USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 51
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CHARLES F. KAHLER.
Charles F. Kahler, a retired agriculturist residing in Davenport, has for the past ten years enjoyed the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. He has some fine town property and is still in possession of considerable farming land, owning two quarter sections in Tama county, Iowa, and also a tract of one hun- dred and sixty acres in Sunnyside township, Larimer county, Colorado. His birth occurred in Holstein, Germany, on the 26th of July, 1838, his parents be- ing Hans and Charlotta Kahler. The father, who was a laborer and also en- gaged in farming on a small scale, participated in the Schleswig-Holstein wars from 1848 until 1850. In 1855, in company with his wife and children, he em- barked on a sailing vessel bound for American shores and landed at Galveston, Texas, after an ocean voyage of about eight weeks. They remained in Galveston for only two days and then boarded a cattle ship for New Orleans, whence they took passage on a boat which brought them to Davenport on the 26th of June, 1855. Hans Kahler continued to reside in this city throughout the remainder of his life, passing away on the Ist of April, 1900, when he had attained the ven- erable age of ninety-four years. The period of his residence here covered al- most forty-five years and he became well known and highly esteemed as a sub- stantial and representative citizen. The demise of his wife had occurred soon after their arrival in Davenport. Their children were six in number, as fol- lows: Henry, who is living retired in Davenport; Charles F., of this review; Dora, who is deceased; Mary, the wife of John Hill, of Davenport; Louisa, who has also passed away; and August, who makes his home in Ottumwa.
Charles F. Kahler, who obtained his education in the schools of the father- land, was a youth of seventeen when he accompanied his parents on their emigra- tion to the new world. After locating in this county he secured employment as a farm hand and thus worked for a number of years or until the time of his marriage in 1872. In that year he purchased an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Blue Grass township and there carried on his agricultural in- terests energetically and successfully for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1900 he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Davenport, where he has since lived retired. As the years passed and he prospered in his undertakings, he invested his money in farming property and is still the owner of two tracts of one hundred and sixty each in Tama county, Iowa, as well as a quarter section of land in Larimer county, Colorado.
On the 20th of March, 1872, Mr. Kahler was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Hahn, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, on the 13th of February,
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES F. KAHLER
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1849, her parents being Wolfe and Margaret Hahn, natives of Holstein, Ger- many. They were married in that country and after emigrating to America took up their abode among the earliest settlers of Scott county, arriving here in 1846. Wolfe Hahn entered a tract of prairie land in Davenport township and devoted his time and energies to its cultivation and improvement for about forty years. On leaving the farm he came to Davenport, where he spent the remainder of his life in honorable retirement, passing away at the advanced age of eighty- three years. His wife was called to her final rest when seventy-six years of age. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Ida, the deceased wife of Hans Kruse ; Mrs. Kahler; Minnie, who gave her hand in marriage to Theodore Blunk, of Davenport; Henry, of Hickory Grove township; John, who is deceased; Emma, the widow of Carl Suksdorf; Augusta, who married Paul Sederin; and Julia, who is the wife of George Klindt. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kahler were born five children, as follows : Robert, who lives on his father's farm in Colorado and who wedded Miss Tillie Heintz, by whom he has four children-Elsie, Blake, Oscar and Francis; Louis, who was drowned when sixteen years of age; Al- phonso, who follows farming in Washington; Lillian, at home; and Harry, who is a resident of Philadelphia.
Politically Mr. Kahler is independent and while living on the farm held sev- eral township offices, including that of school director. He is a member of the German Pioneers 'Association of Scott county and also belongs to the German Shooting Society, the Turners and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Davenport. Having resided in Scott county for fifty-five years, he has an ex- tensive circle of friends within its borders and has been an interested witness of its steady growth and development. He is now in the seventy-second year of his age and by reason of his well spent life fully merits the esteem and regard which are uniformly accorded him.
GEORGE O. HOFFMANN.
George O. Hoffmann, president of the Shrecker Marble Works, is one of the enterprising business men of Davenport. A native of this city, from his childhood days he has heard stories of its growth, for his parents, Andrew and Anna (Paustian) Hoffmann, were among its earliest settlers. When they came here there was little to forecast the greatness to which it would attain and well can they remember those first years with all their hardships, but looking back over the passage of time they may feel a personal pride in the growth of the city for they have aided in its development. Both are numbered among the respected citizens of Davenport, where they are living in retirement.
