USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 28
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On the Ist of January, 1889, Dr. Coon was united in marriage to Miss Ella Clark, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a daughter of Joseph and Eliza Clark, both of whom were born in New York. The Doctor and his wife have one child, William Louis Coon.
Fraternally Dr. Coon is identified with the Masons, belonging to Sylvan Lodge, No. 507, A. F. & A. M., while both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. He is likewise connected with the Modern Woodmen. In re- ligious faith both he and his wife are Baptists. Dr. Coon is a man of marked individuality, of strong character and stalwart purpose, who in citizenship and professional circles and in private life commands the respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact. He served as mayor of the city while residing in Arion, and in Denison has been a member of the city council for the past three years and chairman of the finance committee.
FRITZ WITT.
Fritz Witt, who owns an excellent two hundred acre farm in Crawford county, has acquired a competence which now enables him to live retired in Schleswig, where he has recently erected a thoroughly modern residence. He was born in Germany on the 4th of November, 1847, and is a son of Carl and Johanna (Esmark) Witt, who lived and died in the fatherland. They were the parents of the following children: Sophia, the wife of Hans Kruse, of Manning, Iowa; Louisa, who is deceased; Johanna, who married Carl Staak, of Germany ; Christina, deceased; Maria, the deceased wife of Rudolph Lehfrerdt, of Denison ; Carlotta, the wife of Fritz Hensen, of Germany; Carl, of Denison ; and Fritz, the subject of this sketch.
Fritz Witt was a resident of his native land for the first twenty-three years of his life, but in 1870 he decided that the United States afforded better oppor- tunities for the energetic young men than the older country. Upon landing he immediately made his way westward and located in Crawford county, Iowa, and for seven years he followed various pursuits, during which time he acquired the capital to buy eighty acres of land. He was a sheep herder in the old country and so in addition to his agricultural pursuits, made a specialty of sheep-raising, in which venture he met with gratifying success and was able to add to his holdings from time to time until he acquired two hundred acres of land. About twenty-one years ago he and George Mayercord. of Denison, were engaged in the shipping of cattle and hogs for a time, and it proved to be a profitable un- dertaking. Mr. Witt is a man who cautiously plans and as carefully executes every project he enters into and the result is a concentration of effort which usually compels success. He has rented his homestead to his son and is now enjoying in the evening of life the ease which his comfortable circumstances provide.
On the 6th of January, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Witt and Miss Johanna Ohl, of Otter Creek township, a daughter of Ernest and Delside (Dibbern) Ohl. Seven children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Ohl, as follows:
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August, who is living at Denison ; William, a resident of Dunlap, this state; Amil, living at Blue Island, Illinois; Margaret, the wife of Carl Schreder, of Buck Grove; Matilda, who married Herman Framberg, of Chicago; Johanna, the wife of Fritz Witt; and Christina, who became the wife of Jurgen Schroeder, of Schleswig. Mr. and Mrs. Witt have become the parents of the following chil- dren: Emma, the deceased wife of Amos Hollander; Ludwick of Otter Creek township; Christina, the wife of John Krohnke, of Schleswig; Amanda, the wife of William Schmidt, of Schleswig; Benjamin, of Schleswig; and Ella, who mar- ried Paul F. Wilson, of Omaha.
They all affiliate with the Lutheran church, according to which faith they endeavor to guide their lifes. Mr. Witt has ever given his support to the demo- cratic party and takes an active interest in all local political issues, having served in the majority of the minor township offices, the duties of which he discharged creditably and satisfactorily to his constituency. He has many friends who ac- cord him the respect his life principles and business policy most justly merit.
CHRISTIAN H. RUSCH.
From his earliest recollection Christian H. Rusch has been identified with Crawford county. He was born on a farm in this county, January 19, 1880, a son of Claus and Bertha (Jansen) Rusch, the former of whom was born in Ger- many and the latter in America. They were married in Crawford county, Iowa, and the father bought two hundred and twenty acres of land here, which he cul- tivated for a number of years. He sold that property in 1898 and purchased four hundred acres on sections 17 and 18, Morgan township, upon which he lived until his retirement in 1905. He and his wife now make their home at Schles- wig. By their union ten children have been born, namely: Christian H., of this review; Henry, who lives in Morgan township; Elizabeth, the wife of John Claussen, of Crawford county ; Julia, who married Paul Kleppen, of Nebraska; and Katie, Ella, Maggie, Metha, John and Herman, all of whom are at home.
