USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 38
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 38
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Arriving in Iowa in pioneer times, the experiences of the family were such as come to those who settle upon the frontier. Hardships and privations fell to their lot,
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but the resolute purpose and well directed energies of father and sons soon brought about a changed condition. However, during the period of his boyhood J. F. Biwer had but little opportunity to attend school, as he worked from early spring planting until crops were gathered in the late autumn in the fields. He has, how- ever, been a broad reader and his study and experience have made him a well informed man. He continued to assist in the cultivation of the home farm until twenty-six years of age, when his father assisted him in buying eighty acres of land and he began farming on his own account. Ambitious to attain more property, he has added to his holdings as his financial resources have increased and is today the owner of three hundred acres of valuable farm land in Howard county He also owns a threshing rig and in addition to cultivating his crops he specializes in the breeding of thoroughbred Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs and is regarded as one of the most successful stock raisers of this part of the state. In fact he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In his vocabulary there is no such word as fail and every obstacle and difficulty in his path seems to serve but as an impetus for renewed and persistent effort on his part. He is likewise a stockholder in the Howard County Cooperative Equity Association and a stock- holder in the Elma Cooperative Creamery Company.
In 1900 Mr. Biwer was united in marriage to Miss Frances Shatek, of Paris township, Howard county, a daughter of Frank and Mary Shatek, both of whom were born in Bohemia. They have become the parents of six children, namely: Clarence, Paul. May, Joseph, Ralph and Norbert, all at home.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and in politics Mr. Biwer is a republican. His interest in community affairs has been manifest in many tangible efforts for public good. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, speak of him in terms of high regard, recognizing his progressiveness, enterprise and reliability in business, his loyalty in citizenship and his devotion to high standards of life.
D. W. DAVIS.
The steps in the orderly progression of D. W. Davis are easily discernible. He has steadily advanced in his business career through the wise use of his time, talents and opportunities and has for a long period been numbered among the substantial and successful men of this section of the state. He has now retired from active business and makes his home in Lime Springs. For many years he has been not only a witness of the growth and development of Howard county, but a most active contributor to its upbuilding. He was born in Columbia county, Wisconsin, August 5, 1855, a son of William P. and Catherine (Davis) Davis, both of whom were natives of Anglesey, Wales, where they were reared and married. Soon after, or in the year 1849, they came to the United States, establishing their home in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1861 and then removed to Beaver township, Fillmore county, Minnesota, on the Iowa line. The father secured a squatter's claim but afterward found that it had already been entered. He then bought the land for two dollars and a half per acre and resided thereon until 1869, when he sold his farm and crossed the boundary line into Howard county, where he had purchased land the previous year. The farm was located five miles northeast of Lime Springs and comprised a fractional section of land, most of which was covered with brush that had to be grubbed out. With the as- sistance of his sons, however, he prepared the land for the plow and in course of time had his fields under a high state of cultivation. For several years he did all of his plowing with oxen, keeping from five to seven yoke on his place. He re- mained upon the farm until called to his final rest in 1883 and was regarded as . one of the representative and substantial farmers of his section of the state.
D. W. Davis of this review early became familiar with all the experiences of pioneer life such as fell to the lot of the farm-bred boy. He did his share in the
Da Davis
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work of clearing and improving the farm and promoting its fertility, planting the land and harvesting the crops. His educational opportunities were limited, as there were few school facilities in the district until he had grown older and lost the desire to attend, feeling that he would rather work in the woods. After reach- ing manhood he and his brother John carried on the home farm for two years and in 1878 Mr. Davis of this review purchased two separate tracts of land of eighty and forty acres respectively. He did not begin their cultivation, however, until 1881. He was for several years engaged in the operation of a threshing machine and also bought horses which he shipped to the Dakotas. In 1883 he invested in one hundred and twenty acres of land lying between his eighty and forty acre tracts, thus extending the boundaries of his farm to include two hundred and forty acres. He then began farming on his own account and in 1889 bought another eighty acres, so that he was then the owner of a half section. Year after year he carefully, persistently and profitably tilled his fields, remaining upon the farm until 1902, when he took up his abode in Lime Springs, where he has since resided. Here he turned his attention to stock buying and built up an extensive business, shipping over a carload of stock daily for several years. In fact his extensive oper- ations made him one of the most prominent stock buyers of this section of the state. He continued in the business until 1918, when he sold his live stock inter- ests and concentrated his attention upon the feed business, having purchased the old Marsh grist mill in 1915. A picture of this mill is shown elsewhere in this work. Mr. Davis rebuilt the mill and equipped it with a modern electric plant that also furnishes electric lighting for Lime Springs and Chester.
