USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 19
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 19
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Mr. and Mrs. Fischbach are the parents of four children: Hannah, now the wife of Henry Friedman; Clara Elizabeth, at home; Peter R., who died in France on the 5th of July. 1919, having gone to that country for overseas service in the great war: and Michael C., who is assisting his father. The son, Peter R., went to France with the September automatic replacement infantry troops, arriving at St. Nazaire, October 6, 1918. He later became attached to the embarkation staff at that place and died from disease July 5, 1919.
Mr. Fischbach and his family are members of St. Boniface Catholic church of Ionia. He has served as school director in Chickasaw township but has never been active as an office seeker. His life has been one of unfaltering diligence. He has worked hard and his ceaseless toil and endeavor have constituted the foundation upon which he has built his present-day success.
M. J. MCARTHUR.
M. J. McArthur has for thirty-five years been identified with the lumber business in Cresco and by reason of his activity in this field is most widely known. He is also serving at the present time as city clerk. A native son of Iowa, he was the first male child born in the city of Davenport, his natal day being May 4, 1840. His parents were Gabriel and Elizabeth (Glaspell) McArthur, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New Jersey. The parents were married in Cincinnati, Ohio, to which place the mother had removed with her parents during her girlhood days. In August, 1839, they came west to Davenport, Iowa, and were accompanied by the maternal grandfather, James Glaspell. He was in comfortable financial circumstances for a man of that period and was enabled to buy eighty acres of land for his family of eight children. The father
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removed to the farm given his wife in 1844 and thereon resided to the time of his death in 1861.
M. J. McArthur was educated in the common schools but had the privilege of attend- ing for only two or three months in the winter season. After his father's death he con- tinued upon the home farm for a year and then turned the place over to his brother, while he rented a farm in Scott county, Iowa, thus making his initial step in an inde- pendent business career. He subsequently purchased a small plot of ground of twenty acres two and a half miles from Davenport and there engaged in gardening, remaining thereon until 1871, when he removed to Hopkinton, Iowa, and with others took up the business of merchandising and dealing in live stock. He was quite successful in his undertakings there and remained at that place until 1894, when he removed to Cresco and became manager of the Hollister Lumber Company, in which capacity he served six years. In 1900 he was sent by the company to Merrill, Wisconsin, as lumber buyer for their line of seventeen lumberyards and remained at that point three years. Subse- quently, in connection with others, he built a mill at Bruces Crossing and organized the McArthur Manufacturing Company, of which he became the secretary and manager. In that position he served for three years and then sold his interest in the company, return- ing later to Cresco. When a year had passed he removed to Madison, South Dakota, as manager of the yards of the Coleman Lumber Company at Ramona, where he remained four years. He then again returned to Cresco, where he has since lived retired, en- joying a well earned rest.
In Davenport, Iowa, Mr. McArthur was married in 1861 to Miss Missouri Jane Moore and to them were born four children: Ann Elizabeth, Milton H., James and John. The wife and mother passed away and in 1899 Mr. McArthur was married to Miss Ada C. Brown, of Cresco.
Politically Mr. McArthur is a republican and is the present town clerk of Cresco, a position which he has most capably and ably filled for the past five years. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and his life has ever been guided by high and honor- able principles, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor. His course has ever measured up to high standards and his splendid qualities are attested in the strong friendships which are his.
JOSEPH JINDERLEE.
Joseph Jinderlee is numbered among those men who have made Howard county a great agricultural center. He follows farming on section 21, Howard township, and still gives his personal attention to the development and improvement of his land. As the years have passed he has added to his holdings until his possessions now comprise six hundred acres. Mr. Jinderlee is a native of Bohemia. He was born March 13, 1842, of the marriage of Martin and Anna Jinderlee, who spent their entire lives in Bohemia.
In the public schools the son acquired his education and in 1866, in order to evade the Prussian-Austrian war, he fled the land of his birth and came to the United States, first making his way to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he obtained work on a steamboat piying between St. Louis and Minneapolis. He spent five or six years on the river, working in that way during the fall seasons, while in the spring and summer months he was employed in a brickyard in La Crosse. The winter months were passed in the lumber camps and thus his life was one of industry and ceaseless toil. When he first went to Minneapolis he could have purchased an entire block of ground on what is today the main business thoroughfare of that city for fifty dollars and the most farsighted could scarcely have dreamed of the rapid strides which would be made in the develop- ment of the west.
In 1871 Mr. Jinderlee came to Iowa in search of land as an investment. He traveled over the Milwaukee Railroad westward to its terminus at Algona, but not liking the country there, he returned east to Charles City and bought land in Floyd county, ten miles southwest of Charles City. He then began the development and improvement of that place and farmed thereon for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1899 he disposed
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of his lands in Floyd county and removed to Howard county, where ten years before he had purchased two hundred and forty acres of his present holdings. Since then he has added to his possessions from time to time until his landed interests in Howard county comprise six hundred acres. He is today numbered among the substantial resi- dents of the county and, moreover, he is a self-made man who by persistent effort and straightforward dealing has gained his prosperity. While he is now in the seventy- eighth year of his age, he is still able to make a hand in the harvest field.
