USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 29
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Vol. II-15
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business, of which he has since had charge. He also manages the farm and as he is alert and enterprising and, moreover, uses good judgment in everything he undertakes, he has attained a creditable measure of success.
In September, 1889, Mr. Goetsch was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Mesching, who was born in Minnesota and is a daughter of Henry and Julia (Wendorff) Mesching, both natives of Germany. Her parents came to America and after living for some time in Minnesota removed to Harrison county, Iowa, where they now make their home. There were twelve children in their family. Four children came to brighten the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Goetsch, namely : John, who was born August 8, 1891, and is now attending school at Schleswig, Iowa; Glenn, born July 12, 1895; August, born September 6, 1896; and Elmer, born October 20, 1900, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Goetsch as a patriotic American citizen has devoted considerable atten- tion to political questions and is an ardent adherent of the republican party, which he believes has the ability to manage the affairs of the nation success- fully. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, as is also his wife. They are giving their children the advantages of a good education and by their influence and example are contributing to the general welfare of the community. Mr. Goetsch is to be congratulated upon the position he has attained, and the high respect in which he is held by his acquaintances is evidence of his genuine worth.
BRINTEN SHARP.
Brinten Sharp, an enterprising and prosperous farmer of Union township, was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1855, a son of Elijah and Delilah (Canada) Sharp, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father followed the vocation of forgeman in one of the large iron mills of that state and at the time of the Civil war enlisted as a soldier and for three years faithfully performed his duties in the rank and file. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom three survive, as follows: William, who resides in Milton, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania; Brinten, of this review; and Jeanette. The father's death occurred in 1899, the mother having passed away when our subject was but six years old.
After obtaining such education as he could in the public schools of Pennsyl- vania, Brinten Sharp engaged in farming in his native state for six years and then removed to Kane county, Illinois. There he worked by the month for three years, after which time he removed to Davison county, South Dakota, where he was numbered among the first settlers. He took a homestead, proved up on it and spent the following five years there, subsequently coming to Crawford county, Iowa. He located on a farm near Vail and for two years conducted a dairy business. He then removed to Union township, bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he later sold, and then purchased another tract, but after living on this for awhile he disposed of it and in 1907 bought his present home. Altogether he has owned three farms in Union township, all of which
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he improved, and at present his holdings consist of one hundred and twenty acres of excellent farming land.
Mr. Sharp was married at the age of twenty-one to Miss Anna Stover, a native of Pennsylvania, and the following nine children have been born to them : Milford, who lives in Dow City; Amanda, who became the wife of Charles Vassar and lives in Parker, South Dakota; Ira, a resident of Ute, Iowa; Elmer, of Rapid City, South Dakota; Ida, who married William Sterrett, of Dow City; Mabel, who is now Mrs. Allen Haymouth and resides in Dow City ; Floyd, Meryl and Vivian, who are at home with their parents.
In exercising his right of franchise Mr. Sharp casts his vote for the repub- lican party, and while taking due interest in public welfare he as never sought political preferment. In religion he was reared in the Presbyterian faith, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is recognized as a man of strict integrity and genuine worth in every relation of life and is classed with the well known and intelligent agriculturists of Union township, where he enjoys the merited esteem of his fellow citizens.
CARL ERICK ENGBERG.
Among the natives of the Scandinavian countries who have been successfully associated with the agricultural interests of Crawford county must be numbered Carl Erick Engberg, who is now residing in Kiron. His birth occurred in Swe- den on the 29th of April, 1840. The parents, John Erick Lofqueist and Engred (Christophsen) Engberg, emigrated to the United States in 1861 and located in Henry county, Illinois, which continued to be their home for many years. Six children were born to them, as follows: Margaret, the wife of Laus Longberg, of Sac county, Iowa; Carolina, who became the wife of Samuel Petersen, of Henry county, Illinois ; Johannas, deceased; Carl Erick, our subject ; Christopher, deceased ; and Jonas, also deceased. The father passed away in Henry county, Illinois, at the age of ninety-one years, and the mother in Sac county, Iowa, at the age of seventy.
