USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 51
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 51
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Mr. Ries gives his political endorsement to the democratic party and served as township trustee of Washington township for two terms. He has also been school director for several years. He never hesitates to lend aid and support to public- spirited measures, seeking ever the welfare and upbuilding of the district in which he makes his home and of the state at large. He has always lived in Washington township, where he has a very wide acquaintance.
G. A. DREWELOW.
G. A. Drewelow, one of the highly respected and progressive farmers of Chicka- saw county, resides on section 28, New Hampton township, where he owns a valuable tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres. He has developed here one of the fine farms of the county and his enterprise is at once manifest in the splendid appear- ance of his place. Commodious and substantial modern buildings are surrounded by highly cultivated fields and there is no equipment or accessory of the model farm of the twentieth century that is not found upon his land.
Mr. Drewelow is a native son of Chickasaw county, his birth having occurred in Stapleton township, June 2, 1863, his parents being Gustav and Augusta (Drevlow) Drewelow, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to the United States in early life with their parents, the father being at that time a youth of eighteen, while the mother was a young lady of twenty-three. The paternal grandfather, William Drew- elow, was a man of considerable means for those times and brought with him to this country three thousand dollars in gold. He settled in Chickasaw county and purchased for each of his four sons and two daughters a farm of eighty acres. His son, Gustav Drewelow, was given the farm upon which G. A. Drewelow of this review now resides, but he increased his holdings until he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres. For a long period he engaged in the development and improvement of his fields, but following the death of his wife in 1901 he made his home with his children until he, too. was called to his final rest in 1910. In politics he was a democrat and was keenly interested in public affairs but never an office seeker. He made generous con- tributions to charity and many a poor neighbor had cause to bless him for timely assistance. He was ever ready to extend a helping hand to those who needed aid and his life at all times measured up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.
G. A. Drewelow, whose name introduces this record, attended the district schools near his father's home, but his educational opportunities in that direction were quite limited. Through broad experience and wide reading in later years, however, he has become a well informed man, recognized as one of notably sound judgment and keen discrimination. In the spring of 1888 he began farming on his own account, having purchased eighty acres of the old homestead property on which the buildings were located. In the following November he was married and continued to live upon the homestead but tore down the original buildings, which he replaced with modern and substantial structures, making this one of the well improved and valuable farm prop-
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erties of New Hampton township. He has also made additional purchases, thus extend- ing the boundaries of his farm from time to time until it today comprises three hun- dred and twenty acres, including some of the most valuable land in Chickasaw county, Mr. Drewelow refusing two hundred and fifty dollars per acre for his home place during the summer of 1919.
On the 13th of November, 1888, Mr. Drewelow was united in marriage to Miss Anna Schlatter, a daughter of Gottfried and Selina (Pfenninger) Schlatter, both of whom were natives of Switzerland. The father, after attaining man's estate, crossed the Atlantic to the new world and the mother made the voyage to the United States in her girlhood with her parents, who settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa. There they were married and afterward took up their abode in Fayette county, Iowa, where the father spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1899. His widow still survives. To Mr. and Mrs. Drewelow have been born three sons: Wellington A., who is assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Wesley, Iowa; Irvin R., one of the well known stock buyers of northern Iowa, still living at home; and Waldon G., also at home. The sons, Wellington and Waldon, served in the European war, the former being stationed at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and the latter at Camp Dodge, Iowa.
In his political views Mr. Drewelow is a democrat. By the consensus of public opinion he occupies a position as one of the leading and representative citizens of New Hampton township. Here he has lived for fifty-six years, witnessing the growth and development of this section of the state and at all times bearing his part in the work of public improvement. In the conduct of his business affairs he has displayed ready adaptability and sound judgment and, placing his capital in the safest of all invest- ments -- real estate, he is today the owner of one of the fine farm properties of Chick- asaw county.
OTTO L. GESELL.
