USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 45
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 45
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Mr. Hockspeier and his wife are members of the Evangelical church of Alta Vista and he belongs also to the Odd Fellows Lodge, No 658. o+ that place. In community affairs he has ever been keenly interested, and his aid and support have always been given on the side of progress and improvement. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and during the World war he served on the Liberty Loan com- mittee, aiding in raising the funds necessary to finance his native country in the great world-wide struggle.
JOB DARROW.
Job Darrow is a retired farmer living in Cresco and a citizen of genuine worth. He was born in Grand Isle county, Vermont, on the 18th of December, 1845, and is therefore nearing the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey. His parents were Walter D. and Emeline (Babcock) Darrow. His parents were natives of the Green Mountain state, where they were reared and married, after which the father devoted his attention to the occupation of farming. Subsequent to the death of his wife, which occurred in Vermont, he removed to the west in the spring of 1855, making his way to Clayton county, Iowa, traveling across the country until he took up his abode in Albion township. There he entered a claim from the government, hired some breaking done and the next fall built a log house upon his land. With . characteristic energy he began the further development and improvement of the property and while living upon the old homested in those early days met all of the hardships and privations incident to frontier life. At that time McGregor was the nearest market. Roads were in poor condition and one could drive for miles over the open prairie without coming to a fence or a house to impede progress. After giving many years to farm life in this locality Mr. Darrow retired from business and
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took up his abode in Cresco, where he passed away in 1905 at the age of eighty- eight years. It was subsequent to his removal to the west that he married Eveline Carpenter, who survived her husband and died in Cresco. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his political allegiance was given to the republican party.
Job Darrow whose name introduces this review was largely reared in Albion township, Howard county, and his environment during his boyhood days was that of frontier life. He began his education in one of the old-time log schoolhouses found upon the frontier. The methods of instruction were very primitive and the curriculum scarcely covered more than reading, writing and arithmetic, but his training in farm labor was not meager and he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He then began operating the old home farm, which he improved until 1906, when he removed to Cresco and pur- chased a fine residence. He has since lived retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits. His memory goes back to the time when Cresco had not been started and when pioneer conditions of all kinds existed in this section of the state. Farm work was done with oxen and the country was wild and unim- proved. McGregor was the nearest market and trips to that place were made with ox teams. As the years passed, however, the energetic labors and determination of the pioneer settlers wrought a marked change in conditions here. Mr. Darrow became the owner of two hundred and fifty acres of the old homestead farm and in addition he also owns a tract of similar size in Minnesota, so that his farm properties return to him a gratifying annual income.
In 1891 Mr. Darrow was united in marriage to Mrs. Lucy Ashley, a daughter of Benjamin and Rosetta (Adams) Gilliman. Mrs. Darrow was born in the state of New York and in her girlhood days accompanied her parents on their removal to Wisconsin, while later the family home was established in Howard county, Iowa, while subsequently a removal was made to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, where Mr. Gilliman took up government land and carried on farming throughout his remaining days. Mr and Mrs. Darrow have no children of their own but have reared two adopted children, William D. and Gertrude. The members of the family are widely and favorably known in Cresco and this section of Howard county and the hospitality of the best homes is cordially extended them.
Mr. Darrow deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in life, as his success is attributable entirely to his persistency of purpose and well directed efforts. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, esteem him highly by reason of his genuine worth and he well deserves mention among the pioneer settlers of the county, for he has long resided in this part of the state and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
LEO P. BIWER.
Leo P. Biwer, actively interested in general agricultural pursuits in Howard county, his farm being situated on section 35, Howard township, was born thereon May 12, 1879, the property being then owned by his parents John and Margaret (Clear) Biwer, of whom extended mention is made in connection with the sketch of their son, J. F. Biwer, on another page of this volume.
Leo P. Biwer acquired a district school education and in 1900, when twenty-one years of age, began farming on his own account, taking over the active work of further cultivating and improving the place upon which he now resides. He farmed this tract of three hundred and twenty acres as a renter for four or five years and about 1904 pur- chased eighty acres adjoining the old homestead. His father subsequently deeded him sixty-four acres of land, which with his former holdings constitutes his present home farm of one hundred and forty-four acres. For several years after starting out in busi- ness independently he cooperated with his two brothers, Dominick and Michael, in the cultivation of four hundred acres, but at a later period he has carried on the further
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development of his home place independently. In 1915 he leased the farm and for three years conducted a garage in Elma, but in 1918 he returned to the farm and is now carrying on the work of further improvement there. He is a stockholder in the Howard County Cooperative Equity Association and also a stockholder in the Elma Cooperative Creamery Company.
