USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 54
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 54
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G. E. SCOLES.
G. E. Scoles, filling the position of postmaster at Nashua, is a representative of one of the old and prominent pioneer families of Chickasaw county and has therefore long been a witness of the development and upbuilding of this section of the state. He was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, July 15, 1864, and is a son of John W. and Sarah J. (Hyler) Scoles, the former a native of the Buckeye state, while the latter was also born in Elkhart, Indiana. They were married in the latter state, to which place the
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father had removed with his parents when a boy of about thirteen years. Following his marriage he engaged in farming in Elkhart county until the close of the Civil war and in the fall of 1865 he came west to Iowa, settling in Chickasaw county, where he car- ried on general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his active business life, being classed with the representative farmers of this section of the state and con- tributing in substantial measure to the development and progress of Chickasaw county along agricultural lines. He died in Nashua in 1904 and for about fourteen years was survived by his widow, who passed away in 1918.
G. E. Scoles pursued a district school education and in vacation periods worked upon his father's farm, while after his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his entire attention upon the further development and improvement of the fields until his marriage. It was in 1888 that he wedded Miss Martha McLarner, a daughter of Johnson McLarner, one of the earliest of the pioneer settlers of Chickasaw county. Following his marriage Mr. Scoles took his bride to Greene, Butler county, Iowa, where he established a barber shop, which he conducted for ten years. He then returned to Chickasaw county and opened a shop in Nashua, where he soon gained a very liberal patronage, con- ducting a large and gratifying business for twelve years. In 1914 he was appointed postmaster of Nashua and has since filled this office, making a most creditable record, so that at the end of his first term he received reappointment for a second term. He has always been a democrat in politics and has served as a member of the town council at Nashua.
To Mr. and Mrs. Scoles have been born two daughters: G. Merle, now the wife of Charles L. Pierce, of Waverly, Iowa; and Lulu M., the wife of C. L. Castor, a resident farmer of Chickasaw county.
Fraternally Mr. Scoles is connected with Bradford Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M., and his wife is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of Nashua Lodge, No. 391. I. O. O. F., and he is well known in this section of the state, not only among his brethren of these fraternities but to the community at large. Much of Lis life has here been passed and he has been an interested witness of the growth and development of his adopted county.
HENRY KONST.
Henry Konst is one of the earliest of the pioneers of Chickasaw county and is now living retired in Alta Vista. He was born in Germany, August 4, 1842, and has there- fore passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey. He is a son of Anthony W. and Theresa (Hannamann) Konst, who came to the United States in 1852 and took up their abode in Walworth county, Wisconsin, upon a rented farm. Later they pur- chased a farm in the same county, where the mother's death occurred in April, 1869, while seven years later the father passed away in the same county.
Henry Konst was educated in the district schools of Germany and of Wisconsin after coming to the new world. In 1869 he removed to Chickasaw county and pur- chased a small farm, comprising forty acres of wild prairie land on the southeast quarter of section 25, Washington township. Later he added to this place, extending the boundaries of his farm until it comprised one hundred and twenty acres. He con- tinued to make his home upon the farm for twenty years and during that period suc- cessfully carried on general agricultural pursuits. About 1889 he removed to Alta Vista and for some years conducted a saloon but it was said of him that he was too much of a man to succeed in the saloon business. If he felt that a customer had had enough to drink he refused to sell him more and if the family needed the man's wages he re- fused to take his money. In later years Mr. Konst has lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil.
On the 22d of February, 1868, Mr. Konst was married to Miss Anna Kramer, of Racine, Wisconsin, and to them were born three children: Anthony W., living in Capa, South Dakota; Margaret, the wife of A. Holden, a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Ella, who is the wife of C. M. Erion, of Tacoma, Washington. The wife and mother
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passed away in 1885 and on the 1st of February, 1892, Mr. Konst was married to Mrs. Anna W. Rechner, of Howard county, Iowa, who by her former marriage had two chil- dren: George Rechner, now living at home with Mr. and Mrs. Konst; and Lilly, the widow of Richard Tietjen, of Alta Vista.
