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 96
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substantial and successful exponent of agricultural and live stock industry until 1912, when he came to Clayton county and assumed charge of the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery at Strawberry Point, where he has since remained and where he has found splendid op- portunity for the exercise of his progressive policies and enterpris- ing business ideas. In addition to his association with the creamery he owns and gives personal supervision to his model little farm of twenty-four acres, in Cass township. He is a Republican in his political allegiance, and is affiliated with the local organizations of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Wood- men of America. He has not been a seeker of public office but has served effectively as township assessor and as a member of the school board. He and his wife attend and support the Con- gregational church in their home village. In 1896 Mr. Wolcott wedded Miss Fannie Dewey, who was born in Delaware county, this state, and who is a daughter of Talcott and Mary Dewey, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott have no children.
Frank X. Wolter has been a resident of the village of Gutten- berg from the time of his birth; here he succeeded to the control of the flourishing boot and shoe business that had been founded by his honored father in the early pioneer days, and for the long period of thirty years he continued as one of the representative merchants of his native village, where he is now living virtually retired, a loyal, public-spirited and influential citizen whose sterling char- acter is best attested by the unqualified popular esteem accorded to him. Mr. Wolter was born at Guttenberg, Clayton county, on the 15th day of July, 1862, and is a son of John and Sophia (Boeh- mer) Wolter, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, whence he immigrated to the United States in 1848. He landed in the city of New Orleans, but within a comparatively short time thereafter he came to Clayton county and became a member of the fine German pioneer colony at Guttenberg. Here the father engaged in the work of his trade, that of shoemaker, and later he opened one of the early shoe stores of the village. He developed a substantial and prosperous business and gave to the same his personal supervision until he was well advanced in years, when he retired and gave over the store and business to the management of his sons. He was 76 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred in 1906, and the cherished and devoted wife of his youth passed to eternal rest in 1879, both having been earnest com- municants of the Catholic church. They became the parents of five children, of whom three are now living. Frank X. Wolter is indebted to the public schools of Clayton county for his early educational training and as a youth he gained practical experience in connection with the business conducted by his father, so that he was well fortified when he finally took charge of the well equip- ped shoe store upon the retirement of his father. With this line of business enterprise he continued his active and successful identification for thirty years, and he has since lived retired, as previously stated in this context. He finds definite demand upon his attention, however, in according a general supervision to a
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valuable landed estate of seven hundred and seventy acres, in Clay- ton and Dubuque counties, and to his executive service as a di- rector of the Guttenberg State Bank. He is a stockholder also in the canning factory at Guttenberg, and his civic loyalty has been shown by his efficient service as a member of the village council and as treasurer of the school board of Guttenberg, of which latter position he has been the incumbent since 1908. Both he and his wife are zealous communicants and liberal supporters of the Catholic church at Guttenberg, and they have long been active and influential in the affairs of the parish. On the 20th of January, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wolter to Miss Augusta Eckart, who was born and reared in this county and who is a daughter of Henry and Dorothea (Benke) Eckart, who were born in Germany and who were pioneer settlers in Clayton county ; they became the parents of twelve children, of whom seven are now living. Of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Wolter the firstborn was Monica Sophia, who died at the age of eleven years; Cecilia D., who was graduated in the college at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, is a talented musician, remains at the parental home and is an efficient and popular teacher of music in her native city ; Serena H., was graduated in the St. Mary's School at Guttenberg and is now attending Campion College, at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; and Dorothy Catherine is now a student in the St. Mary's School.
