USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 12
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 12
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When the father left the farm Adolph Kakac assumed its management. He was born in Bohemia on the 9th of June, 1880, and was therefore but three years of age when brought by his parents to the new world. When a lad of seven years he accom-
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panied his parents on their removal to Iowa, where he was reared and educated. At the age of thirty years he wedded Mary Kubichek, whose parents, natives of Bohemia, are still living. It was in 1910 that Mr. and Mrs. Kakac were married and they have become the parents of two children, Edward Adolph and Gladys Marie, aged respec- tively five and two years.
Mr. Kakac and his family are members of the Presbyterian church and he belongs to the B. Z. Y., a Bohemian society of Cedar Rapids. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is keenly interested in the vital questions and issues of the day but does not seek office as a reward for party fealty. His time and atten- tion are given to his business affairs and aside from his farming interests he is identi- fied with the Maple Leaf Creamery Company as a stockholder. He works diligently and persistently in the development and improvement of his farm and his labors have brought to him substantial returns.
E. W. KELLERSHON.
E. W. Kellershon, manager for the Northern Lumber Company at New Hampton and an alert and progressive business man, was born in Germany, October 19, 1865, a son of William and Catherine (Schmidt) Kellershon, both of whom spent their entire lives in Germany. The son was there educated in the public schools and also spent a term as a pupil in a district school in Wisconsin after coming to the new world. In November, 1884, following the attainment of his nineteenth year, he crossed the At- lantic and first made his way to Newark, New Jersey, where he spent the winter. In the succeeding spring he traveled westward and for one year was a resident of Hartford, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1886, however, he arrived in Chickasaw county, Iowa, locating in Lawler, where he hired out to a farmer for the following summer. In the fall of that year he took up his abode in New Hampton and began work in the lumberyard of John Foley, in whose employ he remained until Mr. Foley sold the business to the Northern Lumber Company on the 1st of November, 1902. At that date Mr. Kellershon was made manager of the business at New Hampton and has continued to fill this position of responsibility to the present time. For more than thirty years he has been connected with the business and its growth and de- velopment are attributable in no small measure to his close application, his energy and thorough reliability. As manager he is now bending his efforts to administrative direction and executive control and he has built up a large trade for the company which he represents.
On the 2d of May, 1899, Mr. Kellershon was married to Miss Barbara Burget, of Chickasaw county, and to them have been born nine children: Irene, Romana, Hilda, Sybilla, Frank, Selma, Walter, William and Marie. They have also reared an adopted daughter, Anna. All of the children are yet at home. Mr. Kellershon's first wife was Frederika Piehn, whom he married in 1890.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Keller- shon is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is today accounted one of the prominent and well known business men of New Hampton, his residence in Chickasaw county covering a third of a century, during which time his sterling personal worth and business enterprise have been again and again demonstrated.
E. D. CAPPER.
E. D. Capper, a man of marked business enterprise, is a member of the firm of Capper & Thomas, owning the leading general merchandise establishment of Chester. He was born in Fayette county, Iowa, May 20, 1864, a son of John and Dorinda (Brooks) Capper, both of whom were natives of Carroll county, Ohio, where they were reared and
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married. About 1854 or 1855, soon after their marriage, they came west to Iowa, settling in Fayette county, where the father purchased a quarter section of land from a man who had preempted the tract from the government. Mr. Capper resided upon that farm until his declining years, when he retired from active agricultural pursuits and established his home in Elgin, Iowa, where he passed away on the 7th of May, 1911. He had for many years survived his wife, who died on Christmas day of 1893.
Mr. Capper of this review was educated in the district schools and on attaining his majority became identified with the creamery business. He thoroughly learned the art. of butter making and was active along that line for thirteen years. In 1898 he estab- lished a mercantile business in Chester and in the past twenty-one years has had three different partners, Charles H. Thomas, his present associate, buying into the business on the 14th of February, 1911. The business relation between them has thus been main- tained for eight years and the firm of Capper & Thomas has the leading general mer- cantile house of Chester, carrying an extensive line of goods and putting forth every effort to please their patrons, so that their trade is constantly growing.
On the 3d of May, 1885, seventeen days prior to the celebration of his twenty-first birthday, Mr. Capper was married to Miss Helen B. Snyder, of Fayette county, Iowa, and they have become the parents of two children: Earl C., who is butter maker in a creamery at Blue Grass, North Dakota; and Archie F., who is cashier of the Farmers' National Bank of Aurelia, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Capper are both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Capper also belongs to Chester Lodge, No. 444, I. O. O. F., and to the Modern Woodmen of America. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs. He is never remiss in the duties of citizenship, however, but cooperates in all well defined plans and measures for the general good.
HON. J. E. GARMEN.
