USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 4
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY
birth, married B. I. Harding, a farmer of North Dakota, and they have one daughter, Elva, a babe of two months. Arthur R., the sixth member of the family and Charles H., who married Marie Kortum, are both living at home. The first two sons born to Mr. and Mrs. Freetly, Elmer and Elbert, are twins. In addition to their own large family they took care of an infant daughter of A. A. Conner, Mrs. Freetly's brother, whom they reared to womanhood. She married Claudius Farrell, a farmer of Audubon county, Iowa.
The family always affiliated with the Presbyterian church of Manning, of which both Mr. and Mrs. Freetly are members, while he gives his polit- ical support to the candidates of the republican party. Although he takes an active interest in all township political affairs, Mr. Freetly has never held office save that of school director in district No. 5 of Warren town- ship, which he retained for ten years. During a residence in the county which covers a period of over thirty years Mr. Freetly has become very well known to the citizens of his community, who hold him in high regard.
JOSEPH 'ANNEAR.
One of the extensive landowners and substantial farmers of Carroll county, now living retired in Coon Rapids, is Joseph Annear, who for thirty-six years was engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county. His birth occurred in Yorkshire, England, his natal day being the 16th of Oc- tober, 1845; his parents were Joseph and Jenifred (Blake) Annear, both natives of Cornwall, England, where the father was for many years em- ployed in the mines, having begun working there when a mere child. He was an ambitious youth, however, and desiring to make more of himself than a miner he attended night school, thus acquiring a good education. Believing that America afforded better advantages for himself and family he emigrated to the United States in 1848 with his wife and family. Their first winter in this country the family spent in Detroit, Michigan. In the following spring they went to St. Mary's Island, Lake Superior, and from there to Dodgeville, Iowa county, Wisconsin. There the father died of cholera in 1850, at the age of forty-five years. Mrs. Annear attained the venerable age of seventy-six years before her demise. Determined to be- come a citizen and desirous of obtaining his full rights as such, Mr. Annear took out his naturalization papers upon his arrival in the city of New York. Both he and his wife were conformists and affiliated with the Episcopal church. The paternal grandparents spent their entire lives in the mother country and of their union there were born four children, three sons and one daughter. Samuel and Prudence (Blake) Blake, the maternal grand- parents, were of yeoman stock and they, too, passed their entire lives in their native land. To them were born three sons and two daughters, as follows : Samuel, John, Richard, Jenifred and Betsy. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Annear were born six children, in the following order :
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Jane, the wife of 'Alfred Bailey, of Richland county, Wisconsin; Joseph, our subject; John, of Richland Center, Wisconsin; Samuel, also of Rich- land county, Wisconsin ; Emily, the late wife of James Louis; and Annie, also deceased, the wife of Thomas Endicott.
Joseph Annear, who was but five years of age when his father passed away, was reared on a farm in both Richland and Iowa counties, Wiscon- sin, to the district schools of which state he is indebted for his early edu- cation, which was supplemented by further study in a select school in Newton. He remained at home with his mother until he was nineteen years of age. As he was a widow's son much responsibility devolved upon him from his earliest boyhood, and for seven years after leaving the mater- nal roof he worked as a farm hand by the day. In 1865 he sent his money to Carroll county to make the first payment on eighty acres of land in Pleasant Valley township. He completed the payment on his farm that year but did not remove on it until November, 1868. In the early spring of 1869 he broke forty acres of his homestead which he immediately placed under cultivation. He was able later to add another one hundred and twenty acres to his tract, making the aggregate of his holdings two hun- dred acres. In 1891 he sold his farm for thirty dollars per acre and in- vested his capital in two hundred and eighty acres elsewhere in the county. He so successfully administered his affairs that he eventually acquired six hundred and fourteen acres in Carroll county, in addition to which he had quite extensive holdings in Canada, but he has recently sold three hundred and twelve acres of the latter. Mr. Annear retired from active farming in 1904, renting his land to his sons at one and a half dollars per acre, cash rent. Coming to Coon Rapids he bought the residence where he and his wife are now living, enjoying in the evening of life the ease and comfort to which they are so fully entitled.
