USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 61
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Angelo A. Flint resided in Montgomery county, New York, until nine years of age, and in 1845 accompanied his parents on their removal westward to Wisconsin, his youth being passed in Walworth county. When he started out in life on his own account he sought a clerkship in a store in Whitewater, and was thus employed there until 1854, when he went to Stoughton, Wisconsin. It was his place of residence until 1880, when he removed into the iron mountain region of the lower peninsula of Michigan, where he continued for seven years. The month of March. 1887, witnessed his arrival in Clay county, and, settling in Spencer, he has since made his home in this county. He conducted a grain business in the county seat for some years and is now managing a grain elevator at Dickens, although he retains his residence in Spencer.
Mr. Flint was united in marriage to Miss Emma Parker, of Stoughton, Wisconsin, who was born in Vermont, of which state her parents, Nahum and Roxie (Chapin) Parker, were also natives. The latter was a daughter of Gideon Chapin, who was born in Vermont and in the later years of his life followed the occupation of farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parker were born two sons and two daughters, but the sons have passed away. The daughters are Mrs. Flint, and Francilla, the wife of C. L. Dearborn, of Stoughton, Wisconsin. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Flint has been blessed with four children, but Mamic, the eldest, died in early childhood. Earnest P., who is engaged in the banking business in Dickens as cashier of the Exchange Bank, married Lorena Varney
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and has one daughter. Hattie is the wife of George H. Purdy, of Mason City, Iowa, and they have three children. Marie, Harold and George Flint Purdy. Jessie is the wife of Zephaniah C. Platt, a resident of Sanborn, Iowa, and their children are Anna and Jean Platt. Mrs. Flint is a member of the Congregational church and is an estimable lady, who presides with gracious hospitality over their attractive home. Mr. Flint gives his political support to the republican party and is interested in its growth and success, but does not demand office as a reward for party fealty. Although he has passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey, he is still active in business and is one of the well known citizens of the county, whose commercial enterprise and integrity, whose public-spirited citizenship and genuine personal worth have gained for him the high esteem of those who know him.
W. A. JUDSON.
W. A. Judson, who for many years has been associated in an influential way with the farming and stock-raising interests of Peterson township, Clay county, was born in Delaware county, New York, December 6, 1834. His parents were Lewis B. and Pauline (Maybee) Judson, and is descended from English ancestors who came to the new world some time during the sixteenth century. His father, a native of New York, removed from the home farm in 1840, to one in Wyoming county, that state, on which he remained for seven years, and then went to Ogle county, Illinois, where he followed farming from 1849 to 1857 inclusive. He next removed to Clinton county, Iowa, and from there in 1884 to O'Brien county, Iowa, while in 1896 he moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, with his daughter. There he died in 1898 and was buried in Colorado. He followed general farming in connection with blacksmithing all his life and was a man who enjoyed both the respect and confidence of the people in the several communities in which he resided. His wife was also a native of New York, where they were united in marriage, and she departed this life in O'Brien county, Iowa, where her remains were interred. They had three children : Francis, deceased; Emogene, wife of Stephen Redden, of Grand Junction. Colorado; and W. A.
In the common schools of his native village W. A. Judson acquired his education and then engaged in the work of the home farm until he was twenty- seven years of age, when lie enlisted, in 1862, as a member of Company F. Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served with the rank of sergeant until he received an honorable discharge in the year 1865. He was with his regiment in a number of noted engagements among which were the siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign and the battles of Chattanooga, Savannah, Bentonville, Lookout Mountain and Athens. After the war he resumed farming and engaged in that occupation until the year 1907, when he retired from active life. He has been a resident of Clay county for the past twenty-six years and owns a half section of land in Peterson township and a quarter section in Douglas county. Wisconsin. His farms are highly improved and in excellent
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condition, being provided with dwelling houses, barns, outbuildings and also modern machinery requisite to successfully pursue the work of the fields. He met with splendid success in general farming and stock-raising, and is now able to spend his remaining days in comfort and prosperity, having acquired a handsome competence through his intelligently directed labors.