Carl Erick Engberg came to America with his parents and located in Henry county, Illinois, where he began working as a farm hand, in which capacity he continued for eight years. He was an industrious and economical young man and was thus able to put aside a portion of his wages every month and in this manner acquired the capital to buy land. In May, 1869, he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Stockholm township, Crawford county, and about the same time he purchased a ten acre timber tract near Boyer, this county. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising, in both of which ventures he met with a fair degree of success, owing to his close application and capable management. In 1904 he bought a quarter section of land in South Dakota and six years later he acquired one hundred and sixty acres in Bruett county, Minnesota. He still owns his South Dakota and Minnesota farms but sold his homestead in Crawford county in 1904. Two years prior to selling his farm he bought prop-
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erty in Kiron, upon which he erected several residences and in one of these he now lives.
On the 26th of February, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Engberg and Miss Johanna Johnson, a daughter of Axel and Palnella ( Neilsen) Johnson. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, of whom Mrs. Engberg was the eldest. The others are as follows: Elenora, the wife of Swan Johnson, of Sac county ; Olive, who lives in Chicago; Elizabeth, deceased; Augusta, who resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Lena, the wife of George Oscar Oster- green, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Nels, living in Lyons, Nebraska; Joseph, who went to sea as a boy and was never heard from afterward; and Charles, of South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Engberg have become the parents of seven chil- dren but only four are now living, John, the eldest, passing away at the age of thirty-eight, and Oscar and Robert, the next two in the order of birth, dying in infancy. Those surviving are: Nettie, the wife of Harlund Smith, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Joseph, living at Kiron; Caroline, the wife of the Rev. Walter Forest, of Ames, Iowa; and Lilly, who is at home.
The family attend the Baptist church, of which they are members. Politi- cally Mr. Engberg affiliates with the prohibition party, considering that its policy is best adapted to promote the moral welfare of the public. He is a public- spirited man and takes an active interest in local affairs and has been elected to several of the minor township offices, the duties of which he capably discharged. The family is well known and highly regarded in Kiron and the hospitality of their pleasant home is graciously extended to their many friends.
THOMAS HODKIN.
Among the native sons of England who have become prominent in agricul- tural circles in Crawford county is Thomas Hodkin. He was born in Chester- field, Derbyshire, January 27, 1838, a son of George and Mary (Brown) Hodkin, both of whom were natives of Derbyshire. The father was by trade a stone-mason and also engaged in farming. He removed with his family to Buxton, England, about the time our subject left home when a boy and con- tinued there during the remainder of his days. He and his wife are both buried at Buxton. There were three children in the family: Jane, deceased; Thomas, of this review; and George, also deceased.
Thomas Hodkin possessed limited advantages of education in his early life. He entered the service of Duke Francis of Bedford as stable boy, continuing in that position until about twenty-four years of age. He was then in the employ of two sisters by the name of Travers, who belonged to the aristocracy and continued in their service for about six years. At the age of thirty he was married and, having decided that more favorable opportunities were presented in the new world, he purchased tickets for himself and bride from London to Iowa City, Iowa. After arriving at his destination he worked in the vicinity of Iowa City and West Liberty and later rented land near Downey. In 1882 he came to Crawford county and purchased a small farm, which he cultivated until
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS HODKIN
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1893, when he moved to his present location in Willow township. He acquired two hundred acres, which he improved with good buildings and in other ways, and transformed the property into one of the attractive farms of this region. He has since sold forty acres and now has a well kept place of one hundred and sixty acres, which yields a handsome income.
In 1865 Mr. Hodkin was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Compton, of Bedfordshire, England, who proved to him a loving wife and helpful companion. She passed away in 1903 and was buried in the cemetery at Dow City, Iowa. Their home was brightened by the arrival of eight children, namely: Charlotte, now the wife of John Sanders, of Charter Oak, Iowa; George, who is fore- man of a bridge gang; Blanch, the wife of Carl Larson, of Redfield, South Dakota; Horace, of Boyer township; Daisy, now Mrs. John Grant, of Charter Oak; Jennie, the wife of Peter Hansen, of Streeter, North Dakota; Thomas B., who is living at home; and Jesse, of Redfield, South Dakota.
