USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 27
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 27
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To Mr. and Mrs. Wesp have been born three children: Arthur H., now of the Wesp Motor Company; Lottie B., the wife of F. H. Ackley, who cultivates her father's farm; and Marilla, the wife of F. S. Howard, a railroad man of New Hampton. The parents are consistent and loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Wesp also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and for four years he served as township assessor but has always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business interests. It has been by reason of this thoroughness and close application that he has made the advance- ment that has brought him from a humble position in the business world to a place of prominence and affluence. The methods that he has ever followed will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and all who have had business transactions with him speak of his thorough reliability as well as his progressiveness. A thoughtful consideration of his career should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what can be accom- plished when there is a will to dare and to do. He early realized that the price of suc- cess is earnest and self-denying effort and he was willing to pay the price in order to reach the creditable position which he now occupies as one of the substantial and rep- resentative citizens of Chickasaw county.
EDWARD T. JONES.
One of the successful and substantial citizens of Howard county is Edward T. Jones, a retired farmer making his home at Lime Springs. He is a native of Wales, his birth having there occurred on the 17th of March, 1844, his parents being Thomas and Cather- ine (Jones) Jones, who spent their entire lives in their native country. Both lived to an advanced age, the father being eighty-four years of age at the time of his death, while the mother was ninety-seven years of age.
Edward T. Jones was reared in Wales and acquired his education in that country, but his opportunities in that direction were limited, as he had no chance to continue his studies after he had reached his eleventh year. His father conducted a large farm there and Mr. Jones preferred working on the farm to attending school. At length he determined to try his fortune in the new world and in 1867 crossed the Atlantic, land- ing in New York city in June of that year. He did not tarry on the eastern coast, how-
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ever, but made his way at once westward to Columbia county, Wisconsin, where for three years he was employed at farm labor. In March, 1870, he came to Howard county, Iowa, and in that summer rented a farm three miles from Lime Springs. In the fol- lowing fall he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 16, Albion township, and thereby laid the corner stone of his later success. He purchased this farm for twenty-one hundred'dollars and five years later sold the property for forty-five hundred dollars. He then bought three hundred and twenty acres on section 28, How- ard Center township, and remained upon that place for seven years, but his labors were not attended with success during that period, so he turned the farm back to the party from whom he had originally bought it. His father-in-law then gave Mrs. Jones forty acres with a good residence and Mr. Jones purchased of his father-in-law an eighty-acre tract adjoining. Subsequently he added to this until the farm comprised three hun- dred and twenty-one acres and he is still the owner of the property, which is located on section 20, Albion township. He continued not only to further develop and improve but also to occupy that farm for twentyseven years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Lime Springs in October, 1908. Through the intervening period he has made his home in the town and is accounted one of its valued and substantial citizens.
On the 14th of November, 1871, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Elizabeth Jones, a daughter of Richard Jones, a native of Wales, who came to the United States with his parents as a boy of nine years. He became a resident of Howard county, Iowa, in 1871, having previously purchased land here. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born three children: Richard E., who resides at home; Thomas E., a member of the faculty of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, who was appointed a captain in the National army, serving as staff officer; and Owen G., who is operating the home farm.
Mr. Jones is a republican in his political views and gives stalwart support to the men and measures of the party. Both he and his wife are members of the Welsh church and guide their lives according to its teachings. Both are highly esteemed throughout Howard county and their circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
C. J. GARMEN.
C. J. Garmen, cashier of the First State Bank of Elma, was born in New Hampton, Chickasaw county, June 24, 1882, a son of John E. Garmen, the present mayor of New Hampton. where he is also engaged in the hardware business and where he is regarded as one of the foremost residents of the city.
In the acquirement of his education C. J. Garmen passed through consecutive grades to the New Hampton high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1901. He subsequently entered the State Agricultural College at Ames, in which he remained for two years, and after the completion of his studies he turned his attention to the banking business, receiving his initial training along that line as assistant cashier in the Bank of Elma, now the First State Bank, in which he is serving at the present time as cashier. A year following his entrance into the business he went to McIntire. Iowa. where he was made cashier of the Aetna Savings Bank, in which capacity he continued for three years. The Bank of Elma having been reorganized and incorporated in 1905 as the First State Savings Bank, Mr. Garmen returned to Elma for the purpose of beconi- ing cashier of the institution and at once assumed charge of its financial policy. He is a courteous and obliging official and the business of the bank has continually increased under his direction. Since he assumed the cashiership its deposits have been constantly augmented, increasing from forty thousand to four hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Gar- men is thoroughly familiar with every phase of the banking business and his close application, his progressiveness, tempered by safe conservatism, and his sound judg- ment have constituted the salient features in the continued growth of the banking busi- ness.
