USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 14
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 14
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an ardent republican but is liberal in his views. He served for many years as justice of the peace and notary public and he has been an influential factor in the political councils of his party.
Following his marriage Mr. Owens rented and cultivated his father's farm for four years. In 1902 he purchased his present home property, to which he removed in March, 1904. In 1915 he built one of the handsome country homes of Howard county and he has erected all of the substantial and attractive buildings which are upon his farm and his is one of the most attractive properties in Vernon Springs township. He follows the most progressive methods in the conduct of his interests and his energy and enterprise have brought to him a very gratifying measure of success.
To Mr. and Mrs. Owens have been born five children: John Cletus, who is attending Dubuque College, in which he is pursuing a scientific course; William L .; Raymond A .; Sarah Geraldine; and Eleanor Mary.
The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Owens belongs also to the Knights of Columbus. In politics he is a democrat. He is regarded as one of the leading citizens of Vernon Springs township and his life is indicative of the forcefulness of energy and enterprise as factors in business. Steadily he has worked his way up- ward and his progress is manifest in the fine appearance of the farm which he now owns.
W. L. DARROW.
W. L. Darrow, who was a successful banker of New Hampton, passed away March 31, 1919, honored and respected by all who knew him in northern lowa. He made his entrance into Chickasaw county behind a flock of sheep which for ten weeks had been driving across the country from New York to Iowa. He was then in limited financial circumstances, but was attracted by the opportunities of the west and was possessed of laudable ambition and determination-qualities that readily wrest fortune from the hands of fate. He became the president of the Darrow Trust & Savings Bank, one of the strong financial institutions of northern Iowa.
He was born in Genesee county, New York, September 18, 1835, a son of Luther and Hannah (Kinney) Darrow, both of whom were natives of the state of Vermont. They were married at Rupert, Vermont, and afterward took up their abode upon a farm in Genesee county, New York, which the father had previously secured, this being a part of the Holland land purchase. It was covered with a native growth of timber and he at once set himself to the arduous task of clearing away the trees, plowing the land and improving the place. His wife died there when their son, W. L. Darrow, was but five years of age. The father continued to reside upon the old homestead to the time of his death, which occurred when he was seventy-two years of age. He was a son of Zachariah Darrow, a Revolu- tionary war soldier, who died in Pembroke, New York, at the advanced age of ninety years. The maternal grandfather of W. L. Darrow was also a Revolu- tionary war hero and passed away at Rupert, Vermont, when ninety years of age.
In the common schools of Pembroke, New York, W. L. Darrow pursued his education and while still but a youth went to work for a brother in a mercantile store in Pembroke. At the age of eighteen years he first came to the west, making his way to the territory of Minnesota, where he drove oxen used in hauling logs during the first summer. For two or three years thereafter he worked in a store at Oronco and eventually made his way to Iowa. In this state he taught school in the winter months, while in the summer seasons he was employed in various ways until he returned to Pembroke, New York, about the latter part of the year 1856. Through the following eight years he taught school during the winter seasons and worked the farm during the summer months.
In 1864 Mr. Darrow was united in marriage to Miss Maria Douglas and the same year he again started for Iowa, making the entire journey on foot, driving
W. L. DARROW
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a flock of sheep across the country with the assistance of a dog. He was ten weeks upon the road, camping out by the wayside at night. He left his bride in New York, sending for her the following spring. She journeyed westward by train as far as Waverly, Iowa, where she was met by Mr. Darrow with a team and wagon and thus taken to her new home. Mr. Darrow, upon his arrival, had settled upon a farm in Deerfield township and later he purchased a farm from a Mr. Door, who had taken up the property as a homestead claim. Mr. Darrow continued upon this place for four or five years and concentrated his efforts and attention upon the development of his fields through the summer seasons, while in the winter he taught both common schools and singing schools. At the end of that period he removed to New Hampton and secured a contract for carrying the mail from that place to Deerfield. He likewise continued his work as a singing school teacher. He was frugal and industrious and thus was soon able to loan money in a small way. This constituted his initial step toward his banking experience. Later he became the agent for eastern capitalists in loaning money on farm mortgages and other property and in this he proved quite successful displaying sound judg- ment in placing the loans. For some years he was identified with his brother, Asa K. Darrow, in a private banking business and about 1910 the Darrow Trust & Savings Bank was incorporated and W. L. Darrow became the president of the institution. He thus gradually worked his way upward in financial circles until he occupied a prominent position as one of the bankers of northern Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Darrow became the parents of but one child, Verna, who is now the wife of A. F. Markle, vice president of the Darrow Trust & Savings Bank. Mrs. Darrow is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Darrow was also a member of the same church and also of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge, chapter, commandery and shrine. In politics he was a republican and for several years served as town clerk but otherwise did not seek or fill public posi- tions. He certainly deserved much credit for what he accomplished as he worked his way steadily upward through persistent effort and indefatigable energy. As a business man he was conspicuous among his associates, not only for his success, but for his probity, fairness and honorable dealing. In his life his continuous and intelligently directed activity had been accorded the due recognition of labor which is substantial success. His interests were thoroughly identified with those of Chickasaw county, where he made his home for fifty-five years, and at all times he was ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
THOMAS J. HOOPER.
