USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 49
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SYLVESTER LAZARUS JONES.
A beautiful monument in Charter Oak cemetery marks the last resting place of Sylvester Lazarus Jones, who was one of the highly esteemed citizens of Crawford county and for thirty years was closely identified with its agricultural interests. He was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1847, and was baptized the following December by Rev. Henry Baker in the Lutheran church. He was the son of Erasmus M. Jones, who was born in Perry county, Penn- sylvania. April 27, 1824. The father was left an orphan at two years of age and was reared by neighbors. After reaching maturity he became a machine operator in a woolen factory in Pennsylvania. Subsequently he engaged in farming in that state, and in 1880 came to Iowa, making the trip by boat down the Ohio river and up the Missouri to Omaha, Nebraska. He located Vol. II-25
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on one hundred and sixty acres in Charter Oak township, Crawford county, where he continued until his death, which occurred May 14. 1903. In Penn- sylvania he was married February 11, 1844, to Lydia Wheelan, who was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, October 23, 1826. The beloved wife and mother departed this life May 5, 1909, having arrived at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Mr. Jones was one of the prominent men of the com- munity and served as school director and road supervisor. There were twelve children in the family, and the following still survive: Mrs. Susan C. Dieter, of Wyoming; John H., of Charter Oak, Iowa; Mary E., who is now Mrs. G. F. Wirtz, ako of Charter Oak : and Winfield S.
Sylvester Lazarus Jones received his early education in his native state, de- voting his attention later to agriculture, in which as the years passed he became more than usually proficient. In 1878 he yielded to the attractions of the west and came to Crawford county, Iowa, working at any employment he could find in Charter Oak township. He was a man of great industry and perseverance and was soon renting land and living with his family in a sod house until a more commodious dwelling was erected. In 1881 he bought one hundred and sixty acres at eight dollars per acre on section 22, that township, by paying twenty-five dollars down, but crops were bad the first year and he would gladly have returned to his old home in Pennsylvania but had no money with which to travel. However, he was encouraged by a neighbor, C. Z. Marshall, who ad- vised him to try his fortune on the farm another year. The next season proved favorable and later he purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his original place and engaged on a much larger scale in farming and stock-raising, feeding seven carloads of cattle and hogs yearly. He also bought a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres in Big Horn county, Wyoming, which carries a rich vein of coal. It was his delight to visit the ranch each year with members of his family and there follow his favorite recreation of hunting and trapping. The home is now adorned with many evidences of his skill as a sportsman.
On August 1, 1875, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Nancy N. Bechtel, who was born February 20, 1853, in Blair county, Penn- sylvania, a daughter of Daniel and Nancy L. (Ray) Bechtel. Her father was a miller and engaged in farming and the grist-mill business, being a well known and highly respected citizen. He was of German and the mother of Irish parent- age. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones ten children were born, namely : Lurella, now Mrs. Carl Fish, of Idaho; Dosha I., now Mrs. H. Sterner, of Letcher, South Dakota; Lydia A., who married Carl Sterner, of Charter Oak, Iowa; Emma Marie, at home ; Nora A., now the wife of Charles D. Ward, of Sioux City, Iowa; Martha E., who married W. H. Willrock, of Denison, Iowa; Daniel Harvey, who was born November 2, 1886, and is manager of the home farm; S. Walter, who was born August 2, 1888, and is now living in South Dakota; Dorothea E., now Mrs. 1 .. Satterly, of Denison ; and Ben S., who was born July 30, 1893, and is living at home.
Mrs. Jones and her children attend the Methodist church. She has twelve grandchildren and also has two sisters living in Pennsylvania, a sister at Dan- bury, lowa, and a brother at Marshalltown, Iowa. She recalls many interesting reminiscences of early experiences in Crawford county when she and her hus-
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band labored patiently to gain a foothold among strangers. Often Indians came to the door begging for something to eat when she was at home with no pro- tection but her children, her husband being at work in the fields. She experi- enced the hardships of pioneer life which were in striking contrast with the many comforts and conveniences she now enjoys.
