USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 63
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until now he possesses two hundred and forty acres of land in section 20, the greater part of which is improved and under cultivation ; one hundred and sixty acres in section 36 of Lone Tree township, and two hundred acres in O'Brien county, all well-improved farms.
In 1875 Mr. Snyder wedded Miss Almira Darden. a native of Keokuk county, to which union were born Lillie Belle, deceased, and Homer S., in the automobile business in Royal, Iowa. Politically Mr. Snyder supports the republican party and among the useful offices which he has rendered the town- ship is that of school director, in which capacity he served efficiently for a number of years. Ile and his wife are members of the Free Methodist church. Mr. Snyder is one of the most prominent men in the financial circles of the county and is held in high esteem for his honesty, being numbered among the county's most substantial citizens.
G. 11. SCHIUENEMAN.
G. H. Schueneman, living on section 16, Summit township, has been a resi- dent of the county from the age of fifteen years, and is one of the public-spirited citizens whose loyalty to the general good has been manifested in active and faithful service in various township offices, to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen, who regard him as a worthy and patriotic citizen. In his business relations he is well known as the owner of the Summit Center Stock Farm, which comprises three hundred and twenty acres of the rich land for which Clay county is famous. He was born in Pommern, Germany, on the lith of March, 1867. Ilis father. William Schueneman, was also a native of that country and there spent his boyhood days. After arriving at years of maturity he wedded Louisa Scheel, who was likewise born in the fatherland. In the year 1882 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States and became residents of Clay county, where the father secured one hundred and sixty acres of wild and unimproved land. With characteristic determination and energy he began break- ing the sod and continued the cultivation of his farm until he transformed the once wild tract into one of the fine farms of the locality, its rich fields responding readily to the care and labor which he bestowed upon them. He spent his last years here and died July 25, 1908. His widow still survives him.
G. H. Schueneman spent the first fifteen years of his life in the land of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on the long voyage across the Atlantic to become a resident of Clay county, where he has since made his home. He aided in opening up and developing the farm, for he remained with his father until his marriage and was busily employed in the work of the fields.
On the 30th of November, 1899, in Meadow township, Mr. Schueneman was married to Miss Minnie Kaus, a native of Iowa, although of German parentage. Prior to his marriage Mr. Schueneman had purchased two eighty- acre tracts of land adjoining his father, and has since cultivated the three hundred and twenty acres. He has also rented one hundred and sixty acres more, and thus has been busily engaged in farming, every moment occupied
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with his duties in the development and improvement of the property. Annually he gathers large crops of corn and other cercals and he also raises high-grade cattle, having some fine pure-blooded registered cattle on his place. He makes a specialty of the Aberdeen Angus, and he also raises pure-blooded Chester White hogs. He has likewise extended his business interests to become a stock holder in the elevator and the creamery at Fostoria, also the Farmers' Elevator at Spencer and the Northern Rural Telephone Company. In all of his business affairs his judgment is sound, his sagacity keen and his enterprise unfaltering.
Mr. and Mrs. Schueneman have become the parents of three daughters, Elsie, Esther and Lila, who are with their father and mother on the home farm. In politics Mr. Schueneman is a republican and soon after attaining his majority he was elected road supervisor and also a member of the school board. He is now serving as assessor, which position he has filled for eight years, while in 1908 he was re-elected for another term of two years. He has likewise been township treasurer, having been called to this office prior to his marriage, while by re-election he has been retained as a constant member of the township board. He has likewise served as a delegate to various county conventions and has done not a little in shaping the policy and molding the destiny of the party in this locality. Both he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church. in which they were reared and to which they have always been loyal. Mr. Schueneman is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity, being heartily in sympathy with the movements for its material, political, intellectual and moral progress.