In 1873 Mr. Jinderlee was married to Miss Mary Kubesh, of Winneshiek county, who was born on the ocean while her parents were coming from Bohemia to the United States. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Jinderlee are the following children: J. W., a practicing physician of Cresco, Iowa; William and Frank, who operate the home farm; Charles F., a ranchman residing near Spokane, Washington; John, who follows farm- ing and makes his his home at Little Falls, Minnesota. The parents are members of the Catholic church. During the period of their residence in Howard county they have won many friends and enjoy the high regard and esteem of those with whom they have been associated.
L. F. GORDON, D. V. S.
Dr. L. F. Gordon, engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery at New Hampton, was born in Postville, Iowa, April 28, 1890, a son of James and Susan (McGreevy) Gordon, the former a native of Allamakee county, Iowa, born near Postville, while the latter was born in Fayette county, Iowa. The father was a butter maker by trade and conducted the Postville Creamery for nineteen years and the creamery at Preston, Iowa, for six years. He was there stationed at the time of his death, which occurred on the 30th of September, 1918. The mother survives and now makes her home with her son L. F.
In the public schools of Postville, Dr. Gordon began his education, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school as a member of the class of 1908. During the succeeding five years he devoted his attention to clerking, spending one year in a general store in Postville, while for four years he was employed as a sales- man in a clothing store in Preston. In 1913 he took up the study of veterinary surgery, entering the Chicago Veterinary College, from which he was graduated as an alumnus of 1916. Following the completion of his course there he made his way at once to New Hampton, where he entered upon the active work of his profession, and in the inter- vening period of three years he has built up a large and lucrative practice. It is a recog- nized fact that he is thoroughly familiar with the latest scientific methods of veterinary surgery and his work has been productive of excellent results.
In 1912 Dr. Gordon was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Milar, of Preston, Iowa, and in the social circles of the city they have made many warm friends. They are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, and fraternally Dr. Gordon is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he maintains an independent course, supporting men and measures rather than party. He is a young man who in professional circles has already won a creditable position and by reason of his thorough- ness and efficiency is destined to gain still further success.
JOHN E. DAVIS.
John E. Davis, who is busily engaged in farming on section 24, Forest City town- ship, Howard county, was born upon the farm which he is now operating, his natal day being February 26, 1889. His parents, Richard E. and Mary E. (Hughes) Davis, were natives of Wales and had reached adult age when they came to the new world. They made the trip with their brothers and sisters, their respective parents having died in their native land. Richard E. Davis first settled in Wisconsin after coming to the United
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States and there was employed for several years at farm work. About 1870 he removed westward to Iowa and for some time worked on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad through Nebraska. He afterward came to Howard county and about 1884 was married. He then settled on a part of the present home farm, having acquired eighty acres of land through holding a mortgage on the property. Later he added to his original tract until his farm comprised one hundred and eighty acres, upon which he resided to the time of his death, which occurred February 26, 1907. His widow survives and yet occupies the old home place.
John E. Davis of this review was educated in the district schools while spending his youthful days under the parental roof. In the winter seasons he mastered the branches of learning which constituted the public school curriculum and in the summer months he aided more or less in the work of the home farm until his father's death, which occurred when the son was eighteen years of age. Upon his young shoulders then devolved the care of the farm, which he has since cultivated and which is now owned by himself and his sister, Jessie M. Davis.
In his political views Mr. Davis is an earnest republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party, and he has served as a delegate to its county conventions, while at the last election he was chosen to the office of township assessor. On account of being alone upon the farm, however, he could not serve as it would require too much of his time. He is well known as an exemplary member of Howard Lodge, No. 214, A. F. & A. M., and also of the Modern Woodmen of America and is equally faithful as a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is regarded as one of the progressive young men and successful farmers of Howard county and enjoys the respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
JOHN J. PECHOTA.
John J. Pechota, engaged in farming on section 12, Utica township, Chickasaw county, is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Chicago, December 28, 1881, his parents being Frank and Mary Pechota, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of their son, Wenzel A. Pechota, on another page of this work. With the removal of the family to Iowa, John J. Pechota became a pupil in the district schools of Chicka- saw county and through the period of his youth aided in the cultivation of his father's farm. Following his marriage he located upon the place where he now resides-a tract of one hundred acres which his father deeded to him. The sons had assisted materially in the development of the old homestead and in the acquirement of their father's prop- erty, and he recognized their assistance in substantial gifts of land at the time the sons were married.
