USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 30
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
H. H. THIES.
The agricultural interests of Howard county find a worthy representative in H. H. Thies, who owns and operates an excellent farm of one hundred and seventy-one acres on section 23, Afton township. He was born in Germany on the 10th of June, 1860, a son of Henry and Mary (Tilmann) Thies, who emigrated to the United States in 1869 and took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Bremer county, Iowa. There the father devoted his attention to farming and won a well merited measure of success in his operations, owning at one time about two hundred and forty acres of land in that county. His demise, which occurred very suddenly about twenty-one years ago. was the occasion of deep regret throughout the community in which he made his home. His widow survived him until eleven years ago.
H. H. Thies, who was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents to the new world, spent the period of his youth in the acquirement of a public school education and remained at home until twenty-five years of age. He then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Bremer county, where he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits for more than a quarter of a century or until 1911. In that year he bought his present farm of one hundred and seventy-one acres in Afton township. Howard county, which he has since brought under a high state of cultivation and im- provement and which insures him a gratifying annual income. He is a stockholder in the creamery at Elma and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the substantial and progressive citizens of the community.
On the 10th of October. 1884, Mr. Thies was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Frahm, a native of Bremer County, Iowa, and a daughter of August and Sophia Frahm, who were born in Germany. Both her father and mother have passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Thies have been born five children, four of whom still survive, namely: William. who has recently returned from France, where he served with Company L. Three Hun- dred and Fifty-second Infantry, Eighty-eighth Division; John, at home; Emma, the wife of John Crumm, of Elma; and Amanda, who is yet under the parental roof.
In politics Mr. Thies is a republican but has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs. Nevertheless he has ever been an active supporter of community, state and national interests and during the
231
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
period of the recent great war made large investment in Liberty bonds and also con- tributed generously to the Red Cross and to the Young Men's Christian Association. He and his family attend the Lutheran church and the hospitality of the best homes of the locality is cordially extended them. Mr. Thies has lived in this part of the state for the past half century and has therefore been a witness of its progress and develop. ment from pioneer times to the present, while he has also borne his full share in the work of advancement and upbuilding.
ANTON KOUDELKA.
Anton Koudelka, busily engaged in general farming on section 23, Utica township, Chickasaw county, was born in the neighboring county of Winneshiek on the 13th of June, 1881, his parents being John and Catherine (Fencl) Koudelka, both of whom are natives of Bohemia. The father came to the United States with his parents when about eighteen years of age and the mother made the trip to the new world with her parents when about sixteen years of age. Both families settled in Winneshiek county, where John Koudelka and Catherine Fencl were afterward married. They established their home within the borders of that county and there continued to reside until 1913, when they left the farm and took up their abode at Little Turkey, where they are now living, the father having retired from active business cares. For many years he was an enterprising and successful farmer, who as the years passed and his financial resources increased kept adding to his holdings until he had seven hundred acres of land in Chickasaw county, which he has since divided among his children, enabling them to gain a good start in life.
Anton Koudelka was a pupil in the district schools during his boyhood days and when not busy with his textbooks assisted in the development and improvement of the home farm, aiding his father until he reached his twenty-seventh year. He was united in marriage in 1908 to Miss Anna Infeld, a daughter of John Infeld, who in pioneer times became a resident of Winneshiek county and has now passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Koudelka has been born one child, James A.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Koudelka received from his father a deed to his present home farm of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, on which he and his bride took up their abode. Through the intervening period he has concentrated his efforts and attention upon the cultivation of his land and today has a highly improved farm prop- erty. He has been very successful in the management of his business affairs and Utica township numbers him among her representative citizens. His political views are in accord with the teachings of the democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He is interested in all that pertains to public progress or has to do with the benefit of the community, but his time and energies are chiefly concentrated upon his farming interests and his success is well merited.
WILLIAM OWENS.
William Owens, a substantial and representative agriculturist of Forest City town- ship, Howard county, has successfully cultivated the John Tipton farm on section 8 since the spring of 1913. His birth occurred in Wales on the 2d of May. 1866, his parents being Owen and Margaret (Williams) Owens, who still reside in that country.
