USA > Iowa > Clayton County > History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained from original sources of information, Volume I > Part 77
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her birth, and the one child of this union was Orvill Hurburt, who was born September 4, 1915, and who died September 10, 1916. 1916.
Hempel, John G .- One of the men whose career reflects credit upon Clayton county and who by his earnestness and ability has gained a state-wide reputation, is Mr. John G. Hempel of Elkader. He has not only filled positions of trust and confidence in the county, but he has been recognized as one of the leaders of his political faith in Iowa, and his counsel and experience have been called for on many occasions. Mr. Hempel is a native of Clayton county and practically all of his life has been spent within its bor- ders. He is the son of Charles F. and Dorothy (Newman) Hem- pel. His parents were born in Friedland, Germany, coming to America in 1851, and settling in Erie county, Pa., where his father was employed in various capacities for a period of two years. Con- sumed with the spirit of the pioneer, the family determined to go to the new west, and accordingly, in 1853, they came to Clayton county. They journeyed by rail as far as Galena, Ill., which was then the terminus of the road, and they then came by boat, up the Mississippi to McGregor's landing. They settled in Giard town- ship, where John G., the subject of this sketch, was born, Decem- ber 9th, 1860. During the years 1859 and 1864 Mr. Hempel, senior, made several trips across the prairie to Nebraska, taking up claims as a matter of speculation. The journey was made by ox team and Mr. Hempel took his little family with him so that Mr. John Hempel is one of the few in this county who have any remembrance of the hardships of the pioneer prairie trail. Charles F. Hempel had seven children, Charles M., who resides at Hillsboro, N. D .; Edwin A., of Minneapolis, Minn .; John G., of Elkader; Katharine and Caroline, of Charles City, Iowa; Mary, of Nashua, Iowa ; and Ade- line, deceased. In 1911, at the age of eighty-one, the respected father of the worthy family passed to the other life at his home at Charles City, Iowa, having been preceded by his wife, who died in 1896, at the age of fifty-six. As a boy and youth John G. worked on his father's farm, and attended the schools of Giard township, laying the foundation not only of a thorough and practical educa- tion but of good health and of habits of industry, thrift and thor- oughness. At the age of twenty he left the old homestead and went to the little village of Giard, where he obtained a position as clerk in the general store conducted by J. D. Bickel. Some six months later the firm of Neill and Bickel was formed, and for one year Mr. Hempel was buyer for this firm, his work being so satisfactory that he was later made manager of the company's store. This position he held for three years. Desiring to learn the clothing business, Mr. Hempel resigned his place in Giard and went to McGregor, where, with the thoroughness for which he is noted, he spent seven years with various firms of that city, learning every detail of the clothing business. At this time, having saved suffi- ciently from his salary, he returned to Giard, buying the store in which he had formerly been an employee. He conducted this store for three years and during this time came to be recognized as one
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deputy county treasurer, Kathleen, at home, and Johneyette G. who died September 13, 1906, at the age of five years. Mr. Hempel holds membership in the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders and is one of the most valued citizens of the community and of the county, and he is, perhaps, as widely known as any man living in the county today.
Charles F. Henning is signally fortunate in being the owner of the fine old homestead farm upon which he was born and reared and upon which he has been specially progressive and successful in his independent operations as an agriculturist and stock grower. He has improved the place with excellent buildings since the same came into his possession and the farm is one of the model home- steads of Garnavillo township, where it is eligibly situated in Sec- tion 6, the area of the farm being one hundred and sixty acres. On this homestead Mr. Henning was born on the 3d of February, 1873, and he is a son of John and Katherine (Schultz) Henning, of whose large family, comprising twelve children, only four are now living. The parents were born and reared in Germany and upon coming to the United States they became pioneers of Clayton county, Iowa. Here they established their residence on the farm now owned by the subject of this review, here the father reclaimed and improved a productive farm and here he and his devoted wife passed the re- mainder of their lives, successful in their earnest endeavors and respected by all who knew them. Charles F. Henning early ini- tiated his services in connection with the work of the farm of which he is now the owner and in his boyhood and youth he did not neglect to profit by the advantages afforded in the public schools of his native county. His marriage occurred in the year 1898 and within a short time thereafter he purchased the old home farm, to the operations of which he has since given his attention with marked energy and discrimination. He is a stalwart in the local camp of the Democratic party, served two years as trustee of his native township, and for nine years he was a member of the school board of his district. He is liberal in the support of those things that tend to advance the communal welfare, has secure place in popular esteem and both he and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran church, in the faith of which they were reared. In 1898 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Henning to Miss Ame- lia L. Kahle, who was born and reared in this county and who is a daughter of August and Mary (Balke) Kahle, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Kahle and his wife were born and reared in Germany and he became one of the pioneer farmers of Clayton county, where he continued to reside on his homestead farm until his death, as did also his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Henning have two children, Elmer John F. and Amelia Katherine M.