C. B. JONES.
There is always a measure of satisfaction in noting the progress made by self-reliant characters, men who, not depending upon higher educational advan- tages nor upon assistance from others, but rather upon their own resources, push onward with patience and perseverance, guided by a fixed purpose which they finally reach, and the attainment of which brings him to a place of affluence. Such careers are possible in every walk of life, and it makes no difference what ? vocation one follows, if he desires success and expects to accomplish it he must be possessed of certain qualifications, without which he will eventually prove a failure in anything he may undertake-these qualifications are willingness to work, patience and perseverance. A career fraught with these elements of char- acter is that of C. B. Jones, who by unremitting energy and careful management is now in possession of one of the finest farms in Logan township, Clay county. on which for many years he has been producing excellent crops and engaging in stock raising.
Mr. Jones was born in Clay county, Indiana, November 29, 1852, and is a 'son of David and Lucinda (Dyer) Jones. His father, who served as a captain throughout the Mexican war, was a native of Kentucky, and when a small boy located in Clay county, Indiana, where he owned an extensive tract of land. which he kept under a high, state of cultivation, until he retired to enjoy the
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fruits of his long years of honest toil. He and his wife are now living in California. Mrs. Jones is a native of North Carolina, but they were united in marriage in Indiana. They reared a family of thirteen children, namely : Mary Elizabeth, wife of A. R. Esterbrook, an agriculturist whose farm is near Kingsburg. California: Lisha, who became the wife of John Barnhart, who is proprietor of a large farm in Monmonth, California: Redmond, who is an agri- culturist residing near Clayton. Washington : Allen and Jane, twins. the former operating a farm in Boone county, Iowa, while the latter is the wife of L. E. Hurley, who is engaged in general farming near Kingsburg, California : Debias. a prominent contractor and builder of Walla. Oregon: Etta, wife of J. R. Haskell, residing on a farm near Kingsburg, California: Annie, who became the wife of Fred Guy, a conductor on the North Western Railroad: John, who resides with his father in California: Maggie, who was united in marriage to Dell Richardson, an agriculturist of Pueblo, Colorado: Jefferson, who operates a farm in Clayton, Washington : Lucy, wife of Francis Gipsen, who resides on a farm in Laton, California: and C. B.
In the common schools of Boone county, lowa. C. B. Jones acquired his edu- cation, in the meantime working on his father's farm where. after completing his studies, he remained until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he began farming for himself in Humboldt county and remained there until 1803. He then located in Logan township. Clay county, lowa, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 25. which he has supplied with all modern improvements. He has a comfortable residence, all the necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. and modern machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. Mr. Jones may well be proud of his farm, which is one of the neatest and best kept in the township, the fields responding to his care and labor in rich and abundant harvests.
In 1892 Mr. Jones wedded Miss Lizzie Dean, a native of Dakota City, Humboldt county, lowa, and to this union were born three children: Welcome C .. Pearl Marie and Bernell Victor. In politics Mr. Jones supports the demo- cratic party and for fourteen years served the township as trustee. He has also officiated as school director, and the cause of education finds in him a firm friend. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. of which they are liberal supporters and active workers. Mr. Jones is an Odd Fellow and he and his wife belong to the Rebekah lodge, meeting in Ayrshire. He has always maintained a straightforward and upright walk which has won him the confidence and good will of the entire community.
JOHN S. SHRIVER.
While John S. Shriver has been a resident of Clay county only a compara- tively brief period. the time has been sufficient to demonstrate to his fellow citizens the fact that he is a man of sterling worth and good business capacity. He is now living on section 10, Riverton township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land within three miles of Spencer. His life record began
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in Noble county, Ohio, July 31, 1850. and there he was reared to the age of sixteen years. He was the second in a family of four sons and two daughters and, like the other members of the household, shared in the different tasks of the home farm as his age and strength permitted. His father, Michael Shriver, also a native of Noble county, spent the days of his boyhood and youth there and was married in that county to Miss Mary Hughes, likewise a native of the Buckeye state. They began their domestic life in Ohio and continued to reside upon a farm there until 1867, when they removed westward to Iowa, settling in Iowa county, where the father purchased land and developed a farm. He has become one of the most prosperous agriculturists of the community and is now the owner of seven hundred and thirty-three acres in his home place near Marengo, while elsewhere he has three or four hundred acres. He is classed as one of the leading representative and honored agriculturists of the state and is still giving personal supervision to his farming interests, although now more than eighty years of age.
