USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 46
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 46
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William L. Richards spent his boyhood between 1862 and 1868 upon the old home farm in Howard county and his early education, acquired in the district schools, was supplemented by study in the Cedar Valley Seminary. He afterward taught school through three winter seasons in Howard county and later became connected with the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad on location and construction work, spending five years in that connection. From 1873 until 1895 he was chief
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engineer with the Chicago & Tomah Railroad and built fifty miles of narrow gauge road in Wisconsin. He was afterward with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and acted as engineer between Fennimore, Wisconsin, and Milwaukee, continuing in that capacity for three years. He next went to South Dakota, where he carried on farming in Moody county for two years, and later he lived at Aberdeen, where he was connected wtih the Northwestern Railroad, acting as chief engineer for the line, which was later taken over by the "Soo." Prior to this time Mr. Richards located some of the lines for the Northern Pacific Railroad and thus at different periods as he has been closely and prominently associated with railroad construction and building in various parts of the middle west. In 1891 he returned to Cresco and became county surveyor. He continued to act in that position until 1913, when he was appointed county engineer, which office he held for thirty-seven years. In addition he also installed waterworks, did paving and established sewer systems in Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota. He is now serving as drainage engineer. He has done work of a most important character, contributing much to the development and progress of the sections in which he has lived. As he has prospered in his undertakings he has made judicious investments in property.
In 1880 Mr. Richards was united in marriage to Miss Helen Smith, a daughter of Ralph and Sarah (Lockwood) Smith. She was born in Crawford county, Wis- consin, where her father was a merchant and lumberman. Later he removed west- ward, establishing his home in Moody county, South Dakota, where he carried on farming, and both he and his wife passed away in that locality. To Mr. and Mrs. Richards have been born three children: Luverne, now the wife of J. A. Sandford, of Farmington, Minnesota; Tashleen, now the wife of J. A. Williams, of Cresco; and Ralph, who is living at San Antonio, Texas.
While Mr. Richards was filling the office of county surveyor he located lines from Dubuque to Plattville, extended an electric line for Arthur Fox, and also ran a line from Rockford, Illinois, to Madison, Wisconsin, and likewise located an elec- tric line from Garnavillo, Iowa, to Guttenberg, Iowa. He ranks with the ablest civil engineers of the state and is without a superior in all northern Iowa. In fact, he has attained a high degree of efficiency in his profession, continually broadening his knowledge and promoting his skill through wide study and experience. Mr. Richards votes with the republican party and is a stalwart champion of its prin- ciples. He has spent three terms as a member of the city council and at all times exercised his official prerogatives in support of plans and measures for the general good. He is a Mason and is loyal to the teachings of the craft. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible. He has attempted important things and has accomplished what he has attempted. There is no feature of civil engineering with which he is not familiar as applied to railroad construction, paving, sewer construction and other lines and he is thoroughly conversant with the great scientific principles as well as the practical phases that underlie his work.
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WILLIAM DIEKMANN, SR.
William Diekmann, Sr., proprietor of a garage at Elma, was born in Germany, November 18, 1862, a son of Ludwig and Minnie (Arndt) Diekmann. The parents came to the United States in 1871, settling in Bremer county, Iowa, where the father purchased farm land which he continued to cultivate and improve until 1886, in which year he retired from business and removed with his wife to Klinger, Bremer county, Iowa.
William Diekmann, Sr., was educated in the common schools of Bremer county, having been but nine years of age when brought by his parents to the new world. In his youthful days he assisted his father upon the home farm until he reached the age of fifteen, when he started out in the business world on his own account by beginning work at the carpenter's trade. This he followed until 1886, when he purchased a farm in Bremer county and thereafter devoted his attention to general
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agricultural pursuits for a year, when he sold his farm and established his home in Klinger, Iowa. There he entered the machine business, in which he engaged until 1882, when he disposed of his interests there and established his home in Elma. where he conducted a general store and machine shop until 1912. He then sold his interests, having established a garage in 1908. He has since conducted the garage and after selling his store has concentrated his entire attention upon the garage business.
Mr. Diekmann was married to Miss Christina Matthias, a daughter of William Matthias, a native of Germany, whence he came to the new world, settling in Bremer county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Diekmann have been born eight children: Louis, William, Mary, Lydia, Edward, Herman, Walter and Clara. The son Edward served with the Three Hundred and Twenty-first Company, Battalion R, Company 3, of the Marines during the great European war.
The parents are members of the German Lutheran church at Elma and in politics Mr. Diekmann maintains an independent course. He has served as a member of the town council at Elma and his interest in public affairs is manifest by the aid and cooperation which he gives to plans and projects for the general good. Starting out in life on his own account when a youth of fifteen years, he has steadily worked his way upward in a business way and whatever success he has achieved or enjoyed is attributable entirely to his industry, perseverance and enterprise.