In 1862 Mr. Judson was united in marriage, in Clinton county, lowa, to Miss Phebe Barber, of Lee county, Illinois, and they are now parents of four children : Alice, who became the wife of Frederick Eggleston, a contractor and builder of Forsythe, Montana : Orin, a plumber of Grand Junction, Colorado; Ella, who wedded Frederick Lyons, who is engaged in the fruit business in this state ; and Osro, a farmer of Chippewa county, Minnesota. Mr. Judson belongs to the Protestant Episcopal church and is a comrade of Peterson Post, G. A. R. He has always given his political support to the republican party, the prin- ciples of which he has been a deep student, being convinced that they are in every respect adequate to preserve and maintain the financial prosperity of the country, he has never been lax in using his influence to assist the party candi- dates in securing election. A self-made man, Mr. Judson with little education and without capital started out in life for himself, and, being inspired by laudable ambition and possessed of aggressiveness and zeal, he applied himself energetically to the tasks set before him and on the strength of his own resources, reinforced by hard work and honesty, he found success and finally attained his present position of prosperity. He can now spend his declining years in comfort amid the regard of friends who recognize his worth and justly count him one of the representative citizens of the county.
JOHN McWIHRTER.
John McWhirter, treasurer of Clay county, and a representative and highly respected citizen, was born in Cook county, Illinois, June 28, 1859, a son of James and Jane (Hanna) Mc Whirter, natives of Scotland, who had three children, namely: David, of South Dakota: Maggie, wife of James Gardner, of Waterloo, Iowa: and John. The father has followed agricultural pursuits since he came to America, at which time he settled at Arlington Heights, Cook county, Illinois, from which place, in the year 1869. he moved to Iowa and located in Tama county, where he still resides and is active in the cultivation of a farm containing two hundred and twenty acres. He is held in high respect as a citizen of genuine worth. He and his wife are stanch adherents of the Presbyterian faith. The paternal and maternal grandfathers of John McWhirter were natives of Scotland, where they passed away after having lived to a ripe old age.
' John McWhirter, in company with his parents, came to Iowa in 1869. when nearly eleven years of age and was reared on his father's farm in Tama county, while in the district schools he acquired his education. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years old, when for several years he was en- gaged by his brother as a stock buyer. Subsequently he formed a partnership
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with S. C. Hause and for two years they conducted a grocery business in Morrison, Grundy county. After disposing of his interest in the business, he engaged in farming in that county for several years and after having. spent ten years as a grain dealer in Everly, Clay county, he removed to Spencer in 1902, where for two years he was in the real-estate business, at the expiration of which time he was elected county treasurer, which position he has filled for five years. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Red Lake county, Minnesota.
Mr. McWhirter, on December 6, 1885, wedded Miss Letitia Morrison, daughter of Jeff and Susan (Troutman) Morrison, who was born in Grundy county, where her parents, natives of the Keystone state, were early settlers and where her father still lives, her mother having passed away, leaving the following children: John: Elizabeth, wife of Peter Mutch; Kate, widow of A. S. Wier : Ulysses G .: Allie, deceased ; and Letitia. Mr. and Mrs. Mc Whirter have two children: Ralph and Esther. Mrs. Mc Whirter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, where her husband also attends services but with which he is not affiliated. Politically he is an advocate of the republican party, using his vote and influence during campaigns in behalf of its candidates. He is a man of executive ability and of industry, and these qualities are making him an able official, his record having won him high commendation.
FRANK AUGUST GABRIELSON.
Frank August Gabrielson, well known in Clay county by reason of his former connection with commercial interests and his present connection with agricultural affairs, now lives in Garfield township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. There he follows general farming; and stock-raising and in his well-directed business efforts is meeting with gratifying success.
