History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II, Part 21

Author: Meyers, F. W; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publishing co.
Number of Pages: 640


USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21


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Mr. Rollins is a republican in politics and has been called to fill a number of local offices. He has served in the capacity of township trustee, was also town- Vol. II-11


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ship clerk for two terms and acted as a school director for nine years. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, to which his wife and children belong. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in John A. Logan Post, G. A. R., and in days of peace has ever been as loyal to the interests of his adopted coun- try as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. He has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey and receives the respect which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pil- grimage and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.


CARL HARTWIG.


Some men are born with a capacity that makes it comparatively easy for them to accomplish what to others would appear almost impossible. They pos- sess an ambition that urges them forward to greater effort from year to year and they have a self-confidence not known to many of their fellows. Carl Hartwig, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was endowed with un- usual business talents and beginning empty-handed in a strange country he won a fortune. He is now living retired at Denison and is one of the highly re- spected citizens of Crawford county.


He was born in Hanover, Germany, December 7, 1846, a son of Frederick and Dora Hartwig, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a farmer and also conducted a grocery store in Hanover. He and his wife both lived to be sixty years old and were faithful members of the Lutheran church In their family were nine children, namely: Ernst, deceased; Marie, the widow of Henry Bierman, of Denison; Frederick, now living in Germany ; Louise and Henry, deceased; Carl, of this review; Herman, now living at Kendall, New York; George, of Rockville, Connecticut; and Anna, widow of William Eigen- drauch, of Germany.


Carl Hartwig was reared and educated in the village of Hemsen, Hanover, Germany, and after laying his books aside learned the watchmaker's trade, which later he found his health would not permit him to follow. In 1868, being then twenty-two years of age and desirous of securing the best advantages to be found anywhere in the world, he emigrated to America and began his contest with fortune as a farm laborer in Niagara county, New York. After several years he returned to his old home to visit his mother and other members of the family, and then in 1873 once more set his face westward, coming to Crawford county, Iowa. After renting land in Goodrich township for five years, he pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres, and as time passed he increased his pos- sessions until he now owns eight hundred and eighty acres of good Crawford county land, which he has improved and made very valuable. In 1898 he re- moved to a beautiful home which he erected in Denison, and he has since made his residence in this city.


On the 28th of February, 1875, Mr. Hartwig was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Busche, who was born in Anderton, Hanover, Germany, December


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18, 1853. She is one of a family of six children, as follows: Sophia, Louisa, Katharina, Henry, Ernst, and Marie. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hartwig, namely: Herman, Carl, Otto and Frederick, all of whom are de- ceased; Henry, who married Linda Knapp and is now living at home; and Lena, also living at home. Herman married Martha Schug and left one daugh- ter, Florence.


Mr. Hartwig owes his gratifying success to an unconquerable spirit which never yielded to disappointment, and he became one of the prosperous and pro- gressive farmers and stock-raisers of the county. He is a man who inspires respect and who possesses the good-will of all with whom he comes into con- tact. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church. Politically he gives his support to the republican party. He served as school director for a number of years and is now a member of the board of directors of the Ger- man school at Denison.


W. B. McDONALD.


The adversities of life are what develop the potential qualities in a man's character. and that W. B. McDonald has met and overcome the obstacles that beset his path during his early career demonstrates the fact that he possesses those elements that make for success. Born in Cattaraugus county, New York, March 6, 1860, he is a son of John and Mary Elizabeth (West) McDonald. The father died when the subject of this review was quite young and the record of his birth has been lost. There were three children in the family, of whom two survive : W. B., and Euphemia, who became the wife of E. E. Newkirk and lives in Kenwood, Iowa.


When but six years old W. B. McDonald left New York state and went to Richland county, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1869, and in that year came to Iowa, locating in Cedar county, where he sought such education as was afforded in the public schools near Stanwood. In the fall of 1879 he removed to a farm near Glidden, Carroll county, and remained there for three or four years. He then came to Crawford county and lived in Boyer township for two years, at the expiration of which time he took up his residence in Union town- ship and has since continued to make that his home. In 1906 he purchased a tract of improved land on sections 32 and 33 from Reuben Vore, who had moved on it in the early '50s, and a year later Mr. McDonald took possession of his property, to which he has gradually made additions until now he owns two hundred and eighty acres of the best farming land in Iowa and here fol- lows general farming, besides handling blooded stock.