On the 7th of September, 1871, Mr. Annear was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Bedford, a daughter of Charles and Betsey (Knoles) Bed- ford. Mrs. Annear was born in Yorkshire, England, emigrating from there to 'America with her parents in her early womanhood. They located on section 15, Pleasant Valley township, where the parents passed away, the father having attained the age of seventy-seven at the time of his de- mise. To them were born four sons and two daughters: Charles; Albert; Mary J .; Thomas; Anna, who died at the age of fourteen ; and a son who was five years old when he passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. Annear became the parents of seven children, three of whom are deceased: Lilly, who passed away at the age of six; and two who died in infancy. Those surviving are: Olletha, the wife of Frank Hessler, of Pleasant Valley, who has two children, Mamie and Thomas ; Charles A., also a resident of Pleasant Valley township, who married Les- tie Byers and has three children : James Albert, who lives in Newton town- ship with his brother John; and John, who married Della Livingston and has two children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Annear belongs the distinction of having been the first to join the Methodist Episcopal church in Pleasant Valley township, and
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY
they were also the first couple married there. His political allegiance in state and national elections is usually given to the republican party, as his views more closely conform to its policy, but in local affairs he always casts an independent ballot, supporting the men and measures he deems best qualified to subserve the interests of the majority. Mr. Annear is one of the self-made men of Carroll county, who by diligence and intelligently directed effort overcame the many obstacles which he encountered, and forging ahead attained a position which places him among the foremost agriculturists of the county.
CHARLES F. HAMILTON.
It requires a man of courage, strength of character and good judgment to fill the office of sheriff in such a way as to meet the approval of the tax- payers of a county. The subject of this review is now serving for the third term as sheriff of Carroll county, Iowa, and has so conducted the office as to merit the commendation of all law-abiding citizens, also promoting a whole- some regard for law throughout the county. His birth occurred in Clinton county, Iowa, on the 12th of September, 1852, his parents being John and Mary (Muldoon) Hamilton, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former of County Antrim and the latter of County Clare. John Hamilton, who was a farmer by occupation, came to Iowa in 1837, settling near the present site of Clinton, where he made his home until 1867. Removing to Boone county, he there passed away in the same year at the age of fifty- six. His wife was called to her final rest in 1904, when eighty-three years of age, also passing away in Boone. Both were faithful communicants of the Catholic church. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters, as follows: Robert J., who is a resident of Nevada; Margaret, the wife of James Grace, of Des Moines ; Charles F., of this review ; William H., living in Fort Worth, Texas; David N., of Ogden, Utah; Martin B., who makes his home in Des Moines ; Mary, the wife of Mathew Riley, of Boone, Iowa ; and George, deceased.
Charles F. Hamilton was reared in Clinton county and subsequently spent two years in Boone. The year 1874 witnessed his arrival in Carroll and here he has resided continuously to the present time. He obtained his education in an old-fashioned log schoolhouse and after putting aside his text-books learned the blacksmith's trade, following that occupation until 1906. In that year he was chosen sheriff of Carroll county and still holds the office, having been elected for the third term.
On the 20 of September. 1874, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage to Miss Susie Grace, a native of Ireland and a daughter of John and Julia Grace. Unto them were born three children, namely: John V .; Robert J .; and Grace, who died when twenty-one years of age.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Hamilton has loyally supported the democracy. He served as city marshal of Carroll for
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY
nine years, discharging his official duties in a most commendable and satis- factory manner. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, while in religious faith both he and his wife are Catholics. His sterling traits of character have won him wide respect and made him liked wherever he is known.
SOLOMON RAYGOR.
A prosperous and highly regarded citizen of Union township is Solomon Raygor, who owns a fine homestead of ninety acres on section 2. His birth occurred in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of September, 1835, his parents being Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Rodocker) Raygor, who were also natives of the Keystone state. To them were born two sons, Solomon and Thomas. Mrs. Raygor passed away in 1837, and for his second wife he chose Miss Catharine Schrawger, who bore the following children: Jacob, Sarah, Elizabeth. Susan, James, Bella, Oliver, Joseph, Nathaniel, and one who died in infancy. The father who was a shoemaker, followed his trade for many years in connection with agricultural pursuits. He passed away in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1891, at the age of seventy-nine, having survived his wife for about six years. The paternal grandparents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Leasee) Raygor, who spent their entire lives in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Thomas Raygor, who was sixty-five years of age at the time of his death, was a veteran of the war of 1812, and his father, Peter Raygor, of the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Raygor were the parents of three children : Nathaniel, Joseph and Thomas. The maternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Rocker) Rodocker, who spent their entire lives in the Keystone state where he engaged in farm- ing. They lived to a ripe old age and were the parents of a large family, among whose members were: Samuel, John and Elizabeth.
