USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 15
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
and is now deceased; and Emma Jane, the wife of William J. Kehr, of Wes- sington Springs, South Dakota.
Frank Arthur Brown came with his parents to Iowa at the age of five years and grew to manhood in Crawford county on his father's farm. He was edu- cated in the district schools and continued at home until eighteen years of age. when he started out in life for himself by working by the month for farmers in the neighborhood. After ten years of industrious application he rented a farm on his own account, which he cultivated to good advantage for seven years. In 1905 he purchased an interest in the Manilla Roller Mills and moved to town, becoming a partner of R. Rasmussen in the milling and grain business, a voca- tion to which he seems eminently adapted judging by the success that has at- tended his efforts along this line. He is also secretary and a stockholder of the Manilla Telephone Company and owns a quarter section of land in Lyman county, South Dakota, his wife being the owner of two quarter sections.
In May, 1900, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Carrie T. Bar- ber, a daughter of Rockley and Sarah A. (Tomlinson) Barber. Mr. Brown is a descendant of worthy ancestry and in his career has shown the traits of ambi- tion, energy and thrift which are so essential in the accomplishment of any worthy purpose. He justly occupies a high place in the estimation of the peo- ple of this section. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he is trustee. Fraternally he is connected with Golden Leaf Lodge, No. 595, A. F. & A. M., and the Knights of Pythias. He gives his allegiance to the republican party and was elected mayor of Manilla in the spring of 1910 and still occupies that office, having discharged its duties in such a way as to meet the unanimous approval of the people. His interests are closely identified with Manilla and he is recognized as one of its most progressive and enterprising citizens.
E. N. McCORD.
That the life history of E. N. McCord is a record of success is due to the persistent effort and intelligently directed industry which he has displayed through the many years of his connection with agricultural interests. He is a grandson of Allen and Nancy (Hezlep) McCord and comes of Scotch-Irish lineage. His father, David McCord, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsyl- vania, April 28, 1839, was there reared and educated, and he remained in the Keystone state until attaining his majority, when; in 1860, attracted by the op- portunities of the middle west, he made his way to Illinois, locating in Douglas county, where he resided for twelve years. The year 1872 witnessed his arrival in Crawford county, Iowa, and he became one of the first settlers on Paradise creek. Here he made his home throughout his remaining days and passed away on the 7th of January, 1892. He had been a farmer all his life and at the time of his death was the owner of two hundred acres of land in Paradise township. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Phoebe J. Schouten, was born in Sara- toga county, New York, and when fifteen years of age removed with her
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parents to Illinois, the family home being established in Douglas county. There she met and married David McCord. She is yet living and resides during the summer months in Crawford county, Iowa, while the winter seasons she spends in Oklahoma. By her union with Mr. McCord she became the mother of five children, as follows: Mamie, the wife of Robert Grayson, a lawyer of Boyn- ton, Oklahoma; E. N., of this review; Addie, who wedded James Bixler, of Centerville, South Dakota, where he engages in agriculture; Nannie, the wife of W. D. Suiter, a farmer of Boynton, Oklahoma; and Alma, the wife of Ed Duncan, also engaged in farming in Crawford county. There was also an adopted son, Allen, who is now a draftsman in the government employ, stationed at Santa Fe, New Mexico.
E. N. McCord, the eldest son of the family, was born in 'Arcola, Illinois, on the 23d of September, 1868, and was therefore but four years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Crawford county in 1872. In the schools of this county he gained a good education and while not engaged in his school work assisted his father about the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of the country lad. He started out independ- ently as a farmer when twenty-three years of age and in the following year, upon the death of his father, assumed charge of the old homestead and has since continued to make that his place of residence. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres of rich land which in its well improved condition and high state of development indicates the practical methods which he has employed and the industry, diligence and perseverance which have characterized his efforts. In addition to general farming he is an extensive raiser and breeder of high grade stock, the excellence of which is recognized throughout the district, and both branches of his business are so carefully managed that they have prospered under his careful supervision and keen business sagacity until he is today rec- ognized as one of the substantial and successful agriculturists of Paradise township.
