USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 24
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Mr. Ortner was married, in 1894, to Miss Katherine Berger, and unto them have been born ten children: John, Theresa, Lizzie, Albert, Lewis, Katherine, Mary, Clara, Carl and Frances, all of whom reside at home. The parents hold membership in Mount Carmel Catholic church and Mr. Ortner belongs to the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Association of lowa. He has never sought nor desired public office, yet he has always given unfaltering allegiance to the democratic party and its principles. He is numbered among the up-to-date and progressive men of the community and through his industry and perseverance has acquired a high standing in agricultural circles, while wherever known he is respected for his un- faltering allegiance to the principles of honorable manhood as manifested in his business and social relations and in public-spirited citizenship.
JACOB WESLEY FORD.
Jacob Wesley Ford, who is one of the most industrious and reliable citi- zens of Glidden where he has made his home for thirty-three years, is a native of the Buckeye state. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May 14, 1841, a son of Michael and Rebecca (Van Houten) Ford, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the former in 1805, and the latter in 1808.
The father removed with his parents to Ohio in 1812, the family locat- ing in Wayne county. Many years afterward his father enlisted in the Mexican war and lost his life while in Mexico. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ford were three children: Jacob, Michael and Esther. The mother of these children lived with her son Michael until her death, which occurred
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in 1853. She was the youngest child and only daughter of John and Mary Van Houten, natives of Pennsylvania, who also had one son, John Van Houten. The father of these children having died, the mother was mar- ried to Jacob Snyder and to this union four children were born : Michael, Jeremiah, Mary and Levina. Michael Ford was married and in his family were eleven children, namely : John V., Rachel, William A., Katherine, Al- fred, Philip, Jacob, Mary Jane, Jeremiah, Levina and Hester Ann. Five of these children are still living.
Jacob Wesley Ford came with his parents to Washington county, Iowa, in 1851, at the age of ten years. He was educated in the district schools of Washington and Greene counties and continued on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age. He then rented fifty acres of land on which he lived for ten years, when he went to Kansas and spent three years in the Sunflower state. At the end of the time named he returned to Carroll county and took up his residence at Glidden where he has since lived. He began in the wagon-making and blacksmithing business at Glid- den thirty-three years ago and continued in both lines without interruption until 1909. when his son Luther took charge of the blacksmith shop, the father carrying on the wagon-making establishment. He possesses good mechanical skill and has been recognized for many years as one of the most capable mechanics in the county.
March 19, 1865, Mr. Ford was married to Miss Rebecca E. Short, who was born March 19. 1850. a daughter of William and Jemima ( Dillavou) Short, the former of whom was born in 1807 and the latter in 1812. Mr. Short was a native of Virginia and his wife was born in Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, as follows : John D., William R., George W., Susannah, James, Luther and Rebecca. Four of these children are still living. Mrs. Short died in 1854 and Mr. Short was again married. By this union he had two children: Clara E. and Robert B. The death of Mr. Short occurred in 1875.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, namely : Ermina E., who is deceased; Armilda A., now Mrs. F. W. Boswell, and who has two sons, Guy and Harry ; Addie A., who married C. E. Grey and is the mother of six children, Frank E .. Byron W .. Goldie, deceased, Hazel E., Har- old C. and George A .; Lavina E., the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Ford, is the wife of T. M. Johnson and the mother of one child, Frederick W .; John C. is married and has four children, Wilber L., Adelbert, Gladys and Ira; Luther is now in charge of the blacksmith shop long conducted by his father ; Herbert P. is married and in his family were two children, Elva, and one who died in infancy; Susannah M., the youngest of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Ford, is the wife of F. M. Chandler.
Mr. Ford is not a member of any religious denomination but his wife is connected with the Church of God. He gives his adherence to the re- publican party, being a firm believer in its principles as conducive to the best interests of the state and nation. He and his wife are highly esteemed and their home is a welcome gathering place for friends and acquaintances. Mr. Ford has through life been controlled by a worthy ambition to make
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himself a worthy member of the community and his ambition has in a large measure been realized. 'At the age of three score and ten years he is still actively employed and his friends trust that he may continue for many years in the enjoyment of health and prosperity.