The entire life of Solomon Raygor has been spent on a farm. He was reared in Fayette and Westmoreland counties, Pennsylvania, his education being obtained in the district schools in the vicinity of his father's home- stead. He was early trained in the work about the home, and by the time he had mastered the rudiments of the common branches he could till the fields and care for the crops. Terminating his studies, he worked in the factories for a time, remaining a member of the parental household until he was married, following which he engaged in farming. Accompanied by his wife and children he moved to Iowa in 1861, locating in the vicinity of Salem, Henry county, where he farmed as a renter for nineteen years. Dur- ing this period he acquired the capital to buy forty-five acres of land in Union township upon which he settled. The cultivation of his farm proved so profitable that he has added to the same until he now owns ninety acres of excellent land, well improved and in a high state of cultivation.
On the 22d of October, 1857, Mr. Raygor was united in marriage to Miss Rosanna Grim, a daughter of John and Nancy (Sample) Grim. Mrs. Ray-
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY
gor was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the Ist of Febru- ary, 1839. Her parents, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state, had ten children: Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Margaret, Joseph, Nancy, John, Rosanna, Catharine, David and Charlotte. Mrs. Grim passed away in Salem, Iowa, in 1875, at the age of seventy-two. For his second wife Mr. Grim chose Miss Alice Chamberlin, and of the five children born to them four attained maturity : Samuel, George, Belmont and Grover. The mater- nal grandparents of Mrs. Raygor were Ezekiel and Elizabeth (McBride) Sample.
To Mr. and Mrs. Raygor there were born eight children. Nancy Cath- arine, the eldest of the family, died at the age of three months. Mary mar- ried James Flatt, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and they have three children sur- viving: Frank, Fred and Elizabeth. Joseph, who lives in the vicinity of Wilton, North Dakota, married Ida Sapp and they have five children : Ralph, Lylah, Otha, Warren and Arnold. Savvanah, who lives in Coon Rapids, Iowa, married Otha Blanchard, and they have three children : Ethel, May and Frank. John, who is living in Rugby, North Dakota, married Ida Cooley and they have eight children : Vernie, Winnie, Harold, Blanche, Mabel, Emerson, Ida Belle and Albert. Nathaniel, who married Mrs. May Thomas, the widow of Wesley Thomas, is living in Union township. Celia, who passed away at the age of twenty-five was unmarried. Thomas Albert, who is the youngest member of the family, is living at home with his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Raygor affiliate with the Friends church, while politically he is independent. He has always been progressive and public-spirited in matters of citizenship, and served for several terms as supervisor and also as school director. While residing in Henry county he was secretary of the board of independent school directors. During the thirty years of his resi- dence in Union township Mr. Raygor has impressed all those with whom he has come in contact as a man who is loyal in all of his relations of life, trust- worthy and reliable.
JOHN J. KRUSE.
John J. Kruse, a retired farmer of Warren township now residing in Manning, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on the 25th of August, 1850. He is a son of Jacob and Cecelia (Troe) Kruse, also natives of Schleswig-Holstein. There the father engaged in farming until his demise, but the mother emigrated to the United States in 1878, locating in Clinton county, Iowa, with a son, and there she passed away the following year. In the family were seven children: Henry, Mary M. and Jorgen, all of whom are deceased; Claus, who is a resident of Germany ; Hans J., living in Manning ; Peter, a resident of Shadron, Nebraska ; and John J., our sub- ject.
