USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 65
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On November 8. 1880, Mr. Buenger was united in marriage to Miss Wilhel- mina Wittecopf, who was born December 14, 1857, a daughter of Carl and Minnie ( Brasse ) Wittecopf. The mother died in Germany and the father came to America in 1887, making his home with the subject of this review until his death,
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which occurred in 1902. In his family there were seven children: Frederica, the wife of Carl Bank, of Crawford county; Gitta, who married Carl Hopp, of Crawford county, and is now deceased; Wilhelmina, now Mrs. Friedrich Buenger; Marie, who is the wife of Johann Kleinser and lives in Germany; Sophia, the wife of Fred Bellman and also residing in Germany; Carl, of Germany ; and Caroline, the wife of August Schoff, of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Buenger became the parents of ten children, five of whom survive: Freda, who was born December 21, 1881, and is now the wife of Louie Kroll, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this review; Ernest, born May 8, 1886; Alma, born August 4, 1889; Bernhard, born April 14, 1895; and Martin, born June 11, 1898. With the exception of Freda, all are living at home.
Mr. Buenger has never sought the honors of public office, as his attention has been given to his family and his farm. He and his wife are consistent members of the German Lutheran church. He represents the class of men who reach the front in business undertakings and if they so desire become leaders in a com- munity. Among his associates his word is accepted as inviolate and through honorable business methods he has accumulated what he possesses today. He is neglectful of none of his duties as a citizen, business man or head of a family and therefore is fully entitled to a place in this work.
NELS OLSEN STRAHN.
A history of the agricultural development of Stockholm township would hardly be complete without reference being made to the late Nels Olsen Strahn, who at the time of his demise owned a finely cultivated farm of two hundred acres, which he had acquired by his thrift, energy and perseverance. A son of Ogle and Bool Fogel, he was born in Sweden on the 25th of March, 1837. The parents spent their entire lives in the land of their nativity, in the common schools of which the son, Nels, acquired his education. Mr. Strahn remained in Europe until he had passed his thirty-second year, a period sufficiently long for him to feel convinced that the opportunities afforded an ambitious man were far greater in America than in the more conservative and older countries, and so took pas- sage for the United States. Coming to Crawford county in 1869 he located upon forty acres of unimproved land, in the cultivation of which he engaged for a time. Then selling it he invested in one hundred and twenty acres in Stockholm township. Here he followed general farming and stock-raising, in both of which occupations he met with more than average success, which enabled him to add to his holdings another eighty acres. He continued to operate this place until he passed away on the IIth of January, 1883.
Mr. Strahn was a member of the Baptist church, while his political support he always gave to the republican party. Not being an aspirant for public honors or the emoluments of office, however, he never took a particularly active part in public affairs, preferring to concentrate his energy in the development of his own interests.
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In January, 1874, Mr. Strahn was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Pierson and they became the parents of six children: William, a resident of South Dakota: Harry, of Sac county; Oscar, of Kiron; Olaf, who lives in the same place ; Lillie, the wife of R. W. Amos, of Wichita, Kansas; and Nathan, of South Dakota.
Mrs. Strahn was again married, her second husband being P. A. Johnson, to whom she was united on the 16th of February, 1888. Mr. Johnson is also a native of Sweden and a son of John August Nelson and Greta, Olaf's daughter, both of whom passed their entire lives in the old country. Coming to America in the spring of 1880 Mr. Johnson first located in Omaha, where he was em- ployed five years, following which he filed upon a homestead, being engaged in its cultivation for two years, at the end of which period he came to Crawford county. Three children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, the first two, however, Elizabeth and Joseph, passed away. Enoch, the only surviving child born of this union, lives in Kiron. Mr. Johnson affiliates with the Free Mission church, while his political support is accorded to the prohibition party.
REV. L. SCHENKELBERG.