One of the most prominent and widely known of the farmers of Howard county is Thomas J. Hooper, whose place is on sections 24 and 25, Paris township. The landed possessions he superintends aggregate ten hundred and twenty-four acres and the careful cultivation and development of his fields have placed him with the prosperous and representative agriculturists of this section of the state. Mr. Hooper was born in Ontonagon county, Michigan, on the 27th of August, 1871, and is a son of Thomas and Henrietta Augusta Hooper, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work.
Thomas J. Hooper of this review spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native county to the age of seventeen years and acquired his education in the public schools, while in farm work he was well trained. Leaving home in 1888, he went to Fort Arthur, Ontario, Canada, where he was employed in a silver mine until 1893. He then left that district and removed to Great Falls, Montana where he engaged in work- ing in a smelter. He spent about two years in that locality and in February, 1895, left Montana and made his way to Howard county, Iowa, where he took up his abode upon his father's farm, which he has since occupied. This place is one of the largest and finest farms of the county. It is equipped with every modern convenience and accessory known to the model farm property of the twentieth century. The buildings are large
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and substantial and in addition to a most attractive residence there are commodious barns and outbuildings that furnish ample shelter to grain and stock. The place is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and the work of cultivation is conducted according to the most progressive methods. Mr. Hooper studies closely everything that has to do with scientific farming and his labors have produced excel. lent results.
On the 7th of October, 1895, Thomas J. Hooper was married to Miss Emma A. Oak- land, a daughter of Henry T. and Isabella Oakland. Mrs. Hooper was born in Boone county, Iowa, but when she was only a year old her parents removed with their family to Minnesota, where they remained upon a farm for ten years. They then went to Athol, South Dakota, where they resided for six years, the father being engaged during that time in farming and in the implement business. They next took up their abode at Great Falls, Montana, and there the father of Mrs. Hooper turned his attention to real estate dealing. He was a native of Norway, born in the land of the midnight sun in 1848, and was a young man of nineteen years when he came to the United States. He sought broader business opportunities than could be secured in his native country and through the utilization of the advantages that came to him in a business way he steadily progressed and had no reason to regret his determination to come to the United States. He died at Great Falls, Montana, August 15, 1894.
Mr. and Mrs. Hooper are the parents of five children: Harry Verne, Harold Mau- rice, Charles Donald, Stanley Dean and William Howard. All are yet under the paren. tal roof and are being educated in the public schools of Howard county. The son Harold has finished his work in the grades and is taking a general course in the high school at Greenland, Michigan. Mr. Hooper has ever been a strong believer in educa- tion and desires that his children shall have good opportunities in this direction. His own liberal training has constituted the foundation of his success, for after attending the graded schools he pursued his studies in a boarding school at Lansing, Michigan, and still later took a course in the agricultural school of that state. He likewise at- tended a commercial school in Toronto and thus he has been well trained in all meth- ods of scientific farming and is able to direct his labors in the fields with sound judg- ment.
He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church of Cresco and Mr. Hooper is a member of Cresco Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is likewise connected with Beauseant Commandery, K. T., at Decorah, Iowa. Since 1894 he has been a member of the Wood- men of the World and he is always loyal to the teachings of these organizations. His political endorsement has been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he prefers that his public duty shall be done as a pri- vate citizen and not as an office holder. The extensive farming interests under his control make heavy demands upon his time and energies, but he has his work thoroughly systematized. He forms his plans most carefully and is determined in their execution, and when one avenue of accomplishment seems closed he carves out other paths whereby he can reach the desired goal. In his vocabulary there is no such word as fail and his determination and perseverance constitute important elements in the at- tainment of the very substantial success that is now his.
JOHN SIMON KACHER.
The home farm of John Simon Kacher is situated on section 13, Utica township, Chickasaw county, and comprises two hundred and eighty acres of rich and valuable land. Since coming into possession of this property he has concentrated his efforts and attention upon its further development and improvement and has made it one of the valuable farms of his part of the state.
Iowa claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Winneshiek county, December 24, 1873, his parents being Frank and Kate (Payer) Kacher, both of whom were natives of Bohemia. They came to the United States with their respective parents and it was in Winneshiek county that they became acquainted and were married. The
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father was killed in 1874 when he was run over by a wagon that was loaded with bundles of wheat. His widow long survived him and departed this life in Winneshiek county in 1915.
