USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 52
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 52
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J. F. FELLOWS.
J. F. Fellows, who is residing on section 27, Jamestown township, is one of the well-to-do and progressive farmers of Howard county. He was born in Merrimac county, New Hampshire, December 15, 1855, a son of Franklin and Martha Jane (McCurdy) Fellows. They, too, were natives of the Old Granite state and were representatives of families that had long lived in New England. The mother died in Canton, Massachusetts, in 1906, while the father passed away in Jamestown township, Howard county, Iowa, in 1904.
Although a native son of New England, J. F. Fellows has resided in Howard county from the age of thirteen years, at which time his parents removed with their family to the west and established their home at Riceville. Here he was reared and his education, begun in the public schools of New Hampshire, was continued in the public schools of Riceville. When nineteen years of age he purchased a farm on section 27, Jamestown township, upon which he now resides, and it has been his home for forty years. He has added modern improvements as time has passed and his labors have converted it into a rich and productive tract from which he an- nually gathers good harvests.
Mr. Fellows was married in Riceville to Miss Ida Reynolds, a daughter of Alex- ander and Lyda Reynolds, the latter still a resident of Riceville, but the father has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have been born seven children, namely: David McCurdy, Lloyd Harris, James Califf, Howard Glendon, Ruth Ida, Robert Gor- don and John Franklin.
Mr. and Mrs. Fellows are members of the Baptist church of Riceville and do everything in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. Their lives have been characterized by high and honorable principles and Mr. Fellows is a devoted member of Riceville Lodge, No. 211, A. F. & A. M., and of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. His political endorsement is given to the re-
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publican party. He studies closely the questions and issues of the day and has ever believed the republican party to be the one that has stood stanchly for progress and improvement in affairs relative to the national welfare. He is imbued with the spirit of western enterprise, and throughout his entire life his aid and influence have been given on the side of progress and improvement in connection with matters of public concern as well as in the conduct of his private business affairs, whereby he has won substantial success.
REV. BERNARD AUGUST ERDLAND.
Rev. Bernard August Erdland is the pastor of St. Michael's church of the Roman Catholic faith at Nashua. He was born in Oelde, Westphalia, Germany, on the 11th of October, 1874, his parents being Gerhard and Maria (Boeckenfoerde) Erdland. In the acquirement of an education Rev. Erdland attended school in his native town, also at Antwerp, Belgium, and at Chezal, Benoit, France, pursuing his studies in these various places from 1883 until 1897. He next attended the Mission Academy and the University of Muenster, Germany, from 1897 until 1900 and was ordained to the priesthood in the latter year. In the year 1901 he became superior of the mission in the Marshall islands, and in 1905 became administrator apostolic of the vicariate of the Marshall islands, where he continued until 1910. During the ten years which he passed there he studied the native language and folk-lore of the people on the islands and also the language of Nauru or Pleasant island. He be- came a traveling missionary of the Missionary Society of the Sacred Heart and his experiences among the various peoples whom he met were indeed varied and inter- esting.
Rev. Erdland's writings cover a broad scope and include "Woerterbuch und Grammatik der Marshall-Sprache," 1906 and "Leben und Religion eines Sudsee- volkes," 1914, two scientific works that have received favorable criticism from many of the noted scientists of the world. In subsequent years he has largely directed his studies to linguistic research work and is at present master of eight different languages.
Rev. Erdland was appointed pastor of St. Michael's church at Nashua in 1914 and here he presides over his parish and continues his study of languages. He is one of the learned and scholarly men of his church, genial in manner and most en- tertaining by reason of his wide travel, for he has visited nearly all of the countries of the world. His mind is stored with many reminiscences of his journeys, for he has ever been a keen and intelligent observer and possesses a most retentive memory.
JOHN ZIPSE.
John Zipse is the proprietor of the Forest Hill Stock & Dairy Farm, one of the fine farm properties of northern Iowa. It comprises three hundred acres of valuable land and upon this place he has made his home since 1902, continually promoting its devel- opment and improvement. The farm is situated on section 19, Stapleton township, Chickasaw county, and is the visible evidence of the life of well directed energy and thrift which Mr. Zipse has lived. Born in Stephenson county, Illinois, on the 12th of December, 1858, he is a son of Jacob and Katherine (Northacre) Zipse, who were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. Coming to the United States, they established their home in Stephenson county, Illinois, where the father engaged in farming until his death on the 27th of January, 1874. His widow survived him for a decade, passing away on the old home place in Illinois, April 27, 1884.
At the usual age John Zipse entered the district school near his father's home and mastered the common branches of learning. When his textbooks were put aside he worked in the fields and continued to assist his father until the latter's death and
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then took charge of the farm, which he conducted for the benefit of his mother, the property being sold soon after his mother's death.
