USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 22
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JOSIAH CODER.
. Josiah Coder, the cashier of the Farmers Bank at Glidden, has for the past ten years been associated with D. F. Everts and W. A. Kelly in the conduct of that institution. His birth occurred in Hancock county, Ohio, on the 20th of July, 1854, his parents being Samuel and Catharine (Hough) Coder, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. His paternal grand- father, John Coder, was a native of Germany who emigrated to America and settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He died in Ohio when
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well advanced in years. Unto him and his wife, Mrs. Mary Coder, were born quite a number of children. Andrew Hough, the maternal grand- father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and followed farming as a life work.
Samuel Coder, the father of Josiah Coder, was successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. He came to Carroll county, Iowa, in 1873 and settled in Sheridan township, where he purchased and improved a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, continuing to reside thereon until within a year of his demise. He died at Glidden in 1894, when sixty-eight years of age, passing away in the faith of the Methodist church, of which his widow is also a member. Unto them were born three sons and six daughters, as follows: Levi J., who is deceased; Cyrus, who is a resident of Windom, Minnesota; Mary E., who is the wife of J. H. Dickey and lives in the city of Oklahoma; Josiah, of this review ; Delcena, the wife of 'Ames Hollister, of Lake City, Iowa ; Hattic, the deceased wife of Howard Shutes, of Minot, North Dakota; Susie M., the wife of Zimri Barrett, of Britt, Iowa; Lydia A., the wife of Lester Hamm, of Glidden, Iowa; and Sarah A., the wife of J. M. Streeper, who lives at Sawyer, North Dakota.
Josiah Coder was a resident of Jones and Jackson counties of this state before coming to Carroll county in 1868. He was reared to the work of the farm and attended the district schools in the acquirement of an edu- cation. He began teaching school when a youth of fifteen and taught for twenty-one terms of four months cach, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. On abandoning educational interests he became a partner in the firm of Dickey & Coder, general mer- chants, being thus engaged in business for fourteen years. Subsequently he spent eight years in the First National Bank of Glidden, while for the past ten years he has been associated with D. F. Everts and W. A. Kelly in the control of the Farmers Bank of Glidden, a private institution, which was organized in 1900 with a capital stock of twenty thousand dol- lars. He is a courteous and popular official of the bank and his ability is a recognized feature in its successful management. In addition to his financial interests he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Rich- land township and also has a nice home in Glidden.
On the 18th of September, 1883. Mr. Coder was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Rummell, a native of Olin, Iowa, and a daughter of An- drew and Margaret (Walker) Rummell, who were born in Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. Her paternal grandfather, George P. Rummell. was a native of Pennsylvania and worked as a tanner in early manhood. subsequently becoming an agriculturist. Unto him and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Stouffer, were born the following children : Jacob, John, Andrew, George, Josiah, David and Nancy. William Walker, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Coder, was a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer by occupation. Unto him and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Eve Brubaker, were born ten children, namely: Eli. Mary, Mar- garet. Catharine, William, Elizabeth, Daniel, Janc. John and one who
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died in infancy. Andrew and Margaret (Walker) Rummell were Pres- byterians in religious faith. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: Mrs. Josiah Coder; Elizabeth J., the wife of F. E. Somers; George W .; Nancy C., the wife of Charles Field; Ada A., who died in infancy; Nellie V., assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank of Glidden ; Frank W., who is a resident of Hale, Iowa; and Roy C., living in Olin, Iowa.
Mr. Coder is a republican in politics and his fellow townsmen, recog- nizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of public trust. He has held various township offices and served as mayor of Glidden for two years. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Haggai Lodge, No. 291, A. F. & A. M .; Copestone Chapter, No. 78, R. 'A. M .; and Jefferson Commandery, K. T. He is also a member of Philo Lodge, No. 291, I. O. O. F. In all the relations of life he has proven himself a man of genuine worth and straightforward purposes and his . progress in business has been the direct result of energy, intelligently applied.
CHRIS H. REESE.
