Schweers is indebted to the German schools of his native county for the educational privileges employed during the period of his boyhood and youth, and his practical training was acquired in the work of the home fields. He early learned the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops, and so, when he took up farming on his own account at the age of twenty-two years, he was well equipped for the successful conduct of an independent enterprise. Upon leaving the home farm he made his abode on a tract of land in Dubuque county, which he continued to oper- ate until about twenty-two years ago when, in 1889, he came to Carroll county, Iowa, purchasing the farm in Arcadia township, now his home. About seventeen years ago a disastrous fire swept away all of the out- buildings on the place and also a fine new barn. He has since built sub- stantial and commodious new buildings, and the farm, which consists of two hundred and forty acres, is under a high state of cultivation. He has introduced all of the modern equipment and accessories to be found on a model farm, and the fields, under his careful direction, yield abun- dant harvests annually.
On the 2d of July, 1878, Mr. Schweers was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mescher, and they now have two sons: Herman, mentioned be- low; and Alfonso, yet at home. They also have an adopted daughter, Cora, now the wife of Fred Mescher, of Washington township. The family are all consistent members of the Catholic church and are well known in the community in which they reside. Mr. Schweers gives his political allegiance to the democracy and for ten or twelve years served as township trustee. He was also school director for a time, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He is an active and willing worker for the upbuilding and advancement of the county in other lines also and stands high in the regard of all who know him for the honorable and upright principles which govern his career.
HERMAN J. SCHWEERS.
Herman J. Schweers, who is numbered among the younger represen- tatives of agricultural pursuits in Arcadia township, was born in Dyers- ville, Dubuque county, Iowa, on the 20th of June, 1879, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mescher) Schweers. His education, which had been begun
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in Dyersville, was continued in the public schools of Carroll county after the removal of his parents to this county, and later he received the benefit of a course at the college in Denison, Iowa. He remained at home until about six years ago, when he started out for himself, taking up his abode on his present farm, adjoining his father's place on the north. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of rich land upon which he has made many improvements, and the neat and well ordered appearance of his farmi bespeaks a spirit of enterprise and progress which has been one of his salient characteristics.
Mr. Schweers was married, on the 8th of February, 1905, to Miss Celia Pape, and unto them have been born three children, Viola, Marcella and Clarence. The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Schweers gives his political support to the democratic party. He is now serving his second term as township trustee, and is one of the public- spirited citizens of this locality, indorsing all measures and matters which have for their object the advancement and development of the community.
FRANK CONNER.
Frank Conner, who devotes his attention to general agricultural pur- suits with excellent results, is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in Union township and makes his home on section 5. He is numbered among the worthy native sons of Carroll county, his birth having occurred in Richland township on the 26th of April, 1865. His parents, George and Melissa (Sigler) Conner, were both natives of Ohio. The father was reared in that state and followed steamboating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. In 1852 he removed to Lee county, Iowa, and turned his attention to general agricultural 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 Carroll. 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 Oc- tober of that year. He first came into possession of a farm of eighty acres and augmented his holdings by additional purchase as his financial re- sources 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, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; Luther, who is a resident of Watertown, South Dakota; John, who is deceased; Buchanan, living in the state of Washington; Clarinda, the wife of William Foxworthy, of Glidden, Iowa; Frank, of this review;
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Ezeriah; Narcissus, the wife of Harry Piper, of Union township; Oliver, who makes his home in Richland township; and Loxie.
Frank Conner was reared in Richland and Union townships and at- tended the district schools in pursuit of an education. He remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage and then started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land for several years. Subsequently he bought a tract of forty acres in Union township and as his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he extended the boundaries of his farm by addi- tional purchase until it now embraces three hundred and twenty acres. He has brought the place under the highest state of cultivation, so that the fields, now rich and arable, annually bring forth large crops. In all of his business affairs he is alert and enterprising, meeting with the meas- ure of success which always rewards earnest, persistent and well directed labor.
On the 26th of February, 1886, Mr. Conner was united in marriage to Miss Emma Trucks, a daughter of Abraham and Melissa Trucks. They have the following children : Mamie, living in Union township, who is the wife of George Smith and has one son, Frank; George Abraham; Elsie; Bessie M .; Cora Edith; and Lena Velma.
Mr. Conner gives his political allegiance to the republican party, loy- ally supporting its men and measures. The cause of education finds in him a stanch champion and for a number of years he served as school treasurer and director. He belongs to Charity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Coon Rapids, and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen. He has resided within the borders of Carroll county from his birth to the present time and that his life has ever been upright and honorable is indicated by the fact that the associates of his boyhood and youth are still num- bered among his stanch friends and admirers.
CHARLES RETTENMAIER.
A spirit of enterprise and progress actuates Charles Rettenmaier in all that he does. He has worked diligently and persistently to develop and improve his farm and his well directed efforts along agricultural and stock-raising lines are meeting with gratifying success. He was born in Blackhawk county, Iowa, on the 13th of September, 1862, a son of Joseph and Mary (Berger) Rettenmaier, both natives of Germany, the former of Wurtemburg and the latter of Rhinefeldt.