FRANK W. URBAN.
Frank W. Urban, actively engaged in general farming on section 6, Paris town- ship, Howard county, was born in Wisconsin, March 31, 1879, a son of Wencel and Mary Urban. The family is of Bohemian descent and the paternal grandfather died in Bohemia. Later Wencel Urban came to the new world with his mother, who in the meantime had married again, her second husband being also of the party that crossed the Atlantic.
Frank W. Urban of this review is indebted to the district school system for the educational advantages which he enjoyed. He was reared as a farm boy and in January, 1905, was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Belek, a native of Howard county and a daughter of Frank Belek, who was one of the early settlers of the county but is now deceased.
Four years prior to his marriage Mr. Urban began farming on the eighty acre tract of land which he now owns and which he purchased from his father. He also cultivates an eighty acre tract belonging to his brother Joe and adjoining the home place. He is a progressive agriculturist, working diligently and persistently in the care of his farm, which he has converted into rich and productive fields which annually return to him a substantial income.
To Mr and Mrs. Urban has been born a daughter, Mary H. The family are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Urban gives his political support to the democratic party. He has spent almost his entire life in Howard county and the community knows him as a representative citizen, loyal to the best interests of the community and active and successful in the conduct of business affairs.
JOHN NOHALE.
Among the determined and forceful men of Paris township who are maintaining its high standards in agriculture is numbered John Nohale, whose home is on section 22, where he owns and cultivates two hundred acres of good land. Like many of his fel- low citizens of Howard county, he is of Bohemian birth. His natal day was September 13, 1869, and he spent the first sixteen years of his life in Bohemia, after which he came to the new world with his mother and sister, his father having previously died
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in that country. It was with the hope of enjoying better business chances and oppor- tunities that the family crossed the Atlantic and made their way westward to Iowa.
John Nohale had in the meantime acquired a fair education in the schools of his native land and after reaching Iowa he began work as a farm hand in Howard county, where he was employed until twenty-five years of age. He then felt that his experience and his capital justified his engaging in business on his own account and he subse- quently cultivated rented land for a period of three years. He still continued to prac- tice thrift and industry and at the end of that time was able to purchase his present place. He has since made all of the improvements upon his property and now has a good farm on which are substantial buildings and all modern equipments. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and everything about his place is carefully managed, while in the production of crops he employs the most pro- gressive methods.
Mr. Nohale's mother is still living and makes her home in Protivin with her daughter. On the 15th of September, 1893, John Nohale of this review was united in marriage to Miss Tony Papouch, a daughter of Frank and Katie Papouch, of Howard county. They have become the parents of three children: Frank, Mamie and Eliza- beth. Two years ago the last named gave her hand in marriage to Adolph Kalishek, a resident farmer of Winneshiek county. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and in politics Mr. Nohale largely maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment with little regard for party ties. He is truly a self-made man and deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out to provide for his own support when but sixteen years of age and has today reached a position among the men of affluence in Paris township.
PHILIP KRATZ.
Philip Kratz, deceased, was for many years identified with farming interests in Howard county and became the owner of an excellent property which was the result of his close application and indefatigable energy. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1849, a son of Philip and Margaret (Gazell) Kratz. He was but four years of age when his parents bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world, settling in Wisconsin, where the father engaged in farming. He afterward re- moved to Lincoln township, Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and throughout his remaining days his attention was given to the development and improvement of his farm, upon which both he and his wife passed away.
Philip Kratz spent his youth largely upon the old homestead farm in Iowa and the usual experiences of the farm-bred boy were his. He worked in the fields during the summer months and in the winter seasons attended school. In 1877, when twenty- eight years of age, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Cawelti, who was born near North Washington, in Chickasaw county, Iowa, a daughter of George and Mary (Weiler) Cawelti, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, but came to the United States at an early day arriving in 1848. They remained for a short time in Wisconsin but afterward removed to Iowa, establishing their home at North Washington, Chicka- saw county, where Mr. Cawelti purchased a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, for which he paid a dollar and a half per acre. He added to this as his financial resources increased, extending the boundaries of his farm from time to time until he had four hundred acres of good land. He died at Alta Vista, Iowa, while his wife died upon the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Kratz.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kratz took up their abode upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres a mile from the old homestead. This Mr. Kratz pur- chased and for a number of years he continued its development and cultivation. He afterward sold that property and removed to New Oregon township, where he pur- chased two hundred and twenty acres of land. This he further developed as the years passed, adding to it many modern improvements which added greatly to the appearance
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of the place and made it one of the attractive features of the landscape. He carefully and systematically tilled his fields and continued the cultivation of his land to the time of his death, which occurred in 1900, when he was fifty-one years of age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kratz were born five children, Philip G., Samuel, Arthur, Alfred and Emma all of whom survive. In 1913 Mrs. Kratz left the home farm, on which she had continued to reside until her husband's death, and took up her abode in Cresco, where she occupies a nice home and where she has an extensive circle of warm friends.