Mr. Konst is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, while his wife holds membership with the Lutheran church. In politics he is a democrat but cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. It is characteristic of him that he does not hesitate to support any cause or project which he believes to be for the best interests of the community, and the sub- stantial traits of character which he has displayed have made him one of Alta Vista's esteemed citizens.
O. B. TAYLOR.
O. B. Taylor is filling the position of mayor at Lawler and is well known in grain circles as grain buyer and manager of the Lawler elevator for Gilchrist & Company. He was born in Lawler on the 15th of October, 1881, a son of Oliver A. and Ellen (Noon) Taylor, the former a native of Wisconsin, while the latter was born in Illinois. The father came to Lawler when a young man of twenty-two years and was here married, his wife having been brought to Lawler during her infancy, her parents locating upon a farm near this place. An extended mention of this worthy couple is found elsewhere in this volume.
O. B. Taylor was educated in the schools of Lawler and Ionia and during his youth- ful days worked in the grain elevator with his father, who is manager of the Gilchrist & Company interests at Ionia. In 1903 the son was placed in charge of the elevator of Way, Johnson & Lee at Ionia and the following year this firm was succeeded by Loomis, Johnson & Lee, with whom Mr. Taylor remained for a year. In 1906 he came to Lawler as manager for Gilchrist & Company, taking charge of the elevator at this point, and through the intervening period of thirteen years he has controlled the grain trade at Lawler in the interests of the corporation which he represents.
On the 26th of June, 1906, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Rose Rink, of Ionia, by whom he has five children: Basil C., George W., Helen C., Mary J. and Arthur R. In his political connection Mr. Taylor is a democrat and is now serving for the third term as mayor of Lawler, his reelections coming to him in recognition of the capability and progressiveness which he has displayed in the discharge of his duties. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Catholic Order of Foresters, also to the Knights of Columbus, the Homesteaders and the Royal Neighbors. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. They are highly esteemed as valued residents of this section of the state and they enjoy the warmest regard of all with whom they have been associated. Mr. Taylor has made not only an excellent record in busi- ness but also as a public official-one who subordinates self-aggrandizement to the gen- eral good and partisanship to the public welfare.
J. A. YARGER.
J. A. Yarger, mayor of Nashua and a member of the Chickasaw county bar, was born in Green county, Wisconsin, January 11, 1868, a son of Joseph and Mary (Hard. ing) Yarger, both natives of Pennsylvania, in which state they were reared and mar ried. Soon after the close of the Civil war they removed to Wisconsin, establishing their home in Green county. The father was a wheelwright by trade and for many years he conducted a wagon shop in that county. In 1876, however, he removed with his family to Iowa and purchased a farm in Webster county, but on the trip contracted a severe cold which caused his death shortly after his return to his family in Wiscon- sin. Following his demise the mother removed with her family of six children to the
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Iowa farm which her husband had purchased and thereon they resided for ten years. On the expiration of that period they became residents of Clarksville and not long after- ward removed to New Hampton. Mrs. Yarger passed away in 1906 in Eldora, Iowa, where she was then making her home with a son.
J. A. Yarger of this review was educated in the common schools of Webster county and the public schools of Clarksville and when about eighteen years of age he began reading law in the office of D. W. Dow, of Hampton, Iowa. In January, 1889, he was admitted to the bar, taking his examination a few days before attaining his twenty- first year. For two years after his admission he remained with his preceptor, Mr. Dow, and in 1891 he came to Nashua, where he entered into partnership with the New Hampton law firm of Springer & Clary, conducting their Nashua office as a branch of the New Hampton office. The firm of Springer, Clary & Yarger continued its existence until the senior partner was elected to the bench, after which the firm became Clary & Yarger and so remained until Mr. Clary's death in 1915, since which time Mr. Yarger has practiced alone. He enjoys a large and distinctively representative clientage and is regarded as an able member of the bar, clear in his reasoning, logical in his deduc- tions and seldom if ever at fault in the application of a legal principle.