Mr. Jones passed away on his Wyoming ranch, April 11, 1910, his death be- ing caused by the bite of a poisonous insect known as the woodtick. He was a man of broad sympathies and generous nature, who made friends wherever he was known and always commanded the respect of those with whom he asso- ciated. He voted in support of the republican party but was never greatly at- tracted by politics, as his energies were devoted principally to his family and his business. He was eminently successful in financial affairs, was straightforward and true, and his memory will always be revered by those who knew him.
HENRY E. DORALE.
Among the prosperous farmers of Soldier township is Henry E. Dorale. Starting ten years ago with eighty acres of land, he has made such a wise use of opportunities that today he is the fortunate owner of four hundred and forty acres of good land in Crawford county, becoming one of the leading men of his township. He is a native of Jackson county, Iowa, born January 3, 1870, a son of George A. and Mary (Dove) Dorale, both of whom were born in Germany and came to America with their respective parents when young. Their mar- riage took place in Iowa and Mr. Dorale rented land in Jackson county for a few years. He then came to Crawford county and established his homestead in Hanover township. He became the owner of two hundred and forty acres, which under his management was highly productive. He died in 1884, being then only forty-eight years of age and in the height of a useful life. The mother is still living with one of her daughters in Stockholm township and has arrived at the age of sixty-six years. Of their family five survive, namely: Clara, who is the wife of John Quade, of Crawford county; Fred, of South Dakota; Louis, of Wyoming; Henry E., of this review; and Mary, who is the wife of John Maack.
Henry E. Dorale was educated in the common schools and continued at home until twenty-one years of age. He began farming on his own account upon a portion of the family estate, comprising eighty acres, which he cultivated for seven years. He then sold his place and bought two hundred and ninety-four acres on section 16, Soldier township. As his resources increased he purchased more land, becoming the owner of four hundred and forty acres on sections 16 and 18. He is an extensive stock-feeder, being especially partial to black polled cattle and Poland China hogs, and few men in the county have been more success- ful in their undertakings.
On the 29th of May, 1895, Mr. Dorale was united in marriage to Miss Annie Maack, who was born in Crawford county February 28, 1877, a daughter of Ernest and Mary (Sachau) Maack, both of whom were born in Germany. They
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were married in the old country and arrived in America in 1870, taking up their home in Rock Island county, Illinois. Mr. Maack rented land for ten years and then bought one hundred and sixty acres in Hanover township, Crawford county, Iowa, where He established the family homestead. He died in December, 1895, but his wife is still living upon the home farm. Of their children the following mrvive Henry, who assists his mother upon the homestead ; August, of Han- over town lup : Emma, who is the wife of Fred Dorale, of South Dakota; John, of Hanover township: Annie, now Mrs. Henry E. Dorale; Matilda, the wife of Anifrew Namany, of South Dakota ; and Marie, who is at home. Of the other children Christ and Bernhard are deceased and one died in infancy. Seven children have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dorale, namely : Emma, who was born May 6, 1896; Elsie, born November 17, 1897; Fred, born June 11, 1800: Lulu, born February 26, 1901 ; Albert, born May 15, 1903; Richard, born December 5, 1905: and Paula, who died at the age of two months.
Mr. Dorale and his wife are active members of the Lutheran church. He is a stanch believer in the principles of the democratic party and has served as a member of the school board for four years, as township trustee for six years and is now on his second term as assessor of the township. He comes of good Teutonic parentage and the traits of persistence and application which he has displayed were doubtless inherited from his worthy ancestry. He is favorably known by the best business men of his part of the county, and his record is additional proof of the fact that the man who possesses energy and determina- tion is on the road to fortune provided he is blessed with sound judgment.
WILLIAM H. MEYER.
