USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 8
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Mrs. Downs was educated in Avoca and taught school for thirteen years. While living in Everett, Washington, she was a member of the Women's Relief Corps of that city. Her first husband, Harry Wall, to whom she was married December 7, 1887, in Hand county, South Dakota, was a native of Indiana and followed the vocation of farming. To them was born one child, Eva May, who became the wife of Neil Graham and now resides in Everett, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Downs are the parents of three children, namely: Nathaniel Acker, Frank, Jr., and Eliza Early, all of whom are under the parental roof.
In his political views Mr. Downs is a republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they give their hearty support. He is a well known representative of farming interests in Union town- ship and his highly cultivated lands and the excellent condition of his graded stock indicate, as nothing else could do, his untiring energy and capable man- agement, and his thorough reliability in all business affairs has gained for him the confidence of everyone with whom he deals.
C. P. HARVEY.
In tracing the genealogy of the Harvey family we find there was a Colonel Daniel Harvey, an officer in the English army who settled in Ireland and who. as far as can be learned, is the head of the present generation. Michael Har- vey, the father of C. P. was born in County Armagh, Ireland, March 27th, 1817, whence he emigrated to the United States about 1837, locating in New York city, where he married Miss Ellen McGill, who was also born in Ireland in 1819. He resided in New York about five years then removed to Lee county, Illinois, where he followed stock-raising and farming. He was a very early set- tler and some of the papers giving him possession of his land were signed by President Fillmore, per his secretary. In politics he was a democrat nearly all his life. He died in 1867, being survived by his wife, who departed this life in 1903, and both were interred in Sandy Hill cemetery. Lee county. They were the parents of the following eight children : Thomas A., who is a lawyer resid- ing in Lead City, South Dakota, and who for years was criminal attorney for Meade county : James, who is a farmer and stockman in Lee county, Illinois ; C. P .; Mack, who is living on the old homestead in Lee county; John, who is mayor of Amboy, Illinois; and three others, Mary, Charles and an infant, all deceased.
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C. P. Harvey was born in Lee county, Illinois, May 2, 1852, and obtained his early education in the public schools. He remained at home until twenty years old and then went to Chicago, where he remained for two and a half years in the employ of Shuler & Company. Returning to Lee county he engaged in farming for one year, and later removing to Clinton, Iowa, followed the same occupation for four years, going from there to West Side, Crawford county in 1878. Here he remained for about fourteen years, one of which lie spent in conducting a meat market in the village, another in acting as superintendent of the poor farm, the remaining twelve years being occupied in farming for him- self. Subsequently he moved to East Boyer and continued the pursuit of agri- culture there for four or five years, later going to Paradise township. After three or four years' farming here he located in Denison township, buying two hundred and forty acres of land which now comprises his homestead. Under Mr. Harvey's able management it has become a highly improved and valuable piece of property and most creditably reflects his ability to apply modern meth- ods in obtaining the best results from the soil. In connection with general farm- ing he is interested in the raising of fine stock.
Mr. Harvey was united in marriage in 1876 to Miss Hannah Polhamus, a native of Iowa, who is of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, and they had three children, namely: Earl, who was accidently killed; Thomas Albert, who lives opposite the home place and who in 1894 married Miss Lissie Latshaw, born in Shelby county, Iowa, and they have three children, Grace Gladys, Glen Eldon and Merlin Paul; James, who occupies the adjoining farm, and who married Miss Florence Warmath, born in Denison, and they have two children, twins, Frank and George.
In regard to politics Mr. Harvey has always been a democrat and takes an active interest in the affairs of his party. He served on the board of supervisors from 1883 to 1886 and has been a member of the school board for the past twenty-six years. In his fraternal connections he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He has brought to his life work a well trained mind, which has made it possible for him to carry to a successful conclusion the ambitions of his early youth, and among his many friends he is recognized as a man of sterling worth and of the strictest integrity, a reputation he has never failed to uphold.
REV. H. C. WILLIAM FRESE.
On account of the nature of their calling the clergy occupy a prominent place in the community and wield an influence which often profoundly affects the lives of those with whom they come in contact. Men only of unsullied char- acter and of the very highest attainments mentally and morally are worthy of the responsibility of expounding the holy writ, and to this number belongs Rev. H. C. William Frese, whose name stands at the head of this sketch.
