USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 56
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
LEONARD NOURSE.
Among Chickasaw county's pioneer settlers Leonard Nourse, of Fredericksburg, is numbered. He is, moreover, one of the venerable residents of this section of the state, as he has passed the eighty-seventh milestone on life's journey. He was born in Vermont, January 2, 1832, a son of Timothy and Lucretia (Flint) Nourse, the former a native of Barre, Massachusetts, while the latter was born in Connecticut. The father was twice married, the mother of Leonard Nourse being his second wife. He spent the greater part of his mature life in Vermont but some time prior to his death removed to Athol, Worcester county, Massachusetts.
Leonard Nourse was educated in the common schools of the Green Mountain state and in 1855 left the parental roof to try his fortune in the middle west. He made his way to Dane county, Wisconsin, and there on the 1st of January, 1857, was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Smith. Later in the same year they came to Iowa, reaching Fredericksburg on the 3d of May. Mr. Nourse had previously learned the carpenter's trade and worked along that line in Wisconsin, while for four years after taking up his abode in Fredericksburg he was also employed at carpentering. In 1871 he purchased a farm of eighty acres three miles northeast of the town and started upon his career as an agriculturist. However, he worked intermittently at his trade when his services were not needed upon the farm, but he made agricultural pursuits his main business in- terest. To his first purchase of eighty acres he added from time to time as his financial resources permitted until his present farm holdings comprise two hundred and eighty acres. He continued to reside upon the old homestead until December 6, 1918, when he came to Fredericksburg, where he is now living, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nourse was born a son, Duane B., who has cooperated with his father in farming, their business interests being now closely associated. Duane B. Nourse married Miss Anna Churchill, of Fredericksburg, a daughter of Elias A. and Lucy (Watkins) Churchill, the former a native of Vermont, while the latter was born in Illinois. They were married, however, in Waverly, Iowa, on the 12th of December. 1857, having come to this state in young manhood and womanhood. They took up their abode in Bremer county and in 1868 removed to Chickasaw county, where for the following twenty years Mr. Churchill resided upon a farm in the vicinity of Fredericks- burg. In 1888 he took up his abode in the town ard there his wife passed away in July, 1913, while his demise occurred in January, 1917. when he was in the eighty- eighth year of his age. He was a veteran of the Civil war and was one of the well: ยท known men of Chickasaw county.
Leonard and Duane Nourse are both members of Mount Horeb Lodge, No. 333, A. F. & A. M. Leonard Nourse became one of the twelve charter members of the lodge
446
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
and is the only one of this number now living. His son is also connected with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. Both father and son are stanch republicans in their political views and the former served for a number of years as township treasurer and also was treasurer of the school board, while for two terms he filled the position of member of the board of county supervisors. While now a man of eighty-seven years he retains his faculties to a remarkable degree and is a very active man and an interesting con- versationalist. His son served for several years as secretary of the school board, also as township assessor for four years and is now serving for the third term as township clerk. There are few if any families better known and more highly respected in Chicka- saw county than the Nourse family, which from pioneer times has been closely asso- ciated with the work of development and progress here. The memory of Leonard Nourse forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive pres- ent. The labors which he began in the early days have been taken up and carried for- ward by his son, and both are classed with the representative business men and valued citizens of this section of the state.
S. B. ZOLLER, M. D.
Dr. S. B. Zoller, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Chickasaw county practicing at Fredericksburg, was born in Waucoma, Iowa, June 29, 1884, a son of James L. and Mary J. ( Wheater) Zoller, who were natives of the state of New York, where they were reared and married. About 1879 or 1880 they came to Iowa and took up their abode upon a farm in Fayette county, where Mr. Zoller continued for some years. Subsequently he removed to Waucoma, where he engaged in the grain and lumber business, and later he turned his attention to the hardware and furniture trade, with which he was identified for fourteen years. On expiration of that period he removed to Fredericksburg and managed the Farmers Elevator for a period of four or five years. He next became a resident of Hawkeye, Iowa, where he has since been engaged in the grain business on his own account. His life has been one of diligence and enterprise, and his close application and thorough reliability in business have been the basis of his growing success.