Educated in the district schools, Christian H. Rusch continued at home until twenty-six years of age. He then rented a part of his father's homestead, upon which he still resides. He makes a specialty of feeding stock and as he is a good judge of animals he is able to buy to advantage and to command fair prices for what he has to sell.
On the 27th of February, 1906, Mr. Rusch was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Claussen, who was born at Clinton, Iowa, June 24, 1882, a daughter of Henry and Katie (Witthon) Claussen, both of whom were born in Germany. They came to America about 1880 and lived in Clinton county, Iowa, for sev- eral years before coming to Crawford county, where Mr. Claussen rented land for several years and then bought one hundred and sixty acres in Soldier town- ship. He cultivated his farm with a goodly measure of success until 1909, when he disposed of it, and he and his wife have since lived retired at Ricketts. There were ten children in their family seven of whom are now living, namely: John, of Schleswig; Dora, the wife of William Meyers, of Crawford county; Anna,
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who is at home ; Minnie, now Mrs. Christian H. Rusch ; Peter, also at home ; Her- man, of Nebraska; and Bertha, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rusch have one child, Harvey, born March 23, 191I.
Politically Mr. Rusch gives his support to the democratic party but lie is in no sense an office seeker as he has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He prefers to concentrate his attention upon his business and the result is seen in his productive fields and well fed animals which are unmistakable evidences of prosperity. He is never backward in aiding a worthy cause and no man is more ready or willing to relieve distress or extend a helping hand to the unfortunate. He and his wife are valued members of the German Lutheran church.
HUGO KROHNKE.
Hugo Krohnke, a leading business man of Schleswig, is a native of Cedar county, Iowa, born February 26, 1874. He is a son of Jurgen and Dora ( Ha- mann) Krohnke, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America about 1864 and Mr. Krohnke began in his quest of fortune in the new world by working by the month on a farm near Davenport, Iowa. After several years he rented land and then, having acquired sufficient capital, he purchased eighty acres in Morgan township, Crawford county, to which he applied himself with such diligence that he became one of the large landholders of the county. He is now the owner of one thousand and forty acres, which is divided into six dif- ferent farms, all of them being in Crawford county except eighty acres which is in Woodbury county, Iowa. The land is well improved and under an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Krohnke retired from active labor in 1903 and is now living in a beautiful home at Schleswig. There are four children in the family, namely : Herman, a resident of Nebraska; George, of Ricketts, Iowa; Hugo, the subject of this review; and Emma, who is the wife of E. L. Dieckmann, of Sioux City, Iowa.
Hugo Krohnke attended the district schools in his boyhood and under his father became acquainted with the various details of agriculture and stock- raising. He continued at home until twenty-four years of age and then pur- chased a livery stable at Schleswig, which he has since conducted, also engaging extensively in buying and shipping live stock. He has a well equipped livery es- tablishment, which he conducts in such a manner as to attract a lucrative pat- ronage. He is a man of good business sagacity and has the confidence of the entire community.
On the 23d of May, 1906, Mr. Krohnke was married to Miss Emma Rick- ers, a native of Otter Creek township and a daughter of Adolph and Dora (Suckstorf) Rickers. The parents were both born in Germany but were mar- ried in Iowa. Mr. Rickers engaged successfully in farming but retired to Otter Creek in 1896. He died ten years later but his widow is still living and makes her home with the subject of this review. She is now sixty-five years of age. There are three children in the family, namely: Henry and George, both resi- dents of Nebraska ; and Emma, now Mrs. Hugo Krohnke.
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Mr. Krohnke and his wife are active members of the German Lutheran church and are well acquainted in their locality, with which Mrs. Krohnke has been identified all her life. In politics he supports the republican party, whose platforms and candidates he has endorsed by his vote ever since he attained man- hood. Fraternally, he is connected with the Sons of Herman and as a business man and citizen he is ever actuated by principles of integrity and progressiveness.