FRANK WEGMAN.
Germany has furnished a valuable class of citizens to the new world. They have brought with them from the old country the unremitting energy and perseverance characteristic of that nationality, and in the great major- ity of cases have attained success in the management of varied business affairs. To this class belongs Frank Wegman, who is now the owner of extensive farm lands and one of the progressive and prosperous agricul- turists of Carroll county, Iowa. He was born in Westphalia, Germany. on the 13th of May, 1840, a son of Clem and Clara (Shaddemann ) Wegman, also natives of Westphalia, who passed their entire lives in the fatherland. Their family of four children, all sons, included the following: Anton, who passed away in Germany; Frank, of this review; Barney, whose death oc- curred in Iowa; and Theodore, who also passed away in this state.
To the public school system of Germany Frank Wegman is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed during the period of his boyhood and youth, and on the home farm he acquired thorough practical training in agricultural pursuits under the direction of his father. From time to time he heard interesting reports concerning America, its business conditions and its opportunities, and at length these proved to him an ir- resistible attraction, so that he bade adieu to friends and native country and in 1869 came to America. He first located in Cook county, Illinois. where he was employed as a farm hand for one year, after which he came to Carroll county in 1871, and has since continued to reside within its borders. At the time of his arrival in this state there were still vast stretches of raw prairie land, unbroken and unclaimed, and his first purchase made him the owner of a tract upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He at once directed his energies to its development and cultivation. and by unwearied efforts transformed the crude prairie land of his first farm into fertile fields, from which he soon reaped excel- lent harvests. He erected good, substantial buildings, planted trees and built fences, and as the years passed introduced such conveniences and equipment as were essential to the advantageous pursuit of a farming en- terprise. Prosperity attended his efforts and from time to time he was able to invest in more land until today he is the owner of four hundred acres in Wheatland township, composed of some of the finest farming land in the county. in addition to one hundred and sixty acres in Pierce county. Nebraska, and one hundred and sixty acres in Lyman county, South Dakota. He does a general farming business. and his interests are so carefully man-
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aged that today he ranks among the substantial and well-to-do agricultur- ists of his locality.
Mr. Wegman was married twice. In 1877 he wedded Miss Elizabeth Lengling, and unto them were born six children, only two of whom, how- ever, are now living, namely : Frank, Jr., and Mrs. Anna Vonnahme. The wife and mother passed away in 1887, and two years later Mr. Wegman was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Werneng. They became the parents of five children, but one is now deceased. The others are: Heiney and Clara, both at home; Anton, engaged in farming about one mile west of his father's homestead; and Leo, also under the parental roof. The entire family hold membership in the Catholic church at Breda, and Mr. Wegman also belongs to the Catholic Protective Asso- ciation of Iowa. He gives his political support to the democratic party and for one term served as assessor and two terms as township trustee. He has now been a resident of America more than forty years, and never feels that he has any reason to regret his determination to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic, for he has here found the opportunities for ad- vancement which he sought, has met with a substantial degree of success in business and has gained many friends whose regard and companionship make life pleasant for him.
JUSTIN CHURCHILL.
Justin Churchill, a successful and enterprising agriculturist residing on section 3, Union township, is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of well improved and valuable land. His birth occurred in Ogle county, Illinois, on the 5th of April, 1846, his parents being Thomas C. and Aure- lia (Woodard) Churchill, who were natives of Ohio and Vermont re- spectively. His great-grandfather on the paternal side participated in the Revolutionary war. The grandfather, Samuel Churchill, was a native of New York and a farmer by occupation. Unto him and his wife were born twelve children, including Samuel, Asa, Truman, 'Anna, Thomas C., Me- hitable and Laura. The maternal grandfather of our subject was born in Vermont and also followed farming as a life work. His demise occurred in Ohio but his wife passed away in Vermont in early womanhood. They had eleven children, including Wilson, Abraham, Lester, Patty, Aurelia and Jane.
