USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 63
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 63
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It was in 1867 that Frank Prochaska crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of Postville, Iowa, near which place he worked on a farm for three years. After his mar- riage in 1871 he continued in the employ of others for several years but at length was able to purchase three forty-acre tracts of land in Utica township, Chickasaw county, and later another tract of eighty acres. He labored untiringly to make this productive and in his farming operations he met with excellent success, so that he was at length able to retire from active labor and is now spending his last years in ease and retire- men at Protivin, where he located in 1914.
In 1871 Mr. Prochaska was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ptacnik, and to them have been born seven children who are still living: Frank, Annie, Stella, Mary, Joseph, Charlie and Minnie.
The family are consistent members of the Catholic church of Protivin and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them. Since becoming a naturalized citizen Mr. Prochaska has affiliated with the democratic party and for a number of years he held the office of road supervisor in Utica township. The success that he has achieved in life is well merited, for he came to this country empty-handed and all that he possesses has been acquired through his own untiring efforts.
WILLIAM GLIENKE.
The broad praries of Iowa have furnished splendid opportunites to the agriculturist. The soil is naturally rich and productive and nature has been kind in the matter of rainfalls and in other conditions which lead to successful agricultural activity. William Glienke is now classed with the representative farmers of Washington township. Chick- asaw county, making his home on section 6. He was born in Germany, April 5, 1850, a son of Ernest and Kathleen (Ingnow) Glienke, who came to the United States in 1872. After residing for a year in Chicago they took up their abode upon a farm in Cook county, Illinois, near that city, and there the father passed away in 1879.
William Glienke was reared and educated in his native country, being twenty-two years of age at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world. In 1878 he married Albertina Schultz and in 1880 with his wife and one child, together with two brothers and his mother, he removed to Chickasaw county. Here he purchased thirty- three acres of his present home farm and his two brothers also made investments in farm lands, the mother making her home with her son Henry. As the years have passed William Glienke has prospered in his undertakings and, adding to his original farm, is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of Chickasaw county's most fertile land.
In 1881 Mr. Glienke was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away
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in Chickasaw county, leaving two children: Anna, now the wife of Michael Erion, of Howard county, Iowa; and Emma, who is the wife of William Vick, a farmer of Washington township. In 1884 Mr. Glienke was again married, his second union being with Miss Alvina Pesch. They have five living children: Minnie, the wife of Fred Semm, of Alta Vista; and Louis, Alfred, Herman and Arthur, all at home.
Mr. Glienke has become a stockholder in the Farmers Creamery Association of Alta Vista and in the Farmers Cooperative Lumber & Coal Company and the Farmers Coop- erative Telephone Company. All three corporations are business concerns of Alta Vista. In becoming connected therewith Mr. Glienke has recognized the trend of modern busi- ness toward cooperation and has utilized his opportunities for aiding in the promotion of important interests. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and the sterling worth of his character is attested by those who have had business or social relations with him.
JAMES H. LUSK.
James H. Lusk, actively engaged in farming on section 22, Chester township, How- ard county, is the owner of eighty acres of fertile and productive land from which he annually gathers good harvests. He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, August 10, 1861, his parents being Elizabeth and Peter Lusk, both of whom were natives of Scotland, whence they came to the new world in 1853, settling at Marshall, Wisconsin. The father, responding to the call of his adopted country for aid to crush out rebellion in the south, joined the army at the time of the Civil war and went to the front. He was captured and sent to Andersonville prison, where he died from the rigors and hardships of prison life. His widow afterward married again, becoming the wife of George Wil- son.
In the fall of 1879, when a youth of eighteen years, James H. Lusk came to Howard county, making his way to Cresco. Ambitious to start out in the business world for him- self, he rented a farm in Vernon Springs township and continued the cultivation of that place for thirteen years or until 1892, this being indicative of the fact that he made a success of his initial venture into business life. He afterward removed to Chester town- ship, where he has since lived, spending the entire intervening period of twenty-seven years upon the same farm. He purchased the property at the time he located thereon and as the years have passed he has converted it into rich and productive fields from which he annually gathers good crops.
In 1884, at Cresco, Iowa, Mr. Lusk was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Maurer and to them have been born two children: Bertha M., now the wife of Raleigh Jones, a resident of Lime Springs, Iowa; and Leona, who is now living in California. Mr. Lusk is a republican in his political views and fraternally is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America.
FRANK K. MOUDRY.
Frank K. Moudry, a retired farmer living at Protivin, was born in Bohemia, Decem- ber 3, 1863. His parents were John and Annie Moudry, also natives of Bohemia, where they spent their entire lives. Frank K. Moudry came to the United States when twenty years of age, making his way direct to Howard county, Iowa, and was employed at Pro- tivin for about five or six years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings, with which he purchased his present farm of two hundred acres, which today is under a high state of cultivation and is equipped with many modern improvements, placed thereon by Mr. Moudry.
