USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 57
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THEODORE SCHOENFIELD.
A lifelong resident of Chickasaw county, Theodore Schoenfield was born in Chickasaw township, March 3, 1877. He now makes his home on section 26 of the same township and is busily and successfully engaged in farming. His parents, Louis and Minnie Schoenfield, were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. Two of their children were born ere they emigrated to the new world, crossing the Atlantic in the early '60s. For a few years they were residents of Wisconsin and then came to Iowa, establishing their home in Chickasaw county. where the father purchased a farm in Chickasaw township. He afterward bought several other tracts of land and in later life occupied the farm which is now owned by his son Theodore. He died upon this place in July, 1914, and thus passed away one of the well known pioneer settlers of the county, who had contributed in sub- stantial measure to its agricultural progress. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1878, during the infancy of their son Theodore.
In the district schools Theodore Schoenfield received his education. He was the youngest of the children in his father's family and as his elder brothers grew up and left home the work of further developing and improving the farm devolved upon him. He looked after his father and assisted in the operation of the home- stead and in this way helped to pay for the farm which he now owns, his father afterward turning over the property to him and giving him a deed for it.
In 1899 Mr. Schoenfield was married to Miss Anna Erion, a daughter of Michael Erion, of Chickasaw township. who cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of this district. Mr. and Mrs. Schoenfield have become the parents of ten children, of whom nine are yet living, namely: Frankel, Victor, Irene, Dora, Eva, Gladys, Clarence, Helen and Leo, all of whom are yet at home.
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Mr. Schoenfield is a member of the Evangelical church, and in political belief is a republican. He has never sought nor desired political office or prominence of any kind aside from business. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery of Ionia and also in the Farmers Equity Association of Ionia and con- centrates his efforts and attention almost solely upon his agricultural activities, whereby he has gained a place among the men of affluence in Chickasaw township.
H. D. FALLOWS, M. D.
Dr. H. D. Fallows, a specialist in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, has been actively engaged in practice along this line at New Hampton for the past eight years and has won a place among the foremost representatives of this branch of the profession in Iowa. He was born in Waucoma, Fayette county, this state, on the 31st of May, 1883, his parents being Fred and Maggie (Barbour) Fallows, also natives of that county. The paternal grandfather was born in Eng- land, while the grandmother emigrated to the United States from Germany, and the grandparents in both the paternal and maternal lines established their home among the early pioneers of Fayette county, Iowa. The grandfather of Dr. Fallows on the paternal side is still living at the venerable age of ninety years, making his home at Waucoma, where also resides the maternal grandmother, who has now reached the age of seventy-seven years. Fred Fallows, the father of our subject, has for the past fourteen years been a resident of Winona, Minnesota, where he is successfully engaged in the harness business.
Following his graduation from the Waucoma high school in 1901, H. D. Fal- lows entered the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, where he pursued a medical course and won the degree of M. D. in 1905. He then opened an office at Fredericks- burg, Chickasaw county, Iowa, and was there engaged in general practice until 1910, after which he spent a year in Europe, devoting seven months to the study of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat in Vienna, Austria, and later attending different clinics throughout the continent. On returning to the United States in 1911 he located for practice at New Hampton, Iowa, and has since given his atten- tion to his chosen field of professional activity with such success that he has gained a place in the foremost ranks of eye, ear, nose and throat specialists in the state.
On the 21st of September, 1907, Dr. Fallows was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Tompkins, of Fredericksburg, Iowa, by whom he has two children, Evelyn and Ronald. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in Masonry he has attained high rank, belonging to Fredericksburg Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Adelphia Chapter, No. 113, R. A. M .; New Hampton Council, No. 29, R. & S. M .; Eudora Commandery, No. 53, K. T .; and El Kahir Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Cedar Rapids. He is likewise identified with the Knights of Pythias as a member of Lancelot Lodge, No. 183, of New Hampton. Dr. Fallows has already achieved a measure of success in his profession that many an older practitioner might well envy and his many friends feel that a bright future lies before him.