Thomas C. Churchill, the father of Justin Churchill, was a physician by profession. He was reared in the Buckeye state and in early manhood removed to Chicago, Illinois, where he conducted a drug store and prac- ticed medicine. Subsequently he took up his abode in Ogle county, Illinois, and in 1854 came to Iowa, settling in Calamus, Clinton county, where he also conducted a drug store and practiced his profession. In 1876 he came to Carroll county, invested in land and lived retired in Union township un- til called to his final rest on the 14th of August, 1888, when seventy-one
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years of age. His wife passed away in 1891, when she had attained the age of sixty-five years, dying in the faith of the First Day Adventist church. They were the parents of four children, two of whom died in early life. Mariette became the wife of S. T. Alger, but is now deceased.
Justin Churchill, whose name introduces this review, was a lad of eight years when he came to lowa with his parents and was reared to manhood in Calamus, Clinton county, attending the public schools in the acquirement of an education. In 1863 he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company L, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, acting as a scout until about April 10, 1866. He participated in the engagements at Battle Moun- tain and Whitestone Hill and also took part in many skirmishes. He had enlisted for service with the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry but his company was transferred to the Seventh Iowa Cavalry and sent to the western fron- tier. After the cessation of hostilities Mr. Churchill was engaged in the grain and hay business at Calamus for one year. In 1875 he came to Car- roll county and located on the farm in Union township where he now re- sides, first purchasing ninety-one and a half acres. Since that time he has augmented his holdings by additional purchase until they now embrace three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land. His under- takings as an agriculturist have been attended with a gratifying measure of success and he has long been numbered among the prosperous and repre- sentative citizens of the community.
On the 22d of November, 1869, Mr. Churchill was united in marriage to Miss Frances Allison, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, on the 5th of October, 1849, her parents being David and Elizabeth (Christ) Allison, natives of Virginia. Her paternal grandparents, Robert and Adessa Allison, were likewise born in the Old Dominion. The maternal grandfather, whose birth also occurred in Virginia, was a farmer by occu- pation. Unto him and his wife were born a number of children, two of whom are yet living, namely : Thomas, a resident of Ohio; and Susan. who makes her home in the Old Dominion. David Allison, the father of Mrs. Churchill, died in Clinton county, Iowa, when seventy-two years of age, while his wife there passed away at the age of eighty-eight. They had fourteen children, seven of whom yet survive, namely: Sarah, Catharine, Susan, Frances, George, David and Robert.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children. Thomas, an engineer of Sioux City, Iowa, wedded Miss Mary Kaneen, by whom he has a daughter, Orpha May. Frank is still at home. Harry, residing at Coon Rapids, Iowa, married Miss Alpha Blanchard and has a son, Ken- neth. He served in the regular army for four years, visiting the eastern hemisphere on the flagship Kearsarge. Ray, who lives on a part of the old homestead farm, wedded Miss Grace Kulp, by whom he has three chil- dren : Merle, Bernice and Justin Francis. Luella is the wife of Henry Schultz and the mother of two sons and a daughter, Harry, Donald and Frances Irene. Anna passed away at the age of eighteen months.
Mr. Churchill gives his political allegiance to the republican party, be- lieving that its principles are most conducive to good government. He is
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identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and is also a worthy ex- emplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Charity Lodge, A. F. & A. M. at Coon Rapids; and Copestone Chapter No. 78, R. A. M., at Carroll. In whatever relation of life we find him-in business or in social circles- he is always the same honorable and honored gentleman whose worth well merits the high regard which is uniformly given him.
WILLIAM H. LIGHT.
William H. Light, an enterprising and successful business man of Car- roll, is a member of the dry-goods firm of Light Brothers. His birth oc- curred in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of December, 1874, his parents being William B. and Sarah (Strohm) Light, who were like- wise natives of that county. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Light, was also born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and followed farming as a life work. Both he and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Bomberger, lived to attain a ripe old age. Unto them were born four daughters and eight sons, the latter being as follows: Seth, Jefferson, Joseph, Henry, William, Uriah, Jeremiah and Levi. John W. Strohm, the maternal grand- father of our subject, was a native of Canada. In connection with his duties as an agriculturist he also followed the profession of school teach- ing. He passed away in Pennsylvania at the age of seventy-two years, while the demise of his wife occurred in Eden township, Carroll county, Iowa, she being also seventy-two years old when called to her final rest. In maidenhood she was Miss Mary Kleinfelter. She was the mother of four children who grew to maturity, namely : J. A., of Carroll, Iowa ; Jacob, who is a resident of Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Rebecca Mark; and Mrs. Sarah Light.