Mr. Kratz was a republican in his political views and served as constable for a number of years. He was also school director a number of years and was ever a champion of the cause of education. His religious faith was that of the Evangelical church, to which Mrs. Kratz also belongs. He long ranked among the substantial farmers and respected citizens of his community and his sterling worth was recognized by all with whom he came in contact.
PETER J. McGRANE.
Peter J. McGrane, living on section 30, Afton township, is one of the native sons of Howard county, where he was born July 24, 1865, his parents being Thomas and Mar- garet McGrane, who were natives of Ireland. The father came to the United States when a youth of sixteen years and in 1856 he arrived in Iowa, where he made invest- ment in farm land, becoming one of the earliest settlers of Howard county. The work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun and with the agricultural progress of the community the father became closely associated. He went through all the hardships connected with the cultivation of new land at an early day, but as the years passed he prospered in his undertakings and acquired an excellent farm property of two hundred and eighty acres, to which he added many modern improvements.
Peter J. McGrane, whose name introduces this review, was reared under the par- ental roof, acquired his education in the district schools and worked with his father throughout the period of his minority. On attaining adult age he started out in busi- ness life on his own account, renting farm land which he at once began to develop and improve. He worked in this way for about eight years and during that period care- fully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to enable him to purchase prop- erty. He then made investment in his present farm, which is situated on section 30, Afton township. Through the intervening period he has placed all of the improvements upon the property and has made it one of the excellent farms of his district.
On the 30th of December, 1894, Peter J. McGrane was united in marriage to Miss Rose Murray, a daughter of Charles and Catherine Murray, of Mitchell county, where they are identified with farming interests. To Mr. and Mrs. McGrane have been born six children: Charles Melbourne, who wedded Nellie Riley, of Howard county, and is following farming; Thomas Everett; Joseph Earl; Mary Margaret; Catherine Rose; and Loretta Gertrude. With the exception of the first named all are upon the home farm with their parents. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and they are connected with the St. Cecelia parish. In politics Mr. McGrane is a democrat but not an office seeker. He belongs to the Farmers' Equity Cooperative Association at Elma and he is one of the representative and progressive agriculturists of his district.
PETER MOUDRY.
Peter Moudry, who is engaged in farming on section 8. New Oregon township, Howard county, was born in Bohemia, February 18, 1863, and came to the United States in 1880 when a youth of seventeen years. He became a resident of Cleveland. Ohio, where he secured employment in a factory, and spent about a year and a half there. He then made his way westward to Howard county, Iowa, where he was em-
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ployed as a farm hand for six years, during which period he carefully saved his earn- ings until his economy and diligence had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to begin farming on his own account. He purchased the land upon which he now re sides and at once began its cultivation and improvement, having today an excellent property which is a monument to his thrift and industry. All of the improvements on the place have been made by him and it is a thoroughly modern farm in all of its equipment and in the business methods which he employs in its further conduct.
On the 28th of September, 1887, Mr. Moudry was married to Miss Annie Riha, a daughter of John Riha, who follows farming in Winneshiek county. To Mr. and Mrs. Moudry have been born four children: Joseph F., Frank J., Stella and Mary, all of whom are at home and were educated in the public schools of Howard county. The son Joseph was a member of the Twelfth Company of the Twentieth Engineers. Leaving home on the 24th of February, 1918, he went to Camp Dodge, Iowa, thence to Wash- ington, D. C., and to New York and from the eastern metropolis sailed for France, ar- riving at Brest. Recently he has returned from overseas service having done his full part in bringing about the successful termination of the war.
The family are communicants of the Catholic church at Protivin, and in political be- lief Mr. Moudry is a democrat. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress until he has now reached a creditable and enviable position among the successful farmers of New Oregon township.
J. S. CAGLEY.
J. S. Cagley, owning and operating a farm on section 20, Bradford township, Chickasaw county, was born near the old town of Chickasaw on the 8th day of July, 1865, a son of A. M. and Ann Cagley, who cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of this section of the state. They arrived here in early life and became acquainted in Chickasaw county, where their marriage was later celebrated. The father then took up the occupation of farming, which he followed as a life work, and both he and his wife remained residents of the county until called to their final rest several years ago.
