USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 16
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In 1903, Mr. Otto was united in marriage to Miss Marie Finnern, who was born in Germany in 1880, a daughter of Christian Finnern. Her parents came to this country and are now living in Crawford county. There were ten chil- dren in their family. Four children have come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Otto, namely : Walter, Herman, Flora and Harriett.
Ever since reaching manhood Mr. Otto has given his allegiance to the re- publican party and is a sincere advocate of its principles. Religiously he and
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his wife are identified with the Lutheran church. He made thorough prepara- tion for the vocation in which he is now engaged, bringing to it a zeal and con- centration of mind that seldom fail to attract merited reward. He is greatly interested in the development of the business and as his methods are up-to-date and entirely trustworthy there is no doubt as to his success in years to come.
E. E. NEWKIRK.
E. E. Newkirk, who is now acting as manager of the Neola Elevator Com- pany with elevators at Kenwood, Paradise township, has by a series of progres- sive steps worked his way upwards in the business world from a humble posi- tion, his record indicating clearly the force of industry, energy and perseverance. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born on the IIth of September, 1862, a son of William and Elizabeth (Huggans) Newkirk. The family came to the United States from Holland, the name originally being Van Newkirk. William New- kirk, who was also born in the Keystone state, was there reared and married and continued to make it his place of residence until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he offered his services to his country as a defender of the Union cause. He enlisted as a soldier in the Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves and gave up his life at the engagement of Gaines Mills, before Richmond, at which time the regiment had been forced to retreat. During the battle he was twice wounded and was urged by his comrades to go to the rear. This, however, he refused to do, retaining his place at the front, and while thus talking and reloading his gun he was again struck by a shell which terribly mutilated his body. It was then that the company was forced to retreat, and two comrades started to carry him back with them, an almost impossible task, owing to the nature of his wound and the fact that he was a large man. Realizing that he would die, anyway, he begged them to leave him, and he was last seen crawling toward a spring from which he was trying to get a drink. Nothing has ever been heard as to the place of his burial. His widow, who was also born and reared in Penn- sylvania, still survives and yet makes her home in that state. Their family con- sisted of six children, as follows: John, a resident of Elizabethville, Pennsyl- vania; one who died in infancy; William, whose whereabouts are unknown ; Perry, of Amorita, Oklahoma; Joel, of Montclair, New Jersey; and E. E., of this review.
The last named when but five years of age was sent to the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Loysville, Pennsylvania, and there remained until sixteen years old, during which period he received a good education. He then went to Newport and was a pupil in the town school there for a short time, after which he went to York, Pennsylvania, to learn the blacksmith's trade, serving an apprentice- ship of six months, at the end of which time he returned to Newport and for a season was engaged in boating on the canal. He next sawed wood for the rail- road company, being thus employed until the 16th of February. 1880, when, imbued with a desire to test the opportunities of the west, he made his way to Illinois and worked on a farm in Bureau county until 1883.
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In that year Mr. Newkirk came to Iowa and for two years was a resident of Carroll county, after which he loaded his effects into a wagon and came to Crawford county, arriving here on the Ist of March, 1885. He first located in Union township, where for one year he engaged in breaking prairie, and then for three years he carried on farming on rented property. Finally, by reason of the strict economy, which he practiced at all times, and the close application, with which he applied himself to the work at hand, he was able to save suffi- cient capital with which to purchase a farm of his own, thus establishing him- self independently in the business world. His first purchase consisted of a tract of eighty acres just west of the town of Kenwood in Paradise township, to which he has since added an adjoining farm of eighty acres. The ground had already been broken but had not been developed to any great extent, and after taking up his abode thereon Mr. Newkirk devoted his energies to its further cul- tivation. He put many improvements upon the place, erected good buildings and installed modern machinery, and today the farm is a most productive and valuable property. He engaged in general farming with most gratifying suc- cess until about three years ago, when he came to Kenwood to take charge of the elevator at this place owned by the Neola Elevator Company. In this capacity he is also proving most successful, bringing to bear in the discharge of his duties the same spirit of energy, determination and close application which had char- acterized his steady advance through the preceding years.
