History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II, Part 45

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1166

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Captain Dorrance was for twenty years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows but does not keep up active connection with the lodge at the present time. In his political views he is an earnest republican but has never aspired to office. His time and attention have been fully given to his business affairs, and as the years have worn on he has gained a wide acquaintance and won the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact through his courtesy and business reliability.

ISAIAH CALVIN YOCUM.

Isaiah Calvin Yocum, deceased, was at one time numbered among Scott county's worthy and representative farmers. He was born August 21, 1845, of the marriage of William and Sarah (Dopp) Yocum. His birth occurred in Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania, and he began his education in the public schools there, but when nine years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to the middle west. They settled upon the farm which is now the home of his widow. It was then all prairie land, wild and unimproved, which the father pur- chased from Mr. Stacey.

After arriving in this county Isaiah C. Yocum continued his education in schools here and also attended a business college in Davenport. He then re- turned to the old homestead, where he carried on farming up to the time of his marriage, when he removed across the road, settling on another part of the farm. There he continued to reside until his death, which occurred December 4, 1902. He was always an energetic, enterprising farmer, carrying on his work diligently and persistently and meeting with that success which ever follows earnest effort. He was also one of the directors of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, and in addition to tilling his fields he dealt in stock and found that a profitable source of income.

Mr. Yocum was first married in Davenport, January 20, 1869, to Miss Han- nah C. Pollock, who died on the 30th of May, 1871, and their only child, William James H., who was born in May, 1871, died on the 6th of the following August. On the 10th of February, 1875, Mr. Yocum was married to Miss Martha Ellen Pollock, a sister of his first wife and a daughter of James and Mary (Logue) Pollock, the wedding being celebrated at Titusville, Pennsylvania. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yocum were born four children, but the eldest, Eva, died in infancy. Sarah Alice, who is a graduate of the Davenport high school, was married August 25, 1909, to Hugo A. Briceland and they reside upon the farm with her mother. Mary E., a graduate of the Highland Park College of Des Moines, has taught in a number of schools in Scott county. Samuel Carey was a student in the high school at the time of his death. Both son and father were suffocated in the Lin- coln Hotel in Chicago, to which city they had gone to attend a stock show. This

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double calamity was almost unbearable to the family, who were left to mourn the loss of husband and son, father and brother.

Mr. Yocum had taken an active part in community affairs, had served as school director for fourteen years and was also treasurer of the school board and filled the office of justice of the peace. He held membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, with the Woodmen of the World and with the Legion of Honor, and belonged to the Summit Presbyterian church, in which he held different offices. His parents were charter members of that church and its first meetings were held in the old Yocum home. His life was an upright and hon- orable one, in harmony with his professions, and he left to his family an untar- nished name. Mrs. Yocum still resides upon the old home farm of one hundred and sixteen acres of fine land in Lincoln township. She and her children are members of the Summit church and her daughters are very active and efficient workers in both the Sunday school and the church.

JOHN H. MOHR.

John H. Mohr, who since 1894 has lived retired in Davenport, is one of the oldest German-American settlers of this county and a valued member of the German Pioneers Association. For many years he was actively and successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits and is still the owner of four hundred acres of fine farming land in Sheridan and Lincoln townships as well as some town property. He was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 26th of December, 1828, his parents being Paul and Katherine Mohr, who spent their entire lives in the fatherland.

John H. Mohr obtained his education in the schools of his native land and there also learned the carpenter's trade. He served as a soldier from 1848 until 1850, loyally defending the interests of his country in the war with Denmark. In the year 1852, influenced by the many favorable reports which he had heard concerning the advantages of the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, landing at New Orleans. Thence he made his way up the Mis- sissippi river to Davenport, Iowa, and here worked at his trade for about six years, assisting in the erection of many residences, a large number of which are still standing. About 1858 he turned his attention to general agricultural pur- suits, purchasing a partly improved farm of eighty acres in Lincoln township, on which he made his home for five years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of the property and bought another tract of one hundred and sixty- five acres in Lincoln township, erecting thereon a new residence as well as all necessary barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. As time passed he brought the place under a high state of cultivation and improvement and there continued to carry on his agricultural interests until he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Davenport in 1894. As his financial resources increased, owing to his well directed labor and capable man- agement, he added to his landed holdings, purchasing a tract of one hundred and ten acres at one time and later a farm of three hundred and eighty acres.