John S. Kacher was only a year old at the time of his father's demise. Reared in his native county, he attended its common schools but his opportunities in that direc- tion were somewhat limited, for owing to his father's early death it became necessary that he provide for his own support when he was still quite young. He left home at the age of twelve years and began working as a farm hand. His youth was therefore a period of earnest and unremitting toil and he early learned the value of industry and perseverance as factors in the attainment of success. These qualities have characterized his entire life. For a considerable period he worked for others and then began farming ou his own account on rented land, which he continued to cultivate for nine years. He then made investment in one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm in 1903 and since that time has enjoyed a substantial measure of prosperity. As the years have passed and his moneyed resources have developed he has bought other land and now owns two hundred and eighty acres in the home place, in addition to an excellent tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Winneshiek county.
On the 25th of September, 1894, Mr. Kacher was married to Miss Stella Shindlar, a daughter of Frank and Nellie Shindlar, who were also natives of Bohemia and became pioneer residents of Winneshiek county, where the mother still makes her home. The father, however, passed away in the year 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Kacher have become the parents of six children: James, who is married and follows farming in Utica township; and John, Frank, Pauline, Adeline and Stanley, all at home.
Mr. Kacher and his family are members of the Catholic church at Little Turkey. His political belief is that of the democratic party and to its principles he has given his earnest allegiance since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is truly a self-made man and deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, as he was forced to start out in the business world empty-handed when a little lad of but twelve years. From that time forward he has worked diligently and his success has come to him as tlie reward of his earnest toil. He is today the owner of valuable farm property and his holdings are the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift
JOSEPH F. PECINOVSKY.
Joseph F. Pecinovsky, occupying a central place on the stage of public activity in connection with the history of New Oregon township and the town of Protivin, is widely known as the president of the Bohemian Savings Bank but otherwise is living retired from active business, although he was for many years actively identified with interests which have constituted an important element in the development and busi- ness progress of this section of the state. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, March 21, 1858, a son of Joseph and Rosalie (Holub) pecinovsky, both of whom were natives of Bohemia. The parents came to the United States in young manhood and womanhood, landing in New York city on the 1st of January, 1855. They were from the same lo- cality in Bohemia and crossed the ocean on the same vessel. With the father came his parents and three brothers, while the mother accompanied her mother, three brothers and a sister to the new world, her father having died in Bohemia. Joseph Pecinovsky, Sr., was a tailor by trade and located in Davenport, where he worked at tailoring for seven or eight years. His parents then came on to Howard county, while the family of Mrs. Joseph Pecinovsky stopped in Davenport, Iowa. Some of the brothers of Mrs. Pecinovsky, however, finally drifted further west and located near Prairieburg, in Linn county, Iowa. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pecinovsky, Sr., was celebrated in Davenport a year or so after they had come to the new world and two children were born to them in that city. In 1863 they came with their little family to Howard county, Iowa, and purchased forty acres of government land just north of the present town of Protivin. Here the father engaged in farming very suc- cessfully and as the years passed he added to his landed possessions until he had ac-
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quired four hundred and eighty acres. He and his wife are still living, he having reached the notable old age of ninety-two years, while Mrs. Pecinovsky is eighty-five years of age. For several years they have made their home with their son Joseph.
In the district schools of Howard county Joseph F. Pecinovsky of this review pur- sued his education and also spent two short terms in the city schools of Cresco. His early training was that of the farmbred boy who soon becomes familiar with the work of the fields through actual experience. In 1880, having reached man's estate, Joseph F. Pecinovsky was united in marriage to Miss Teresa Moudry, a native of Bohemia, who came to this country two years before her marriage. Mr. Pecinovsky after assuming the duties of head of a household opened a country store, but three years of failure of wheat crops at that period led him to the belief that there was no money to be made in merchandising and he therefore turned his attention to farming. His father re- tired from active business at that time and the son took charge of the old homestead property. As the years passed and he prospered in his undertakings he made invest- ment in farm lands until his landed possessions aggregated five hundred and thirty acres. This he held in his own name for a considerable period but in later years has divided his property among his children save for one hundred and sixty acres which he still retains as the home place. In 1910 he was one of the dominant factors in the organization of the Bohemian State Bank of Protivin and was made the first presi- dent of the institution. He has served as president of the bank continuously since with the exception of one year, when he withdrew to give his attention more fully to the duties of the office of county supervisor. The success of the bank is attributable in no small measure to his efforts and cooperation and the sound business policy which he has instituted in connection with the conduct of the bank. He is likewise a stockholder in the Protivin Telephone Company, a stockholder in the First National Bank of Cresco and for years was a member of the board of directors of the Protivin Creamery Associa- tion. He is likewise treasurer of the Bohemian Mutual Protective Association of Spill- ville, Iowa.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pecinovsky have been born six children, of whom one died in in- fancy, while five are yet living, namely: Rosa M., the wife of John C. Svetska, a resi- dent farmer of Howard county; Mariana, the wife of Frank Wagner, a farmer of Winnesheik county; Joseph P., who carries on farming in New Oregon township, How- ard county; Charles L., a resident farmer of New Oregon township; and Theresa V., at home.