Although comparatively a new arrival in Carroll county, Chris H. Reese, editor and manager of the Carroll Times, has made a highly favor- able impression and ranks among the public-spirited and enterprising citi- zens who are to be found in the advance line in everything pertaining to the permanent interests of the county. Born of German parents in Den- mark near Veile, his eyes first opened to the light of day June 21, 1881. He is a son of Chris M. and Maria (Skou) Reese, both of whom were natives of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The father was a contractor and builder. He came to 'America in 1889 and after spending two years at his trade at Marinette, Wisconsin, brought his family to this country and settled at Storm Lake, Iowa, where he continued in his trade. He is now living in Buena Vista county, Iowa, and is engaged in farming. He and his wife are sincere members of the Lutheran church. There were eight children in their family, five sons and three daughters, namely, Chris H., Christine, Nels, George, Peter, Nettie, Alma and Henry. The grandfather on the paternal side was a native of Schleswig-Holstein and a farmer. He died in Denmark. The maternal grandfather was Niels Skou, also a farmer, and his wife was Hannah Winter. They both died in Denmark, having reared a large family.
Chris H. Reese arrived in the new world at the age of ten years. He grew to manhood at Alta, in Buena Vista county, Iowa, and possessed ad- vantages of attendance at the public schools. At the age of fourteen he began learning the printer's trade and is an all-around printer, having ever since been identified with the business. He published the Alta Observer for a short time, being then the youngest editor in the state. He later
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edited and managed several papers in the northwestern part of Iowa and in 1910 came to Carroll and purchased stock in the Carroll Times of which he has since been editor and manager. The paper is one of the well estab- lished publications in this part of the state and under his management its circle of readers is steadily increasing.
On the 14th of September. 1902, Mr. Reese was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Rucker, who was born at Cerro Gordo, Illinois, a daughter of James A. and Josephine ( Merritt) Rucker, also natives of Illinois. The mother died at Cerro Gordo in 1892 but the father is still living and makes his home at Ramona, South Dakota. They had eight children, Bessie, Bert. Pearl, Louis, Orville, George, Hazel and Mont. Three children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Reese, Marion, James and Creston.
Mr. Reese is not identified with any religious denomination but his wife is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he adheres to the democratic party and is an active worker and writer in its behalf. He is a man of good judgment, thor- oughly alive to the possibilities of Carroll county and one who has the ability, energy and persistence so necessary in the accomplishment of wor- thy ideals. His friends prophesy for him a brilliant future as editor of the Carroll Times.
LUCIEN M. LYONS.
Lucien M. Lyons, president of the First National Bank of Glidden and one of the honored survivors of the Civil war, is a native of New York state. He was born in Chenango county, December 12, 1843, the only child of Leander P. and Lucy 'A'. ( Hakes) Lyons, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father was reared in Madison county, New York, and was a blacksmith by trade. He served as captain in the Civil war and gave up his life for his country on the battlefield of Gettys- burg. His wife survived him many years and died at Glidden in 1902. having arrived at the venerable age of eiglity-three. She was a member of the Baptist church. The grandfather on the maternal side was Solomon Hakes who was born in Connecticut and was of English descent. He married Fanny Swan and they moved from Stonington, Connecticut, to Chenango county, New York, where they passed the remainder of their days. Of their children Charles, George, Fanny. Polly and Lucy grew to maturity.
