USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 23
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States, one sister now living near Glasgow, Scotland, while his two brothers when quite young started for Australia and were never again heard from. The mother of our subject, who was also born and reared in Scotland, gave her hand in marriage to Samuel Bell in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She, too, has departed this life, her death occurring in Crawford county in 1901, and both she and her husband lie buried in the Vail cemetery. Their family numbered three sons and three daughters, as follows: Mary, the wife of C. N. Baker, of Bridgeport, Washington; Lizzie, the wife of George Lyon, a resident of Denison; David, who follows farming in East Boyer township; Thomas W., of this review ; Robert, a farmer of Lyman county, South Dakota; and Jennie, the wife of George Albert, of Nevada, Missouri.
Thomas W. Bell was a lad of eleven years when he accompanied his parents from New England to Crawford county. His education, which was begun in the country schools of his native state, was continued in the schools of Crawford county, and his training at farm labor was received under the direction of his father. He remained at home until he was twenty-seven years of age and then began farming on his own account in Hayes township, where he made his home until 1904. He next removed to Manilla, Crawford county, and was there proprietor of the hostelry known as the Bell House, for four years. He also was engaged in the draying business for one year and followed carpentering to some extent. After a time he returned to the home place and again engaged in farming, now owning two hundred acres in East Boyer township, this for- merly constituting a part of the homestead property. He likewise owns two hundred and forty-seven acres in Hayes township and forty-two acres lying in- side the corporation limits of Denison. He has one hundred and sixty acres in Lyman county, South Dakota, so that his landed possessions are now quite ex- tensive. Mr. Bell engaged in general farming and stock-raising and was for- merly a breeder of Poland China hogs. His land is in a good state of cultiva- tion, while the place is improved with modern and substantial buildings, and his property is considered as valuable as any to be found in Crawford county. In the spring of 1911 he removed to his place in Denison, where he is now living.
It was on the 26th of January, 1889, that Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Addie Baker, who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, a daughter of William and Jane (Stone) Baker. The parents were born in Pennsylvania and are of Dutch extraction. The father was taken to Indiana when but two years of age and during his youth went to Ohio, but eventually came to Crawford county, where he engaged in farming throughout the remaining years of his active business career. Both he and his wife are still living and they now make their home in Manilla, this county. Their family numbers six children : Henry, a resident of Scranton, Iowa; Addie, now Mrs. Bell; Libbie, who makes her home in Los Angeles, California ; Clayton, a resident of Manilla, Iowa ; Emma, who has departed this life; and Louise, the wife of Cass Wood, residing near Olin, Iowa. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bell has been blessed with two sons and one daughter, all still at home; Myron; Clarence, who in June, 1911, was graduated from Denison College; and Queen, who is attending school in Denison.
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Mr. Bell's study of the political issues and questions of the day has led him to give stalwart support to the republican party, yet he has never been active as an office seeker, for his time is fully occupied with his private business affairs. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and is a Mason, while both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star at Manilla. He has ever been alert for opportunities that will win advancement, and along this line he pursued his way until he occupied a foremost place among the substantial agriculturists of Crawford county.
A. P. GRAINGER.
A. P. Grainger, a substantial and prosperous farmer and a progressive and public-spirited citizen of Paradise township, Crawford county, was born in Kingston, Canada, on the 24th of September, 1866, a son of P. K. and Amanda (Wemp) Grainger. The father, whose birth occurred in County Fermanagh, Ireland, May 10, 1832, was but two years old when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, who took up their abode in Kingston, Canada, and there he was reared and educated. Upon attaining his majority he taught school for fifteen years, after which he was engaged in farming until 1881, when he came to Craw- ford county, Iowa, locating in Paradise township, where he improved and ope- rated a farm for some time. Later he removed to another farm in Paradise township, which he also developed, and there he remained until his death on the 24th of June, 1908, his remains being interred in the Catholic cemetery north of Dow City, Iowa. His wife was born at Amhurst Island, Canada, and long survived her husband, passing away February 24, 1910. By her marriage to Mr. Grainger she had become the mother of eight children, as follows: Mary, the wife of Marion Cole, who is engaged in the feed business in Dow City, Iowa; Anna, who wedded J. C. Grandy, a railroad telegraph operator of Warsaw, In- diana ; Lucretia, deceased; A. P., of this review; James Allen, who is associated with our subject in farming; Edward F., an agriculturist of Paradise township; Charles, engaged in farming in Nebraska; and Rachel, the widow of John Cary, who makes her home at Denison, Iowa.