On the 17th of September, 1894, Mr. Yarger was married to Miss Mary Davidson, of New Hampton, and they became the parents of two children: Edwin H., now an officer of the United States navy; and Austin M., a student in the Nashua high school. The wife and mother passed away January 22, 1903, her death being the occasion of deep regret to many friends as well as her immediate family.
Mr. Yarger belongs to Bradford Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M., and to Charles City Lodge, B. P. O. E. His political endorsement is given to the republican party but he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. However, he keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability and his devotion to the public welfare, persuaded him to accept the mayor- alty of Nashua and he is said to be one of the best city executives that Nashua has ever had. He studies closely the conditions here found and not only seeks to meet present needs but to prepare for the future as well. His administration is strictly businesslike and progressive, and Nashua has reason to be congratulated upon having at the head of her interests a man of such genuine public spirit and farsightedness. The practice of law, however, he regards as his real life work and his steady advancement in a profession where progress results only through merit and ability indicates the power that he has developed in his chosen life work.
J. R. WHITCOMB.
J. R. Whitcomb, a farmer of Fredericksburg township, Chickasaw county, living on section 17, was born in Cook county, Illinois, December 1, 1855, his parents being Justus and Lovisa (Putnam) Whitcomb, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of their son, C. L. Whitcomb.
After attending the public schools of his native county and reaching man's estate J. R. Whitcomb was united in marriage on the 11th of March, 1880, to Miss Belle Web- ster, of Cook county, and immediately afterward the young couple took up their abode upon a rented farm in Kane county, Illinois. There they lived for three years and in 1883 removed to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where Mr. Whitcomb purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Fredericksburg township in partnership with his brother, C. L. Whitcomb. Three years later the brothers divided their holdings and J. R. Whit- comb acquired one hundred acres on section 16, Fredericksburg township. He then began farming independently and as his financial resources increased he purchased eighty acres on section 8, directly across the road from his present home. He after- ward sold twenty acres of his one hundred acre tract to his brother, C. L., and still later Mr. Whitcomb of this review and his son, Floyd W., bought the eighty-acre tract on section 17 whereon the family home now stands. As the years have passed Mŕ. Whitcomb has carefully carried on general agricultural pursuits and has brought his
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fields under a high state of cultivation, so that large crops are annually gathered therefrom. He also established himself in the live stock business in the early years of his residence here and developed the Homeside Stock Farm. For the past ten years his two hundred and forty acre tract of land has been conducted under the name of the Homeside Stock Farm by the firm of J. R. Whitcomb & Son, the latter being now an equal partner in the stock business and also the owner of eighty acres of their land holdings. They breed thoroughbred Durham cattle and are very extensively engaged in the dairy business, milking sixteen cows. Their place is splendidly equipped for carrying on dairying, as they have large barns and every facility to take care of the milk in the most sanitary manner.
To Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb have been born a son and a daughter: Floyd W., the partner of his father in business; and Blanche, the wife of W. G. Case, a resident farmer of Fredericksburg township.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Whitcomb the right of franchise he has voted with the republican party and is a stanch advocate of its principles. He is now serving on the present board of township trustees for the third term-a fact that indicates his loyalty to the best interests of the community. He has long been a stockholder of the Fredericksburg Creamery Association and for some years he served as a member of its board of directors, thus aiding in shaping its policy and in guiding its development. Fraternally Mr. Whitcomb is connected with Mount Horeb Lodge, No. 333, A. F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of Mount Horeb Chapter, No. 163, O. E. S., of which Mrs. Whitcomb is a past matron, while for several years she served as secretary of the chapter. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church, guiding their lives by its teachings, and they are held in the highest esteem as people of genuine worth. Their geniality, their social qualities and their thorough reliability have gained for them the respect and confidence of all and they are numbered among the leading and representa- tive residents of northern Iowa.