William Owens obtained his education in the district schools of his native land and there spent the first eighteen years of his life. In 1885, prior to his nineteenth birth- day, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and for two years thereafter worked as a farm hand in Oneida county, New York. He then made his way westward to Wis- consin, working in different parts of that state through the succeeding thirteen years. On the expiration of that period, or in 1900, he came to Iowa, locating in Forest City township, Howard county, where he was employed at farm work and as a day laborer for
232
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
six years. He next rented the forty-acre farm of a Mrs. Thomas in Albion township and when not engaged in the cultivation of this tract worked at day labor. In 1907 he rented a farm across the state line in Fillmore county. Minnesota, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for six years or until the spring of 1913, when he rented the property on which he now resides on section 8, Forest City township, to the operation of which he has devoted his time and energies continuously since. In addition to culti- vating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also gives considerable attention to the raising of full-blooded Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs and in both branches of his business is meeting with well deserved success.
In 1901 Mr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Tillie Leitz, of Forest City town- ship, Howard county, a daughter of August Leitz, who was one of the early settlers of Forest City township but is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Owens have become the parents of three children, Margaret, Owen and William, who are yet at home.
In politics Mr. Owens is a stanch republican, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has won prosperity and a position among the esteemed and representative citizens of his community.
GEORGE H. OWENS.
George H. Owens, who is engaged in the real estate and exchange business in Cresco and is also identified with banking interests in Howard county, has through- out his business career been actuated by a spirit of progress and advancement that has led to the achievement of substantial results. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred near Clermont, Fayette county, August 5, 1876, his parents being William and Mary Ann (Carlin) Owens. The father was born in Ireland, while the mother's birth occurred in the state of New York. William Owens left Ireland when a youth of sixteen years in company with his father and sailed for the United States. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast following his arrival in the new world but made his way to the town of West Union, Fayette county, Iowa, where he and his father engaged in mercantile pur- suits for a number of years, and there the death of the grandfather of Mr. Owens of this review occurred. William Owens afterward engaged in business in con- nection with his brother John for five years and on the expiration of that period disposed of his interests to his brother and purchased a farm near West Union, comprising eighty acres of land, which he improved and cultivated for a number of years. He then sold the property and came to Howard township, Howard county, Iowa, where he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land. He then bent his energies to the cultivation and further development of this property, which he continued to own and operate until 1909. He then removed to the town of Elma, Howard county, and retired from active business life. His wife passed away there in 1914 and Mr. Owens afterward came to Cresco, where he made his home with his son George until his death, which occurred in 1917, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years. He and his wife had been married in Fayette county, Iowa, and spent the entire period of their married life in this state. Mrs. Owens had come to the west from the state of New York with her parents, who settled in Fayette county, Iowa, where they engaged in farming throughout their remaining days. Mr. Owens was a democrat in his political faith and stood for all that was progressive in citizenship. He and his wife were well known in the communities in which they lived and commanded the warm regard of all with whom they came in contact.
George H. Owens spent his boyhood days in Howard county and is indebted to its public schools for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He remained at home until he attained his majority and was well trained in farm work during that period. He then purchased a part of the old homestead and concentrated his
Des H. Queno
Vol. II-15
235
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
efforts and attention upon its further development and improvement, continuing to farm there for three years. He next went to Elma, where he bought an ice business, but only remained in that line for a short time, after which he purchased a farm in New Oregon township, Howard county, comprising two hundred and forty acres of rich land. This he owned and cultivated for three years, when he sold the property and became a resident of Cresco in 1904. After a brief period, however, he purchased a hotel in Edmunds county, South Dakota, and conducted it for three years, after which he returned to Cresco, where he established his present real estate and exchange business. He is thoroughly familiar with the property that is upon the market and is most accurate in placing valuations upon real estate. He has built up a good clientage in this connection and has conducted many important property transfers. In addition to his other interests he is known in banking circles as a director of the First National Bank and of the Citizens Savings Bank and he is recognized as a man of sound judgment and clear discern- ment.
On the 26th of October, 1898, Mr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Annie Connery, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret ( Forester) Connery. She was born in Howard county, but her grandparents were natives of Ireland and came to the United States in early life, the family home eventually being established in Howard county, where they became identified with farming interests. Mr. and Mrs. Owens have become the parents of the following children: Virginia, Paul, Helen, John, William, Rose, Viola, Charlotte, George, Ruth, Mildred and Arthur, all of whom survive with the exception of John, the fourth in order of birth, who died in 1911 at the age of seven years.
The family is well known in Cresco and the hospitality of the best homes of the city is freely accorded them. Mr. Owens, in the conduct of his business af- fairs, has displayed sterling qualities of perseverance, energy and straightforward dealing and his success is due entirely to his own efforts.
ELLING ELLINGSON.
