USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 64
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 64
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L. H. GOODALE, M. D.
A prominent and successful representative of the medical profession in Chickasaw county is Dr. L. H. Goodale, who has now been in continuous practice at Nashua for nearly a third of a century. He was born in Pierpont, New York, on the 8th of April, 1863, his parents being Stephen and Mary E. (Hubbard) Goodale, likewise natives of the Empire state. Their marriage was celebrated at Martinsburg, New York, and they continued to reside in that state until 1866, when they came west to Iowa, settling at Farley in Dubuque county. There Mr. Goodale purchased the hotel and livery stable, both of which he conducted with success and profit for a period of thirty-five years. He passed away at Farley in 1907, when seventy-seven years of age, but his widow still survives and yet makes her home in Farley at the age of eighty-nine years.
L. H. Goodale, who was but three years of age when his parents established their home in Iowa, pursued his education in this state and was graduated from the high school of Farley with the class of 1878. In 1883 he began preparation for his chosen profession under the preceptorship of Dr. Wittmer, of Farley, who directed his read- ing for a year, and in 1884 he entered the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, which conferred upon him the degree of M. D. upon his graduation with the class of 1887. He personally provided the funds necessary for his medical course and the strength of character which he thus displayed has ever been one of his dominant qualities. On the 22d of August, 1887, he began practice in Nashua, where he has remained contin- uously throughout the intervening period, covering almost a third of a century. He
is widely recognized as a physician and surgeon of pronounced skill and ability and his practice has steadily grown as the years have passed. He has membership with the Chickasaw County Medical Society, the Austin Flint Cedar Valley Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In financial circles he has also become known as a member of the board of directors of the Com- mercial State Savings Bank of Nashua.
On the 19th of September, 1888, Dr. Goodale was united in marriage to Miss Jennie M. Spear, of Nashua, by whom he had two children, one of whom has passed away.
DR. L. H. GOODALE
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The surviving daughter is Florence S., who was graduated from Grinnell College with the class of 1914 and was later a high school teacher. She was married October 18, 1919, to Charles E. Rundorff, of Flint, Michigan, and now resides there.
Dr. Goodale gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as health officer for eight or ten years, making a most commendable record in that connec- tion. In Masonic circles he has become well known as a member of Bradford Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M .; Almond Chapter, No. 53, R. A. M., of Charles City; Joppa Com- mandery, No. 55, K. T .; El Kahir Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Cedar Rapids: and De Molay Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. S. R., of Clinton, Iowa. Both he and his wife are iden- tified with the Order of the Eastern Star. Dr. Goodale likewise belongs to Nashua Lodge, No. 391, I. O. O. F .; Nashua Lodge, No. 110, K. P .; and the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church, with which his wife is also identified. They are well known and highly esteemed in the community in which they make their home and the Doctor has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the leading and progressive representatives of the medical fraternity in Chickasaw county.
OREN MORRISON LANDON, M. D.
Dr. Oren Morrison Landon, a physician and surgeon of New Hampton, has engaged in practice continuously since 1882 and throughout all the intervening years has kept in close touch with the onward march of the profession. He was born at Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, in 1854, a son of Harvey and Mary Jane Landon. Spending his youth- ful days under the parental roof, he pursued his early education in the country schools and afterward entered the University of Iowa, in which he pursued his professional course, winning the M. D. degree in 1882. He became a resident of this state in 1867. His early life was devoted to farm work, but thinking to find other pursuits more con- genial to him than the tilling of the soil, he turned his attention to the drug business and this ultimately led to his preparation for the practice of medicine and surgery, in which he has attained a substantial measure of success.
In 1879, at Lime Springs, Iowa, Dr. Landon was married to Miss Hattie E. Rigby. His second marriage, celebrated at Lawler, Iowa, in 1893, was to Miss Ada M. Ditmars. daughter of H. J. Ditmars, for many years a prominent business man of Lawler and for the last eighteen years a representative of the business interests of West Liberty, Iowa. Dr. Landon has a daughter and a son: Pearl May, now the wife of Major James A. Marmon; and Roy S., who married Mildred Martin and is a teacher in the manual train- ing department of the public schools of Galesburg, Illinois.