Hon. J. E. Garmen is the mayor of New Hampton and one of the progressive busi- ness men of the city, being senior partner in the firm of Garmen & Forkenbrock, hard- ware dealers and steam fitters. He comes to Iowa from Ohio, his birth having occurred near Alliance, in Columbiana county, on the 9th of August, 1857, his parents being Samuel and Susan (Bruner) Garmen, both of whom were natives of Switzerland, whence they came to the United States, the father making the trip in young manhood, while the mother crossed the Atlantic with her parents in young womanhood. Both became residents of Columbiana county, Ohio, where they were married. They settled upon a farm in that district and upon the outbreak of the Civil war the father enlisted for active service in defense of the Union and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. The mother afterward became the wife of Christian Greenewald, and following the close of the Civil war they removed to Wisconsin, settling near Monroe, where they resided until 1874 and then came to Iowa, establishing their home in Chickasaw county, where Mrs. Greenewald continued to reside to the time of her death in 1915.
J. E. Garmen was a youth of seventeen years when he came to Chickasaw county with his mother. He had been educated in the district schools of Wisconsin and Iowa and on attaining his majority he located in New Hampton, where he entered the employ of O. B. Sherman & Son, general merchants. He continued with that firm and their successors for a period of fifteen years, a fact indicative of his capability and faithful- ness. He entered the store as general utility boy and rose to the position of manager of the clothing department. He recognized the fact, however, that there is little in working for some one else and bought the interest of F. S. Briggs in the hardware busi- ness of Dixon & Briggs, the firm style being then changed to Dixon & Garmen. About 1898 Joseph I. Forkenbrock took over the interest of Mr. Dixon in the business and the present firm style of Garmen & Forkenbrock was assumed. They have since conducted a successful hardware and steam fitting business and now enjoy a liberal patronage.
Mr. Garmen was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Shaffer, a daughter of H. H.
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Shaffer, one of the pioneer settlers of Chickasaw county, and to them have been born three children: Charles J., who is cashier of the First State Bank of Elma; and Hattie E. and W. Glenn, both deceased.
In politics Mr. Garmen is a republican and in April, 1917, he was elected to the mayoralty of New Hampton. He closely studies the needs and opportunities of the com- munity and discharges his duties with regard to civic improvement and advancement. He is well known in Masonic circles as a member of Arcana Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; the chapter, R. A. M .; Eudoria Commandery, K. T .; and the temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist church and they rank high in social circles of the city. Mr. Garmen has ever been a substantial factor in the busi- ness and public life of his community and for eighteen years served as chief of the fire department of New Hampton. The honors which have come to him in public life are well deserved, indicating his worth and its recognition on the part of his fellow towns- men.
J. J. LUKES.
The farming interests of Chickasaw county find a worthy representative in J. J. Lukes, who is living on section 24, Utica township, where he has a tract of good land well developed. He was born in Sumner township, Winneshiek county, Feb- ruary, 13, 1857. Two years before this his parents, Martin and Annie (Kondelka) Lukes, had come to the United States. They were of Czecho-Slovak nationality and were married in their native land. Believing that they might have better business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic, they made the voyage across the ocean and established their home in Sumner township, Winneshiek county, Iowa, where the father worked as a farm hand for a time. He then purchased land and devoted the remainder of his active business life to the further development and improve- ment of his property. He died at the home of his son, J. J. Lukes, in 1907, and the mother remained a member of the household of her son until 1911, when she, too, was called to her final rest. In his business affairs the father had been quite suc- cessful and ere his death had acquired two hundred acres of rich and valuable land in Chickasaw county.
J. J. Lukes was educated in the common schools of Winneshiek county, where he lived upon his father's farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. At the age of twenty-three years he was married to Miss Anna Tupy and they became the parents of three children: Stella, Francis and Rose. The wife and mother passed away in 1886 and in 1887 Mr. Lukes was again married, his second union being with Anna Nohale, a daughter of Joseph Nohale. Of this marriage seven children have been born and six are now living, namely: Mary, Robert, Anna, Godlove, Rudolph and Lizzie. Alois is deceased.
Mr. Lukes and his family are members of the Catholic church of Protivin and he is identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters at that place and with the Modern Woodmen Camp there. In community affairs he is much interested and has served as trustee of Utica township and also as township clerk and assessor, giving to his locality valuable and efficient service along those lines. He has lived in Utica township since his first marriage in 1880 and through the intervening period, covering more than a third of a century, has been classed with the representative farmers and substantial citizens of his part of the state.
HENRY MANNING.