In 1905 Mr. Biwer was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Best, of Cresco, Howard county, by whom he has three children: Lillian, Inez and Lester. The attractiveness of Howard county as a place of residence is evidenced in the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders, feeling sure that they can have oppor- tunities here equal to those to be secured elsewhere. Among this number is Leo P. Biwer, who has always lived in Howard county and with the exception of the three years spent in Elma has always remained upon the home farm, which he now owns and successfully cultivates.
HANS C. MOEN.
Hans C. Moen, who is engaged in the plumbing and heating business as a con- tractor at Cresco, was born at Christiania, Norway, in 1859 and is a son of Christian and Anna (Frantzen) Moen. Both were natives of the land of the midnight sun, where they were reared and married. There they remained until 1870, when they determined to try their fortune in the new world and made their way to the United States. They crossed the country to Racine county, Wisconsin, establishing their home at North Cape, where the father engaged in farming for ten years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Howard county, Iowa, and took up his abode in New Oregon township, where he purchased farm land that included the old town site of New Oregon. There he remained until his death and his efforts and energies were devoted to general agricultural pursuits. He was one of the pioneer residents of the district and he con- tributed much to its development and improvement. Both he and his wife passed away in the year 1899. He had always given his political allegiance to the republican party after becoming a naturalized American citizen and he and his wife had always given earnest support to the Lutheran church, of which they were consistent and devoted members. They reared a family of eight children, namely, John, Anna H., Johannah, Frank C., Thomas, Hans C., Anton and Martin.
Hans C. Moen spent his boyhood to the age of ten years in his native country and then bade adieu to friends and native land in order to accompany his parents as they sailed for the new world. He arrived in Racine county in 1870 and after ten years came to Howard county on the 1st of April 1880, the journey being made first to Cresco and then to New Oregon. Later he returned to Cresco and was employed in the Swenson foundry for three years. He afterward operated a threshing outfit in the west through the fall but returned home in the winter. In 1887 he became an engineer in the flour inill of John M. McCoy and occupied that position for three years. He next purchased a half interest in the foundry and eventually the company extended the scope of their business by adding plumbing and heating. They have a well equipped establishment and the trade has now reached gratifying proportions. The business was conducted for eight years under the firm name of Swenson & Moen, at the end of which time Mr. Moen started in business on his own account and is now alone. He has important con- tracts for plumbing and heating and the thoroughness of his work has insured a con- tinuance of the trade. He also deals in farm lands and has become the owner of some excellent property.
In 1888 Mr. Moen was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rudi, a daughter of Knute K. and Gertrude (Lee) Rudi. Mrs. Moen was born in Norway and came to the United States with her brother Julius in 1882, making her way to Cresco, where she took up her abode. She has become the mother of five children. Amelia G. tlie eldest, is a trained nurse now at the Great Lakes training station. Clarence H. became a sergeant in the Ninety-ninth Division stationed at Wheeler and Atlanta, Georgia, but is now at home. Gertrude is now the wife of Donald Lent. Arthur T. is a lieutenant in the
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United States navy and a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and Cora S. is at home.
Mr. Moen started out in the business world without capital and has steadily worked his way upward. His success is due to various causes-to his untiring industry, to his studious habits, to his determination and his straightforward dealing. He has al- ways been a great reader and keeps in touch with the trend of the times in this way. He has studied closely the political questions and issues of the day and gives his sup- port to the republican party. He has served as a member of the city council for several years. He started the sewer system of Cresco and has been active in promoting various other progressive measures of the town. For ten years he was a member of the board of education and the public schools have ever found in him a stalwart champion. He acted as president of the board for two years and was in charge of the building of the new high school at Cresco. Fraternally he is a Mason and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He has given to his children good advantages and is justly proud of his family. His life activities, varied as they have been, have constituted a valuable contribution to the development and upbuilding of the county, where his name is honored and respected as that of a progressive business man and thoroughly reliable citizen.
J. C. JACOBY.
Among the resident farmers of Howard county is numbered J. C. Jacoby, who re- sides on section 31, Howard township. He has always been a resident of the Mississippi valley and in his life exemplifies the spirit of enterprise which has been a dominant factor in the upbuilding of this section of the country. He was born in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, November 20, 1854, a son of Frank and Margaret Jacoby, who were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. They came to the United States in 1851 and established their home in Milwaukee county where the father con- tinued to reside throughout the remainder of his life, there passing away at the age of eighty-six years. The mother survives and is now eighty-five years of age.
J. C. Jacoby spent his youthful days at the place of his nativity and pursued his education in district and parochial schools of that locality. In the spring of 1879 he came to Iowa and made investment in one hundred and sixty acres of his present home farm. In subsequent years he has added to his holdings as his financial resources have increased and is now the owner of three hundred and forty acres of Howard county's most valuable and productive land. To his place he has added many modern improve- ments and accessories and his farm property is not only very valuable but presents a most attractive picture in the landscape. As the years have passed his labors have been crowned with substantial success as the result of his progressive methods of farming and he has also become a stockholder in the Elma Cooperative Creamery Company. He served for several years as a member of its board of directors and is now secretary of the company.