Otto L. Gesell, living on section 25, Afton township, Howard county, is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Winneshiek county, November 23, 1883. His parents are John and Mary (Falck) Gesell, residents of Elma. The father was born in Indiana, while the mother was a native of Chickasaw county, Iowa. When a lad of ten years John Gesell came to this state and took up his abode at Ridgeway, where he was reared to manhood. After reaching adult age he was married at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, in 1881.
Otto L. Gesell pursued his education in the district schools near his father's home and in the high school at Elma, which he attended for two years before entering Ames College, in which he was a student for a year. He then returned home to assist his father in the further development and improvement of the farm and gave his attention to agricultural pursuits on the old homestead until he was twenty-three years of age. At that time he was married to Miss Ida Bartels, a daughter of Ernest and Sophia (Eikoff) Bartels, both of whom have passed away. Her father was a native of Illinois, while her mother was born in Germany. It was at Mapleleaf, Iowa, on the 25th of August, 1904, that Mr. and Mrs. Gesell were married and they have become the parents of six children: Harold J. E., Raymond P. F., Elsie S. M., Arnold H. C., Lester P. H. and Erma L. S., all of whom are under the parental roof.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Gesell took over the cultivation and management of the home farm, upon which he has since lived, and he has long been classed with the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of the community. He has charge of two hundred and forty acres of land, which he has brought under a high state of cultiva- tion, and he is meeting with very substantial success in the development of his farm. He is likewise the president of the Afton Equity Local.
Mr. Gesell and his family are members of the Lutheran church at Elma, and his political belief is that of the republican party. He served as school director for a year but has never been ambitious to hold public office. preferring to concentrate his efforts upon his business affairs, which have been wisely directed and are bringing to him a
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substantial competence. Reared to the occupation of farming, he has made it his life work and his capability and energy are manifest in the very desirable results which have rewarded his labors.
THEODORE A. KRIEGER.
Iowa has taken leadership along certain lines of agricultural development and this is due to the enterprising efforts of such men as Theodore A. Krieger, who has been most active in promoting the farming interests of Chickasaw county. He makes his home on section 24, Dayton township, and is a native of Scott county, Iowa, where his birth occurred August 27, 1860. He is a brother of J. W. Krieger, who is mentioned at length on another page of this work.
In the public schools of his native county Theodore A. Krieger acquired his early education and also spent two years as a student in a parochial school at Davenport. He worked with his father on the home farm through his boyhood and youth and was fifteen years of age when in 1875 he came to Chickasaw county with his parents, the family home being established upon the farm which he now owns and occupies. He has since resided upon this place and at the death of his father came into possession of the farm, which at that time comprised one hundred and sixty acres of land. He has since added to the place by the purchase of eighty acres and now has a valuable farm property of two hundred and forty acres. He is very practical in the cultivation of his fields and the farm indicates his careful supervision and progressive methods in its well tilled fields and splendid improvements.
On the 24th of May, 1889, Mr. Krieger was married to Miss Minnie Schnurr, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Schnurr, who removed from Scott county, Iowa, to Chickasaw county and are now living in New Hampton. Mr. and Mrs. Krieger have become the parents of ten living children: Mrs. Katherine Arnhalt, Charles, Clara, Mrs. Rose Sheehy, Lena, Loretta, George, Vincent, Lawrence and Irvin. The son Theo- dore was killed in a cyclone which passed over the farm in 1918.
Mr. Krieger and his family are members of St. Mary's Catholic church of New Hampton, and he is identified with the Farmers Equity Association of that place. His political support is given the democratic party and for six years he served as township trustee.
Throughout practically his entire life he has been identified with the farming interests of Chickasaw county and for forty-five years has lived upon his present home place, carefully cultivating the farm according to the most progressive methods.
MAXEY A. KEPPLE.