Reared amid the scenes and environment of his native country, A. P. Grain- ger attended the schools of Kingston and acquired a good common school edu- cation. He was a youth of fifteen years when his father crossed the border and sought a home in the United States, and after the arrival in Iowa the son as- sisted in the development and cultivation of the home farm in Crawford county. Upon attaining man's estate he entered the business world on his own account, wisely chosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared. He has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of eighty acres of land in Paradise township, all under a good state of cultivation. He has labored earnestly and today his farm, in its well improved condition, gives every indication of prosperity and is the visible evidence of a life of thrift, en- ergy and determination.
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Mr. Grainger was united in marriage, in 1910, to Miss Johanna Purcell, of Paradise township, and he and his wife are both faithful and consistent members of the Catholic church, the teachings of that denomination forming the guiding spirit in their lives. Although Mr. Grainger has ever given loyal support to the principles of the republican party, he has never sought nor desired public office as the reward of party fealty, but has preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business activities. His interest in community affairs, however, has never been slack, and he is a public-spirited citizen, interested in the general welfare. Progress may be said to be the keynote of his career, and he is recognized by his fellow men as a valued and representative member of the community.
BERNHARD SIEGFRIED ANDRESEN.
For the past five years cashier of the German Bank of Schleswig, Iowa, Bern- hard Siegfried Andresen has attained a deserved reputation wherever he is known as a gentleman of education and discernment and of most excellent busi- ness ability. He was born at Ahrenshoeft, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, October 29, 1868, a son of Carsten and Margarethe (Petersen) Andresen. The father engaged in farming, and the ancestors on both sides of the house lived for many generations at Ahrenshoeft or in the vicinity.
The subject of this review was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the common schools and at the Real Gymnasium at Rendsburg, graduating in 1886. He showed special talent for mathematical and historical subjects while at college. After leaving school he worked for a year in a public office but resigned as he did not like the work and the chances of promotion were small. Having decided to seek his fortune under the stars and stripes, he came to America in 1888 and first took up his residence in Indiana, later arriving in Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In 1897 he visited his old home in Ger- many for a short time and in 1902 he became connected with the German Bank at Schleswig, Iowa, as assistant to Mr. Kruger, the cashier of the bank. Upon the death of Mr. Kruger, in 1906, he was appointed by the board of directors as his successor and has since continued in that position, discharging his duties in a way that has met the hearty approval of the directors and patrons of the institution.
On the 23d of September, 1908, Mr. Andresen was united in marriage at Denison, Iowa, to Miss Adelheid Niewoehner, formerly a deaconess at St. Louis. She was born at Annapolis, Maryland. One son, Bernard, has come to bless this union, his natal day being November 18, 1909.
Mr. Andresen has found in his estimable wife a worthy helpmate and they have entered upon their married life under most favorable circumstances. He has always been governed by high ideals and in the discharge of his various obli- gations has shown a fidelity to principle and a clearness of judgment which re- flect upon him the highest credit. He ranks as one of the substantial and pro- gressive men of Crawford county. Fraternally he has been identified with Syl- van Lodge, No. 507, A. F. & A. M., since 1906, with Lodge No. 696, I. O. O. F.,
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since 1910, and with the Sons of Herman since 1902. He is a sincere believer in the authority and inspiration of the Bible and holds membership in the Evangeli- cal Lutheran church of the North American synod, which corresponds with the church to which his ancestors belonged in Germany as far back as 1535.
REV. A. D. GREIF.
