USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 8
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 8
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To Mr. and Mrs. Burke have been born six children: Raymond, who is married and is engaged in the real estate business with his father; Mary, who is looking after the hotel; Kittie, who works in the drug department of the Emporium at St. Paul, Minnesota; Norbert, who enlisted in the navy May 6, 1917, and saw twenty- nine months of service, making nine round trips across the Atlantic; and Florence and Genevieve, at home.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and fraternally Mr. Burke is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics le maintains an independent course but is keenly interested in all matters of progres- sive citizenship and was one of the very earnest workers in support of the Liberty Loan drives, doing everything in his power to promote the bond sales. He also served as food and fuel administrator of his township during the period of the war. He is one of the most prominent and influential residents of Riceville and without invidious distinction might be termed its foremost citizen.
JOHN C. WEBSTER.
John C. Webster who died May 2, 1918, was owner of farm lands and engaged in the sale of such property and in the abstract business in Cresco. He was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1856, a son of William and Mary Ann (Todd) Webster. The father was born in County Armagh, Ireland, as was the mother. The former left the Emerald isle when a youth of fifteen years in company with his parents and after reaching the United States they made their way westward to Montgomery county, Indiana. After their marriage William Webster and wife removed to Fremont town- ship, Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they arrived in 1856. It was a wild and un- settled region at that time and Mr. Webster took up government land upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He built a log house upon the place and began the improvement of his farm. At that date McGregor was the nearest market and teaming to and from the town was done with oxen, so that the journey was a long and tedious one. The family remained upon the farm until 1902. at which time William Webster removed to a farm of forty acres adjoining the city limits of Cresco and spent his remaining days there, passing away in 1901, when seventy-six years of age. His wife had been brought to the United States by her mother when a little maiden of thirteen summers, the family settling in Elgin, Illinois. Her father had died in Ireland in 1837, after which the mother and her two daughters crossed the Atlantic and from Illinois they removed to Fremont township, Winneshiek county, Iowa. Three brothers of Mrs. Webster also became residents of this country. Following the death of her husband Mrs. Webster became a resident of Cresco, where she passed away in 1910. When Mr. Webster settled in Winneshiek county, the coun- try was very new and wild-a tract of undeveloped prairie-and the Indians were numerous in that section of the state. The most farsighted could scarcely have dreamed of the changes which were to occur and bring about the present-day development and progress. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Webster was that of the Presbyterian church and to its teachings they loyally adhered. In his political belief Mr. Webster was a republican and stanchly supported the principles of the party. He served on
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the school board and was ever interested in matters pertaining to general welfare and progress.
John C. Webster spent his boyhood days upon the old home farm in Fremont township and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He remained in Winneshiek county until he reached the age of twenty-two years and during that period pursued his education in the district schools, while for a time he was a student in the Breckenridge University at Decorah, Iowa. Later he took up the profession of teaching at Granger, Minnesota, and for a time was also a teacher in the country schools of Fillmore county, Minnesota, after which he was elected to the position of superintendent of schools in Riceville, Iowa. Later he became superintendent of the schools of Howard county and at a subsequent period he turned his attention to the real estate business, handling farm loans and also conducting an abstract business. He became president of the American Loan & Investment Company at Cresco in which connection an extensive business was built up. His clientage was large and the interests which he conducted were most important. Throughout his entire career Mr. Webster was actuated by a progressive spirit that enabled him to make good use of his time, his talents and his opportunities and he became well established in a profitable and growing business in Cresco.
In 1917 occurred the marriage of Mr. Webster and Miss Anna E. Trumbull, a daughter of William H. Trumbull, of Howard county, Iowa, who was one of the early merchants of Cresco and a representative pioneer citizen who aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity of the community. His widow still survives and is living in Port Townsend, Wash- ington.
Mr. Webster was a stanch supporter of the republican party, always having voted with it after attaining his majority. He was a Mason of high rank, having attained the Knights Templar degree in the commandery, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he crossed the sands of the desert. He held membership in the Congregational church, to which his wife also belongs and they occupied an enviable position in those social circles where intelligence and true worth are received as the passports into good society.
JOHN TIETJEN.
On the roster of county officials in Chickasaw county appears the name of John Tietjen, who was elected sheriff in 1918 and is now ably discharging the duties of that position. The period of his residence in the county covers more than a quarter of a century and prior to his election to public office he had been a prominent factor in the business life of the community. His birth occurred in Jackson county, Iowa, on the 25th of June, 1873, his parents being Albert and Marie (Timmerman) Tietjen, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States as young people and took up their abode in Bellevue, Jackson county, Iowa, where their marriage was celebrated. They began their domestic life on a farm which the father purchased in that county and continued to reside thereon through- out the remainder of their lives, Mr. Tietjen passing away in 1891, while his wife was called to her final rest in March, 1900.