With Dr. Landon the social demands of nature largely find expression in his mem- bership in the Masonic fraternity. He has been an active worker and exemplary mem- ber of the order for a number of years, has attained the Knight Templar degree and was eminent commander of Eudora Commandery for three years. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he has had neither time nor inclination to seek office. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church and by an upright life that recognizes his duties and obligations to his fellowmen and to the community at large.
GUSTAV ADOLF HERMAN LANGE.
Gustav Adolf Herman Lange, living on section 11, Forest City township, Howard county, where he devotes his attention to general agricultural pursuits, was born in Germany on the 28th of December, 1860, his parents being Gottlieb and Anna ( Menzel) Lange, who spent their entire lives in their native country. The son was reared to young manhood in Germany and was educated in the common schools of that country. At the age of fourteen years he apprenticed himself to the miller's trade, completing his
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term of indenture in three years, and in the summer of 1879 he came to the United States, hoping to find better business opportunities than he believed be could secure in Germany. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way at once into the interior of the country, settling first in Calumet county, Wisconsin, where he began work as a farm hand. He remained there for about four years, working one winter in the pineries, while in the summer seasons he continued his labors in the fields.
In 1883 Mr. Lange came to Iowa and for about two years worked at the miller's trade in Allamakee county. In the spring of 1885 he removed to Howard county and for over two years was employed in the Forreston Roller Mills in Forest City township. On the expiration of that period he went to Minnesota and was employed in three differ- ent mills in that state during the succeeding two years. In the spring of 1889 he returned to Germany on a visit and spent the summer with his parents, but he had formed a deep attachment for the land of his adoption and in the fall of the year returned to America, making permanent location in Howard county. Here he worked in the For- reston Roller Mills by the month for about five years and in the fall of 1894 leased the mill, which he continued to operate on his own account for five years. In 1893 he for the first time became a landowner, making investment in a portion of his present farm, which was then a tract of wild timber land. He cleared away the trees and brush and began the development of the property, continuing its improvement, and in 1899, after leaving the mill, he settled upon the farm, the boundaries of which he has since ex- tended until it now comprises one hundred and seventy-seven acres. This constitutes an excellent farm property which has been won through his earnest and persistent effort in business and his straightforward dealing.
In November, 1890, Mr. Lange was married to Miss Maria Wilhelms, a native of Germany, who came to the United States with her parents, Henry P. and Maria (Prue- ser) Wilhelms, when but three years of age. Both her father and mother are still living, the former having reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years, while the latter is eighty years of age. They are still well preserved and very active and live in Granger, Minnesota, where they are one of the most highly esteemed as well as one of the most venerable couples of the community. To Mr. and Mrs. Lange have been horn four children, of whom three are living. Paulus H., who won a scholarship at the State University of Illinois, served in the great European war. He was stationed at Camp Pike, Arkansas. Karl H. now follows farming in Wisconsin and Reuben H., the youngest son, is at home.
Mr. Lange votes with the republican party, which he has supported since becoming an American citizen. He served for three terms as a member of the board of township trustees and he is regarded as one of the foremost residents of Forest City township. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and their many excellent traits of character have gained for them the warm regard and respect of many.
LOUIS WILLIAM URBAN.
An excellent farm property on section 12, Howard township, in Howard county, pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by the owner, Louis William Ur- ban, who has for a long period been identified with the agricultural development of northern Iowa. He was born in South Dakota, June 21, 1884, a son of Wencel and Mary Urban, who are natives of Bohemia but came to the United States in childhood days with their parents, both families settling in Wisconsin, where the father and mother became acquainted and were married. They lived for some time in Wisconsin follow- ing their marriage and thence removed to South Dakota, while in 1890 they came to Howard county, Iowa, where Mr. Urban purchased the present home farm of his son, Louis William, comprising one hundred and forty-seven acres of land situated on sec- tion 12, Howard township. He afterward bought another farm of one hundred and sixty acres cornering upon his home place and on this property he resided until 1907, when he turned the farms over to his two sons and removed to Lourdes, where lie has since lived retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits.