Rev. L. Schenkelberg, pastor of St. Boniface Catholic church at Charter Oak, ranks among the most successful and popular clergymen of Crawford county. He comes of sturdy German parentage and is a native of Rhein province, having been born February 9, 1874. He attended school in Germany until fourteen years of age and later crossed the ocean, arriving on the shores of the new world April 28, 1802. He came direct from the ocean port to Carroll county, Iowa, where he was received by relatives who had preceded him to this country. After two year», having determined to prepare for the priesthood, he became a student at Mount Calvary, Wisconsin, where he continued for four years and then took the required philosophical course at St. Joseph's College, Dubuque, Iowa, grad- uating from that institution in 1900. He next went to Montreal, Canada, and entered Grand Seminary, where for three years and three months he pursued the theological course leading to the priesthood. On December 19, 1903, he was raised to the dignity of priesthood by the Most Rev. Paul Brushesi, archbishop of Montreal. On December 24 of the same year he was made assistant at St. Joseph's church, Le Mars, lowa, and after fourteen months was transferred as pastor of the parish of Ogden, Iowa, where he continued for three and one- half years. After a short period of service at Merryhill, Iowa, he came to Charter Oak. October 28, 1908, and has since presided as pastor of St. Boniface Catholic church.
The history of St. Boniface parish dates from early in the 'Sos, when a few Catholic settlers began the organization of a center for religious services and secured a tract of forty acres about five miles northeast of the present town of Charter Oak. In 1886, however, the town having shown evidences of prosperity and permanency, it was decided through advice of Rev. B. C. Lenihan, then pastor
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at Denison, to sell the property and secure a site in the town upon which to build a church. Accordingly the land was sold and three lots were purchased at Charter Oak, and a neat little church was erected at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. Father Lenihan was the first priest to celebrate mass, this event taking place in one of the public school houses south of Charter Oak. As soon as the new church was completed the present pastor at Denison, Rev. M. Farrelly, was given charge of the congregation. He continued until 1896, when Rev. M. Costella, now of Livermore, was appointed as first pastor. Two years later Rev. L. Cooper, now of Alvord, Iowa, came to take charge and remained until December 1, 1905, during which time the church at Ute was built, of which he also assumed charge. In December, 1905, Rev. H. Eckert became pastor and remained until October 28, 1908, when Father Schenkelberg was appointed to the pastorate. The old church having burned down August 5, 1908, it became necessary to erect a new place of worship and the members of the congregation decided upon selling the former site and securing a new location. Accordingly they bought a beautiful four acre tract south of town, upon which they erected a new brick church, forty-four by eighty-seven feet in size and also a new parson- age of twenty-eight by thirty-four feet, supplied with all modern conveniences. The church property is one of the most beautiful in Crawford county and reflects great credit upon all who have assisted in the purchase of the site and the erection of the buildings.
Father Schenkelberg has proven highly efficient and under his administration the church has flourished and the interest of the members is constantly growing. He is a gentleman of pleasing address, a thorough scholar and a sympathetic shepherd whose energies are devoted conscientiously to the good of his flock.
HENRY W. DOIDGE.
Henry W. Doidge was born near Napanee, Canada, July 25, 1872, a son of William and Anne (Ramsey) Doidge. His genealogy possesses more than ordinary interest, as members of his family have been conspicuous in the annals of three countries.
John Doidge, one of his ancestors, was a soldier in the English army and served through the French wars, one of the decisive battles in which he partici- pated being that of Toulon. He married Miss Mary Ford, whose brother, Daniel Ford, was a member of the East India Company. After the death of his first wife he married Miss Susanna Churchill, who was a member of the Devonshire aristocracy. Mr. Doidge met his death by drowning in the English Channel during one of the battles in which he participated. His son, John Doidge, better known among his friends as Captain Doidge, was overseer of a mine in England and moved to Canada in 1842. There he purchased and improved a farm near Napanee, built a home and reared his family. His wife was a Mary Hall. Of their children, William, the father of our subject, was born in Devonshire, Eng- land, June 24, 1840, and when still quite young returned to Wales, where he attended school. He developed unusual intellectuality and at the early age of
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nine years received a prize for passing the best examination in mathematics out of a class of seventy-two contestants. Today he is conceded to be one of the most competent mathematicians in Crawford county. At the age of seventeen he returned to Canada and, following his father's example, cleared a farm in the forest, demonstrating, even this early in life, the indefatigable energy that permeates the family blood. Coming to Crawford county, lowa, in 1873, he located in Goodrich township and there improved a farm, which he owned and operated until 1895, when he removed to Denison and is now enjoying the fruits of his early labors. He was first married in 1864 to Miss Mary Farley and of this union one child. William, was born, now deputy sheriff of the county in which Leavenworth, Kansas, is located. His second marriage was to Miss Anne Ramsey, in 1870, and to them were born eight children, as follows: Henry W .; Maggie M., the widow of N. J. Anderson, of Arion, Iowa; Jane E., who married Thomas Carson, of Armstrong, South Dakota; Bertha A., deceased; John R., who resides in Sioux City, Iowa; Milton R., of Arion, Iowa; Percival M., also of Arion ; and Robert A., Glenellen, Iowa.