Charles F. Hesner has been a resident of Clayton county from the time of his birth and has here found ample opportunity for productive enterprise, not only in connection with the funda- mental industries of agriculture and stock-growing, but also in the furtherance of business and capitalistic enterprises. He is now living virtually retired in the attractive residence which he erected
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in the village of Edgewood, in 1895, and he is also the owner of the modern theater or opera-house building which provides a medium for high-class entertainment for the people of his com- munity. He is associated with his brother in the ownership of a valuable landed estate of three hundred and seventy acres, in Lodomillo township, and this includes the old homestead farm on which he was born, the date of his nativity having been October 8, 1861. Mr. Hesner is a son of John and Barbara (Goodyear) Hesner, who were born and reared in Germany, and who estab- lished their home in Clayton county in the early '50s, soon after their immigration to America. The father was a man of splendid energy and judgment and he accumulated and improved a large landed property, in the operations of which he held precedence as one of the substantial and progressive farmers of the county. He was one of the venerable pioneer citizens of Clayton county at the time of his death, which occurred April 9, 1901, the wife of his youth having passed away in 1867, and their children having been seven in number: Andrew is now a resident of Manchester, Delaware county; Margaret and Barbara are deceased; John re- sides at Strawberry Point, this county; Sophia is the wife of Luman S. Fisher, concerning whom individual mention is made on other pages; Charles F., of this review, was the next in order of birth; and Maria is the wife of L. D. Zahrndt, of Edgewood. After having duly profited by the advantages afforded in the schools of his native county, Charles F. Hesner continued his active association with the work and management of the old home farm and eventually he became associated with his brother John in the ownership of the valuable landed estate of three hundred and seventy acres. He continued his activities as one of the repre- sentative farmers in Lodomillo township until 1895, when he re- moved with his family to Edgewood, where he erected his present fine residence, one of the most modern and attractive in the village, and he has since continued to give his supervision to his various property interests, which are of substantial and important order. He is a Democrat in politics and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. As a young man Mr. Hesner wedded Miss Clara Blanchard, and she is survived by two children, Herbert and Helen, who remain at the paternal home. On the 25th of December, 1906, Mr. Hesner married Mrs. Lillie (Smith) Cooper, her first husband having been Clarence R. Cooper, a native of Ohio, and the only child of that union being Martha Theresa, who remains with her mother. Mrs. Hesner was born and reared in Clayton county and is a daughter of Andrew and Martha Ann (Sergent) Smith, who came from Canada and established their home in Cass township, this county, in 1857, Mr. Smith having here passed to eternal rest in September, 1876, and his wife having survived him by nearly thirty years, her death taking place Decem- ber 8, 1905. Of the four children, Mrs. Hesner is the youngest; Albert resides at Strawberry Point, this county; Wilbur is now a resident of Marion, North Dakota; and Louis died in childhood.