After the removal of the family to Iowa, John S. Shriver assisted his father in opening up the home farm in Iowa county. He aided in the arduous tasks of turning the first furrows and in planting and harvesting the first crops. He early learned the value of diligence. perseverance and unabating energy, and these qualities have characterized him throughout his entire life and gained for him the substantial position which he now fills in connection with the agricultural life of Clay county.
On the 2d of July, 1876, in Iowa county, Mr. Shriver was married to Miss Caroline Cheney, who was born and reared in that county. They began their domestic life on a part of his father's farm, which Mr. Shriver continued to cultivate for several years, after which, with the capital that he had saved from his earnings, he purchased a small farm which he cultivated until 1900. In that year he removed to Clay county and bought the farm on section 10, Riverton township, on which he now resides. With characteristic energy he began its further development and improvement, set out a grove, also planted fruit trees and has in other ways carried on the work of general development, until now the fields return to him golden harvests, while his live-stock interests are also a profitable source of income. He both raises and feeds stock, and is well known in this connection. Moreover, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Ele- vator of Spencer. While living in Iowa county Mr. Shriver lost his first wife, who died leaving two sons: W. W., who is married and is now connected with telephone interests in Des Moines; and Lloyd E., who is married and resides in Spencer. On the Ist of June, 1886, in Greene county, Iowa, Mr. Shriver married his present wife, who bore the maiden name of Rosa Coil and was reared and educated in that county. There are four living children of this marriage: Amos F., who assists in carrying on the home farm: Michael R., John C. and George W., who are also under the parental roof. They lost their first-born, a son, in infancy. Elmer Shriver, a brother of John Shriver, married Miss Anna Coil, a sister of his brother's wife, and they reside in Jefferson, Iowa.
While Mr. Shriver has never been an office seeker nor has he desired polit- ical preferment, he has always given his allegiance to the democracy and has firm faith in its principles. Iowa has ever found in him a representative and pro-
CLAY 32.
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gressive citizen, who has made good use of his opportunities, and as the years have gone by has prospered as the result of his unfaltering industry. In business relations he is found to be reliable and straightforward, while those who meet him socially entertain for him warm regard as the result of his appreciation for true friendship and all that the term implies.
FRANK BRUSIE.
Not all who take up the work of the farm meet with success. There are cer- tain indispensable elements, including industry, perseverance and good judgment, to tell the individual when is the best time of planting and what are the best meth- ods of caring for the crops. Mr. Brusie seems to possess all the essential elements of success in agricultural lines, for he is now one of the substantial and prosperous farmers of Riverton township. A glance at his place at once indi- cates to the passerby that his methods are practical and progressive. His farm presents a most attractive appearance, for the greater part of the land is under a high state of cultivation and gives promise of golden harvests in the autumn. Here he own and cultivates three hundred and thirty-five acres, upon which he has lived since 1903. A native of Illinois, he was born in Peoria county, January 21, 1859, and was reared there on the home farm. He had no special advantages in his youth, save that after attending the district schools he had the opportunity of attending the Peoria Normal. Later he became a farmer in Peoria county and his early practical training now stood him in good stead. In his youthful days he was of much assistance to his father. William Brusie, who was then numbered among the wide-awake and energetic farmers of Illinois. He was born in New York, however, and spent his youthful days in the Empire state, where he married Elizabeth Shaw, a native of Massachusetts. On removing westward the Brusies cast in their lots among the early settlers of Peoria county, Illinois, where William Brusie secured a tract of wild land and opened up a new farm. Upon that place he reared luis family and spent his remaining days. He had two sons and five daughters: Charles, who is now living at Ossinning, New York ; Abbie, the wife of D. L. Hawley, of Oklahoma ; Elizabeth, the wife of J. T. Hornie, of Ohio; Mrs. Susan O'Shaughnessy, a widow living in New York with her brother; Martha, the wife of F. Horton, of Asheville, North Carolina : and Ida, a teacher in Adair, Iowa.