Henry W. Doidge was educated in the public schools of Goodrich township and remained at home until 1905, when he bought the place upon which he now resides and which consists of two hundred and four acres in Denison township. Here he successfully follows general farming. In September, 1910, his house was destroyed by fire but has since been replaced by a more commodious and modern residence.
On January 6, 1905, Mr. Doidge was united in marriage to Miss Ida May Mitchell, a native of Boone, Iowa, and a daughter of Henry and Jennie V'an Hausen, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and are now residents of British Columbia. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Doidge, namely: Genevieve Ellen, Worth Edward and Ruby Ernestine.
Mr. Doidge takes an active interest in politics and the welfare of the town- ship in which he lives, is a democrat and a member of the school board. Both he and his wife attend the Congregational church and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
EUGENE GULICK.
Since 1854 the gentleman whose name introduces this review has been a resi- dent of Iowa, and for twenty-seven years past has made his home in Denison, being closely identified with the growth of the city. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, June 11. 1850, a son of Henry S. and Marietta ( Frank) Gu- lick, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father was reared upon a farm and educated in the common schools, and in 1854 he removed to Iowa and settled in Clinton county, being one of the early settlers in the locality in which He took up his home. He was a man of ambition, energy and undaunted patriot- ism. and at the time of the Civil war served four years in the Union army, being a member of Company C. Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He partici- pated in the siege of Vicksburg and in many of the battles and movements which
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resulted in the overthrow of the Confederacy. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned to Clinton county and became identified with the imple- ment business, removing to Denison in 1874 and remaining connected with the same line of business until his death, which occurred in 1896, when he was sixty-seven years of age. Mrs. Gulick is still living and makes her home in Denison. She is a member of the Baptist church, as was also her husband.
William Gulick, the paternal grandfather, was a native of New York and of Holland Dutch descent. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he pursued during a large part of his life, shoeing horses until he was seventy-seven years old. He removed to Clinton county, Iowa, about 1856 and twenty years later to Crawford county. He died at West Side in his seventy-ninth year. He was married to Ann Parks, and there were seven children in their family, namely : Henry S., Louette, Sarah Jane, Cynthia Ann, Emma, Smith P. and William Oliver. The last named lost his life in the Civil war. He was a member of the First Iowa Cavalry and served for three years. Adam Frank, the maternal grandfather, was also a native of New York state and was of Holland Dutch descent. He lived to the age of ninety-five years and was the father of eight children : Andrew, John, Furman, Jane Eliza, Marietta, Harriet, Lydia Maria and Nancy.
There were four children in the family of Henry S and Marietta Gulick: Eugene, of this review ; Lydia E., now the widow of Edward B. Smith, of Los Angeles, California ; Emma M., the wife of C. S. Curtis, of Wausau, Wisconsin ; and Louisa F., who is the widow of J. S. Martin and is now living in Los Angeles.
Eugene Gulick came to Camanche, Iowa, with his parents at the age of four years and lived in Clinton county until he arrived at the age of twenty-one years, receiving his education there. He removed to Crawford county in 1871 and settled on a farm in Goodrich township, two and one-half miles northwest of Denison. Beginning with one hundred and twenty acres he gradually acquired more land until he became the owner of a well improved farm of four hundred and eighty acres, which he disposed of at a handsome increase of the original cost. In 1884 he took up his residence in Denison in a beautiful home which he has occupied for the past twenty-seven years, and during the entire time he has been largely interested in the real estate, insurance and loan business. He also has engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising and is a large holder of real estate, owning land in Oklahoma, Wyoming and South Dakota, and in Crawford, Monroe and Plymouth counties, Iowa.