In 1909 Mr. Garmen was married to Miss Claire Church, a daugliter of F. W. Church, one of the early pioneers of Howard county and one of the well known citizens of Elma.
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Mr. Garmen is a member of Maple Leaf Lodge, No. 508, A. F. & A. M., also of Adelphia Chapter, R. A. M., and his wife is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. They are most loyal to the teachings of these organizations and in the social circles of the city they occupy an enviable position, while warm regard is entertained for them by all who know them.
THOMAS H. JONES.
Thomas H. Jones, manager of the Alliance Mercantile Association of Cresco, and a leading figure in the business circles of Howard county, was born in Cambria, Wisconsin, on the 17th of August, 1869. His father, Richard Jones, was a native of the north of Wales and was but eight years of age when he left that little rock- ribbed country and came to America with his parents, who settled near Utica, New York, where he was reared to the occupation of farming, to which he turned his attention on reaching young manhood. The family followed farming in the Empire state for a number of years and afterward removed to Wisconsin, settling. near Portage, where the grandfather of Thomas H. Jones took up government land. The district in which he settled was wild and undeveloped but with characteristic energy he began the cultivation of his farm and his labors soon wrought a marked change in the appearance of the place. He built a log cabin upon his land and the family met many hardships and privations while attempting to reclaim the wild district for the purposes of civilization. Both he and his wife died upon that farm. , As his age and strength increased Richard Jones assisted more and more largely in the work of the farm and spent some time thereon after attaining his majority, but later removed to Albion township, Howard county, Iowa, which was also a frontier district, and he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of this part of the state. That the work of improvement had been carried forward to only a very slight degree is indicated in the fact that much of the land was still in pos- session of the government. He bought a farm which had a log cabin upon it, be- ginning life in this locality in true pioneer style, but he afterward made substan- tial improvements upon the place. For several years he devoted his attention to the cultivation of the farm and later removed to Forest City township, where he also purchased land and carried on agricultural pursuits, bringing his farm under a high state of cultivation. His attention was given to its further development throughout his remaining days. He passed away in 1900 at the age of eighty-four, while his wife survived until 1902. His political allegiance was given to the re- publican party and both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, guiding their lives according to its teachings.
Thomas H. Jones spent his boyhood days upon the home farm in Howard county and pursued his education in the public schools of Cresco and in the high school of Minneapolis. Through the periods of vacation, or during his boyhood, he assisted in the farm work and after his text-books were put aside he continued to aid in the further development of the home place until after his father's death, when he left the farm and removed to Cresco to become a clerk with the Alliance Mercantile Association. He filled a clerical position until 1906, when he was advanced to the position of manager, and has since acted in that capacity. He is thoroughly familiar with every phase of the business and has made a most excellent record. Purchases are most carefully made and the sales bring to the establish- ment a substantial financial return, for his business methods are always straight- forward and honorable, and thus a liberal patronage has been secured. In addition to his connection with the Alliance Mercantile Association, Mr. Jones has farming interests which are most carefully and wisely directed. The store of which he is now manager is one out of thousands to make good in this line, showing him to be a man of excellent business ability and keen discernment.
In 1904 Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Grace Webster, a daughter of William and Mary Ann Webster. Mrs. Jones was born in Winneshiek county,
THOMAS H. JONES
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Iowa, where her father was extensively engaged in farming. Both of her parents were natives of the north of Ireland and came to the United States in early life, while at a subsequent period they took up their abode in Winneshiek county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born three children, Paul W., Faith and Keitlı.
Mr. Jones votes with the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a Mason of high rank, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, belonging to the Knight Templar Commandary and Mystic Shrine at Cedar Rapids, and he also has mem- bership with the Modern Woodmen of America. The principles which govern his conduct are further indicated in the fact that he has membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and at all times has guided his life according to its teachings. Any course that he pursues must measure up to high standards of manhood and citizenship and his record is one which has commanded for him the good will and confidence of those with whom business, social or political relations have brought him in contact.