MR. AND MRS. JOIIN II. MOHR

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

He has sold a portion of his land to his sons but still retains possession of four hundred acres in Sheridan and Lincoln townships. Having eventually won a handsome competence through his labors as an agriculturist, he retired from active life and for the past fifteen years has lived in Davenport, enjoying in well earned ease the fruits of his former toil. He is a stockholder in the Iowa National Bank and the Davenport Grain & Malting Company and is widely recognized as a most respected and substantial citizen.

On the 10th of September, 1853, Mr. Mohr was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Dau, whose parents died in Germany and who came to the United States when nineteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mohr reared a family of ten children, the record of whom is as follows: Amelia, the eldest, gave her hand in marriage to Fritz Petersen, of Avoca, Iowa, by whom she has five children : Katie, Elsie, Carl, Paula and Leona. Henry, living in Sheridan township, mar- ried Miss Laura Boge, by whom he has five children: Wilma, Alice, Jessie, Rob- ert and Anna. Gustavus, likewise a resident of Sheridan township, married Miss Emma Fellner and has three children: Martha, Alfreda and Herbert. Anna Mohr, the next in order of birth, is deceased. William, who makes his home in Sheridan township, wedded Miss Minnie Arp and has four children: Anna, Alphonse, Elmer and Wilbert. Adolph, living in Lincoln township, married Miss Laura Hagedorn and now has four children: John, Selma, Ralph and Edna. Catherine became the wife of Henry Schroder, of Lincoln township, and is now the mother of four children : Hattie, Harry, Edwin and Mabel. Emma, who gave her hand in marriage to C. M. Emeis, resides with her father. Emil wedded Miss Elizabeth Rauch, of Lincoln township, and has three children : Leona, Norma and Frances. Herman Mohr has passed away.

In his political views Mr. Mohr is a stalwart democrat, and for two years he capably served in the office of township trustee. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world and has gradually worked his way upward, enjoying the advantages offered in this country, which is un- hampered by caste or class. He has now reached the venerable age of eighty- one years and, having made his home in Scott county for fifty-seven years, has an extensive circle of friends here who give him their unqualified regard and esteem.

FRANK J. SCHEBLER.

The belief that favorable environment and influence are usually factors in success finds no proof in the life history of Frank J. Schebler, whose progress in the business world is attributable entirely to his own efforts. That he has won prosperity is due to the fact that close application, unfaltering energy and firm purpose have been the salient features in his life. He was formerly well known as a grain dealer of Scott county but is now living retired in Davenport, enjoying well earned rest. He has passed the seventieth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Bavaria, Germany, June 7, 1839. His parents were John and Margaret Schebler, the former a baker who learned his trade in Vienna,

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

Austria, and in other European cities, being employed in that way in Paris, Mu- nich, Frankfort, Berlin and other places. The greater part of his life, however, was spent in the fatherland.

Frank J. Schebler attended school in Germany to the age of thirteen years, when he came to the United States, landing at New York city in 1852. After two months passed in Williamsburg, New York, he came west to Davenport with an older brother, John, and a sister, Mary. The brother had just completed a term of service in the Bavarian army and at the time of the Civil war in this country he joined the Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry as a musician, being thus connected with the regiment for a year. He afterward served for three years in the Twentieth Iowa Infantry and was thus with the army throughout the period of hostilities between the north and the south. After arriving in Davenport Frank J. Schebler attended school for one winter and then started out to earn his own living, securing employment in John Cannon's sawmill. He afterward worked in different places until 1859, and all the time was actuated by the laudable ambition of one day engaging in business on his own account. At length this course was made possible by his economy and industry. He had first become identified with the grain business, however, as an employe of August Steffens, but later he was employed by James D. Burrows until 1868. From that time until 1901 he was connected with the Davenport Elevator Company but in May of the latter year he opened a feed store on Ripley street in Davenport, of which he is still the owner, although the business is now being carried on by his son Lewis on account of the illness of the father.