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JOHN J. KRUSE AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY
The first twenty-seven years of his life John J. Kruse spent in the land of his birth, at the expiration of which period he decided to come to the United States, and crossing the Atlantic, he made his way to Clinton county, Iowa. For three years thereafter he worked as a farm hand, during which time he managed to save enough out of his meager carnings to enable him to buy ninety-five acres of land in Warren township. Later he added to this another tract of one hundred and forty-five acres, which he most successfully cultivated for many years. It was one of the well improved and highly cultivated farms of the township when he retired in 1910, at which time he sold eighty acres of his property. Coming to Manning he erected a very pleasant residence, now occupied by himself and family, and is enjoying the well merited ease earned by long years of labor.
On the 25th of February, 1880, Mr. Kruse was united in marriage to Miss Dora Meier, a daughter of Christopher and Minnie Meier, of Clinton county, Iowa. Her parents were both natives of Hanover, Germany, where the father always engaged in farming. They were among the early settlers of Clinton county, where Mr. Meier continued to be identified with agricul- tural pursuits until his demise. His widow is still living and now makes her home in Manning. He was a member of the Lutheran church, of which Mrs. Meier is also a communicant, and politically he was a democrat. Mrs. Kruse is a native of Clinton county, her natal day being the 28th of April, 1855. To Mr. and Mrs. Kruse have been born four children : Charley, now deceased ; Ella, at home; John F., a resident of Des Moines ; and Cecelia, deceased.
The children were confirmed in the Lutheran church, of which both Mr. and Mrs. Kruse are members. He is very fond of all outdoor sports, par- ticularly hunting and fishing, and for eleven years has been president of the Manning Rifle Club. His political allegiance is given the democratic party, and he has served as township trustee, school director and road supervisor, holding one office or another for twenty-six years. He is one of those who expended the energy and vitality of his early years in such a manner that he is now able to enjoy the rest which is the well merited reward of intelli- gently directed effort.
JOSEPH MATHIAS DREES.
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, and a worthy representative of good Teutonic stock, Joseph Mathias Drees was born October 8, 1847. He has been a resident of Carroll county, Iowa, during a large part of his life and since 1880 has successfully engaged in the practice of law at Carroll, being known as one of the leaders of the bar in this county. He is a son of John 'A'. Drees, who was born in Hanover, Germany, and as a young man learned the coppersmith's trade, also becoming a draftsman. At the age of twenty- one he was induced to emigrate to America by a large Boston firm, who en- gaged him as an expert workman, and he remained with this firm for twelve Vol. II .- 3.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY
years. While in Boston he was married to Miss Clara Feka, who was born in Munster, Germany, and crossed the ocean to America about the same time as Mr. Drees but did not make his acquaintance until later in Boston. About 1855 Mr. Drees, Sr., arrived with his family at Dubuque, Iowa, and later entered the copper, sheet iron and brass finishing business as senior member of the firm of Drees, Honnack & Essman. He was very successful in his business and was an unusually fine workman in copper and brass,. being also a designer of marked ability. He gained an enviable reputation as a manufacturer of soda fountains, etc. He died in 1867, at the age of sixty-eight years, but was survived for many years by his wife, who passed away in 1908, after reaching the advanced age of ninety-three. She re- tained her mental faculties almost unimpaired up to the time of her death. She was a woman of many excellent qualities and was a steadfast member of the Catholic church. Mr. Drees was an adherent of the democratic party and was also connected with the Catholic church. He was a man of strong convictions and of large charities, being a liberal giver to worthy causes. After his death, his two eldest sons, Andrew and Bernard, took charge of the business, which they conducted for a number of years. 'An- drew died in 1908, at the age of sixty-seven, but Bernard is still living and makes his home at Carroll.
Mr. Drees of this review received his preliminary education at the paro- chial schools of Boston and Dubuque, later becoming a student of the high school, from which he was graduated. He engaged as clerk for several years in a mercantile establishment at Dubuque and then went east, where he was connected in a similar capacity with stores at Portland and at Bos- ton. In 1867 he enlisted in the regular army and served for the full period of five years in various parts of the country, advancing to the position of sergeant. After receiving his honorable discharge he came to Carroll county, Iowa, in 1872 and took charge of a general store which was owned by his mother at Mount Carmel. He continued there until 1878 and then, having decided to devote his attention to law, he came to Carroll and en- tered the office of Hon. O. H. Manning, one of the leading practitioners of this section. After two years of close application to the study of law he was admitted to the bar of Iowa upon examination in 1880 and has since engaged in practice at Carroll. In addition to his legal duties he pays con- siderable attention to the insurance and real-estate business, which yields a handsome annual revenue.