Frank Brusie spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and after he attained his maturity he chose as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Ida Rogers, who was born and reared in Peoria county, and there gave to him her hand in marriage on the 28th of March, 1888. He continued farming in his native state and afterward purchased a tract of land near Carthage, Hancock county, Illinois, becoming owner of one hundred and eighty-eight acres which he cultivated for four years. He then sold out at a good profit and bought his present farm on section 4, Riverton township. He took up his abode thereon and now has a valuable property of three hundred and thirty-five acres, which he began to fence and improve. He also made new repairs, secured
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modern farm machinery to facilitate the work of the fields, and planted the crops best adapted to soil and climate. His rich harvests bring to him a good financial return, which is further supplemented by the profit that he gets from his stock raising. He has made a specialty of raising and feeding hogs, and his annual sales are quite extensive. Moreover, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator at Spencer, and his various business interests are bringing to him a substantial return.
Mr. and Mrs. Brusie are now the parents of four sons and two daughters : Elwood, who is on the home farm; Esther, a student in the Spencer high school ; Forest ; Walter ; Marie : and Ralph. Mrs. Brusie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Brusie votes with the republican party, having sup- ported each presidential nominee since casting his first ballot for James A. Garfield. He is connected with the Modern Woodmen, and his son also belongs to the same camp. He is now numbered among the active and prosperous farmers and stock raisers of the county, and is a public-spirited citizen, imbued with energy and diligence in all that he undertakes. His success is well merited, as it has come to him as the reward of his labor.
CHRISTIAN CRONE.
Christian Crone, living in Webb, has resided in this part of Iowa since pioneer times and has not only been a witness of the growth and progress that has transformed this into a populous and prosperous region, but has borne his full share in the work of general development and improvement. As the years have gone by his unwearied industry has enabled him to make considerable investment in property and the rise in values has made him one of the substantial citizens of this part of the state. He now lives in Webb and from this point superintends his interests. He was born in Alsace, France, December 23, 1839, a son of John and Christina (Hartman) Crone, who were also natives of the same country. The mother was a daughter of John and Catherine Hartman, who likewise lived in the same section of France. Both John and Christina Crone spent their entire lives in the place of their nativity, the father there passing away in 1868 when sixty-three years of age, while his wife died when her son Christian was but three months old, her death occurring in March, 1840.
In his native province of Alsace, Mr. Crone, of this review, spent the days of his boyhood and youth and at the age of twenty-one years left his home to cross the sea to America. After landing in this country he made his way to Walworth county, Wisconsin, his brother John having located in that state on coming to the new world about seven years before. Seeking employment, Mr. Crone obtained work as a farm hand and was thus engaged until 1861, when he enlisted in defense of his adopted country, espousing the Union cause as a member of Company C, Thirteenth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. The command was assigned to the Western Army and Mr. Crone, who enlisted at Sharon, Wisconsin, was mustered in at Janesville. The regiment was afterward ordered to Kansas and for two weeks was stationed at Leavenworth, from which
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point it was ordered to Mexico. When the regiment had proceeded as far as Fort Riley the order came for it to cross the plains, but later the order was countermanded and the regiment was sent to Columbus, Kentucky, where it remained a short time, then went to Moscow and on to Fort Donelson, where it remained about six months. From that point the command was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, and on to Claysville, Alabama, where it remained several months or until Hood marched against Nashville for the second time. The Thirteenth Wisconsin was then ordered to Stevenson, Alabama, and after the battle there was sent to Huntsville, Alabama, and then returned to Claysville, where it remained some time, or until about the close of the war. At that time Mr. Crone was driving a team and was ordered to Texas. This was in the early spring of 1865 and on the 22d of June of the same year he was mustered out. His first term of service having expired, he had re-enlisted at Nashville and was at the front for four years. He made a splendid military record, never faltering in the performance of any duty that was assigned him.