L. A. GRANGER.
Since 1909 L. A. Granger has owned and occupied a farm on section 27, Chicka- saw township, Chickasaw county, and he is further known as a representative busi- ness man of his community by reason of the fact that he is successfully engaged in selling automobiles and auto trucks, making Nashua the headquarters for this branch of his business. He was born in Bremer county, Iowa, April 2, 1872, and is a son of E. A. and Olive (Marsh) Granger, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of W. A. Granger on another page of this work.
In the public schools of Nashua, L. A. Granger mastered the branches of learn-
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ing that usually constitute the common school curriculum and in his youthful days aided his father in the conduct of business interests. He was married on the 16th of March, 1892, to Miss Carrie Dana, a daughter of Osman and Mary Ann (Suther- land) Dana, who were born in the east but became acquainted and were married in Illinois. They afterward removed to Bremer county, Iowa, and still later became residents of Chickasaw county, casting in their lot with its pioneer settlers, and here they spent their remaining days.
It was after his marriage that L. A. Granger rented his father's old home place in Bremer county, continuing its cultivation for five years, at the end of which time he purchased a part of the farm and lived thereon for another period of eight years. He then sold his property in Bremer county and came to his present place on section 27, Chickasaw township, Chickasaw county, in 1909. Through the intervening period he has carried on general agricultural pursuits here and his place presents a most attractive appearance, indicative of the care and labor which he bestows upon it. He is also engaged in the sale of automobiles and auto trucks, handiing the Commerce truck, and his business along this line is conducted with Nashua as his headquarters.
Mr. and Mrs. Granger have become parents of seven living children: Mrs. W. B. Hammond; Mrs. C. H. Isley; Hazel, who is a teacher in the Nashua high school; Florence and E. A., who are high school students; and Williard A. and Harold, who are pupils in the graded schools. The daughters Helen and Hazel are also graduates of the Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls. It is one of the strong purposes of Mr. and Mrs. Granger to give their children excellent educational opportunities and thus qualify them for life's practical duties and responsibilities.
Mr. Granger is a member of Ionia Lodge, No. 206, M. B. A. He and his family attend the Congregational church at Ionia and are well known in the town and through the surounding country. The hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by many friends and they are highly esteemed wherever known.
FRED REINHART.
Fred Reinhart, a successful farmer and public-spirited citizen living on section 32, Washington township, Chickasaw county, was born in Paris township, Howard county, September 4, 1875. He is a son of Samuel and Anna (Lehmann) Reinhart, both of whom were natives of Switzerland. The father left the land of the Alps to become a resident of America in young manhood. The mother crossed the Atlantic when a girl in her teens in company with her parents, who settled at Elgin, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Reinhart were married at West Union, this state, in May, 1853, and afterward took up their abode near Lawler, in Howard county, where they resided for a quarter of a century. They then became residents of Cresco, where the fol- lowing eighteen years of their lives were spent and on the expiration of that period they established their home in Alta Vista, living with their son Samuel, who resided on a farm one mile from the town, on the Howard county line. The father passed away March 2, 1914, at the age of eighty-five years, ten months and twenty-six days, and the mother is still living, now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Fred Heimerdinger, in Paris township, Howard county. Mr. Reinhart was a man of sterling character, a citizen of loyal and progressive spirit and was one of the pioneer builders of northern Iowa.
Fred Reinhart, after attending the district schools and working for a time on his father's farm, began earning his living as a farm hand and for nine years worked for wages. In 1903 he began farming for himself and in connection with his brother William carried on agricultural pursuits for two years. After his marriage he rented land adjoining Schley, Iowa, and later came to Chickasaw county, buying eighty acres of land on section 18, Washington township. This he cultivated for four years and then traded the property for his present farm of eighty-five acres, which he has since owned and occupied.