Jolın Zipse was married on the 18th of December, 1884, to Miss Jane Hershman, a daughter of Joseph and Anna Hershman, natives of Germany. Mrs. Zipse, however, is a native of Stephenson county, Illinois, and it was there that she met and married Mr. Zipse. After his marriage Mr. Zipse began farming his father-in-law's land of eighty acres in Stephenson county, Illinois, and subsequently he bought that tract and thirty acres additional, which he continued to cultivate for fifteen years. He then disposed of his property and moved west, locating upon his present farm in 1902. Today he is the owner of three hundred acres of fine land. The tract is arable, responding readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it, his activity being crowned with splen- did results. The place is appropriately termed the Forest Hill Stock & Dairy Farm, for thereon Mr. Zipse is engaged in raising stock and in conducting a successful dairy business. He has put practically all of the improvements upon his land and there is no accessory or convenience of the model farm property that is not to be found upon his place. At one time he milked as high as thirty-five cows and the sale of his dairy products adds materially to his income. In addition to his dairying he has engaged in stock raising and is the owner of a registered Poland China boar and a shorthorn Dur- ham bull. Thus breeding to fine stock, he is continually improving the grade of hogs and cattle which he raises, and his live stock interests constitute an important feature of his business.
Mr. and Mrs. Zipse became the parents of twelve children, of whom eleven are living, Joseph having died in infancy. The others are: John Franklin, Mrs. Laura M. Benz, Mrs. Martha Trewin, Mrs. Edith E. Judge, Charles C., Mrs. Katherine R. Whitman, Esther V., William R., Clarence O., Lula I. and George C. The last named served with the One Hundred and Fortieth Infantry of the Thirty-fifth Division of the United States Army in France, being overseas for a year and participating in all of the engagements in which that division took part. He was in some of the most hotly con- tested sectors of the war, bearing his part in winning the victory that finally crowned the American arms, giving the army an important place in promoting the democracy of the world.
Mr. Zipse is identified with the Farmers Equity Association. His political alle- giance is given to the democratic party, and fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America at Fredericksburg, while he and his family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church of that place. His life has ever been characterized by high and honorable principles, his acts prompted by upright motives, and his career indicates that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.
OTTO KOERTH.
Otto Koerth, occupying the position of cashier of the First State Bank of Freder- icksburg, was born in Dayton township, Bremer county, Iowa, on the 2d of July, 1870, a son of Samuel and Caroline (Frisch) Koerth, who were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. The father came to the United States in 1868 and his wife followed him a year or two later. They settled in Bremer county, Iowa, where Mr. Koerth engaged in blacksmithing, conducting a shop in that county for many years. He is now living retired, making his home in Sumner.
Otto Koerth was educated in the public schools of Sumner and when seventeen years of age he became a wage earner, securing a position in a general store at that place. He worked as utility boy and as clerk and was associated with a mercantile business there for five years. On the expiration of that period he established business on his own account. forming a partnership with Charles Golding. They opened a general store in Fredericksburg under the firm name of Golding & Koerth and carried on the business in that way for five years. Mr. Koerth then sold his interest in the firm and entered into partnership with F. H. Davis, organizing the firm of Koerth & Davis for the conduct of a general merchandise establishment at Ionia, Chickasaw
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county. They remained in business there for four or five years, after which Mr. Koerth disposed of his interests and turned his attention to banking. He became associated with Shaffer Brothers in the organization of the Exchange Bank of Ionia, their inter- ests being carried on under the firm name of Shaffer Brothers & Koerth. Subsequently the business was incorporated under the name of the First State Savings Bank of Ionia, with Mr. Koerth as cashier of the institution. He remained in that position for thirteen years and is still vice president of the bank. During his association with this bank Mr. Koerth, together with Shaffer Brothers, organized the State Savings Bank of Bassett, Iowa, of which he is the president. In 1915 he bought into the State Bank of Fredericksburg and entered the institution as cashier and director of its financial policy. He has closely studied all phases of the banking business and is recognized as a prominent representative of financial interests in his part of the state. He has been a very active business man and has earned well merited success.
In 1895 Mr. Koerth was married to Miss Anna Davis, of Sumner, Iowa, and they have become the parents of three children: Ethel H., who is attending the State Agri- cultural College at Ames; Marjorie, who is a student in the Fredericksburg high school; and Stanley, who is still in the graded schools.
In his political views Mr. Koerth is a republican. having stanch faith in the prin- ciples of the party as factors in good government. He belongs to Mount Horeb Lodge, No. 333, A. F. & A. M., and also to Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 661, I. O. O. F., and the Modern Woodmen camp. What he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of the opportunities which have come to him. Time and his talents have been made to serve his purposes, and his labors have been an effective element in the attainment of desired results. He is a strong, forceful, and resourceful man-strong in his ability to plan and perform, strong in his honor and his good name.
