USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 18
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the fall of 1894 he was nominated for the position of county recorder and elected by a majority of forty-one, holding the office for two years. Subsequently he worked in the Bank of Denison for four years, being employed by Shaw & Kuehnle. At the end of that time he bought an interest in the concern with which he is now connected, becoming a member of the firm of Pfarr, Gebert & Hunt, general merchants. They enjoy an extensive and profitable trade and Mr. Hunt is widely recognized as one of the substantial business men and re- spected citizens of his native county.
On the 22d of February, 1880, Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Mason, a native of Milford township, Crawford county, and a daugh- ter of Jesse and Eliza (Johnson) Mason, who were born in Kentucky and Illi- nois respectively. They were pioneer settlers of Crawford county, Iowa, com- ing in 1850 and spending the remainder of their lives here. Their children were three in number, namely: Jane, Margaret and Angeline. Jesse Mason, who was twice married, had the following children by his second wife: Matilda ; David and Jesse, twins ; John ; Julia ; Hiram C .; Emma L .; and Andrew J. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are the parents of three children : R. Blaine, who is working for a publishing company in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and N. Leslie and Margaret, who are attending school.
In politics Mr. Hunt is a republican and, as previously shown, his fellow townsmen have honored him by election to several positions of public trust and responsibility. After serving as township assessor he was elected township clerk of Milford township, and served as secretary and president of the school board and as school treasurer in that township. For three years he was post- master of Denison and has served as notary public and director of the normal school. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Sons of Veterans. No breath of suspicion has ever as- sailed his good name and on the contrary he stands as a splendid type of the honorable, reliable, successful man, the public-spirited citizen and the trust- worthy friend.
JOHN LOUIS MCCLELLAN.
A gallant soldier when the life of his country was in danger, a useful and progressive citizen in times of peace and a generous and kind hearted gentle- man, John Louis McClellan of Denison can claim many friends in Crawford county. He became a resident of this locality soon after the Civil war, and as a contractor assisted very materially in the erection of the substantial buildings of Denison. He is now living retired. He was born at Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania, April 7, 1838, a son of John and Mary McClellan, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The father was a hotel keeper and later a banker in Gettysburg. He died at the time of the Johnstown flood in his eighty-first year. He belonged to the state militia, attaining the rank of colonel in that or- ganization. Our subject's grandfather, William McClellan, was a soldier in the war of 1812.
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John Louis McClellan was the only child of his parents and was reared at Gettysburg, receiving his education in the public schools and at Pennsylvania College. After leaving college he learned the carpenter's trade, and just as he was ready to begin his business career the Civil war threw its shadow over the land. He responded to the first call of President Lincoln and enlisted in the Second Pennsylvania Volunteers for three months. At the close of this period he reenlisted for nine months in the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and after the term of his enlistment expired he once more offered his services to the government, becoming a member of the Twenty-first Penn- sylvania Cavalry, in which he continued until the close of the war. He was a private during the entire period and was discharged at Gettysburg in July, 1865. In 1866 he came west with his wife to Iowa and spent one year in Mahaska county, being then attracted to Crawford county, which has since been his home. He engaged in carpentering, bridge building and contracting and also in house moving. He built the old courthouse, the west brick school building and many of the most substantial structures of Denison, which stand as monuments to his skill as a builder.
On the 15th of April, 1862, Mr. McClellan was united in marriage to Miss Georgia Wade, a daughter of James and Mary (Filby) Wade. She was born at her grandmother's old home on the 4th of July, 1841, on the present site of the battlefield of Gettysburg and grew to womanhood in Gettysburg. When about fourteen years of age she began learning the millinery business, in which she continued until she was married. Since 1866 she has made her home in Iowa. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Pennsylvania. He died at Gettysburg at the age of sixty-three years, the mother also passing away at the same place, aged seventy-two. There were five children in their family : Georgia Wade, now Mrs. John Louis McClellan; Jennie, who was killed during the battle of Gettysburg; John James, of Mancos, Colorado; Samuel S., of Peoria, Illinois; and Harry M., who died in Seattle, Washington, in 1907. The father of Mrs. McClellan was by trade a tailor. Her grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution and was killed at the battle of Brandywine. Her grandmother before her marriage was Elizabeth Mills. Samuel Filby, the grand- father on the maternal side, was a native of Pennsylvania and a carpenter by trade. His wife was Elizabeth De Groff. They had four children.