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In 1905 Mr. Reinhart was united in marriage to Miss Loise Lippka, of Le Mars, Stanton township, Plymouth county, Iowa. They now have two daughters, Leona C. and Oletha H. In his political views Mr. Reinhart is an earnest republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He and his wife are consistent members of the Evangelical church and in Washington township they have an extensive circle of friends, the hospitality of the best homes being freely accorded them. A life of diligence has gained for Mr. Reinhart a place among the successful farmers and leading citizens of his township and at all times he has manifested a public-spirited devotion to the general good.
REV. F. J. GUNN.
Rev. F. J. Gunn, pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish of the Roman Catholic church at Elma, was born in Strokestown, in the county of Roscommon, Ireland, on the 26th of December, 1851. His early education was acquired in private schools and subsequently he attended All Hallows College of Dublin, from which famous institution he was graduated on the 24th of June, 1877. He there pursued courses in philosophy and theology and he afterward spent six months in travel in Europe and America. On the 11th of January, 1878, he was given his first charge, being assigned to the Immaculate Conception parish at Charles City, Iowa, where he remained for five years. He was then transferred to Elma in the fall of 1882 and throughout the intervening period, covering thirty-seven years, has been the priest in this parish. All of the present church buildings have been erected under his direction, including the church edifice, the convent and the parsonage. These three buildings today could not be erected for one hundred thousand dollars and there is not a dollar's indebtedness upon them. In his years of church work in Elma, Father Gunn has made himself popular with people of all classes and creeds and is greatly beloved by those of his own flock. He also acts as counselor in temporal as well as spiritual affairs and has been the guide and friend of his people in the fullest sense of the term.
EDWARD W. STALEY.
Edward W. Staley is well known as one of the prominent and representative .citizens of Nashua, where he is successfully engaged in the real estate and insurance business. His birth occurred in Tallula, Illinois, on the 6th of January, 1880, his parents being John W. and Emma (Dickinson) Staley, the former born near Millers- burg. Kentucky, while the latter is a native of Petersburg, Illinois. They were married in Virginia, Illinois, on the 12th of February, 1879, and for several years John W. Staley was proprietor of the Occidental Nurseries at Tallula, that state. In 1886 he took up his abode on a farm and three years later removed to Chandler- ville. Illinois, where he conducted a nursery throughout the remainder of his life, passing away on the 12th of November, 1912. His widow still survives and now makes her home in Nashua, Iowa.
Following his graduation from the high school of Chandlerville, Illinois, as a member of the class of 1897, Edward W. Staley continued his studies in Berea College of Berea, Kentucky. In 1900 he went to Kansas City and through the succeeding four years represented a wholesale millinery house as traveling sales- man. Becoming identified with the rubber business, he was for two years associated with the old Trenton Rubber Company, while in 1908 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, as city salesman for the Diamond Rubber Company. A year or more later he suc- ceeded to the management of the latter concern and continued in that important .capacity until 1914, when he associated himself with the Republic Rubber Company, which he represented in the state of Iowa, making his home in Nashua. In 1918
REV. F. J. GUNN
Vol. II-29
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he severed his connection with the Republic Rubber Company and embarked in the real estate and insurance business in Nashua, where he has since conducted his interests along that line with gratifying success. He is thoroughly acquainted with realty values and has negotiated many important property transfers, while the insurance branch of his business has also become extensive and profitable.
On the 11th of January, 1911, Mr. Staley was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Granger, a daughter of W. A. Granger, a lumber dealer and prominent business man of Nashua. Mr. and Mrs. Staley now have two children, Harlan G. and Edward R.
Mr. Staley gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with the Masons, belonging to Bradford Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M .; De Molay Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. S. R., of Clinton, Iowa; and El Kahir Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Cedar Rapids. In religious faith both he and his wife are Congregationalists. They are widely recognized as people of genuine personal worth and have gained many friends during the period of their residence in Nashua, where the hospitality of the best homes is freely extended them.
SMITH B. BELLAMY.
