USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 24
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lying on his farm work, uses the latest improved machinery, practices the rota- tion of crops and makes a close study of the properties of the soil and the food demands of the different crops he raises. He is also raising and feeding stock and is today the owner of some fine Aberdeen Angus cattle and high-grade hogs. He breeds and deals in Aberdeen Angus cattle and has a herd of fifty-two head of pure-blooded and high-grade stock.
On Thanksgiving Day, in 1888, Mr. Gruchow was married in this county to Miss Anna Reamer, who was born in Germany but spent her girlhood days in La Salle-county, Illinois. This union has been blessed with four children, George, Wester and Harry, all yet at home, and Mabel, who died at the age of five years. The parents are members of the German Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Gruchow is serving on the official board. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, but while he is public- spirited in citizenship, he does not seek office as a reward for party fealty. He is interested in everything pertaining to the town's progress in the material, intel- lectual and moral lines and movements for the public good never seek his aid in vain. Moreover, in his business career, he has demonstrated the value and worth of unflagging perseverance, unfaltering determination and unsullied business integrity, and he enjoys in full measure the trust and confidence of those with whom he has been associated through business or social relations.
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JAMES PETER HENDRICKSEN.
James Peter Ilendricksen, a well-to-do and progressive agriculturist of Royal, this county, was born in Zeeland. Denmark, March 4, 1853. a son of Hans and Mary Hendricksen. His father, also a native of Denmark, came to Waushara county, Wisconsin, in 1863. where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, clearing the timber on eighty acres of land, upon which he constructed a small log cabin, and here resided until the spring of 1870, when he located in Clay county, Iowa .. He took up a claim of eighty acres on section 24 in Clay township, later selling his claim and removing to Lincoln township, where he remained until eighteen years ago, when he removed to Spencer, where he still resides. His career has been one of remarkable success and he is known throughout the community on account of his financial worth and is in every sense a substantial and representative citizen. The mother, who was also a native of Zeeland, Denmark, was married there but departed this life in Lincoln township in June. 1889. and her remains were interred in the Spencer cemetery. She was the mother of five children, namely : James Peter, our subject ; Mary, wife of Martin Johnson, of Royal: Stina, who became the wife of Peter Christensen, an agriculturist of Clay township : Hans. deceased ; and Lars, farmer of Lincoln township.
James Peter Hendricksen attended the common schools of his native country until he was ten years of age, when he was brought to the United States and. his parents having located in Wisconsin, he worked there with his father clearing off land and making it ready for cultivation. He remained in Wisconsin until he was seventeen years of age, when his parents removed to Clay county, Iowa.
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and he continued to work for his father until he was united in marriage, when he rented a farm, but the first year met with the misfortune of having his crops eaten by grasshoppers. He has since resided in this county and part of the time has worked out to secure means to pay for his small farm, but he finally suc- ceeded in clearing the land of debt and built a comfortable dwelling, after which he gradually met with success sufficient to enable him to supplant the old dwelling with his present beautiful residence. His farm consists of two hundred and forty acres which at the time of his purchase was in a wild state without a tree and with the ground all untilled, but by his untiring efforts he soon transformed the raw soil into fertile fields from which he has since been reaping lucrative harvests. His land is highly improved, being not only provided with an excellent residence but also with barns, outbuildings, machinery and all conveniences which are used in farming by modern methods. He engages in general agricultural pursuits and stock raising, and before the railroad passed through the county did teaming in connection with his other interests. His farm lies in Lincoln and Clay townships and the attention which Mr. Hendricksen has devoted to it has made it one of the finest and most desirable in the county.
In 1876 Mr. Hendricksen was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Elleston, a native of Jutland, Denmark, and to this union have been born four children, namely : W. H., a lumber dealer of Royal; Cena, who became the wife of Hans Hagadorn, an agriculturist of Lincoln township; Mary, and Louie Albert. Mr. Hendricksen gives his political support to the republican party, to which he has always been loyal, and he has served the township efficiently as school director and road supervisor. He takes a deep interest in religious affairs and is a member of the Danish Lutheran church, in which he is an ardent worker and a large con- tributor and of which his wife is also a member. He is well known throughout the county and his straightforwardness and enterprising spirit have gained him the respect of the entire community.