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Louis William Urban, after pursuing a district school education, devoted his atten- tion to farm work and thus gained practical experience which has been of great value to him in carrying on his farming interests in later life. In 1907 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Falada, a native of Howard county and a daughter of James F. Falada, one of the early settlers of this part of the state, who is still living and now makes his home in Howard township. After the marriage of Louis W. Urban his father removed to the city and the son took charge of the home farm, which he con- tinued to cultivate as a renter for five years, while in 1911 he purchased the property that he now owns and is further developing and improving.
To Mr. and Mrs. Urban have been born eight children, as follows: Wencel, Fran- cis, Clara, Helen, Aloysius, Cledith, Anna and Mary. The parents and family are mem- bers of the Catholic church and in political faith Mr. Urban is a democrat. He has never sought or desired office, however, for he has always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business interests and his diligence and industry have been the basic principles upon which he has built his success.
FRED KRUGER.
Fred Kruger, who is engaged in farming on section 32, Afton township, is one of the native sons of Howard county, his birth having occurred within its borders on the 23d of December, 1886. His parents are Edward J. and Amelia Kruger, both of whom were born in Wisconsin but came to Iowa at an early age. When a young man of about twenty-five years the father began farming on his own account and made for himself a creditable place among the substantial agriculturists of this part of the state.
It was upon the old homestead place that Fred Kruger was born and reared, his youthful experiences being those that usually fall to the lot of the farm-bred boy. He attended the district schools and worked with his father until about the age of twenty- two years, when he started out in life independently as a farmer. For three or four years he cultivated rented land and then purchased the place upon which he now re- sides, comprising a good tract of land in Afton township. He has since erected a new residence upon the farm and has remodeled all of the buildings, which are kept in an excellent state of repair. A most progressive spirit guides him in his work and the results which he achieves are gratifying.
On the 15th of September, 1908, Mr. Kruger was married to Miss Annie Rieken, a daughter of Henry and Barda Rieken, of Mitchell county, Iowa. They have become parents of three children, Elmer, Bessie and Irving, all living upon the home farm.
Mr. Kruger is a director of the Howard County Equity Cooperative Association. In politics he is a republican and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. His life has been actuated by high and honorable principles and in every relation of life he has measured up to the advanced standards of manhood and citizenship.
ROY L. CAGLEY.
Roy L. Cagley, the foremost grocer and one of the leading business men of Nashua, has there conducted a store continuously throughout the past eleven years and has met with a most gratifying and well merited measure of success. He is numbered among the worthy native sons of the town, his birth having occurred in Nashua on the 16th of July, 1879. His parents, John and Charlotte (Carey) Cagley, were natives of In- diana and Michigan respectively but were married in Chickasaw county, this state. Michael Cagley, the paternal grandfather, was one of the earliest of the county's pioneers and the maternal grandfather also took up his abode among the early settlers of Chicka- saw county. Following his marriage John Cagley located on a farm in Bradford town- ship, near Nashua, where his active life was spent in farming, his well directed labors as an agriculturist being rewarded with substantial success. He passed away in Nashua
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about 1913, having for but two years survived his wife. They had become widley known during the long period of their residence in Chickasaw county and in their passing the community mourned the loss of two of its esteemed and honored pioneer settlers.
Roy L. Cagley received his education in the public schools of Nashua and when twenty years of age apprenticed himself to the miller's trade, which he learned in the mill at Greenwood. He worked as a miller for ten years and then met with an acci- dent which resulted in the loss of his right hand. In 1908 he embarked in the grocery business in Nashua, with which he has since been continuously identified and in the careful conduct of which he has gained well deserved prosperity. He carries a large and carefully selected line of staple and fancy groceries and is accorded an extensive patronage by reason of his reliable business dealings, courteous treatment of customers and reasonable prices.