It was on the 15th of March, 1891, that Mr. McCord was united in mar- riage to Miss Ida Bixler, who was born in Jackson county, Iowa, a daughter of Isaac and Mary E. (Jones) Bixler. Her father, whose birth occurred in Ohio on the 14th of March, 1839, was taken to Jackson county, Iowa, when but a year old, and there he grew to manhood. In the spring of 1881 he came to Crawford county and located in Paradise township, where he made his home until his death in February, 1909. He was a farmer and followed that occupa- tion throughout his lifetime. His wife, who was born in England, came to the United States when only six months old and at the age of thirteen removed with her parents to Iowa, the family locating at Lyons. She was married in Springvale, Iowa, and still survives, making her home at present in Dow City. By her marriage to Mr. Bixler she became the mother of seven children, namely : Frank, a farmer of Paradise township; Mrs. McCord; William, a car- penter of Elk City, Oklahoma; James, engaged in farming in Centerville, South Dakota ; Etta, the wife of Carey Saxton, of Denison township; Samuel, a farmer of Oaks, North Dakota; and Lottie, who resides with her mother in Dow City, Iowa. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McCord has been blessed with four
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children : Clarence, now eighteen years of age; Gladys, aged sixteen years ; Mar- cus, aged eleven years ; and Ione, ten years.
Fraternally Mr. McCord is identified with Denison Lodge, I. O. O. F., and the Modern Woodmen of America at Dow City, and in politics gives stalwart support to the republican party, believing that the principles of that organiza- tion are best adapted to conserve the interests of state and nation. He is in- sured in the Banker's Life Association and is progressive in all of his ideas both in personal and public matters. His has been a life of continuous activity, char- acterized by well directed efforts and close application, and the success that has attended his labors has been substantial and well merited.
JOHN M. JOHNSON, M. D.
The success of Dr. John M. Johnson, of Denison, in the practice of medi- cine is a striking illustration of the progress which may be made by a young man who thoroughly prepares himself for an important calling. Seven years ago he opened an office in this city and today he is at the head of the hospital of which he was the founder and has also built up a flourishing practice.
He is a native of Seneca, Kansas, born March 17, 1874, and is a son of 'Albern and Clara (Hampton) Johnson, the former of whom was born in Ver- mont and the latter in Illinois. The father worked when a boy in the milling business in Vermont. At the age of fourteen he removed to Sycamore, Illi- nois, with his parents and there grew to manhood. Later the family moved to Oregon, Missouri, where he and his father started a lumber and planing mill. which was just fairly established when the Civil war broke out and he enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry. He participated in many of the great battles, among which were Shiloh, Gettys- burg and Chickamauga, and also in some of the most important movements of the war, and was slightly wounded at the battle of Shiloh. He enlisted as a private but performed his duties so ably that he was made provost marshal. He served for three years and nine months and after receiving his honorable discharge lived in various places in Kansas, his property at Oregon having been destroyed while he was absent in the army. At Seneca, Kansas, he was married to Clara Hampton and after living in town for a few years he began farming. In 1876 he removed to York, York county, Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of the Burlington & Missouri Railway, upon which he resided until 1900, since which time he has lived in Omaha. There were seven children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, four of whom are now living: John M., the subject of this review; Lena Beatrice, now a music teacher in Omaha ; Maude J., the wife of Frank Brown, of Florence, Nebraska; and Mary C., a teacher in the public schools of Omaha.
Our subject's paternal grandfather was a millwright and also ran sawmills. He was the head of a large family, among whom may be named George W., Samuel, Emma, Albern L. and Edward William. The maternal grandfather was Jasper N. Hampton, a native of Illinois, who married Maria Irvin. He
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was captain of a boat on the Mississippi river which plied between Muscatine, Iowa, and New Orleans, but later he became a farmer in York county, Ne- braska. His wife passed away in October, 1910, at the age of seventy-nine years, and he took up his home in Omaha. In their family were Anna, Clara C., Mary, Mildred, James and Gertrude.