Mr. Newkirk laid the foundation for a happy home life of his own through his marriage, on the 14th of December, 1884, to Miss Euphemia McDonald, a native of Pennsylvania. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church and are popular with a large circle of friends, acquaintances and neighbors. Mr. New- kirk gives his support at the polls to the republican party but takes no active part in politics, preferring to concentrate his attention entirely upon his busi- ness interests, in the management of which he is proving himself most capable and successful. Since his arrival in Kenwood he has become known to his fellow townsmen as a desirable and valued citizen, his business methods and per- sonal traits of character commanding their respect, confidence and good-will.
GEORGE V. JORDAN.
George V. Jordan, one of the most prosperous and influential residents of Paradise township, is the owner of nine hundred and thirty acres of rich and arable land in Crawford county. His birth occurred in Paris, Oxford county, Maine, on the 6th of August, 1846, his parents being Enoch C. and Mary Rich- ardson (Cleaves) Jordan. The father, who was born in Saco, York county, Maine, on the 30th of September, 1808, was a son of Ichabod Jordan, whose birth occurred in Saco, Maine, on the 24th of September, 1770. The latter passed away in the same house in which he was born, being called to his final rest on the 20th of May, 1865. On the 5th of February, 1797, he had wedded Miss Mary Coffin, who was a daughter of James Coffin and died on the 10th of Octo- ber, 1859. Ichabod Jordan was a sea captain. When he was a young man of
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twenty-one years his ship, The Fame, was captured by the British ship, Favorite, which was commanded by Arthur Wood. In 1805 Ichabod Jordan commanded the American ship Ocean and made a trip to Stockholm, Sweden. His arrival there was celebrated by the city, and the king and queen came on board and dined. During the war of 1812 Captain Jordan was a prisoner on board the frigate Boxer at the time of her engagement with our American ship. Enter- prise. He voted for George Washington and for every president down to Lin- coln. His father, Tristram Jordan, was born on the 13th of May, 1731, at Win- ter Harbor, now Biddeford, York county, Maine, and was married three times. In 1749, in Berwick, he wedded Hannah Goodwin, who was a daughter of Cap- tain Ichabod Goodwin, was born on the 24th of July, 1730, and passed away on the 10th of July, 1775. For his second wife Tristram Jordan chose Miss Dorcas whom he wedded at Falmouth in December, 1778, and who died on the 19th of December, 1781. His third wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Frost and whom he married in Berwick on the 21st of May, 1784, was called to her final rest on the 26th of September, 1789. Tristram Jordan, who was eleven years old when his father died, followed mer- chandising at Saco, Maine. When a young man of twenty-three he was chosen selectman of the town, serving in that capacity from 1754 until 1762. He also acted as captain of the militia and was appointed colonel by the council of Massa- chusetts in 1776, while in 1787 he was elected senator by the county of York. He removed from the Falls at Saco to his estate two miles north on Ruxton Road, where his demise occurred on the Ist of November, 1821. Tristram Jor- dan was a son of Samuel Jordan, who was born in 1684, at Spurwink, now Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland county, Maine, and died on the 20th of December, 1742. In 1718, in York county, Maine, Samuel Jordan wedded Miss Olive Plaisted, whose birth occurred on the ist of May, 1698, and who was called to her final rest in 1763. Her parents were James and Mary (Rishworth) Plaisted, of Brunswick, Maine. Samuel Jordan, his mother and all the other children of the family were captured by the Indians and taken to Trois Riviers in Canada, where Mr. Jordan remained a prisoner for seven years, spending six years with the Indians and one year with the French. At one time, when asked whether he preferred the Indians or the French, he replied : "The Indians." In 1717 we find his name recorded at Winter Harbor, Maine, where he was conducting a store, but on account of his knowledge of Indian affairs he was of greater value to the government as interpreter. After the treaty of 1717 he acted as Indian agent, government agent and interpreter. He was a man of great energy, a prominent factor in business affairs and a leader in the Congregational church. Samuel Jordan was a son of Dominicus Jordan, who was born at Spurwink, Cum- berland county, Maine, prior to 1664. In 1681 the latter wedded Miss Hannah Tristram, a daughter of Ralph Tristram, of Winter Harbor, now Biddeford, Maine. At the beginning of King Philip's war, in 1675, in company with the other members of his father's family, Dominicus Jordan left the settlement when it was attacked by the Indians and the homes destroyed. Six years later he returned, residing there until the second Indian war in 1690, when he was again forced to leave, this time remaining away until 1698. He was known as "the Indian killer." In 1703 a party of apparently friendly Indians called on him
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to buy some goods and, taking him off his guard, buried a hatchet in his brain, leading his wife and children as prisoners to Canada. Dominicus Jordan was a son of the Rev. Robert Jordan, clergyman of the Church of England as early as 1639. He was established at Richmond's Island as successor to Mr. Gib- son but the precise time of his coming is not known, nor the exact place of his nativity in England. It is supposed, however, that he crossed the Atlantic about 1639. At Richmond's Island the Rev. Robert Jordan wedded Miss Sarah Win- ter, the only child of John Winter. On account of his religious beliefs he spent the winter of 1654 and also that of 1663 in jail. His demise occurred at Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, in 1679, when he had attained the age of sixty-eight years.