JOHN JOSEPH MCDERMOTT.
For twelve years past editor and publisher of The Manilla Times, John Joseph McDermott has acquired a reputation not only as a clear and convincing writer but also as one of the substantial and progressive citizens of Crawford county. He was born at Clinton, Iowa, December 11, 1878, a son of Anthony and Mary Agnes (Hook) McDermott, the former of whom was a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and the latter of Liverpool, England. The father, who was born July 16, 1852, left home at fourteen years of age and became a sailor but after ar- riving at manhood decided to try his fortune in America and came to Clinton county, Iowa. He was married at Toronto, Iowa, to Mary Agnes Hook and took up his residence in Clinton, where he continued until May, 1893, then locating on a farm two and one-half miles northwest of Manilla in Nishnabotny township, Crawford county. He removed to Manilla in 1908, and died there August 12, 1910. His beloved wife passed away February 3, 1897. Mr. McDermott gave his support to the democratic party, and being a stanch friend of education served most acceptably for a number of years as member of the school board. He and his wife were devoutly attached to the Catholic church and in their lives indi- cated a profound desire to follow the teachings of the Great Master. The last words of Mr. McDermott were expressive of his deep sense of the presence of God and his desire to meet once more with his companion, whose death he had sincerely mourned. Our subject's grandfather McDermott was a native of Ire- land and engaged in farming. He came to America and died at Clinton, Iowa, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. There were eight children in his family, namely : Michael, Anthony, Patrick, John, Mrs. Owen Kingsley, Mrs. James Sheridan, Bridget and Mrs. Thomas Rimmer. This branch of the family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. James Hook, the maternal grandfather, married Kate Sibbons in England. They came to America and after living for a short time in Clinton county, Iowa, removed to Crawford county, settling in Nishna- botny township. They both died at Manilla well advanced in years, having reared a family of seven children, namely: James, Mary Agnes, Patrick, Mrs. Kate Haley, Mrs. James Norkett, William and Francis. There were ten children in the family of Anthony and Mary Agnes McDermott, six of whom grew to ma- turity : John Joseph; Kathryn, now of Omaha, Nebraska; George, Anthony, Theresa, and Lillian, all of Manilla, Iowa.
John Joseph McDermott was reared at Clinton until eighteen years of age and received his education in the parochial and public schools, also attending the Clinton Business College. After laying his books aside he learned the printer's
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trade and has since devoted his attention principally to that business. In 1896 he came to Crawford county and for the past twelve years has been publisher of The Manilla Times, an independent weekly newspaper, which has many read- ers in this part of the state. He maintains a well equipped general job printing establishment for general catalogue and other lines of work in connection with his paper.
On the 5th of November, 1903, Mr. McDermott was united in marriage to Miss Marguerite Brockelsby, a native of Crawford county and a daughter of W. H. and Malinda Brockelsby. The father was born in England and the mother in Pennsylvania. They came west and settled in Crawford county and are now living in Hayes township. There were five children in their family: Richard, Edward, Winifred, Marguerite and Elsie. Mr. and Mrs. McDermott have two children, Joseph Muril and Francis Clyde.
Mr. McDermott's success in the management of his paper has been due to his unswerving loyalty to the section in which he lives and the fairness and impar- tiality with which he has treated all subjects of public interest. A man of good judgment and fair discrimination, he has proven a safe adviser, and his aim at all times has been to promote the general welfare, rather than to advocate any special interest. In religious belief he adheres to the Catholic church, and so- cially he is a valued member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Com- mercial Club of Manilla.
RICHARD G. BAER.