William B. Light, the father of William H. Light, followed farming in early manhood and later became a lumber dealer, conducting a planing mill in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. On the 7th of January, 1888, he arrived in Carroll county, Iowa, and for a few years was engaged in farm- ing in Eden township. Subsequently he removed to Guthrie county, where he followed general agricultural pursuits for seven years. On the ex- piration of that period he put aside active business cares and took up his abode in Carroll. Going east on a visit, he died in that part of the country on the 13th of March, 1900, when more than sixty-eight years of age. His widow, who still survives him, now makes her home with our subject. Both were consistent and devoted members of the United Brethren church. Unto them were born two sons: William H., of this review; and Joseph S., whose natal day was June 21, 1877.
William H. Light, who was a youth of thirteen when he came to Carroll county with his parents, spent the next four years on his father's farm in Eden township. Since 1892 he has been continuously identified with mer- cantile pursuits. He spent eleven years in the employ of Cyrus Mark and
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in 1903 embarked in business on his own account, opening a dry-goods es- tablishment on the 14th of March of that year. Seven months later he ad- mitted his brother, Joseph S., to a partnership and the firm has since been known as Light Brothers. They have built up an extensive business and employ a large force of clerks in its conduct. In their store is displayed a large line of everything to be found in a well equipped dry-goods estab- lishment and their reasonable prices insure quick sales. Mr. Light is straightforward and honorable in all that he does and his success is the log- ical result of close application and ability.
On the 24th of April, 1907, Mr. Light was united in marriage to Miss Eva Mailison, who was born in Early, Sac county, Iowa, her parents being DeMarion and Nancy (Duffy) Mallison, natives of Michigan. The father died in 1900 when sixty-four years of age. Mrs. Mallison, however, still survives and makes her home in Carroll. She was the mother of five children, namely: William, Carrie, Julia, Rose and Eva. Mr. and Mrs. Light have a daughter, Geraldine.
Mr. Light gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church, to which his wife also belongs. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Well known throughout this part of the county, he has many friends who esteem him for his genu- ine personal worth.
GEORGE A. GOTCHALL.
George 'A. Gotchall, who is manager of the Chicago Produce Com- pany of Manning, was born in Crete, Nabraska, on the 24th of April, 1875, being a son of George and Anna (Vogt) Gotchall. The father, a mason by trade, is a native of Pennsylvania while the mother was born in Ger- many. Mr. Gotchall migrated west from his native state locating in Omaha, Nebraska, where he followed his trade. Later he removed to Crete, the same state, and he is now living in Helena, Montana. To Mr. and Mrs. Gotchiall were born two children: Charles, who is deceased; and George A., our subject.
Although a native of Nebraska in the acquirement of his education George A. Gotchall attended the common schools of Winona, Illinois. Af- ter laying aside his text-books he worked on a farm for two years, follow- ing which he engaged in the produce business in Winona for a similar period. From there he went to Minonk, Illinois, where he passed a year, then moved to Peoria where he followed the same business for two years. 'At the expiration of that period he proceeded to Jersey City, New Jersey, where he spent another year in the produce business. Returning to Win- ona for six months he went to La Plata, Missouri for a year. He removed to Helena, Montana, at the end of that time and the year following came to Iowa, locating in Atlantic for three months. In 1904 Mr. Gotchall came
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to Manning whence he went to Chicago for a few months and returned to Manning, where he has ever since resided. He is now managing the Chi- cago Produce Company, Carl Decker & Company, proprietors, who handle butter, eggs and poultry.
La Plata, Missouri, was the scene of the marriage of Mr. Gotchall and Miss Creola Virginia Collins, their union being solemnized on the 9th of June, 1901. Mrs. Gotchall is a daughter of James M. and Jennie (Stowe) Collins, residents of La Plata. To Mr. and Mrs. Gotchall has been born one daughter, Helen Virginia, who celebrated her first birthday on the 2d of June, 1911.