Elling Ellingson, who follows farming in Howard county, making his home on section 11, Paris township, was born in Chickasaw county, Iowa, October 15, 1882. He is of Norwegian descent his parents, Andrew and Mary Ellingson, having been natives of the land of the midnight sun. The father came to the United States with his parents when a youth of fifteen years the family home being established in Wis- consin, where later he worked as a farm hand for some time. Subsequently the family removed to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and for a few years Andrew Ellingson engaged in the cultivation of rented land, living upon different farms in that county. He carefully saved his earnings, however, until his economy and industry had brought him a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase land and he made investment in a tract in Howard county, which he cleared and developed and upon which he made all of the improvements, his labors resulting in converting it into a valuable property.
Elling Ellingson worked upon the home farm with his father until he reached the age of twenty-seven years and then bought one hundred and twenty-seven acres in Howard county. He afterward traded this land to his father for his present farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres and he has since added some improvements thereto. He is now carefully and profitably cultivating his land, living on the farm with his brother and sister, Carl and Bessie Ellingson.
The family has long been widely and prominently known in this section of the state. The father was a school director for a number of years and the family have ever stood for progress and improvement in community affairs. In pioneer times the father lived in a log cabin and had to haul his produce all the way to McGregor. Since those early days a wonderful transformation has occurred as the work of de- velopment has been carried forward by the Ellingsons and other progressive people of the neighborhood.
236
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Elling Ellingson attends the Lutheran church of Jerico and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but he does not seek nor desire office, as he finds that his time is fully occupied with his farm work.
NORMAN A. HAVEN.
Norman A. Haven, a farmer of Forest City township, Howard county, was born on the old Haven homestead in this township May 12, 1893. He is a son of Norman A. and Mary J. (Jones) Haven, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Norman A. Haven was educated in the district schools and was but seventeen years of age at the time of the death of his father, after which he and his brother George took charge of the further cultivation and operation of the home farm. In the intervening period of nine years the two brothers have continued as partners in this business and are owners of the property together with their mother. The old adage, In union there is strength, is exemplified in their business career. Through capable man- agement and unfaltering industry they have increased their holdings until they are now the owners of two hundred and sixty-five acres of the most fertile farm land in Howard county. Their fields are carefully and systematically tilled and annually they gather large crops as a reward for their labors.
In 1914 Norman A. Haven was united in marriage to Miss Esther Myrtle Latcham. a daughter of Robert Latcham, one of the prosperous and representative farmers of Chester township, Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Haven became the parents of two children, of whom one, Chester Allen, is now living. Mrs. Haven is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Haven is a supporter of the republican party and is keenly interested in affairs of moment to the community and country. They are highly esteemed, enjoying the warm friendship of those with whom they have come in contact. Mr. Haven has spent his entire life in Howard county and is justly numbered among the progressive young agriculturists of this section of the state.
I
F. W. LEE, M. D.
Dr. F. W. Lee resides on section 7, Jamestown township, Howard county, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of land. For many years he devoted his life to the practice of medicine in Riceville but has now largely retired from active professional service save that he responds to a few emergency calls. He was born July 18, 1859, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, a son of John C. and Emily Helen (Shot- well) Lee, the former a descendant of one of the old Puritan families of New Eng- land. He is still living at the advanced age of eighty-five years and is enjoying excel- lent health. His wife, however, passed away in 1905.
It was in the year 1868 that Dr. Lee came to Iowa, being then a lad of nine years. He accompanied his parents on their removal to this state, the family home being established in Osage, Mitchell county, where the father engaged in business as a grain buyer. The son attended the public schools of that county and afterward entered the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, from which he was graduated with the class of 1884. Later he attended the State Normal School, and pursuing a course in medicine, won his professional diploma in 1887. Immediately afterward he located in Riceville, where he opened an office and has since continued in the practice of his chosen pro- fession although at the present time he does little practicing save in caring for emer- gency calls. He wishes to retire from professional duties but when there is urgent need for his services he does not hesitate to respond and during the widespread in- fluenza epidemic of last winter he was constantly busy with the calls made upon him for professional service.
On the 8th of November, 1888, Dr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Irene
237
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Penny, a daughter of Frank and Caroline (Barker) Penny. Mrs. Lee was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, while her father was a native of England and her mother's birth occurred in the state of New York. Dr. and Mrs. Lee have become the parents of a son and a daughter, Robert John and Helen Marie, both attending the public schools. Mrs. Lee came of a family of physicians, her ancestors having given their attention largely to the practice of medicine through various generations. While Dr. and Mrs. Lee have always been residents of the city, his time and energies are now largely given to the development and improvement of a farm and to stock raising in- terests. He makes a specialty of raising Poland China hogs and has won substantial success in the business.