One of the prosperous farmers of Crawford county, is Richard G. Baer, a son of Andrew J. and Jane (Kelly) Baer. His father was born in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, and removed to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1862, later coming to Crawford county in 1871. He located in Denison township, two miles south of Denison, where he resided until his death in 1886. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. His wife, who was also a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, is still living. Ten children were born to them, three of whom are deceased. Those who survive are: Elias Henry, a resident of Port- land. Oregon ; Frank M., of Denison, Iowa; Martha, the wife of Francis Mur- doch, of Denison township; Richard G., the subject of this sketch; Emma, the wife of Jesse Rank, of Denison; Susie, the deceased wife of E. S. Miles, of Dunlap, Iowa ; and George C., who resides in Vergin, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Richard G. Baer attended school in Denison township, although his birth oc- curred in Clinton county, Iowa, April 26, 1866. He resided at home until he was twenty-four years of age, at which time he bought the farm where he now resides. This consists of one hundred and twenty acres, located on section 36, Denison township, and on which he has made many modern improvements, both as to buildings and farm machinery.
In 1890 Mr. Baer was united in marriage to Miss Alice Riddle, a native of Crawford county, and they are the parents of eleven children, as follows: Lil- lian ; Jetta, who is teaching school in this county; Laura, attending college in
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Denison ; Florence, Robert, Pearl, Vernie, Paul, Elsie, Evelyn and Theodore, all living at home.
In politics Mr. Baer is a republican. Formerly he and his wife were mem- - bers of the Baptist church but are now affiliated with the Holiness mission.
HENRY KIEPE.
Henry Kiepe, who lives on a highly cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hanover township, was born in Germany on the 14th of March, 1861, and is a son of William and Sophia (Boenieng) Kiepe. His parents spent their entire lives in the land of their nativity, the father dying at the age of thirty- five years and the mother at fifty-four. Of the three children born to them the son Henry was the only one to become a citizen of the United States, the other two, Herman and Charley, having remained in the fatherland.
The first twenty-two years of Henry Kiepe's life were spent in Germany, but at the end of that period he decided that better opportunities were afforded ambitious young men in America, so he took passage for the United States and in 1883 began his life in the new world. During the first two and one-half years of his residence here he worked by the month as a farm hand in Clinton county, this state. At the expiration of that time he removed to Monona county, where he was similarly employed for a time, and then rented land which he farmed for three years. By means of careful management, perseverance and economy he saved the capital necessary to buy eighty acres of land, which he cultivated for twelve years, but during that period he added another one hundred and sixty acres to his original tract. He sold this property in 1901 and bought a quarter section of land in Crawford county, upon which he now resides. Mr. Kiepe is a capable man of progressive ideas, as is attested by the general appearance of his homestead. The improvements are good and are kept in repair, the pastures contain good grades of stock and the well tilled fields yield abundant harvests, all of which are due to the careful supervision which he personally gives to every detail about his farm.
On the 14th of November, 1886, Mr. Kiepe was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Quitmeier, who is also a native of Germany, her birth occurring in that country on the 12th of September, 1865. Her father died in the fatherland and her mother was married again and emigrated to the United States with her hus- band and family in 1888. They located on a farm in Monona county, this state, which they cultivated until 1908, in which year the mother died. The stepfather, however, is still living at the age of sixty-six years. By her first marriage Mrs. Quitmeier had two children: Henry, who died in Germany, and Mrs. Kiepe. Three children were born of the second marriage, as follows: Frederick, who lives in Monona county ; Mary, the wife of Jorgen Cook, of Charter Oak town- ship, this county ; and Charley, who lives on the old homestead near Charter Oak.
Mr. and Mrs. Kiepe have become the parents of six children: Herman, who was born on the 30th of April, 1887, and who is married and living in Hanover township; Mary, who was born on the 25th of October, 1888, and is the wife of
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Henry Fredricks ; Charley, who was born on the 6th of April, 1890; Fred, born on the 3d of October, 1891 ; Annie, who was born on the 11th of Jannary, 1896; and Arthur, born on the 30th of August, 1902. All but the first two are still at home.
The family attend the services of the Lutheran church, with which they are identified by membership. Mr. Kiepe gives his political support to the republican party but does not actively participate in public affairs as he does not aspire to office. He has always given his time and energy to the development of his per- sonal interests rather than public, however, he is ever ready to assist in the promotion of any measure the adoption of which would be for the general wel- fare of the community.
THOMAS HAYES.