Rev. A. D. Greif, pastor of the German Lutheran church of Soldier township, is one of the prominent ministers of the denomination in the west and is recog- nized as one of its most efficient workers. He was born in Meiningen, Ger- many, June 16, 1849, a son of Carl F. and Susanna (Sengling) Greif, the for- mer of whom was born December 3, 1822, and the latter in 1823. The father was a teacher in the schools of Germany and also a teacher of music. He was the director of three singing societies at one time. There were seven children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Carl F. Greif, namely : Ludovic, now a college pro- fessor in Germany ; Marie, now Mrs. Hoeltzel, whose home is also in Germany ; A. D., the subject of this review ; August, Emma and Henry, all of whom are living in Germany; and Carl. The mother of these children died at the age of thirty-five years, and four years later the father again married and there were eight children by the second union. He died November 8, 1890.
A. D. Greif received his preliminary education in the public schools and then attended college for six years, showing a capacity for study that gave bright prom- ise for his future. At the age of nineteen he bade farewell to relatives and friends and started for America, having fully determined to work out his destiny under the favoring conditions of the republic. After teaching school for three months in New York he came west to St. Louis and took a course in theology at Concordia Seminary. In June, 1870, being then twenty-one years of age, he was ordained as a minister of the Lutheran church. His first charge was at William Penn, Texas. After three years at that point he was assigned to a congregation at Serbin, Texas, where he continued for two years, subsequently going to Little Rock for one and one-half years, to Chandlerville, Illinois, for six years, and thence to Davenport, Iowa. Since April 17, 1910, he has been pas- tor of Immanuela Lutheran church in Soldier township, discharging his duties with an efficiency that meets the hearty approval of members of the church and the entire community.
On the 17th of April, 1874, at New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Greif was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Odendahl, a native of Germany. She came to America with her parents when a child, the family taking up its residence at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the mother shortly afterward died. The father went to live with his son at New Orleans and continued there until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-six years of age. Twelve children were boin to Mr. and Mrs. Odendahl, six of whom are still living: Frederick; Louisa, now Mrs. A. D. Greif ; Detleff; Friederike Huettmann; Henriette; and Mary Gassner. Among those deceased are Friederike, Michaella and Adelbert. Mr. and Mrs. Greif have no children of their own but have adopted a son, Herman
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T. Greif, who was born in Texas, June 20, 1874, and is now the minister of the German Lutheran church at Davenport, and a daughter, Freda, now the wife of Otto Westphal, of Davenport, Iowa.
Mr. Greif by a life of self-sacrifice and devotion to a noble cause has not only gained a wide reputation in the Lutheran denomination but has attained a noble character which is of more value than great earthly riches. He is a thor- ough scholar, a clear and convincing speaker, and is intimately acquainted with the great Book on which his teachings are based and whose message it is his mis- sion to deliver. As a conscientious and hardworking pastor he has met with great success and it is hardly necessary to say that he has a host of ardent sup- porters and admirers in the church of which he is a worthy representative. His standing is indicated by the important offices he has filled, having been for fif- teen years visiting elder, for five years first vice president and for two years president of the Iowa district of the German Evangelical Lutheran synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states.
MATHIAS FREY.
One of the self-made men of Denison township, Crawford county, is Mathias Frey, a well known and prosperous farmer of that locality. His parents, both of whom were natives of France, were Mathias and Mary (Oberlin) Frey. The mother died there in 1874, and the father's death occurred in 1880. Politically he favoured a republican form of government for his country. To this couple five children were born, as follows: Mary, deceased; Mathias; Jacob, at present a farmer in France, who was a soldier in the Franco-Prussian war of 1871; Sa- lome, residing in France; Lena, deceased.
The subject of this sketch was born March 11, 1846, in Epesheim, which at that time belonged to France, but after the war was acquired by Germany. The early education of Mr. Frey was obtained in the public schools, where, besides his own language, he was taught German. At the age of fourteen he entered the tailor shop of his father in order to learn the trade and remained there two years. He then worked on a farm for four years, at the expiration of which time he decided to emigrate to the United States. He first located in Chicago and worked in that city and vicinity for eight years. He then married and re- moved to Lake county, Illinois, three years later coming to Crawford county, Iowa, where for two years he worked on a farm. He then rented land in Wash- ington township and one year later removed to Denison township. Sixteen years ago he bought the farm he now resides on, consisting of one hundred acres, in the latter township, having since then greatly improved the property, and he is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising.