John M. Johnson was reared on his father's farm in York county, Nebraska, from two years of age and attended the district schools and the York high school. Later he entered the United Brethren College at York, from which he was graduated in 1894. He then taught school for four years and in 1898 matriculated in Creighton Medical College at Omaha but later transferred his allegiance to the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1902. He began prac- ticing in Omaha but in 1904 came to Denison and started a small hospital in his own home. Three years later he founded the Denison Hospital, of which he is superintendent. The hospital has from the beginning been a remarkable success and is one of the well established institutions of this city.
On the 16th of June, 1904, Dr. Johnson was united in marriage to Mrs. Lola R. Ellithorpe, widow of N. S. Ellithorpe and a daughter of Frank B. Doty. Two children have been born of this union, Mary Claire and John A. Mrs. John- son by her former marriage was the mother of one son, Ralph C.
Professionally Dr. Johnson holds membership in the County, State and American Medical Associations and has many friends in those organizations who are in thorough sympathy with the important work which he is carrying on in Denison. Fraternally he is very active, being connected with the Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Maccabees, the Woodmen of the World, the Yeomen of America and the Royal Highlanders. In religious belief he adheres to the teachings of his early years and is identified with the Catholic church. Energetic and efficient, he has won a high standing in his pro- fession and is recognized as one of the leading practitioners of the healing art in Denison.
SOLOMON W. SLATER.
Solomon W. Slater, who passed away on the Ist of March, 1906, was one of the pioneer settlers of East Boyer township, where he spent the greater part of his life, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits and owning four hundred and forty acres of valuable land at the time of his demise. His birth occurred in Ulster county, New York, on the 15th of September, 1838. His paternal grandfather, Walter Slater, was of Holland descent and took up his abode among the early settlers in the vicinity of New York city.
James Slater, the father of Solomon W. Slater, was likewise a native of Ulster county, New York. He lost his wife in 1850 and four years later jour- neyed westward with his children, traveling by boat to Albany, New York, thence to Buffalo by rail, by boat to Chicago and by rail to Rock Island. From the last named place he made his way by team to Crawford county, Iowa, locating
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
on the farm which remained his home during the rest of his life and which afterward came into possession of our subject. At the time of his arrival here there were but ten or twelve voters in the county. The place on which he set- tled was a tract of raw land on section 10, East Boyer township, and thereon he erected a log cabin, fourteen by sixteen feet. In this primitive little structure hospitality was dispensed in a liberal manner, it being the best stopping place west of Carroll, Iowa,-twenty-five miles distant. James Slater performed the arduous labor incident to the development of a farm and carried on general agricultural pursuits until called to his final rest on the IIth of July, 1879, when he had attained the age of seventy-two years. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he was widely recognized as a substantial and re- spected citizen of the community. Unto him and his wife were born four children, namely : James, Maria, Solomon W. and Anna. All are now deceased.
Solomon W. Slater, who was a youth of sixteen when he came to Craw- ford county with his father, assisted in developing the home farm, first clearing and then breaking the land. Whenever the family was in need of provisions he drove a team to Council Bluffs, eighty miles distant. He never left the old homestead and was successfully identified with general farming interests throughout his active business career, accumulating four hundred and forty acres of highly improved land.
When a young man of twenty-seven years Mr. Slater was united in mar- riage to Miss Sarah Winans, a native of Bureau county, Illinois, and a daugh- ter of Clarke and Catherine (Chivley) Winans, who came to Iowa in 1854, locating at Mason Grove. Clarke Winans passed away on the 24th of Septem- ber, 1885, while the demise of his wife occurred April 3, 1898. Their children were eight in number, as follows: Henry, who is deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of Eli Olney, of Odebolt, Iowa; Mrs. Saralı Slater, who has passed away; George, who is a resident of Deloit, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Slater; Josiah, who is deceased; Julia, the wife of Taylor Pierce, of Omaha, Nebraska; and Clarke, who is living at Odebolt, Iowa.