Dr. Zoller completed a course in the Waucoma high school as a member of the graduating class of 1899. He afterward received private instruction in Latin and in 1901, at the early age of seventeen years, he took up the study of medicine, entering Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1905, being the youngest member of the class. The college, however, could not accord him his license until he reached his twenty-first year as it is against the law for a young man to be licensed to practice medicine until he has attained his ma- jority. On the twenty-first anniversary of his birth, however, he opened an office in Fredericksburg, where he has since been in active and continuous practice. There are probably few if any physicians in Chickasaw county who have built up a larger or more important country practice than Dr. Zoller. He is constantly overburdened by the demands put upon him in a professional way. In 1912 he took a post graduate medical course in the Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital of Chicago and throughout his professional career he has remained a close student of the science of medicine, keeping in touch with the latest researches and discoveries that have to do with medical practice here.
On the 2d of May, 1906, Dr. Zoller was married to Miss Louise E. Morf, a daughter of John Morf, now deceased. They have become parents of two children, Carlotta E. and Hadwen L. In his political views Dr. Zoller is a republican and fraternally he is con- nected with Mount Horeb Lodge, No. 333, A. F. & A. M., and with Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 661, I. O. O. F. He is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the Rebekahs. Along strictly professional lines Dr. Zoller's connection is with the Chickasaw County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Austin-Flint Medical Society and the Northeastern Medical Society and through the proceedings of these organizations he
447
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
acquaints himself with much that is most modern in professional thought and prac- tice. He adheres to high professional standards and combines a broad humanitarian spirit with comprehensive scientific knowledge and training, so that his work is proving indeed a potent factor in the restoration of health in Fredericksburg and throughout the surrounding district. Mrs. Zoller is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Rebekah Lodge and she and the Doctor are consistent and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HON. CHRISTIAN SALTZMAN.
With many phases of activity in Chickasaw county Hon. Christian Saltzman has been closely connected. He has represented his district in the state legislature, is the vice president of the State Savings Bank of Lawler and follows farming on section 17, Stapleton township. He was born in Alsace-Lorraine, April 25, 1855, a son of George and Selma Saltzman, who were also natives of that district, in which they spent their en- tire lives. The son was educated in the public schools of his native country and in 1871, when sixteen years of age, came to the United States, making his way first to Naperville, Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand. He afterward spent ten years in that state and in 1880 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of his present home farm and the following year removed to Chickasaw county, where for thirty- eight years he has continuously resided. He now owns four hundred and ninety-six acres of valuable land, constituting one of the best improved farms of the county.
In 1877 Mr. Saltzman was united in marriage to Miss Magdalena Becker, of Dupage county, Illinois, and they have become the parents of eight children, of whom five sur- vive, namely: Sadie, Alma, Leo, Leander and Ronald, all of whom are residing at home with the exception of Leo, who owns and operates a farm in Stapleton township.
In politics Mr. Saltzman is a democrat and a recognized leader in party ranks. His opinions have carried weight in the party councils for many years. He has served as township trustee for several years and also filled the office of county supervisor for six years and in 1912 was elected to the Iowa state legislature, in which he represented his district during the thirty-seventh general assembly. In public office he has ever been loyal to the duties and responsibilities that have devolved upon him and has untiringly sought to promote the general good. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church and are most highly esteemed throughout the community in which they live.
While Mr. Saltzman has figured prominently in public affairs, he has been pre- eminently a business man. He has thoroughly acquainted himself with the science of farming and is one of the most progressive agriculturists of his section of the state. He brought with him to Iowa a herd of shorthorn cattle and in the years that have since come and gone has specialized in the breeding of shorthorns. He is also a stockholder in the State Bank of New Hampton and a stockholder and the vice president of the State Savings Bank of Lawler. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to suc- cessful completion. Obstacles and difficulties in his path seem to serve but as an im- petus for renewed effort on his part, and his energy and determination have made him a leading figure in business circles, while his recognized ability has brought him to the front in connection with the public interests of county and state.
