USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 61
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 61
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
GEORGE C. HOYER.
George C. Hoyer is now living retired in Nashua but for many years was an active factor in business circles. His life is indicative of the opportunities that are offered to men of enterprise and progressive spirit. His entire life has been passed in this state, his birth having occurred in West Union, Fayette county, November 8, 1866. His parents were Jacob A. and Margaret (Lippencott) Hoyer and the father arrived in West Union, Fayette county, in 1854 in company with his parents. The grandparents in the maternal line had previously come to Iowa, there being but one log cabin in West Union at the time of their arrival. It was in that little western hamlet that Mr. and Mrs. Hoyer were married on the 11th of April, 1858. 'The former engaged in farming during his active life and accumulated a substantial fortune. He retired from farming in 1888 and removed to West Union, where his death occurred in 1912, when he was in his seventy-fifth year. For a decade he had survived his wife, who died in 1902, in her sixty-fifth year. He was of the Presbyterian faith, while his wife was a member of the United Brethren church, and both were people of the highest personal worth, enjoying the warm and unqualified regard of those who knew them.
George C. Hoyer after attending the public schools of West Union and the Ains- worth Academy at that place continued his education in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette, which he attended for four years, pursuing a scientific and also a com- mercial course. Following the completion of his studies he engaged in farming for five years and during that period also conducted a live stock business. In 1894 he came to Nashua and established a meat market, also continuing his operations in stock buying. In 1897 he purchased the Nashua electric light plant and in the year following began buying the stock of the Cedar Valley Power Company as it could be purchased until he was the owner of seventy per cent thereof. In 1914 this plant was sold to an eastern syndicate and the present Cedar Valley Electric Company's plant was built, which is said to be one of the most modern and up-to-date electric light plants in the state. Mr. Hoyer was the father and promoter of this project. It was he who developed the electric business to a point where it could be put upon a paying basis and was able to attract eastern capital, resulting in the building of the present plant. Since disposing of his interests in the business Mr. Hoyer has lived retired in a handsome home at Nashua, enjoying the fruits of an active and well spent life.
On the 24th of December, 1888, Mr. Hoyer was united in marriage to Miss Maizie Dye, of West Union, and to them was born a daughter, Daphne, who is the wife of John F. Nafus, assistant cashier, director and stockholder in the First State Bank, of Nashua.
Mr. Hoyer belongs to Bradford Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M., of Nashua; also to Alma Chapter, No. 53, R. A. M., of Charles City; to Joppa Commandery, No. 5, K. T., of Charles City; De Molay Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. S. R .; and El
489
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Kahir Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Cedar Rapids. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hoyer are identified with Nashua Chapter, O. E. S., and Mrs. Hoyer belongs to the Baptist church. Mr. Hoyer gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to do his public duty as a private citizen and not as an office holder. He has ever stood on the side of progress and improvement in community affairs, and his labors have been a forceful element in the work of general development here.
JOHN HUENEKE.
John Hueneke. proprietor of the billiard and pool hall and refreshment parlors at Alta Vista, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, September 16, 1873, a son of Otto and Anna (Feldermann) Hueneke. The father, a native of Germany, came to the United States in his boyhood with his parents, but the mother was born in Jackson county, Iowa. After his marriage Otto Hueneke settled on the old home farm owned by his father and spent his remaining days upon that place. He became the owner of the property and continued to further develop and improve it until his death in 1906. His wife had passed away many years before, her death occurring about 1877.
John Hueneke was a pupil in the district schools and after his textbooks were put aside he continued to work upon the home farm with his father to the time of his mar- riage. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington town- ship, Chickasaw county, four miles east of Alta Vista, and thereon resided until 1910, when he took up his abode in the town, having sold his land the previous year. For two years after settling in Alta Vista he engaged in grain buying for the Gilchrist Ele- vator Company and subsequently devoted his attention to dealing in horses. In 1915 he purchased the billiard and pool hall and refreshment parlors which he has since con- ducted and in the intervening period of four years has built up a business of substan- tial proportions.
On the 28th of October, 1902, Mr. Hueneke was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Joachim, a daughter of Carl Joachim, who came to Chickasaw county from Illinois in 1886. To Mr. and Mrs. Hueneke have been born seven children, four of whom survive, namely: Florence A. A., Elva M., Arnold O. C. and Vera L. A.
Politically Mr. Hueneke is a republican and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church, while fraternally he is connected with Alta Vista Lodge, No. 658, I. O. O. F. He has become a stockholder in the Farmers' Lumber & Coal Company and through well directed efforts has won a position among the wide awake and alert busi- ness men of his town.
HON. WILLIAM HUGH SCOTT.