Having arrived at years of maturity, Frank J. Schebler was married to Miss Katherine E. Weigand, a daughter of Adam and Magdalena Weigand, who were among the early settlers of Davenport, coming in April, 1843, from Indiana. Mrs. Schebler was born in Cumberland, Indiana, February 24, 1842, while her parents were natives of Hessen, Germany. Her father was one of the first alder- men of Davenport, serving in 1850. From the time of his arrival in the new world until his death he continued his residence in this city, where he long con- ducted business as a butcher and teamster. He was born in 1811 and passed away at the age of seventy-one years, while his wife, who was born August 15, 1809, died on the 30th of January, 1892. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Scheb- ler was celebrated April 17, 1860, the wedding ceremony being performed by Father Niermann, the old Catholic priest who is still here and in the old stone church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schebler have been born twelve children. The eld- est, Agnes, is now deceased. Frank J. C., who is engaged in the confectionery business in Davenport, married Catherine Moss and they have seven children: Celia, Vincent, Carl, Paul, Antone, Angela and Frank. Bernhard, the third, has passed away. Agnes M. is the wife of Aloysius Hiegel and they have nine chil- dren : Josephine, Antone, Clara, Marie, Frank, Leo, Agnes, Christina and Gertrude. Joseph A., of Davenport, married Barbara Rauch, who died, leaving two children, Josephine and Edward, and for his second wife he chose Adeline Muellenbeck. Rudolph W., of Davenport, married Katie Wachter and they had five children: Clara; Eugene, deceased; Agnes; Aloysius; and Bernadine. Theodore, of this city, married Rosie Siefred and their children are Margaret, Lena, Arthur, Theo- dore, Lawrence and Rose M. Albert, the next of the family, is at home. Julius

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

died at the age of twenty-eight years. Lewis is also still under the parental roof; George died when seven months old, while Charles, the youngest, was nine years old at the time of his demise.

Frank J. Schebler is a member of the Catholic church and of the St. Joseph's Benevolent Society. With one exception he is the oldest communicant of the Catholic faith in Davenport and Father Niermann not only officiated at his mar- riage but has also baptized and married all of his children and grandchildren and conducted the burial services of his parents, who arrived in this city in 1858. He was instrumental in securing the services of Father Niermann for the Catholics of Davenport in 1857 and has been numbered among his parishioners since that day. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schebler have spent nearly their entire lives in Daven- port and have occupied their present home for half a century. He began build- ing the house in 1858, erecting at first but two rooms, but now it is a comfortable residence of nine rooms. He has lived to witness many changes here, seeing the city grow from a small town into one of the important commercial centers of the Mississippi valley, and at all times he has rejoiced in what has been accomplished and has borne his full part in the work of general progress and improvement.

MRS. ANNA CHRISTINA SCHMALZ.

Mrs. 'Anna Christina Schmalz, well known in Princeton, where she has many friends, was born in Aproté, Germany, November 11, 1831, and is, therefore, in her seventy-ninth year. Her parents were Johannas and Anna Christina Wool- enhaupt, also natives of Germany, in which country the father followed the shoe- maker's trade.

Mrs. Schmalz spent her girlhood days in her native country and was a young lady of eighteen years when she crossed the Atlantic to America in the spring of 1849, landing in New York. She then made her way to Davenport, where she lived for two years, after which she came to Princeton and since that time has lived in this section of the county. On the 26th of April, 1854, she gave her hand in marriage to Christian Schmalz, the wedding being celebrated in Newburgh, New York. They became the parents of nine children : Louise; Catherine and Gusta, twins ; George, Otto, Emma, Andrew, Anna and Ella.