John Tietjen pursued his education in the district schools of his native county and when twenty years of age started upon an independent career, coming to Chicka- saw county and beginning the cultivation of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Washington township which his father had purchased for him. He worked earn- estly and untiringly to develop the property and the well tilled fields annually yielded golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestowed upon them. In 1911 he disposed of the farm and removed to Alta Vista, where he was engaged in the hardware business for four years. On the expiration of that period he became proprietor of a garage and also had the agency for the Oldsmobile, winning a gratify- ing patronage in this connection. After seven years' identification with the business
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interests of Alta Vista he was called to public office, being elected in 1918 to the posi- tion of county sheriff, in which capacity he is making a most creditable and com- mendable record.
On the 12th of November, 1895, Mr. Tietjen was united in marriage to Miss Mina Glade, of Grand Island, Nebraska. They have a daughter, Hazel, who was educated in the New Hampton high school and has also pursued a business course. Mr. Tietjen gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with the following organizations: Decorah Lodge, No. 443, B. P. O. E .; Maple Leaf Lodge, No. 528, A. F. & A. M .; Adelphia Chapter, No. 113, A. & A. S. R .; and Alta Vista Lodge, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Tietjen and her daughter belong to the Order of the Eastern Star, while the religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church. They are highly esteemed in the community in which they reside and where Mr. Tietjen has long been recognized as a representative, progressive and enterprising citizen.
JOSEPH W. WELLS.
Joseph W. Wells, who is carrying on general agricultural pursuits on section 34, Albion township, Howard county, is accounted one of the enterprising and progres- sive citizens of this section of the state and is now serving as a member of the board of county supervisors. He was born on the 17th of September, 1866, a son of Jonathan E. and Mary E. (Burgess) Wells, the former a native of Vermont, while the latter was born in England. The mother came to the United States in childhood with her parents and was married in Luana, Iowa, Mr. Wells having removed to this state from Vermont at the age of eighteen years. He therefore cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers who took up their abode in Clayton county in 1856. He was born in Fletcher, Vermont, March 20, 1838, and was in the eighty-first year of his age when on the 29th of January, 1919, he was called to his final rest. It was on the 25th of September, 1861, in Luana, Iowa, that he was married and in 1866 he removed with his little family to Howard county, settling on a farm six miles north of Cresco, whereon he resided until 1898, giving his attention to the further development and improvement of the property. In that year he retired from active business and re- moved to Cresco, where he spent the last twenty years of his life. He was a loyal member of the Masonic fraternity for more than forty years and was regarded as one of the sterling men of Howard county.
Joseph W. Wells received his education in the district schools and after his school- days were over remained at home, assisting his father in the further development and improvement of the home farm until a year after his marriage. It was on the 12th of July, 1893, that he wedded Miss Lucinda Easter, of Fremont township, Winne- shiek county, a daughter of David Easler, one of the pioneer settlers of the county, who came to the United States from Alsace-Lorraine in 1838 and took up his abode in Portage county, Ohio. In 1853 he arrived in Winneshiek county and therefore is numbered among the pioneer settlers of this section of the state. In 1860 he wedded the mother of Mrs. Wells and in that year took up his abode upon a farm, where he resided to the time of his death, which occurred on the 6th of May, 1908, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years.
In 1894 Mr. Wells located on a farm in Albion township which was deeded to him by his father. In 1912 he sold that property and in 1913 removed to his present farm, which also came into his possession through his father. This is a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which was improved when it came into his possession. He has given his attention to its further development and progress and has made it one of the best improved farms in the township, equipped with most attractive modern buildings, while in the cultivation of the fields he utilizes the latest machinery and follows the most progressive methods. To Mr. and Mrs. Wells has been born a son, Leslie Edson, who is at home with his parents.
In his political views Mr. Wells has always been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served for six years as a member of the board
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of township trustees and for seven years as a member of the school board, while in 1916 he was elected a member of the board of county supervisors and in 1918 was reelected to the board, his second term to date from January 1, 1920. He is most loyal in the discharge of his public duties, recognizing fully the obligations that de- volve upon him in this connection and actuated at all times by a progressive spirit that has produced most substantial results for the public welfare. Mrs. Wells is a member of the Baptist church and both are highly esteemed in the community in which they make their home, having an extensive circle of warm friends in Howard county.
BERNARD E. THORNE.
Bernard E. Thorne, station agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road at Bonair, Iowa, was born in Schoharie county, New York, December 16, 1868, a son of Reuben and Mary Ellen (Cole) Thorne. The father was a native of Albany county, New York, while the mother's birth occurred in Schoharie county. They con- tinued their residence in the Empire state until 1882, when they came west to Howard county, Iowa, where the father took up the occupation of farming, continuing active in agricultural pursuits to the time of his death. He rented the old George Webster farm and was quite successful in its conduct. He died in 1911, having for a consid- erable period survived his wife, who passed away in 1889.