Enoch C. Jordan, the father of George V. Jordan, spent his early life in Saco, Maine, and subsequently removed to Paris, Oxford county, that state. Later, however, he returned to his birthplace, there passing away in 1880. By trade he was a courier. Unto him and his wife were born eleven children, the record of whom is as follows: Mary Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, both of whom are deceased; James H., who died in front of Morris Island, at the siege of Charleston, in 1863; Elizabeth R., who has passed away; Charles Albert, an architect of Chicago, Illinois; Enoch, a surveyor of Saco, Maine; George V., of this review; Isabelle, who is a resident of Boston, Massachusetts; Caleb, who follows farming in Defiance, Ohio; Mrs. Louisa Robinson, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Mary, who makes her home in Saco, Maine.
George V. Jordan, whose name introduces this review, acquired his educa- tion in the common schools and remained with his parents until ten years of age, while during the next six years he lived with his grandparents. He worked on a farm in Maine for two years and when a youth of nineteen came to Iowa, spending a short time in Modale, Harrison county. He then taught school in Crawford county for two years. On the expiration of that period he purchased land at Gallen's Grove, retaining the tract, however, for but a few months, when he exchanged it for the property on which he now resides in Paradise town- ship, Crawford county. He first made a number of small improvements and subsequently erected a mammoth residence. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he has won a gratifying measure of success and his property holdings at the present time embrace nine hundred and thirty acres of valuable land in this county. He is also a director of the Arion State Bank at Arion, Iowa, of which he was one of the organizers and of which he has served as vice-president.
In 1868 Mr. Jordan was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Wetherby, a na- tive of Allegany county, New York, and a daughter of William and Susan (Moore) Wetherby, who were born in New York and Vermont respectively. They took up their abode in Elgin, Illinois, where occurred the death of Mr. Wetherby. His widow came to Iowa in the fall of 1867 and passed away in 1896. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jordan were born five children, namely: William, a horse dealer of Dow City, Iowa; Mary, twin sister of William, who is de- ceased; Lizzie, the wife of H. G. Scott, an agriculturist of Paradise township; Nettie, the wife of George Rule, who also follows farming in Paradise town- ship; and George V., who has passed away.
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Mr. Jordan is a republican in politics and held a number of minor offices in the early days. He was a charter member of the Baptist church at Dow City and has ever been deeply and helpfully interested in its work. The period of his residence in Crawford county covers more than four decades and he has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of its most respected and esteemed. citizens.
H. J. MOELLER.
One of those who has actively and successfully contributed to the commer- cial development of West Side is H. J. Moeller, who for a period of seventeen years has been engaged in the general merchandise business here. A native of Germany, his birth occurred in the province of Schleswig-Holstein on Christmas day, 1863, being a son of Peter and Catherine (Diers) Moeller. The father passed away in the fatherland at the age of sixty-five years, but the mother emi- grated to the United States with her children in 1881, locating in Davenport, where she continued to reside until her demise in 1901 at the age of eighty-two. H. J. Moeller is the youngest of the six children born unto his parents. the others being: George, who resides in Davenport; Peter, a farmer near West Side; Minnie, the wife of William Lepteen, of Davenport; Wiebke, who mar- ried John Luetze, of Chicago; and Annie, the wife of Rudolph Meyer, also of Chicago.