L. J. SIMPSON.
The Silverdale Farm, situated on section 34, Dayton township. Chickasaw county, is the property of L. J. Simpson, whose progressive methods have found expression in the further development and improvement of this place. He was born in Sac county, Iowa, October 15, 1876, and is a son of John and Ruth (Schull) Simpson, who were natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. They were married, however, in Clinton, Iowa, where they had taken up their abode in young manhood and young womanhood. They remained residents of Clinton county for a few years and then removed to Sac county, where they have since resided. Although long connected with farming inter- ests, the father has now retired from business life and he and his wife make their home in Early. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war, having served for three years as a member of Company A, Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry, during the period of hostilities between the north and the south. He took part in a number of hotly con- tested battles and may well be proud of the record which he made as one of the de- fenders of the Union. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has long been accounted one of the progressive and well known residents ot Sac county.
L. J. Simpson, after acquiring a district school education, worked upon the home farm through the period of his youth. In 1900 he was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Drury, of Sac county, Iowa, and then began farming on his own account. For seven years he cultivated rented land and in 1907 he invested his savings in one hundred and twenty acres in Sac county, on which he lived for five years. He then traded that property toward the purchase price of his present home farm of two hundred and forty acres, on which he has resided since the early spring of 1913. His labors have wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place, converting it into a valuable property.
To Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have been born four children. of whom three are living, namely: Crystal L., who was graduated from the New Hampton high school with the class of 1919: and Leland D. and Millard L., who are pupils in the grammar school.
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In his political views Mr. Simpson is a republican but has never been an office seeker. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His life is that of an enterprising and progressive farmer whose labors are being crowned with well merited success, and the upright life that he has lived has won for him the confidence and regard of all who know him.
A. J. BLAZEK.
Bohemia has furnished to northern Iowa a substantial portion of its citizenship and the representatives of that land, adapting themselves readily to new and changed conditions, have become leading farmers and active business men of this section of the state. To this class belongs A. J. Blazek, who is living on section 19, Utica township, Chickasaw county. He was born in Bohemia, June 13, 1871, a son of John and Mary (Bouska) Blazek, who, leaving their native country, came to the United States in 1890, a year and a half after the arrival of their son, A. J. Blazek.
The latter spent the first seventeen years of his life in his native land and then, attracted by the opportunities of the new world, bade adieu to friends and native country in order to try his fortune in America. He traveled westward across the United States to Cresco, Iowa, and for a time worked on the farm of his uncle, Anton Bouska, in that district. After the father and mother reached the United States a year and a half later they also lived with Anton Bouska, Mr. Blazek aiding in the cultivation of the farm. At a subsequent period he and his son, A. J. Blazek, rented a tract of land of two hundred and twenty acres in New Oregon township, Howard county, near Protivin, and thereon resided for three years. Sub- sequent to that period the father made investment in one hundred and forty acres of land, constituting the farm upon which his son, A. J. Blazek, now resides. Throughout his remaining days the father devoted his attention to general agricul- tural pursuits and his life's labors were ended in death in 1911. In the meantime he had converted the old home farm into a valuable and productive property, hav- ing brought his fields to a high state of cultivation. For a number of years he sur- vived his wife, who passed away in 1900.
From the time of his arrival in Iowa until the present A. J. Blazek has been identified with farming interests. He established a home of his own through his marriage on the 18th of May, 1897, to Miss Mary Bouska, after which he bought his father's land and still occupies the old homestead, although he has since greatly extended its boundaries by the purchase of other property until his holdings now embrace four hundred and forty acres of valuable land. It was upon this property that he and his wife took up their abode following their marriage. Mrs. Blazek is a daughter of John and Anna Bouska, who came to America from Bohemia, and the latter passed away in Protivin, Iowa, February 9, 1919, but the father still survives and makes his home in Protivin. Mr. and Mrs. Blazek have become the parents of ten children who are yet living, namely: Mary, who was born March 5, 1898; John, born August 24, 1899; Vennie, September 20, 1901; Aurelia, December 23, 1903; Anton, October 13, 1905; Agnes, February 21, 1908; Edward, February 27, 1910; Adolph, May 2, 1912; Louis, November 16, 1915; and Clarence, February 10, 1919, all of whom are yet at home.
This large family are communicants of the Catholic church of Little Turkey. Mr. Blazek is a democrat in politics and is now serving for the second year as road commissioner of Utica township. He has also been a school director in his district for a period of nine years and has been active in advancing the educational in- terests of the community. These things, however, are side lines in his life work, for he gives the major part of his time and attention to his farming and other business interests. He has become a stockholder in the Protivin Telephone Company and he is a director of the Farmers Equity Association of Lawler. He likewise owns stock in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Lawler and in the Farmers Elevator Company of Lawler. His connection with these corporations indicates
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MR. AND MRS. A. J. BLAZEK
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his progressive spirit and sound business judgment, which has enabled him to care- fully select the interests yielding the best financial returns. In the development of his farm he has shown himself to be a most progressive agriculturist and in addition to improving the fields he is successfully breeding full blooded Poland China hogs. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in the business world empty-handed, coming to America alone when a youth of seventeen years. From that point forward he has made steady progress, working diligently and persistently to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in his path, and, advancing step by step, he has at length reached the goal of success.