Maxey A. Kepple is the efficient cashier of the Commercial State Savings Bank of Nashua, in which city he was born August 23, 1882, a son of John W. and Alma (Bishop) Kepple, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in Chickasaw county, Iowa, upon a farm about a mile north of Chickasaw, where her parents had located in early pioneer times. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Kepple came to Chickasaw county about 1856, at which time John W. Kepple was only about a year old. Here he was reared and married and for many years he engaged in mer- chandising in Nashua, long ranking with its leading and representative business men. He afterward removed to Ionia, where he conducted a store for a number of years. Following the death of his wife he made his home with his son, Maxey A. Kepple of this review, until his demise, which occurred on the 3d of October, 1914, when he was fifty-nine years of age. He was one of the highly respected residents of the community in which he resided and enjoyed to the fullest extent the warm regard and confidence of those with whom he was associated. In politics he was a republican and fraternally was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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Maxey A. Kepple was educated in the public schools of Nashua and Ionia and also in the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines. Following the completion of his studies there he entered the bank of A. G. Case & Company at Nashua and thus received his initial training in financial affairs. He was later made assistant cashier and on the 1st of June, 1909, he left that institution and went to Sanborn, Iowa, to accept the cashiership of the Sanborn State Bank, in which capacity he served for two and a half years. On the 1st of August, 1911, he returned to Nashua and was made cashier of the private banking institution of A. G. Case & Company. In 1915 this bank was reorganized and incorporated as the Commercial State Savings Bank, Mr. Kepple continuing as cashier of the newly incorporated institution.
On the 10th of October, 1905, Mr. Kepple was married to Miss Harriet M. Crapser, of Nashua, and to them have been born two children, Maxine A. and John H. Fra- ternally Mr. Kepple is connected with Bradford Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; with Nashua Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Nashua Lodge, No. 110, K. P .; and also with the Modern Woodmen of America. His political belief is that of the republican party, and in religious faith he and his wife are Congregationalists. Mrs. Kepple is also identified with the Order of the Eastern Star. Their lives are characterized by high and honorable purposes and principles, and their sterling worth is recognized by all who know them. Mr. Kepple has made steady advancement in his business career by reason of his persistency of purpose and fidelity, and his position is now an enviable one in the banking circles of his native county.
JAMES CURRAN.
James Curran, president of the State Savings Bank of Lawler, is an enterprising, alert and progressive business man whose labors have been an effective force in pro- moting progress and improvement in the district in which he lives. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Jackson county, August 12, 1856, his parents being Patrick and Catherine (Savage) Curran, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father was born in 1805 and in 1828 crossed the Atlantic to Newfoundland, where he was connected with the fishing industries for four years. He then came to the United States and was employed for a time on the construction of the first railroad built in this country-the line from Boston to Washington. Through the succeeding seven years he was engaged in railroad construction and on other public works throughout various parts of the country. In 1839 he returned to Ireland and was there married in 1840, after which he continued to make his home in his native land until 1847, when he again came to the new world. After some years spent in the New England states he made his way westward to Illinois and in 1854 became a resi- dent of Iowa, settling on a farm in Jackson county, whereon he continued to reside until 1875. He then removed to Lawler to make his home with his son James, with whom he resided until his demise, which occurred June 9, 1885, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty years.
James Curran was reared on the old homestead farm in Jackson county and pursued his education in the rural schools. On attaining his majority he started out in the business world independently. He became resident of Law- ler in December, 1877, and here turned his attention to merchandising, with which business he was prominently identified for eighteen and a half years. In January, 1897, he established a private bank conducted under the name of the Merchants Exchange Bank, and he was at the head of this institution for nine years, during which period its business gradually increased. In 1906 he organized the State Savings Bank of Lawler, of which he has since been the president, and the success and growth of the institution are the direct outcome of his capability and effort. He is thoroughly acquainted with the various phases of the banking business and has made the institution one of thorough reliability. He extends credit wherever possible to his patrons and is ever ready to aid any project that will not endanger the safety of the bank.
