USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 28
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 28
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Following his marriage Mr. Williams took up the occupation of farming independ- ently, renting the Thomas Jones place in Forest City township for four years. He then removed to his present home farm, which he cultivated as a renter for five years, and in the fall of 1910 he purchased the place, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich and fertile land. He has put many improvements upon the farm and it is now splendidly equipped, while the highly cultivated fields yield to him golden harvests. An air of neatness and thrift pervades the place and indicates the careful supervision of a prac- tical and progressive owner.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams have become parents of three children, Blodwen E., Harlan and Earl. all at home. The parents are members of the Calvinistic Methodist church, and in politics Mr. Williams is a republican. He stands loyally by any cause or principle which he espouses and his position on any vital question is never an equivocal one. He is indeed a self-made man-one who by earnest effort has worked his way upward, and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities.
EDWARD T. SMITH.
Edward T. Smith, who follows farming on section 32, Utica township, Chickasaw county, was born June 1, 1858, a half mile west and a quarter of a mile south of his present home. His parents were Thomas and Rose (Galligan) Smith, the former a native of Massachusetts, while the latter was born in Ireland. With their removal west- ward in 1858 they first settled on section 5, Utica township, Chickasaw county, where the father purchased forty acres of land, for which he paid two and a half dollars per acre. He at once began the development and improvement of the property and continued to reside upon that place until his death. which occurred in the spring of 1912. He had long survived his wife, who died on the old homestead farm in 1872. They were worthy citizens and highly respected people of their community, and in his business career Mr. Smith had demonstrated what may be accomplished through individual effort and ability. Coming to the west without capital, he worked his way steadily upward and was the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and eighty acres.
The common schools of Utica township afforded Edward T. Smith his educational opportunities. Having arrived at adult age. he was married in 1891 to Miss Margaret Masterson, a daughter of Patrick and Margaret Masterson, who came from Ireland in 1870 and established their home in Jacksonville township, Chickasaw county. They afterward removed to Utica township and were numbered among its worthy farming people to the time of their demise. In this section of the state they reared their daugh- ter. Mrs. Smith, who by her marriage has become the mother of five living children: Eva M., Joseph H., Lucile, Margaret and Charles.
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Mr. Smith through the period of his early manhood and until the time of his marriage assisted his father in the development of the home farm and then built upon his present place, which he has since occupied. The father purchased the farm ten years prior to his death and Edward Smith bought the land from his father, becoming the owner of two hundred acres, which he is now successfully cultivating. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and his methods are most progressive, bringing him excel- lent results. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Equity Association of Lawler, a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Lawler, and in the Farmers Coopera- tive Creamery Company of that place. His business interests thus cover a wide scope and, carefully managed, have brought to him very gratifying results.
Mr. Smith and his family are members of the Reilly Ridge Catholic church. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called upon him for public service and for six years he filled the office of township assessor, for four years was township clerk, for six years township trustee and for four years one of the school directors of his district. He also served on the Liberty Loan committees during the war with Germany and did splendid work in that connection. He stood loyally in defense of American interests at every point and of every measure affecting the welfare of the country in its relation with its allies and in support of her splendid soldiers on the fields of France.
DR. EDWIN C. FORTIN.
Dr. Edwin C. Fortin, a chiropractor of Cresco, who has built up his business to extensive and gratifying proportions, was born in Spink county, South Dakota, on the 30th of September, 1885, a son of Peter and Cordelia (Brosseau) Fortin. His boyhood days were passed in his native state and he there acquired his early education, passing through consecutive grades, and in 1904 entered the Illinois College of Osteopathy at Chicago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906. He afterward pursued a course of medicine in the Harvey Medical College of Chicago and later went to Colo- rado Springs, where he practiced for five years. Subsequently he traveled through Central and North and South America, doing research work in medicine and osteo- pathy, and in October, 1916, he took up the study of chiropractic in Palmer School of Chiropractic of Davenport, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1915. Following his graduation he practiced for six months in Peoria, Illinois, and in September, 1916, came to Cresco, where he has since been located. He is president of the Iowa State Chiro-
practors Association and also president of the Northeastern Iowa Chiropractors Asso- ciation. He has a very extensive business which he is well qualified to handle. He is thoroughly conversant with the component parts of the human body and the onslaughts made upon them by disease. He has studied most broadly having an intimate knowl- edge of osteopathy, the science of medicine, as well as the science to which he is now directing his energies, and his marked ability is shown in the splendid success which is crowning his labors.
THOMAS CHYLE.