The father came to America in 1854 and was numbered among those sons of the fatherland whose efforts were potent forces in furthering the development and improvement of the great commonwealth of Iowa. He located first in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked on the canal for a time, and later went to Freeport, Illinois. In that city he was mar- ried, after which he took up his home in Blackhawk county, Iowa, in 1869.
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where he purchased a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1874. In the latter year he came to Carroll county, locating on what con- tinues to be the old Rettenmaier homestead. At that time Kniest town- ship was largely raw prairie land, with practically no buildings within its borders, and Joseph Rettenmaier found himself confronted with the ar- duous task of converting the unimproved ground into productive fields. His industry and perseverance, however, never faltered until he had ac- complished this task, and at the time of his death he was the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of rich and finely cultivated land. He was one of the earliest settlers in this portion of the county and was closely identified with its growth and development for a number of years. He served as county supervisor for two terms and was also township trustee. He gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and held mem- bership in the Catholic church of Mount Carmel. His death occurred in 1887, his remains being laid to rest in the cemetery at Mount Carmel. He is yet survived by his wife, who makes her home in Carroll, lowa. In their family were eight children, as follows: Lena, the wife of Joseph Rhinehardt, of Wagner, South Dakota; Charles, of this review; David, residing in Carroll, Iowa; Lizzie, the widow of John Gising, also of Car- roll; Kate, residing with her mother in Carroll; Frank, engaged in the drug business at Carroll; Mary, the deceased wife of Edward Thurliman ; and Joseph, also a druggist of Carroll.
Charles Rettenmaier was reared to manhood on the home farm in Blackhawk county, and in the district schools of that locality he received his education. His training for farm labor was not meager, for he re- mained at home, assisting his father in the work of the fields, until twenty- five years of age. Lessons of industry, thrift and integrity were early impressed upon his mind and have constituted factors in his success since that time. Upon entering the business world on his own account he lo- cated on a farm across the road from his father's home and there en- gaged in agricultural pursuits as a renter until the capital which he had been able to save made it possible for him to invest in farm land of his own. In 1900 he purchased his present place, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation, and now owns four hundred acres, all in Kniest township, which in their well kept and neat appearance denote a life of industry, enterprise and thrift on the part of Mr. Rettenmaier. He gives considerable attention to his live-stock interests and has gained a reputation throughout the township as a raiser of high grade stock.
Mr. Rettenmaier laid the foundation for a happy home life of his own through his marriage, November 24, 1887, to Miss Katie Maus, and unto them have been born twelve children: Mary, the wife of Frank Snyder, of Kniest township; and Anna, Rosa, Albert, Edward, Martin, William, Walter, Leona and Marcus, all yet at home; and two who are now de- ceased.
The religious belief of Mr. Rettenmaier is indicated by his membership in the Roman Catholic church of Mount Carmel, and he also belongs to the Roman Catholic Protective Association. He gives his support polit-
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ically to the democratic party, but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with well merited success. He is well insured in the Bankers Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa, and is one of the most enterprising men in this part of the county. His transactions being con- ducted on the basis of honesty, and being a man of high morals, he is known throughout the community as an excellent farmer and worthy citizen.
CHARLES NEU.
Charles Neu, who came to Carroll in 1881 and passed away here on the 2d of November, 1896, gained an enviable reputation as one of the enter- prising and successful business men of the city. His birth occurred in Luxemburg, Germany, on the 27th of June, 1848, his parents being Philip and Catharine (Rodesch) Neu, who are mentioned at greater length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Nicholas Neu, a brother of our subject. Unto them were born six children, five of whom grew to maturity and came to America, namely: Peter, who is de- ceased; Margaret, who is the wife of John Thill and resides in Bellevue, Iowa; Charles, of this review; Nicholas, of Carroll; and Peter, who has likewise passed away.
Charles Neu spent the first eighteen years of his life in the fatherland and came to America in 1866, locating in Lasalle county, Illinois, where he resided for five years. He next spent two years at Lake Superior, Mich- igan, and then removed to Colorado, where he was engaged in mining for a similar period. Subsequently he returned to Germany on a visit, spend- ing three months in that country. Again making his way to La Salle county, Illinois, he remained there until 1881, which year witnessed his arrival in Carroll, Iowa, Here he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life, passing away on the 2d of November, 1896, when forty-eight years of age. Following his arrival here he was employed by J. R. Whitney in the wholesale fruit business, while subsequently he was identified with the wholesale liquor business for eight years. Later he embarked in busi- ness as a dealer in grain and stock, carrying on operations along those lines until he passed away.