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In 1896 Mr. Curran was united in marriage to Miss Jennie O'Brien, of Independ- ence, Iowa, by whom he has two sons. William Francis, who is now attending Dubuque College, of Dubuque, Iowa, received military training for the great World war at Fort Sheridan. James Omer is a high school student.
In politics Mr. Curran is a democrat but not an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church and he also has membership with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He has always lived in Iowa and the spirit of western enterprise and progress has found exemplification in his career.
W. J. BOWEN & SON.
W. J. Bowen & Son are the well known proprietors of the Nashua Woolen Mills and in this connection are perfecting and developing an enterprise of substantial propor- tions, regarded as one of the leading productive industries of the town. The senior partner, W. J. Bowen, was born in South Wales, May 27, 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Ann (Jones) Bowen. The father was a woolen manufacturer of Wales and his ancestors for many generations were engaged in the same line of business, W. J. Bowen being of the fourteenth generation of the Bowen family connected with this line of business activity. He came to the United States in August, 1873, and joined his uncle, D. W. Jones, who was operating woolen mills in Manchester, Iowa. There he worked in his uncle's mills for twenty-seven years and during that period became familiar with every phase of the business.
In 1900 Mr. Bowen came to Nashua and purchased the Nashua Woolen Mills, which had been established by the Union Woolen Mills Company in 1884. The mill was built and equipped with modern machinery but was operated for only about a year. It then lay idle until the time that Mr. Bowen purchased the plant. In the intervening nine- teen years he has not only placed the business upon a substantial basis but has con- tinuously developed and enlarged the scope of his activities. There is no phase of the trade with which he is not thoroughly familiar. He has grown up in the woolen manu- facturing business and knows every detail thereof and under his management the plant at Nashua has been developed into one of the important industrial institutions of Chickasaw county. Here the firm manufactures blankets, flannels, mackinaws, cash- mere, shawls, wool batts and yarns, turning out nothing but all wool products. More- over, the house has established a reputation for making the best goods in this line in the country and the products are known and sold from coast to coast. For the past three years the concern has been working on a big government contract, supplying army blankets and other articles in the line of woolen goods.
W. J. Bowen was married in Wales, January 21, 1876, having returned to his na- tive land for his bride, who in her maidenhood was Miss Mary Ann Thomas. They became the parents of seven children, of whom six survive, namely: Richard, a resi- dent of Portland, Oregon, where he is a traction inspector; Albert, who is engaged in the undertaking business; David, who is proprietor of an electric plant southeast of Rock Island which furnishes power for several coal mines and power and light for seven towns; Thomas, the junior partner in the firm of W. J. Bowen & Son; Violet, the wife of Dr. G. H. Olsen, a practicing dentist of Fargo, North Dakota; and Neta, the wife of W. L. Tupper, a banker of Hurdsfield, North Dakota.
Thomas Bowen, the junior member of the firm of W. J. Bowen & Son, was born in Manchester, Iowa, June 29, 1885, and there attended the public schools, while later he continued his education in the State Agricultural College at Ames for three years. Be- cause of illness he was obliged to discontinue his studies. From his thirteenth year he worked more or less in the woolen mills and in his boyhood days therefore became thoroughly familiar with the business. He is of the fifteenth generation of the Bowen family to be identified with the woolen manufacturing industry. In 1908 he was taken into partnership by his father in the ownership and conduct of the Nashua plant under the firm style of W. J. Bowen & Son, and to the father's long experience and capability
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W. J. BOWEN
THOMAS BOWEN
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he added the energy, enterprise and ambition of young manhood, thus making a very strong firm.
Thomas Bowen was married to Miss Lillian Runge of Nashua, and they have be- come the parents of a son, Nevin Gordon. Both W. J. and Thomas Bowen are republi- cans in their political views and both are members of the Modern Woodmen of America. The father and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowen hold membership in the Congregational church. Both couples are well known and highly esteemed socially, while no one questions the right of the father and son to rank with the representative business men of northern Iowa. They are men of progressive spirit, ruled by more than ordinary intelligence and good judg- ment. They display a deep earnestness, impelled and fostered by indomitable perse- verance, and native justice expresses itself with them in correct principle and prac- tice.