H. J. Moeller was a youth of seventeen years when he left his native land, in the common schools of which country he acquired his education. Coming to Davenport, Iowa, in 1881, he continued to make his home with his mother for two years, at the end of which time he came to West Side, entering the employ of Peters & Suhr, who were engaged in the lumber and implement business, being identified with them for nine years. Withdrawing from this in 1892, he took a position on the railroad, which he retained for a year, at the expiration of which period in connection with John F. Grote he embarked in the general merchandise business. This arrangement continued for ten years and then Mr. Moeller bought the interest of Mr. Grote and has since been conducting the business alone. He has met with success in this venture and in addition to his store owns a very pleasant residence which he and his family occupy.
In March, 1886, Mr. Moeller was united in marriage to Miss Ida Boock. who is a native of Bryant, Iowa, although of German extraction, her birth occurring on the 14th of April, 1867. She is the eldest of the. five children born unto her parents, Henry and Catherine (Kuhl) Boock, the others being: Chris and Henry, residents of West Side; Tillie, the wife of John Rinefeld, of Kansas ; and Emma, who married Jack Hall. of Boone, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Moeller are the parents of the following children: Harry, living in Omaha, Nebraska ; Fred, who passed away on the 24th of November, 1892, at the age of four years ; Alma, whose demise occurred on the 6th of December, 1892, at the age of two years : Carl, residing in Omaha, Nebraska; Roy, who is assisting his father in the store ; and Arlo and Earl, both of whom are still at home. The family affiliate
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with the Lutheran church, while fraternally Mr. Moeller is identified with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen.
A strong advocate of the principles of democracy Mr. Moeller gives his politi- cal support to the men and measures of that party. That he stands well in the opinion of his fellow citizens is indicated by the fact that he is and has been for twenty years a member of the council. A public-spirited man, he has always openly declared his support of every measure he considered to be for the benefit of the community at large, which fact of itself would make him a most desir- able citizen.
GEORGE MENAGH.
George Menagh, one of the most prosperous, enterprising and respected' citizens of Denison, conducts an extensive business as a general merchant and miller. He is a native of County Down, Ireland, his parents being Hugh and Ann Menagh, who were likewise born in that country. The father, who was employed as an engineer by the Northern Counties Railroad in Ireland, crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1869, coming direct to Denison, Iowa. On arriving in this county he turned his attention to farming in East Boyer town- ship, first purchasing a tract of eighty acres and later buying forty acres more. It was all raw prairie when it came into his possession, but he set resolutely to work and soon transformed the property into a rich and productive farm. Since about 1882 he has made his home in Denison, being one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of the community. His wife was called to her final rest in August, 1902. They were Baptists in early life but later joined the Holiness Band. Unto them were born five children, as follows: George, of this review ; Charles; Anna, the wife of A. D. Randall; Hugh; and Sarah, the widow of a Mr. Chesney.
George Menagh spent the first seventeen years of his life in the land of his nativity and there acquired his education. After putting aside his text-books he worked for some time as a cabinet maker but after emigrating to the new world became identified with general agricultural pursuits, following farming in Craw- ford county, Iowa, until 1880. In that year he took up his abode in Denison but continued breaking prairie for the farmers of the vicinity. In 1883 he began buying grain in association with his brother Charles, the partnership be- ing maintained for several years or until he purchased his brother's interest. He still deals in grain, coal, hay and all kinds of mill feeds and enjoys an ex- tensive trade along those lines. On the 2d of July, 1903, he established a grocery business in Denison, which he has developed into a general store, opening on two streets and having both south and west fronts. He manufactures harness and sells dry goods, meats, groceries and notions. His sons and daughter are associated with him in business and assist in the conduct of the extensive estab- lishment, in which a large number of clerks are employed.
Mr. Menagh was united in marriage to Miss Isabella Henderson, a native of County Antrim, Ireland. Her father died when she was an infant and her
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mother when she was fourteen years old, leaving her an orphan living with her uncle Thomas Luney. Unto our subject and his wife were born four sons and one daughter, namely: Elizabeth; Charles William, who wedded Miss Sadie Bohart and has one son, George; James; David; and John.
Mr. Menagh gives his political allegiance to the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. Throughout his business life he has been watchful of indications pointing to success, has utilized his opportunities to the best advantage and has been upright and honorable in all his dealings. Though born across the water, he is thoroughly American in spirit and interests and the town of Denison numbers him among its leading and valued residents.