He was born in Tonawanda, New York, 'August 23, 1873, and is a son of Rev. Louis and Louisa (Richter) Frese, natives of Hanover, Germany, and St. Louis respectively. The father received his preliminary education in Ger-
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many and at seventeen years of age crossed the ocean to America and engaged for several years as a bookkeeper in New York city. About 1866 he went to St. Louis and studied for the ministry of the Lutheran church, graduating from Concordia Seminary. He began preaching at Archibald, Ohio, and successfully carried on his work for many years, his last charge being at Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he died in 1900. At the time of his death he was fifty-four years of age and in the midst of a life of great usefulness. His wife is still living and makes her home at Champaign, Illinois. Henry Frese, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer in Germany and married Henrietta Hincke. They had four sons and one daughter : Adolph, Julius, Ernst, Louis, and Henrietta, now the wife of Fred Riebow, of South Omaha. The four sons were all min- isters of the gospel. The maternal grandfather, John Richter, was a native of Saxony, Germany. He was a cooper by trade and located in St. Louis many years ago. He married Louisa Espenschied, and they were the parents of four children : Ernst, Louisa, Theresa and Theodore, the two last named being now deceased. There were ten children in the family of Louis and Louisa Frese, namely : Esther, now Mrs. Henry Dirks, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; H. C. Wil- liam, of this review; Theresa, Louisa and Julius, all of whom are deceased; Louis, a teacher at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Emil and Walter, both of whom are deceased ; and Emma and Anna, who are living at home.
H. C. William Frese received his early education in the parochial schools of Effingham and Champaign, Illinois. He later became a student of the North Western University of Watertown, Wisconsin, and Concordia College at Spring- field, Illinois, graduating in theology from the latter institution in 1896. He began his labors as a missionary at Poplar Bluff, Missouri, continuing there for four years. His second charge as a pastor was at St. Paul's Lutheran church in Council Bluffs. He came to Denison in 1903 and since that time has been pastor of Zion's Lutheran church and also superintendent of the Lutheran school of this city.
On the 2d of October, 1902, Mr. Frese was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bosecker, who was born at Evansville, Indiana. Her parents, who were also natives of that state, moved to Wabash county, Illinois, when she was very young and she grew to womanhood there. She received her early educa- tion in Wabash county and later attended the State Normal School in Carbon- dale, Illinois. She was married to Mr. Frese near Cowling, Illinois. Her father was a farmer but is now living retired at Mount Carmel, Illinois. He held various township offices and was school treasurer for over twenty years and supervisor for three years, being very active in all works pertaining to the ad- vancement of the neighborhood. There were four children in their family, namely: Elizabeth, now Mrs. H. C. William Frese; Frederick ; Mary, the wife of Theodore Wirth ; and Lena. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Frese was Carl Bosecker, a farmer of Saxony, Germany, who died when comparatively a young man, but his widow lived to the age of seventy-eight years. They had five children : Anna, Elizabeth, William, Christian and Andrew. The maternal grandfather was Jacob Schweikhard, a native of Bavaria, Germany, and a farmer. He married Margaret Baumgartner and died in early manhood, but she lived to the age of seventy-five. There were three children in their family,
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namely : Jacob, Charlotte and Frederick. Four children have come to bless the honie of Mr. and Mrs. Frese: William and Elizabeth, deceased; Walter; and Ruth.
Politically Mr. Frese gives his adherence to the republican party, believing that in so doing he is promoting the best interests of the nation. He is thor- oughly active and efficient in his church work and is a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. Thoroughly alive to the great advances made along all lines during the earlier years of the twen- tieth century, he is, moreover, a constant student of the great book which is the basis of his belief, his message from Sunday to Sunday attracting large and in- terested audiences. He aims to walk in the path prescribed by the great Master and by his unselfish acts as well as by his words he has been instrumental in inducing many to adopt the Christian life.
JOHN HALLOWELL.