Thomas Chyle, filling the office of postmaster at Protivin, was born in New Oregon township, Howard county, on the 9th of December, 1867, a son of Frank and Mary Chyle, who were natives of Bohemia, where they were reared, educated and married. In the '50s they came to the United States and for a year or two were residents of Dubuque, Iowa. after which they continued their westward journey to Howard county and settled in New Oregon township, where they were among the first of the pioneers. In that town- ship they continued to reside until called to their final rest, the father passing away in 1891 after surviving the mother for more than a decade, her death having occurred in 1880.
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Thomas Chyle of this review spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his par- ents' home in Howard county and was educated in the district schools. On attaining his majority he began hauling cream for the Protivin Creamery and also took the product of the creamery to the shipping point at Cresco. To this work he gave his attention for a number of years and subsequently took up the occupation of carpentering. Many of the residences of the surrounding country, also various barns and sheds stand as a mon- ument to his skill and handiwork. For a few years lie was connected with merchandis- ing in Protivin and in 1898 he was appointed postmaster of the town, in which position he has served continuously for twenty-one years. No higher testimonial of his ability, fidelity and trustworthiness could be given than the fact that he has so long been retained in this position under both democratic and republican administrations.
In 1888 Mr. Chyle was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sobolik, a native of Bo- hemia, who came to the United States as a child of three and a half years in company with her parents, who settled in New Oregon township, Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Chyle have become parents of four children: Frank H., a musician in the navy on the Cruiser Dixie; Charles J., of Cedar Rapids, who is with the Warfield-Pratt-Howell Com- pany, a wholesale grocery concern; Mary H., the wife of Frank S. Andera, of Protivin; and William W., with the Stepanek & Vondracek Hardware Company of Cedar Rapids.
In politics Mr. Chyle has maintained an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church and he has a membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Z. C. B. J., a Bo- hemian secret society. He is one of the esteemed citizens of Protivin, very widely and favorably known. His record as a public official is indeed above reproach and all who know him speak of his unfaltering perseverance and his untiring devotion to duty.
ANDREW J. NYE.
The attractiveness of Iowa as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders, recognizing the fact that opportunities are here equal to those that can be found in other sections of the country. Among the native sons of the state now living in Howard county is Andrew J. Nye, who was born on the 29th of August, 1876, and who now makes his home on section 8, Afton township. He is a son of Jeremiah M. and Phoebe Nye. The mother was born in Neillsville, Clark county, Wisconsin. The father was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and in early life left his native state to become a resident of Wisconsin. He followed farming there for a number of years and then removed to Iowa, where his remaining days were passed. He first pur- chased eighty acres of land and thereon began farming. Later, however, he dis- posed of that property and bought another farm, situated four miles west of the present home of his family. Eventually he disposed of that place and removed to what is now the homestead of the Nye family, comprising two hundred and seventy- six acres of rich and productive land situated on section 8, Afton township. He gave his attention to the further development and improvement of this property until his life's labors were ended in death on the 28th of March, 1907. He had at that time made his home upon the farm for thirteen years, having taken up his abode there on the 29th of February, 1894. He was regarded as one of the sub- stantial and progressive citizens of his community.
Andrew J. Nye spent his youthful days under the parental roof and at the usual age became a pupil in the district schools, there qualifying for life's practical and responsible duties. His youth was divided between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the tasks assigned him by parental authority. His training at farm labor was thorough and as he grew in age he more and more largely assumed responsibilities in connection with the further development of the home farm. Since his father's death he has had entire charge of the place and is living thereon with his sister, Miss Clara E. Nye, who acts as his housekeeper. Various improvements have been added to the farm since the Nye family took
ANDREW J. NYE AND FAMILY
Vol. II-14
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possession thereof and the place presents a neat and thrifty appearance, indicating the careful supervision and the practical and progressive methods of the owner. In politics Mr. Nye is a non-partisan, voting according to the dictates of his judg- ment with little regard for party ties. He has never sought or desired political preferment, his attention being always concentrated upon his business affairs, which have been carefully conducted and have brought to him substantial success.
HENRY F. LENTH.
Henry F. Lenth, actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits, his home being on section 4, Jamestown township, in Howard county, was born May 28, 1873, in Clay- ton county, Iowa, a son of Joe Lenth who for many years resided in Clayton county, where the father followed farming practically throughout his entire business life.
In his schooldays Henry F. Lenth mastered the branches of learning taught in the common schools near the home farm and when not busy with his textbooks worked upon the farm with his father until he reached his majority. He then left home and secured a position as clerk in a store in Monona, Clayton county, where he remained for about six years. He then removed to Howard county and for almost a quarter of a century has lived upon the home farm on section 4, Jamestown township. He has been actuated by industry, perseverance, diligence and thrift. As the years have passed he steadily and systematically developed his farm and is widely known as an extensive breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs and shorthorn cattle, specializing in these breeds for the last twenty years. He has a very valuable farm and all of the improvements were placed thereon by Mr. Lenth, who is actuated in all that he does by a progressive spirit and is quick to adopt any new or improved methods that facilitate the farm work and his stock raising interests. He is likewise a member of the Cooperative Shippers of Riceville.