In his native country Mr. Hodkin was a member of the Church of England, but after he came to the United States he united with the Methodist church, with which he is still affiliated. In politics ever since arriving in this country he has adhered to the republican party. He is a strong advocate of education and has assisted greatly in promoting the interests of the schools of his township, having served most ably as a member of the school board. In business he has always been governed by principles of justice and fairness and in the evening of a long and useful life he retains the respect and honor in an eminent degree of his neighbors and acquaintances.
CLINT SCIFORD.
As a representative of the young men who are coming forward to occupy places of responsibility in agricultural circles Clint Sciford of Soldier township deserves mention in the history of Crawford county. He was born on the farm which he now owns, October 19, 1886, a son of George and Theresa (Bowers) Sciford, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa with their re- spective parents and were married near Muscatine, locating in 1874 in Soldier township, Crawford county. Here Mr. Sciford engaged very successfully in farming and was the owner at one time of six hundred and ninety-six acres, which he acquired through his diligence and good judgment. He retired to Arion, Iowa, in 1900, having previously divided his land among his children, of whom there are six now living, namely : Charley, Emma, now the wife of Fred Blunk, and George, all of Crawford county; Benjamin, of Boyd county, Nebraska ; Ella, the wife of Wallace Sommers, of Minnesota; and Clint, the subject of this review. Sherman, the fifth in order of birth, is deceased.
Clint Sciford attended the district schools and was reared under influences that gave every desirable opportunity for laying the foundation for a useful business career. At fifteen years of age he began life on his own account as pro- prietor of a livery barn but at the end of one year went to Omaha, continuing for a year in that city. He then returned home and began farming, later coming
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into possession of his share of the estate. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres, which is well improved, and under his competent management is yielding handsome returns.
On the 27th of April, 1908, Mr. Sciford was united in marriage to Anna Moore, who was born in St. Louis, September 23, 1880. a daughter of Charles and Josephine (Trefts) Moore. The father was born in Cincinnati and the mother in St. Louis, where they were married. The father passed away in 1895, his companion dying ten years later. There were seven children in their family, namely : Nettie, wife of William Jasen, of Chicago, Illinois; William and Char- ley, of St. Louis ; Anna, now Mrs. Clint Sciford ; John, of St. Louis; Minnie, the wife of Elmer Page, of Denver, Colorado; and Joseph, who lives in Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Sciford was a widow when she married Mr. Sciford, and the mother of one child, Earl, born on the 5th of February, 1907.
Mr. Sciford gives his support to the republican party but is not prominent in political affairs, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business. He is an efficient member of the community and is known as a successful and progres- sive farmer who takes an active interest in his calling and whose business qualifi- cations are more than ordinary. Genial and kindly in disposition, he has made many friends who prophesy for him a bright and prosperous future.
JOHN GRIFFIN.
Although he has passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey, John Griffin continues to be quite actively engaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing on his excellent farm in Washington township. He was born in Ireland in March, 1829, being the eldest child of Thomas and Anne (Lillis) Griffin. The parents, who were also natives of the Emerald isle, spent their entire lives in the land of their birth, where the father engaged in farming. Five children were born to them, the other four being as follows: Margaret, the wife of John Mc- Donald, living in the state of New York; Bridget, who married John Eustis, residing at Pond Beach, New York; Kate, deceased; and Thomas, whose where- abouts are unknown.
John Griffin obtained his education in Ireland, remaining a subject of the British crown until he had passed his twenty-second year, at which time he re- solved to become an American citizen. Upon his arrival in the United States he first located in Louisiana, where he remained for one year, and then spent one summer in St. Louis, Missouri, after which he went to Davenport, where he lived for a year, and then returned to Louisiana, spending the winter there. In the spring he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained until the close of the Civil war, when he came to Iowa, first locating in Clinton county and later removing to Crawford county and settling in Denison township, where he farmed as a renter for about twelve years. He then bought the farm in Washington township, where he now resides. Mr. Griffin has always been an energetic and enterprising man and has met with more than moderate success in his agricultural pursuits, being regarded as one of the substantial farmers in his community.