Hon. William Hugh Scott, of Nashua, a member of the state senate of Iowa and a well known attorney at law in Chickasaw county, was born in Fayette county, Iowa, October 4, 1883, his parents being Alexander and Margaret (Scott) Scott, who are na- tives of Scotland. They came to this country in early life, the father crossing the At- lantic with his parents in his boyhood, while the mother arrived in young womanhood. They were married in Fayette county, Iowa, in 1882 and there Mr. Scott devoted his attention to the occupation of farming until 1909, when he retired from active busi- ness and took up his abode in West Union, where he and his wife now make their home.
William Hugh Scott, reared under the parental roof, obtained his early education in the schools of West Union, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school with the class of 1901. He afterward matriculated in the Upper Iowa University, from which he received his Ph. B. degree in 1908. Thus with broad literary learning to serve as a foundation upon which to build the superstructure of his
Vol. II-31
490
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
professional knowledge, he entered the law department of Drake University at Des Moines and there was graduated with honors in the class of 1915. In June of the same year he was admitted to the bar and on the 1st of July opened an office in Nashua, where he has since remained in active practice. Advancement at the bar is proverbially slow but no dreary novitiate awaited Mr. Scott. He soon won recognition of his powers by reason of his ability in presenting causes before the courts and his clientage has steadily grown in volume and importance. Moreover, his ability in other directions has been recognized by his fellow citizens, who on the 5th of November, 1918, elected him to the Iowa state senate, in which he is now serving. He most thoughtfully and earnestly considers the vital questions which come up for settlement and his progressive course has won warm commendation from his constituents. In April, 1916, he was elected mayor of Nashua and was reelected to this position in April, 1918, resigning January 15, 1919, to enter the state senate. His administration of municipal affairs was of a most practical and progressive character, bringing about various needed reforms and improvements in the city life.
On the 5th of June, 1909, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Ada Evelyn Heckel, of Clayton county, Iowa, and they have become the parents of a son, Everett Greig. Mr. Scott is identified with Bradford Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M., of Nashua, and is a loyal follower of the teachings of the craft. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Congregational church and their position in social circles is an enviable one. In all that he has undertaken Mr. Scott has made steady advancement, and the high posi- tion to which he has attained in professional circles and the high honors accorded him in political circles indicate that his future career will be well worth watching.
THEODORE C. HOLSCHLAG.
Theodore C. Holschlag, who follows farming on section 30, New Hampton town- ship, Chickasaw county, was born in Scott county, Iowa, February 5, 1875, and is a brother of B. A. Holschlag, in connection with whose sketch is made mention of the parents on another page of this work. During his youthful days Theodore C. Hol- schlag assisted his father in the work of the home farm and at the age of six years became a pupil in the district schools of New Hampton township, there acquiring the education that qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. The occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work and following his marriage he began building on his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres.
It was on the 10th of October, 1905, that Mr. Holschlag wedded Miss Rose De Muth, a daughter of J. P. and Barbara (Gross) De Muth, who are residents of New Hampton, where the father has been a prominent figure in business circles since 1869. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which is still their place of abode and in January, 1906, they removed into their new home, one of the fine farm residences of the county. Here they enjoy the comforts and many of the luxuries of life as the result of their industry and capable management. Mr. Hol- schlag devotes his time and energies to the further development and improvement of his farm of one hundred and twenty acres and in addition he rents pasture land. His activities have been carefully directed and energy and determination have been the salient factors in winning his present-day success.
Prior to her marriage Mrs. Holschlag engaged in teaching school for twenty- seven consecutive terms in District No. 4 in New Hampton township. No higher testimonial of efficiency and capability could be given than the fact that she was so long retained as teacher of one school. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children: Harold Clemens John, born January 2, 1907; and Carl Bernard, October 15, 1912. The parents are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic church of New Hampton. In politics Mr. Holschlag maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. He is now serving as treasurer of the school board in District No. 4, New Hampton township, in which his wife was so long a teacher. Their interest in community affairs is deep and
491
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
sincere and is manifest in many tangible ways. Their friends speak of them in terms of high regard and attest their sterling worth as shown in every relation of life.
WARD B. SMITH.
While Ward B. Smith has retired from farming he is still actively engaged in business as a dealer in live stock and is devoting considerable time and effort to the discharge of the duties of his office as a member of the board of county supervisors of Chickasaw county. He was born in Bradford, March 20, 1858, and is a son of Leander and Eliza A. (Hickok) Smith, natives of Connecticut, where they were reared and married. The year 1856 witnessed their arrival in Iowa, at which time they took up their abode in Bradford, where Mr. Smith purchased one hundred acres adjoining the city. Thereon he resided to the time of his death, which occurred in 1906, when he was eighty years of age. His wife passed away in 1910 at the advanced age of eighty-six years.