On the 25th of November, 1897, Mr. Lenth was married to Miss Mary Blaha, a daughter of Frank and Mary Blaha, of Clayton county, Iowa, where they followed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Lenth have three children, Carl, Lee and Grace, all of whom are yet under the parental roof.
In the cause of education Mr. Lenth has always been deeply interested and for four years served as school director, while about six years ago he filled the office of township trustee. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. Frater- nally he is connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America and also with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and he and his family attend the Methodist church of Riceville. High and honorable principles have ever found expression in his life and all who know him speak of him in terms of warm regard. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way as he started out in life with. out financial assistance and step by step has advanced until he is now numbered among the leading farmers and stock raisers of Howard county.
JOHN G. ASHLEY.
The farm upon which John G. Ashley was born March 13, 1857, is on the same sec- tion of land on which he now resides-section 29, Deerfield township, Chickasaw county. His father, Joshua C. Ashley, was a native of Deerfield, Massachusetts, born March 18, 1818, and there he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Smith, who was born in Book- field, Vermont, January 12, 1814. They continued residents of New England until 1854 and then sought the opportunities of the growing west, making their way to Iowa in company with his brother, Thomas Ashley, and other Deerfield families. Arriving at their destination, they took upon their abode in Deerfield township, Chickasaw county, where Joshua .C. Ashley purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land, for which he paid the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. The work of devel-
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opment and improvement seemed scarcely begun in this section of the state and the family shared in the hardships of frontier life. Mr. Ashley continued upon the old homestead farm and developed it most successfully to the time of his death, which occurred in 1898. His widow survived him for about fourteen years, passing away in 1912.
John G. Ashley was reared on the old homestead and mastered the branches of learning taught in the rural schools. When he had reached his majority he went into the Wisconsin pineries in 1880 and there remained for three years, thus making his initial step in the business world. In 1883 he returned home and worked with his father up to the time of his marriage, after which he located on his present farm, hav- ing previously purchased eighty acres of land soon after his return from the Wiscon- sin pineries, thus making investment of his savings. Today his farm is an excellent tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has brought to a high state of cultiva- tion, for he has carefully, systematically and wisely developed his fields. He is a member of the Beaver Valley Farmers Equity Association of Bassett and is accounted one of the representative agriculturists and business men of his district.
In April, 1893, Mr. Ashley was united in marriage to Miss Mary F. Ferguson, of Floyd county, Iowa, who passed away in July, 1911, leaving four children: John E., Ralph W., Ray and Lloyd, all of whom are yet with their father.
In his political views Mr. Ashley has always been an earnest republican but has never sought nor desired office. He is classed with the leading and well known citizens of Deerfield township, his many friends attesting the sterling worth of his character.
REV. CHARLES B. GOETZINGER.
Rev. Charles B. Goetzinger, pastor of St. Boniface church of Ionia, was born in Luxemburg, Dubuque county, Iowa, on the 18th of June, 1877, and is a son of Nicholas and Catherine (Gutenkauf) Goetzinger, both of whom were natives of Greiveldingen in the grand duchy of Luxemburg. The father came to the United States in 1867 and took up his abode at Luxemburg, Iowa, becoming the pioneer blacksmith of that place. He was married in Luxemburg on the 14th of February, 1871, his wife having come to this country in 1850 with her parents when an infant of but three months. They, too, settled in Luxemburg, where the daughter was reared to womanhood. By her marriage she became the mother of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom one son and one daughter died in infancy, while the others, seven sons and two daughters, are still living. Of these, three brothers are proprietors of the exten- sive wagon manufacturing industry at Dyersville, Iowa, conducted under the name of the Nic. Goetzinger Sons Company. Two other brothers are engaged in the general dairy business at Dougherty, Iowa, and the youngest brother, Rev. F. William Goet- zinger, is a priest, now acting as assistant pastor at St. Lucas, Iowa. The elder daugh- ter of the family is a sister in St. Francis Convent at La Crosse, Wisconsin, having charge of the X-ray department, and the younger sister is acting as housekeeper for her brother, Rev. Charles B. Goetzinger, and is also organist of the parish at Ionia.