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Mr. Griffin was united in marriage in 1862 at Memphis, Tennessee, to Miss Mary Carey, a native of County Clare, Ireland. Nine children were born of this union as follows: Thomas, who is living in Nebraska; Anne, residing in Council Bluffs ; Mollie and Patrick, who are at home; John, a resident of Omaha, Ne- braska; James, living in the same place; Margaret, the wife of Jesse Bennett; Katie, the wife of Willis Wiggins, of Dow City; and Mitchell, deceased. Mr. Griffin also reared three children belonging to his son Thomas: John, Grace and Gertrude.
The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Griffin has always been independent in his political views, giving his support to such men and measures as he felt were adapted to promote the best interests of the people. He has not been an aspirant for public office but is at present serving as a school director. During the long period of his residence in Crawford county he has shown himself to be a man well worthy of the esteem which is accorded him.
PETER BOECK.
Thirty years ago Peter Boeck, now a well known farmer of Crawford county, landed in America from a foreign land. He came to this country because he believed it offered more favorable inducements than could be found in Europe and the result has exceeded his anticipations. He is today one of the highly re- spected citizens of the county and he and his family enjoy the blessings of an abundant prosperity. He was born in Germany, April 1, 1850, a son of Peter and Margaret (Reimel) Boeck. The parents passed their entire lives in the old country, the father dying in 1875 and the mother in 1881. There were four chil- dren in their family: Thomas, who is still living in Germany; Peter, of this re- view; Henry, who is a tailor and lives in Germany ; and Annie, the wife of John Ericksen.
Peter Boeck was educated in his native land and continued to live there until thirty-one years of age. He arrived on the western shores of the Atlantic ocean in March, 1881, and located in Hamilton county, Iowa, where he worked at eighteen dollars per month. As time passed he received higher wages but he continued in the employ of others for eighteen years. In 1899 he came to Craw- ford county and began farming upon his own account on land which he now owns. From time to time he purchased more land and his farm now comprises three hundred and thirty-seven acres on sections 15 and 16, Hanover township. In addition to general farming, he is an extensive stock-feeder and as he uses good judgment he has attained marked success. He developed his farm from the virgin prairie and made many improvements which are among the best to be seen in the township.
On the 8th of December, 1898, Mr. Boeck was united in marriage to Mrs. Louisa Klinker, the widow of Peter Klinker, who was born in Germany and married in that country. He died September 15, 1897. There were five children in his family, namely: Meta, who was born October 19, 1884, and is now the wife of Peter Boeck, of Charter Oak township; George, who was born May
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28, 1887, and now lives in Monona county, Iowa ; Mary, who died at the age of six months ; and William, born August 19, 1894, and Bernhardt, born January 15, 1897, both of whom are living at home. Mrs. Boeck is a daughter of Juer- gen and Elizabeth (Goss) Kroeger, also natives of Germany. They came to America in 1882 and settled in Crawford county, passing the later years of their lives with their children. The mother died in August, 1886, and the father in November, 1890. Seven children besides Louisa, now Mrs. Peter Boeck, were born to them, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Vosgran, of Crawford county ; Minnie, who became the wife of Marcus Wilefang and is now deceased ; John, who lives in Germany; Peter, of Plymouth county, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Brother Christiansen, of Denison; Dora, the wife of Hans Petersen, of Ger- many; and Adolph, of Cherokee, Iowa. One child, Charley H., has come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Boeck, his natal day being November 4, 1900.
Even as a boy Mr. Boeck was impressed with the fact that industry and per- severance are important factors in success and his life is a striking illustration of this truth. He applied himself with untiring zeal and thus acquired the founda- tion of the competence he now enjoys. His record cannot fail to be an inspira- tion to others who aspire to financial independence. Politically he adheres to the democratic party and religiously he and his wife are earnest supporters of the German Lutheran church.