On the 5th of February, 1889, Frank K. Moudry was united in marriage to Miss An- nie Prochaska, of Chickasaw county, a daughter of Frank and Mary Prochaska, farming people of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Moudry have become the parents of three children: Joseph C., who died upon the home farm in January, 1918, when twenty-seven years of
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age; Frank, who married Elizabeth Lukesh, of Howard county, and is farming with his father; and Mary T., who married James Svoboda and is also farming in Howard county.
Mr. Moudry sold his farm to his son Frank and now makes his home in Protivin. He attends the Catholic church and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has served as school director in New Oregon township for a year and has always been interested in the welfare and progress of the community in which he makes his home and in which for many years he was numbered among the successful and enterprising agriculturists. His former toil and activity have constituted the basis upon which he has built the prosperity that now enables him to live retired.
R. W. OESTRICH.
R. W. Oestrich, who carries on general farming on section 9, Jamestown township, Howard county, was born in Wisconsin on the 4th of July, 1872, a son of Henry and Albertina Oestrich. Their parents were natives of Germany but came to the United States many years ago, taking up their abode in Wisconsin, where they lived until their removal to Iowa. Coming to this state, they established their home in Howard county, And the father purchased the farm on which his son, R. W. Oestrich, now resides. Henry Oestrich devoted his time and attention to the cultivation and improvement of his place throughout his remaining days and the mother also passed away on the old home- stead.
R. W. Oestrich acquired a common school education in Iowa and in the period of his youth his time was divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. When his schooldays were over he concentrated his time and attention upon the task of assisting his father in the work of the home farm and ultimately he came into possession of the property. He now has eighty acres of land which he carefully cultivates, and to his place he has added many modern im- provements. He uses the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and annually gathers golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the place.
After reaching man's estate Mr. Oestrich was married to Miss Grace Bywater, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Bywater, who were natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Oestrich have two children, Bessie and Pearl, both at home.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Congregational church and they are loyal to its teachings, their lives being guided by high purposes and principles. Mr. Oestrich is identified with the Farmers Equity Association of Riceville. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for six terms he served as school director in Jamestown township, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion.
FRED P. JOACHIM.
One of the finest farm properties of Chickasaw county is that owned by Fred Joachim, situated on section 31, Washington township. Its splendid buildings, its beauti- ful trees, its highly cultivated fields and many improvements are all indicative of the progressive spirit which characterizes him in the conduct of all of his interests.
Mr. Joachim comes to Iowa from Illinois. He was born in that state, March 3, 1864, a son of Charles and Mary (Schultz) Joachim, who were natives of Germany. Coming to the United States, they settled at Proviso, Illinois, and there became acquainted and were married. Subsequently Mr. Joachim carried on farming for a time in that section of the country but in the year 1884 removed with his family to Iowa, establishing his home in Washington township, Chickasaw county, a short distance north of Alta Vista. His place was on the county line and was known as Mike Falgetter's farm. Mr. Joachim purchased two hundred and forty acres of farm land and twenty acres of timber land and continued to own, develop and occupy that place until his retirement from active
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business, at which time he took up his abode in Alta Vista in 1900. He had been very successful in his farming operations and his labors had also materially aided in the growth and development of Washington township. He was not long permitted to enjoy his well earned rest, however, for death called him soon after his removal to Alta Vista. His wife passed away in La Grange, Illinois, and her remains were brought back to Alta Vista for interment.
Fred P. Joachim pursued his education in the public schools of La Grange, Illinois, and remained with his parents upon the home farm until his marriage. He has since lived upon his present home place of two hundred and forty acres, which was purchased from his father. This is today one of the attractive farm properties of northern Iowa and is most pleasing and desirable by reason of its many modern improvements. Mr. Joachim has put all of the buildings upon it that stand today and has planted the fine trees, which constitute a most pleasing adornment in the landscape. He is now building a very large barn of hollow tiled brick unsurpassed throughout the state. In all that he undertakes he is actuated by a most progressive spirit and his labors have produced splendid results. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Lumber Company of Alta Vista, also a stockholder in the Farmers Telephone Company of that place and in the Farmers Creamery Company. His agricultural and stock raising interests, however, claim the greater part of his attention and he is now breeding full blooded Hereford cattle. His farm is pleasantly situated a mile and a half south of Alta Vista and upon it he has placed four hundred rods of tiling, planned by A. F. Kemman and laid by Peter Johann and Adam Alt. The tiling and other measures have made his fields most productive and he does everything to enhance the value of his place and make it one of the model farni properties of Chickasaw county.