ALBERT ZIPSE.
One of the attractive farm properties of Chickasaw county is that owned by Albert Zipse. It is a tract of two hundred acres situated on section 30, Utica township, and the improvements which he has placed upon it are many, adding to the beauty and value of the farm, while his labors are continually enhancing its productiveness. Mr. Zipse is a native of Cedarville, Illinois. He was born March 16, 1866, of the marriage of Christian Zipse and Caroline Smith, the former a native of Germany, while the latter
448
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
was born in Switzerland. Both came to the United States in 1844 and took up their abode in Buffalo, New York, where they were married, and for seven years thereafter they continued to reside in Buffalo, where Mr. Zipse worked at the trade of shoemaking, which he had previously learned in his native country. With their removal to the Mis- sissippi valley they took up their abode in Cedarville, Illinois, and while they were there residing their son Albert was born. The father continued to work at the trade of shoemaking for twelve years and subsequently he established his home three miles north. west of Cedarville, where he turned his attention to farming, and that occupation claimed his time and energies throughout his remaining days. His first purchase of land made him owner of seventy acres, and as his financial resources increased he added to his holdings until at the time of his death he was the owner of one hundred and twenty acres. His wife also passed away on the old home farm near Cedarville, Illinois.
Albert Zipse had no especial advantages at the outset of his career. In fact his youth was quietly passed, and he pursued his education in the common schools of Red Oak or assisted his father in the work of the home farm. He continued with his par- ents until he reached the age of twenty-three years and on the 10th of January, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Heiselman. Immediately afterward the young couple started for Iowa and established their home three miles south of Lawler, where Mr. Zipse engaged in the cultivation of a rented farm for six years. They prac- ticed close economy and industry in order to gain a start and bravely faced the diffi- culties and hardships incident to settlement in a new locality. Eventually their labors brought to them a sufficient sum to enable them to purchase property and they made investment in one hundred and twenty acres. This constituted the nucleus of their present farm, the boundaries of which have since been extended until it now embraces two hundred acres of the rich and fertile land of Chickasaw county. The improvements which have been placed thereon and the care and labor manifest in the development of the fields have made it one of the excellent farm properties of northern Iowa.
Mrs. Zipse was a daughter of Michael and Frederika Heiselman and the mother is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Zipse, the father having passed away about thirty-five vears ago. The other members of the household are their five living children: Lloyd W., Edward B., Arthur V., Myron M. and Martha M. The family belong to the Con- gregational church of Lawler and in the social circles of that part of the county they occupy an enviable position.
Mr. Zipse is identified with the Farmers Equity Association of Lawler and in mat- ters of citizenship is always found on the side of progress and improvement. For three years he has served as school director in Utica township, and his aid can always be counted upon to support any project that looks to the material, intellectual, social and moral development of his community.
JOHN D. FRAZEE.
The farm upon which he now resides on section 5, Chickasaw township, Chicka- saw county, was the birthplace of John D. Frazee and he has spent his entire life thereon. His natal day was April 23, 1873, and his parents were John and Cyrena (Beckwith) Frazee, the former born near Frankfort, Clinton county, Indiana, Feb- ruary 5, 1841, while the latter was born in the state of New York. They came to northern Iowa as children with their parents, the Beckwith family settling in River- ton township, Floyd county, while the paternal grandfather, James L. Frazee, pur- chased the farm that is now owned by John D. Frazee of this review, residing thereon to the time of his death. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of land as a claim from the government and this land has never passed out of the ownership of the family. John Frazee and Cyrena Beckwith were married in New Hampton, April 28, 1868, and afterward settled upon the home farm, which the former continued to cultivate until his father's death, when he became owner of the property. In 1900 he retired from active business and removed to Bassett, where he resided for nine
JAMES L. FRAZEE
MRS. JOHN FRAZEE
JOHN FRAZEE
JOHN D. FRAZEE
MRS. JOHN D. FRAZEE
JOHN LLOYD FRAZEE
451
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
years. Called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, he afterward returned to the old homestead in order to reside with his son, John D., with whom he remained to the time of his demise November 7, 1917, when he was seventy-six years of age. He was a man of prominence in Chickasaw county and his worth was widely recog- nized by all with whom he came in contact. He filled various township offices, was a member of the board of county supervisors and was honored by his district by election to the Iowa state legislature, serving in the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth general assemblies. He was a broad-minded, public-spirited citizen, a man of sterling character, and over his official record there fell no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. His wife, a most estimable lady, passed away November 9, 1909, at the age of sixty-four years.