William F. Yearous has been a resident of Highland township from the time of his birth to the present, has here exemplified progressiveness and enterprise as a substantial exponent of agri- cultural and live stock industry and is a popular scion of one of the honored pioneer families of Clayton county. He was born in High- land township on the 8th of September, 1867, and is a son of Charles and Catherine (Peters) Yearous, the former of whom was born in Baden, Germany and the latter of whom was born in Ohio, of German ancestry. Charles Yearous established his home on a pioneer farm in Highland township in the year 1854, and with the passing years he developed and improved a productive and valuable landed estate. He was one of the well known and highly esteemed pioneer citizens of Clayton county at the time of his death, which occurred January 7th, 1905, and his venerable widow resided near Fayette, Fayette county, until her death in August, 1916. Of their children the eldest is Aaron, who is now a resident of Wright county, this state; Jacob S., is a farmer in Fayette county and Jerome N., of Page county ; Martha is the wife of Frank Kimpston, of Fayette county ; Christian A., resides at Potosi, Grant county, Wisconsin; Charles now maintains his home in South Dakota; Ulysses G., is deceased; William F., of this re- view, was the next in order of birth ; John W., is a resident of Fay- ette county ; and Andrew is a prosperous farmer of Highland town- ship. William F. Yearous supplemented the discipline of the dis- trict schools by the completion of an effective course in a business college at Fayette, and thereafter he continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-five years. He then rented eighty
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acres of his father, from whom he later purchased one hundred and ten acres, in Section 9, Highland township, where he has since given his time and attention to well ordered operations along the lines of diversified agriculture and the raising of excellent grades of live stock. He has made excellent improvements on the farm, including the erection of a modern residence of two stories, and he is known as one of the vigorous and resourceful farmers and influential and popular citizens of his native township. He has served in minor township offices, was secretary of the school board of his district for ten years, is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of Gleaners, in which last named order his wife likewise holds membership. On the 23d of October, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Yearous to Miss Blanche Chesley, who was born and reared in Volga township, this county, and who is a daughter of Norman and Lucy (Phillips) Chesley, the former a native of Canada and the latter of the state of Illinois. It is worthy of note that Mrs. Yearous' maternal grand- mother, Mrs. Louisa Ann (Geer) Phillips, was a neighbor and friend of the historic and eccentric patriot, John Brown, concerning whom she had many interesting reminiscences, she having lived to the remarkable age of ninety-eight years. Mrs. Yearous was but one year old at the time of her father's death and she and her twin sister, Belle, were the youngest of a family of three children. The eldest child, Isadean, is the wife of Hiram R. Palmer, of Hawk- eye, Fayette county, and Belle is the widow of Dr. James McGregor, her home being in the city of Denver, Colorado. For her second husband Mrs. Lucy (Phillips) Chesley wedded Frank Goodwin, and both are now deceased. They became the parents of five chil- dren, of whom the firstborn was Grace, now deceased; Rhoda is the wife of Edwin Howe, of Knoxville, Illinois ; Ernest resides at Volga, Clayton county ; Hattie is the wife of Robert Duff, of Highland township; and Louis is a successful teacher in the public schools of Watson, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Yearous have but one child, Justin Paul, who was born September 17, 1896.
Louis F. Zahrndt is a native son of Germany; coming to America when but a child, undergoing with his parents and their family all the hardships of pioneering, benefiting by every opportuni- ty offered by the new land, working indefatigably, exercising thrift and good business judgment, building for himself a reputation for thoroughgoing integrity and obtaining for himself a competency and high standing in the business life of his community; this is in bricí the life story of Louis F. Zahrndt. He was born in Germany, April 18, 1847, the son of John D. and Wilhelmina (Clapman) Zahrndt. In 1853, when Louis was but six years of age, the parents decided to leave the land of their birth and with their little family made their way across the vast spaces of the Atlantic to build a home for themselves in free America. The journey to Iowa which state they had decided to make their home, was saddened by the death of Ida, their youngest child. They im-
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mediately settled upon a farm and it may well be believed that there were no idle hands in the little household, and that all then learned the lessons of frugality and industry which served them so well in later life. The father not only pursued the clearing and culti- vation of his farm, but during the winter months followed his trade as a cooper. It is well to know that these German pioneers lived to see their family grown to respected and self-supporting maturity, and to enjoy, themselves, the fruits of their early labors. Both died in this their adopted country in the enjoyment of the esteem and affection of all who knew them. The children of John D., and Wilhelmina Zahrndt were five, Herman and Lena who died in infancy ; Louisa, now the widow of Henry Lange and living in Cox Creek township; Louis, the subject of this sketch and Ida, who died during the journey to America. Louis as a lad and youth enjoyed the privileges of the public school system and with willing hands assisted his father in the work on the farm. It was while he was with his father on the old homestead farm that he was married, December 5, 1869, to Miss Augusta Meyer also a native of Germany. By hard work and careful economy the young man accumulated sufficient capital to purchase property in the village of Mederville and there for eight years he engaged in the hotel business. He then sold his Mederville property and re- turned to agricultural pursuits. By this time his reputation for business ability and strict integrity had become recognized by all and he was appointed to the important position of superintendent of the County Asylum for the Insane, located at Elkader. This position which requires the qualifications of good management, kindliness, great patience and force of character was filled by Mr. Zahrndt most acceptably for a period of five years. Following this he was for four years a successful salesman and representative of the well known McCormick line of agricultural implements. Re- signing this position he next engaged in the hotel business at Elkader and for eight years conducted a popular hostelry in the county seat town. Later he disposed of this business and pur- chased the Elkader Laundry which he is now conducting, having installed modern machinery and appliances and giving his patrons excellent satisfaction. Mr. Zahrndt has been honored by his fellow citizens with election to a number of township offices, he is an esteemed member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his church relations are with the Lutheran church. To Mr. and Mrs. Zahrndt five children were born all of whom are living and in the enjoyment of prosperity and the esteem of their com- munity. The children of this worthy couple are Louis D., a pros- perous farmer living in the vicinity of Edgewood; Ida, who resides with her parents at Elkader; Fred, who is engaged in farming the old family homestead and Martha, living in Elkader.