Bernard E. Thorne was a lad of thirteen years when he came to Howard county with his parents. He was educated in the common schools and at the Lime Springs high school and also attended teachers' institutes. Through eight winter seasons he engaged in teaching school and made an excellent record in that connection, impart- ing readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. On the 23d of May, 1903, he was appointed station agent at Bonair, in which capacity he has since served.
On the 23d of March, 1889, Mr. Thorne was married to Miss Mary. Richards, a daughter of Thomas J. Richards, one of the pioneer settlers of Howard county. He is a native of Wales, born in 1840, and when a lad of twelve years came to the United States with his parents, who settled in Ixonia, Wisconsin, where they remained until called to their final rest. Their son, Thomas J., however, came to Howard county in 1868 and purchased land near Lime Springs. He now lives retired and is enjoying vigorous health, making his home in Lime Springs at the age of seventy-nine years. To Mr. and Mrs. Thorne have been born two children: Donald, who is a graduate of the Cresco high school of the class of 1918 and is now employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; and Dorothy, who is a sophomore in the Cresco high school.
In his political views Mr. Thorne is a republican and fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has become a splendid representative of western enterprise and that he is a trusted railroad employe is indicated in the fact that he has so long been retained in his present position at Bonair.
CHARLES COMMERFORD.
Chickasaw county enjoys a well deserved reputation as a great agricultural dis- trict because of the fertility of the soil, which has been splendidly developed through the efforts and enterprise of such progressive farmers as Charles Commerford, who is living on section 1, Jacksonville township. He was born near Milwaukee, Wis- consin, August 28, 1851, a son of Terrence and Mary (Galligan) Commerford, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of their son. P. J. Commerford.
Through his boyhood days Charles Commerford was a pupil in the district schools
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and when his father died the former was a youth in his twentieth year and took charge of the home farm in connection with his younger brothers. They cultivated the old home place for some time and in 1874 Charles Commerford purchased one hundred and forty acres of his present home farm on which he took up his abode. He at once began the further development and improvement of this property and subsequently he bought one hundred and eighty acres more, so that he is today the owner of a valuable place comprising an entire half section of land. In the spring of 1884 he left the farm and opened a meat market at New Hampton, which he con- ducted for two years, but in 1886 he again took up general agricultural pursuits and devoted the succeeding six years to general farm work. In 1892 he bought a general merchandise store in Jerico and after a brief period was joined in the ownership and conduct of this business by his brother, P. J. Commerford. Still later the brother became sole owner of the business and Charles Commerford returned to the home farm, whereon he has since resided. He has diligently and persistently developed his fields, making his labors count for the utmost in the improvement of the property, and is now owner of an excellent place.
In 1884 Mr. Commerford was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Mullen, of Day- ton township, Chickasaw county, by whom he had five children, as follows: Terrence J., who is deceased; Marie, the wife of William Costigan, of Utica township, Chicka- saw county; Nellie, who is the wife of James Carrigan, of Wenatchee, Washington; Grace, who is the wife of John Shekelton, of Stapelton township, Chickasaw county; and Olive, at home. The wife and mother passed away in 1896 and in 1912 Mr. Com- merford was again married, his second union being with Miss Anna McBride, of Jacksonville township, Chickasaw county.
Politically Mr. Commerford is an earnest democrat and for a number of years he served as a member of the board of trustees in Utica township, while subsequently he filled the office of member of the board of county supervisors for a period of six years or two terms. In public office he has been most loyal to the interests and wel- fare of the community which he has represented and he is justly accounted one of the foremost business men and officials of his section of the state. His religious be- lief is that of the Catholic church. He is a man of resolute purpose and his efforts have always been most intelligently directed. Aside from his farming interests he was one of the organizers of the Jerico Creamery Association and for six or seven years after the company was formed he served as its treasurer. He is now concen- trating his time and thought, however, upon the further development of his home place, which constitutes one of the attractive features of the landscape owing to the care and labor which he bestows upon his fields.
FREDERICK MORTIMER CLARK.
Frederick Mortimer Clark, the founder of the first bank of Lime Springs and for many years a most honored and influential citizen of Howard county, was born in Oneida county, New York, January 11, 1836. He was a youth of seventeen years when in 1853 he accompanied his parents on their westward removal to Illinois, the family home being established near Chicago. In 1854 he became a resident of Waukon, Iowa, where he taught a term in a country school and then at the age of eighteen entered the employ of L. T. Woodcock, who was engaged in merchandising at Waukon. New York was then the market and Mr. Clark made trips to that city to buy goods for the store. He afterward took up the study of law with his father, John T. Clark, and on attaining his majority was admitted to the bar. The same year, on the 26th of November, 1857, he wedded Laura Ann Tuell, of Waukon, Iowa, and they became the parents of seven children.