R. W. PAUL.
For more than twenty-five years R. W. Paul has been a resident of Craw- ford county and through his industry, perseverance and sound business judg- ment he has acquired one of the most attractive farms of Boyer township. He is a native of Clinton county, Iowa, born September 15, 1865, and is a son of Darius and Charlotte (Cady) Paul. The father was born in New York state and after reaching manhood came to Iowa and took up his residence in Clinton county, where he continued until his death, which occurred in 1895. He was a minister of the Baptist church and a man of marked ability and many sterling traits of character. The mother was also a native of the Empire state and died about one year before the death of her husband. There were seven children in the family: Fanny, now the wife of Light Demming, of Silverwood, Michi- gan ; Minnie, now Mrs. Lisle Cudney, of Central City, Nebraska; Emma, the wife of Kilmer Barker, of Plainview, Texas; Charlotte, who married Art Rey- nor, of Central City, Nebraska; R. W., of this review; Julia, the wife of Clar- ence Barr, of Dewitt, Iowa; and Anna, who married John Clarke, also of Dewitt.
R. W. Paul grew to manhood under the favoring conditions of a happy home and received his early education in the district schools of Clinton county. He began farming in his native county and after arriving at the age of twenty-one years came to Crawford county, locating on land which belonged to his father. Fifteen years ago he purchased the property and has made other accessions so that at the present time he is the owner of five hundred and sixty acres. He has erected two sets of buildings and follows general farming and stock-feeding, sparing no efforts to secure the best results from his work. He is very thorough in everything he undertakes and has one of the model places of the township.
In 1889 Mr. Paul was united in marriage to Miss Almary Davis, of Craw- ford county, and three children came to bless their union: Darius H., Vera M. and Viola V., all of whom are at home. Politically Mr. Paul gives his adher- ence to the democratic party, but he has never sought the honors of public office, as his interest has been concentrated upon his business. He has served very acceptably as a member of the school board. He and his wife are identi-
MR. AND MRS. R. W. PAUL
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fied with the Baptist church and earnest workers in its behalf. Fraternally he is connected with the camp of Modern Woodmen of America at Dow City. Mr. and Mrs. Paul have many friends and their home is a welcome gathering place whose generous hospitality is widely acknowledged. Always loyal to his con- victions, he ranks high in the estimation of his associates and acquaintances, there being in him a stability of character and a clearness of judgment which command respect wherever he is known.
JURGEN SCHROEDER.
The strong characteristics of industry and steadfastness of purpose which are predominant in the Teutonic race are fully demonstrated by the career of Jurgen Schroeder, who, seeking broader fields of endeavor in a foreign coun- try, has attained that measure of success that comes to all who work for it. A son of Jurgen and Gertrude (Bliesman) Schroeder, he was born May 26, 1851, at Fehmarn Island, Puttgarten, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the fourth in a family of four children born to this couple, the other surviving child being Dor- othea, who is the wife of Charles Tamn and resides in Germany. Those de- ceased are Mathias and Nichols.
On July 7, 1868, at the age of seventeen years, Jurgen Schroeder emigrated to the United States and upon arriving in this country began working on a farm near Davenport, Iowa, where he remained for two years. He then went to Tama county, this state. In 1873 he rented one hundred and sixty acres in Tama county, which he farmed until 1877, when, on January 20 of that year, he removed to his brother's farm near Denison, where he continued for the en- suing six years, and then purchased eighty acres of land one mile west of Schleswig. Here he inaugurated his first business venture by opening a small store on the farm, which he conducted until the advent of the railroad into Schleswig, in 1899, when he moved, not only his business, but his entire build- ing, consisting of the store, a blacksmith shop and a dance hall, to the town and there continued his mercantile pursuits on a more extensive scale. He is now engaged in general merchandising and owns the largest establishment of its kind in Crawford county outside of Denison. From his initial venture, which began in a room ten by twelve feet in Hohenzollern, he has developed and ex- panded his business enterprises until at the present time it comprises a dry- goods department twenty-five by one hundred feet and a grocery department twenty-four by sixty-four feet, with an addition in the rear twenty by twenty- four feet, which is utilized as a store room. The building is heated by steam, lighted by gas and has all the up-to-date improvements that are necessary for the conduct of a modern store.
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