On the 1st of May, 1906, John J. Pechota wedded Miss Catherine M. Panos, a daughter of Albert Panos, who is spoken of at length in connection with the sketch of his son, James L. Panos, in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Pechota have two interesting children, Eugene and Dora.
The religious belief of the parents is that of the Catholic church and in the exercise of his right of franchise Mr. Pechota supports the democratic party. He is above all, however, a successful farmer who, working diligently and persistently along the line which he has always followed, has gained a place among the representative agriculturists of Chickasaw county.
W. E. TORNEY.
An excellent farm property of one hundred and fifty-one acres situated on section 7, Saratoga township, Howard county, pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon the place by the owner, W. E. Torney, who is classed with the representative agricul- turists of that community. He was born August 8, 1856, in Canada, a son of Thomas and
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Marguerite (McDowell) Torney, who about 1870 left Canada and came with their family to Howard county, Iowa. At that time the father purchased what is now the home farm of W. E. Torney and concentrated his efforts and attention upon its further development and improvement until the time of his death, which occurred April 17, 1899. For five years he had survived his wife, who died March 27, 1894.
W. E. Torney was a lad of but fourteen years at the time the family home was established in Howard county and his youthful experiences were those of the farm-bred boy who attends the public schools and works in the fields through vacation periods. He had begun his education in Canada and he continued his studies in Mitchell county, Iowa, when the parents came to this state. Since his father's death he has assumed the management and operation of the old home farm and now has one hundred and fifty-one acres of excellent land from which he derives a substantial annual income, for his methods of cultivating his fields are most practical and resultant.
On the 25th of June, 1895, Mr. Torney was married to Miss Emma Gertrude Mason, a daughter of Patrick James and Marguerite (Covey) Mason. Mrs. Torney was born in Canada and her people never came to Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Torney have no children of their own but are rearing an adopted daugliter, Nellie Marie, who is now attending the public school.
In political belief Mr. Torney is a republican but has never been an office seeker. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 211, and also has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Eastern Star. He is now occupying the position of township trustee for the first term. He and his family attend the Congregational church and their sterling worth has gained for them a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
FRANK KOBLISKA.
Frank Kobliska is numbered among those who have transformed Chickasaw county from an undeveloped tract into one of the garden spots of Iowa, beautiful in the development and improvement of its farming land. He makes his home on sec- tion 32, Deerfield township, and is surrounded by highly cultivated fields, from which he annually gathers substantial harvests. He was born in Bohemia . in September, 1858, a son of Wensel and Eleanora Kobliska. He came to the United States when a lad of twelve years in company with his parents, the family home being first established near Spillville, in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where the father purchased a farm and continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits for nine- teen years. He then removed to Deerfield township, Chickasaw county, and settled on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which remained his place of residence until his life's labors were ended in death in 1881. The mother survives and yet occupies the original old home place near Spillville, having returned to that farm after the death of her husband, taking her family with her. Her son, Matt Kobliska, is now conducting the farm.
Frank Kobliska was educated in the public schools of Spillville and at the time of his father's death, which occurred when he was twenty-three years of age, he inherited eighty acres of land in Deerfield township. A year later he was married to Miss Barbara Hernecek, the wedding being celebrated on the 20th of November, 1882. She is a daughter of Frank and Anna Hernecek, both of whom were natives of Bohemia. Following his marriage Mr. Kobliska took his bride to the farm which he had inherited and for eight years he devoted his attention to its further development and improvement. He then sold that property and bought his present place in 1891, becoming the owner of two hundred acres of land. He has since extended the boundaries of his place and in addition to his farm in Deerfield town- ship, which now comprises two hundred and forty-nine acres, he owns three hundred and twenty acres in North Dakota. His success has been attained through per- sistent effort, intelligently directed. He has worked long and earnestly and by reason of his careful management
and straightforward dealings has gained a
COLONEL L. WHITCOMB
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On the 9th of September, 1868, Mr. Whitcomb was united in marriage to Miss Minda C. Webster, of Cook county, Illinois, who died in January, 1901. They became the parents of three children, but only one survives, a son, Guy F., who is operating the home farm. He married Ruby Eastland, of Chickasaw county, and to them has been born a son, Howard R.
In his political views Mr. Whitcomb is a republican and has filled various local offices, serving as a member of the board of township trustees for several years, while at the present time he is serving as mayor of Fredericksburg. His interest in community affairs is deep and sincere, and he cooperates heartily in all plans and projects put forth for the benefit of the city, the development of its business conditions and the upholding of its civic standards. Fraternally he is connected with Mount Horeb Lodge, No. 33, A. F. & A. M., and his identification with Masonry covers a half century. He is also a member of J. V. Carpenter Post, G. A. R. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and his whole life has been characterized by high and honorable principles that have made him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.