Following his father's death John D. Frazee purchased the home farm, which then comprised two hundred and forty acres of land. Previous to this time he had bought from his father eighty acres, so that his present holdings comprise three hundred and twenty acres. He is one of the successful and progressive agricul- turists of the community, his enterprise and diligence being the source of his con- tinued prosperity.
In 1900 Mr. Frazee was united in marriage to Miss Emma Gillsbeck, of Chicka- saw township, her parents being George and Elizebet Gillsbeck, the former a native of Germany, while the latter was born in France. They were married in Galena, Illinois, and subsequently came to Chickasaw county, Iowa, settling on a farm in Chickasaw township, where they still make their home. Mr. and Mrs. Frazee have one son, John Lloyd, who is a high school student at Charles City, Iowa.
Politically Mr. Frazee is a democrat and fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has always lived upon the farm which is now his home and which is endeared to him through the associations of his boyhood and youth as well as those of manhood days. His business affairs have been most wisely and carefully conducted and his enterprise has brought him steadily to the front as one of the leading farmers of Chickasaw township.
JERRY J. BURESH.
Jerry J. Buresh, living on section 36, Jamestown township, Howard county, was born in Linn county, Iowa, October 28, 1872, and is a son of George and Katherine (Moses) Buresh. The parents were both of Austrian birth and came to the United States with their respective parents in childhood. The two families settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it was there that Mr. and Mrs. George Buresh were mar- ried in the year 1861. When their son, Jerry J. Buresh, was a little lad of but three years they removed to Howard county, settling in Saratoga township upon a farm situated on section 36. The father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and at once began the active work of developing and improving that property.
Jerry J. Buresh was reared in the usual manner of the farmbred boy. He worked in the fields during the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the public schools. He continued to give his father the benefit of his services until he was twenty-five years of age, when he started out in business life inde- pendently, taking up the work of farming upon rented land. He first had forty acres in land in Afton township, and this tract he successfully cultivated for a time. Afterward he secured eighty acres in Jamestown township, where he has since made his home, purchasing his farm from his brother Walter in 1906. Through the intervening period he has concentrated his efforts and attention upon the cultivation and improvement of his property and has made his an excellent farm. He facilitates the work of the fields by utilizing the most highly improved farm machinery and in all of his methods he is thoroughly progressive and enterprising.
On the 17th of May, 1898, Mr. Buresh was united in marriage to Miss Mary Simon, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Simon, who came from Austria to the new world and are now living near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Buresh have
.
452
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
been born eight children, namely: Blanche, George, Otto, Orige, Benjamin Frank- lin, Charles, Mary and Wesley, aged respectively eighteen, sixteen, fourteen, ten, seven, six and three years. Of these Otto and Orige are twins, and all of the chil- dren are yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Buresh and his family hold' membership in the Presbyterian church of Saratoga and are people of genuine worth, enjoying the warm regard and good will of many friends. In politics Mr. Buresh has always maintained an independent course, voting for the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office and thus directly seeking the welfare and upbuilding of community, commonwealth and country. He was a director of the Jamestown district school for three years. He has ever been actuated by a patriotic spirit and during the recent war was ever ready to respond to the call for aid in the Liberty Loan drives and in support of the Red Cross. He stands for everything that is of benefit to the public, whether in times of peace or in times of war, and his worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged.