In October, 1886, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Maggie Jones, of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, and they became parents of two children, of whom one is yet living, Ruth, the wife of Herman Lidtke, who is operating her father's mill and light plant. Mrs. Davis is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Davis is a republican, giving stalwart allegiance to the party, but not seeking or desiring office. His life has been one of intense and intelligently directed activity. He has utilized opportunities that others have passed heedlessly by and has made each move count for the utmost in the conduct of his business affairs. There have been no unusual phases in his life record, but his persistency of pur- pose and his industry have formed a stable foundation upon which prosperity has been built.
CHRISTIAN FISHER.
Christian Fisher, a farmer residing on section 21, Utica township, is one of the highly esteemed residents of Chickasaw county, everywhere spoken of in terms of warm regard. He was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, August 4, 1853, and is a son of Christian F. and Elizabeth K. (Schenpp) Fisher, who were natives of Wurtemberg. Germany, where they were reared and married. They came to the United States in 1851 and traveled across the country, settling at Fort Atkinson in Winneshiek county, where they cast in their lot among its first residents. Pioneer conditions everywhere existed and the family met the hardships and privations incident to the establishment of a home upon the frontier. The father was a black- smith by trade and in addition to his work at the forge followed farming, becoming owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land. He passed away at Fort Atkinson about 1884 and for a considerable period was survived by his wife, who died in 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.
Christian Fisher was reared on the old homestead and acquired a district school education. At the early age of twenty-one years he began farming for himself and for three years cultivated rented land at Little Turkey in Utica township. He then went to Wright county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres, remaining thereon for four years. When he sold that property he removed to Mower county, Minnesota, and bought eighty acres of land, which he further developed and
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improved for nine years, converting it into richly productive fields. He then sold his farm in that state and came to Chickasaw county, making investment in one hundred and sixty-five acres of land in Utica township, constituting a part of his present home place. In subsequent years he has added continuously to his farm, extending its boundaries from time to time until his holdings now aggregate four hundred acres in Chickasaw county. This is largely a tract of very fertile land and his energy and industry have made it a highly cultivated tract, producing very substantial harvests annually.
In February, 1875, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Emma Leuen- berger, a native of Ohio. Her parents emigrated to the United States from Germany and first took up their abode in Ohio, while in 1855 they established their home in Winneshiek county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have become the parents of eight children, namely: Anna M., who is the wife of L. G. Cooney, of Stapleton township, Chickasaw county; Jerome H and Louis F., who are engaged in farming in Utica township; Minnie E., who is the wife of William C. Kelley, of Jackson- ville township, Chickasaw county; Joseph C., who follows farming in Utica town- ship; and Grace E., Leo E. and Clarence, all at home. The last named served for one year and two days with the United States army in France as a member of Com- pany K, One Hundred and Fiftieth Infantry, Thirty-fifth Division.
Mr. Fisher is an earnest republican in his political views and is recognized as one of the local party leaders. He was a candidate for the office of county super- visor in 1913, and while he made no canvass of his district, he was defeated by only two votes, his large support indicating his personal popularity and the con- fidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. Mr. Fisher is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and he belongs to the Congregational church, while Mrs. Fisher is of the Catholic faith. His position as a substantial and successful farmer of Chickasaw county is an enviable one. His life has been characterized by industry, by progressiveness and straightforward dealing and his prosperity is the direct reward of his earnest and persistent labor.
ADOLF PETER.
Adolf Peter, residing on section 31, Vernon Springs township, where he owns an excellent farm comprising two hundred and eighty acres, is numbered among the substantial and representative agriculturists of Howard county. His birth occurred in Switzerland on the 2d of April, 1867, his parents being Nicholas and Mary (Keck) Peter, who passed away in that country. He acquired his education in the common schools of Switzerland and remained in his native country until he had attained his majority. In 1889, having decided to try his fortunes on this side of the Atlantic, he emigrated to the United States and at once made his way westward across the country to Iowa. He located in Winneshiek county and first worked as a farm hand for about three years, while later he cultivated a rented tract of land in that county for five years. On the expiration of that period he came to Howard county, here carrying on agricultural pursuits as a renter for a number of years or until 1902, when he puchased eighty acres of land on section 31. Vernon Springs town- ship, where he now resides. As the years have passed and prosperity has rewarded his industry and economy, he has added to his holdings by further purchase until at the present time he owns two hundred and eighty acres of well improved and highly productive land, yielding large crops which find a ready sale on the market. He Is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Cooperative Creamery Company of Cresco and has long been numbered among the successful farmers and enterprising citizens of his community.
In 1895 Mr. Peter was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Schultz, who was born in Germany but when eight years of age was brought to the United States by her parents, John and Louise Schultz, the family home being established in Vernon Springs township, Howard county, where both Mr. and Mrs. Schultz passed
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away. To Mr. and Mrs. Peter have been born ten children, namely: Fred J., who is now in France with the Three Hundred and Thirteenth Engineers Corps of the Eighty-eighth Division; and William R., Elsie, Clara, Helen, Georgia, Lena, Louis, Martha and Edward, all at home.