William H. Meyer, who is numbered among the enterprising and progres- sive farmers of Crawford county, was born May 3, 1879, in Denison, Iowa. His parents, August and Henrietta ( Hardar) Meyer, are both natives of Ger- many, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1865, and located near Pontiac, Illinois, remaining there until 1874, in which year they came to Deni- son. Here the father engaged in the hotel business for seven years and then moved to his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township, adding to his property from time to time until he now owns six hundred acres of highly improved land, upon which he followed farming and stock-raising. In 1899 he returned to Lake View, Sac county, lowa, and there purchased the comfortable and commodious home in which he now resides. During the winter season he pends his time either in California or Florida. To him and his wife were born thirteen children, of whom the following survive: Minnie, who married William Haller, of Lake View ; Arthur, who resides in Guthrie county; Franz, a resi- dent of Auburn, Iowa ; Bertha, who became the wife of John Dorfler and lives in Solhier township; and William, of this review.
William Il. Meyer obtained such education as was afforded by the common school and during his youth acquired a rudimentary knowledge of agriculture upon the home farm. Subsequently he took possession of two hundred and
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eighty acres of his father's land, located on sections 7, 17 and 18, Jackson town- ship, where he has since been successfully employed in tilling the soil.
On June 1, 1904, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Lena Chris- tiansen, a daughter of Anton and Wilhelmena (Prien) Christiansen, who now live in Dakota. Their other surviving children are as follows: Julius, who re- sides in Ricketts, Iowa; Marie, who married William Evers, of Wyoming; Al- bert, Bernard, Louis, John, Henry and Otto, who are residing in South Dakota. Two are deceased, Carl, and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are the parents of three children, namely: Julius, born January 6, 1905; Elmer, March 29, 1906; and Mabel, October 15, 1909.
In politics Mr. Meyer has always cast his vote for the republican party, while fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in religion he is of the Lutheran faith. His life has been an upright one, actuated by honorable principles and worthy methods, and he enjoys the high esteem of his fellow citizens.
WILLIAM T. WRIGHT, M. D.
For twenty-one years Dr. William T. Wright has engaged in practice at Denison and in the time named few men have been more closely identified with the progress of the city. He has acquired an enviable reputation and is today one of the leading practitioners of the state. He was born at Lewes, Delaware, September 1, 1856, a son of William and Rachel Weld (Smith) Wright, both of whom were natives of London, England. The father came to America in 1850, or shortly before, and was an architect of Baltimore, Maryland, for a short time. He entered the Episcopal ministry and in 1865 came to Waverly, Iowa, where he preached, later officiating at Nashua, Denison, Des Moines, Marengo, Grinnell, Carroll and Vail. He died at Denison in 1900 at the age of seventy-six, his wife passing away in March, 1910, at the age of eighty-one years. In 1852 he was a missionary with his wife in Africa, where they en- countered many hardships and dangers. He was a man of energy, ability and high character and a devout follower in the footsteps of the Master. Our sub- ject's grandfather Wright was also a native of England. He engaged in the mercantile business and married Miss Eldershore. There were five children in their family: John, Richard, William, George and Thomas. The maternal grandfather, James Juneau Smith, was a manufacturer of sauces and pickles in England. By his first marriage he had one child, Eliza, and for his second wife he married her sister, Rachel Eldershore, by whom he had three children: James, Yealing and Rachel. The father of these children died in middle life and Mrs. Smith was again married, her second husband being a Mr. Reynolds, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One daughter, Margaret, was born to this union. Six children came to bless the home of William and Rachel Wright, namely : William T., the subject of this review ; John, Mary and Robert, who are deceased ; and Leighton and Alfred, both of Denison, Iowa.
William T. Wright came with his parents to Waverly, Iowa, at the age of nine years and was reared there and in Nashua and Denison. He attended the
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public wheels and the academy in Bradford. later entering Kenyon College, troni which he was graduated in 1878 with the degree of A. B. He then taught whool for one year in Crawford county, Iowa, after which he matriculated in the melwal department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michi- Kan, graduating in 1882 with the degree of M. D. He began practice at Denison but afterward practiced one year at Ute and six years at Vail, then returning to Demson, where he has achieved more than the ordinary measure of success. Het a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations, and hey now serving with general acceptance to his professional brethren as secre- tary of the Crawford County Medical Association.