He was born in Webster county, Iowa, March 3, 1861, a son of John and Florence ( Peterson) Gabrielson, both of whom are natives of Sweden. It was in 1857 that his parents came to America and the following year settled in Webster county. The father was born in Boxholm, Sweden. November 16. 1826, and on the 24th of June. 1850, he wedded Florence Charlotta Peterson. They lived for about seven years thereafter in their native country and then, as stated, came to the new world, establishing their home in Galesburg, Illinois, where they resided about a year. In 1858 they came to Webster county and were pioneers in that part of the state. During the period of his residence in Gales- burg Mr. Gabrielson was converted and became an earnest Christian worker. Following the establishment of his home in Dayton. Iowa, he became a local preacher and a deacon in the Methodist church. For many years he engaged in preaching the gospel and at all times was most active and earnest in promoting the various departments of the church work. He not only followed the call of "Onward Christian Soldiers." but also proved a faithful soldier of his country in her hour of need, enlisting at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war as a mem- ber of Company C. Eleventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His memory remains as
CLAY 31.
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a blessed benediction to all who knew him, because of his loyalty to principles of truth, justice, right and honor. The world is better for his having lived, for his labors were ever a potent element for good in the community in which he made his home. He died May 28, 1908, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hans Shold, of Dayton, Iowa, his wife's death occurring January 4th of that year.
In the family of this worthy couple were ten children, of whom the eldest died in infancy. Axel C., born in 1855, is now living in Dayton, Iowa. Charles J., born in 1857, died in 1900. Ilattie C., born in 1859, passed away in 1886. Frank August is next in order of birth. Mary C .. born in 1862, is the wife of Hans Shold, a blacksmith residing in Dayton. George A., born in 1864, married Anna Burk and makes his home in Dayton township, Webster county, Iowa, on the old homestead farm, which joins the corporation limits of Dayton on the north. Edward, who was born in 1866, married Kate Entermill, and died in 1907. Victor, born in 1868, was married June 21, 1893, to Hannah Sokinson, and lives in Dayton. A daughter died in infancy.
Frank August Gabrielson was reared in Dayton under the refining influences of a good, Christian home. Hle pursued his education in the public schools, enjoying the pleasures common to the youth of that day, and did such tasks as were assigned him through parental authority. In the fall of 1882, when a young man of twenty-one years, he removed to Sioux Rapids, where he engaged in the hardware business. The enterprise prospered from the beginning and as the years went by he enjoyed an increasing business and became well known as a merchant of the town. In 1907, however, he sold out and located on the farm which he now occupies, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Garfield township. Ilere he follows general farming and stock-raising and has a well equipped place which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates his careful supervision and practical methods.
It was on the 26th of January, 1887, that Mr. Gabrielson was married to Miss Ida Jansen, a daughter of R. M. and Laura ( Dean) Jansen, who were natives of the state of New York. They were married January 8. 1856, and settled near Fort Wayne, Indiana, at an early day. Mrs. Jansen was born near Macedon, New York, May 27. 1832, and died January 8, 1900, the last two and a half years of her life being passed in Linn Grove. She was the mother of seven children: Frank, who married Mollie Ilarp and resides in Humboldt, Iowa: Ella, the wife of Arthur Stevens, a resident of Seibert. Colorado; Ida wife of A. Gabrielson: Irena, the wife of John J. Jacobson, living in Lebanon, South Dakota : Cora, who is a teacher in one of the schools of Okmulgee, Okla- homa : Jolin, who resides in Dallas. South Dakota; and Birdie, a professional nurse, now located in Portland, Oregon. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gabrielson has been blessed with several children, but they lost their first-born in infancy. The others are: Ira N., who was born September 27. 1889, and is attending Morningside College: Guy G., who was born May 22, 1891, and is attending school in Sioux Rapids; and Rush R., who was born April 7. 1897, and is a student in a home school at Webb.
¥ The family are members of the Methodist church at Webb and are well known socially, having the warm regard of all who come in contact with them. Mr. Gabrielson is a member of Buena Vista Lodge, No. 574. I. O. O. F .. and
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both he and his wife are members of Sioux Valley Lodge, No. 387, Daughters of Rebekah. He is also connected with the Court of Honor and the Yeomen, and in his political views is a stalwart republican. In all life's relations, whether as a business man, citizen or in social affairs, he is progressive and believes that the individual should continually advance through the recognition and improvement of the opportunities which come to all. He well- deserves classification with the foremost leading citizens of his community.