C. A. LOWRY.
C. A. Lowry, proprietor of the Fredericksburg Stock Farm and living within the corporation limits of the town of Fredericksburg, was born near Geneva, Nebraska, on the 30th day of May, 1881, a son of David W. and Lillie E. (Thorne) Lowry, the former a native of Illinois, while the latter was born in the state of New York. They were married in Chickasaw county, Iowa, to which district the mother removed in young womanhood in company with her parents, while David W. Lowry arrived in this sec- tion of the state in young manhood. Prior to coming to Iowa Mrs. Lowry had taught for nineteen terms as a primary teacher in the schools of Illinois. Following their mar- riage Mr. Lowry took his bride to Nebraska, settling near Fairmont, where he was engaged in general agricultural pursuits for some years. In the fall of 1883 he returned to Chickasaw county and at that time purchased one hundred and thirty-seven acres of land situated a mile north of Fredericksburg. Later he bought another quarter section adjoining his first purchase and the fractional quarter section he sold a short time prior to his death. He had three hundred and twenty acres which still remain a part of the estate. He carefully and systematically developed his property and made a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle, becoming one of the prominent cattlemen of the county, his labors being attended with marked success. He passed away November 30, 1913, and is survived by his widow, who makes her home in Fredericksburg.
In the acquirement of his education C. A. Lowry attended the schools of Fred- ericksburg and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1900. He remained at home assisting his father up to the time of his marriage, which occurred on the 5th of November, 1902, when Miss Grace Kidder, of Dresden township, Chickasaw county, became his wife. She passed away September 1, 1917, leaving a daughter, Helen Janet. On the 12th of September, 1918, Mr. Lowry was married to Miss Nellie Wesp, a daughter of Philip Wesp, one of the well known retired farmers of Fredericks- burg.
C. A. LOWRY
MR. AND MRS. DAVID W. LOWRY
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Following his first marriage Mr. Lowry rented a portion of his father's farm, which he continued to cultivate until 1914, when he bought his present home place of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, twenty-three acres of this tract being now within the corporate limits of the town. Upon this portion of the farm stands his home. He es- tablished the Fredericksburg Stock Farm and is giving his attention to the raising of Holstein cattle, Poland China hogs and pure blooded barred Plymouth Rock and White Wyandotte chickens. The various branches of his business are bringing to him deserved and substantial success and he is regarded as one of the mest progressive and enter- prising of the residents of Fredericksburg. His political allegiance is given to the re- publican party.
J. W. KRIEGER.
J. W. Krieger, of New Hampton, enjoys the reputation of beng a forceful, re- sourceful and extremely progressive business man and is displaying splendid business qualifications as the secretary of the New Hampton Farmers Creamery Association. He was born July 30, 1855, in Davenport, Iowa, a son of Gerhard and Mary Anna (Brus) Krieger. The mother came to the United States in young womanhood from Prussia, Germany, in company with her parents, the voyage being made in 1847. Mr. Krieger crossed the Atlantic alone in the same year, being at that time twenty- four years of age. While they came over about the same time, the voyage was made on different vessels. Mr. Krieger was born November 7, 1823, while his wife was born about 1825. They were acquainted in Prussia and the friendship was renewed after they reached the new world and found its consummation in marriage in St. Louis, Missouri, in May, 1848. Mr. Krieger afterward purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Warrenton, Missouri, and for six years engaged in cultivating that property. When he started farming he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and he paid seven dollars for his first cow and nine dollars for his first horse -- a notable contrast to the prices that are now asked for live stock. When he sold his original one hundred and sixty acres the farm netted him nine hundred dollars. He then removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he engaged in carpentering until his son, J. W. Krieger, was ten years of age, when the father resumed agricul- tural pursuits, purchasing forty acres of land three miles from Davenport. There he engaged in truck gardening for eight or ten years, peddling his garden produce from house to house in Davenport. He afterward bought eighty acres adjoining his forty-acre tract and still later acquired eighteen acres additional, so that his place became a good farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres. He remained thereon until 1875, when he sold that property and came to Chickasaw county, taking up his abode in Dayton township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land that is now known as the old homestead. It is now owned and occupied by his son, Theodore Krieger. The father conducted this farm until the marriage of Theodore in 1887, when he retired to New Hampton and there resided until his death, which occured in 1903, when he had reached the very venerable age of eighty years. Ere he had put aside the cares of active business life Mr. Krieger had accumulated four hundred and eighty acres of land in Dayton and New Hampton townships and had thereby won a place among the prosperous farmers of his adopted county. His wife reached the notable old age of ninety years and passed away in 1911. Both were people of genuine personal worth. Mr. Krieger was widely known as a kind and devoted husband and father and a highly respected citizen, his value in the community being attested by all with whom he came in contact.