JOHN O'SHEA.
The ability to work hard, the ambition to get ahead in the world and the tenacity to carry out this desire are three qualities that have placed John O'Shea in the successful position he today occupies as one of the successful farmers of Crawford county. He was born in County Cork, Ireland, about December 25, 1840, a son of Timothy and Julia (Newman) O'Shea. His father was a native of Ireland, where he died about 1847 or 1848, the history of his early life being unknown. The mother was also born in Ireland and was of English extraction. She came to this country and lived with her son until she also passed away in 1892. To this couple the following four children were born: Ann, deceased ; John ; Abigail, of Dunlap, Iowa; and Jane, of Grand Island, Nebraska.
John O'Shea obtained his early education in the public schools of Ireland and although quite young at the time of his father's death he worked during his leisure hours and for three months received wages which amounted to about two dollars and forty cents in United States money for his labor. Later he was em- ployed for two years at thirty-five dollars a year, every cent of which he saved as he had meanwhile determined to seek his fortune in the new world, and he used his earnings to defray his expenses to the United States, landing in New York city in 1864. As he had a little money left, he went to Salem, Massa- chusetts, where he worked for four months in order to earn enough to continue his journey westward. This he accomplished, locating in Cedar Rapids, Linn county, Iowa, and as soon as he had accumulated enough money he sent to the old country for his mother and eldest sister, who were followed later on by the
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remaining two children. His mother resided with him until 1876, in which year he built her a home in Dunlap, Iowa, and there supported her until her death.
When Mr. O'Shea located in Cedar Rapids he secured employment on the railroad section, remaining there for four years, at the end of that period moving to Johnson county, where he purchased land and lived thereon during the next three years. He then went to Shelby county, again buying land, upon which he lived until 1907. In that year he disposed of his holdings, amounting to four hundred acres, and came to Crawford county. Here he bought two hundred and eighty acres of land, building upon it his present residence, and has since added to his possessions one hundred and eighty-six acres located one-half mile out of Denison.
In 1876 Mr. O'Shea was married to Miss Mary Castelloo, who was born in Canada, a daughter of Thomas and Anne (Kilroo) Castelloo, both of whom were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. They emigrated to Canada in the early '50s and later moved to Clinton county, Iowa, where the father died. The mother then went to Shelby county, Iowa, where her death also occurred. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Anne and Matthew, both deceased ; Mary; John, deceased; Kate, of Mapleton, Iowa; Michael, deceased; and Thomas, of Sioux City. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Shea were born the following eight children : Timothy, thirty-three years old February 1, 1910, is a member of Dunlap Council, No. 1248, Knights of Columbus; Julia, thirty-one years old; John Thomas, twenty-nine years; Matthew Michael, twenty-seven years ; Agnes, twenty-five years ; William Henry, twenty-three years; Patrick Oliver, twenty- one years; and Peter Charles, eighteen years old.
All of the children are living at home and with their parents are faithful members of the Roman Catholic church. Politically Mr. O'Shea gives his support to the democratic party and at one time was elected to the office of justice of the peace but declined to qualify. For four years he has been a di- rector on the school board. Mr. O'Shea is broad-minded in his views, is a man whom to know is to respect, ever doing all in his power to upbuild and maintain the good standing of his township.
J. H. SCHMADEKE.
One of the extensive landowners and progressive citizens of Crawford county is J. H. Schmadeke, who for a period of more than twenty-five years has been one of the active factors in the agricultural development of this county. He is a native son of Iowa, having been born in Jackson county on the 29th of July, 1859, and is a son of Frederick and Sophia (Storm) Schmadeke. The father was a native of Hanover, Germany, and the mother of Mecklenburg. They emigrated to the United States with their respective parents in childhood and met and were married in Iowa. Shortly after that event they purchased eighty acres of land in Jackson county, this state, for which they paid two and one- half dollars per acre, and followed farming during the remainder of their lives. Upon them devolved all of the hardships of pioneer life, but they were strong
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