USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 32
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"Cedar Lawn Farm." Since coming into possession he has erected a large barn and a silo, which was the first in the county. In connection with farming he has engaged in raising and feeding stock. A good grade of cattle, horses and hogs are found in his pastures. He believes in progress in all things and there- fore uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. His farming he has carried on along modern scientific lines and his labors are bring- ing excellent results. He has also extended his efforts into other fields of busi- ness activity, for he is now a member of the board of directors, Clay County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company.
On Christmas day of 1901 Mr. Moeller was married to Miss Maggie Zentner, who was born, reared and educated in this state. They now have one son, Leslie. The parents are prominent socially and the hospitality of the best homes of the community is freely accorded them. They were reared in the Lutheran faith and attend that church. Mr. Moeller is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Everly, while his political allegiance is given to the democracy. He was elected secretary of the school board and after serving eight consecutive years was reelected in 1908, so that he is the present incumbent. In the same year he was elected assessor. Young, determined and vigorous, a successful farmer and an enterprising business man. Waterford township numbers him among her valued residents, and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time is an indication that his life has at all times been honorable and upright-worthy of the high esteem in which he is uniformly held
JOHN J. KRAEMER.
Every man who enters business life does so with the hope of winning success, but there are many who are not willing to pay the price of it. The price is unfal- tering industry, intelligently directed, and when the individual is not afraid to put forth continuous and persistent effort he will eventually attain prosperity. This is proven in the record of John J. Kraemer, now numbered among the leading farmers of Lone Tree township. His home is on section 33 and he owns four hundred and eighty acres in two well improved farms. He dates his residence in the county from the fall of 1879. coming here when a young man of about twenty-eight years. He was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, October 17, 1851, and there remained to the age of nineteen years, when he sought the business opportunities of the new world, arriving in La Salle county, Illinois, in 1870. As he had no capital to enable him to start in an independent business venture, he worked by the month as a farm hand for a few years, until he felt that his capital and experience justified him in renting land and farming on his own account. He was thus identified with the agricultural interests of Illinois until 1879, when he removed to western Iowa, establishing his home in Clay county. During the year following his arrival he cultivated a rented farm in Riverton township, not far from the county farm. He then purchased eighty acres of land west of Spencer, where he carried on farming for six years, when he sold that property
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and again rented land for five years in the vicinity of the county seat. In the meantime he continued to carefully save his earnings and during that period he invested in three hundred and twenty acres of land, which is the farm on section 33, Lone Tree township, upon which he now resides. He has since made another purchase of one hundred and sixty acres, so that his landed holdings now embrace four hundred and eighty acres. He has remained on his present farm since 1893, in which year he began to further improve it and the excellence and effectiveness of his labors are indicated in the splendid appearance of his place. The plowing, planting and harvesting. are carried on year by year and his industry is rewarded by large crops. He has set out an orchard and some forest trees and in the midst of a well kept lawn stands a large house which he erected. He has also built a good barn and he likewise has good buildings upon his other place. He has tiled most of his home farm, thus greatly enhancing the productiveness of the fields. In addition to his farming he raises high-grade stock and both branches of his business are proving sources of gratifying, remuneration.
Mr. Kraemer has been married twice. When in La Salle county, Illinois, he wedded Fredericka Vonesse, a native of Germany, who died in Clay county in 1900. There were nine children by that marriage: Rev. Wilhelm Paul Kraemer, who is now minister of the German and American Methodist Episcopal church ; Henry, who is cultivating one of his father's farms ; Lena, who is acting as house- keeper for her brother: Paul, who is with his brother and sister on the farm; Arthur, who is now doing for himself; Frank, who has also started in life on his own account ; Martha, a student in the Everly high school : and Lydia and Walter, at home. On the 27th of March, 1901. Mr. Kraemer was again married and the wedding, which was celebrated in New York city, made Miss Mary Pflugfelter his wife. There are three children by this marriage: John F., Albert and Florence.
Mr. Kraemer votes with the republican party, but his business cares make too extensive demand upon his time and energies to allow him to participate to any extent in political activity. He is justly accounted one of the good business men of the community and certainly deserves much credit for what he has accom- plished, as he started out in life with no capital save his natural qualities of indus- try and determination. The years have marked his successive progress until he is today one of the substantial citizens of Clay county. Mr. and Mrs. Kraemer both are members of the German Methodist Episcopal church of Spencer.
JOHN J. BICKNELL.