Mr. Pecinovsky and his family are consistent members of the Catholic church and he is a member of the Western Bohemian Catholic Union. In politics he has always been a republican and in 1910 was elected to the board of county supervisors, in which important office he served for six years in a most capable manner, his course being highly satisfactory to the people most concerned. He is ever loyal to the best interests of the community and stands for progress and improvement in public affairs at all times.
CASPER HELLER.
The occupation of farming claimed the efforts and energies of Casper Heller, whose home was situated on section 6, Afton township, where he was engaged in the cultivation of a good tract of land. He was born July 22, 1840, in Germany, and was a son of Ambrose Heller. He spent the first twelve years of his life in the place of his birth and then came to the United States in 1852 with his parents, who after landing on the eastern coast at once made their way across the country to Watertown, Wisconsin. The father there rented a tract of land and remained in that district for several years, devoting his attention to farming there. Eventually, however, he and his wife took up their abode in the city of Watertown, where they continued to reside until called to their final home.
Casper Heller was reared under the parental roof upon the old homestead near Watertown, Wisconsin, and after he had attained his majority he wedded Johanna
MR. AND MRS. CASPER HELLER
Vol. II-8
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Meyer, of Watertown, who was also of German lineage, ber parents having been born in Germany. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm at Watertown which Mr. Heller rented and there they continued to reside for several years. Two children were born to them ere they left Wisconsin. In 1870 they severed bome ties In that district and came to lowa, taking up their abode upon the farm on which Mrs. Heller yet resides. Mr. Heller first purchased one hundred acres of land and from time to time as his financial resources Increased he extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised three hundred and seventy acres of land, upon which he continuously made his home to the time of his death, which occurred on the 31st of March, 1909.
To Mr. and Mrs. Heller were born eight children, namely: Mrs. Frances Worple, Mrs. Dorothy Krueger, Mrs. Annie Schmidt, Mrs. Lizzie Krueger, Willie, Theodore, Emma and Casper A. Mr. Heller belonged to the Lutheran church of Riceville and his family are also adherents of that faith, He voted with the republican party and was keenly interested in the questions and interests of the day. His was an active. useful and upright life which won for him the respect and confidence of all and by reason of his diligence and industry he was able to leave his family in very com- fortable financial circumstances.
JOHN N. MUSEL.
John N. Musel, a well known and progressive young agriculturist of Paris town- ship, has for the past six years been actively engaged in the operation of his father's farm of three hundred and twelve acres on section 5. His birth occurred in Tama county, Jowa, on the 15th of February, 1885, his parents being Albert and Anna (Herska) Musel, more extended mention of whom is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of James Musel, brother of our subject.
John N. Musel acquired his early education in the public schools of his native county and subsequently attended St. Procopins College at Lisle, Illinois, while later he entered the Cedar Rapids Business College, being graduated from the latter insti- tution in 1908. He was then employed for one year in the office of the Farmers' Insur- ance Company of Cedar Rapids and next secured a position in the office of the Linn County Lumber Company of Cedar Rapids, with which concern he remained for eight months. He afterward spent a year and a half in the drug store of H. C. Caulson at Chelsea, Iowa, and then obtained employment In the general merchandise establishment of Charles Tappen at the same place, continuing in the latter position for two years. In 1913 he came to Howard county to take charge of his father's farm of three hundred and twelve acres in Paris township, which he has cultivated successfully throughout the intervening period, the well tilled fields annually ylelding golden harvests as a re- ward for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.
On the 6th of April, 1910, Mr. Musel was joined In wedlock to Miss Mary Polishek, a graduate of the parochial school of Tama, Iowa. They now have two children, Leona Loretta and Raphael Jerome. The parents are devont communicants of the Catholic church and are widely and favorably known throughout the community In which they reside.
F. B. STRIKE.
F. B. Strike, filling the office of city clerk of New Hampton, was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, February 14, 1861, a son of William and Mary A. ( Roe) Strike, both of whom were natives of England. They came to the United States after attaining their majority and settled in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where they were subsequently married. In 1882 they removed to Chickasaw county, Iowa, establishing their home upon a farm two and a half miles from New Hampton. Two years later they removed
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