J. W. Krieger spent the period of his minority under the parental roof and when he had attained the age of twenty-one years began working as a farm hand for others. After a year, however, he rented eighty acres and cultivated this tract for two years prior to his marriage. He completed his arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage on the 28th of April, 1880, to Miss Mary T. Pap-
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penheim, a daughter of John and Theresa Pappenheim, both of whom passed away in Chickasaw county.
Following his marriage Mr. Krieger and his bride took up their abode upon one of his father's farms, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land in New Hampton township, and this he continued to develop and improve as a renter until his father retired and gave the farm to his son. To this tract the latter later added eighty acres and eventually became the owner of a valuable and productive farm of three hundred and twenty acres. Year after year he carefully tilled the soil and developed his crops, which brought to him a splendid financial return. In 1909, however, he retired from farming and has disposed of all of his property except. the home in which he lives and which is situated on the north side of New Hampton. For the past fourteen years he has occupied the position of secretary of the New Hampton Farmers' Creamery Association and has contributed in marked measure to the success of that business. He is also at present the vice president of the Chicka- saw County Mutual Fire Insurance Company of New Hampton, having occupied that position for a period of twelve years. Whatever he undertakes he carries for- ward to successful completion. He is a man of sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise and his progressiveness has been a most potent force in the success of the two corporations with which he is now identified.
As the years have passed Mr. and Mrs. Krieger have become the parents of four children: Gerhard, Adeline, Joseph W. and Richard W. The son Joseph has for the past nine years been the assistant cashier of the First National Bank of New Hampton save for the period of his service in the great World war. He was with the famous Thirty-third or Prairie Division as a member of the One Hundred and Thirty- first Machine Gun Battalion and participated in many of the engagements overseas in which that battalion took part. He was again and again under shell fire and machine gun fire and it seemed that only a kindly fate intervened to keep him from death. Mr. Krieger and his family are members of St. Mary's Catholic church of New Hampton. He belongs to Knights of Columbus Council No. 1697 of New Hamp- ton and also to the Catholic Order of Foresters at New Hampton. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he has long been recognized as one of the leaders in local political circles. He filled the office of township trustee of New Hampton township and served as a member of the board of county supervisors for six years-from 1891 until 1897. He was appointed assessor of Dayton town- ship to fill out an unexpired term of a year and at the end of that time he was elected and by reelection was continued in the office for four consecutive terms of two years each, covering the period from 1899 to 1908. For three terms of two years each, from 1913 until 1919, he was a member of the city council of New Hampton and still higher political honors were also accorded him, for through two years he served as a member of the state legislature and was a member of various important committees during the sessions of the twenty-seventh assembly. Over his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He has been loyal to the trust reposed in him and has placed the public welfare before partisanship and has made self-aggrandizement subservient to the general good.
LEE J. CHESTEK.
Lee J. Chestek, a well known farmer of Deerfield township, Chickasaw county, living on section 30, was born November 6, 1879, in the township which is still his home. His father, John Chestek, is a native of Austria and came to the United States when a young man of eighteen years. He resided for a number of years in Illinois and then came to Iowa, settling in Deerfield township, Chickasaw county. His first purchase of land was the farm that is now owned by his son Lee. He married Amelia Cummings, a native of Waukegan, Illinois, and she passed away in July, 1907, since which time Mr. Chestek has made his home with a daughter in Bassett.
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