John J. Bicknell, who is now living in retirement after having spent upwards of three-quarters of a century in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising in Peter- son, this county, was born in Hampshire county. Massachusetts, January 24. 1825. a son of James and Lucy A. (Cady ) Bicknell, his father also having been a native of that state, who came west in 1841. locating in Ohio, and remained there until 1848. Before the expiration of the year he went to Illinois, where he spent three years, and then repaired to Waterloo, remaining there until 1856 during which
MR. AND MRS. J. J. BICKNELL
THE NEWW VITE PUBLICLIBRARY
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vear he came to Peterson, or rather where the village of Peterson now stands. Here he pursued agricultural and general stock-raising until he departed this life. He was united in marriage in his native state, where his wife also was born. The latter passed away at her home here, and her remains were interred with those of her husband. In the family were four children, namely: John J .; Lucy, wife of Charles Oldfield, the couple residing in Michigan ; Chester C., deceased : and Mary Jane, deceased.
The common schools of Massachusetts and Ohio afforded John J. Bicknell his preliminary education and subsequently he pursued a course of study in Oberlin College, from which he was graduated. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he started out in the world for himself, his first occupation being that of a timber chopper, which he followed a few years and then went back to his native state, and remained there some time. Upon his return to Ohio he purchased his father's farin upon which he lived, actively engaged in agricultural pursuits for a period of seven years, and then located near Batavia, Kane county, Illinois, where he spent two years. He then removed to Cedar Falls, Black Hawk county, this state, and there remained until the year 1856, when he repaired to this county and took up a claim. He was accompanied by J. A. Kirch- ner and his neighbor Meed and his son, and they were the first settlers in Clay county. Returning to Cedar Falls in the fall of the same year he remained there but a brief period when, in the year 1857. he returned to this county and remained here until after the Spirit Lake Massacre, when he went back to the former place and stayed there three years, for the hostility of the Indians at that time was so bitter that it was unsafe to take up a residence in Clay county. Later, however, he returned to this county, where for a number of years he pursued general farmi- ing which he abandoned about three years ago and removed to the village of Peterson, where he is now living a retired life. He owns a forty-acre farm upon which he has made all the necessary improvements and to which, during his days of activity, he had given every attention and the piece of land, although it is small, is one of the most arable and desirable in the township. In addition to this he owns a comfortable residence in the village of Peterson, where he resides, and also some valuable town property.
In 1850 Mr. Bicknell was united in marriage at Pittsfield, Ohio, to Miss Caroline Chisley, a native of New York state, by whom he has had four children. namely: Otis Chester, an agriculturist of Livingston county, Missouri ; Milo, who operates a large farm in O'Brien county, this state ; Lucy Jane, wife of Charles McCormick, a farmer of this township : and Minnie C., who became the wife of Arthur Hulbert, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising in Missouri. During his life Mr. Bicknell has taken considerable interest in politics, always voting the republican ticket and served two terms as county treas- urer, and for the same length of time as county recorder. He was county judge four years and, aside from having served the township as justice of the peace. has officiated in several other local public offices. He has always been deeply interested in church work and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal denomination. with which his wife is also affiliated, and for twenty-two years he has been super- intendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Bicknell is well known throughout the county in which he is highly respected and now, in his eighty-fourth year. after
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a long career which in every particular has been well spent, he need have no regrets in looking backward, and noting that his purposes have always been noble and that his life is such as to contribute toward the moral and spiritual uplift of all with whom he has come in contact, he can look forward with the consciousness that inasmuch as he has been dutiful in the vineyard of his Master, whom he has for so many years endeavored to serve acceptably in leading others into a knowl- edge of the faith, there awaits him a glorious immortality.
FRED STRUCK.
No farmer in Clay county has achieved greater success in agricultural pursuits that has Fred Struck, whose attractive homestead lies on section 13, Garfield township. and comprises one hundred and sixty acres. Through his own industry and enterprise he has risen to prominence as a farmer. Nothing aided him in his struggle except the fact that he was born of worthy parents and inherited the splendid traits which have characterized the men who have developed our great western country. His birth occurred in Clinton. Clinton county, Iowa, on the 19th of September, 1871, his parents being Jacob and Sophia (Kock) Struck, both of whom were natives of Germany. Both came to America in childhood days but were unacquainted in their native land. They did not meet until they became residents of Clinton county, Iowa, and their marriage was celebrated near Davenport. After residing for a few years in Clinton county they removed to Marshall county and a few years later became residents of Grundy couny, Iowa, preceding their removal to Tama county, whence they came to Clay county in 1882. Their family numbered six children, the eldest being Fred Struck, of this review. The others are: Henry, who makes his home in North Dakota : Emma, the wife of John Starr, who resides in Douglas township. Clay county, by whom she has one child. Orland : Kate, the wife of Steve Crick, a resident of Clay county ; and George and Rosie, both still under the parental roof.