Smith B. Bellamy is the proprietor of the S. B. Bellamy Lumber Company and has won a substantial position in the ranks of the foremost business men of Nashua. He was born April 6, 1871, in the city which is still his home, his parents being George T. and Sarah A. (Smith) Bellamy. The father was born in the state of New York, where he resided to his fifteenth or sixteenth year, when he removed to New York city, where he was employed for a time as a clerk. Subsequently he drifted westward and took up his abode in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he became identified with the grain and live stock business, entering into association with A. A. Turner under the firm style of Turner & Bellamy. His firm prospered in their undertakings and later controlled a line of elevators from Hayfield, Minnesota, to Dubuque, Iowa, thus becoming owners of a business of extensive proportions. While in Cedar Falls the father was married and later he and Mr. Turner removed to Waverly, Iowa, where they established a grain and live stock business. The year prior to the building of the railroad into Nashua they moved the seat of their opera- tions to this point and in addition to handling grain and live stock they established a lumberyard and also dealt in agricultural implements and coal. The parent house of the concern from this period (about 1860) remained in Nashua but their operations extended over an extensive section of northern Iowa and southern Min- nesota, the firm of Turner & Bellamy becoming known as extensive operators along these various lines. Mr. Bellamy passed away February 21, 1903, but the mother of our subject is still living and resides in the old Bellamy home in Nashua.
Smith B. Bellamy, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the public schools of Nashua and in the Minnesota State University. From his boyhood days he worked in his father's office and grew up in the business. Following his father's demise in 1903, he conducted the business for his mother for a year and in 1904 he purchased the lumber, coal and implement business at Nashua that had been previously conducted by the firms of Turner & Bellamy, Bellamy & Smith and the Bellamy Lumber Company. This firm disposed of their line of elevators and all of the business outside of Nashua. When Mr. Bellamy bought into the business in 1904 he was associated with F. E. Gates, of Marble Rock, and A. W. Dawson, of Mason City, as partners. The business was incorporated under the name of the Bellamy-Gates-Dawson Company and the firm existed in this form for six years, at the end of which time Mr. Bellamy took over the interests of his partners, becoming sole owner. He has large lumber and coal yards, and his trade has reached very gratifying proportions as the result of his capable business management, his straight- forward dealing and his enterprising methods.
On the 15th of September, 1891, Mr. Bellamy was married to Miss May Putney, of Nashua, and they have become the parents of three children, of whom two survive,
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Ruth and Doris. The former was educated in the State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and at the Waterloo Business College and has recently returned from Camp Wheeler, Georgia, where she was in the Training School for Nurses. The younger daughter is still a high school pupil.
In his political views Mr. Bellamy is a democrat but not an office seeker. He belongs to Bradford Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M., and has attained the thirty- second degree in the Scottish Rite in De Molay Consistory No. 1, S. P. R. S., at Clin- ton, Iowa. He is likewise connected with El Kahir Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Cedar Rapids. His wife is a member of the Episcopal church. Nashua claims this worthy couple as leading and representative citizens and Mr. Bellamy's position in business circles is among the foremost. He is keenly alive to the possibilities of every new avenue opened in the natural ramifications of trade and has passed over the pitfalls into which unrestricted progressiveness is so frequently led, thus being enabled to focus his energies in directions where fruition is certain.
G. J. SCHMIDT.
G. J. Schmidt carries on general farming on section 23, Afton township, How- ard county, where he has one hundred and thirteen acres of land. He was born in Germany, January 18, 1873, and is a son of John G. and Paulina ( Riska) Schmidt. He came to this country when a youth of sixteen years and after landing on the east- ern coast made his way at once to Iowa, establishing his home in Alta Vista, Chick- asaw county. Two years later his parents also crossed the Atlantic and became residents of Alta Vista. In the interval G. J. Schmidt began work as a farm hand and thus provided for his own support for a period of five years. Later he took up his abode with his parents and assisted his father in farming for five years. On the 17th of July, 1900, he purchased the place upon which he now resides, becoming owner of one hundred and thirteen acres of good land on section 23, Afton town- ship. His labors have since converted it into a rich and productive place and all the evidences of modern progressive farming are there seen. The father of Mr. Schmidt passed away in 1899, but the mother is still living, making her home with a son in Alta Vista. She has reached the age of seventy-six years.