John Hallowell, who owns a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Paradise township, was born in Elgin, Illinois, on the 2d of February, 1853, his parents being Joseph and Marcia (Adams) Hallowell. The father was a native of Saratoga county, New York, and the mother of Ohio. Joseph Hallowell grew to manhood in his native state and then migrated to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Adams. Shortly after this event the young couple located in Elgin, Illinois, where they lived until 1853. In the lat- ter year they again started westward, Iowa being their destination this time, and they settled on a farm in Putnam township, Fayette county, but after re- siding there five years they removed to Clayton county. They were residents of the latter county for nine years and at the end of that time located on the farm in Paradise township, which their son now owns. They were the parents of five children, but only three are now living, however, George and Ophelia. the two eldest, having passed away. Those surviving are: John, our subject : Peter J., who is living on a farm which adjoins his brother's on the north; and Mary, the wife of James Scott, who owns the adjoining farm on the west. The father was a blacksmith and farmer, and being quite successful in both under- takings he had accumulated considerable property at the time of his demise in 1880. The mother passed away in 1897 and was laid to rest beside her husband in the Dow City cemetery.
John Hallowell acquired his preliminary education in the common schools of Clayton and Crawford counties, and later attended the State College at Ames for one year. He remained at home, assisting his father with the cultiva- tion of the farm until after the latter's demise, when he took the entire respon- sibility. He has never married and continues to live on the home farm, which he now owns.
Mr. Hallowell was reared in the Universalist faith and was at one time a member of the Masonic fraternity but has not been affiliated with that organiza- tion of recent years. He used to give his political support to the democratic
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party but has transferred his allegiance to the men and measures of the republi- can party, considering that their policy is now better adapted to subserve the best interests of the country. He has never held office, being a quiet, unobtrusive man who has always fulfilled the requirements of good citizenship as he recog- nized them, and although he has devoted his time almost entirely to the advance- ment of his personal interests they have always been of a nature to promote those of the community at large.
REV. M. J. FARRELLY.
It is doubtful whether in the state of Iowa a more faithful and efficient pastor can be found than Father M. J. Farrelly, of the St. Rose of Lima Cath- olic church, of Denison. He has officiated as head of the church ot this place for twenty-four years and the great respect in which he is held by his parish- ioners as well as by the entire community is proof of his worth. Born at Aughavass, Ireland, March 1, 1854, he was reared as a farmer boy by good Catholic parents and received his early education in his native land. The fath- er's business was principally that of buying and selling cattle and shipping them to England and Scotland. He died in 1892 at the age of eighty-four years. The mother came to America in 1893 and passed away in Denison, Iowa, on the 16th of December, 1899. being then seventy-three years of age. There were seven sons and two daughters in the family, namely: Luke, now deceased ; Patrick F., who is pastor of St. Joseph's church at Carroll, Iowa; Thomas. who died at the age of eighteen years; M. J., the subject of this review; Mrs. B. McGuire, of St. Paul, Minnesota, whose husband died October 26, 1910; James, a commission merchant of Chicago; Philip, who is a farmer and lives near Denison ; Peter, of Denison ; and Mary, the wife of J. T. Haugh, of Deni- son. Luke Farrelly, the paternal grandfather, a farmer in Ireland, married a Miss Masterson and they had seven children, Luke, Matthew, Peter, James, Michael, Thomas, and a daughter who died when young. The maternal grand- father was Patrick Fitzpatrick who was a farmer of Ireland and also married a Miss Masterson. Their family included eight children, Philip, Patrick, Ann, Ellen, Mary. Alice, Adelia and Margaret.
Father Farrelly came to America in 1872 and for two years worked by the month on a farm near Lawler in Chickasaw county, Iowa. In 1874 he entered the Christian Brothers School at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and in the fall of the following year became a student in St. Joseph's College at Dubuque. Iowa, where he spent two years in the study of the classics, graduating in moral philosophy in 1877. In the fall of the same year he went to Montreal. Canada, where he engaged for three years in the study of theology. Returning to Dubuque, he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic church on the 21st of September, 1880. His first appointment was in charge of a parish at Man- chester, Iowa, where he continued for seven years, and while there built a church at Ryan and at Earlville and a parsonage at Manchester. He also se- cured for the congregation a new cemetery and carried out other important
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undertakings. Under the appointment of Bishop Hennessy he has served since October 1, 1887, as pastor of St. Rose of Lima church at Denison. He has also- been for nine years in charge of the Charter Oak church as an out mission. In 1890 he built the Catholic school known as the St. Rose of Lima parochial school, which now has seventy-five pupils exclusive of those taking instruction in music, who number about sixty. In 1896 he erected a new church in this city, which cost twenty thousand dollars and has a seating capacity of seven hundred persons. It is elegantly furnished and was recently handsomely re- decorated and frescoed, being known as one of the most beautiful churches in the state. In the fall of 1910 Father Farrelly effected the purchase of the handsome residence of George W. Nicholson, one of the finest in the city, and it is now the parsonage of the church.
