USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 44
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 44
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Mr. Lyons is a native of Chicago, Illinois, born September 8, 1851, his parents being Jeremiah and Ellen (Whalen) Lyons, both of whom were natives of County Waterford, Ireland, where they were reared and married. In 1847 they came to the United States, first settling in Poughkeepsie, New York, which was then a farm- ing district, and the father gave his attention to agricultural pursuits there for three years. In 1850 he made his way westward to Chicago, where he engaged in team- ing and in grading work, taking contracts for such work. He continued a resident of Chicago for eighteen years, or until 1868, when he came to Iowa and made in- vestment in a farm in Burr Oak township, Winneshiek county. With characteristic energy he began the development and further improvement of that property and resided thereon for a period of about twenty years. He sold the place in 1880 and removed to Madison, South Dakota, where he lived retired to the time of his death, which occurred about 1892 or 1893. He had for a short period survived his wife, who died in 1890.
D. A. Lyons whose name introduces this review was reared upon the home farm and acquired his early education in the Chicago schools and in the graded schools of Burr Oak township, Winneshiek county, Iowa, following the removal of the fam- ily to this state. On attaining his majority in 1872 he came to Cresco, where he entered the implement business and for seven years represented the firm of Strother & Conklin as a traveling salesman upon the road. In 1879 he established an im- plement business of his own in Cresco and in 1880 entered into partnership with R. J. McHugh. organizing the firm of McHugh & Lyons, which business relationship was maintained until 1894, when Mr. McHugh passed away and Mr. Lyons pur- chased his interest in the business. He then continued to operate independently as an implement dealer until 1911, when he sold the business to the firm of McHugh & Lusson and has since given his attention to the management of his landed hold- ings. He owns three different farms, comprising five hundred and fifty acres of land, all in Howard county. His investments are judiciously made and in all of his business affairs he has displayed sound judgment and enterprise, leading to the attainment of substantial success.
On the 25th of September, 1876, Mr. Lyons was married to Miss Catherine Fitz- gerald, of Winneshiek county, a daughter of Patrick Fitzgerald, one of the early
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settlers of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Lyons have become the parents of eight chil- dren, six sons and two daughters, of whom two of the sons are deceased. The others are: Mary, the wife of O. J. McHugh, an implement dealer of Cresco; An- gela, the wife of James Haney, of Miles City, Montana; J. Urban, who is employed by the International Harvester Company at Minot, North Dakota; Dennis A., Jr., who is with the International Harvester Company at Minot; Gerald E., an attorney connected with the firm of McCook & Lyons, of Cresco; and Leonard L., who is with the Cresco Union Savings Bank.
In his political views Mr. Lyons is a stalwart democrat and has long been a recognized leader in party ranks in the state. He served as mayor of Cresco for four years, being elected on a platform declaring for a waterworks system for the city, and the system was built under his administration. Various other needed re- forms and improvements were instituted and the city benefited largely by his busi- nesslike control of municipal affairs. In 1897 Mr. Lyons was nominated on the democratic ticket for the office of state senator and although he had for his opponent Dr. J. W. Danbury, who had served as mayor of Decorah for twenty years and was a very popular and capable man, he won the election by a majority of three hundred, overcoming a normal republican majority of twenty-four hundred. He was re- elected for four succeeding terms, a fact which stands in unmistakable proof of his capability and devotion to the welfare of community and commonwealth. He has never been an aspirant for political preferment and every honor which has come to him in this capacity has been unsolicited. It has been a case of choosing a man whom the public has recognized as capable of valuable service in office and who by his work has fully justified the confidence reposed in him.
Mr. Lyons and his family are members of the Catholic church and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and to the Woodmen of the World. He was likewise a member of the Decorah Lodge of Elks at one time but has allowed his membership in that organization to lapse. Cresco has long numbered him among her foremost citizens and in sending him to the legislature gave to Iowa a statesman of broad views and high principles.
JOSEPH SAMEC.
The life story of Joseph Samec is one of earnest endeavor, crowned with suc- cess. He is truly a self-made man, for all that he possesses and enjoys has come to him as the reward of his own labors. He now follows farming on section 31, New Oregon township, Howard county, where he has a good property. He was born in Bohemia, May 8, 1867, and his parents were also natives of that land. They came to the United States when their son Joseph was a young man of twenty-one years and made their way across the country to Howard county. Joseph Samec at once sought employment at farm labor and worked in that way for a few years, during which time he carefully saved his earnings until he was able to purchase a forty acre farm. With characteristic energy he began to develop and improve the prop- erty, which he later sold, and then bought his present farm of one hundred and forty-two acres. He has been the owner of this property for twenty years and all of the improvements upon it were placed there by him. He is energetic, enterprising and progressive and has made good use of his time, his talents and his opportuni- ties.