Six children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Louis Kenneth, now a farmer living near Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, who married Bessie McMulkin and has two sons, Joseph and John; Jennie Wade, who married Richard Cook, a railroad man in Monmouth, Illinois; Jim Britton, now a house mover of Denison, who married Ala Kinney and had eighteen children, thirteen of whom are now liv- ing, Georgia, Gladys, Mary, Martha, Bessie, Fred, Jim, William, Job, Harry, John, Russell and Louis; Nellie G., of Los Angeles, who married Fred S. Heffelfinger and has three children, Annie M., John M. and Kitty; and John H., who married Carrie Kelley and lives in Carroll.
Mrs. McClellan has been for many years one of the prominent workers in lines of philanthropy in Iowa. She was secretary of the National Women's Re- lief Corps and also state president of the same organization. Moreover, she
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has been national press correspondent, chairman of the national executive board, department secretary and department treasurer of the Women's Relief Corps. She has served as state president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and as member of the board of trustees of this organization. She was also in- terested for eleven years in the Benedict Home and at the present time is audi- tor of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union for the state of Iowa. She is recognized as one of the most active workers in the two great organizations named that can be found in this state.
Mr. McClellan and his wife are both adherents of the Christian Science Church and stanch believers in its teachings. He belongs to the John A. Logan Post, No. 58, G. A. R., and is now past commander. He has served many times as officer of the day and also marshal of the day on Memorial Day. Politically, he gives his support to the republican party and for three terms served as city marshal of Denison, being the first marshal of this city. In the discharge of his duties, both public and private, he has been governed by a high sense of honor and has been fearless in the support of what he believed to be just and true. He has won the confidence of those with whom he has come into contact and is admitted by all to be a worthy representative citizen of Crawford county.
HERMANN KOENEKAMP.
A worthy ambition is a powerful incentive and without it very little can be accomplished along lines of human progress. It is the key that unlocks the door of opportunity and the young man who possesses it, if he is guided by sound judg- ment, is on the highway to fortune. The truth of this statement is clearly illus- trated in the life of Hermann Koenekamp, whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, March 21, 1849. His father, who was a farmer, died in Germany when our subject was four years old. He was by occupation a farmer and religiously was identified with the Lutheran church, as was also his wife. The mother, who before her marriage was Catharina Doris, lived to the age of eighty-three years, passing away in 1893.
Hermann Koenekamp was reared and educated in his native land and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war in 1869. He then enlisted in the regular army, in which he continued about three years, being honorably dis- charged from service August 5, 1872. Laying aside his military accoutrements he returned to his old home, where he was married, and six weeks after his dis- charge from the army started with his young wife for America. After living for eleven months in the city of Chicago, he engaged for two years in farming in Cook county and in the fall of 1875 came to Crawford county, Iowa, and rented a farm in Goodrich township, upon which he lived for two years. Later he lived in Hanover and Morgan townships, and about 1881, having acquired the necessary capital, purchased two hundred and forty acres in Denison township of Hon. Leslie M. Shaw, upon which he lived until 1894, disposing of it three years later. In 1894 he purchased a farm of four hundred and forty acres near Dow
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City, Iowa, from the Crawford County State Bank, which he sold in the spring of 1910, and in 1908 he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Faulk county, South Dakota, purchasing another tract of one hundred and sixty acres in 1910, which is located near Watertown, South Dakota. He still owns both of these farms and also a beautiful residence in Denison, which he purchased in 1904. He has an improved farm of four hundred and eighty acres in Kansas, which he bought in 1910. His undertakings have been accompanied with a gratifying measure of success and he has for years been known as one of the highly prosperous citizens of this county.