L. R. FISHER.
L. R. Fisher, a farmer residing on section 28, Chickasaw township, Chickasaw county, was born near Cresco, in Howard county, Iowa, February 18, 1875, his parents being Henry and Mary (Hawk) Fisher, who are natives of New York and of Penn- sylvania respectively. In her girlhood days the mother came to Iowa with her parents, who settled in Cresco. The father served throughout the Civil war and after his discharge made his way to the middle west, he, too, becoming a resident of Iowa. At Marble Rock, this state, he wedded Mary Hawk and soon afterward they took up their abode upon a farm near Cresco. In subsequent years Mr. Fisher made several removals but continued to engage in farming until his retirement from active business, having in the meantime acquired a comfortable competence that now enables him to rest from further labor. At the present writing he is making his home in Bradford, Chickasaw county.
L. R. Fisher was educated in the district schools and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he has made his life work. The year following his marriage he began farming on his own account and for six years carried on agricultural pursuits as a renter. In 1903 he purchased his present home farm, comprising eighty acres, on which he has since lived. He is diligently engaged in the development of the fields and his enterprise and progressiveness have made him one of the successful farmers of the neighborhood.
In 1896 Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Hall, a daughter of John and Mary (Jones) Hall, of Chickasaw county. They have become the parents of seven children, namely: Lloyd, Roy, Vernie, Bernice, Victor, Marjorie and Gertrude Wave.
In his political views Mr. Fisher is a republican but has never been an aspirant for office. as he has preferred to concentrate his thought, efforts and attention upon his business affairs. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and he possesses social qualities that have made for him many friends among his wide acquaintance in Chickasaw county.
H. H. TIMMERMANS.
H. H. Timmermans, a general merchant and one of the progressive citizens of Alta Vista, was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, August 30, 1874, a son of God- fred and Hubertena Timmermans, who were natives of Holland, where they were reared and married. In June, 1865, they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and first became residents of Grant county, Wisconsin, where the father purchased a farm, residing thereon to the time of his death, which occurred on the 19th of May, 1891. His wife survived him for about a decade and spent her last years in Alta Vista, where she passed away in February, 1916.
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H. H. Timmermans was educated in the public schools and in the Bayless Busi- ness College at Dubuque, Iowa. Following the completion of his studies he was employed in various ways in Grant county, Wisconsin, until October, 1894, when he came to Alta Vista and in company with his brother, John H. Timmermans, estab- lished a general merchandise business under the firm style of Timmermans Brothers. This association was continued for twelve years and in connection with general mer- chandizing the firm conducted a successful business as grain merchants. In 1908 the brother died, after which H. H. Timmermans conducted the business alone for four years. He then admitted his brother-in-law, William Enloe, to a partnership and for five years their interests were carried on under the firm name of Timmer- mans & Company. At the end of that period H. H. Timmermans purchased his partner's interest and has since conducted the business independently. He has a large and well appointed store, carrying a carefully selected line of goods, and the business is one of gratifying proportions.
In June, 1899, Mr. Timmermans was united in marriage to Miss Anna Norton, of New Hampton, Iowa, and to them have been born seven children, six of whom are yet living: Thelma L., who is a graduate of St. William's Parochial school of Alta Vista; Maurine M. E .; Colletta M .; Reta G .; Camilla M .; and John H. All of the children are being educated in St. William's parochial school.
In politics Mr. Timmermans is a democrat and for six years he served as a mem- ber of the town council of Alta Vista, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many plans and measures for the general good. He and his family are members of the Catholic church and he is a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus. From early times he has been a resident of Alta Vista and throughout the entire period has been classed with its representative business men. Recognizing and utilizing the opportunities here offered, he has worked his way steadily upward until he has gained a place among the men of affluence in Chickasaw county.
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