Mr. Schmalz was for thirty years engaged in merchandising in Princeton, being numbered among the leading and enterprising business men of the town, and on his retirement from commercial pursuits he removed to a farm in Prince- ton township. For a while he carried on the work of the fields but later retired and was enjoying a period of well earned rest up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 5th of July, 1904.

Mr. Schmalz was a republican in his political views but never aspired to office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he met with signal and well merited success. His life was ever upright and honorable and commanded the trust and confidence of his fellowmen. He held membership in the German Lutheran church, in which he was confirmed when a child. Throughout his life his actions were in harmony with his Christian professions

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

and he ever attempted to follow the golden rule, doing unto others as he would have them do unto him. Mrs. Schmalz is now enjoying a well earned rest and makes her home with her daughter Ella, who has charge of the home.

CHARLES H. MOELLER.

Prominent among the industrious, enterprising and successful farmers of Cleona township is Charles H. Moeller, a native of Louisiana, born at Coving- ton, about sixteen miles from New Orleans, on the 15th of June, 1852. His par- ents, Godhardt and Mary (Westphal) Moeller, were both born in Mecklen- berg, Germany, in the year 1826 and came to the United States in 1850, locating at New Orleans. In October, 1852, they came up the Mississippi river to Daven- port and located upon a farm in Blue Grass township. Four years later they re- moved to Cleona township, where the father engaged in farming until about twenty-one years prior to his demise, when he retired from active life. He had been most successful in his agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of eight hundred and sixty-six acres of land in Scott county. At the time of his retire- ment he removed to Walcott, where he and his wife spent their remaining days, the former passing away in 1902 and the latter surviving about two years, her death occurring in 1904. In their family were four children, namely : Charles H., of this review; Anna, the wife of Albert Werner, postmaster of Walcott; E. E., of Stockton, Iowa; and Herman D., residing in Worthington, Minnesota.

Charles H. Moeller was barely four months old when he came with his par- ents to Iowa, and therefore his entire life has practically been spent within the borders of Scott county. Reared under the parental roof, amid the busy ac- tivities of rural life, he acquired his education in the district schools near his home and at an early age became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the farm lad. During the periods of vacation he assisted his father in the work of the fields and continued to make his home with his parents until attaining his majority. Upon reaching man's estate he entered business life on his own ac- count as an agriculturist and has never sought to engage in any other line of activity, wisely choosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared. That his selection was a wise one is indicated by the fact that with the passing of the years he prospered in his undertaking and from time to time in- vested in land, until he eventually became the owner of eight hundred and six acres of valuable farming land. This property is all located in Cleona township with the exception of one hundred and sixty acres, which lie in Hickory Grove township, and is equipped with five sets of buildings, all in excellent condition and good repair. He makes his home on two hundred and six acres of this prop- erty, located on section 26, and to the cultivation and development of this farm is directing his entire energies. The rest of the land is leased, the rental there- from forming a most gratifying source of income. With the tilling of the soil he also engages in stock-raising to some extent, making a specialty of short- horned cattle and Percheron horses, and this branch of his business has become an important factor in the large measure of success which is his.