Spending his boyhood days in his parents' home. Fred Struck was reared to the work of the home farm and in the district schools pursued his education, becoming thus qualified for the practical duties of life. He started out for himself at the age of twenty years, being possessed of a laudable ambition to one day become the owner of a farm. He, therefore, carefully saved his earn- ings and when he was in possession of a small sum of money he arranged for the purchase of his present place, making a small payment and agreeing to pay the remainder at stated intervals. The purchase price was two thousand dollars, or a little more than twelve dollars per acre, and today the farm is valued at about one hundred dollars per acre, being one of the best in the county. For several years Mr. Struck had a hard struggle to keep up his payments. Some years he could not make enough to pay even the taxes, owing to the hard times, poor crops and low prices for all farm products. Corn in those days sold for eight cents per bushel and oats brought only eleven cents. It required two big loads of corn, hauled to market. to buy one pair of boots. The conditions were
y
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so discouraging to the farmers in the northwest at that time that scores of settlers abandoned their homesteads and gave up the battle; but Mr. Struck possessed a determination, that would not permit his surrender, and he hoped and toiled bravely on and in course of time success rewarded his labors. Tireless energy will always win prosperity and it was through this means that Mr. Struck gained his place among the substantial agriculturists of the community.
On the 26th of June, 1901, Mr. Struck was united in marriage to Miss Mary R. Milligan, a daughter of John and Diana (Scott) Milligan, both of whom were natives of Canada. In the year 1890 they came to the United States, settling near Independence, Iowa, and are now residents of St. Paul, Minnesota. Mrs. Struck is the younger of two children, her brother, John Milligan, residing with his parents in St. Paul. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Struck has been born a daughter, Ida B. The parents are members of the Lutheran church and are interested in its work and in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community. Their good qualities of heart and mind have gained for them the friendship of many and the high regard of all who know them, while the business record of Mr. Struck commends him to the confidence of his fellowmen, for at all times he is reliable and straightforward.
FRANK L. ZISHKA.
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Frank L. Zishka, living on section 9, Summit township, has for twenty-eight years been well known in Clay county. He was but a little lad at the time of his arrival here and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood days is an indication that his life has been honorable and upright. His birth occurred in Illinois, October 25, 1873, and in his early childhood his parents removed to Iowa, settling in Franklin county, where he remained until 1882. The family home was then established in Clay county and here he continued his education as a public-school pupil. His training at farm labor was not meager for as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields and continued to assist in the cultivation of the crops from the time of early spring planting until the harvests were gathered in the late autumn. His thorough training thus well qualified him to carry on business on his own account when he was married and started out for himself.
It was in 1899, in Spencer, that Mr. Zishka was joined in wedlock to Miss Ida Doeling, a native of Germany, in which land her girlhood days were passed, coming to America in early womanhood. Following his marriage Mr. Zishka took his bride to the farm upon which they have since resided. He has purchased one hundred and sixty acres here and in addition to that tract he also cultivates another quarter section, so that his time is now busily occupied with the care and improvement of three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land. He gives much of his attention to the cultivation of corn but also raises other crops, and livestock interests claim a part of his attention. He raises and feeds hogs and this proves a profitable branch of his business. In all of his work he is energetic and determined, brooking no obstacles that can be overcome by
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persistent and honorable effort. Year after year he carefully tills his fields and raises hogs and there are few leisure moments in his life. Mr. Zishka and his brother, Carl, have owned and operated a steam thresher and corn sheller for seventeen years. Their first thresher was operated with horse power but for fourteen years they have used a steam traction engine and have also employed steam in the operation of the corn sheller for about nine years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Zishka have been born three children, Alma, Erna and Louis. The parents are both consistent and faithful members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Zishka has been identified with the schools in an official capacity and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. Well known in Clay and adjacent counties by reason of his business affairs, Mr. Zishka is accounted one of the active workers and progressive farmers of Summit township and has the unqualified confidence and esteem of the entire community.
MARTIN JOHNSON.
Martin Johnson, now retired after many years of unwearied efforts as an agriculturist and carriage maker, a man held in high respect for his industry and excellent qualities of character, was born in Denmark, February 13. 1844, a son of Johannes and Carrie Mary ( Tidman) Johnson. His father was a car- penter and cabinet maker, who spent his entire life in his native land, where he passed away in 1908. His mother, also a native of Denmark, there departed this life when Martin Johnson was but thirteen years of age. In the family were but two children, namely, Martin and Hans Peter, the latter now residing in Minnesota. The elder Mr. Johnson was twice united in marriage, the second time to Dorothy Nelson, by whom he reared four children, only two surviving, namely, James, who is an agriculturist, operating a large farm near Enwood, this state, and Christ, who is living on a farm east of Spencer.