After being discharged from the army Mr. Crone returned to his home in Walworth county, Wisconsin, but two weeks later started for Iowa. He worked for a short time in Illinois and then made his way on to Blackhawk county, Iowa, where he remained about six months. On the expiration of that period he went to Marshalltown, Iowa, where he spent about half a year and later made his way to Ackley, and resided there six months, returning thence to Blackhawk county. It was in that county that Mr. Crone was united in marriage to Miss Jane Knowl, a daughter of Valentine and Elizabeth (Baehman) Knowl, natives of Germany, and of Pennsylvania respectively. The father came to America when a young man in about the year 1855 and located in Allentown, Pennsyl- vania. Some years later he removed westward to Dubuque, Iowa, and after a short stay there became a resident of Blackhawk county. He eventually took 'up his abode in Hamilton county, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his days. In the Knowl family were twelve children: Charles, now living at Griswold, Iowa, a minister of the Methodist church; Alfred, also a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, living at Cambridge, Iowa ; Samuel, a resi- dent of Webster City; John and Andrew, who are farmers of Oklahoma ; Mrs. Crone : and six now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crone have been boin the following children: Charles Christian, born February 23, 1869, wedded Mary Donaldson, by whom he has three children, Rolla, Jennie and Lawrence. They reside in Webb, Iowa. John Valentine was born January 16, 1871. and is living at Greeley, Colorado. He married Kittie Esgar and has one son, Linden. Elva Christian, born October 31, 1873. lives near Emmetsburg, Iowa, and has six children: Everett, Pearl, Britton, George, Rosa and Blanche. Ida May, born December 18, 1875, is the wife of Christ Peterson, who resides near Albert City and has two children, Christina and Nina. William Christian, born April 5, 1877, is at home. Emma Jane, born March 1, 1879, is teaching school at Greeley, Colorado. Lizzie Mary, born September 16. 1881. is the wife of Henry Thieman and is living at Albert City, Iowa. Evelyn Susan, born June 5. 1884, is the wife of Frank Scott, living near Marathon, and has one child. Esther. Frank Christian, born August 31, 1887, is at home. George Harrison, born December 12, 1891, is attending school at Greeley, Colorado.
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Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Crone lived in Blackhawk county for a few months but in 1867 came to Webster City, where Mr. Crone worked in a sawmill with Captain Warner. He was thus employed through the winter and then moved on to his land seven miles north of the town. He purchased this property for six dollars per acre and remained there through the summer, after which he again worked in the sawmill. In March, 1869, he sold his prop- erty in that locality and removed to Clay county, taking up his abode four miles northeast of Peterson, where he secured a homestead claim. After cultivating the place for two years he sold his land and purchased other property, in Buena Vista county, there remaining until 1903, in which year he removed to Marathon. After spending a year and a half in that town he came to Webb, where he has since made his home. As the years have passed he has judiciously invested in real estate and his holdings are now large and profitable, including two hundred and forty acres in Buena Vista county, three hundred and four acres in Palo Alto county, one hundred and forty acres in Clay county and eighty acres in Barron county, Wisconsin, together with two houses in Marathon and property in Greeley, Colorado. He is a self-made man who, depending upon his own resources, has worked his way upward, proving the force of his character and the extent of his energy and business ability in the splendid success which he has achieved. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with well merited success.
CHARLES FERD JOHNS.
Charles Ferd Johns, a prosperous agriculturist and highly respected citizen of Logan township, Clay county, where he engages in general farming and stock breeding, is a native of Hardin county, this state, where his birth occurred January 1, 1861. and a son of David and Emma (Rice) Johns, his maternal grandparents having been natives of Kentucky, who from that state removed to Indiana and thence to Illinois, subsequently settling in Hardin county, this state, being among the early pioneers of Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, where they passed through the experiences and hardships common to frontier life. The grandfather passed away in Hardin county in his sixty-third year and at his death his wife located in Cherokee county, where she lived for several years and departed this life when she was eighty years of age. His paternal grand- father, George M. Johns, was a shoemaker of London, England, who came to the United States, where he passed away in 1862. His wife coming to the United States in 1844, lived to be ninety-seven years of age. The only surviving member of their family is David Johns, the father of the subject of this review, a native of London, England, who came to the new world in 1844 and upon arriving in this country located in Chicago on his birthday, settling upon a tract of land twenty-seven miles from that city on the present site of the town of Bartlett, where he remained for ten years. in 1854 removing to Hardin county,
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