In 1874 Mr. Frey was united in marriage to Miss Kerren Jensen, who is of Danish extraction. By this union there are eight children, as follows: Mary, the wife of H. Stahl, of Bucks Grove, Iowa; Sarah, the wife of Julis Mahler, who follows the carpenter's trade in Denison: Henry, deceased; Emma, who mar- ried Bert Hester, of Washington township; Lydia, the wife of Carl Clausen,
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a farmer residing in Spinks county, South Dakota; Rose, deceased ; George and John, who are residing at home. Mr. Frey is politically a stanch republican and has served his township as school director. In his religion he is a member of the Evangelical church.
PETER J. MARTENS.
After nearly a quarter of a century devoted to the interests of agriculture in Crawford county, during which time he has witnessed the great development and progress of this section of the state, Peter J. Martens is now, as the result of his industry and business acumen, enjoying at his home in West Side the com- forts of life for which he toiled so many years. He was born in Holstein, Ger- many, October 23, 1852, a son of John H. and Margerette (Hansen) Martens, who emigrated to the United States, March 27, 1865, and settled in Wheatland, Clinton county, Iowa. The other children born to this couple are: Annie, who is the wife of Claus Binning and resides in Clinton county ; Henry J., who lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa ; and Herman C., whose home is in West Side. The mother died in 1865, only three weeks after arriving in this country, and the father sur- vived her until May 10, 1893, when he, too, passed away.
Upon reaching the age of twenty years Peter J. Martens rented one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Clinton county and worked there for about five years, at the end of which period he came to Crawford county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres. This he cultivated and continued to add to his property as his financial circumstances would allow until at the present time he owns six hundred acres, all of which is located in West Side township. At one time he was a stock raiser and feeder on an extensive scale and shipped thou- sands of head of cattle to the markets. On January 15, 1902, having acquired a sufficient competency to render him independent for the remainder of his life, he retired from active labor and is now residing at his home in West Side.
Mr. Martens was married May II, 1875, to Miss Minnie Hohn, a daughter of Carl and Mary Hohn, of Clinton county. Unto them were born ten children, of whom the following survive: Ida, who became the wife of August Rohwer and lives in West Side; John, who resides on the old homestead in West Side township with his brothers Edward and Herman; Charles, who is in business in West Side; Louis, of West Side; Emil, who lives in Logan, Iowa; Jennie, who married Leroy Dolise and resides in Carroll county ; and Ella, who lives at home. The other child, Clara, died in infancy. Mrs. Marten's demise occurred in February, 1887. On December 1, 1888, Mr. Martens was united in mar- riage to Emma L. Kay, of Wheatland, Clinton county, a daughter of Gottlieb and Christina Grau.
Mr. Martens has always given his support to the principles upheld by the re- publican party and has ever manifested his interest in any movement that tended to the advancement of his community. For sixteen years he held the office of township trustee, for nine years he served as school treasurer and has also acted in the capacity of road supervisor, and whatever has been the nature of his offi-
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cial duties he has discharged them with efficiency and executive ability. In his religious views he is an adherent of the Lutheran church. He has made his way in the world without the assistance of either money or influence, he has made a host of friends and earned their high regard, and he has never had occa- sion to regret his determination to cast his lot in with the men of his adopted country.
W. C. POLLOCK.
The admirable qualities of thrift and industry which characterize the Scotch race are exemplified in the career of W. C. Pollock, who, by his unaided efforts has acquired an independent position in the country of his adoption and is today one of the leading farmers and stock-breeders of Crawford county. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, September 13, 1856, a son of John and Ellen (Cook) Pol- lock, both of whom were natives of Ayrshire, Scotland, where the father spent his entire life. The mother came to the United States in 1880, locating in Chi- cago, where she died. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom survive as follows : John, James, Joseph, Jessie, and Ellen, all of whom reside at home in Chicago; Adam, who is living in San Antonio, Texas; and W. C., the subject of this sketch.