On the 23d of December, 1897, Mr. Joachim was married to Miss Gusta Wallwage, a daughter of Fred and Rose Wallwage, natives of Germany. Her father died in Wash- ington township, Chickasaw county, about twenty years ago but the mother still occupies the old homestead there. To Mr. and Mrs. Joachim have been born three children wbo are yet living: Mrs. Malinda Johann, Evelyn and Herbert.
Mr. Joachim and his family are members of the Lutheran church of Alta Vista, and his political faith is that of the republican party. He is widely and favorably known owing to the progressiveness and reliability that he has displayed in his business affairs and his interest in and support of all measures of citizenship that are calculated to up- build and develop the community at large.
CLARA A. BLOMQUIST.
Clara A. Blomquist is conducting the leading photographic studio in Howard county and does an extensive and profitable business. She came to Cresco in 1909 and has here since remained. She was born in Iggesund, Sweden, where she lived until the age of fourteen years, when, in company with her sister, Johannah Catherine she crossed the Atlantic to the new world. They made their way to St. Paul, Minnesota, and Miss Blom- quist while a resident of that city took up the study of photography, to which she has since devoted her energies. She has at different periods continued her study in Chicago and in New York and has been connected with some of the leading photographic estab- lishments of the country, including the Sarony studio of New York, the W. L. Koehne studio of Chicago, the studio of J. A. Brush in Minneapolis and of George Craft in St. Paul. She has thus gained broad and intimate knowledge of every phase of the pro- fession, keeps in touch with the latest scientific methods, and her artistic sense teaches her the value of light and shade and all the elements which add the artistic touch to the work. Today she has the largest and best equipped photographic studio of Howard coun- ty and her business is steadily growing. She has the faculty of obtaining a natural and life-like expression in her work and in the nine years in which she has conducted her studio in Cresco her patronage has steadily increased. Many most beautiful and artistic pictures adorn the walls of her studio and indicate the superior skill which she has de- veloped. Moreover, she has excellent business qualities, as is shown by the success
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which has attended hier labors. Starting out to provide for her own support in early womanhood, she has advanced step by step, ever actuated by a laudable ambition, and her position in professional circles in Howard county is one of well deserved prom- iuence.
O. J. LYMAN.
O. J. Lyman, a retired farmer residing in Fredericksburg, was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, July 16, 1859, a son of William and Abigail C. (Chandler) Lyman, the former a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, while the latter was born in Vermont, in which state they were married. They afterward removed to Illinois and in 1875 came to Iowa, making their way to the home of a daughter in Fredericksburg, where the mother passed away in the same year. The father afterward removed to Kansas but returned to Iowa to make his home among his children. His death occurred, however, in Wis- consin about 1904.
O. J. Lyman was educated in the district schools and in the Baptist Seminary at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He went west with his father to Kansas in 1878 and there began farming on his own account, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Clay county. About 1883 he returned to Iowa and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Fredericksburg township, a tract on which he resided until 1904. He then left the farm and removed to the town, where he began speculating in land in North and South Dakota.
In 1890 Mr. Lyman was married to Miss Flora C. Ferris, a daughter of John M. Ferris, one of the earliest settlers of Chickasaw county and now deceased. Mr Lyman votes with the republican party but political honors and emoluments have had little at- traction for him. He has preferred the exciting game of business and opportunity is ever to him a call to action. He prospered as a farmer and as a land speculator and is now in very comfortable financial circumstances as the result of his keen discernment and close application.
FRANK KLIMESH.
Frank Klimesh is a farmer of Utica township, residing on section 3, and belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Chickasaw county. He was born on the old family homestead, February 9, 1884, and is a son of Frank J. Klimesh, whose place in the business circles of Protivin is among the foremost. An extended sketch of the father appears on another page of this work.
The son, after obtaining a district school education, concentrated his efforts and attention upon the task of assisting his father until he had reached a position where he felt that he could engage in business on his own account. He has always continued to follow farming and makes his home on section 3, Utica township, where he is busily engaged in the development of the fields, annually gathering rich crops as the reward of his labors. He has extended his efforts also into various other lines and is now a stockholder in the Protivin Cooperative Creamery Company, the Protivin Telephone Company and in the Beseda Hall Corporation of Protivin. He is likewise connected with the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Lawler and in all that he does displays a laudable ambition and a progressive spirit that cannot fail to reach desired results.
In February, 1908, Mr. Klimesh was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Bouska, a daughter of Jolin Bouska, of Protivin, to whom reference is made elsewhere in this volume. It was the year after his marriage that Mr. Klimesh located upon his present home farm, which was owned by his father, and a year later he purchased the prop- erty, comprising one hundred and forty-two acres of rich and productive land. Upon
MR. AND MRS. FRANK KLIMESH
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this place he and his wife are now rearing an interesting little family of four children: Frank M., Edward, Mary and Angeline.