In 1875, at Mount Carmel, Carroll county, Mr. Drees was married to Miss Johanna Adelia Kniest, a daughter of Lambert and Maria A. Kniest, the former of whom was born in Holland and the latter in Germany. The father came to Carroll county from Dubuque and was practically the pio- neer in opening this county to Catholic immigration. He was quite suc- cessful as a merchant and land dealer. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Drees. Those now called to mind are: Clara, who is at home; Theodore J., who was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan and is now practicing at Carroll; Lambert J., who is engaged as a dentist at Carroll; John A., identified with his father in the real-estate
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business ; Frank W., now in Montana, having recently taken up a land claim there; Agnes; and Andrew, who is also living upon a land claim in Mon- tana. The mother of these children died in 1885, having arrived at the age of forty-five years. She was a woman of many sterling qualities that greatly endeared her to all who came within the circle of her acquaintance. Mr. Drees is a valued member of St. Joseph's Catholic church and frater- nally identified with the Knights of Columbus. He votes in support of the democratic party, of which he is a stanch adherent. For about fifteen years past he has served as justice of the peace, discharging the duties of the office in such a way as to meet the approval of the best citizens of all parties. A man of large experience, of thoroughly tested ability and of acknowledged high character, he is a credit to his family and his state and there can be no doubt as to his continued success in his chosen vocation.
GEORGE A. POEPPE.
On the roster of county officials appears the name of George A. Poeppe, who is now filling the position of auditor and is proving most loyal to the trust reposed in him. His birth occurred near Steinheim, Westphalia, Ger- many, on the 23d of April, 1863, his parents being John and Theresa Poeppe. His paternal grandfather, John Poeppe, was a farmer by occupation and passed away in Germany at the age of fifty-two years. He was the father of two sons and two daughters, namely: John, William, Theresa and Cath- arine.
John Poeppe, the father of George A. Poeppe, followed general agricul- tural pursuits throughout his active business career and died in Germany when seventy-six years of age. He served in the German wars of 1848, 1864 and 1866, ever proving a most loyal and valiant soldier. His wife also passed away when seventy-six years of age. Both were faithful communicants of the German Catholic church. Unto them were born eight children, three of whom still survive, as follows: George A., of this review; Frank; and Josephine. There was also a stepson, Joseph, who now makes his home two miles west of Carroll, Iowa.
George A. Poeppe spent the first eighteen years of his life in the father- land and came to America in August, 1881, settling in Carroll county, Iowa. He had acquired an excellent education in Germany and after his emigra- tion to the new world followed the profession of teaching for nineteen years. Subsequently he was engaged in business as a general merchant of Mount Carmel for eight years, also serving as postmaster of the town for a period of six years. On abandoning mercantile pursuits he began farming in Kniest township and devoted his attention to the work of the fields until 1907, when he became deputy county auditor, serving in that capacity for four years. On the expiration of that period he was elected county auditor and no one has reason to complain of the way in which he administers the affairs of the office.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 1
On the IIth of February, 1890, Mr. Poeppe was united in marriage to Miss Lena R. Wernimont, a native of Dubuque, Iowa, and a daughter of John and Catharine (Peters) Wernimont, who were born in Luxemburg. Unto our subject and his wife were born nine children, namely: Cecelia, who is deceased ; George N .; Theresa ; Theodore ; Loretta, who has likewise passed away ; Martha ; Albert ; Isabel ; and Coleta.
In politics Mr. Poeppe is a democrat, while his religious faith is indi- cated by his membership in the Catholic church, to which his wife also be- longs. The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized. He found the opportunities he sought -which, by the way, are always open to the ambitious, energetic man-and making the best of these he has steadily worked his way upward. He pos- sesses the resolution, perseverance and reliability so characteristic of his nation, and his name has long been enrolled among the representative and respected citizens of Carroll county.
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