The marriage of Mr. McDonald took place March 20, 1886, when he was united to Miss Sarah Ellen Langley, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, a daughter of G. W. and Nancy J. (Gearheart) Langley, both natives of Ohio. Her father was a carpenter by trade and moved west when she was a young girl, locating in Story county, Iowa. In 1880 he came to Crawford county, re- sided for some time in Dunlap and subsequently bought a farm in Boyer town-


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ship. Both he and his wife are still living and make their home in Dow City. Unto them seven children were born, namely: Margaret Elizabeth, who is the wife of Charles Rasmussen and lives in Ainsworth, Nebraska; Walter and Jay, also of Ainsworth, Nebraska; Sarah Ellen; Clement, of Enders Lake, Nebraska ; Ethel, who is the wife of Frank Bennall, residing in Union township; and Bes- sie, who married George Bennall and makes their home in Dow City.


Mrs. McDonald's elementary education was obtained in the public schools of Story county and Dunlap, supplemented by a course in a high school, and by the knowledge thus acquired she was enabled to become a teacher, which voca- tion she followed for three years, one term of which was spent in Boyer town- ship and the remainder of the time in Willow township. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Donald are the parents of three children: Nellie, who is the wife of Fred Wiley and resides in Union township; Ward and Carl Frederick, who are at home.


Mr. McDonald's political allegiance is given to the democratic party and fraternally he is a member of the Yeoman, of Dow City. His wife holds mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church. His record goes to show what may be accomplished by one who starts out in the world empty-handed if he has the determination and energy to apply to a high purpose.


RAYMOND E. VAUGHAN.


Although he has been at the head of the newspaper less than two years, Raymond E. Vaughan has made an admirable impression on the readers of the Schleswig Leader, and gives promise of attaining marked success in the field of journalism. He was thoroughly prepared for such a responsibility, and as he is greatly interested in his work, it is hardly possible that his hopes will be dis- appointed.


A native of Jasper, Minnesota, he was born January 20, 1890, a son of L. M. and Anna (York) Vaughan. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Grant county, Wisconsin. They were married in Wisconsin and the mother is now deceased, having passed away August 26, 1906. After his marriage L. M. Vaughan bought a farm in South Dakota, where he lived with his family for ten years, and then removed to Jasper, Minnesota, and conducted a livery estab- lishment in that place for ten years. After selling out he operated an elevator for several years and now owns a farm of three hundred and fifty acres, prin- cipally pasture land, in the valley of the Wisconsin river, in Wisconsin. He devotes his attention principally to raising Holstein cattle and has attained an enviable reputation on acconut of the excellent judgment he has displayed in the management of this business. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Vaughan, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Harry L., of Watertown, South Dakota; Laura, who died at the age of fourteen ; and Ray- mond E., of this review.


Raymond E. Vaughan received his preliminary education in the public schools and for two years was a student at high school. At fourteen years of age he entered the employ of the Rock Island Railway Company, with which


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he continued for one year. Being attracted to the newspaper business, he began work in a printing office at Jasper, Minnesota, and later went to Wauzeka, Wis- consin, devoting four years to learning the printer's trade and gaining an insight into the details of newspaper management. In August, 1909, being then nine- teen years of age and ambitious to make an honorable name for himself, he canie to Schleswig and purchased the Schleswig Leader, of which he has since been editor and proprietor.


Politically Mr. Vaughan is not affiliated with any of the great party organ- izations, preferring to be independent and at liberty to exercise a perfectly free judgment in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. In religious faith he is a firm believer in the principles of Christianity and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. His circle of friends is steadily increasing, and it would be difficult to find a young man in Crawford county who is starting in business life under more favorable conditions than the subject of this review.


JOHN N. DUFF.