H. W. HOLSCHLAG.
The Holschlag family has long been identified with the farming and stock rais- ing interests of Chickasaw county and has thus contributed in substantial manner to the material development and upbuilding of this part of the state. H. W. Holschlag now follows farming on section 20, New Hampton township, and was a boy' of but eleven years when his parents came to Chickasaw county. He was born in Scott county, Iowa, March 29, 1866, and is a brother of B. A. Holschlag, in connection with whose sketch on another page of this work appears mention of his parents. He was reared in the usual manner of the farm-bred boy, attending the district schools, and on reaching manhood he became the active assistant of his father in the work of the home farm. He was thus engaged until 1894, when he took charge of the farm and cultivated it as a renter for six years or until 1900. He then pur- chased his present home place of one hundred and sixty acres, at which time the farm was in a poor condition. The buildings upon it were little more than shacks. All these have been torn down by Mr. Holschlag and replaced by substantial and commodious modern farm buildings, so that he has today one of the splendidly im- proved properties of Chickasaw county. He is also a stockholder in the New Hamp- ton Farmers' Creamery Association and a member of the Chickasaw County Equity Cooperative Association. His life has been one of thrift and diligence and his suc- cess is the merited reward of persistent and earnest labor.
On the 29th of April, 1896, Mr. Holschlag was united in marriage to Miss Clara Burgart, a daughter of Frank Burgart, who was one of the early pioneer settlers of Chickasaw county and is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Holschlag have become the parents of four children, as follows: Olivia E., who is the wife of Charles Shiek, of Waterloo, Iowa; Wilfrid W .. who married Viania Kearns, of Chickasaw county, and operates the home farm; and Lucena M. and Clair H., who are at home. The family are members of St. Mary's Catholic church of New Hampton and socially they are well known in their section, the hospitality of the best homes of New Hamp- ton township being freely accorded them.
RAY I. LANDON.
One of the leading business establishments of Lawler is the drug and grocery store of Ray I. Landon, who was here born on the 9th of April, 1886, a son of Judd E. and Flora (Rigby) Landon. The father is a native of Wisconsin and the mother of Iowa and in this state they were married. In the latter part of the '70s they removed to Lawler, Mr. Landon establishing the present drug and grocery business,
453
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
which he developed to one of the foremost commercial enterprises of Chickasaw county. In 1911 he went to Montana, where he homesteaded and bought land in one of the pioneer sections of the state, his home being in Musselshell county, in the northern central section of Montana. There had been few settlements made at that time and with the development of the district Mr. Landon has made exten- sive investments in property and is now the owner of sixteen hundred acres, on which he is engaged in general farming and is also successfully conducting a general country store.
Ray I. Landon was educated in the public schools of Lawler and at the Nora Springs Seminary prior to entering the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, from which he was graduated on the completion of a pharmaceutical course as a member of the class of 1908. When he had completed his studies he returned to Lawler and entered his father's store. In 1912 he was placed in charge of the business, over which he has since presided, and he has been very active in developing the interests of the house, the trade having grown to extensive proportions.
In 1910 Mr. Landon was united in marriage to Miss Madonna Keegan, of Lawler, Iowa, by whom he has two sons, Lowell B. and Robert V. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lan- don are members of the Catholic church and he is identified with the Knights of Columbus. In politics he maintains an independent course. While he is giving his attention largely to his mercantile interests, he has also become the owner of a homestead in Musselshell county, Montana, of one hundred and sixty acres, which he entered in 1910, proving up on the property in 1911. He spent sixteen months in that state in 1910 and 1911 and as the years have passed his holdings there have grown in value with the settlement of the district. However, he confines his atten- tion largely to the management of his commercial interests in Lawler and he is one of the alert and enterprising citizens of the town, wide-awake to the possibilities opened in the natural ramifications of trade, while his sound judgment enables him to avoid all the commercial pitfalls into which unrestricted progressiveness is so frequently led.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.