Progressive methods of farming have placed Henry Manning in a. creditable posi- tion among the leading agriculturists of Chickasaw county. His home is on section 19, Deerfield township, where he has an excellent tract of land of four hundred and seventy-five acres, upon which he has lived since 1911. He is of German birth but was
J. J. LUKES
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only four years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, of whom mention is made in connection with the sketch of their son, Wilhelm Manning, on another page of this work. The birth of Henry Manning occurred October 21, 1857, and for a brief period in his youth he was a resident of Illinois, for his parents settled in Cook county, that state, when they came to the new world. The father passed away in Chicago and the mother, following the disastrous Chicago fire of October, 1871, came with her three sons-Wilhelm, Henry and Herman-to Iowa. All three brothers farmed together until 1886 and throughout the period of his residence in this state Henry Manning has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He has worked diligently and persistently to gain a start and to win the prosperity which is now his. In 1911 he took up his abode upon his present place, which he purchased, adding to his holdings until he now has four hundred and seventy-five acres in the immediate vicinity of his home farm. He ranks with Deerfield township's most suc- cessful and progressive farmers, following the most modern methods in the further development and improvement of the fields and thus greatly enhancing the productive- ness of his land.
On the 1st of December, 1886, Mr. Manning was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Kumrey, a daughter of Henry and Henrietta Kumrey, who were natives of Germany, whence they came to the United States. The father was for a long period a resident of Iowa and passed away in Deerfield township, Chickasaw county. The mother died in 1911 in Floyd county, this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Manning have been born three chil- dren: Edward H. and John H., who are married; and George A., who is assisting his father in the further development and improvement of the home farm.
The religious faith of the parents is indicated in their connection with the German Lutheran church of Bassett. For fifty-seven years Henry Manning has resided on this side of the Atlantic and is thoroughly American in spirit and interests. The greater part of his life has been passed in Iowa and the agricultural development of Chickasaw county has been promoted in no small measure through his untiring industry and progressiveness.
HUGH H. SAUL.
Prominent among the energetic, farsighted and successful business men of Howard county is numbered Hugh H. Saul, who is actively identified with farming interests on section 15, Howard township, and is also the president of the Maple Leaf Creamery Company. His business affairs are most wisely directed, his judgment at all times be- ing sound and his methods thoroughly reliable. Iowa numbers him among her native sons and the greater part of his life has been spent within her borders. He was born near Reinbeck, Grundy county, on the 31st of. August, 1878, his parents being Thomas K. and Anna (Dyer) Saul, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in Illinois. The father came to the United States in young manhood and settled in Forres- ton, Illinois, where he was subsequently married. About 1868 he removed to Iowa and made his first investment in Iowa farm land by the purchase of a tract in Franklin county, for which he paid four dollars per acre. After living upon that farm for only a brief period he traded the property for land in Grundy county, for which he paid seven dollars per acre, acquiring one hundred and forty-seven acres. For thirty years he lived upon that place and converted it into a most productive tract, his fields re- sponding readily to the care and labor which he bestowed upon them. After leaving the farm he removed to Reinbeck and later to Waterloo, where he and his wife remained until called to their final rest. The death of the father occurred in 1912, while the mother survived him for three years.
Hugh H. Saul was a pupil in the Ellsworth College at Iowa Falls, Iowa, after com- pleting his district school course, and took up the profession of teaching, which he followed through two winter terms. He also spent two years at work at the painter's trade and in 1902 he began farming on his own account, his practical training received upon the old homestead now coming into good play. He cultivated two hundred and
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fifty acres of land, ninety acres of which came to him through his father, while the other one hundred and sixty acre tract was rented. After five years he sold his property and went to Texas, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Randall county. and his father bought another quarter section in the same district, Hugh H. Saul liv- ing upon and operating his father's land. He continued a resident of the Lone Star state for three years, after which he returned to Iowa, becoming a resident of Howard county. Here he has acquired two hundred and forty acres in Howard township and his place is most fertile and productive. His farm is now under a very high state of cultivation and constitutes one of the attractive features in the landscape by reason of its splendid growing crops, its substantial buildings, its modern machinery and its high grade stock. Mr. Saul's business ability is also manifest along another line, for he has for a number of years been a director of the Maple Leaf Creamery Company and in 1918 was elected president of that corporation, in which capacity he is now serving, the business being carefully and successfully carried on under his direction.
In 1903 Mr. Saul was united in marriage to Miss Anna Anderson, a native of Ireland, by whom he had one child, Neiley E. The wife and mother passed away in 1906 and two years later Mr. Saul was again married, his second union being with Miss Margaret Barry, of Canyon, Texas. By his second wife he has six children, namely: Anna Irene, Thomas Allen, Violet V., Mildred E., Hugh H. and James Perry.
Mr. Saul votes with the republican party, to which he has given his support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For several years he has served as a member of the school board and is a stalwart champion of the cause of public educa- tion, but otherwise he has never sought or filled public office. He is a member of Maple Leaf Lodge, No. 528, A. F. & A. M., of Elma, and both he and his wife are members of Maple Leaf Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. They likewise hold membership in the Presbyterian church and are faithful followers of its teachings. Their social qualities, their kindly spirit and their reliability have won for them the warm friendship and high regard of all who know them and it is to such substantial people that Howard county owes her upbuilding and progress.