A prosperous and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of Denison town- ship, Crawford county, Iowa, John N. Duff was born in Kane county, Illinois, December 17, 1860, a son of John and Sarah (Grey) Duff. The father was a native of Scotland, born in the Highlands, and came to the United States in 1840, locating in Kane county, Illinois, where he resided until his death in 1892. As a youth he was a sheep herder and followed the vocation of farming all his life. He was an intellectual man, very fond of reading and was well posted on all the current topics of the day. In politics he was a republican but notwith- standing this fact was a great admirer of President Cleveland. His wife was born in New York state and died in Kane county, Illinois. The final resting place of both parents is in Buena Vista cemetery. To them six children were born, as follows: Anna Eliza, the wife of W. C. Pollock, a resident of Denison township; Robert, who died when eight years old; Ellen, who lives with her brothers and sisters; Harriet, the wife of John H. Hall, of Shelby county, Iowa; John N., the subject of this sketch; and Lillie Jane, the wife of Lewis Lenze, of Kane county, Illinois.


John N. Duff obtained his education in the public schools of Kane county, where he remained with his parents until eighteen years of age, coming at that time to Crawford county and locating on a quarter section of land in Paradise township, which had been previously purchased by his father. Here he lived for six years, after which he rented land for five years in the same township, and then bought eighty acres in Washington township, continuing his residence there for fourteen years. In 1907 he removed to Denison township, where he has since lived, and is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, on which he raises stock in connection with farming.


Mr. Duff was married December 13, 1886, to Miss Frances Elizabeth Black- man, who was born in Kane county, Illinois, a daughter of Jerome and Celia (Harper) Blackman. Her father is deceased and Mrs. Blackman makes her


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home in Denison. To Mr. and Mrs. Duff have been born three children : Rosa Ella, who died in 1909, at the age of eighteen; John N., Jr., thirteen years old ; and William Edward, deceased. In his political views Mr. Duff adheres to the republican party. While not affiliated with any special church, both Mr. and Mrs. Duff conduct their lives on sound religious principles.


WINFIELD SCOTT MOORE.


An experience of twenty years at the bar has demonstrated the ability of Winfield Scott Moore, of Manilla, as an attorney of more than ordinary pene- tration and judgment and also as a man of unsullied character whose aim is to be guided by truth and justice. He is a native of Springfield, Missouri, born February 4, 1866, and traces his ancestry back to John Moore, a native of Ire- land, who came to the new world in colonial days and settled in Virginia. He was in General Washington's regiment at Fort Duquesne and engaged in battle with the French and Indians when General Braddock was killed. His son, Wil- liam Moore, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1735, and became a mem- ber of the Virginia Militia, being with General Forbes in his campaign in 1758. He was a member of Colonel William Campbell's regiment in the Revolutionary war and engaged in the battle of King's Mountain. His son, William Moore, Jr., was born in Berkeley county, West Virginia, in 1759, and also participated in the Revolutionary war under Colonel John Sevier, commanding a Tennessee regiment. He also took part in the battle of King's Mountain.


Nathaniel Davis Moore, a son of William Moore, Jr., and the grandfather of our subject, was born in Greenville, Tennessee, October 10, 1790, and as a soldier served in Captain Dyke's company of Tennessee men under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans in the war of 1812 and also at the noted engagement of Horseshoe Bend in Alabama. By occupation he was a farmer. He was one of a family of eight children, having three brothers and four sis- ters. He married Margaret Dyke, a native of Virginia, and they lived to the ages of seventy-seven and eighty-four years, respectively. In their family were also eight children, namely: Henry D., Nathaniel B., William, Christina, Pene- lope, Catharine, Louisa and Margaret.