It was on the 30th of August, 1899, that Mr. Schmidt was united in marriage to Miss Abbie Bower, a daughter of Jake and Lenora (Fortune) Bower, the former a native of Scotland, while the latter was born in the state of New York. Mrs. Schmidt was born in Alta Vista, Iowa, and by her marriage has become the mother of five children: Lenora, who has completed her public school course and is living at home; Hazel, who has finished school and is at home; Max, who is attending the public schools; John, three years of age; and Olga, who is but a year old.
Mr. Schmidt and his family attend the Lutheran church. As soon as he had attained his majority he took out his citizenship papers and has ever been a loyal adherent of American interests. During the period of the World war he was a liberal supporter of all the Liberty Loan drives and made generous contribution to the Red Cross. He has served on the school board for four terms and is a stalwart. champion of the cause of public education. In fact his aid and cooperation can be counted upon to further any plan or project for the public good and his interest in the general welfare has been manifest in many tangible ways.
WILLIAM G. HERRICK.
William G. Herrick, residing upon his farm which lies within the corporate limits of Fredericksburg, was born in the state of New York, July 23, 1856, a son of James H. and Elizabeth L. (Eldrett) Herrick. The father was a native of Schenec- tady county, New York, and the mother was born in England, coming to this country with her parents during her girlhood. The family settled in Montgomery county,
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New York, where Mrs. Herrick attained to womanhood and was married. In 1865 Mr. and Mrs. James H. Herrick removed westward to Iowa, settling in Fredericksburg township, Chickasaw county, where the father purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he added from time to time, and in subsequent years he bought and sold several farms. His home farm, however, through a considerable period comprised two hundred and forty acres, on which he carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock raising, annually producing good crops and selling considerable stock. He died in 1909, having for many years survived his wife, who passed away in 1385.
William G. Herrick was educated in the district and town schools of Fredericks- burg and in the spring of 1878 he began farming on his own account on land which his father had contracted to buy for him, William G. Herrick to make the deferred payments. The first crop which he raised was wheat but this was the first of the three years of the failure of the wheat crop in Iowa, and unable to produce the crop, Mr. Herrick was compelled to lose his farm. He then returned home and worked with his father until the spring of 1889, when he removed to a small place of his own in Dresden township. He first made investment in eighty acres and later added forty acres to that tract. For twenty-five years he continued to reside upon that farm, which he still owns. In 1914 he bought twenty-three acres in the corporate limits of Fredericksburg and built thereon a modern residence supplied with electric lights, hot and cold water, bath and all modern conveniences. He took up his abode there and is most comfortably situated in life, his success in the cultiva- tion of his farm enabling him to enjoy all of the necessities and many of the com- forts of life.
In 1888 Mr. Herrick was united in marriage to Miss Luemma Dayton, a daugh- ter of Henry Dayton, who came to Chickasaw county from Wisconsin about 1868, settling in Stapleton township. To Mr. and Mrs. Herrick have been born two chil- dren: Mabel E., who is a student in her senior year in the Pestalozzi-Froebel Train- ing School of Chicago, was a primary teacher in the Fredericksburg schools for six years and was a junior supervisor for the Mutual Chautauqua Company during the summer of 1918, while in the summer of 1919 she traveled with the Ellison & Wbite Chautauqua Company as junior supervisor. John D. is operating his father's old home farm.
In politics Mr. Herrick has always been an earnest republican, thoroughly versed on the questions and issues of the day but never an office seeker. He is connected with Mount Horeb Lodge, No. 333, A. F. & A. M., and with the Modern Woodmen of America. His life has been characterized by high and honorable principles, making him a citizen of worth in his community, and through the careful and syste- matic conduct of his business affairs he has not only advanced his individual fortunes but has also contributed to public prosperity and to the agricultural development of this section of the state.
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