J. S. Cagley, is practically a self-educated man, having little opportunity to attend school during his boyhood. After pursuing a course in the Bradford Academy of Brad- ford, Iowa, he had the advantage of commercial training in the Breckenridge Institute at Decorah, Iowa. Taking up the profession of teaching, he was thus engaged for a year at Bassett and for two years at Ionia. He also taught for one year in a district school of Chickasaw township and later became principal of the schools at Floyd, Iowa, occupying that position for three years. He proved an abie educator, having little difficulty in interesting and holding the attention of the pupils and impressing them strongly with the points which he wished them to grasp. He taught school for five years and then after his marriage purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Bradford township, on which he resided until 1912, when he removed to his present place of forty acres on section 20, Bradford township, renting the other farm of a quarter section.
. On the 28th of August, 1889, Mr. Cagley was united in marriage to Miss Eva May Layton and they have become parents of two daughters: Clare, who is a graduate of the Nashua high school and of the Iowa State Teachers' College of Cedar Falls, and Clio, who died at the age of three years.
Throughout the period of his active life J. S. Cagley has been closely associated with public interests and projects which have had to do with the development and up- building of his section of the state. He was one of the organizers of the Nashua Farm- ers Creamery Association which built the creamery plant, thus promoting an enter- prise that has been of substantial benefit and value to the surrounding district. He also assisted in building the Chickasaw County Home at New Hampton. He has filled practically all of the offices in Bradford township and for three terms. or nine years, served as a member of the county board of supervisors. He also served on the Liberty
MR. AND MRS. A. M. CAGLEY
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Loan committee during the third, fourth and fifth campaigns in Bradford township and he gave generous and earnest support throughout the period of the war to all in- terests which he believed would benefit war activities and advance the interests of our soldiers in France. He is a charter member and loyal follower of the Odd Fellows lodge at Nashua and he and his family are consistent members of the Methodist church there. His business affairs have always been capably and profitably conducted and he has also found time for cooperation in all those forces which make for the uplift of the individual and the upbuilding of the community at large. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, a genius for devising the right thing at the right time, joined . to everyday common sense, guided by resistless will power, are the chief char- acteristics of the man.
ROBERT R. CAGLEY.
The broad prairies of northern Iowa have afforded excellent opportunity to the agri- culturist and enterprising men have claimed the district and converted it into one great garden spot. Actively identified with farming interests in Chickasaw county is Robert R. Cagley, whose home is on section 16, Chickasaw township, and who was born in the township in which he still lives, his natal day being January 9, 1873. His father, Abraham Cagley, was born in Indiana in 1835 and in 1854, when a youth of nineteen years, came to Chickasaw county with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Cagley, who had a family of fifteen children. John Cagley was a man of some means for that day and on his arrival in Chickasaw county he purchased several hundred acres of government land, paying a dollar and a quarter per acre for the property. He made his home in Brad- ford township and remained a valued and honored resident of the county to the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the advanced age of eighty years. His son, Abraham Cagley, settled on a farm in Chickasaw township following his marriage to Miss Ann Wright, who was born in England in 1842 and came to America in her girl- hood days with her parents. Her father died soon after the family landed in this country and the mother and children continued the journey to the west. After a brief residence in Floyd county they settled in Chickasaw county and it was here that Miss Wright gave her hand in marriage to Abraham Cagley. They took up their abode upon his farm near the town of Chickasaw and thereon Mrs. Cagley passed away in 1876, while four years later Mr. Cagley, after years of ill health, was called to his final rest. Their family numbered seven children.
At the time of his father's demise Robert R. Cagley was a lad of but seven years. From then until his fifteenth year he lived with relatives and attended school. During the summer vacations he worked in the fields. On attaining the age of fifteen years he started out in life independently and followed farm work through the summer seasons, while during the winter months he paid his board and did a year's high school work in four months' study. At eighteen years of age he began teaching and for five years devoted his attention to educational work, proving most capable in this direction. He had the faculty of interesting the children and clearly impressing them with the points of knowledge which they were endeavoring to master. He was ambitious to be- come the owner of a farm and, carefully saving his earnings, was able in 1896 to begin farming on his own account. He took up his abode upon what is now his home place of one hundred and sixty acres. For two years he cultivated this land as a renter and then purchased eighty acres, while subsequently he was able to add the other eighty acres to his holdings, so that he now owns a quarter section, which he has converted into rich and productive fields, annually gathering therefrom substantial harvests. He bears the reputation of being one of the progressive farmers of Chickasaw township and every- thing about his place indicates his careful supervision and practical methods. He is a stockholder in the Ionia Farmers' Creamery Association and is the president of the association, having served in that capacity for the past five or six years, during which he has carefully directed the interests of the business, which has been attended with notable success. This association produced over a half million pounds of butter in the
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