Politically Mr. Peter is a republican and for some years has served as a school director the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs. He well deserves the proud American title of a self-made man, for he came to the new world empty-handed and through intelligently directed effort and indefatigable energy has won the creditable measure of success which he now enjoys.
HARRY H. DANE.
A well known writer has said that a year's foreign travel is equal to a four years' college course. Extended visits to foreign lands have made Harry H. Dane a man of scholarly attainments, largely acquainted with the history of the world and its peoples. For many years he occupied an official position in Washington, D. C., and since then has largely devoted his time to trips abroad, such being of the keenest interest to him. He possesses a most observing eye and retentive memory and association with him means expansion and elevation.
The old homestead farm of the Dane family in Jacksonville township, Chickasaw county, was his birthplace and his natal day was December 10, 1856. He is the son of Francis and Jane (Crane) Dane, mentioned at length on another page of this work. After attending the district schools near his father's farm he became a pupil in the Cedar Valley Seminary of Osage, Iowa, and later matriculated in the State Univer- sity of Iowa at Iowa City. He then took up educational work as a teacher and in the spring of 1890 he secured appointment to a position in the department of labor statis- tics in Washington, D. C. There he was employed for eighteen and a half years and in November, 1908, returned to make his home at New Hampton. During the period of his residence in the national capital he made a number of trips to Europe and since again coming to Iowa much of his time has been spent in further travel and study. In 1910 he visited Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Greece and central Europe and in 1912 and 1913 toured other sections of the world, covering India, Ceylon, Burma, the Straits settlements, the island of Java, China, Manchuria, Korea and Japan. In 1911 and 1912 he visited Australia and New Zealand and also made brief stops at the Hawaiian, Fiji and Society islands. In the spring of 1914 he visited the West Indies, Panama and Venezuela and in the summer of the same year, after visiting Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, was caught at Moscow, Russia, at the time of the outbreak of the great World conflict and experienced not a Itttle delay and trouble in getting out of Russia and returning to the United States. He has ever been a close observer and broad reader, a deep student of the conditions existing in the various countries which he has visited, and his opinions and deductions concerning modern problems are most interesting.
Mr. Dane is a republican in his political views and fraternally is connected with Arcana Lodge, No. 274, A. F. & A. M., of New Hampton.
FRANK McCARVILLE.
Frank McCarville, who is carrying on general farming on section 15, Paris township, Howard county, was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, March 15, 1855. His parents, Phillip and Elizabeth (Woods) McCarville, were natives of Ireland, where they were reared and married but soon afterward came to the United States, establishing their home in Lafayette county, Wisconsin. There they resided until
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1870 and then came to Howard county, Iowa, taking up their abode upon the farm in Paris township upon which their son, R. E. McCarville, now resides. The father was prosperous in his farming operations and acquired seven hundred and twenty acres of land. He ranked for many years as a valued and representative resident of this part of the state and is mentioned more at length in connection with the sketch of R. E. McCarville.
The boyhood training of Frank McCarville was that of the farm and he remained thereon until his twentieth year, acquiring his education in the district schools. He then started out in the business world on his own account, securing employ- ment as a farm hand with one of his neighbors. He was ambitious to make advance- ment and has utilized every opportunity for the attainment of legitimate success as the years have passed. In 1876 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Brophy, of Paris township, a daughter of James Brophy, one of the earliest of the pioneer settlers of Howard county. About 1880 Mr. McCarville bought one hundred and twenty acres of his present home place from his father and has since added forty acres to that tract. He has converted the place into a valuable and productive farm which annually returns to him a gratifying income.
In 1892, Mrs. McCarville passed away, leaving two children: James J., a resi- dent farmer of Paris township; and Philip J., who also follows farming in the same township. In 1894, Mr. McCarville was again married, his second union being with Miss Amelia Dozark, of Paris township, and they have become parents of six children: Frank A and Joseph P., who served with the American army in France during the recent great war; Vincent W., Leo E., Mary C. and Agnes, all at home.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and in politics Mr. McCarville is a democrat, stanchly upholding the political principles in which he believes. His efforts and attention, however, are concentrated upon his busi- ness affairs and the thoroughness with which he attacks any task and the reliability which he displays in business transactions have constituted the basic elements of his growing success.
FRANK TJADEN.