In 1882 Mr. Jacoby was married to Miss Margaret Palmersheim, of Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of ten children, nine of whom . survive: Catherine, the wife of Nicholas Jeager, who is serving as town clerk of Greenfield, Wisconsin; Margaret, the wife of Charles Sullivan, of Howard township; Joseph, a farmer residing at St. Cloud, Minnesota; Laura, the wife of John Schmid, a carpenter of Elma, Iowa; Elmer, who served in the Great Lakes training school of naval reserves and is now at home; and Raymond, Floyd, Merle and Geneva, who are also yet under the parental roof.
In his political views Mr. Jacoby is a democrat and for many years served as a member of the school board, doing everything in his power to advance the cause of education. He has long been regarded as a successful and progressive farmer and busi- ness man of Howard county and as an influential citizen. He and his family are iden- tified with the Catholic church and their sterling worth has gained for them the warm regard of all who know them. Forty years have come and gone since Mr. Jacoby took
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up his abode upon his present farm and through this period he has witnessed much of the growth and progress of this section of the state, his memory forming a connecting link between the primitive past with its hardships and privations and the progressive present with its opportunities and advantages.
GEORGE M. LEFERINK.
George M. Leferink is an enterprising and successful agriculturist of Howard county, residing on section 17, Vernon Springs township. He was born in Holland on the 9th of February, 1875, a son of Barney and Katie (Mush) Leferink, who at one time were residents of Iowa.
George F. Leferink spent the first nineteen years of his life in his native country and then determined to try his fortunes on this side of the Atlantic. Making his way direct to Iowa, he settled first at Festina in Winneshiek county and was there em- ployed as a farm hand for six years. Subsequently he spent ten years in the cultiva- tion of rented land, on the expiration of which period he purchased a tract of eighty acres north of Cresco. On disposing of the latter property he purchased his present place of about one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, Vernon Springs township, where he has since carried on farming with gratifying results, his well tilled fields an- nually yielding golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.
In 1900 Mr. Leferink was united in marriage to Miss Mary Busch, by whom he has four children: Frank, Katie, John and Tilda. All are still under the parental roof and are attending the graded schools.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Leferink gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Columbus. 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 through their wise utilization has won a place among the substantial and esteemed citizens of the community in which he makes his home.
F. A. BROWN.
F. A. Brown is the senior partner in the well known firm of F. A. Brown & Son, hardware dealers of Riceville, and is also numbered with the pioneer settlers of Howard county who have aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon whichi has been built the present progress and prosperity of this section of the state. He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, on the 26th of February, 1856, a son of Emmett and Aurelia (Clark) Brown, both of whom were natives of Vermont and both members of old New England families. As children they removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, where they attained their majority and were married. The mother passed away in that state about the year 1874. In 1870 the father had removed westward, leaving his family in Wisconsin, and had located in Le Roy, Minnesota. Three years prior to his death, however, he made his home with his son, F. A. Brown, in Howard county, and here passed away in 1882.
In the district schools F. A. Brown acquired his education and in 1872, when sixteen years of age, came to Howard county, Iowa. During the following two years he worked as a farm hand and then went to Le Roy, Minnesota, where for four years he was employed in a printing office. Later he returned to Howard county and after two more years spent in farm labor bought land with the capital that he had managed to save from his earnings, acquiring eighty acres in Oakdale township. He then actively took up farming on his own account and occupied that place for eight years, after which he disposed of his farm and removed to Riceville, where he became engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock. After four years thus spent
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he purchased the hardware business of Albert Bridges in 1890 and for the past twenty-nine years has been a dominant factor in the commercial circles of Rice- ville. In 1910 he admitted his son, M. A. Brown, to an equal partnership under the firm style of F. A. Brown & Son. He owns the brick block in which is conducted his hardware business and also the grocery business of C. E. Adams, as well as the moving picture theatre, which Mr. Brown operates.
In 1880 occurred the marriage of F. A. Brown and Miss Frances A Radford, a daughter of Stephen Radford, one of the pioneers of Howard county of 1855. Mrs. Brown was a teacher in the public schools for three years prior to her marriage. She became the mother of three children, but Minn A. is the only surviving child. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Brown has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and in his political views is a republican. He served for several years as a member of the town council and has given loyal and earnest support to every plan and project for the general good during the long years of his connection with Riceville. A spirit of advancement has dominated his career at all times and has proven an element in the substantial progress of his city.