On the 6th of October, 1872, Mr. Koenekamp was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Meyer, who was born at Oldenburg, Germany, March 14, 1853, a daughter of Christ and Margaret (Choringer) Meyer. Her parents were both natives of Germany and her father died in that country in 1895, at the age of more than seventy years, her mother having passed away in 1863 at the age of forty-five. There were six children in their family: Helena, Wilhelm, Christian, Eliza, Henry and Johanna. The father was a soldier in the regular army of Germany and became a teamster and farmer. Eleven children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Koenekamp, namely: Emma married Wilhelm Plahn, of Pierce, Nebraska, and has nine children, Lena, Herman, Anna, Henry, Amelia, Wilhelm, Hilda and Hattie, twins, and Emma. Ida died at the age of nine months. Mary married Jacob Mehman and they now live in Denison township. Lena married Hans Blom, of South Dakota, and they have one son, Julius. Christ and Her- man are both farmers of the state of Washington. Bertha is now Mrs. Joseph R. Best and has two children, Louisa and Homer. Bernhardt is a resident of Raymond, Washington. Johan and Hans are both living in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. Louisa is living at home and is a student in the high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Koenekamp are members of the Lutheran church and active workers in its behalf. He is identified with the Denison Lonverin, the German soldiers society, and also with Die Deutsche Bruederschaft, the German brother- hood. Politically, he gives his support to the republican party. He has not aspired to the honors and emoluments of office as he prefers the quiet life of a private citizen. Essentially a self-made man, his example has been to others an inspiration and support, the value of which can never be known.
A. E. ANDERSON.
Some men are born with a talent for mercantile life, possessing a good ad- dress, intelligent application and an appreciation of the wants of the public as well as the energy necessary to carry through successfully what they undertake. A. E. Anderson, of Kiron, belongs to this class, judging by the result of his efforts up to the present time. He is a native of Sweden, born April 17, 1877, and is therefore a young man justly fairly launched in the business world. His parents are Lars and Anna Anderson, both of whom were born in Sweden and came to America in 1889. After living for a number of years in Crawford county they bought land in Ida county, Iowa, which they recently sold in order
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to establish a permanent home at Kiron. There were three children in their fam- ily, namely: Andrew, who is now living upon the old homestead; Maggie, the wife of Oscar Johnson, of Crawford county; and A. E., the subject of this review.
A. E. Anderson came to America with his parents at twelve years of age and received his preliminary education in the public schools, later attending college. He remained at home until manhood and then entered mercantile business in Ida county. In 1907 he took up his residence in Kiron and has since been at the head of a general store there. He owns the building in which he conducts his business and has shown a capacity for practical affairs that is a brilliant prophecy as to his future.
Ever since arriving at voting age Mr. Anderson has supported the republican party. He has never sought political honors, preferring to devote his entire en- ergies to his business affairs. He is friendly toward all branches of the Christian religion and all efforts to advance the welfare of his fellowmen. He has made a highly creditable record as a business man and as a citizen and is a fair-minded gentleman who never seeks to advance his own interests to the injury of others. being governed in all his dealings by principles of truth and honor.
ADOLPH F. MEYERS.
One of the capable and promising farmers of Crawford county is Adolph F. Meyers, whose home is on section 34, Soldier township, where he has a highly productive farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He is a native of this county, born July 30, 1877, and is son of Adolph and Katrina (Vogelpohl) Meyers, both of whom were born in Germany. The father came to America at the age of twenty years and lived for some time in Cook county, Illinois, where he was married, coming in 1876 to Crawford county, Iowa. Here for thirty years he was actively identified with the agricultural interests. At the time of his death in 1906 he owned seventeen hundred acres of land in this county. He was an unusually successful farmer, a man of great energy and perseverance, good judgment and unblemished character. His wife passed away in 1903. They were both members of the Lutheran church. There were seven children in their family, namely: Minnie, now the wife of Otto Stegemann, Au- gust, William, Dora, wife of Henry Weddemeyer, Adolph F. and Henry, all of whom are living in Crawford county; and Henry, who died at the age of eighteen years.