GEORGE E. HIMES.
George E. Himes is active in control of the financial interests and situation in Chickasaw county inasmuch as he is the cashier of the First National Bank of Lawler. He was born in Adams county, Iowa, September 27, 1876, and is a son of Jacob M. and Elizabeth P. (Prine) Himes, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, where they were married. The father had come to this state with his parents as a boy of twelve or thirteen years, the Himes family being among the pioneer settlers of Mahaska county. In 1862, or when eighteen years of age, Jacob M. Himes enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Com- pany E of the Thirty-third lowa Volunteer Infantry. He was with his regiment for three years and six months, participating in a number of hotly contested engagements which led up to the final victory that crowned the Union arms. After receiving an hon- orable discharge he returned to Mahaska county and there engaged in farming until 1873, when he removed to Adams county, where he again devoted his attention to gent- eral agricultural pursuits for a period of twenty years. In 1893 he retired from active business life and took up his abode in the town of Cromwell, where he resided until 1902, when he removed to Des Moines, where he has since lived. While he is not active in business at the present time, he is a stockholder in the University State Bank of Des Moines. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, loyal to the teachings and pur- poses of the craft, and he and his' wife are consistent members of the Congregational church.
George E. Himes, after attending the district schools near his father's farm, con- tinued his education in the town schools of Cromwell and in the Iowa Business Col- lege at Des Moines. Starting out in the business world, he was connected with clerical work for a number of years and for a time was cashier and assistant secretary of the Mutual Life & Trust Company of Des Moines. He afterward became associated with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen in an official capacity, acting as chief auditor, in which position he served for ten years. On severing his association with that fraternity on the 1st of July, 1914, he became connected with the Bank of Lawler, a private institu- tion owned by William H. Parker & Company. This business was later reorganized, re- ceiving its charter as the First National Bank on the 15th of August. 1914, at which time Mr. Himes was made cashier and has since occupied that position. His long con- nection with the banking business has made him thoroughly familiar with every phase of the work and he is putting forth earnest effort to further upbuild the bank and make it a factor in the business development of this section of the state.
On the 3d of October, 1909, Mr. Himes was united in marriage to Miss Fannie E. Parker, a daughter of William H. Parker, who has passed away. They now have one child, May. Mrs. Himes is a graduate of the Upper Iowa University at Fayette, receiv- ing her degree with the class of 1898. Subsequently she engaged in clerical and educa- tional work for ten years prior to her marriage. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her great-great-grandfather, John Parker, having served in the war for independence. Mrs. Himes is a lady of liberal culture, natural refinement and many accomplishments and occupies an enviable position in the club circles of the city. She belongs to the Congregational church and is interested in many good works. Mr. Himes has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of The
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Maccabees and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, but he has never been an aspirant for office. His business affairs make ample claim upon his time and energies and he prefers to devote his leisure to his home and friends.
S. L. DEAL.
S. L. Deal, a florist, who is the proprietor of the New Hampton Greenhouses, was born February 16, 1886, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Cyrus and Pearl (Johnston) Deal, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Chickasaw county. Her birth occurred in Jacksonville, her father, William Johnston, having been one of the pioneer settlers of this section of the state and for many years one of the leading business men of New Hampton, where he conducted a furniture store. Cyrus Deal came to Chickasaw county from Wisconsin in the early '70s and settled on a farm near Jacksonville. Subsequently he removed to New Hampton, where he en- gaged in the ice business, with which he was identified to the time of his death, which occurred on the 16th of September, 1907. For a number of years he had survived his wife, who died in 1898. They were among the substantial and representative residents of this section of the state and enjoyed the goodwill and high regard of all who knew them.
S. L. Deal of this review was educated in the public schools of New Hampton and after his textbooks were put aside worked for his father in connection with the ice business until his twentieth year. At that time he was married and soon afterward purchased his father's business and for seven years he conducted the ice trade of the city, enjoying a liberal patronage. He disposed of the business in 1913 on account of ill health and on the 1st of June, 1916, he purchased the greenhouses of Kutish & Moetsch and devoted his attention to the growing of plants and hothouse flowers. In the intervening period he has made good in this business and his patronage is con- stantly increasing. He is today rated among the leading business men of New Hampton, alert and enterprising, studying closely every phase of his business and giving to the public the best possible service in this connection. He also owns two residence prop- erties in New Hampton and is contemplating the erection in the near future of a hand- some home near his present residence.
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