In 1891 Mr. Samec was married to Miss Rosie Panoch, a daughter of Joe and Katie Panoch, of Winneshiek county, and they have become the parents of ten children: Alois, Joseph, Victoria, Frank, Emma, Edward, James, Charles, Mary and Rose. Joseph was for seventeen months a member of Company D, Three Hundred and Fourteenth Infantry, and saw overseas service in the World war. Victoria is the wife of Joe Bark. of Winneshiek county, where he follows farming. The others of the family are at home.
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Mr. Samec gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and his energies upon his business affairs. The family are members of the Catholic church at Protivili, and Mr. Samec belongs to the Catholic Workmen. By reason of what he has accomplished and the wise use which he has made of his time and opportunities, he is held in the highest esteem. He has never been afraid of hard work, and his industry and perseverance have been the elements in his growing success. All who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, bear testimony to the sterling worth that he has displayed in wresting fortune from the hands of fate.
ALBERT P. BIWER.
The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the records of Howard county without learning of the close and long connection of the Biwer family with the development and upbuilding of this section of the state. Albert P. Biwer belongs to a family that from pioneer times has borne its part in the work of progress and upbuilding. He is a son of John and Margaret (Clear) Biwer and was born March 21, 1869, in Howard township. He is now engaged in farming in that township and his business affairs are being carefully and profitably conducted.
Mr. Biwer was educated in the district schools, but his opportunities for at- tendance were very limited. In fact he did not see the inside of a schoolhouse until he was ten years of age and after that he could attend at only brief intervals, for his father was struggling to get a start and the services of the son were needed upon the home farm, he being the oldest of the living children. However, he has read broadly and thinks deeply and in this way he has educated himself, being now recognized as a man of good practical business judgment. In 1892, when he had reached his twenty-third year, he began farming on his own account, buying at that time eighty acres of land. He was ambitious to acquire a good farm and carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase other land and at one time he was the owner of two hundred and eighty acres. He has subsequently sold two hundred and twenty acres of this property, however, in recent years and now retains in the home farm but sixty acres.
On the 18th of October, 1911, Mr. Biwer was married to Miss Catherine Stone, of Chicago, Illinois, who was born in England. Mr. Biwer is a member of the Catholic church, while his wife is of the Episcopal faith. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party, but he has never been an office seeker. His time and energies have been devoted to farm work and in this he has been very successful, being recognized today as one of the substantial agriculturists of Howard county. In addition to tilling the fields he raises Duroc Jersey hogs and Rhode Island Red chickens and both branches of his business are proving sources of substantial profit.
JONATHAN E. WELLS.
At the time of his death Jonathan E. Wells was living in retirement in Cresco but for many years of an active life was identified with agricultural pursuits and his labors resulted in the development of an excellent farm property. He was born in Franklin county, Vermont, on the 20th of March, 1838, so that he had passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey. His parents were Jonathan and Prudence (Chase) Wells, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire, where the father followed the occupation of farming in order to provide for the support of his family. Some time after his death the mother married a brother of Jonathan Wells and they, too, resided upon a farm in New Hampshire, where later both passed away.
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Jonathan E. Wells largely spent his boyhood days in Vermont where he con- tinued to the age of eighteen years, and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. He then determined to try his fortune in the new and growing west, of which he had heard such favorable reports, believing that he might have better business opportunities in that section of the country than he could secure in New Eng- land. He traveled westward by way of Dubuque and thence made the trip by driving across the country to Monona, Clayton county. In that vicinity he secured employment as a farm hand and while thus employed carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase forty acres of land. This he tilled for a time but later disposed of the property and removed to Howard county, taking up his abode in Albion township. He then invested in a farm of eighty acres, to which he added from time to time until he had three hundred and twenty acres in all. Year by year he continued the work of cultivating and improving his farm land and annually gathered good crops as the result of the practical and progressive methods which he employed in carrying on the farm work. His place in its neat and thrifty appearance indicated his careful supervision and his intimate knowledge of modern farming methods. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1899, when he removed to Cresco and retired from active business life. He then enjoyed a well earned rest and the most envious could not grudge him his success, so honorably had it been won and so worthily used.
In 1862 Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Mary Burgess, a native of Detroit, Michigan, and a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lincoln) Burgess. Her parents were both natives of England and in early life crossed the briny deep to the new world. They did not remain in the east but continued on their westward way to Detroit, Michigan, where the death of Mr. Burgess occurred some years later. His widow afterward came with her family to Iowa, settling at Cresco, where she con- tinued to make her home until called to the home beyond. To Mr. and Mrs. Wells were born two children, Charles A. and William J.