On the 22d of October. 1891. Dr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Florence M. Brigham, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and a daughter of | B, and Julia ( Fuller ) Brigham. The parents were born in Vermont, and the mother died in New York when Mrs. Wright was a child. The father was one of the carly settlers of Monona county, Iowa, locating at Ute, where he en- gaged successfully in farming. He died at Ute in 1890 at the age of seventy- five years. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, namely : Wimired Weld. Alma Lucile and Alice Edna.
Dr. Wright and his wife are members of the Episcopal church, in which he Is serving as vestryman. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, also holding membership in the Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Theta Pi college fraternities. In politics he adheres to the republican party. He has been an active worker in behalf of his party and was coroner of Monona county in 1889. also serving as county superintendent of schools of Crawford county in 1896. For one year he filled the office of chairman of the county republican central committee, discharging his duties with an ability that met the hearty approval of the members of the committee. Earn- est, energetic and competent in whatever he undertakes, he is also a champion of progress and represents in his profession and in his life the highest ideals. No man in Denison occupies a more honorable place in the estimation of the people than Dr. William T. Wright.
CARL F. KUEHNLE.
Carl F. Kuehnle. a splendid type of American manhood, interested in the various activities-business, social, political and intellectual-which constitute the vital forces of society at the present day, has for years had control of large and important interests, in the management of which he displays notably sound judgment, keen discrimination and powers of coordination. At the present writ- ing he is actively associated with banking interests in Iowa and at the same time has made for himself an enviable position as a representative of the Crawford cuuna lar
Mr Kuehnle was born in Dubuque, Iowa, April 7. 1861. The family name indrate he German hneage. His father, Charles F. Kuchnle, was born near Heidelberg in Baden, Germany, while his mother, Mary (Von Eschen ) Kuehnle,
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was a native of Chur, Switzerland. The father was for many years a machin- ist, being foreman of the machine shops of the Illinois Central Railroad at Dubuque and later at Waterloo, Iowa, the removal being made to the latter place when Carl F. Kuehnle was a lad of nine years. His education, begun in Du- buque, was continued in the public schools of Waterloo, and he was graduated from the East Waterloo high school in 1878 with valedictorian honors. With a thirst for knowledge he entered the College of Liberal Arts of the State Univer- sity of Iowa, completing the course by graduation in 1881, while in 1882 he was graduated from the College of Law. In 1884 his alma mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. Since his college days he has been one of the most stalwart champions of the university and his friendship has been manifest in many tangible ways. Immediately after the completion of his law course he located at Denison and accepted the position of law clerk in the office of Conner & Shaw at a salary of fifty dollars per month. His ability was soon recognized and his employers gave him opportunity to work up in his chosen profession. When the senior member of the firm, J. P. Conner, retired to become circuit judge on the Ist of January, 1885, Mr. Kuehnle formed a partnership with Leslie M. Shaw, afterward governor of Iowa and subsequently secretary of the United States treasury. Under the firm name of Shaw & Kuehnle the partner- ship was continued until 1898, when they were joined by Cyrus Beard and the firm style was changed to Shaw, Kuehnle & Beard. In 1900, however, Mr. Beard was obliged to go to Wyoming for his health and was succeeded in the firm by Jacob Sims, under the name of Shaw, Sims & Kuehnle. Mr. Kuehnle's active connection with the Denison bar now covers over twenty-eight years, during which period he has enjoyed an extensive practice.
Mr. Kuehnle is interested in banking, being vice president and general man- ager of the Bank of Denison, president of the Manilla National Bank of Ma- nilla, Iowa, and a director of the Commercial National Bank of Council Bluffs, Iowa. He is likewise on the directorate of several other business corporations. . Moreover, Mr. Kuehnle is a friend of education. He has long served as a member of the board of trustees of Denison Normal College, as a member of the board of education of Denison and in 1909 was elected by the state legisla- ture a member of the board of regents of the State University. In this con- nection the Iowa Alumnus said: "It is a particularly fortuitous circumstance that a man of Mr. Kuehnle's character, ability, energy, enthusiasm and popular- ity should be chosen as one of the guiding spirits of the gigantic task of univer- sity building. He brings to the board a wide and successful experience as a business man. His ability to manage, his business and financial instinct, his quick comprehension of extensive projects as well as his secure grasp of details, are of themselves sufficient assets to make him a valuable member of the board. To this must be added his legal training and his knowledge of the law as well as his oratorical power."