M. A. BROWN.
M. A. Brown is a member of the firm of F. A. Brown & Son, hardware dealers of Riceville, and was born upon a farm in Howard county May 17, 1883, his parents being F. A. and Frances A. (Radford) Brown, mentioned above. He pursued his education in the graded and high schools of Riceville and when his schooldays were over entered his father's store as a clerk, thus receiving his initial commercial training. In 1910 he was admitted to an equal partnership in the business, with which he has thus since been associated, and the enterprise and enthusiasm of the younger man ably supplement the experience and sound judgment of the father, making this a very strong business combination.
In 1906 M. A. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Irvin, a daughter of James Irvin, now deceased. He, too, was one of the pioneer farmers of Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have become the parents of five children: Marian, Hazel, Arthur, Franklin and Bernice. Mrs. Brown attends the First Congregational church.
Mr. Brown is a republican in his political views and is now filling the office of justice of the peace. In addition to his hardware business he has been engaged in writing tornado insurance for the past ten years. He eagerly embraces every op- portunity for business advancement and at the same time his interest in community affairs and the general welfare is manifest in hearty cooperation with all plans and movements which his judgment sanctions as factors for public good.
REV. RUDOLPH LAKOMY.
Rev. Rudolph Lakomy, pastor of the Holy Trinity Catholic church at Protivin, How- ard county, was born in Bohemia on the 17th of April, 1862, a son of Anthony and Mary (Kubicek) Lakomy, who spent their entire lives in Bohemia, where the father followed the occupation of farming and also carried on business as a building contractor.
The son acquired his education in the schools of his native country, pursuing a Latin course in a gymnasium at Olomouc. Bohemia. He afterward served for a year in the army and then entered upon a theological course of study in Vienna. Austria, where he was a student for four years. In 1887 he was ordained to the priesthood at Vienna by Cardinal Gaugelbauer and following his ordination he served as priest at different points in Austria for a period of eight years. In 1895 he came to the United States, landing in New York city on the 13th of September of that year. From the eastern
REV. RUDOLPH LAKOMY
Vol. II-23
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metropolis he made his way westward to Wisconsin and was appointed priest to the Green Bay diocese, with which he was connected for four years. In 1899 he was appointed to take charge of the Sacred Heart church at Oxford Junction, Johnson county, Iowa, and presided over that congregation for three years. While there he built a fine stone and brick edifice at Prairieburg, which was then in his mission. In 1902 he was transferred to Chelsea, Tama county, Iowa, where he remained for three years, building a modern brick church at that point. In 1906 he came to Protivin as pastor of Holy Trinity church and the following year built the present church edifice in Protivin, which is one of the finest church buildings in Howard county. Rev. Lakomy drew the plans also for the Bohemian Savings Bank and for Beseda Hall at Protivin and was the superintendent of construction of both buildings, which were erected at a remarkably low cost considering the style of architecture and the construction work. Father Lakomy is one of the prominent figures in the life of his section of Howard county, It is said of him that he has never refused financial assistance to any worthy man regard- less of nationality, creed or religion. Money to him has but one purpose-that of doing good to his fellowmen. Father Lakomy is beloved by all with whom he has come in contact, not only by the people of his own denomination but also by Protestants as well, his upright life, his high purposes and his many good deeds commending him to the respect and friendship of all with whom he is brought in contact.
WILLIAM L. RICHARDS.
William L. Richards is a civil engineer and well know railroad man living in Cresco and he has contributed in large measure to the substantial development and improvement of Howard county. His birthplace was on the Allegheny river east of Pittsburgh and his natal year was 1848. He is the son of Joseph and Re- becca (McBride) Richards. The father was born in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, and was there reared and married. He took up the occupation of farming as a life work and thus provided for his family. He removed from the east to Clayton county, Iowa, making the trip westward by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. In that early day the section to which he made his way was a frontier district and McGregor was the only market place in this part of the country. He took up his abode south of Austin on the Cedar river, in Minnesota, and purchased a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on which was a log cabin. In true pioneer style he began life in the west and undertook the arduous task of developing and improving a new farm. Year by year his labors were carried forward and he re- mained upon his original claim until 1862, when he removed to Vernon Springs, Iowa. The following year, aroused by a spirit of patriotism, he offered his services to the Union and joined the Sixth Iowa Cavalry. With the command he went to the front and was wounded while at White Stone Hill, North Dakota. He served under General Sibley until the close of the war and with a most creditable military record returned to his old home in Howard county. He then took up farming again and after a time traded the old farm for a tract of land in New Oregon township com- prising eighty acres, but at a later period traded that for his former property. He remained a resident of Vernon Springs until his death, which occurred in 1891. His political allegiance was always given to the democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church, which guided him in all life's relations. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintained pleasant associa- tions with the "Boys in blue" with whom he had marched on southern battlefields in defense of the stars and stripes. His wife died at the age of eighty years.
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