In the common schools of his native land Martin Johnson acquired his early education and when fourteen years of age was apprenticed for a period of four and a half years to a carriage maker. Having learned that trade, he followed the occupation as a journeyman until he was twenty-one years of age, and in the year 1867 came to the United States, locating in Waupun, Wisconsin, where he became employed in a carriage shop. He remained at Waupun four years, at the expiration of which time he came to this county. Upon his arrival here he found it very difficult to get a start, as at that time he had but one horse. But eventually, having raised a colt, he traded same for a cow and one year later traded his horses for a yoke of oxen, and with this team he at once began to break the raw prairie and put it into a fit state for cultivation. He was handicapped in many ways, as there was a great deal of sickness in the family as well as other reverses, which made it seem almost impossible to attain any headway. However, he plodded along with perseverance and patience, applying his energies to hard work, and finally succeeded in overcoming all difficulties, mounting above discouragements and transforming the raw prairie country into an excellent state of cultivation, from which he has since reaped
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harvests which have grandly repaid him for the labors of his earlier years. He owns the eastern half of section 18 and also eighty acres of section 17, all of which is highly improved property, and his farm is provided with an elegant residence, outbuildings, machinery and all conveniences necessary to make agriculture a paying business. Aside from engaging in general husbandry, he also pays some attention to stock raising and does quite a shipping business in the better breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs. While Mr. Johnson takes a deep interest in every department of his farm, being careful to always keep his build- ings in excellent condition and his property neatly and substantially fenced, yet he takes particular pride in his town residence, to which he has given much thought and attention and which is considered one of the finest and most com- fortable dwelling houses in Royal.
In 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hendrickson, a resident of this county, by whom he has had two children, namely, Emma, wife of Peter Sondergarth, who owns a fine farm on section 17 in Lincoln township, and William, who is an agriculturist, owning section 18 in that place. In politics Mr. Johnson is a republican and although he is not an active politician, he keeps abreast of the times regarding the paramount issues before the country and is always ready with his vote and influence to do what he can to secure the election of the candidates of his party. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Wisconsin, and belongs to the Lutheran church, where he regu- larly attends divine services. Mr. Johnson is well known throughout the town- ship as a good and industrious man, enjoying the confidence and respect of his neighbors, and for the past two years he has been living in retirement in his elegant residence in the village of Royal, where he is spending his declining years in the enjoyment of the fruits of his long season of honest and successful labor.
JOHN JELDEN.
A valuable farm of four hundred and eighty-four acres is the property of John Jelden, whose home is on section 9, Lone Tree township. There he raises grain and stock and is well known as one of the leading stock feeders of this locality. Germany has furnished a considerable portion of citizens to this part of the county and the Teutonic element in our civilization has proved an important one. Mr. Jelden was born in Germany, March 22, 1870, and his early training was that of a German home, in which lessons of industry, thrift and uprightness were strongly impressed upon his mind. As a young man of seventeen years he bade adieu to friends and native land and crossed the Atlantic, after which he traveled west- ward from New York to Iowa, joining friends in Grundy county. For a year he was employed as a farm hand by the month. His financial resources were limited and rendered immediate employment a necessity. After working in that manner for a year in Grundy county he came to Clay county in 1888 and was again em- ployed at farm labor for two years, but he was ambitious that his efforts should prove more directly beneficial to himself and he therefore rented land and began
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farming on his own account. He also fitted out a heavy team and engaged in breaking prairies for two seasons. Carefully saving his earnings during this period, he then invested in land, becoming owner of one hundred and sixty acres in Waterford township. upon which he carried on general agricultural pursuits. For several years his time and energies were devoted to the further improvement of that property but at length he sold out and for two or three years again rented land. He next bought eighty acres, constituting a part of his present place, and as his financial resources increased he extended the boundaries of his farm from time to time until he now has a rich and valuable property of four hundred and eighty-four acres. It is one of the large farms of the county and everything about it is indicative of his careful supervision, his practical methods and his progressive spirit. He has built some outbuildings and a cattle shed, stock-scales. feed-mill and wind-pump are among. the features of his place that indicate his progressive spirit and practical methods. He has become widely known as one of the most extensive stock-raisers and feeders of the locality, having now about thirteen hun- dred head of sheep, while one year he fed five thousand head. He also feeds and fattens from one hundred to two hundred head of cattle yearly and from three to four carloads of hogs. His business interests in this direction exceed the efforts of almost any other feeder and shipper of this part of the state.
On the 6th of June, 1900, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Jelden and Miss Sophia Moeller, who was born and reared in Tama county, Iowa. They have two children, John and Mabel. Mr. Jelden votes independently, nor has he ever been an aspirant for office. He has always preferred to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, for he commenced life empty-handed and knew that he must depend solely upon his labors for advancement. He started out a poor boy in a strange land and whatever success he has achieved or enjoyed is attributable entirely to his own perseverance and capable control of business affairs. In all of his dealings he has been strictly honorable and is today one of the large landowners of the county, who has accumulated a comfortable and grati- fying fortune. His life record in many respects may well serve to encourage and inspire others, showing what may be achieved when one has the will to dare and to do.
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