C. V. JOHNSON.
C. V. Johnson, who is carrying on general agricultural pursuits in Vernon township, Howard county, his home being on section 2, was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, about three miles east of his present home, on the 31st of December, 1861. He is a son of James and Harriet (Smith) Johnson, the former a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and the latter of Marengo, Illinois. The father was reared in Boston and there as a young man he engaged in the draying business and later came westward to Illinois, where he engaged in farming near Marengo. In 1854 he left that state and came to Iowa, settling in Winneshiek county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, comprising what is now known as the Headington farm. one of the best in Winne- shiek county. He afterward sold that property and bought what is now the L. R. Brown farm of three hundred and sixty acres, also one of the fine farms of Winneshiek county. Believing that the country would never be settled, he afterward sold the property and bought an eighty acre farm in a ravine near a spring. Upon that farm he continued to spend his remaining days. He brought with him to Iowa quite a sum of money and much of it he loaned to other pioneers without security in order to enable them to buy wheat. In this way he lost quite a little of his fortune, as the loans were never repaid. One of his sons brought into the county one of the first buggies seen in this section of the state, but it was too frail a structure for the father to ride in, so he claimed. He always refused to get into the buggy, saying it looked more to him like a spider web than a vehicle in which to ride. He died in 1863. the mother surviving him for several years and passing away when she was sixty-eight years of age.
C. V. Johnson of this review attended the district schools and also Cresco schools and on reaching early manhood he took up the occupation of farming the old homestead, on which he remained for a year. He then went to Cresco and for two years worked in a clothing store but was advised by a physician to obtain outside employment as indoor work was proving detrimental to his health. He then began buying scrap iron and was engaged in that business for a year, during which time his health was greatly improved. He then turned his attention to the restaurant business in Cresco and was identified therewith for three years, following which time he engaged in the grain and feed busi- ness for about two years. While thus identified he bought the first full carload of flour ever shipped into Cresco. Subsequently he engaged in the insurance business, with which he was identified for sixteen years, representing the Continental Company of New York and also the Hawkeye Company of Des Moines, Iowa. During those years he wrote more farm insurance than any other Que agent in this section of the state. When S. A. Con- verse organized the Howard County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company Mr. Johnson withdrew from the insurance business and about 1891 purchased his present home farm of one hundred and sixty acres. In the intervening period he has given his attention to general agricultural pursuits and now has a highly developed property, equipped with
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modern conveniences and constituting one of the attractive farms of his section of the state.
On the 15th of September, 1886, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Justina Norton, a daughter of Justice B. Norton, one of the pioneer residents of Howard county. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born five sons and a daughter: Justice J., a graduate of Cedar Rapids Business College and a resident farmer of Albion township; Walter L., now engaged in farming in Albion township; Lowell V., who has just returned from service in France; Gladys, a graduate of the Cresco high school and now a teacher in the schools of Winneshiek county; and Aubrey A., who was graduated from the Cresco high school and is at home. In 1917 at a stock grading contest at Des Moines he came within two points of receiving the highest score and was given a scholarship of one and a half years. The youngest of the family is Donald H., also under the parental roof.
In his political views Mr. Johnson is a republican and is a member of the present board of township trustees and also secretary of the school board. He is keenly inter- ested in affairs of public moment and gives his support and allegiance to any cause which he believes to be of benefit to the community at large. He and his family are members of the Methodist church and his life has ever been guided by high and honorable prin- ciples, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and respect.
PETER H. PETERS.
Peter H. Peters is devoting his attention to farming on section 23, Saratoga town- ship, where he has one hundred acres of good land, and his success in his chosen life work has given him classification with the representative farmers of Howard county. He was born in Germany June 13, 1867, a son of Peter and Christine (Wackman) Peters, both of whom have now passed away, the former having died April 10, 1899, while the mother survived until March 22, 1902.
Peter H. Peters was reared in his native country and pursued his education in the public schools there, but when eighteen years of age he determined to establish his home and try his fortune in America, having heard favorable reports concerning the opportunities of this land. Crossing the Atlantic, he made his way direct to Cresco, Iowa, and became one of the first settlers of Howard county. After working out by the month as a farm hand for about twelve years he purchased eighty acres of land in Jamestown township and after the death of his father he made investment in his pres. ent home farm, which is situated in Saratoga township.
On the 13th of January, 1894, Mr. Peters was united in marriage to Miss Frances Pokorny, a daughter of Vincent and Frances Pokorny, of Austria. Mr. and Mrs. Peters are rearing an adopted son and also have four children of their own, as follows: Bertha, Charlie, Christine and Mary. The two eldest are now attending school.
Mr. Peters and his family attend the German Lutheran church as Davis Corners and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party, but he has never sought or desired office. He is a stockholder in the farmers' creamery at Saratoga and aside from this he has given his entire thought and energies to his farm work, which, care- fully managed and directed, has brought to him substantial success.