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John Henry Hill .- Fortunate is the county which has in its midst some man whose knowledge of county affairs and of property interests is so complete and intimate that he is recognized and accepted as authority by all. Clayton county has such a man in John Henry Hill. For many years he has been delving into the records of the county, and no history would be complete without reference to him and to his work. His record as a citizen and official and as a soldier is without a flaw, and his friends are num- bered by his acquaintances. Mr. Hill was born in Waddingham, England, June 27, 1845. He was the son of John and Mary (Hird) Hill, and came, with his parents, to Bytown, now Ottawa, Ontario, at an early date, where his father took up a claim of one hundred acres in Carleton county. Mr. Hill was one of a family of five children, Thomas, who died in 1913; John Henry, the subject of this sketch; William H .: Benjamin, who is a farmer in Carleton county, Ontario, and Eliza J., who resides in Ottawa. Mr. Hill was educated in the country schools near Ottawa and, on gradu- ating, taught in the common schools for one year. In 1863, he came to the United States, worked for a farmer near Skowhegan, Maine. Although having lived in this country but three months, he was fired with patriotic zeal for the Union, and responded to Abraham Lincoln's call to arms by enlisting in the fifteenth regi- ment, Maine infantry. He served faithfully and bravely until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged from the service of the United States May 31, 1865. After the war the great excite- ment attendant upon the discovery of oil attracted him to Western Pennsylvania, where he remained for two years. In 1867 he came to Iowa, first settling in Bremer county, where he lived until the spring of 1872. Coming to Clayton county, he resided in Mallory township until January 1, 1886. At this time he removed to Elka- der, having been appointed deputy county treasurer. This position he held for eleven years, performing his duties so faithfully and giving such satisfaction to the people that he was honored with the nomination for county recorder, on the Democratic ticket, and was elected by a comfortable majority. He was twice re-elected for this office, retiring from the public service January 1, 1903. It is a remarkable evidence of the popularity of Mr. Hill, and the high esteem in which he was held, that, at the three elections when he was a candidate, he was the only Democratic candidate elected. In 1875, Mr. Hill was married to Miss Mary Hansel, a daughter of Jacob Hansel, of Mallory township. They are the parents of eight children : Eliza, J. Wilbur, Martha J., John J., Mary C., Ethel, Franklin and Florence. Mr. Hill is a member of Elkader lodge, No. 72, A. F. and A. M., Mystic Camp M. W. A., and of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Last, but not least, he is proud to be a member of Boardman Post No. 184, G. A. R. Mr. Hill has for many years followed the abstracting business and his work is so careful and conscientious, and his knowledge of property trans- fers so complete, that he is looked upon as an authority, and his word as to a title is as good as a guarantee deed. Mr. Hill is a kindly, genial gentleman; he has an inexhaustible fund of facts
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a home in Clayton county, where the death of the devoted wife and mother occurred in March, 1878. Svend Houg was born December 4, 1814, and upon numbering himself among the pioneers of Clay- ton county he purchased of his brother-in-law, Ole Groth, a tract of one hundred and ninety-five acres of land, in Marion township. With the passing years large and well merited prosperity attended his efforts and he became one of the substantial farmers and in- fluential citizens of Marion township, a devout and zealous worker in and communicant of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as was also his wife, and for many years he served as a member of the church board of trustees. This honored pioneer, now one of the most patriarchal citizens of Iowa, retains remarkable mental and physical vigor, though he is one hundred and one years of age at the time of this writing, in the summer of 1916. Revered in the county that has long been his place of residence, he is cared for with deep filial solicitude in the home of his son Assor S., the immediate subject of this sketch. The first three children, Lars, Ragnild and Halsten, are deceased: Ole is a resident of Emmett county. this state: Kittle and Knudt are residents of Elgin, Iowa; Ingeri is a resident of Climax, Minnesota; the sub- ject of this sketch was the sixth child; Olaf is a prosperous farmer of Fayette county: Ragnild (second of the name) is the wife of F. E. Gladen, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Elling is another of the representative farmers of Marion township; and Guri resides at Reynolds, Grand Forks county, North Dakota. Assor S. Houg was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm of his father. He made good use of the advantages afforded in the public schools of the locality and period and since 1882 he has had the active su- pervision of the splendid estate, as the present owner of three hun- dred and fifteen acres of most fertile and productive land, in Sections 17 and 20, Marion township, the property being improved with sub- stantial and modern buildings and being maintained at the best modern standard in both the agricultural and stock-raising depart- ments. Mr. Houg has kept himself in close touch with the thought and action of the day, is well fortified in his convictions concerning governmental and economic affairs, and has been an appreciative student and reader, his early education having included a course of one year in college. At the age of 33 years he wedded Miss Bertina Rear, and her death occurred on July 28, 1901. Of the three chil- dren of this union the eldest, Elmer Martin, is now a resident of Clermont, Fayette county ; and Sylvan Arthur and Elizabeth Ruth remain at the paternal home. On the 15th of November, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Houg to Miss Emma Rear, who likewise was born and reared in this county, and the three children of this marriage are Signy Margrethe, Gerhard Myron and Anna Esther.