J. P. TISCHER.
1
J. P'. Tischer owns and occupies an attractive home in Fostoria, where he is to some extent living retired, although he still has valuable farming. property in Summit township, to which he gives his personal supervision. His old home place is an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres and in addition he owns one hundred and sixty acres in Dickinson county, while his dwelling in Fostoria is one of the fine residences of the village. Thirty-seven years have come and gone since Iowa has numbered him among her citizens, while in 1885 he became a resident of Clay county. A native of Germany, he was born in Schleswig, September 19, 1856. His father was likewise a native of that country and after arriving at years of maturity he wedded Anna M. Marquardsen who was likewise born in the fatherland. They remained residents of that country until after the birth of six sons, when with his wife and children John A. Tischer came to the United States, crossing the Atlantic in 1872. He did not tarry in the east but made his way at once to Iowa, where he joined his two sons, Louis and Henry, who had come to the new world a few years before and had settled in Benton county, this state. The father purchased a farm there, upon which he continued to reside until called to that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns. It was in 1889 that he passed away, while his wife died in 1895.
The schools of Germany afforded to J. P. Tischer good educational privi- leges. He had little training, however, in the English language, for since coming to the new world he has largely been dependent upon his own resources. In 1872 he accompanied his parents to the United States and lived with the family in Benton county, where he remained until after he had attained adult years. It was there, on the 8th of March, 1880, that he wedded Miss Margaretha Fries. a native of Germany, who spent her girlhood days in that country.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Tischer began their domestic life upon a rented farm in Benton county, where they lived for a few years and in the fall of 1885 came to Clay county, Mr. Tischer here investing his earnings in eighty acres of land. To this he afterward added another tract of eighty acres. His original purchase was all raw prairie, which he broke and fenced. He also built a small house upon it but before this was erected he built a barn and lived in it for six or seven years until he was able to save enough to erect his dwelling. Carefully managing his expenses, his industry and his economy at length enabled him to purchase one hundred and sixty acres in addi-
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tion to the land which had previously come into his possession. He added to the farm modern improvements, including a fine two-story dwelling, also two good barns and other modern equipments. He divided his place into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and no longer was the place destitute of trees, for he set out a grove of beautiful forest trees and also planted an orchard. Thus year by year he carried on his work upon the home farm of three hundred and twenty acres until it became one of the valuable farming properties of this locality. He also invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Dickinson county and the two properties return to him a most gratifying annual income. He continued to reside upon his farm in Summit township until 1908, when he removed to Fostoria and purchased a fine residence, which he now occupies. On the farm he devoted considerable attention to raising and feeding high grade stock and he likewise became a stockholder in the Fostoria elevator.
Mr. and Mrs. Tischer hecame the parents of the following children : George J., who is living on the home farm: Otto C .: J. P .: Emma M .: Marie .A .: Dora A .: Anna C .: and Maggie M. They lost one child, Laura, in infancy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tischer are well known in this part of the state and enjoy the warm regard of all with whom business or social relations have brought them in contact. Mr. and Mrs. Tischer are both members of the German Evangelical Lutheran church. In his political views Mr. Tischer is a democrat but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He has, however, assisted materially in the growth and development of the county in many ways and withholds his cooperation from no movement which he deems will prove of public good. Moreover his life record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. He is the soul of business honor and integrity and his energy and industry are the qualities which have enabled him to overcome the many obstacles and difficulties that he has confronted. Year by year he has worked diligently for success and as time has passed his labors have been rewarded by a handsome competence that now enables him to largely live retired. The most envious cannot grudge him his ' success, so worthily has it been won and so honorably used.
JOSEPH H. ZIMMERMAN.