On the 19th of April, 1899, Mr. Cagley was united in marriage to Miss Orpha Zwan- ziger, of Nashua. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served for four years as a member of the town council of Nashua, making a most com- mendable record in that connection. Fraternally he is identified with Nashua Lodge, No. 110, K. P .; Nashua Lodge, No. 391, I. O. O. F .; the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Both he and his wife are Baptists in religious faith, but as there is no church of that denomination in Nashua, they attend the Con- gregational church. Mr. Cagley is a thoroughly progressive and public-spirited citizen, always to be found in the vanguard of any movement tending to advance community welfare. His career has ever been actuated by high and worthy motives and he en- joys the regard and esteem of all who know him.
FRANK FREEMIRE, M. D.
For twenty-five years Dr. Frank Freemire was a practicing physician of Chester. He was of that type of the physician that Ian Maclaren has immortalized in "Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush," a man who never refused to respond to a call for medical ser- vice day or night, going in fair or in stormy weather, no matter how poor the patient nor how long the distance. He responded immediately to the call of suffering humanity even when he knew there was no hope of remuneration for his service. His life was actuated by broad humanitarian principles that caused him constantly to reach out a helping hand.
Dr. Freemire was born January 24, 1849, in Tioga, New York, a son of Nicholas and Emeline (Oakley) Freemire, who were also natives of the Empire state and who on removing west settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in the early '50s. There they resided until called to their final rest.
Dr. Freemire was but a child when his parents came to the Mississippi valley and in Minnesota he was reared to manhood, acquiring his education in the public schools. After completing a high school course he took up the study of medicine, entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa. He specialized in the study of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat and also obstetrics and diseases of women. He won his professional degree on the 27th of February, 1882. and first located for practice in Roscoe, South Dakota, where he remained for two years, but the water in that district did not agree with him and he removed to Chester, Iowa, where he resided to the time of his death, remaining an active practitioner of this place for many years. He was a most sincere and honorable man and in the case of dangerous illness he would remain at times for hours at the bedside of a patient to observe the effects of his medi- cine and that he might be ready to meet any change that might arise. He became one of the best known and ablest physicians of northern Iowa and his professional service was in constant demand.
In 1873 Dr. Freemire was married to Miss Ellen Moore, of Fountain, Minnesota, and they became the parents of a son, Frank Nicholas, D. D. S., who is a graduate of the dental department of the Northwestern University of Chicago and is now practicing in Chester. Dr. Freemire was a Royal Arch Mason, holding membership in the lodge and
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chapter at Chatfield, Minnesota, and he also belonged to the Odd Fellows lodge at Ches- ter. Death called him on the 8th of June, 1904, and in his passing Ches- ter lost one of her most esteemed citizens. A modern philosopher has said: "Not the good that comes to man, but the good that comes to the world through man, is the meas- ure of his success." Judged by this standard, the life of Dr. Freemire was a most suc- cessful one.
F. E. SILVER.
F. E. Silver, cashier of the Elma State Savings Bank and displaying a laudable amn- bition and unfaltering enterprise in his business career, was born in Deerfield town- ship, Chickasaw county, July 29, 1889, a son of Maurice and Elizabeth (Greenwood) Silver, the former a native of Wisconsin, while the latter was born in Floyd county, Iowa. A history of the father appears elsewhere in this volume.
The son was educated in the district schools and in the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and following the completion of his school course he entered banking circles and for three and a half years was identified with the First State Bank as assist- ant cashier. In October, 1913, he founded and organized the Elma State Savings Bank and has since presided over its financial policy, occupying the position of cashier, while his father is president of the institution, and George W. Keefe its vice president. His previous experience well qualified him for the responsibilities which he assumed in this connection and his powers as a business man have fully measured up to the require- ments made upon him.