Lewis A. Zearley is senior member of the firm of Gifford & Zearley, which has a well appointed undertaking establishment in the village of Garber and which has high reputation in the effective and consistent handling of the funeral-directing business for which it provides the most approved facilities and service. Mr. Zearley
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has been a resident of Clayton county, Iowa, from the time of his birth, which here occurred on the 28th of January, 1870. He is one of six surviving children of John H., and Mary (Hansel) Zearley, whose marriage was solemnized in this county, the father having been born in Pennsylvania and the mother in West Virginia and both having become residents of Clayton county in the early '50's. Here they passed the residue of their lives, and their names merit enduring place on the list of the honored pioneers of Clayton coun- ty. Lewis A. Zearley continued his studies in the public schools until he had duly availed himself of the advantages of the high school, and he remained at the parental home until he had attained to his legal majority, when he became a clerk in the mercantile es- tablishment of C. Schmeff, at Garber. Later he devoted three years to successful work as a teacher in the district schools, and in 1911 he engaged in the undertaking business at Garber, where he has since remained one of the principals in the representative firm of Gifford & Zearley, and where also he has served as postmaster since September, 1914. By virtue of his incumbency of this official position it is virtually unnecessary to state he is one of the promi- nent and influential workers in the local ranks of the Democratic party, and his civic loyalty and stewardship have further been shown by his services as a member of the village council, as a mem- ber of the board of education, and as county coroner, of which last mentioned office he was in tenure for four years. He attends and supports the United Brethren church, of which his wife is an active member. In the year 1902 Mr. Zearley wedded Miss Alta Bowman, who was born and reared in this county and who is a daughter of James and Rebecca (Hansel) Bowman, who are ster- ling pioneer citizens of the county, where they established their home many years ago, both being natives of the historic old state of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Zearley have two sons: Ray, who was born on July 28th, 1895, is now holding a position in connec- tion with a business establishment in the city of Dubuque; and James, who was born June 12th, 1904, is still attending school.
Charles Zittergruen was a lad of about fourteen years when he accompanied his parents on their immigration from Germany to America, in 1869, and the family home was established in Clay- ton county, where within the intervening years he has gained through his own energy and ability a generous measure of success and prosperity, as indicated in his ownership of a large and valuable landed estate in this county. He now makes his home on a fine farm in close proximity to the village of Garber, and is giving special attention to dairy farming, with the best of modern equipment and facilities. Mr. Zittergruen was born in Pomerania, Germany, on the 9th of March, 1855, and there received his rudimentary educa- tion. He is a son of Carl and Regina (Wassmund) Zittergruen whose marriage was solemnized at Greiswald, Pomerania, about the year 1851, and who immigrated to America in 1869, as previously noted in this sketch. Soon after their arrival in the United States the parents came to Clayton county and the father purchased a farm near Garnavillo. In 1877 he sold this property and pur-
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chased one hundred acres in Section 13, Volga township, where he continued his successful activities as a farmer and stock grower until his death, which occurred about the year 1899 and when he was seventy-four years of age. He was a zealous communicant of the Lutheran church, as is also his widow, who still resides in this county and who celebrated, in 1916, her eighty-seventh birthday anniversary. Of the six children the subject of this review is the eldest; Mary became the wife of Joseph Raefeldt and is now de- ceased, her death having occurred in Clayton county; and the other four children died prior to the family's immigration to America. In the schools of Clayton county Charles Zittergruen supplemented the educational discipline he had gained in those of his Fatherland, and he continued to be associated with his father in the work of the home farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-six years, when he took unto himself a young wife and helpmeet and initiated his independent career as a farmer on a tract of eighty acres of land which he purchased at that time, in Volga township. The passing years crowned his labors with cumu- lative prosperity, and he manifested mature judgment in adding gradually to his landed estate until he now has five hundred and seventy-four acres. He remained on his original homestead until 1913, when he rented the place to three of his sons and removed to the present farm, which he purchased at that time, near the village of Garber, just south of the corporate limits. Here he has a well-improved farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, in the operations of which he has the effective assistance of others of his sons, the place being given largely to dairy farming, as previously noted. Mr. Zittergruen is a director of the Garber Creamery and a member of the Elkport Commission Company. He has been known at all times for his progressiveness and public spirit, and has commanded the unqualified confidence and good will of the people of the county in which he has achieved large and worthy success through his own honest efforts. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and he has been called upon to serve in various offices of public trust. In past years he served several terms as township trustee and as road supervisor, and he is now the vigorous incumbent of the office of superin- tendent of roads in Volga township. He has given years of effec- tive service as school director, and holds this office at the time of this writing. He and his wife are most zealous communicants of the Lutheran church, and he has served for many years past as treasurer of the church of this denomination at Elkport. On the 14th of March, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Zitter- gruen to Miss Lena Brandenburg, of Garnavillo, and they became the parents of ten sons and two daughters, of whom the first-born was John, who died in 1887, aged two years and five months ; Her- man is associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm ; Charles, Emil and Louis have charge of the older homestead farm of their father ; Lucina is the wife of Adam Thein ; Romondo is the wife of Norman Nichols; Ernest died in infancy ; and William, Edward, Arnold and Elmer remain at the parental
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home and assist in the work of the farm. All of the children are well upholding the prestige of a name that has been signally hon- ored in connection with the civic and industrial history of Clayton county.
Gottlieb Zurcher has been a resident of Clayton county since he was a lad of about seven years, and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the county. Here he was reared and educated and here he has long been a successful and pro- gressive exponent of the great basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing, the while he has stood at all times as a loyal and public-spirited citizen who is well worthy of the unqualified esteem in which he is uniformly held. Mr. Zurcher was born in Baden, Germany, on the 23d of January, 1857, and is a son of George and Orzilla Zurcher, who continued their residence in that section of the great German Empire until 1864, when they immigrated to America and numbered themselves among the pioneer settlers of Clayton county, Iowa, where they passed the remainder of their lives and where the father reclaimed a productive farm, both he and his wife commanding the high regard of all who knew them, and their names meriting enduring place on the roll of the sterling pioneers of the county. Of their seven children five are yet living. Gottlieb Zurcher was reared to the sturdy activities of the pioneer farm and gained his early education in the common schools of the early period in Clayton county history. He continued his asso- ciation with the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to his legal majority, and later he purchased this old homestead, comprising eighty-seven and three-fourths acres in Section 7, Farmersburg township, and twenty-four acres in Sec- tion 6 of the same township. He has made substantial improve- ments on his landed estate, including the erection of good buildings of modern type, and with the passing years the property has greatly increased in value, the while the farm has been kept up to the highest standard through his energetic and progressive policies and management. Mr. Zurcher has been one of the successful and influential citizens of Farmersburg township and has given his support to those measures and enterprises that have tended to advance the best interests of the community. He was one of the organizers and founders of the Farmersburg Creamery Company, of which he served as president five years and as a director for a period of four years thereafter. He is a director of the Farmers- burg Savings Bank and is one of the substantial and wideawake men of the county in which he has maintained his home since childhood. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and his character and ability have given him such secure place in popular confidence and esteem that he has been called upon to serve in various local offices of public trust. Since 1910 he has been the efficient incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, and the year 1916 finds him in service also as township supervisor and as a member of the school board of his district, in which latter office he has served continuously since 1908. He is a stockholder in a cement manufacturing corporation at Farmers-
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burg, in which village both he and his wife are zealous members of the Evangelical church. There also he is affiliated with the camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. In June, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Zurcher to Miss Christina Schiff, who was born and reared in this county, and who is a daughter of Louis and Mary (Meier) Schiff, who were born in Germany and who came to the United States in 1851. Later they became pioneer settlers in Clayton county, where they passed the residue of their lives and where Mr. Schiff was a prosperous farmer and honored citizen. Of their ten children seven are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Zurcher became the parents of seven children, whose names are here entered in the respective order of birth : Herbert G., Amiel L., Ishmael, Benjamin L .. , George, a child that died in infancy, and Truman S. Of the children, Herbert, Ishmael and George are deceased.
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