Unto Solomon W. and Sarah (Winans) Slater was born one son, Henry, who now follows farming in East Boyer township. He wedded Miss Mary McWilliams, by whom he has one child, Helen. Three years after the death of his first wife, which occurred February 20, 1865, Mr. Slater wedded her sister Mary, who is likewise a native of Bureau county, Illinois. By that union there were four children, the record of whom is as follows: George, who resides on the home farm, married Miss Lillian Hulce, by whom he has one child, Mary: Katie is the wife of Arthur Barrow, a live stock dealer of Manilla, Iowa, by whom she has three children : Hazel, Harry and Charles. Grace is the wife of E. E. Griffin, of Oldham, South Dakota, and the mother of one child, Florence. Frank, who wedded Miss Lillian Northam, is now a widower with two children, Carl Franklin and Harold Lawrence.
Mr. Slater was a republican in politics and held several local offices, the duties of which he discharged in a satisfactory and commendable manner. He was a member of the school board, acted as township trustee and also served in the capacity of township treasurer. Frank and jovial in manner and straight- forward in all his dealings, he won the regard and esteem of all with whom he
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came in contact and was a well known and popular citizen. The period of his residence in this county covered more than a half century and he witnessed the wonderful transformation which occurred as pioneer conditions gave way be- fore the onward march of civilization. His estate has been divided but his widow still resides on the home place, owning forty acres thereof. Mrs. Slater is widely and favorably known and has a host of warm friends in the community.
REV. CHARLES RUNGE.
The Rev. Charles Runge, who is in charge of the pastorate of St. Paul's German Lutheran church in Hanover township, Crawford county, was born in Pommern, Germany, in 1859, and is a son of Frederick and Frederica (Beitz) Runge. The parents, who were born and married in the fatherland, emigrated to the United States with their family in 1862 and located on a farm in Shaw- ano county, Wisconsin, where they continue to reside. They own a large tract of land, which is well improved and highly cultivated, being one of the valuable properties in that county. Mr. Runge no longer engages in active farming, al- though they continue to reside on the homestead, as he has now reached the ven- erable age of seventy-seven years, and Mrs. Runge has passed her seventy-fifth year. They were the parents of the following children: John, who is married and operates the home farm; Franklin, living at Underhill, Oconto county, Wis- consin ; Fred, who is a resident of the same place; Anna, the wife of Robert Rose, of Bonduel, Wisconsin; Ida, who died at the age of eighteen years and is buried in Sioux City, Iowa; and our subject.
After he had completed the common-school course Charles Runge entered Concordia College at Springfield, Illinois, where he continued to study until fully qualified to enter the ministry. After his graduation he was elected to the pas- torate of the German Lutheran church in Sioux City, Iowa, and after presiding over that parish for seven years accepted his present charge. In addition to his duties as pastor he has charge of the parochial school which is conducted in connection with the church.
The marriage of Rev. Charles Runge and Miss Paulina Dicke was solem- nized on the 12th of October, 1883. Mrs. Runge is a daughter of the Rev. P. and Catrina (Betzler) Dicke and was born in Therese, Dodge county, Wiscon- sin. Her parents were natives of Germany but came to America and settled in Cecil, Wisconsin, in an early day, and there they still reside, the fathtr now be- ing eighty-nine years of age and the mother seventy-eight. Thirteen children were born to them, as follows : Caroline, who is now deceased ; Henry,. who lives in Underhill, Wisconsin; Mary, the wife of John Krieger, of Waterloo, Iowa ; Paulina, now Mrs. Runge; Frederick, deceased; Herman, also deceased; Her- mine, the wife of the Rev. H. Daib, of Merrill, Wisconsin; William, also re- siding in Merrill, Wisconsin; Anna, who married Gustave Rothe, of Hanover township; Charles, living in Cecil, Wisconsin; Julia, the wife of Paul Fiene, of Charter Oak, Iowa; Johannes, who lives in Minnesota; and Clara, the wife of Emil Petermann, of Advance, Wisconsin.
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Nine children have been born to Rev. and Mrs. Runge, of whom the two eldest, William and Clara, are deceased, and the others are: Johannes, who is a music teacher in Chicago; Barney, a graduate of the high school, who is em- ployed in the First National Bank at Charter Oak, Iowa; Lydia, who is also a graduate of the high school, now in Chicago; Martin, who is a high school grad- uate, now in the bank at Ricketts, Iowa; Esther, Alfred and Paula, all at home, the two former attending school.