In 1910 Frank Tjaden settled upon the farm on section 31, Deerfield town- ship, Chickasaw county, on which he now resides, although he has since extended its boundaries until the place now comprises two hundred and forty acres of good land, which he is carefully and successfully cultivating. Mr. Tjaden is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Woodford county, May 3, 1875, his parents being Menka and Anna (De Fries) Tjaden, who were married in Woodford county, where they became acquainted. The mother died in Floyd county, Iowa, but the father is still living and now resides in Oklahoma with his second wife.
Frank Tjaden was educated in the district schools of his native county and throughout the period of his minority remained upon the home farm, assisting in its further cultivation and development. When he had reached man's estate he made his way westward to Washington and afterward became a resident of Pocahontas county, Iowa, where he lived until his removal to Calhoun county. While there he met and married Miss Tena Coleman, whom he wedded on the 5th day of November, 1900. She is a daughter of Bernard and Anna Coleman, both now deceased. The mother died in Nebraska a number of years ago, while the father passed away in Calhoun county, Iowa, September 19, 1911.
Following his marriage, Mr. Tjaden rented one hundred and sixty acres of land in Pocahontas county and conducted that farm for ten years. He then removed to Deerfield township, Chickasaw county, and in 1910 took up his abode upon his present farm, having the previous year purchased one hundred and sixty acres of this tract of land. He has since added to his holdings until within the boundaries of his farm are now comprised two hundred and forty acres. He has made this and excellent place by reason of the care and labor which he has bestowed upon
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it and from his fields he now annually gathers abundant harvests. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator of Colwell.
As the years have passed Mr. and Mrs Tjaden have become the parents of seven children: Anna, Ludwig, Bernard, Meta, Jacob, Ernest and Leonard, all yet at home. Mr. Tjaden and his family are members of the German Lutheran church of Alta Vista and his political allegiance is given to the republican party, which he supports at the polls, but otherwise he is not active in politics. His farm claims his entire attention and he works diligently in the further development and improve- ment of the property, which he has converted into one of the excellent farms of Deerfield township.
ANDREW BARNES.
One who has any appreciation for the wonders of nature cannot but be pleased with the sight of the Evergreen Hill Farm, a property of two hundred acres on section 31, Utica township, which is owned and cultivated by Andrew Barnes. There the rich soil responds readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it and golden harvests are annually gathered. Excellent improvements have been put upon the farm and everything presents a neat and thrifty appearance, indicating the systematic methods and practical supervision of the owner.
Mr. Barnes is a native of Howard county, Iowa, born February 9, 1870, his parents being Sylvester and Catherine (Ferry) Barnes, who were natives of Canada and of Buffalo, New York, respectively. They were married at Strawberry Point, Iowa, to which place they went for the ceremony from Howard county, for the Barnes and Ferry families had been established in Howard county in pioneer times. At that period both the father and mother of Andrew Barnes were children and in Howard county they were reared. After their marriage they settled upon a farm in Vernon Springs township, three miles southwest of Cresco, and there twelve children, ten sons and two daughters were born to them. They were carefully reared upon the old homestead and the family record is a notable one in that all of the sons and daughters are yet living. There are also fifty-eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The old Barnes homestead was a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, but Mr. Barnes acquired other lands which he afterward deeded to his children when they reached adult age. The grandfather, James Barnes, served as a soldier in the Civil war. The maternal grandfather of Andrew Barnes was John Ferry, who was a miller in New York but followed farming after coming to Iowa. From the period of early development in Howard county the Barnes family has been closely associated with the upbuilding and improvement of this section of the state. Sylvester Barnes remained an active farmer to the time of his death, which occurred in 1911, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. His widow survives and resides with her son James in Cresco.
After mastering the branches of learning taught in the district schools Andrew Barnes remained upon the home farm and assisted his father in the cultivation of the fields up to the time of his marriage. On the 16th of June, 1897, he wedded Miss Mary Hand, a native of Chicago and a daughter of James and Catherine (Smith) Hand, who came to Chickasaw county, Iowa, during the infancy of their daughter. They settled on the farm which Mr. Barnes now owns. In the year of his marriage Mr. Barnes purchased a tract of land of one hundred and twenty-six acres near Jerico in Chickasaw county and resided thereon for a year, at the end of which time he sold the property and bought the old home of his wife's parents, Mr. Hand having died several years before the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. By this marriage there have been born the following children: Ethel, Florence, Evelyn, Alvin, Gertrude, Donald, Arline and Charles. All are still under the parental roof.
Mr. Barnes is deeply interested in the cause of education and as soon as his children complete the district school course they are sent to high school in Lawler.
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As stated, Mr. Barnes has remained continuously upon his present home place since the year following his marriage and his work has wrought a marked trans- formation in the appearance of the place, making it one of the model farm proper- ties of Chickasaw county in the twentieth century. He is also a stockholder in the Lawler Shipping Asociation, engaged in the live stock and grain business, and is a stockholder in the Lawler Creamery Association.
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