Mr. Lyons of this sketch was reared in Chenango county until about twelve years of age and then went to Chautauqua county, New York, where he lived several years. He attended the district schools and for a short time was a student in an academy at Cazenovia, New York. At the age of seventeen he responded to the call of President Lincoln and enlisted in Company K. Ninth New York Cavalry, in which he served
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during the entire war, covering a period of more than four years. He was slightly wounded in the leg at the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, and his hearing was badly affected by the heavy cannonading in the battles and sieges in which he took part. He participated in all the important battles of the Army of the Potomac and was with General Sheridan on the cele- brated raid in the Shenandoah Valley. At the time of his discharge he was serving as a non-commissioned officer. After the war, like thousands of his army companions, he felt the need of a wider field than was pre- sented at his old home. Accordingly, he came west and since 1868 has been a resident of Glidden, Iowa. He purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Richland township and another farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Calhoun county, but disposed of these places and pur- chased and sold land until he became the owner of about three thousand acres. He is now an extensive owner of lands in Texas, Oklahoma, Canada and elsewhere. He served as postmaster and express agent at Glidden for a number of years and also conducted a private bank. Later he became connected with the First National Bank, of which he has been president since 1907. In the field of finances as well as in that of general business he has shown an ability and discernment that have yielded highly satisfactory returns.
In September, 1876, Mr. Lyons was married to Miss 'Anna E. Jenney, who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, the only daughter of Duty L. and Eunice (Lewis) Jenney. After thirty years of happy mar- ried life the beloved wife died in 1906, having arrived at the age of sixty years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is her husband, and was a woman of many estimable traits of mind and char- acter which greatly endeared her to her associates and acquaintances. Politically Mr. Lyons is an adherent of the republican party and while he has never urged his claims for public office, he served for four years most acceptably as mayor of Glidden. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being connected with W. E. Wright Post of Glidden. As a young man he received a rude introduction to the world in the battles and campaigns of the rebellion, but has never regretted the part he took in establishing the Union, thus securing peace at home and respect for the flag in whatever part of the globe it may be unfurled. Honored and re- spected throughout Carroll county and wherever his name is known, Mr. Lyons belongs among the representative citizens who constitute the true basis and hope of the republic.
J. C. PRUTER.
On the streets of the flourishing little town of Arcadia there is no more familiar figure, perhaps, than that of J. C. Pruter, financier and capitalist. He is one of Germany's contributions to the citizenship of Iowa, his birth occurring in Kiel, that country, on the 6th of August,
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1866. His parents, C. and Anna (Fehrs) Pruter, were both natives of Holstein, Germany, who came to the United States in January, 1881. The father, who had served one year in the Prussian and Danish war of 1848, conducted a delicatessen store in the fatherland and also later served as clerk of the court. After arriving in this country, however, he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Arcadia, Iowa, until his death, in 1908, with the exception of three years spent in Davenport, Iowa. He was laid to rest in Arcadia cemetery and his wife passed away five years ago. The subject of this review is the youngest in a family of two sons and two daughters, the others being: Henry, a general merchant of Or- ange, Texas; Amanda, who married Charles Wunder, of Wolcott, Iowa ; and Johanna, the deceased wife of G. C. L. Berger.
In the common schools of Germany J. C. Pruter acquired a good edu- cation, passing through the consecutive grades until his graduation from the high school. He was a youth of fifteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the United States, and shortly afterward he crossed the threshold of the business world, his first employment being in a drug store at West Side, Crawford county, Iowa, where he continued for six months. He then came to 'Arcadia and for three years worked in a general store here, after which a year was spent in clerking in a general store at Wolcott, Scott county, Iowa. Returning to Arcadia he entered a general store here, in which he clerked for about three years, when he formed a partnership with Messrs. Hoch and Rottler, under the firm style of Hoch, Rottler & Pruter, general merchants, conducting a merchandising business until 1901. In that year the firm dissolved and Mr. Pruter en- tered the banking business, in which line the firm had been engaged to a limited extent in connection with their mercantile enterprise. In the little office room where he finished up and closed the business of the company his new undertaking had its inception, and from that humble beginning it has steadily grown until today he is the sole owner of the private bank known as the bank of Arcadia. The business has been expanded from time to time, the building enlarged by various additions, and today it is one of the most substantial and successful moneyed institutions of Ar- cadia township. As he has prospered Mr. Pruter has acquired other in- terests and today he is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Aspinwall. Crawford county, Iowa, and also devotes much at- tention to the fire insurance business. In the conduct of his affairs he manifests a shrewd sagacity and sound judgment which precludes rash speculation and has won for him the confidence and trust of a large and constantly growing patronage.