Rev. Runge has made many friends during the long period he has presided over the parish in Hanover township and is highly regarded and respected not only by the communicants of his own church but by others. He is a man of high ideals and rigid principles, yet withal is charitable in his judgments and liberal in his views, which undoubtedly has tended to strengthen his hold on the community at large.
JOHN H. RATH.
A study of the life of John H. Rath most clearly demonstrates that success does not depend so much upon opportunities as the ability to dominate condi- tions. A native of Germany, he was born near Kiel on the 24th of July, 1864, being the eldest child of Fred and Katrina (Burk) Rath. The father spent his entire life in the land of his nativity but the mother came to the United States in 1886, locating at Davenport, Iowa, where she passed away one year later. The other five children in the family are as follows: Christ, a farmer of Cedar county, Nebraska ; August, who follows the same vocation in Nishnabotny town- ship, Crawford county; Dora, the wife of Charles Bundy, of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia ; Charles, farming in Washington township; and William, a farmer of Minor county, South Dakota.
John H. Rath obtained his education in the common schools of his native land, where he resided until he had attained his majority, at which time he de- cided to avail himself of the better opportunities afforded young men in America. Upon his arrival in the United States he made his way westward to Daven- port, Iowa, where he worked at the mason's trade for two years and then re- moved to Crawford county. He worked as a farm hand in East Boyer town- ship during the first year of his residence here, after which he went to Nish- nabotny township, where he farmed as a renter for seven years. By means of thrift, good management and close application he acquired the capital which en- abled him to buy a farm at the end of that period, and he came to Washington township, where he purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land, which he still owns and cultivates. He has effected many and extensive improvements upon his homestead during his occupancy, making it one of the valuable proper- ties of the county. The buildings and fences are all substantially constructed and kept in repair, the pastures contain a high grade of stock, while the fields are cultivated in accordance with the best methods of modern agriculture, all of which pay tribute to the progressive ideas and capable supervision of the owner.
Mr. Rath has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Eliza Schroeder, a native of Germany, who passed away in 1899, and they became the
JOHN H. RATH
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parents of the following children : Henry, Otto, Rudolph, Freda, Elsie and Carl, all of whom are at home with the exception of Carl, who is living in Los Angeles, California. In 1901 Mr. Rath was united in marriage to Miss Katie Jurgensen, and unto them have been born three children: Clara, Herbert and Robert.
The family attend the services of the Lutheran church with which the parents are identified by membership. Mr. Rath is an ardent advocate of the principles of democracy, the candidates and policy of which party always are given his support. He stands well in the estimation of his fellow citizens, having but recently been elected to the office of township trustee, while he is serving his third term on the board of school directors. In addition to his extensive. agricultural interests Mr. Rath is a stockholder as well as one of the organizers of the Farmers Lumber Company of Buck Grove and he also owns stock in the lumber company at Manilla. He is the type of man who, in the advancement of his private interests, never loses sight of his responsibilities as a public citizen and thus would be an acquisition to any community.
H. W. OTTO.
Among the enterprising young men of Denison is H. W. Otto, well known in connection with the tea and coffee business. He has shown a progressiveness in commercial affairs that has secured a handsome annual income which gives promise of larger development. He was born at Bremen, Germany, May 23, 1880, a son of C. and Christina (Goetlieb) Otto, both of whom were born in Germany. They came to America in 1885 and located in Crawford county, Iowa. The mother is deceased but the father is still living and makes his home in Denison. There were fourteen children in their family, five of whom survive, namely : Henry, Wilhelmina, Christ, Freda and H. W.
H. W. Otto has a very dim recollection of his native land, as he came with his parents to the new world at the age of five years. He grew up as one of a large family, in which each was expected to perform his or her share of work, and the habits of industry thus acquired have been to him of inestimable value. He possessed advantages of education in the common school and later attended col- lege. At fourteen years of age he began clerking in a general store in Denison and devoted himself to that line of trade for seventeen years. He then became identified with the Denison Tea & Coffee Store, and by his uniform courtesy and ability to meet the wants of customers he has assisted greatly in the growth of its business.
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