Mr. Klimesh and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church at Pro- tivin, and his political endorsement is given to the democratic party. He has served as a member of the school board and is deeply and helpfully interested in many matters of public concern. That he is a most wide-awake and alert business man is indicated in his various connections with important corporations. He readily recognizes and utilizes opportunity and quickly differentiates between the essential and the nonessential in all business affairs.
JOHN McCOOK.
While numbered among the particularly successful lawyers of Cresco, Howard county, John McCook ranks as well among the most public-spirited of its citizens, will- ing to give of his time, his thought, his money and his energies to advancing the nation's interests. He comes of Irish and Scotch ancestry. His father was born in County An- trim, Ireland, while the mother was a native of Edinburg, Scotland. With her parents, however, she removed to Antrim, Ireland, in her girlhood days and was there married, after which Mr. and Mrs. McCook crossed the Atlantic to the United States, establishing their home first in Philadelphia, while subsequently they removed to Altoona, Pennsyl- vania. The father was a landscape gardener in Ireland but in later years gave his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. After living in the Keystone state for some time he brought his family to Iowa, settling at Riceville, Howard county, where he purchased a farm, upon which he erected a residence and at once began the further development and improve- ment of the property. The town now stands on a part of the old homestead. After devot- ing many years to the cultivation of his land Mr. McCook took up his abode in Riceville and was president of the Riceville State Bank, which was the first bank established there. He continued as the head of the institution until his death and his sons, Nelson, R. D. and J. B., were associated with him in the banking business. He became one of the most substantial and prominent residents of Howard county. He was a man of marked busi- ness ability and enterprise and as his financial resources increased he kept adding to his holdings until he had very extensive landed possessions in addition to his banking in- terests. He gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and for a number of years filled the office of supervisor, discharging his duties with marked promptness and capability His religious faith was that of the Congregational church and its teachings guided him in all of the relations of life. He died at the age of eighty-three years, while his wife reached the age of seventy-eight years, and they were long numbered among the most esteemed and honored couples of Howard county.
As previously stated, John McCook accompanied his parents to Iowa and after com- pleting his public school education he became a student in the Decorah Institute at De- corah, Iowa. His literary training served as an excellent foundation upon which to build the superstructure of professional knowledge. He determined upon the practice of law as a life work and to that end became a student in the office and under the direction of H. C. McCarty, of Cresco, with whom he continued his reading until April, 1882, when he was admitted to the bar. He afterward entered into partnership with his former pre- ceptor, an association that was maintained until 1887. He then continued in the practice of law alone until 1916, when he admitted J. E. Lyons of Cresco to a partnership. The latter is now a first lieutenant in the One Hundred and Thirteenth Trench Mortar Bat- tery and is stationed for training at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Mr. McCook has been in the practice of law in Cresco since 1885 and the consensus of public opinion names him as a leading attorney of Howard county. He has been connected with some very important cases and his opinions are largely accepted as authority upon legal questions. Thor- oughly conversant with the principles of jurisprudence, he has been most accurate in applying these principles to the points in litigation, is clear in reasoning and logical in his deductions and the force of his argument drives home the truth which he presents.
On the 4th of January, 1888, Mr. McCook was united in marriage to Miss Clara E.
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Webster, a daughter of Calvin F. and Serena (Irvine) Webster. Mrs. McCook was born in Laporte, Indiana, while her parents are natives of Ohio. Her father spent his boyhood days in Indiana, where he acquired his education, and subsequently he removed to How- ard county, Iowa, where he took up the occupation of farming. He was also clerk of the court of Cresco for a number of years and later he removed to Minneapolis, where he died in 1918 at the notable old age of ninety years, and his wife had reached an equal age at her death. This is surely a marvelous history, for seldom does any couple attain such an advanced age. Mr. Webster is a republican in his political views and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while both he and his wife have long been devoted and faithful members of the Congregational church. They were early settlers of Howard county and are yet most kindly remembered by many who knew them during the period of their residence in this state.
To Mr. and Mrs. McCook have been born three children: Allie May, now the wife of C. G. Meredith, of Rochester, Minnesota; Clara Elizabeth, at home; and Florence, who completes the family.
Mr. McCook gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, of which he has long been a stalwart champion, and his prominence in political circles is indicated in the fact that he was chosen a delegate to the national convention of his party in Denver. He is now giving of his time and effort to the interests of his country as a member of the Council of Defense. Fraternally he is a Mason and his religious faith is that of the Con- gregational church. His life has been well spent and he has always lived up to high and honorable standards of manhood and citizenship. There have been no spectacular phases in his career but the worth of his work is acknowledged by all, for his aid and influence have ever been on the side not only of the material advancement of the county but of its intellectual, social, political and moral progress.
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