In 1889 Mr. Pruter was united in marriage to Miss Emma Mohr, and unto this union have been born two children, Vernon and Lucille. In the line of his business interests Mr. Pruter belongs to the Iowa Bankers 'Association and also to the Private Bankers Association, while in his polit- ical views he is a republican. He is now serving efficiently as school treas- urer and also as a member of the town council. His interests are closely identified with those of the community in which he lives and he ever casts
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the weight of his influence on the side of progress, advancement and im- provement. The steps in his orderly progression are plainly visible, each marking a distinct advance toward the goal of prosperity, until today, in the very prime of manhood, he has attained a foremost position among the most prominent and substantial business men of this part of the county.
NICHOLAS NEU.
Nicholas Neu, a retired agriculturist residing at No. 914 North Court street in Carroll, was long and successfully identified with agricultural interests and is still quite an extensive landowner of this county. He is a stockholder and director in the Carroll Trust & Savings Bank and is like- wise active in the control of other business institutions. His birth oc- curred in Luxemburg, Germany, on the 27th of March, 1850, his parents being Philip and Kathrine (Rodesch) Neu, who were likewise natives of that country. His paternal grandfather, Philip Neu, followed farming as a life work and passed away in Germany when well advanced in years. Unto him and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Kathrina Petry, were born two sons and two daughters, namely: Philip, Theodore, Kath- rina and Margaret. The maternal grandfather of our subject, who was a farmer and hotel keeper, passed away in Germany at a ripe old age. He was the father of eleven children, all deceased.
Philip Neu, the father of Nicholas Neu, was successfully engaged in business as a farmer and stock dealer and passed away in Germany when forty-seven years of age. His wife, surviving him, emigrated to America in the early 'Sos and died at Templeton, Iowa, when eighty-two years of age. Both were Catholics in religious faith. They were the parents of five sons and one daughter, as follows: Peter D., who came to the United States during the Civil war and was never heard from again; Theodore, who is deceased; Margaret, the deceased wife of John Till, of Bellevue, Iowa; Charles, who has also passed away; Nicholas, of this review; and Peter, deceased.
Nicholas Neu was reared in Luxemburg, Germany, and there acquired his education. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and became familiar with the business of stock-raising and grain buying. In the fall of 1867, having determined to establish his home on this side the Atlantic, he emigrated to the United States and settled in Troy Grove, La Salle county, Illinois, where he continued to reside until 1880. In that year he came to Carroll county, Iowa, purchasing and locating on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Arcadia township. He brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and improvement and extended the boun- daries of the place by an additional purchase of one hundred and twenty acres. Subsequently he disposed of the property and, putting aside the active work of the fields, took up his abode in Carroll. He now owns three quarter sections in Richland township, Carroll county, and also has
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large tracts of land in Nebraska and South Dakota. Financial interests have also claimed his attention. He is a stockholder and director in the Carroll Trust & Savings Bank and is active in the control of other busi- ness institutions.
On the 6th of April. 1869, Mr. Neu was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Fünfsinn, who was born in Troy Grove, La Salle county, Illinois, on the 16th of November, 1851, her parents being Henry and Kathrina (Rodesch) Fünfsinn, the former a native of Prussia and the latter of Luxemburg, Germany. Emigrating to America, they settled in La Salle county, Illinois, on the 3d of March, 1850. Henry Fünfsinn there passed away in 1891, when seventy years of age, while the demise of his wife occurred in 1909, when she had attained the age of eighty-one. They were the parents of the following children: August, Peter, Mary. John, Katie, 'Anna, Henry, Rosa and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. Neu have six children, namely : Katie, who is at home; Peter H., an agriculturist by occupation ; Maggie Margaret, living in Carroll, who is the wife of William Heiman and has one son, Walter; Philip D., a merchant of Templeton, Iowa, who wedded Miss Agnes Dunck, who followed the profession of teaching in Carroll county for eight years and who is now the mother of two chil- dren, Harold N. and Ruth Ida; August H., living in Templeton ; and Ida, who is still under the parental roof.