On the 9th of September, 1872, Mr. Gulick was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Crawshaw, a native of Clinton county, Iowa, and a daughter of Richard and Jane (Hamilton) Crawshaw. The father was born in England and the mother in Ireland. They were married in Clinton county, Iowa, and the father died in that county at the age of forty-five years, the mother passing away at the age of eighty-four. There were two daughters in their family: Alice C., now the wife of Governor Leslie M. Shaw, and Mary Jane. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gulick: Gertrude A., who married C. L. Voss, cashier of the Bank of Denison, and has one child, Loyal Eugene; Ethel, who is now a student in the Conservatory of Music at Indianola, Iowa ; and Leslie E., a student of the Cedar Rapids Business College.
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Mr. and Mrs. Gulick are earnest members of the Methodist church. He is treasurer and steward of the church and one of its most active supporters. Polit- ically he is identified with the republican party, and although he has not sought public office he has served most acceptably as township clerk, school director and justice of the peace. He has attained a large measure of success financially. For nearly three decades he has been interested in Denison and has taken an active part in many movements for the advancement of the city. He has made good use of his talents and opportunities, and, being a man of broad views and gener- ous disposition, he has assisted many others in their efforts to become self- supporting or financially independent. Possessing high ideals, his example has been a constant stimulant, whose beneficial effects are apparent in the lives of those with whom he has been brought into contact.
ALBERT HELSLEY.
The business interests of Denison are represented by some of the brightest men in Crawford county among whom is named Albert Helsley, abstractor for the Crawford County State Bank and one of the progressive men of the city. He was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, November 19, 1857, a son of John and Marie ( Balsiger) Helsley, natives of Canton Bern, Switzerland. The father was a hotelkeeper in Switzerland and also conducted a butcher shop. He came to America in 1850 and lived for six years at Highland, Illinois, then removing to a farm near Jacksonville. Subsequently, he took up his residence at Bloom- ington, Illinois, and was employed in the shops of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. In 1872 he came to Iowa and resumed farming on a place eight miles north of Pella in Marion county, where he continued for eighteen years, then taking up his home with his son in Denison. He passed away January 17, 1895, at the age of cighty-three years. The beloved wife and mother died two days after the death of her husband as the result of an accident. They were both members originally of the Reformed church but in Denison were identified with the German Methodist church. Mr. Helsley was a member of the regular army in Switzerland. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Helsley, was a hotelkeeper and the maternal grandfather, John Balsiger, was a judge of the appellate court and a very prominent man in Switzerland. There were the following children in his family, namely: Susan, who married a Mr. Montan- don ; Marie, the mother of our subject ; John ; and Ferdinand. There were seven children in the family of John and Marie Helsley, three of whom are now living : Emma. the wife of Henry Boschen, of Toronto, Kansas; Lina, now Mrs. John Schofield, of Gardina, a suburb of Los Angeles, California; and Albert. our subject.
Reared until nine years of age in Morgan county, Illinois, Albert Helsley grew to manhood in the state of Iowa. He received his early education in the public schools of Jacksonville and Bloomington, Illinois, and later pursued higher branches at Mount Pleasant University of Iowa, gaining an excellent foundation
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for a useful and successful career. In January, 1890, he took up his residence in Denison and entered the employment of J. P. Miller as bookkeeper, in which position he continued for one year. Later, having gained a practical knowledge of the abstract business he was made abstractor in the real estate office of George Naeve and when Mr. Naeve became connected with the Crawford County Bank Mr. Helsley assumed the abstract work of that institution, in which position he still continues. As he understands his specialty thoroughly he is regarded as an authority in this line in Crawford county.
In June, 1892, Mr. Helsley was united in marriage to Miss Susie L. Whaley, a native of Crawford county, whose parents were among the early settlers of this county. Six children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Helsley : Charles W., Marie, John A., Martha, Helen and Grace.