A well known name associated with the agricultural development of Craw- ford county is that of Hayes, the family continuing to be ably represented in the person of Thomas Hayes, who owns two hundred and eighty acres of land in Nishnabotny township, in the cultivation of which he engages. He was born in Monona county, Iowa, on the 22d of January, 1860, and is a son of Thomas and Emily (Riggs) Hayes. The father was a native of New Jersey, but of Scotch extraction in both the paternal and maternal lines, his mother having been a McMurty prior to her marriage. Thomas Hayes, Sr., was a shoe- maker, following his trade while journeying from village to village through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, arriving in Chicago about 1835 or 1836. From there he proceeded to Burlington, where he located about 1838, continuing to make it his home for fifteen consecutive years. In 1853 he re- moved to Monona county, Iowa, settling in the vicinity of Onawa, where he resided for thirteen years, then came to Crawford county, first locating in Deni- son. He purchased land in what is now known as Hayes township, which was later named in his honor because he broke the first prairie there. He settled upon the place and engaged in its cultivation in the fall of 1869, his family, however, did not arrive until later, continuing to make it his home until 1875, when he passed away and was buried in the township which bore his name. Mr. Hayes was always one of the prominent and highly respected men in his community, ever taking an active and helpful interest in the political affairs of the township, having served as justice of the peace and in other minor offices. His wife was a native of Kentucky but migrated to Iowa with her people in 1838, and here she met the man whom she subsequently married. She survived her husband for over twenty years, her demise occurring in 1898.
Ten children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, the order of their birth being as follows: Amelia, deceased; Sarah, who is the wife of M. G. Wiggins, of Dow City. Iowa; Henry, a resident of Oklahoma; Martha, who has never married and is living in Omaha, Nebraska; Emma, deceased; Thomas, our sub- ject ; Callie, who married J. B. Milligan, of Nebraska; Silas, who is living in South Dakota; the ninth, who died in infancy; and James, also deceased.
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The district and public schools of Hayes township and Denison provided Thomas Hayes, Jr., with his education and he determined to become an agri- culturist. He remained a member of the paternal household until he had at- tained his twenty-third year, at which time he left to begin his career. The unsettled districts of the west had as great a fascination for him as for his father before him, so he went to Nebraska, locating upon a farm in Cuming county, which he cultivated for nine years. Returning to Iowa at the expira- tion of that time he purchased land on section 21, Nishnabotny township, which has continued to be his home for nearly twenty years. He has made all of the improvements upon his farm, which is one of the best in the vicinity, the build- ings all being substantially constructed and well repaired. Success has attended the efforts of Mr. Hayes and he has added to his original tract until he has acquired two hundred and eighty acres of land. He engages in general farming and stock-raising, having a fine breed of registered shorthorns, and makes a specialty of feeding stock for the market, being one of the most extensive feed- ers in the township.
In 1883 Mr. Hayes was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Milligan, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have become the parents of the following children : Clarence L., a resident of Nishnabotny township; Mabel, the wife of George Massie, of North Dakota; and Howard, Thomas, Ruth, Joseph, Katie and Irma and Enid, twins, all of whom are at home.
In politics Mr. Hayes is a republican, having served in some of the minor township offices, but his own interests have absorbed so much of his time and attention that he has never been prominently identified with public affairs. He is one of the energetic and enterprising agriculturists of the community, whose capable direction of his affairs is bringing him a goodly measure of success.
HENRY GOETSCH.
It was through the application of energy and perseverance that Henry Goetsch established himself upon a comfortable financial basis, becoming the owner of a productive farm which he acquired as the result of his own exertions. He is also the owner of a prosperous livery and feed business at Kiron. He was born in Wisconsin, February 20, 1868, a son of Carl and Carolina (Baumann) Goetsch, both of whom were born in Germany. They came to America in 1864 and after spending five years in Wisconsin removed to Boone county, Iowa, and later to Harrison county, where they spent seven years. In 1892 they went to California, where the father died in December, 1898, but the mother is still liv- ing in that state. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are now living.
Henry Goetsch was brought to Iowa in his infancy and received his early education in this state. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age and then rented a farm in Harrison county, Iowa, which he cultivated for ten years, then purchasing a farm in the same county which he developed into a valuable property. In March, 1910, he removed to Kiron and purchased a feed and livery
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