Mr. Gotchall is a member of the Business Men's Accident Association, and his political support he gives to the republican party, although he has never been an office seeker.
JACOB H. BELL.
Jacob H. Bell has been a prominent and successful representative of agricultural interests in Carroll county for almost three decades and has resided on a farm on section 31, Union township, throughout the entire period. His birth occurred in St. Joseph county, Indiana, on the 2d of March, 1843, his parents being Samuel and Sarah (Harris) Bell, the former a native of New York and the latter of Germany. The paternal grandfather, Samuel C. Bell, was born in New York and served as a sol- dier in the war of 1812. He worked at the carpenter's trade in early man- hood and subsequently became identified with general agricultural pur- suits. Unto him and his wife, Mrs. Sarah Bell, were born nine children, including Roderick, George, Samuel, Horace, Maria and Mary. Jacob Harris, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany and a shoemaker by trade. Emigrating to the United States, he was for many years successfully engaged in farming in St. Joseph county, Indiana. He participated in the Revolutionary war and lived to attain the remark- able age of one hundred and nine years. Unto him and his wife, Mrs. Sarah Harris, were born a number of children, including Wayne, John, William, George, Sarah, Eliza and Mary.
Samuel Bell, the father of Jacob H. Bell, was a cabinet maker by trade. He located in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1849 and thence removed to St. Jo- seph county, Indiana. In 1850 he went to California by ox team, return- ing to the Hoosier state at the end of two years. In 1852 he died from damps while cleaning out a well, being at that time about fifty-two years of age. At one time he served as lieutenant governor of Indiana. His wife lived to attain the age of ninety-eight years, passing away in the faith of the Presbyterian church. Eleven years of her life were spent in Kit Carson county, Colorado, where she had taken up a homestead. She was the mother of fourteen children, as follows: George, who was accidentally killed in California; Susanna, who died in infancy; Sarah Ann, who died
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in Illinois in 1911 and who was the wife of Robert Robertson, a soldier in the Civil war; Nancy Jane, the wife of James Titerington, of Rock Island county, Illinois; Mary Minerva, the wife of Thomas Stringer, of Los Angeles, California; Eliza, the wife of Isaac Love, of Wisconsin ; Steward H., who is a resident of Grinnell, lowa; William Marion, who passed away in California on the 11th of January, 1911; Martha, the wife of Alexander Stuckey, of Great Falls, Montana; Jacob HI., of this review; Charles Hilbert, who makes his home near Seneca, Kansas; John Putman, who is also a resident of the Sunflower state; and two who died in child- hood.
Jacob Harris Bell, whose name introduces this review, was reared in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and supplemented his early education, obtained in the public schools, by study in Notre Dame University. In August, 1861, he ran away from school and enlisted for nine months' service in Company I, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. On the expiration of his term he reenlisted in Company K, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, remaining with that command as a private until the cessation of hos- tilities. At the battle of Chickamauga he was wounded in the jaw. He participated in numerous battles and skirmishes, among which may be mentioned the following: the first skirmish of Stone River; the battle of Perryville, Kentucky; Chickamauga ; Missionary Ridge; and the Atlanta compaign. He went with Sherman on his march to the sea and also took part in the grand review at Washington. When the supremacy of the Union had been established he returned home with a creditable military record, having never faltered in the performance of any task assigned him. He first followed farming at South Bend, Indiana, and subsequently took up his abode in Rochester, Minnesota, where he was employed as clerk in a store. Later he removed to Rock Island county, Illinois, where he was married and followed farming for eight years. On the expiration of that period he went to Kansas and from that state made his way to Marshall county, Iowa. In 1883 he came to Carroll county, locating on the farm in Union township whereon he has resided to the present time. He first came into possession of a tract of two hundred and eighty acres here and sub- sequently augmented his holdings by additional purchase until they em- braced three hundred and eighty-five acres of valuable land. Since then he has sold some of the land and has also divided some among his children, so that his home farm now comprises but one hundred and sixty-nine acres. Ile is a practical agriculturist who does well whatever he undertakes, and his strong determination and laudable ambition constitute the secret of his prosperity.
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