Ward B. Smith was educated in the Bradford Academy and afterward devoted his time to the profession of teaching through two terms. He then took up the occupation of farming, purchasing three hundred acres of land in the southeastern section of Bradford township, on which he resided for twenty years, bringing his fields to a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improvements to the property. He still owns that farm and from it derives a very gratifying annual income. About 1904, however, he removed to Nashua and has since been engaged in buying live stock in the city. He has long been accounted one of the foremost business men of his section of the county, alert and enterprising, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In addition to his other interests Mr. Smith is a stockholder in the Commercial State Savings Bank and is justly accounted one of Nashua's successful business men.
In 1882 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Rose McCreary, a daughter of Leonard McCreary, whose residence in Chickasaw county dated from early pioneer times. He came here from Pennsylvania in 1855 and took up his abode in Bradford town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have become the parents of a daughter, Hazel M., now the wife of Ernest G. Meier, who is engaged in the grocery business in Nashua.
In his political views Mr. Smith is a republican and in 1915 was elected a mem- ber of the board of county supervisors, to which position he was reelected in 1918, so that he is now serving for the second term. In this connection he labors un- tiringly and effectively for the welfare and benefit of the county. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church and there is no plan or project for the benefit and upbuilding of the county along material, intellectual, social and moral lines which does not receive their endorsement and if possible their active support.
S. B. WESP.
S. B. Wesp, filling the position of postmaster at Fredericksburg and making a most creditable record by efficient and faithful service, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, February 10, 1852, a son of Frederick and Mary (Davis) Wesp, of whom ex- tended mention will be found on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of their son, W. N. Wesp.
S. B. Wesp, after attending the district schools of Ontario, Canada, and of Wiscon- sin. to which state his parents had removed in his early youth, came to Chickasaw county when sixteen years of age. During that summer he helped to build the first fence around the fair grounds at New Hampton. On reaching young manhood he de- termined to see something of the country before settling down and traveled throughout the middle and Pacific coast states. He spent two years in California, where he was
492
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
variously employed, and then returned to Iowa. He next engaged in buying cream for the firm of Hood & Bailey of Williamstown for three years and while thus employed he was married in the summer of 1881 to Miss Jennie McGee, of Williamstown. In the spring of 1882 he removed to Wisconsin, where, in connection with Mr. Hood, he op- erated a creamery at Reedsburg for a Mr. Harris. Mr. Wesp remained in that locality for a year and a half, after which he again came to Chickasaw county and began farm- ing on rented land. Two years later, as a result of his industry and economy, he was en- abled to purchase a farm of forty acres, on which he lived for four years. He then sold that property and in 1892 bought a home in Fredericksburg, taking up his abode in the town. Some time later he established a butcher shop, which he conducted for two years, and later he spent several years in buying and selling live stock. Subse- quently he removed to Fairbank, lowa, where he managed an implement business for the firm of Wesp & Shaffer of New Hampton, conducting a branch house for them. He remained for eighteen months in that connection, after which he returned to Fred- ericksburg, where he was engaged in various lines of business for two years. On the 16th of October, 1914, he was appointed postmaster of Fredericksburg, in which capacity he has since served, and has made an excellent record in office by his prompt and faitlı- ful discharge of duty.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wesp have been born six children, four of whom are living: Frances, who is the wife of A. H. Milne, of Fredericksburg, and is acting as assistant postmaster; Florence, the wife of Charles H. Boller, of Greene, Iowa; Charles F., who was attending the Chicago Technical College, pursuing a course in architecture, and would have graduated in June, 1919, but entered the service of his country and was on duty in the registry department of the United States postoffice at Greves, France; and Ruth, who is attending the Upper Iowa University at Fayette.
Mr. Wesp is a member of Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 661, I. O. O. F., and he and his wife and two daughters, Ruth and Frances, are identified with the Rebekah Lodge. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and he is a loyal supporter of its principles. He is regarded as one of Fredericksburg's leading and progressive citi- zens and is widely and favorably known in this section of the state.
WILLIAM BANDLE, JR.
William Bandle, Jr .. a representative of the farming interests of Howard county, where he is busily engaged in the cultivation of a good tract of land on section 17, Howard township, was born September 27, 1868, on the same section where he now resides, his parents being William and Mary (Fallgetter) Bandle, the former a native of Germany, while the latter was born near Watertown, Wisconsin. They were married, however, in Howard county, Iowa, where the mother had taken up her abode in her girlhood days when her parents removed to this state, while the father arrived in young manhood. He had come to the United States from Germany when a youth of eighteen years and as it was his intention to become a loyal Ameri- can citizen, he at once allied his interests with those of his adopted land and soon after his arrival joined the Union army as a member of the Thirteenth Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry. He thus served through the Civil war and after the close of hostilities he removed to Howard county and later purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres from General Jones of Dubuque. In subsequent years he has purchased other land from time to time and is now the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of valuable farm property in Howard county. In 1901 he left the farm and for a number of years resided in Pocahontas county, but during the past eight or ten years has made his home in Cresco, Iowa, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
William Bandle, Jr., obtained a district school education and while his opportunities were limited in that direction he has been a broad reader and is today classed among the well informed men of his section of the state. When the father left the home farm in 1901, William Bandle took charge of the property and has since given his
WILLIAM BANDLE, JR.