In the year 1859 Mr. Clark removed to Decorah, Iowa, where he engaged in the practice of law with his father until 1862. Feeling that his duty to his country was paramount to all else, he then joined the army on the 4th of November, being mustered in at Dubuque as a member of Company E, Thirty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
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He went to the front as a sergeant and was afterward promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. He was on detached service, cn staff duty, as adjutant of the regiment and again as quartermaster and commissary, occupying these various positions most of the time and proving a very efficient officer. He participated in the siege of Vicks- burg and on account of illness was honorably discharged July 25, 1863. For a year after his return home he was unable to resume business. He then took up merchan- dising which he followed for nearly two years in the old town of New Oregon, Iowa, when he again became a resident of Waukon, where he conducted a store until 1879 with the exception of a period of four years spent in Postville, Iowa. In August, 1879, he removed to Lime Springs and was thereafter identified with merchandising and banking. In 1882 he organized the Exchange Bank, of which he remained presi- dent to the time of his death on the 18th of February, 1907. He was a man of ex- cellent business ability, farsighted, energetic and determined, and the integrity of his methods was above question. He was a consistent member of the Masonic fraternity and his home lodge had charge of the funeral services when his remains were laid to rest. In every relation of life he commanded the respect, confidence and good will of those who knew him and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name, while in his business enterprise and progressive citizenship he builded to himself an enduring monument in Howard county.
WILLIAM L. ASHLEY.
Historical records indicate the fact that the Ashley family have been identified with the development and upbuilding of Chickasaw county from pioneer times. It is of this family that William L. Ashley is a representative and he is now numbered among the prosperous farmers of Deerfield township, making his home on section 30. He was born in this township, April 11, 1865, his parents being Thomas and Lucinda H. (Larrabee) Ashley, who were natives of Deerfield and of Greenfield, Massachusetts, respectively. The mother was born June 7, 1882, and became the wife of Mr. Ashley on the 13th of November, 1851. In 1854 they joined a colony of Deerfield families that left Massachusetts for what was then the far west. They came to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and the district in which they established their homes they named Deerfield township in honor of their old home in Massachusetts. From that time forward the father was identified with the farming interests of Iowa. He was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, January 18, 1822, and the schools of his native town afforded him his early educational opportunities, while later he was a pupil in Powers' Institute in Bernardston, Massachusetts. He was twice mar- ried, his first wife being Miss Marietta Hoyt, whom he wedded in Bernardston, Oc- tober 9, 1844. They became the parents of two children, both of whom died in infancy, and the mother passed away in Deerfield, Massachusetts, August 18, 1849. It was subsequent to this time that Mr. Ashley wedded Lucinda H. Larrabee and started for the west. On coming to Chickasaw county he, like a few others who had money, made extensive investments in land, which then sold at a very low figure. However, grain brought but a small price and the farms were far distant from market. Grain had to be hauled eighty miles, for there were no railroads. After a few severe winters and a crop failure Mr. Ashley found himself with enough land on which to establish a colony, but there was no sale for farm property and no profit in farming. However, he continued to further develop and improve his fields and managed to pass over this period of distress. As the years went by and the country became more thickly settled he prospered in his undertakings and continued to carry on farming to the time of his death, which occurred January 28, 1888. He was an honest, upright citizen, a devout Christian man whose life was at all times characterized by high principles. He. belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was ever a loyal follower of the craft. His second wife died on the 17th of February, 1870. They were the parents of seven children, of whom four are yet living: Charles Hart, a resident of Deerfield, Massachusetts; Mrs. Mary E.
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THOMAS W. ASHLEY
WILLIAM L. ASHLEY
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Larrabee, of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Mrs. Fannie Beard, who is living on the old Ashley homestead in Chickasaw county; and William L. of this review.
The last named has spent his entire life in Chickasaw county and in the district schools obtained his education. He was married in Charles City, Iowa, March 15, 1894, to Miss Alice Louise Ferguson, a daughter of William Henry and Ida Joanna (Snyder) Ferguson. The young couple took up their abode upon his present home farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres, and he has since further developed and improved the property, which is now under a high state of cultivation and is equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences. Here Mr. and Mrs. Ashley have since resided and here they reared their only son, George Dewey Ashley, who is now farming the old home place. He wedded Etta Marie Rodamaker and they have one son, Thomas Williams Ashley, who is of the fourth generation of the family to live upon this farm. Mrs Ashley was a teacher prior to her marriage and devoted seven years to educational work.
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