REV. JOHN P. WAGENER.
Rev. John P. Wagener, priest of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Cresco, was born at St. Donatus, Iowa, January 16, 1879, his parents being Nicholas and Elizabeth (Siren) Wagener. The son spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm at St. Donatus, where his youth was passed in the usual manner of the farm-bred boy, but he became ambitious to secure an education and ultimately formed the plan of preparing for the priesthood. In 1893 he became a student in St. Francis Seminary near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1896, when he entered St. Joseph's College at Dubuque, Iowa, and was graduated therefrom with the class of June, 1899. He next entered Grand Seminary at, Montreal, Canada, and after studying theology there for a time was ordained to the priesthood on the 20th of December, 1902.
It was on the 3d of January, 1903, that Rev. Wagener was appointed assistant of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Bellevue, Iowa, where he continued until May 7, 1910. He was then appointed priest of St. Joseph's Catholic church in Cresco and has since continued his labors there. The church property is one of the finest in northern Iowa and the work of the church is splendidly organized and is being pushed steadily forward through the earnest and untiring efforts of Father Wagener.
In July, 1910, he was instrumental in building the Sisters' residence, which was completed in October of that year. It was in September, 1910, that the Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, established the parochial school and parish and in 1912 a new parochial school was erected. The present church was built in 1916 and the church, the residence and parochial school are all clear of debt, all indebtedness having been discharged on the completion of the different buildings. To Father Wagener is due the credit for promoting the work in these connections. He has labored most untiringly, earnestly and effectively to upbuild the Catholic cause in Cresco and in Howard county and his labors have been far reaching and resultant.
H. P. NEHL.
H. P. Nehl is numbered among the residents of New Hampton who have justly won the proud American title of a self-made man. With limited educational opportunities and no special advantages in life, he has steadily worked his way upward and is now recognized as one of New Hampton's representative business men, engaged in real estate dealing. He was born in Sauk City, Wisconsin, September 9. 1868, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Beck) Nehl, who came to Chickasaw county from Sauk City on the 6th of September, 1874. They took up their abode upon a farm near North Washington, where both the father and mother remained until called to their final rest.
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Their son, H. P. Nehl, was educated in the district schools but his opportunities in that direction were very limited, as he was able to attend only three months in the year after reaching his eleventh year. He remained upon the home farm until 1891 and during the latter five years of that period had charge of and operated the farm. Desirous of establishing a home of his own, he was married in 1891 to Miss Mary M. Hentges, of Dubuque county, Iowa, and after his marriage he took up his abode upon a farm in Washington township which he purchased at that time. This property he continued to further develop and cultivate until 1905, when he removed to New Hampton and turned his attention to the real estate business, concentrating his efforts upon the buying and selling of farm lands in North and South Dakota and in Iowa. He now has exten- sive land holdings in the Dakotas and for the past fourteen years has been one of the large land dealers of New Hampton. He has closely studied every phase of the real estate business in the line in which he specializes and has so directed his labors that success in substantial measure has come to him.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nehl have been born four children, Agnes, Lena, Justina and Martha. All are graduates of St. Mary's College at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Mr. Nehl and his family are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic church and he is also identified with the Knights of Columbus. In politics he maintains an independent course, nor has he ever been ambitious to hold office, preferring ever to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, which have been carefully directed and have brought to him the substantial measure of success which he now enjoys. He is regarded as a thoroughly reliable real estate man and his enterprise and progressiveness have been dominant features in the attainment of his present prosperity.
FRANK J. PANOS.
Frank J. Panos, busily engaged in general farming on section 12, Utica township, Chickasaw county, was born on the old family homestead in this township, May 5, 1883, his parents being Albert and Barbara Panos, who are mentioned in the sketch of their son, James L. Panos, on another page of this work. The district schools afforded Frank J. Panos his educational opportunities and on the 29th of May, 1906, having arrived at years of maturity, he was married to Miss Fannie Shileny, a daughter of Frank Shileny, a native of Bohemia, who established his home in Winneshiek county during the period of its early development and who has now passed away.
In the spring after his marriage Mr. Panos engaged in farming on his own account, taking up his abode upon the place where he still resides, which was then owned by his father, who deeded the property to him at the time of his marriage. It comprises one hundred and twenty acres of very fertile and valuable land and responds readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it by the owner, who in his farm work manifests a most progressive spirit. What he undertakes he accomplishes, and his fields now present a neat and thrifty appearance, promising large harvests.
To Mr. and Mrs. Panos have been born four children, of whom three are living, George. Louis and William. In religious faith the parents are members of the Catholic church, and in his political views Mr. Panos is a democrat. He concentrates his efforts and attention, however, upon his farming interests and has made for himself a place among the substantial agriculturists of Utica township.
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