JULIUS LAMMERS.
Land is constantly rising in value as the country becomes more thickly set- tled and there is greater demand for property in this part of the state. Moreover, the advancement in price is also largely due to the substantial improvements which are being made by the farmers. The agriculturists of Clay county largely constitute a class of progressive business men, who see and utilize the opportuni- ties for advancement, and are thus contributing to general prosperity as well as to individual success. Julius Lammers is a worthy representative of the type of men who are not content to accept things as they are but realize that from every vantage point a forward step can be made. He is now the owner of four hundred and forty acres, constituting a valuable farm on section 23, Lone Tree township. A native of Iowa, he was born in Scott county on the 15th of June. 1869. a son of Hans Lammers, who was a native of Germany, where he spent his youthful days. As a young man he came to the new world and established his home in Scott county, Iowa. There he married Christina Hansen, also a native of Ger-
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many, who had been brought to the United States when thirteen years of age. Their son, Julius Lammers, was reared in Scott and in Tama counties, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that usually fall to the lot of the agriculturist. The district schools afforded him his early educational privileges and later he attended the Vinton high school. On the 27th of February. 1895, he made preparations for having a home of his own through his marriage in Tama county to Miss Ella Ruge, who was born in Muscatine, Iowa, but obtained her education in Tama county.
Soon after their marriage the young couple took up their abode upon the farm on section 23, Lone Tree township, where they still reside. Mr. Lammers has added to and remodeled the house and has put up a number of buildings upon the place. A good barn, sheds, a corn-crib, granary, wind-pump and waterworks are among the modern features of the place, which indicate his progressive spirit and practical, effective methods. He began here with two hundred and forty acres of land, but subsequently purchased more property from his father, and his place now comprises four hundred and forty acres. With farming he raises and feeds stock, shipping from two to three carloads of fat cattle each year and one hundred and twenty-five head of fat hogs. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Everly and also owns stock in the Farmers' Elevator at Moneta, of which he is one of the directors.
Mr. and Mrs. Lammers have one son, Elmer, who is now under the parental roof. The parents belong to the German Lutheran church and Mr. Lammers holds membership in Everly Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is a worthy exemplar of the craft, which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. His political support is given to the democracy and he desires its success, although he never seeks office for himself. Indefatigable energy is perhaps his strongest characteristic and it has led him forward in his business relations to a prominent place among the successful farmers of the township.
CHANDLER AUGUSTUS DUNWELL.
Chandler Augustus Dunwell, at the age of eighty-five years, is still an active factor in the world's work. He makes his home in Spencer, where he is engaged in making chattel mortgage loans, and furthermore, has personal supervision over his extended landed interests. He is one of the largest landholders of the county, his farm property comprising eleven hundred acres, while realty in Spencer also returns him a substantial annual income. His record may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement, showing what may be accomplished by individual effort when intelligently directed, for it has been through his own labors that Mr. Dunwell has gained the prominent position which he now occupies as a busines man in Clay county. He was born in the town of Arcadia, Wayne county, New York, February II, 1824, and comes of New England ancestry, traced in a more remote generation to England. His grandfather, Stephen Dunwell, was born in England and became a sailor. Arriv-
C. A. Dunwell
PUBLICLIBRARY
ASTOR, LEVOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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ing in America in colonial days, he espoused the cause of the colonies at the out- break of the Revolutionary war and did active military duty under General Wash- ington. His wife was Deborah Dunwell, and both lived to a good old age, rear- ing a large family.