Adolph F. Meyers was reared on the home farm and received his education in the district schools. He remained at home until after the death of his father and began farming on his own account, being now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, upon which he has made many valuable improvements. He cultivates the land to excellent advantage, raising cereals and also raising and feeding stock for the market. Honorable, prompt and true to every obligation, he is respected by his neighbors and justly stands high in the estimation of all who know him.
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On the 5th of March, 1903, Mr. Meyers was united in marriage to Miss Emma Cheer, who was born in Iowa, June 1, 1880, a daughter of John and Barbara (Lamp) Cheer. Her father was born in Germany and her mother in Iowa. They were married in this state and are now living on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Woodbury county, the father being sixty-seven and the mother fifty-four years of age. They were the parents of eleven children, namely : Emma, now Mrs. Adolph F. Meyers; Louie, Lena, Adolph, Minnie and Emil, all of whom are at home; Clara, who died at the age of fourteen years; Leacy, Freda and Albert, who are at home; and Willie, who died in infancy. Four children have come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mey- ers, namely : George, Otto, Edna and Clara.
Mrs. Meyers, like her husband, possessed advantages of education in the public schools. She is a member of the German Lutheran church as is Mr. Meyers, and they are loyal supporters of that organization. He gives his willing assistance to the promotion of the general good of the community and his voice and influence are always in behalf of improvement. He has been a lifelong democrat, and although he has never sought the honors of office he is ever ready to assist his friends who are ambitious to gain political recognition. He and his wife are genial and hospitable and have many friends in Crawford county.
C. HENRY BOHM.
C. Henry Bohm, one of the thrifty and energetic sons of Germany who has been a factor in the agricultural development of Washington township, was born in Oldenburg on the 16th of December, 1856. His parents, Henry and Sophia Bohm, are still living in the fatherland. Five children were born to them, of whom the son Henry is the eldest. The others are: Lizzie, who lives in Germany ; Doris, now Mrs. Krueger, living in Hanover township; Augusta, who married August Miller, of Goodrich township; and Antone, living in Ger- many.
C. Henry Bohm obtained his education in the common schools of his native land. When he was old enough to lay aside his text-books he obtained work on a farm and continued in this occupation until he was twenty-seven years of age, at which time he decided that the United States afforded better opportunities for industrious young men than the old country and so took passage for Amer- ica. Upon his arrival here he made his way westward to Rock Island, Illinois, where he obtained employment in a sawmill. He remained there but a few months, however, and then came to Crawford county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for two years, first near Denison and later in Milford township. During that period he accumulated the means necessary to begin farming for himself, so rented land in Goodrich township, which he cultivated for six years. At the end of that time he went to Paradise township, where he rented land for two years and then bought eighty acres but soon afterward removed to Wash- ington township. He farmed there as a renter for three years and then bought the land he was cultivating, making all of the payments in five years. Later he
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bought his present homestead, consisting of two hundred and forty acres on section 19, Washington township, where he engages in general farming and stock-raising, in both of which he is meeting with marked success. During the period of his residence he has effected many improvements, making his farm one of the most valuable in that portion of the county.
In 1885 Mr. Bohm was united in marriage to Miss Christina Moss, a native of Germany, who passed away in 1894. Five children were born of this union, but the eldest son, William, is the only one now surviving. For his second wife Mr. Bohm chose Miss Lena Grammerstrof, their marriage being solemnized in 1895, and unto them were born the following: Emil, Carl, Eddie and Augusta.
The family always attend the Lutheran church, with which denomination the parents are identified by membership. Ever since he was granted the full rights of citizenship Mr. Bohm has given his political support to the republican party, considering that its policy is best adapted to subserve the interests of the majority. Although he does not actively participate in municipal affairs, not aspiring to public office, he fulfills the demands of good citizenship by going to the polls on election day and casting a ballot. Mr. Bohm's life, like those of many of his fellow countrymen, most clearly demonstrates what it is possible to accomplish in America with an asset of perseverance and determination.