Elling S. Houg has in his independent career as a farmer mani- fested the energy, progressiveness and excellent judgment that in- variably conserve success that is stable and worthy, and he is con- sistently to be designated as one of the representative agriculturists and stock-growers of his native township and county. He is a son
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frontier to its present proud position as one of the great and opulent commonwealths of the Union. Upon coming to Iowa this aged and honored citizen established his residence upon a pioneer farm in Delaware county, and there the family home was main- tained until 1860, when, shortly after the birth of the subject of this review, removal was made to Fayette county, where John B. Howard has resided during the long intervening years, a strong and worthy citizen who has contributed his quota to the civic and material development and upbuilding of the Hawkeye state. His cherished and devoted wife passed to eternal rest in 1913, at the venerable age of 76 years, and of their nine children, seven are still living. Dr. Howard was an infant at the time of the family removal to Fayette county, where he was reared to adult age on a pioneer farm and where he profited fully by the advantages afforded in the public schools of the period. Thereafter he pur- sued a higher academic course in Fayette College, and in con- sonance with his earnest ambition he finally entered upon the study of medicine in the Hahnemann Medical College in the city of Chicago. In this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1885, and after thus receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he engaged in the practice of his profession at Volga, Clayton county, on the 14th of March, 1885. In the following October he removed to Strawberry Point, which village has since continued as the center of his professional activities, which have been attended with unequivocal success and resulted also in his gaining marked prestige, with inviolable place in popular confi- dence and esteem. The Doctor is an influential and honored mem- ber of the Clayton County Medical Society, and is identified also with the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He served several years as health officer at Straw- berry Point and also held the office of school director for a number of years. He is affiliated with the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and also that of the Knights of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party but he has never sought the honors of political office, as he has considered his profession worthy of his undivided fealty. He is the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Cass township. He attends and supports the Congrega- tional church, of which his wife is a zealous member. On the 3d of June, 1885, Dr. Howard wedded Miss Alice Clark, of Dewitt, this state, and she was summoned to the life eternal in 1899. Of the four children of this union, Frank C. died at the age of eight years ; William H., M. D., is a graduate of the Hahnemann Medical College, and is now associated with his father in practice, a young man who is well upholding the professional prestige of the name which he bears; Bessie May was graduated in the high school at Strawberry Point and still remains at the paternal home; and Irwin P. is still attending school. In 1901 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Howard to Miss Aloda Wood, who was born and reared in this county and who is a daughter of H. M. and Mary
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McGregor, where for the ensuing six years he held the position of foreman in the printing and newspaper office of J. F. Widman. In June, 1896, Mr. Huebsch purchased the plant and business of the North Iowa Times from O. G. Wall, and of this paper he con- tinued editor and publisher until 1906, when he sold the plant and business at McGregor and went to North Dakota, where he en- tered claim to a tract of land and instituted the development of the same. Two years later, in 1908, he resumed his residence in his native town, where he effected the repurchase of the North Iowa Times, of which he has since continued editor and publisher and which he has made a most effective exponent of local interests and a potent director of popular sentiment. He has served as postmaster of McGregor since 1913 and both through personal activity and through the medium of his newspaper he has given yeoman service in the furtherance of the cause of the Democratic party. On the 27th of June, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Huebsch to Miss Katherine Geske, who likewise was born and reared at McGregor, and they have three children-Dorothy, Frederick, and Mary Ann. Mr. Huebsch is a progressive and public-spirited citizen who has had much influence in public affairs in his native county.