William Moore, the father of our subject, was born in Monroe county, Ten- nessee, in 1830, and also made farming his life occupation. In 1851 he removed to Missouri and located near Springfield, but is now a resident of that city. having reached the ripe old age of eighty-one years. He was twice married, his first wife being Susan Christian, by whom he had three children : James I., now a resident of Pinehurst, Idaho; Lucinda J., the wife of W. W. Wheeler, of Springfield, Missouri; and Simeon C., also of Springfield. For his second wife the father married Mrs. Ruth Ann (Graham) Price, also a native of Tennessee, and the widow of John Price, by whom she had one son, Martin L. She de- parted this life January 7. 1897, at the age of fifty-eight years, ten months and three days. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, as is also Mr. Moore. He was a stanch Union man during the Civil war and served for


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fifteen months in the Federal army, being a member of Company H, Missouri State Militia Cavalry. By his second marriage he had four children, namely : Winfield Scott, of this review; Nathaniel D., of Springfield, Missouri; Susie M., wife of Rankin C. Stokes, of Carson, Iowa; and Rev. William G., pastor of the First Presbyterian church, of Le Mars, Iowa.


James Graham, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer of Tennessee and died at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lucinda Wilson, died at the age of sixty-eight years. Their children were: Ruth Ann, Margaret L., William R., Sarah L., Caroline, Helen, James H., Richard and Josephine. James Graham was a son of Richard Graham, who came to this country from Scotland and settled in North Carolina, where he followed farming. He married Elizabeth Massey.


Winfield Scott Moore was reared at Springfield, Missouri, and educated in the common schools, receiving his college training in a southern Methodist school at Morrisville, Polk county, Missouri. He early became acquainted with farm work, laboring for one man for two years. Subsequently he taught school and at the same time studied law, having determined to devote his attention to that profession. He was admitted to the bar in Kansas in 1891, being then twenty- five years of age and began practice at Springfield, Missouri. Previously he had served as deputy county recorder of Polk county for three years, from 1887 to 1890, and from 1895 to 1897 he was clerk of the probate court at Springfield. In April, 1899, he removed to Oklahoma City and practiced law there for one year, then returning to Springfield. In March, 1902, he took up his residence at Salix, Iowa, where he practiced for two years, then settling at Manilla and engaging in his profession with such success that he soon became recognized as one of the prominent members of the Crawford county bar. In addition to his legal business he has devoted considerable attention to farming and is the owner of three hundred and forty acres of land in Meagher county, Montana.


On the 12th of October, 1898, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Fanny Bigelow, who was born in Woodbury county, Iowa, November 16, 1876, a daughter of Ariel T. and Sarah (Beers) Bigelow. The father is a native of Maine and is now living near Salix, having arrived at the age of seventy-one years, his wife being sixty-six years of age. There were nine children in their family, namely: Mrs. Rosa L. Gibbs; Charles H .; Warren T .; Belle, wife of R. D. Markell; George F .; Fannie, now Mrs. Winfield Scott Moore; Laura K., wife of J. E. O'Meara; Madge E., wife of M. L. Duggan; and Nettie O., wife of Thayer Vincent. One daughter, Ruth, has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Moore.


Politically Mr. Moore gives his support to the republican party, and frater- nally is identified with Golden Leaf Lodge, No. 595, A. F. & A. M., being one of the charter members of the lodge. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, Iowa Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Sons of Veterans, of Denison. He and his wife are con- nected with the Presbyterian church and active workers in its behalf. He may be designated as a self-made man, having won his way through many obstacles to a position of honor which few men in any community can rightfully claim. Possessing capable discernment and clear and convincing powers of expression,


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he is a masterful advocate and a good counselor. He is a close and constant student of law as well as of the progress of events and few men are better in- formed as to the great movements which are influencing the world. His fidelity to his clients is one of his strong characteristics and he possesses a force of char- acter that gives weight to his opinions which command respect wherever he is known.


I. N. VOLLERSEN.


The life record of I. N. Vollersen, manager of the Green Bay Lumber Yard at Ricketts, is an admirable example of success attained by one who started empty-handed and has gained a position of comfort and ease through his indo- mitable energy and resourcefulness. He is a native of Germany, born at Hogel, Schleswig-Holstein, June 18, 1865, a son of Christopher and Christina (Ing- wersen) Vollersen. The parents passed their entire lives in Germany, the mother dying in 1880, and the father one year later. There were eight chil- dren in their family, of whom five came to America, namely: Mary, now the widow of J. H. Sorgenfrei, of Duluth, Minnesota; I. N., of this review ; C. P., of Crawford county ; Ingeburg, who married Peter J. Petersen, of Chicago, Illi- nois ; and Christina, the wife of Rev .. Otto Fitzler, of Mineola, Iowa. Paul H. still lives in Germany, and Henry and Matilda are deceased.