ALEXIS HENRY HARPER.
In recording the life history of any man it is always interesting to know what were the elements of character that made it possible for him to attain an independent place in the world and in studying the personal qualities of Alexis Henry Harper we find that he possesses the requisite amount of energy, am- bition and application that go to make success. Born in Utica, New York, Feb- ruary 26, 1850, he is a son of James Henry Harper. His mother died when he was but three years old and all trace of her and her family have since been lost. His only sister, Sarah Jane, married James Wiley, but nothing has been heard from her since 1873, at which time she was supposed to be living in Bolivar, Missouri. When Alexis H. was six years of age his father took him and his sister to Racine, Wisconsin, and there left them while he continued his journey to California in the quest of gold. He met with his death on the west- ern plains in 1861 on his way back to Racine.
Alexis Henry Harper pursued his early education in the public schools of Racine, making that city his home until 1869, when he went to Cedar county, Iowa, and located in Springdale township, residing there until 1874. In that year he came to Washington township, Crawford county, and here purchased a farm, upon which he lived for two years, at the end of that period returning to Cedar county, where he resided the following two years. Once more coming to Crawford county he located in Boyer township, rented land until 1881, and then moved to his present location on sections 19 and 20, Union township. Here he improved his farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of land, besides
MR. AND MRS. A. H. HARPER
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which he owns two houses and three lots in Dow City, all of which he has acquired as a result of his individual efforts and tenacity of purpose.
In 1873 Mr. Harper was married to Miss Marianna Bonsall, who was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Joseph W. and Sarah (Hunt) Bonsall. Her parents were both natives of Pennsylvania and removed to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1861, remaining there until 1878, when they came to Crawford county, where they spent the rest of their lives. They were the parents of six children, of whom but two survive, Mrs. Harper and Chester, the latter being a rural route mail carrier residing in Dunlap, Iowa. Mrs. Bonsall's death oc- curred in 1903, her husband passing away in 1907.
In politics Mr. Harper has always supported the principles of the republican party and locally is known as a "standpatter." Fraternally he is a popular mem- ber of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with his wife also holds membership in Rebekah chapter. They are both worthy members of the Baptist church, in which he serves as a trustee, while she holds the office of clerk. Mr. Harper's life has been one of continuous activity and he has made good use of his business opportunities, carrying forward to a suc- cessful completion whatever he undertakes. He deserves much credit for his splendid record, whereby he has advanced from a humble position in life to a place among the prominent and prosperous agriculturists of Crawford county.
GEORGE W. NICHOLSON.
The broader spirit of the new century found expression in the business rec- ord of George W. Nicholson, president of the Nicholson Produce Company of Denison. For a number of years he was in control of large affairs and ex- tensive interests in this connection. His ability to manage, his business and financial instinct, his quick comprehension of a situation and his secure grasp of details were all elements in his successful conduct of a business which has long since assumed large and profitable proportions.
Mr. Nicholson was a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Barnesville, Belmont county, October 6, 1853. He died March 2, 1911, at Tampa, at Mrs. Barley's home. His parents were John L. and Eleanor (Young) Nicholson, also natives of the Buckeye state. The father was a son of John Nicholson, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but became an early settler of Smithfield, Ohio. In 1864 he sought the opportunities of the middle west, making his way to New Sharon, Iowa, where he lived for thirty-five years. He died, however, while on a visit in Denison in 1899, in the eighty-first year of his age. His wife survived him four years, passing away in 1903 at the age of seventy-seven years. Mr. Nicholson had been reared as a member of the Society of Friends or Quakers, but in later life he and his wife both became members of the Meth- odist church. He held a number of local offices and was a prominent and valued citizen of the community in which he lived. His family numbered nine chil- dren, namely : Amanda J., who died in young womanhood; Martin W., of New Sharon, Iowa; George W., of this review; John W., deceased; Charles L., of Vol. II-10
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