Father Farrelly has always retained his interest in his studies and is deeply versed in history, literature, science, theology and all subjects that interest a wide-awake and progressive scholar and religious teacher of the twentieth cen- tury. He is an eloquent and convincing speaker and is often invited to deliver addresses before patriotic, literary or religious bodies in the state. He is a power for good and his influence has ever been exerted in behalf of the weaker members of society and in the upbuilding of the best interests of the state and nation.
JOHN H. TAMM.
For nearly twenty years John H. Tamm has been connected with business interests in Denison and has assisted as a public-spirited citizen in promoting the welfare of the community. He found congenial employment in mercantile lines and the success that has attended his efforts is proof of his ability. He was born in Clinton county, Iowa, April 14, 1865, a son of Henry and Catharine (Stoltenberg) Tamm, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was reared as a farmer. He came to America at the age of eighteen and en- gaged at various times in clerking, teaming and farming in Davenport and Camanche, Iowa. In 1882 he settled in Morgan township, Crawford county, and bought seven hundred and twenty acres of land, which he partly improved. He died three years after taking up his residence in this county, being then in the midst of a useful life, as he was only forty-seven years old. He was promi- nent in the community and served with marked ability as justice of the peace, school trustee and in other township offices. His wife is still living and makes her home at Ida Grove. She is a member of the Lutheran church, as was also her husband. Three children were born to them: John H., of this review; and Charles and Edward, both of whom live near Schleswig.
Our subject's grandfather Tamm was a blacksmith in Germany and lived to the age of sixty-five years. Of his family Henry, Fred, Anna and Dora came to America and two members remained in the old country. The grandparents on the maternal side, Peter and Betty Stoltenberg, established their home in Crawford county, Iowa, where they spent their last years. They had four chil-
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dren: Catharine; Henry; Bertha, of Davenport, the widow of John Johann ; and William.
John II. Tamm lived in Clinton county until sixteen years of age and re- ceived his education in the district schools and in a business college at Daven- port. He came to Crawford county with his parents and lived at home until he reached manhood, he and his brothers then taking charge of the home farm. In 1892 he took up his residence in Denison and entered the farm implement business, with which he has ever since been connected. He also sells automobiles and by intelligent and thoughtful attention to the wants of his customers has attracted a liberal patronage.
On the 8th of June. 1892, Mr. Tamm was united in marriage to Miss Or- ville Ililbert, a native of Clinton county and a daughter of Hans and Lena ( Paulman ) Hilbert. The father was born in Iowa and the mother in Germany. There were five children in their family: Orville, Ferdinand, William, Alfred and Minnie.
Mr. Tamm and his wife are sincere members of the Lutheran church and take a deep interest in its various beneficences. Politically he is not allied with any of the established parties, as he prefers to vote independently, selecting his candidates according to the needs of the times. He is genial and pleasing in address and has made a host of friends not only by his kindly disposition but also by his honorable and straightforward dealing.
JOHN F. KEPFORD.
A hundred and sixty acre farm on section 17, Washington township, pays tribute to the well directed effort and capable supervision of John F. Kepford, who has been identified with the farming interests of Crawford county for a quarter of a century. A native of this state, he was born in Washington town- ship. Johnson county, on the 12th of December, 1855, a son of Jacob and Mar- tha (Shue) Kepford, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in which state they were also married. There were thirteen children in the family but Sarah and Hattie, the ninth and tenth in order of birth, have passed away, while the first two died in infancy. Those surviving are: Mary, the wife of Antone Bast, of Washington township: Martha, who married Thomas Tranter, of Johnson county ; Ellen, who became the wife of James Tranter, of Washington town- ship; John F., our subject; Jacob, a farmer in Washington township; Joseph, who resides in Union township ; David, living in Des Moines : Edward, residing in Union township ; and Phila, the wife of Frank Jones, of Schleswig. The parents migrated from Pennsylvania to Iowa in pioneer days, first locating in Johnson county, where they resided until 1888, at which time they removed to Craw- ford county and settled on a farm in Union township, where they continued to live until Mr. Kepford's demise in 1899. Ever since attaining manhood he had been engaged in agricultural pursuits with the exception of the three years he served at the front during the Civil war. Mrs. Kepford still survives and is living on the old homestead in Union township.