On the 16th of June, 1916, Mr. Silver was married to Miss Lina Adams, of Roches- ter, Minnesota, a daughter of Dr. A. S. Adams, one of the prominent physicians of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Silver have become the parents of two children, Mary Elizabeth Gail and Joseph Harrison.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Silver are members of the Catholic church and he is identified with the Knights of Columbus and with the Modern Woodmen of America. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party but he has no time nor inclination to seek public office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs.
MAURICE SILVER.
Maurice Silver is now largely living retired from business although for many years he was actively identified with agricultural interests in Howard county and at the present time is president of the State Savings Bank at Elma. The active control of the bank, however, is left to his son, who is cashier of the institution.
Mr. Silver was born in Green county, Wisconsin, October 22, 1856, a son of Patrick and Anna (Dunn) Silver, who were natives of Ireland and in young manhood and womanhood came to the United States. They settled in the state of New York, were there married, and one child was born to them ere their removal to Green county, Wis- consin, where they took up their abode upon a farm. They continued residents of that county throughout their remaining days and were among the enterprising representa- tives of agricultural interests in that district. The father died when his son Maurice was but two and a half years of age and as the mother was then in humble financial circumstances Maurice Silver had to devote most of his time and attention in his boy- hood to the farm work. This necessarily limited his educational privileges although he attended the common schools for about two months during the winter season. His youth, however, was largely a period of earnest and unremitting toil and on attaining his majority in 1877 he had thorough training to equip him for life's practical and re- sponsible duties. In 1877 he came west to Iowa, settling in Chickasaw county, where he purchased a fractional eighty acres and engaged in farming. He prospered as the years went on and subsequently added to his landed possessions as his financial re- sources increased until his holdings comprised two hundred and sixteen acres of land.
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which he still owns. In 1910 he removed to Elma, Howard county, where he has since resided. In 1913 he and his son organized the Elma State Savings Bank, of which he became the president in 1917, and remains as the head of the institution.
In 1884 Mr. Silver was married to Miss Elizabeth Greenwood, of Floyd county, Iowa, and they have become the parents of five children: Anna, now the wife of Thomas Kelly, of Elma; Frank E., who is cashier of the Elma State Savings Bank; Blanche, the wife of B. R. Keefe, a farmer of Minnesota; and Clara and Alice, at home.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Silver is identified with the Knights of Columbus. His political allegiance is given the demo- cratic party but while he is conversant with the questions and issues of the day he does not seek nor desire public office but has concentrated his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and therein met success, so that he is now numbered among the sub- stantial residents of Howard county.
MATHEW VIRGIL MILLER.
Mathew Virgil Miller, one of the leading farmers of Chickasaw county and a prom- inent breeder and raiser of shorthorn cattle, makes his home in Utica township. In fact he was born September 1, 1886, on the farm which he now owns, his parents being Dominick and Mary Elizabeth (Lansing) Miller. The father was born in Prussia, Germany, but came to America as a youth of fifteen years and made his way direct to a farm owned by his uncle in Utica township, Chickasaw county. Here he worked as a farm hand for a number of years and in 1870 purchased eighty acres from his uncle, Mathias Kant. He then began farming on his own account, clearing away the forest growth and breaking the virgin soil. He used oxen in the early development of his place and met the usual hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. As the years passed, however, he prospered and at his death was the owner of three hundred and twenty-five acres, now constituting the home farm of Mathew V. Miller. In Febru- ary, 1872, Dominick Miller wedded Mary Elizabeth Lansing, who was born at Burling- ton, Wisconsin, October 31, 1852. They became parents of nine children: John, boru December 18 1872; Mary, whose birth occurred in December, 1874; Margaret, whose natal day was May 28, 1876; Agnes, born September 6, 1879; Nella, who was born August 5, 1882; Hubert, whose birth occurred October 5, 1884, and who has passed away; Mathew Virgil, of this review; Anna, born November 3, 1890; and Oriole. who was born on the 4th of January, 1895.
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