On the 6th of March, 1881, Mr. Neu was united in marriage to Miss Rosina Mary Adelhelm, who was born in Wittenberg, Germany, on the 14th of December, 1852, her parents being Frederick and Johanna (Haage) Adelhelm. Her paternal grandfather, Christian 'Adelhelm, passed away in Germany. Unto him and his wife, who died in early womanhood, were born three sons and two daughters, as follows : Frederick, Christian, Fredericka, Carolina and Jacob. John Haage, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Neu, died in Germany in middle life. Mrs. Neu was but fourteen months old when she lost her father and in 1857 was brought to America by her widowed
Mas Mary R Mun
Charles Meu
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mother with the two other children of the family. These were Hannah Carolina (now deceased) and Christian Frederick, the latter a stepson. They spent three months in Burlington, Iowa, and then removed to La Salle county, Illinois, where Mrs. Johanna Adelhelm wedded Michael Miller, whose demise later occurred in that county. Following her daughter's marriage, in 1881, Mrs. Miller came to Carroll, Iowa, and here passed away on the 14th of September, 1894, when seventy-seven years of age.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Neu were born five children, as follows: Philip Charles, who wedded Miss Ella Skidmore and is engaged in the furniture business at Carroll; Freddie William, who died in infancy; Johanna Caro- lina, at home; Hilda Maria, who passed away on the 23d of August, 1909, at the age of twenty-three years and six months; and Arthur N., a high school student. The father of these children was a Catholic in religious faith, while the mother is a Lutheran. Mrs. Neu has made her home in Carroll for three decades and has a host of warm friends here.
DER MANNING HEROLD.
In the thriving little town of Manning, where since the year 1882 the German Shooting Association had been in existence, there appeared a German theatrical troupe under the management of the highly endowed director, Berthold Kraus. This was in the winter of 1893. Mr. Kraus, seeing a good opportunity to settle down to quiet and peaceful married life among his countrymen, determined to establish a German newspaper and, setting himself to this task, at once made arrangements to secure a plant. On the 2d of February, 1894, therefore, there appeared the first edition of Der Manning Herold, which has been successfully published continuously since in its usual form and style save for one week in Feb- ruary, 1894, when a disastrous fire destroyed the plant, leaving only a few type, just sufficient to set up one page about nine by sixteen inches. Mr. Kraus was an active and ambitious man and this incident did not discour- age him. More energetically than before did he take up the work of building up the business and Der Manning Herold continued growing in circulation and is today the most popular German newspaper in the state of Iowa, while its plant is one of the best equipped. German and English job work is a specialty of the office and reasonable prices are charged for all work, which is also guaranteed to be satisfactory.
The first proprietor, Berthold Kraus, was born January 4. 1865, in the city of Prague, 'Austria, and after his graduation from the home school his parents, notwithstanding somewhat limited financial resources, sent him to the gymnasium in Saaz. He possessed a studious nature and scholarly tastes,and was a great lover of the works of Schiller and Goethe and of other literary writings. It was his interest in these perhaps that led him later to enter the histrionic profession. In 1883 he crossed the ocean, arriving in America as a penniless young man. Going to Cleve- Vol. II-12
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land, Ohio, he was there employed in a store for six months, while sub- sequently he engaged in farm work and was also employed for a time as a section hand. Eventually he reached Chicago and there began his connection with the stage. From 1890 until 1894 he was director of his own theatrical troupe. At length, as previously stated, he arrived in Man ning and, notwithstanding many difficulties which he had to encounter and overcome, he established the German paper, which he continued to publish until his death. Just in his prime, when he had overcome the financial difficulties and placed his business upon a paying basis, he was called to a higher sphere. This man of poetic and scholarly tastes and artistic ability, who had established himself as a successful and progres- sive journalist, passed away on the 15th of June, 1907.
Among his many friends and admirers who so deeply mourned his loss was a young German farmer by the name of Peter Rix, who regarded it as his duty to care for the business that had been built up by Mr. Kraus. For the sake of his deceased friend, who had so faithfully labored for the interests of the Herold and for the welfare of his country people, prompted thereto by a desire to benefit the German citizens and also prompted thereto by his love of his mother tongue, Mr. Rix took up the work of publishing the paper when it seemed to him that its welfare was becom- ing dubious. He took charge of the business on the Ist of September, 1907, and managed the paper successfully until the Ist of September, 1910, when he sold out to Paul F. Werner, who had been associated with him on the paper for almost three years, and Carl Hasselman, of Davenport. These two gentlemen are the present owners. Mr. Rix conducted the Herold on the same basis as his predecessor had done and in certain ways improved the whole plant. It was his purpose to find the right men for conducting the business and he feels at present that he has succeeded in this. Der Manning Herold is regarded by its readers today as good a German newspaper as it was under the original ownership and its policy is also indorsed by its patrons. In politics it has independent democratic tendencies, such having been its political attitude from the beginning. A liberal patronage is today accorded it and the paper reflects credit upon those who have had to do with its conduct, its many patrons and the com- munity at large.
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