W. C. Pollock had such educational advantages as were accessible in the pub- lic schools of Glasgow until he was fourteen years of age, when he came to the United States and made his home with an aunt who lived in Kane county, Illi- nois, upon whose farm he remained for two years. When twenty-two years old he came to Crawford county, Iowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which in 1904 he added another tract of one hundred and thirty-six acres, upon which he now resides, his other property lying just north of the home place. Although his original intention was to devote his time to agriculture he subsequently turned his attention to live stock and has made a specialty of rais- ing Percheron horses, graded cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. For the past four- teen years he has been exhibiting the latter at county fairs and stock shows and in 1909 had the honor of taking first prize at the county fair. He purchased from S. E. Morton & Son, of Camden, Ohio, a hog named King of Colonials, and the two hogs now at the head of the herd are from this one and are called Arion Wonder No. 90509, and King of Colonials Again No. 80267. Mr. Pollock is one of the extensive breeders of hogs in Crawford county, has spent much time and study in perfecting one particular strain and for the past ten years has been labor- ing to secure a uniform color, in which he has so far succeeded that among a herd of sixty head there is not one that varies in shade.
In 1877, when Mr. Pollock was twenty-one years old, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Anna Duff, who was born in Kane county, Illinois, and was of Scotch descent. They became the parents of six children, as follows: Hattie, deceased ; Mabel, who became the wife of Edward Granger, a prosperous farmer of Crawford county; Nellie, who is a school teacher of Boise city, Idaho; Jo- seph C., the owner of a farm in Dixon county, Nebraska; John, whose farm lies
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near Bloomfield, Nebraska; Ernest, who aids his father in the management of the home farm.
In politics Mr. Pollock casts his vote with the republicans and has served ten years as central committeeman. In their religious views Mr. and Mrs. Pol- lock are followers of the Presbyterian church. He is in every essential a self- made man, having started with nothing and worked himself up to his present position among the successful business men of Crawford county, and he pos- sesses the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact.
OTTO H. STEGEMANN.
Otto H. Stegemann, who lives on an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 29, Otter Creek township, where he engages in general farming and stock-raising, was born in Germany on the 12th of August, 1859. His parents, Edward and Caroline (Rohdy) Stegemann, emigrated to the United States with their family in 1870. They first located in Muscatine county, Iowa, and after residing there for six years they removed to Crawford county, where the parents continued to live during the remainder of their days. Of their children, the youngest died in infancy and those surviving are as follows : Augusta, the wife of John Doerfler, of Soldier township; William who lives in Otter Creek township; Minnie, residing in Schleswig; Ernest, living in Buck Grove; Otillie, who became the wife of John Reimers; Albertine, the wife of A. P. Hollander, of Schleswig; Otto H., our subject ; Gus D., residing in North Platte, Nebraska ; and Albert, who is living in Schleswig.
Otto H. Stegemann was a lad of eleven years when his parents came to the United States, and the greater part of his education, therefore, was obtained in the district schools of Iowa. He early became familiar with agricultural pursuits and continued to work for his father for some years, the latter owning three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he purchased in 1886. Two years later he bought one-half of section 29, Otter Creek township, where our subject now lives, and subsequently acquired one hundred and twenty acres on section 28. Otto H. Stegemann purchased from his father two hundred and forty acres in Otter Creek township, where he now makes his home, and his wife has one- half of that amount in Charter Oak township. He has met with gratifying suc- cess in all of his ventures and is today regarded as one of the substantial and successful agriculturists in his community.
Mr. Stegemann established a home of his own by his marriage on the 14th of October, 1889, to Miss Minnie Meyer, a daughter of Adolph and Catherine (Voglepohl) Meyer. She is the eldest of the seven children born to her parents, the others being: August, who lives in Soldier township; William, a resident of the same place; Dora, the wife of Henry Nedermyer, of Charter Oak township; Adolph, living in Soldier township; Henry, deceased; and Edward, residing in Charter Oak township. Mr. and Mrs. Stegemann have two children: Martha and Marcus, both of whom are still at home.
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