Mr. Kuehnle is indeed well known as a public speaker and has often been called upon to deliver addresses upon public occasions. No movement of Deni- son that seems to promise well for the city fails to receive his indorsement and cooperation and he has assisted various organizations for the general good. He has been for many years a trustee of the Carnegie Library and has been presi-
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dent of the Denison Commercial Club. He was president of the Alumni Asso- Gation of the State University of lowa in 1894 and ten years later was again honored by election to the presidency. He belongs to a number of the leading fraternal organizations and is particularly prominent in the Knights of Pythias, Having served as grand chancellor in 1893-4 and as supreme representative from lowa frem 1895 until 1907.
In October, 188g, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kuehnle and Miss Lillian M Laub, of Denison, and they have two children, Lydia Belle and Carl Frederick, aged respectively eighteen and fourteen years. Mr. Kuehnle is one of the most popular as well as one of the most honored citizens of Denison and is almost equally well known throughout the state, having a particularly wide acquaintance among the prominent men of Iowa.
CLAUS GOTTBURG.
Claus Gottburg, who for more than twenty-five years has been a resident of Crawford county and now owns and conducts the largest furniture store in this locality, is one of the progressive and substantial business men of Schleswig. Like many of the citizens of his community. Mr. Gottburg is a native of Ger- many, his birth having occurred on the 25th of June, 1864. His parents, John and Margaret ( Bothmann) Gottburg, had eight children and three of those still surviving are residents of the United States. The order of their birth is as follows: Lorenz, who lives in Germany; Elsie B., the widow of John Holst, of Germany : John, also a resident of Germany; Margaret, who is deceased ; Franz, who lives in Germany; Claus, the subject of this sketch; Annie, the wife of Martin Fredrickson, of Otter Creek township; and Katie, who became the wife of Chris Kruse, of Minnesota.
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The boyhood and youth of Claus Gottburg were spent in the fatherland, where he acquired his education, but early recognizing the limitations which the caste lines make almost insurmountable in the older and more conservative coun- try he determined to become a citizen of the United States and in 1883 took passage for America. Upon his arrival here he almost immediately made his way westward and located in Crawford county, where for sixteen years he worked at the carpenter's trade. He was a competent workman, ever discharg- ing Iris tasks with that faithful and conscientious regard for details which is the printe requirement in the upbuilding of any business, and the result was constant employment at a fair and reasonable remuneration. In 1899 he came to Schles- vig and established a furniture store and during the eleven years he has been engaged in business has met with most gratifying success. Today he carries the largest line of household furnishings of any store in the county. He has a Farge and well selected stock in addition, to which he owns the building and the milotantial ant pleasant residence where he lives. He possesses not only the aliiny to establish and manage a business but that still rarer gift-the faculty of winning and retaining patrons.
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On the 9th of September, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gott- burg and Miss Catharina Klaus, a daughter of Fred Klaus. She is the sixth in the order of birth of the nine children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Klaus, only seven of whom are living, however, the two youngest dying in infancy. Those surviving beside Mrs. Gottburg are: Johanna, who lives in Schleswig; Paul, a resident of Charter Oak; Christ, who lives in the same place; Louisa, the wife of Hans Riessen, also of Charter Oak; Andrew, of Ida Grove; and Daniel, of Charter Oak. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gottburg: John, Freda, Elsie and Arthur.
Mr. and Mrs. Gottburg are of the Evangelical faith, being members of the Lutheran denomination, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Wood- men and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Ever since acquiring the right of suffrage Mr. Gottburg has given his po- litical support to the democratic party. He has never sought public honors nor the emoluments of office but casts his vote on election day for the candidates of his party. Although his energies have been concentrated along the line of his personal interests, they, in themselves, are of a nature to make him a strong fac- tor in the commercial development of the town, in addition to which he is a man who stands for progress and the adoption of such measures as will advance the general interests of the community.
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