Mr. Helsley gives his allegiance to the German Methodist church, while his wife is identified with the English Methodist church. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is an active supporter of the republican party and served with general accept- ance for six years as member of the city council and also for an equal length of time as member of the school board. He has been identified with the develop- ment of Denison for twenty years past and has shown an enterprise and ability and an integrity of character that have made his name favorably known through- out a wide region in this part of the state. In both public and private affairs he has exercised sound judgment and good discrimination and he deserves the con- fidence in which he is held by all with whom he comes in contact.
W. H. SCHULTZ, M. D.
Among the well known residents of Schleswig is Dr. W. H. Schultz, who for the past decade has been engaged in the practice of medicine in Crawford county. He is a native son of this county, his birth having occurred on the 16th of June, 1877, and is the sixth in a family of fourteen children, his parents being August and Hattie (Fink) Schultz. The other children are as follows : Herman F., of Hanover township, this county; Emma, the wife of August Rasch, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Eda, who married Edward Ebert, of Hanover township; Otto, a resident of Charter Oak; Fred, living in Hanover township; Carl, also a resident of Hanover township; Louis, who resides in Morgan town- ship; Matilda, the wife of William Nemitz, of Ricketts; August, living in Schles- wig; Adelheid, who married Hugo Wiegand, of Bronson, Iowa; Minnie, the wife of William Martin, of Manning; Ernest, a resident of Hanover township; and the fourteenth who died in infancy.
Dr. Schultz remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of thirteen years, attending the common schools of Crawford county. After graduating from the public school at Denison he taught for one year in Hanover township, but, having chosen as his life vocation the profession of medicine, he then matriculated at Rush Medical College at Chicago. He was awarded his
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
degree with the class of 1900 and immediately thereafter became an interne in St. Joseph's Hospital, with which institution he was identified for one and one- half years. At the expiration of that period he felt that he was fully qualified to undertake the responsibilities of an independent practice and so returned to Schleswig, where he opened an office. He has been quite successful, having built up a good practice which is constantly increasing not only in Schleswig but in the surrounding country. He has the personality, keen perception and confidence in himself and his methods of treatment which are essential to inspire in others that belief in his powers needful for the acquirement of results. He is a pro- gressive man and is constantly studying along those lines which the members of his profession are finding so engrossing at the present and is doing all in his power to advance the science of medicine.
On the 2d of June, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Schultz and Miss Lillian Hollander, a daughter of the late Asmus and Minnie (Henricks) Hollander. Mrs. Schultz is the eldest of the three children born to them, the others being: Roma, the wife of Paul Jepsen, of Schleswig, and Magnus, who is also a resident of Schleswig. Mrs. Hollander married for her second husband Hans Schmidt and by that union became the mother of five children, who are as follows: Arlo. Loretta, Earnest, Cryremus and Jeannette, all of Schleswig. Dr. and Mrs. Schultz have become the parents of one child, Shirley Valentine, a very interesting boy, who is now in his fourth year.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Schultz are affiliated with the Lutheran church and they are also members of the Royal Neighbors, the ladies' auxiliary of the Modern Woodmen, with which he is also identified. They live in a very pleasant home. Their residence, which is the finest in the town, is situated on a quarter of an acre of ground and is provided with every modern convenience and appointment, even a private sewerage system.
Dr. Schultz gives his political support to the republican party, and although he does not actively participate in public affairs, his practice absorbing the greater part of his time, he meets the demands of good citizenship by being at the polls on election day and casting his vote for the candidates of his party. Both he and Mrs. Schultz are very popular in the social circles of their town and the hospitality of their home is most graciously extended to their many friends.
GEORGE H. BOECK.
George H. Boeck, one of the enterprising and energetic young agriculturists of Crawford county, is engaged in farming on one hundred and seventy-six acres of land on section 4. Nishnabotny township. His birth occurred in Daven- port. Iowa, on the 10th of April, 1881, his father being Henry Boeck, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. He attended the public schools of Davenport in the acquirement of an education, being graduated therefrom in 1895. General agricultural pursuits have claimed his time and energies through- out his entire business career and his attention is now given to the further cul-
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