I. N. Vollersen was educated in the public schools of Germany and when seventeen years of age started out to seek his fortune in the new world. He landed in America in March, 1882, and worked for three years in Davenport, Iowa. He then farmed on rented land for two years, and in 1887 came to Craw- ford county, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres in Soldier township, which he cultivated for four years. Disposing of his farm, he removed to Charter Oak and engaged in various occupations until 1898, when he was made manager of a lumberyard, which position he still holds. He has been very successful as a business man and now owns a third interest in a hardware and implement store at Battle Creek, Iowa ; a third interest in two hundred and eighty acres of land in Hand county, South Dakota ; and also owns a fine home and a small farm at Ricketts.


On the 20th of February, 1885, Mr. Vollersen was married to Miss Chris- tina Tebbe, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, in December, 1864, a daughter of Herman and Anna (Graff) Tebbe, both of whom were born in Germany. The parents came to America early in the '6os and in the latter part of the Civil war Mr. Tebbe was drafted into the Union army and after his discharge followed farming, becoming the owner of two hundred and ninety-four acres of land in Scott county. He died in 1897, his wife passing away four years later. There were five children in their family: Herman, who is now living on the homestead in Scott county ; Hannah, the wife of John Tebbe, of Crawford county ; Emma, now Mrs. William Keuhl, of Crawford county ; Clara, who mar- ried Herman Kramer, of Kansas; and Christina now Mrs. I. N. Vollersen. Two children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vollersen : Christopher


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H., born January 1, 1886, who married Freda Voss and is now manager of a hardware and implement store at Battle Creek, Iowa; and Anna C., born Feb- ruary 26, 1887, who is the wife of Louis E. Haag, manager of a lumberyard at Winner, South Dakota. The children were both given excellent educational ad- vantages, the son being a graduate of the Charter Oak high school.


Mr. Vollersen and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and politi- cally he gives his support to the democratic party. He is identified with the Masonic lodge, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Sons of Herman, all of Charter Oak, and has many warm personal friends in those organizations .. He has been governed by a noble ambition to win an honorable name and a competency for his family and he has succeeded perhaps even beyond his early expectations. He today occupies an acknowledged position as one of the sub- stantial citizens of Crawford county.


PETER J. KLINKER.


For eight years past Peter J. Klinker has served as county attorney of Craw- ford county, performing his duties so acceptably as to meet with the general commendation of his constituents. He was born in Wester Ohrsted, Germany, January 9, 1877, a son of Hans H. and Anna M. (Michaelsen) Klinker, both natives of Germany. The father was a farmer and fine stock-raiser, attaining quite a reputation as a breeder, and was identified for many years with fairs and fancy stock shows. He departed this life in 1881. Mrs. Klinker came to America in June, 1882, and settled at Denison, where she is still living. After her arrival in this state she married Nicolaus Schroeder, a retired farmer, who is now deceased. There were four children by her first marriage, three of whom are now living: Hans H., of Seattle, Washington; Margaret, the widow of Philip Lochmiller, of Denison; and Peter J., the subject of this review. One daughter, Lavina M., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder. She is now a nurse in the Masonic Home at Plattsmouth, Nebraska.


Peter J. Klinker came to America with his mother at five years of age and secured his early education in the public schools, graduating from the Denison high school in 1895. Having evinced a decided inclination for a literary or pro- fessional career, he matriculated in the State University at Iowa City, taking a full course of four years and graduating in 1900 with the degree of Ph. B. A year later he graduated from the legal department of the university with the degree of LL. B. He was at once admitted to the bar and began practice at Denison, showing an adaptability to the profession which gave bright promise as to the future. In the fall of 1902 he was elected on the republican ticket as county attorney and has since been reelected to the same office every two years and is now serving in his fifth term.




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