MR. AND MRS. C. H. MOELLER

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

In 1877 Mr. Moeller was united in marriage to Miss Fredericka Smallfeldt, a native of Mecklenberg, Germany, where her birth occurred on the 7th of August, 1855. She came to America when a little maiden of ten summers in company with her parents, Christ and Mary (Theada) Smallfeldt. The mother is now deceased, but the father survives and makes his home at present in New Liberty. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moeller have been born nine children, as follows : Otto, who passed away at the age of nine months; Mattie, the wife of Herman Frick, of Cleona township; Herman, who died at the age of four years; Anna, the wife of Paul Ressen, also a resident of Cleona township, operating one of our subject's farms; Hulda, who married Ben Dietz, of the same township; Amanda, the wife of Emil Hamann who makes his home in Cleona township; Rudolph and Edward, both residing at home; and Charles H., Jr., who passed away when eleven years old.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Moeller has ever given stalwart support to the democratic party, although he has never taken an active part in politics. He has not, however, been unmindful of his duties as a citizen but is regarded as one of the leading and representative men of Cleona township, whose position on all questions of moment is never an equivocal one. On the contrary he stands loyally in support of what he believes to be right and as the years have passed his labors and influence have contributed to the general welfare of the community. A man of domestic tastes, he has sought his happi- ness at his own fireside, in the companionship of his family, who know him as a loving and devoted husband and kind and indulgent father. He is also pop- ular with a large number of friends, who hold him in high respect and regard because of his upright principles and honorable manhood.

REINHOLDT SIEG.

Reinholdt Sieg, a splendid type of the German citizen, manifesting in his life the salient and commendable characteristics of the Teutonic race, rose to a position of honor and prominence in connection with the industrial and finan- cial interests of Davenport, the city profiting by his activity in business affairs and in those projects which have constituted the vital elements for growth and betterment along other than commercial lines. In the town of Magdeburg, Ger- many, occurred the birth of Reinholdt Sieg, whose natal day was December 10, 1828. His parents were tradespeople. in good circumstances, and liberal edu- cational advantages were afforded him, his parents securing for him the oppor- tunity of attending the pay schools of his native town. When his more specifically literary course was completed he sought and obtained employment as a salesman in a wholesale grocery store in Magdeburg, where he remained for seven years. While he was there living he was married the first time and soon afterward he de- termined to seek his fortune in the land of the free. Accordingly completing his arrangements for leaving his native country, he sailed for America in 1849 and spent two or three years in traveling over the United States, looking for a favorable location for business. His parents had died when he was about thir-

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

teen years of age, leaving him in comfortable circumstances. His wisdom and sound judgment not only in business but in other affairs was constantly demon- strated throughout his life record. After traveling for about two or three years his observations and inclination determined him to locate in Davenport, where he entered into partnership with a Mr. Meyer, now of Chicago, and under the firm style of Sieg & Meyer they established a tobacco business, which they con- ducted along both wholesale and retail lines. They made substantial advance in this field of labor, prospering in their venture and Mr. Sieg continued in active connection therewith until 1866, when the business was disposed of. For two or three years thereafter Mr. Sieg was engaged in no active business, but indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature and he could not content himself in an inactive life. 'He therefore made arrangements which again took him into the commercial field, forming a partnership with the late Alexander F. Williams in the iron business. They dealt in heavy hardware and were not long in develop- ing a large and profitable trade, in which they continued without change until the death of Mr. Williams in 1887. Upon the death of Mr. Williams his in- terest in the business was withdrawn and Mr. Sieg organized a stock company with small shares in order that his employes might purchase stock and thus share in the profits of the enterprise. He became the president of the company and remained as its chief executive officer until his death. The business is still car- ried on under the name of the Sieg Iron Company by his heirs. It is a monu- ment to the enterprise and labor of Mr. Sieg, who recognized and used opportu- nities which others passed by heedlessly and when one avenue of activity seemed closed, sought out other paths that would lead to the result which he wished to achieve. In his business his methods were such as would bear the closest in- vestigation and scrutiny, being conducted with strict regard for the highest com- mercial ethics. Moreover, he was fair and just in his treatment of all employes, considering their rights and interests as well as his own and they entertained for him highest respect and regard. He considered that they had helped to earn for him the wealth that he acquired and he was therefore ever watchful of their interests. In addition to his interests in the iron trade he was a stockholder in the Citizens Bank and also in the Iowa National Bank. He became one of the original stockholders in the Davenport canning factory and in the D. I. & D. Railroad. He was also one of the promoters and stockholders of the Masonic Temple and in various ways assisted in building up the city of his adoption.

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History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II, Part 45

Author: Downer, Harry E Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1166

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1166