A. F. KEMMAN.
A. F. Kemman, a civil engineer of New Hampton, was born in La Grange, Illinois, April 29, 1858, his parents being Henry and Louise (Buchholz) Kemman, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany. The mother came to the United States in her child- hood days with her parents. The father first came to the United States as a youth of eighteen years, making the trip to the new world on a sailing vessel, and on the way across he made himself generally useful aboard ship. After landing in New York city he failed to find any employment and a few days later, seeing the captain of the vessel
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on which he had crossed, he asked him for a job. He was accepted and for the succeeding nine years followed a seafaring life, touching all of the ports on the Atlantic and Indian oceans. About 1851, however, he left the sea and took up his abode in the United States, making his way to Chicago, where he worked for a Mr. Dickey, who owned an eighty- acre farm adjoining La Grange, for which he had paid only three dollars and a half per acre. Subsequently Mr. Kemman bought eighty acres of Michigan and Illinois canal land for five dollars per acre, adjoining Mr. Dickey's place, and settled thereon, making it his home for a quarter of a century. He afterward bought another eighty-acre tract in the same section, which is now owned by his sons. Upon the old homestead farm which he there developed and improved the father continued to reside until his death, in 1883, and became recognized as one of the representative agriculturists of that district.
A. F. Kemman was educated in the district schools and at the La Grange town schools, while later he pursued a course in the Metropolitan Business College of Chicago and in the Illinois State Normal University at Normal, Illinois. Still later he attended the University of Illinois but prior to entering upon his university course taught school for three years. He did not thoroughly enjoy professional work of that character. how- ever, and fitted himself for civil engineering by his university course. On the 27th of June, 1882, he came to Iowa, settling on a farm in New Hampton township, Chickasaw county. and for twelve years devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pur- suits. This farm, which comprises two hundred and twenty-six acres of rich and pro- ductive land pleasantly and conveniently situated two miles east of New Hampton, has been recently sold. In the fall of 1893. however, he took up his abode in the city of New Hampton in order to give his children the advantages of the public schools here. In 1909 he was appointed county surveyor, which office he held until the position was abolished by legislative enactment. He was then made county engineer and afterward county highway engineer, serving in the three offices from 1909 until 1916. He also served for a number of years as city engineer of New Hampton. Since 1916 he has been engaged in the private practice of his profession and is regarded as one of the capable and eminently successful civil engineers of this part of the state. He thoroughly understands every practical phase of the business and its scientific features as well and is now accorded a large clientage.
On the 8th of July, 1883, Mr. Kemman was united in marriage to Miss Louise Schert, of Cook county, Illinois, and they have become the parents of five children, of whom four are yet living: Martha, who is a stenographer in the employ of M. E. Geiser, an attorney of New Hampton; Arthur S., who is serving as a lieutenant in the United States army and is now at the navy yard, Bremerton, Washington; Alvin R., in the State Bank of New Hampton; and Elva, a stenographer in the University of Minnesota. Both of the sons served in the World war.
Mr. Kemman is a democrat in his political views and for twenty-four years was a member of the New Hampton school board. The cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion and he puts forth every effort to advance the interests of the schools and promote educational standards. He belongs to Lancelot Lodge, No. 183, K. P., to the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church and occupy an enviable social posi- tion, the hospitality of the best homes of New Hampton and this section of the state being cordially extended them. Mr. Kemman has ever been actuated by laudable determina- tion and purpose. While content with what he has accomplished as he has gone along, he has nevertheless been actuated by that ambition that has ever prompted him to take a forward step and he has thus broadened the scope of his activity and usefulness.
L. R. WILLIAMS.
L. R. Williams, a resident farmer of Howard county, living on section 13, Forest City township, has spent his entire life in this locality and has therefore for more than four decades been a witness of its growth and development. He was born August 25. 1875, in the township where he still lives, his parents being William R. and Winifred (Wil-
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liams) Williams, both of whom were natives of Wales. The father came to the United States when a youth of eighteen years and the mother was brought to the new world when but two years of age by her parents, who settled in Wisconsin. For a number of years William R. Williams remained a resident of the east, working in the slate quarries of Vermont, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Thinking, however, that he might have still better business opportunities in the Mississippi valley, he made his way westward to Wisconsin and it was in that state that he was married. About 1868 or 1870 he came tu Howard county, Iowa, taking up his abode upon a farm in Forest City township, having in the previous year purchased the land. With characteristic energy he bent his efforts to the development and improvement of the place, which he successfully culti- vated until July, 1903, when he met an accidental death, being killed by lightning while plowing corn. His widow survives and now makes her home in Lime Springs
L. R. Williams was educated in the common schools and in the Decorah Institute, in which he pursued a normal course during two winter seasons. He then returned home and became an active assistant in the work of the farm, upon which he remained until the time of his marriage. On the 20th of November, 1901, he wedded Miss Jennie Jones, a daughter of William O. Jones, one of the early settlers of Forest City township, who had come to Iowa from Wales.
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