John A. Huebsch is another of the native sons of Clayton county who are effectively maintaining its high standing in con- nection with agricultural and livestock industry, and in Section 34, Sperry township, he is the owner of a finely improved landed estate of two hundred and eighty acres, which may consistently be designated as one of the model farms of Clayton county, the place being devoted to well ordered agriculture of diversified order and to the breeding and raising of high-grade live stock. In the town- ship that is now his home, Mr. Huebsch was born on the 20th of May, 1866, a member of a family of 8 children, of whom 5 are now living. He is a son of John A. and Mary (Burkhard) Huebsch, who were born and reared in Germany and who came to Clayton county and became pioneer settlers soon after their arrival in America, in the middle '40s. The father obtained a tract of wild land in what is now Sperry township, and the first home provided was a log cabin of the true pioneer type, as was also the primitive barn which he erected on the place. He reclaimed one of the finely productive farms of the county and here continued his residence, a substantial and honored pioneer citizen, until his death, which occurred in the year 1911. His venerable widow still resides in the county and township that are endeared to her by the gracious memories and associations of the past. John A. Huebsch, Jr., the immediate subject of this review, was reared to manhood on the home farm and has had cause to place in later years high valuation on the incidental discipline which he then received, for the same has contributed definitely to his success as an independent farmer. He made good use also of the advantages afforded in the public schools of the locality and period, and in all the years that have since passed it is pleasing to record that he has not wavered in his loyalty to his native county nor lacked in appreciation of its
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arm. For many years thereafter he was engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock, and since 1914 he has been engaged in the grain, feed and coal business at Littleport, a loyal and upright citizen who has secure place in popular esteem. The maiden name of his wife was Isabel Marshall, and she has been a resident of Clayton county from the time of her birth. They have two sons, Warren J. and Raymond.
Hulverson, Lars L., was born in Read township, Clayton county, Iowa, September 22, 1860. He was the son of Lars C. and Mary Hulverson, both natives of Norway, who came to Iowa, set- tling in Clayton county on a farm, and both of whom are now deceased. The father took an active interest in the affairs of his township, holding several minor offices, and he and his wife were the parents of nine children: John, of Miller, Iowa; Nettie, who is the wife of Andrew Larson of the same place; Christina, married and living in Miller, Iowa; Isabel, the wife of John Faber, of Read township; Gilbert, of Wagner township; Mattie, who is married to H. Nelson, of St. Olaf; and Lars L., who is the youngest of the living children, the two, Nettie and Ole, who were born, later, having died. He received his education in the public schools of his county, remaining on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he was married, and began farming for him- self on rented land. Such marked success attended his efforts that he was soon enabled to buy a farm of ninety acres of his own, which he cultivated with equally good results. In 1803 he received the appointment of Superintendent of the county asylum, and con- ducted the affairs of that institution with such competent ability and fidelity to trust that he was reappointed four different times, holding the position for twenty-four years altogether. He was united in marriage to Isabel Thompson, who died, leaving him with four children : Leona, the wife of John Downy, of Boardman town- ship; George, who is a farmer; Bertha, married to John Stoops, of Read township; and Lawrence, who is still with his father. Mr. Huiverson took for his second wife Mary Lembke, who was born in Clayton county. Mrs. Hulverson is the daughter of Franz Lembke, who was born in Viershof Lauenberg, Germany, and Mrs. Louisa Lembke, nee Louisa Krueger, also of Lauenberg, Ger- many, being the seventh child in order of birth. May, 1871, they emigrated to America, coming direct to Clayton Center, Iowa, where, on June 17th, 1871, they were united in marriage. Mr. Lembke passed to the other world December 2d, 1913, his wife surviving him nearly two years, passing away May 26th, 1915. They were very prominent and highly thought of in the commu- nity and were mourned by a large circle of friends. Mr. Hulverson is a member of the Democratic party, always ready to work to advance its political interests, has served on the town council and is a member of the fraternal order of Modern Woodmen.
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