ROBERT W. DAVIS.
No student of the history of Howard county can carry his investigations far into its public annals without learning how closely, helpfully and prominently has the Davis family been associated therewith. Robert W. Davis, for many years actively and suc- cessfully engaged in farming, is now living retired in Lime Springs, his business interests being only those of a director of the First National Bank of Lime Springs save for the supervision which he gives to his investments. He was born in Beaver township, Fill- more county, Minnesota, October 2, 1862, a son of William P. and Catherine (Davis) Davis, mentioned in connection with the sketch of their son, D. W. Davis, on another page of this work.
The old homestead farm was the place upon which Robert W. Davis was reared and in the district schools he pursued his education. He was but a lad of seven years when his parents removed to Howard county, so that practically his entire life has been spent within its borders. At the age of twenty-six years, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Jones, of Kingston, Wisconsin, and he then took up farming on his own account. He had acquired two hundred and forty acres of the old homestead and upon this place he engaged extensively in the breeding of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and built up one of the best herds in the county. He imported pure Scotch cattle and in- creased his herd to one hundred head, all registered animals. For twenty-two years he continued in this business and won a place among the foremost stock raisers and ship- pers of northern Iowa. His business enterprise not only contributed to his personal success but was also a potent feature in the development of the live stock interests of the state, for he did much to improve the breed of stock raised by the farmers of his section. In 1912 he disposed of his live stock interests and removed to Lime Springs, having previously purchased an interest in the First National Bank upon its incorpora-
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tion. He was made a member of the board of directors at that time and through the intervening years since his removal to the town he has given much of his time to the conduct of the bank's affairs. He is still the owner of two excellent farms in Howard county, including the old homestead of two hundred and forty acres and another tract of one hundred acres, while in addition he also has a timber tract of forty acres. His real estate possessions likewise include a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Aberdeen, North Dakota, and a place of one hundred and sixty acres in Alberta, Canada. His profits have been wisely placed in real estate, the safest of all investments, and from his property holdings he derives a most substantial annual income.
To Mr. and Mrs. Davis has been born a son, Sergeant Newton E. Davis, who en- listed for service in the European war and was for six months on active duty in France. In politics Mr. Davis is a republican and for five years served as assessor of Lime Springs, while in 1915 he was appointed census enumerator. He belongs to Howard Lodge, No. 214, A. F. & A. M., and also to Shiloh Chapter, No. 150, R. A. M., while botlı he and his wife are members of Utopia Chapter, No. 379, O. E. S. They also hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and in these associations are indicated the nature of their interests and the rules that govern their conduct. They are highly esteemed people, enjoying the warm regard of all who know them, and the hospitality of the best homes of the county is freely accorded them.
THEODORE LUSSON.
Among the progressive business men of Cresco is Theodore Lusson of the firm of McHugh & Lusson, implement dealers who also have the Ford agency and garage. Their plans have been well defined and promptly executed and success in substantial measure has come to them, while their labors have been a contributing factor to the commercial upbuilding of the city.
Mr. Lusson was born in Peru, Illinois, May 5, 1873, a son of Joseph and Catharine (Perry) Lusson. The father was born in Luxemburg, Germany, as was the mother. When a young man he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, making the voyage on a sailing vessel, and after a number of weeks spent upon the water he reached the American port. From the eastern coast he made his way into the interior, settling at Port Washington, Wisconsin, where he secured land which he owned and cultivated for some time. Later he removed to Fayette county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and this he developed and improved, his labors bringing to him substantial harvests annually. He lived upon that place until his death, which occurred when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years, and his wife was seventy-three years of age at the time of her death. Both were devoted members of the Catholic church and Mr. Lusson gave his political allegiance to the democratic party.
Theodore Lusson, whose name introduces this review, spent his youthful days in Fayette county, Iowa, where he was educated and later engaged in clerking in a hard- ware store, where he continued for two years. In the fall of 1899 he came to Cresco, where he took up his abode and embarked in the general merchandise business, becom- ing connected with F. A. Huber in this undertaking. He was thus actively associated with commercial interests of the city for five years, at the end of which time Mr. Huber disposed of his interest to J. F. Zbornik, with whom Mr. Lusson continued in business until 1909. They built up a large and gratifying trade and found that well satisfied patrons were their best advertisement. They put forth every effort to please their cus- tomers, therefore, and their trade steadily grew. In 1909, however, Mr. Lusson disposed of his interest to J. W. Zbornik and later formed a partnership with O. J. McHugh. They purchased the implement business of D. A. Lyons and in that line Mr. Lusson is still engaged. The firm of McHugh & Lusson entered upon a profitable existence, having a large and well appointed implement store and at the same time they own and conduct the Ford agency and garage in Cresco, being liberally patronized along that line as well.
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