Joseph H. Zimmerman, well known as a general merchant and lumber dealer at Gillett Grove, manifests in his commercial interests the activity and business enterprise which are characteristic of the age. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa, December 5. 1867, and is a son of Joseph and Cecelia (Voigt) Zimmerman. The father was always a lumber man and became one of the best known repre- sentatives of that business on the Mississippi river. He came to America in 1854 and, settling at Dubuque, Iowa, lived there for a time prior to his removal to Cassville, Wisconsin. He afterward took up his abode at Guttenberg. Iowa, where he conducted a lumber yard and saw-mill, carrying on the business until the summer of 1895. He then removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and from, there to Tampa, Florida, and finally to Los Angeles, California, where he died December 6. 1908, at the age of seventy-two years and nine months. His widow still
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survives him and is a faithful member of the Catholic church. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living .: Rose, now the wife of P. J. Rogde, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Clara, the wife of John A. Limback, who is living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Joseph H., a resident of Gillett Grove, Iowa; Louise, the wife of Henry C. Charpiot. of Paris, France, who was formerly French consul at Denver, Colorado; William F., who is living in Tampa, Florida ; and Anna, the wife of Paul Kiene, of Anamosa, Iowa.
Joseph H. Zimmerman spent the greater part of his boyhood at Guttenberg, Iowa, and attended the parochial and public schools, thus acquiring his ele- mentary education which was supplemented by study in the University at Fayette, Iowa. He afterward worked for his father, going upon the road as a lumber salesman. Later he engaged in the lumber business on his own account at Cedar Rapids for several years, after which he sold out and again went upon the road, but still maintained his residence at Cedar Rapids. At the time of the outbreak of the war with Spain, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined the American volunteers.
In 1899 Mr. Zimmerman established his home in Clay county, Iowa, be- coming manager for the W. J. Bruce Lumber Company at Gillett Grove. The next spring he opened the first general store at Gillett Grove and afterward established a lumber yard of his own. He is conducting both lines of business at the present time. Mr. Zimmerman became the first postmaster here and so continues to the present. He is an energetic, enterprising business man. He knows that determination and energy will overcome many difficulties and obstacles and by reason of his earnests, persistent labor is winning his success.
On the 4th of October, 1890, Mr. Zimmerman was married to Miss Anna C. Hagensick, of McGregor, Iowa, a daughter of John L. and Magdaline (Thoma) Hagensick. Her paternal grandparents were Christoph and Maria Hagensick, the former a native of Germany. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world, he came to the United States and his last days were spent in Clayton county, Iowa, where he died at the age of eighty-four years. His wife was seventy-four years of age when she passed away. The maternal grand- father of Mrs. Zimmerman was Paulus Thoma who, after coming. to America. established his home in Clayton county, lowa, where he died at the age of eighty-three years. He had long survived his wife, who died at the age of forty-nine years. The parents of Mrs. Zimmerman were natives of Bavaria, Germany, but were married after coming to the United States. As stated, both families settled in Clayton county, Iowa, and Mr. Hagensick worked for twelve dollars a year while Mrs. Hagensick was employed for fifty cents a week. As the years passed, however, they prospered and are now residents of McGregor. Iowa. Her father was appointed to the command of a company in the Civil war but hostilities were brought to a close and he did no active duty at the front. Unto him and his wife were born eight children, of whom six are now living : Louise, the wife of J. F. Proffitt. of Hastings, Nebraska : Anna C., now Mrs. Zimmerman : John, who is living in North McGregor, Towa; William, whose home is in McGregor, Iowa; Leonora, the wife of F. L. Becker, of McGregor ; and Victor, whose home is in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The eldest son, Louis, and George, the third child, are both deceased.
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Mrs. Zimmerman was born in Clayton Center. Clayton county, Iowa, and by her marriage became the mother of three children: Madeline, who was born in Guttenberg, Iowa; Cecelia, whose birth occurred at Gillett Grove, Iowa; and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Zimmerman is a member of the Lutheran church and Mr. Zimmerman belongs to the Masonic lodge at Guttenberg and the Chapter at Elkader, Iowa. He also holds membership with the Elks at Estherville, Iowa, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. Ifis life has been preeminently that of a business man and he is now well known in commercial circles in this county. His enterprise largely developed the thriving little village of Gillett and he now has a liberal patronage drawn from the town and surrounding country. Ilis customers find him an obliging, ener- getic man in business and alert at all times.
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