William Schuyler Dunwell, father of C. A. Dunwell, was born in Massa- chusetts and was a carpenter by trade. Early in the nineteenth century he removed to New York and was engaged on the construction of the Erie canal. He first located at Arcadia, where he lived for a number of years and in 1831 removed to Solon, Ohio, where he made his home for twenty years. In 1855 he became a resident of Illinois and settled in Cherry Valley, Winnebago county, where his remaining days were passed. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sophronia Catlin, was also a native of Massachusetts, as was her father. The death of the father occurred in Winnebago county, Illinois, when he was seventy- eight years of age, and his wife, surviving him for some years, died at the age of eighty-five. Both were loyal to the teachings of the Methodist church, in which they held membership. Unto Mr. and Mrs. William S. Dunwell were born twelve children, but only four are now living, namely: Chandler A., of this review ; Sophia, the widow of James White, and now residing at Champaign, Illinois ; Frances, the widow of James Sutherland, of Fairdale, Illinois; and Emma, the wife of Thomas Norman, also of that state.
Chandler A. Dunwell was a young lad at the time of the removal from New York to Ohio and in the latter state he was reared, aiding his father in clearing several farms there. His youth was passed in a pioneer district where there were few advantages, but he made the most of his opportunities in the district schools, and when nineteen years of age began teaching. which profession he followed for a number of terms. He was one of three of that locality who voted for the old Liberty party in the spring of 1845 at a time when such a course was unpopular. In the spring of 1851 he became a resident of Cherry Valley, Illinois, and con- tinued to follow general agricultural pursuits through the summer seasons, while in the winter months he engaged in teaching. His fellow townsmen called him to the office of justice of the peace and he acted in that capacity for twelve years, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. He was next called to the position of supervisor and continued in that office by reelection for twelve years. He was likewise proprietor of a hotel and owner of a livery stable, and was thus actively connected with the business interests of the community. During the twelve years in which he presided over the justice court he read law, was admitted to the bar and engaged in practice for a long period. In 1878 he came to Spencer and was admitted to practice in the Iowa courts. However, he did not follow the profession but turned his attention to farming and the chattel mortgage loan busi- ness. These interests have since claimed his attention and through the improve- ment of opportunity for judicious investment he has become the owner of eleven hundred acres of rich and valuable land in Clay county and also a number of houses and lots in Spencer. His realty holdings are very extensive and consti- tute him one of the prosperous residents of Clay county.
In 1847 Mr. Dunwell was married to Miss Cordelia Richmond, a daughter of Edmund Richmond. Unto them was born a daughter, Emily Ann, who became the wife of Rufus Ingalls, of Spencer, by whom she has two daughters, Clara and
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Gertrude. Mrs. Ingalls is somewhat prominent in community affairs and was president of the board of library trustees. The death of Mrs. Cordelia Dunwell occurred in the spring of 1852, and in 1853 Mr. Dunwell wedded Miss Eliza Hannaford, a daughter of Reuben Hannaford. She passed away in 1860, and in 1863 Mr. Dunwell married Mrs. Elizabeth Hanson, nee Pike. She was a widow and was a representative of an old family of Maine. By this marriage there were born two sons, James and Augustus, both now deceased, and a daughter, Lizzie M., who is the wife of Robert Koch, and has two children, Gladys Olive and Marguerite. Mrs. Koch is also well known in the social circles of the city and is leader of the choir in the Congregational church.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Dunwell are Baptists in religious faith. Politically he has always been a republican, unfaltering in support of the principles of the party since its organization, and in addition to the offices which he filled in Illinois he has served as justice of the peace in Spencer for two terms. He has ever been a busy man and his active, useful life has gained him notable and enviable suc- cess, while at the same time he has won the confidence and good will of his fellow men by reason of the honorable, straightforward policy he has ever followed.
EDWIN F. MARKER.
Edwin F. Marker has been a resident of Clay county since 1887, and after acceptably filling the position of county auditor, retired therefrom in January, 1909. He has also been the incumbent in other offices and at all times has been faithful, prompt and efficient in the discharge of his duties. His birth occurred in Grundy county, Iowa, May 28, 1870, so that he is a western man by birth as well as training and preference. His parents are Peter F. and Charlotte (Scott) Marker, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of England. The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather, Darius Scott, was a native of England and engaged in merchandising in that country. Coming to America he located in Ohio and his death occurred in 1906, when he reached the very venerable age of ninety-two years. He was married three times.