Father Goetzinger of this review acquired his classical education in St. Lawrence College at Mount Calvary, Wisconsin, and pursued his philosophical course at St. Joseph's College of Dubuque, Iowa, while his theological studies were mastered ať St. Francis Seminary of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On the 22d of June, 1902, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Eis of Marquette, Michigan, after which he was given his first charge as assistant at St. Mary's church in Dubuque. Later he was sent to Lyons and to Clinton, Iowa, as assistant and subsequently was assigned to missionary work in Oklahoma and Texas, to which he devoted the succeeding ten years. He then returned to Iowa and was appointed assistant to Father W. Sassen of Peters- burg, who was in ill health, so that the duties of the parish fell entirely upon Rev. Goetzinger. On the 26th of May, 1916, the latter was sent to Ionia as pastor of St. Boniface church, over which congregation he has since presided.
Rev. Goetzinger is not only one of the most popular of the Catholic clergy in
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northern Iowa but also possesses considerable inventive genius and may well be classed among the skilled craftsmen of this section of the state. He is an electrician, a steam- fitter, an architect and a decorator, having displayed notable skill along all these lines. He installed the steam heating plant in his parsonage and church at Ionia, as well as the electric lighting equipment.
CHARLES G. WALTERS.
Charles G. Walters is a wide-awake and enterprising farmer living on section 32, Paris township, Howard county. Minnesota numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred at Granger, Fillmore county, February 7, 1867, his parents being Samuel and Marietta (Rollins) Walters. The father was a native of Pennsyl- vania and the mother of Canada and they were married in Illinois, after which they removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and in 1883 became residents of Howard county, Iowa. Here the father purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land and the farm of Charles G. Walters constitutes the western half of what was once the father's property. The latter resided thereon until about 1900, when he retired from active business and removed to Elma, where he now makes his home.
Charles G. Walters was educated in the district schools of Minnesota and of Iowa and through the period of his youth aided in the farm work when his attention was not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom. After his textbooks were put aside he became the active assistant of his father on the farm and so continued until 1896, when he took up farming independently, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead. He has since been active in the further development and improve- ment of this place and his labors are manifest in the highly cultivated fields and in the rich harvests which are annually gathered.
In 1901 Mr. Walters was married to Miss Nora Norton, a daughter of Barclay Norton, one of the pioneer settlers of Paris township, Howard county, who is still living on his old homestead farm. Mr. and Mrs. Walters have had two children: Charles J., yet living; and Mary, who died in infancy. The parents are members of the Catholic church. In politics Mr. Walters is a republican but has never been an aspirant for public office, as his time and energies have been wholly given to his business affairs, which are bringing him merited prosperity.
JAMES J. SMITH.
James J. Smith, who for many years was identified with farming interests in Howard county, was born March 29, 1864, near Watertown, Wisconsin, and spent his last days in Iowa, where he passed away September 28, 1913. He came to Howard county with his parents when but six years of age and remained upon the old home- stead farm of the Smith family until he purchased the farm property that is now occupied by his widow. His education was acquired in the public schools and he worked in the fields through the summer months and after his school days were ended. On the 14th of January, 1892, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Heller, of Howard county, a daughter of Mrs. Johanna Heller, mentioned elsewhere in this work.
Following his marriage Mr. Smith bent every energy to the development and im- provement of his home place and the splendid appearance of the farm is due to his labors and enterprise. He carefully tilled his fields, rotating his crops so as to keep his land in good condition, and as the years passed he gathered excellent harvests. He belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America and was always loyal to the teach- ings and purposes of that organization.
To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born four children: Harry B., William E., James J. and Esther M. The son Harry was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Nineteenth Infantry, of the Thirtieth Division, and saw overseas service for a year.
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The children are all living at home, the sons assisting in the work of the home farm and relieving their mother of much of the labor incident to its management and further development. The family circle was broken by the hand of death when on the 28tlı of September, 1913, the husband and father was called to his final rest, leav- ing a widow and four children to mourn his loss. His death was also the occasion of deep regret to many friends, for he was held in high esteem by all who knew him. Mrs. Smith still occupies the home farm, which is pleasantly situated on section 14, Afton township, and she and her family are widely and favorably known in this sec- tion of the state.
JOSEPH E. MALEK.
Joseph E. Malek is living on section 17, New Oregon township, Howard county, where he is engaged in farming. It was in this township that he was born on the 19th of March, 1882. His father, Joseph Malek, and his mother, Mrs. Sophronia Malek, were natives of Bohemia. The former came to the United States when about thirteen years of age in company with his parents and settled in Winneshiek county, where the family took up the occupation of farming. The father of Joseph E. Malek, however, left the farm at the age of fourteen years and went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he turned his at- tention to the tailoring trade, remaining in that city for two years. He then returned to Winneshiek county and was employed at farm labor in that locality until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he married. After working for three years he became the owner of eighty acres of his present farm, which was then undeveloped and unim- proved. He placed all of the improvements upon the property and brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. His father retired about ten years ago and removed to Schley, where he now makes his home, but he still retains title to his farm, which his son now rents from him.
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