Mr. Wells was a republican in his political faith and during the course of his active business life was called to serve in various public offices. At one time he was overseer of the county poor farm and continued in that position for seventeen years, making a most excellent record by the prompt and capable manner in which he discharged his duties He was numbered among the pioneer settlers of Iowa and was familiar with the story of its growth and development from the earliest days. When he first came to the county Cresco had not yet been founded and the principal town was New Oregon, just north of the present county seat. Much of the land was still undeveloped and unimproved and the work of transforming this region into a rich agricultural district had only just begun. Mr. Wells bore his part in the task and for many years was prominently and successfully connected with the agricultural development of the county, winning a measure of success which was most gratifying and, moreover, was the merited reward of his labors. He passed away January 27, 1919, and his death was deeply regretted by a large circle of relatives and friends.
JOHN STEJSKAL.
John Stejskal, a progressive and energetic farmer living on section 22, Howard Center township, Howard county, was born in Bohemia, January 1, 1872, a son of James and Catherine (Bouska) Stejskal, both of whom remained in Bohemia, where the father passed away and where the mother is still living. The son was but a lad of thirteen years when he came to the United States. His father had pre- viously died and the mother married again. The boy then determined to leave home and as his mother refused to give him money to make the trip, he wrote to an uncle in Howard county, Iowa, to send him money for his passage. The request was complied with and he was furnished the funds to pay his fare to Hamburg and a ticket from Hamburg to Cresco, Iowa. On reaching Hamburg with five dollars in cash he had to wait a couple of days for a ship and to meet his expenses
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there he had to use the five dollars, so that he landed in New York city with but three pennies and his ticket to Cresco. He brought five or six sandwiches with him from the vessel on which he had sailed and those were eaten in New York. Then he made the journey to Cresco without food. On reaching the city of his destination he was told that his uncle lived six miles in the country and he set out on the journey on foot. It was a long, tedious trip on an empty stomach, for he had had no food for a couple of days, but he picked some wild strawberries by the wayside and finally reached his uncle's home. For two years thereafter he remained upon his uncle's farm and later continued to work as a farm hand, being thus employed until his twenty-seventh year.
Mr. Stejskal was then united in marriage to Miss Mary Markovetz, a native of Howard county, whose parents came from Bohemia and were among the early pioneers of Iowa. Following his marriage Mr. Stejskal, who had saved about twelve hundred dollars, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm. He then borrowed seven hundred dollars, with which he bought machinery, horses and other farm equipment and began the development and improvement of his place. He has since erected good buildings and made his farm one of the best improved properties of the county. His life has been one of industry and thrift, and his determination and energy have enabled him to overcome all obstacles and difficulties and work his way steadily upward to success.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stejskal have been born seven children, five of whom are yet living: Mary, at home; Frances, who is attending the State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Iowa; and William, Edward and Louise, all yet at home.
In politics Mr. Stejskal is a democrat but not an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church He has long been regarded as one of the substantial and representative men of Howard county, and in addition to the success he has achieved in farming he is also known as one of the stockholders of the Farmers Creamery Association of Cresco. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress.
MICHAEL J. JEWERT.
Michael J. Jewert, devoting his time and energies to general farming in Howard county, his home being on section 36, Afton township, has always resided in the Mississippi valley and he possesses the spirit of diligence and enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the rapid upbuilding of this section of the country. He was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, July 20, 1873, a son of Martin and Anna (Woelfel) Jewert, both of whom were natives of what is now Milwaukee but was then the village of Walkers Point. The mother's parents came to this country in company with Philip Best, the well known brewer of Milwaukee. Following the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Jewert they began their domestic life in Elm Grove, Waukesha county, where the father followed the blacksmith's trade and conducted a shop for thirty-one years. He was long an active representative of in- dustrial life in that community and enjoyed the high respect of all. His death, which occurred May 4, 1894, resulted from the kick of a mule which he was shoeing. His widow is still living and yet makes her home in Elm Grove, at about the age of sixty-seven years, and her mother lives with her at the advanced age of ninety-four years.
Michael J. Jewert is indebted to the public school system of Wisconsin for the early advantages which he enjoyed and later he spent a term in study at the Wauwa- tosa Normal School. As early as his fifteenth year he was apprenticed to the black- smith's trade, serving under his father, and when his apprenticeship was com- pleted he continued to work at the trade, which he followed for twelve years. His life has ever been one of industry and he has manifested thoroughness in
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everything that he has undertaken. This has made him a successful farmer as well as a capable blacksmith.