Peter F. Marker, father of Edwin F. Marker, devoted his entire life to the occupation of farming. On leaving Ohio he removed westward to Grundy county, Iowa, becoming one of its early settlers. Here he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, making his home thereon until March, 1887, when he came to Clay county and secured a farm in Herdland township. With charac- teristic energy he began its cultivation and development, making it his home until 1894, when he was called to his final rest at the age of fifty-seven years and six months. His wife still survives him and lives in Spencer. She is a member of the Methodist church and a most estimable lady, having many warm friends in this city. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Marker responded to the country's call for aid and enlisted as a member of Company F. Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for six months as a private. Unto him and his wife were born ten children, seven sons and three daughters: Emery H., who is
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now living in Seattle, Washington ; Clara M., the deceased wife of C. S. Forrest, of Enid, Oklahoma ; Alvin D., also living in Seattle, Washington; Cora B., the wife of G. S. Streeter, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa ; Edwin F .. whose name introduces this record ; Leland L., who is living in Duel county, South Dakota ; Joseph MI., also a resident of that county : Charles F., who is located in Spencer ; Lillie B., the wife of William Ruby, of Duel, South Dakota ; and Dell S., who is also living in Spencer.
Edwin F. Marker was reared in Grundy county. Iowa, to the age of seven- teen years, spending his boyhood and youth on the home farm, where he early became familiar with the task of tilling the soil. He also attended the district schools and supplemented his early educational privileges studying. in the Nora Springs Seminary. At the age of seventeen years he came to Clay county. where he carried on farming until 1901. He was then appointed deputy sheriff and filled that position for three years, on the expiration of which period he was elected county auditor in November, 1904, and entered upon the duties of the position in January, 1905. He was reelected in 1906 but in 1908 failed of renomi- nation at the primaries. As a public officer he made an excellent record, char- acterized by the utmost loyalty to duty, while the work of the office was dis- charged in a systematic, methodical manner.
On the 30th of November, 1892, Mr. Marker was married to Miss Jennie E. Allebaugh, a daughter of Daniel and Amanda (Bender) Allebaugh. Mrs. Mar- ker was born six miles south of Spencer, her parents having been early settlers of Clay county. They are now residents of Delta county, Colorado. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Marker have been born two sons, Rush L. and Darrel A. In addition to his home in Spencer Mr. Marker owns one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land on section 10, Herdland township, while his mother owns the other three-quarters of that section. Socially he is connected with Harmony Lodge, No. 188, K. of P., and his wife is a member of the Methodist church. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and he served for two terms as assessor of Herdland township and one term as trustee. Over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, for he has always been most loyal to the interests of the county in dis- charging public duties.
WILLIAM THOMAS NEY.
William Thomas Ney, who is identified with the hardware business in Webb. Clay county. Iowa, was born in Wellington, Ontario, July 1, 1871, a son of Mathew and Elizabeth (Lytle) Ney, natives of Canada and Ireland, respectively. The father was born in Simcoe county, Ontario, in 1847, a son of Robert and Margaret (Armstrong) Ney, natives of the Emerald isle, who located in Canada in 1809. Robert Ney was a soldier in the British army who participated in the battle of Waterloo, in which he was wounded, carrying throughout his life the marks of seven bullet wounds and a sword thrust received in that conflict. He had formerly served in the French army, but left it to enter the British service
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under General Wellington, in which he later became a commander, being subse- quently sent to Ireland to assist in quelling a rebellion, from whence he went to Canada. He descended from a distinguished military family, the Neys being direct in line from Marshal Ney, who was a prominent figure in French military circles. In the family of Robert and Margaret Ney were the following children : Ann Jane, widow of J. C. Robinson, who resides in Irene, South Dakota; Mar- garet, the wife of S. Lytle, a resident of Tralee, Canada ; Mathew, the father of our subject ; Thomas, who wedded Sarah Ross and resides in Fairview, Wash- ington ; William. who lives in Pueblo, Colorado; Jolin, who is married and lives in Vancouver, British Columbia ; George, married, and practicing medicine in Port Huron, Michigan : Mary, whose husband is Henry Bird, and lives in Bram- bridge. Canada; and Sarah, the wife of John Plewes, residing in Monroe, Michi- gan. Robert Ney departed this life in 1887, when seventy-seven years of age, and his wife died in 1856 in her thirty-eighth year.