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JOHN F. KEPFORD AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
John F. Kepford obtained his education in the public schools of Johnson county, remaining a member of the paternal household until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he began working as a farm hand. He continued to follow that occupation for six years, during which period he acquired the means to begin farming for himself as a renter in his native county. He remained a resident of Johnson county until 1884, when he removed to Crawford county and purchased land in Union township, which he cultivated for nine years. At the end of that time he bought his present place in Washington township, where he has ever since engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His home- stead is well improved and plentifully stocked, while the fields are given the care and supervision which results in excellent harvests, judged as to both quantity and quality: Mr. Kepford is also interested in real estate in Buck Grove.
On March 3, 1886, Mr. Kepford was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Ellen Tillett, of Belmont county, Ohio, a daughter of Henry E. and Mary (Brewer) Tillett. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of the Buckeye state. They removed to Iowa in 1858 and located in Cedar county, where they remained for twenty years, and then came to Crawford county, settling upon the place where Mr. Kepford now resides. The father passed away in 1887 but the mother survived until 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Tillett were the parents of the following children: Etheline. E., a resident of Buck Grove ; Anna Elizabeth, deceased; John Wesley, living in Denver, Colorado; Mary Caroline, deceased; Margaret L., the wife of John A. Horton, living near Sac- ramento, California; Henry A., a resident of Redfield, South Dakota; Harriet E., the wife of John F. Kepford; Ethelbert W., deteased; Eutes C., living in Goodwin, South Dakota; and Newton B., Edward, Bertha and an infant, all of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kepford have one daughter Martha Eura, who, after completing the common schools, attended the high school at Ames for three years. They also reared E. H. Polzien, who continues to make his home with them.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Kepford and their daughter hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Ever since granted the right of franchise Mr. Kep- ford has given his support to the candidates of the republican party. He always takes an active interest in local governmental affairs, although he has never filled any public office save that of school director. He is a man whose in- fluence can always be counted upon to advance any movement the adoption of which would improve local conditions and is esteemed accordingly in his community.
JOHN SCHNOOR.
From a farmer boy to manager of an important mercantile establishment in a flourishing city is a long step and yet it has been made by John Schnoor, now at the head of the Salomon Furniture Company of Denison. The success which has attended his efforts is the result of his industry and enterprise, which are dominant traits in his character. He was born in Holstein, Germany, April 22, 1869, son of Nicholas and Anna (Asmus) Schnoor, both natives of Ger- Vol. II-5
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many. There were six children in their family, namely : Marie, now deceased ; Minnie, who married Herman Rush and is also deceased; Caroline, widow of Claus J. Salomon of Denison ; Jacob, of Amherst, Nebraska; John, of Denison ; and Emma, who died at the age of nine years. Marie, the first born, was drowned at sea in 1883, going down with the vessel and all on board; Emma lost her life by a sandbank falling upon her; and the father, who was a sailor, died in Germany at the age of forty-eight years. All three of these deaths occurred in 1881. Mrs. Schnoor came to America with her children Caroline, Minnie and John in 1883, her son Jacob having preceded them in March of the same year. The mother died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Caroline Salo- mon, January 1, 1911. The family is identified with the Lutheran church. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Claus Schnoor, was also a sailor. He died in the same year as Kaiser Wilhelm and they were about the same age. There were three sons in his family: Hans, Jacob and Nicholas, and several daughters. The maternal grandfather, Hans Asmus, was a baker. He died in Germany at the age of about fifty-six years. Six of his children grew to ma- turity, namely : Henry, Hans, John, Elsabe, Antje, and Anna.
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