While still a resident of Wisconsin, Mr. Jewert was married at Beloit Corners, in Milwaukee county, on the 26th of January 1894, to Miss Elizabeth Palmersheim and in 1899 they removed to Howard county, Iowa, taking up their abode in Afton township. They were then parents of two children, who had been born in Wisconsin. Mr. Jewert at the time of his arrival in this state had but sixty dollars in cash and during the first few years of his residence here he found it very difficult to gain a start. For four years he engaged in farming rented land on the shares and during that period very carefully saved his earnings, practicing strict economy as well as in- dustry. During the succeeding eight years he rented land for cash and in 1911 he saw his way clear to make his first purchase of land and became owner of eighty acres on section 22 in Afton township. He lived upon that farm for three years, after which he sold the property and in the fall of 1913 bought forty acres of his present home place. Two years later he purchased an adjoining forty acres and in 1918 bought a third forty-acre tract, so that his present holdings comprise one hundred and twenty acres. He has one of the finest improved farms in Afton township and he has erected all of the buildings upon this place. He is one of the progressive and substantial residents of his part of the county and his success is directly attributable to his labors and perseverance. The buildings stand as a monument to his capability and the farm in its neat and thrifty appearance attests the practical and progressive methods of the owner.
Mr. and Mrs. Jewert have become the parents of eight children: Mollie; Anna; Martin; Evelyn and Leroy, twins; Mabel; Edna; and Cecelia. All are yet under the parental roof. The family are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Jewert is also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he maintains a non-partisan stand, preferring to vote according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. For twelve years he has served as a member of the school board. His interest and activity, however, are chiefly concentrated upon his business affairs and by reason of his close applica- tion he has become one of the representative farmers of Afton township. He is also a stockholder in the Howard County Cooperative Equity Association and a stock- holder in the Elma Cooperative Creamery Company and through these agencies materially adds to his income. His life record may well serve as an example to others, proving what may be accomplished notwithstanding the handicap of limited means in early manhood.
GEORGE P. HOCKSPEIER.
The birthplace of George P. Hockspeier, now a prosperous farmer of Chickasaw county, living on section 5, Washington township, was a log cabin which was built by his parents when they first settled in this section of the state. The pioneer dwelling stood upon the farm which he still occupies and there he first opened his eyes to the light of day, December 10, 1873. His parents were John and Rosa (Bauer) Hockspeier, who came from Germany in early life with their respective parents. They became acquainted and were married in Chicago, their wedding day being July 9, 1858. In September of the same year they drove across the country from Chicago to northern Iowa and established their home in Washington township, Chickasaw county. The journey was made with oxen and wagon and when they reached their destination they settled a mile and a half southwest of Devon. The father afterward purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land, for which he paid a dollar and a quarter per acre. It was entirely destitute of improvements and bore little resemblance to the highly cultivated farm upon which his son, George P. Hockspeier, now resides. The father served for eleven months in the Civil war as a member of Company I, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, and at all times he was ready to do his part in matters of public- spirited citizenship. In his business he prospered as the years passed, becoming a well-
MR. AND MRS. JOHN HOCKSPEIER
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to-do man. When he landed in New York he was in very limited financial circumstances and for a time he engaged in carrying brick, for which he received but twenty cents per day. Later he went to Chicago, where he became familiar with the painting and varnishing business, and subsequently he engaged in the furniture trade on his own account in Chicago at No. 116 Randolph street. The opportunities of the growing west, however, attracted him and with his wife he drove across the country with oxen and wagon, as previously indicated. He then tock up agricultural pursuits but on the 9th day of July, 1877, was crippled in an accident while driving to New Hampton, Iowa. This impaired his physical ability for the remainder of his life, his spine being injured. He passed away on the old homestead November 20, 1907, and for several years was survived by his wife, who died on the old home farm August 22, 1913. Both had attained to a good old age, the father having been born in January, 1834, while the mother's birth occurred April 29, 1838, she being therefore seventy-five. years of age at the time of her demise, while Mr. Hockspeier was seventy-three.
George P. Hockspeier, reared on the old homestead, early became familiar with the best methods of carrying on the work of the farm and continued to assist in its develop- ment until he reached the age of twenty-nine years, when he bought one hundred acres from his father at fifty dollars per acre. This had previously been acquired by the father at the usual government price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. After his father's death the son received one hundred acres through the terms of his father's will. He has always been an enterprising agriculturist and his place has been brought to a high state of development and improvement. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Equity Association of Alta Vista and in the Farmers Lumber & Coal Company of that place.
On the 5th of February, 1908, Mr. Hockspeier was married to Miss Lydia Reinhart, a daughter of Samuel and Anna (Lehman) Reinhart, who came orignally from Switzer- land and established their home in northern Iowa in pioneer times. Their daughter was born in Howard county, Iowa, where her father passed away, but the mother still lives in that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hockspeier have been born two children, Lloyd Winton and Eunice La Verne, aged respectively eight and four years.
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