495
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
attention to the further cultivation and development of two hundred and forty acres of his father's holdings. He keeps a family employed, the man acting as assistant in the work of the fields and the woman as housekeeper. Mr. Bandle is not only winning substantial prosperity as an agriculturist but is also a stockholder in the Farmers Lumber & Coal Company of Alta Vista and in the Farmers Coopera- tive Creamery Company of Alta Vista.
In his political views Mr. Bandle is a democrat where national questions and issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He is a member of the present board of township trustees, and his cooperation is always to be counted upon in matters relative to the public welfare. He is a member of Maple Leaf Lodge, No. 528, A. F. & A. M .; also of Adelphia Chapter, R. A. M .; and Alta Vista Lodge, No. 658, I. O. O. F., while his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He is ever loyal to any cause which he espouses and exemplifies in his life the teachings of the fraternities with which he is connected and with the church in which he holds membership. Having always lived in this section of the state, he has a wide acquaintance and all who know him speak of him in terms of warm regard, for his life record has ever been as an open book and his business integrity is above question.
W. B. SIMPSON.
W. B. Simpson, a retired farmer living in Nashua, was born in Huntington, Canada, April 24, 1854, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Laird) Simpson, who were natives of New York city and of Canada respectively. They were married in the latter country, the father having gone to Canada in young manhood. There he engaged in farming until 1856, when he brought his family across the border into the United States and established his home in Chickasaw county, Iowa, living in the old town of Brad- ford. He is a carpenter by trade and while he owned and cultivated a farm he also devoted much of his time to carpentering. Some years after his arrival he made in- vestment in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Bradford township. on which he resided for a number of years. He then retired from active business and removed to Nashua, where his death occurred when he was sixty-three years of age, having sur- vived his wife for only one week, and she was fifty-seven years of age at the time of hier demise.
W. B. Simpson was educated in the public schools of Bradford and at intervals for two or three years attended the Bradford Academy. When about twenty-two years of age he began farming on his own account and for some time cultivated rented land but during that period carefully saved his earnings and at length was able to purchase a farm in Bradford township. Afterward he sold his original property and bought one hundred and forty acres three miles northeast of Nashua, on which he resided for twenty years. He later spent eight years in Greenwood, where lie owned a small farm, and he there conducted a dairy business. In 1918 he removed to Nashua, where he is now enjoying a well earned rest. For a long period he was active in business circles and worked diligently and untiringly to gain a comfortable competence, which he at length obtained.
In 1875 Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Urania Parks, of Richland township, Chickasaw county, whose parents were among the pioneer settlers of this section of the state. Two children were born of this marriage: Edward E., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; and Gertrude, who is the wife of R. E. Neal, of Powersville, Floyd county. The wife and mother passed away on the 5th of June, 1898, and on the 10th of October, 1900, Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Susan Blimm, a native of Chickasaw county and a daughter of William and Nancy (Pettit) Blimm, who in 1854 established their home in this county when the work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun. The father was a wagon maker by trade and conducted a shop in the old town of Bradford for many years. He came to Chickasaw county from Rockton, Illinois, traveling across the country with one of the old-time prairie schoon-
496
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
ers and a team of horses, making the trip with a train of emigrants. He also crossed the plains to California by wagon and horse team in 1850 but returned in February of the following year. He was long identified with the early development and improve- ment of this section of the state and was numbered among those pioneer settlers who aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity of the county. He died in 1896 and is still survived by his widow, who is now in her eighty-seventh year and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Simpson.
In politics Mr. Simpson has always been an earnest republican but has never con- sented to become a candidate for office. He belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America, and he and his wife are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church, guiding their lives according to its teachings.
FRED J. MAURER.
Fred J. Maurer, who follows farming on section 13, Chester township, Howard county, was born in Switzerland, November 28, 1859. He came to this country with his parents when a lad of eight years, the family home being established in Alliance, Ohio. There he resided for a period of four years, during which time his father was engaged in mason work in that city. Later the family home was established in Winneshiek county, Iowa, but subsequently his parents returned to Alliance, Ohio. It was in 1871 that Fred J. Maurer became a resident of Winneshiek county. For a period of three years, with his brother Rudolph and sister Sophia, he rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in that county and subsequently removed to Howard county, settling north of Cresco.
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.