In politics Mr. Neu has always been a stanch republican. He served as secretary of the school board in Arcadia township for fourteen years and while residing in Illinois held the office of tax collector. He belongs to the Roman Catholic Protective Society and is also a faithful communi- cant of SS. Peter and Paul's Catholic church, of which his wife is like- wise a member. Coming to the United States in early manhood and wisely utilizing the opportunities offered in a land unhampered by caste or class, he has since worked his way steadily upward from a position of com- parative obscurity to one of prominence and prosperity, being now num- bered among the most substantial and esteemed citizens of Carroll county.
ROBERT Y. DICKSON.
Robert Y. Dickson, who is living on the old homestead at Glidden, was born December 4, 1862, and is a son of Robert and Saralı (McGinnis) Dickson. The Dickson family is traced to Robert and Phoebe Dickson, the former of whom was a native of Germany and the latter of New Jersey. Robert Dickson engaged in farming in Kentucky until 1822, when he re- moved with his family to Illinois, traveling down the Ohio river and up the Wabash in boats which were built by the men of the party from trees which they cut down on the banks of the Ohio river. They landed on the Illinois side of the river opposite Vincennes and took up their residence on wild land in Vermilion county, the first year clearing about ten acres of timber, out of which they erected a comfortable home and other build-
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ings. Robert Dickson died about 1825, after becoming well established in Illinois. In his family were nine children: Robert, James, John, David, Andrew, Moses, William, Jane and Margaret.
Amos Dickson was born in Kentucky in 1804 and removed to Illinois with other members of the Dickson family in 1822. Six years after ar- riving at his new home he was married to Rachel Pettis, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Davis) Pettis, both of whom were natives of Ten- nessee. Mr. Pettis served in the war of 1812 and participated under Gen- eral Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. Amos Dickson became a suc- cessful farmer of Champaign county, Illinois, and died in 1881, his wife having been called away in 1862. They were the parents of nine children : Robert, Sr .; Benjamin and America, both of whom are deceased; John, who is now living in Illinois; Andrew, who was a valiant soldier for the Union at the time of the Civil war and is now deceased; Nancy Jane, who is also deceased; Martha, who is living in Illinois; and Phoebe Jane and Mary Jane, both of whom have also passed away.
Robert Dickson, the father of our subject, was born in 1830 and re- mained under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years of age. He possessed advantages of education in the pioneer schools of his native state and as he grew to manhood became thoroughly familiar with the various details of agriculture and stock-raising. He engaged in farming on his own account for two years, at the end of which time he was married and, believing that conditions were more favorable west of the Mississippi river, he and his wife came to Carroll county, Iowa, in 1855 and located on one hundred and sixty acres, which became the family homestead. In 1876 he left his wife in charge of the home farm and went to Kansas, where he proved up on two hundred and forty acres of land. He then returned home and has since made his residence in this county. He became the owner of about one thousand acres of land in Carroll county, portions of which he has sold off at various times so that now he has left two hundred and eighty-five acres, a large part of which is under an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Dickson lost his wife in 1896 and he now makes his home with his son Robert Y. There were seven children in his family : David, the eldest, is married and lives in Oklahoma. In his family were five children, two of whom survive, his eldest daughter, Edith, being a nurse in the Methodist Hospital at Omaha. Annie, the second in order of birth of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Dickson, is married and lives in Arkansas. She has two children, Gladys and Robert. America, the sec- ond daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dickson, is deceased. Ella had four chil- dren and has also passed away. Robert Y., the subject of this review, is the fifth child in order of birth. Sherman and Alice are both deceased. The old log house which Mr. Dickson built upon arriving in Carroll county is still standing on the home farm and is one of the interesting landmarks of this section.
Robert Y. Dickson was reared under the friendly shelter of the pa- rental home and received his education in the district schools. He has continued on his father's farm and from his earliest recollection has been
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