Mathew Ney, father of the subject of this review, came to this state in 1886 and purchased a tract of land containing one hundred and six acres in Buena Vista county, for which he paid eleven dollars an acre, the farm lying a short distance northeast of Sioux Rapids. On his first visit to this place he did not bring his family but waited until he had built a house and made everything comfortable for their reception, this work requiring about one year, and consequently his family did not arrive on the scene until the spring of 1888. He developed the land to a high state of cultivation and remained upon it for sixteen years, at the termination of which period, in 1904, he rented the farm and removed to Webb, where he has since resided, engaged in the hardware business. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Buena Vista county, Iowa, and three hundred and twenty acres in Alberta, Canada, both of which tracts constitute excellent farms. He, with his son, W. T., compose the Webb Hardware Company and, being a shrewd busi- ness man, an economical and excellent manager, he has gradually increased his volume of trade until at present the enterprise is one of the most prosperous in the city. He is a democrat in politics, always loyal to the candidates of his party, and a faithful adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is of an unassum- ing and retiring nature. happy and generous, and possesses a clean, honest, up- right character. In his family are the following children: Maggie, the wife of W. H. Scarborough, residing in Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Lizzie, the wife of R. G. Merrill. living at Marathon, Iowa; R. J., who still lives in Canada; William Thomas, our subject ; Mary, whose husband is W. H. Phipps, living near Sioux Rapids, this state ; and Sarah, the wife of C. B. Truesdale, residing in Sac City. Iowa.
William Thomas Ney was reared and received his preliminary education while on his father's farm in Canada, where he remained until he was fifteen years of age, when he came to Iowa with the family. He was given the advantage of several years' schooling in this state and worked with his father on the old home place until the farm was sold, when the family repaired to this city, and during the years 1901 to 1905 inclusive he was interested in the drug business, but subse- quently gave up that occupation and associated himself with his father in the hardware business. He is a shrewd young business man and his business ability and untiring efforts have added much to the growth of trade. On November 18,
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1903, Mr. Ney wedded Josephine M. Phelps, daughter of Lymon E. and Alice (Ward) Phelps, natives of DeKalb county, Illinois. Mr. Ney belongs to Uni- versal Lodge, No. 587, A. F. & A. M., of Marathon and also to Sioux Rapids Chapter, No. 129, and is a member of the Methodist church. In politics he is a loyal supporter of the principles of the democratic party. He is a man of excep- tional enterprise and keen business insight and his progressive spirit will un- doubtedly build for him an enviable position in the commercial and financial circles of this community.
J. W. BATCHELER.
After a long and useful career as an agriculturist, J. W. Batcheler, who is influential in the financial circles of Sutherland, is now living in retirement, enjoy- ing the comforts earned during his many years of honest and zealous labor. He was born in Bristol county, Massachusetts, January 27, 1848, a son of T. H. and Clarissa (Holdbrook) Batcheler. His father came from New Hampshire to Massachusetts when a young man, and lived there until 1855, when he located in Clinton county, Iowa, where he spent ten years, then removing to Jones county, Iowa, where he remained twelve years, and thence to Linn county, where he departed this life in 1884. He was of English extraction, a minister of the Free Baptist church, and during his life he preached throughout many of the counties adjoining his home, where his influence for good will long remain as an evidence of his useful and zealous Christian character. His mother was a native of Massachusetts, where she was married, and she died in Linn county in 1880, preceding her husband into eternity by four years. She was the mother of: Amy N., residing in Linn county ; F. A., a retired farmer of Inde- pendence, Iowa; Harriett. the wife of John French, who lives in retirement on a farm in Peterson, Iowa; Julia, who became the wife of Alonzo Lynde, also a retired farmer of Peterson ; M. C., deceased ; and J. W., our subject.
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