In political views Dr. Lee has always maintained an independent course, nor has he ever sought or desired office. He was a liberal donor toward the Red Cross dur- ing the period of the war and a generous supporter of the Liberty Loan drives. He is an active worker for the Boy Scouts and has given much time to instructing them along the line of first aid. Fraternally he is connected with the Riceville lodge of Masons and in his life exemplifies the beneficent principles of the craft, which is based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations thereby im- posed. His life has indeed been a busy and useful one and he has continually reached out a helping hand to assist fellow travelers on the journey of life.
ANTHONY KRAMER.
Anthony Kramer, a representative of the farming interests of Chickasaw county, makes his home on section 11, Chickasaw township. He was born in Fayette county, Iowa, September 18, 1858, and is a son of Andrew and Francesca Kramer, who were natives of Germany. They were probably married, however, in Pennsylvania and about 1853 removed westward to Iowa, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Fayette county, where they resided until 1867. They then came to Chickasaw county, taking up their abode in Washington township, where Mr. Kramer bought eighty acres of land, and thereon he resided to the time of his death, which occurred in 1877. He had for a brief period survived his wife, who died April 24, 1874.
Anthony Kramer had but limited chance to obtain an education but when oppor- tunity offered he attended the district schools. His parents were in humble financial circumstances and his aid was needed upon the farm when there was work to be done. He was nineteen years of age when his father died and he and an elder brother took charge of the home place and through the following four years continued its further cultivation and improvement. This period embraced three years of wheat crop fail- ure, and being unable to raise anything, the brothers determined to sell the home place. In 1883, therefore, the family was broken up and Anthony Kramer began work as a farm hand. Times were hard and during many winter seasons he worked for twelve dollars per month. He is now one of the prosperous agriculturists of the county, his present prosperity being in marked contrast to his financial condition of a few decades ago.
On the 25th of February, 1895, Mr. Kramer was joined in wedlock to Miss Eliza- beth Jane Conley, a daughter of Michael Conley, now deceased, who was one of the early settlers of Chickasaw township, establishing his home in Chickasaw county about 1855. Previously he had been one of the famous '49ers who made the trip across the plains to California following the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. In fact he made two different trips to that state.
After his marriage Mr. Kramer located upon his present home farm, which his wife inherited from her father and which is now owned by Mr. Kramer. It comprises one hundred acres of well improved and valuable property, constituting a most pleas- ing feature in the landscape.
In 1914 Mr. Kramer was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 14th of September of that year, leaving five children: Anna M. P., at home; William Patrick, who died January 15, 1919, of influenza while attending the
238
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Automobile Tractor School in Sioux City; and Mary M., Anthony G. and Catherine F. E., all at home.
Mr. Kramer and his family are members of the Catholic church and he is identi- fied also with the Modern Woodmen of America, while politically he is a democrat, giving his earnest and unfaltering support to the principles of the party because he believes that its platform contains the best elements of good government. His life has been quietly passed in the conduct of farming interests and he has won a credit- able place among the successful agriculturists of Chickasaw county.
JOHN E. ERBE.
John E. Erbe, who is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred acres on section 23, Saratoga township, Howard county, was born in that township on the 13th of Sep- tember, 1880, and is a son of Ernest E. and Elizabeth (Schreiber) Erbe, both natives of Iowa county, Wisconsin, the former born January 16, 1852, and the latter October 16, 1856. They continued to reside in Iowa county, Wisconsin, until their removal to this state in 1876, at which time the father purchased eighty acres of land in Saratoga township, Howard county, a mile west and a mile south of the village of Saratoga. In early life he had followed farming in his native state and continued to engage in the same occupation throughout his active business life. He now makes his home in Saratoga but his wife has passed away, dying at that place on the 5th of January, 1919.
Like most farm boys, John E. Erbe became thoroughly acquainted with agricul- tural pursuits during his boyhood and during the winter months attended the district schools of the neighborhood. In 1915 he came into possession of his present farm of one hundred acres on section 23, Saratoga township, and has since engaged in its operation. He is an up-to-date and progressive farmer and success has attended his well directed efforts.
On the 14th of August, 1904, Mr. Erbe was united in marriage to Cora Alma Kel- sey, whose parents are residents of Todd county, Minnesota. To this union have been born five children: John Edward, Eloise Ethel, Harry Franklin, Franklin Harry and Elma Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Erbe are consistent members of the Congregational church of Saratoga and have many friends in the community where they reside. By his ballot Mr. Erbe supports the men and measures of the republican party but lias taken no active part in political affairs, his time and attention being devoted to his farming operations.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.