George O. Hoffmann, the eldest of the five children born to his parents, at- tended the public school in district No. 5, in which he received all of his educa- tion. After he left that institution, he learned the trade of marble engraving, gaining a high proficiency in the art during the many years he was in the em- ploy of other men. Endowed with those qualities which make a man a leader and not a follower, he was not satisfied until he commenced business for him-
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1 self. Accordingly, about ten or twelve years ago, he established the concern of which he is now president. During its existence it has made a place for it- self among the business interests of Davenport and has won a large income for the man at its head. The field of its operations is constantly increasing and as this is the result of Mr. Hoffmann's own efforts he is well deserving of the re- spect and esteem he enjoys among his fellow citizens.
It was in 1890 that Mr. Hoffmann and Miss Wilhelmina Hansen were united in marriage and to them have been born five children : Florence, Hilda, Bertha, George and Pearlie, all of whom are at home. Mr. Hoffmann belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America and to the Black Hawk, in both of which bodies he is very active and has many friends among his fraternal brethren.
PARKE T. BURROWS.
Parke Tunis Burrows is a Davenport architect who in the practice of his profession has done much to enhance the appearance of the city in the construc- tion of substantial and attractive buildings, the list of which indicates the nature of his work and the appreciation on the part of the public for the value of his service.
Davenport numbers Mr. Burrows among her native sons, his birth having occurred here, August 8, 1871. His father, Elisha G. Burrows, was likewise born in Davenport, his natal year being 1840. He was a son of John Mc- Dowell Burrows, a prominent figure in the early history of Scott county and of Iowa, having located here in 1838. He was born in Elizabethtown, New Jer- sey, in 1814 and died here in 1889. He conducted a general store, also engaged in the grain business and owned and operated a private bank. Almost from the earliest occupancy of the white man in this state the Burrows family has been represented in Scott county. Elisha G. Burrows followed mercantile pursuits like his father.
Parke T. Burrows, reared in Davenport, attended the public schools and afterward entered the University of Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1892. He then spent three years in Chicago, studying architecture and gain- ing broad, thorough and practical knowledge in the offices of leading mem- bers of the profession in that city .- In 1895 he returned to Davenport, where he has since practiced. At that time the firm of Hubbell & Burrows was formed, but in 1896 Mr. Burrows became a partner of F. G. Clausen under the firm style of Clausen & Burrows. That relation was maintained until 1904, when he became a member of the firm of Temple, Burrows & McLane, which is still in existence. The years have chronicled his growing power and ability in his profession and his firm has designed and erected many important buildings in this city and elsewhere, including St. John's Methodist Episcopal church, the high school, the public schools Nos. 11 and 13, the Davenport Hotel, the Com- mercial Club, the Lane building, the Union Savings Bank building, the First National Bank and others. Those who know Davenport need but to see this citation in order to understand the position which Mr. Burrows fills as an
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architect and builder in this city, for those buildings are among the finest of Davenport. He has also erected many others in Iowa and Illinois and is a mem- ber of the American Institute of Architects.
In 1902 Mr. Burrows was married to Miss Camilla Simmons Wolcott, of St. Louis, a granddaughter of William McManus, a pioneer of Davenport. They have one daughter, Camilla. While Mr. and Mrs. Burrows are well known socially in Davenport he allows no outside interests to interfere with his professional duties, taking genuine pleasure in his work as well as appreciating the opportunity which it affords him of promoting the adornment and improve- ment of the city along architectural lines.
HENRY HELL, V. M. D.
One of the prominent young men of Scott county is Dr. Henry Hell, who for the past five years has been practicing his profession as a veterinarian there and in the village of New Liberty. A native of this county, he was born in Cleona township, November 27, 1877, and is a son of John and Wiebke (Stol- ley) Hell. The former was born in the town of Maren, Ditmarschen, Germany, March 27, 1833. In 1853 he sailed for America, coming to Davenport imme- diately after crossing the Atlantic, and there for a number of years he worked at his trade of a mason, but later in partnership with his brother Claus bought a team of oxen and engaged in breaking prairie for pioneer settlers in this county. In 1857 the brothers began to farm for themselves, having secured what was then known as the Charles Hagen place in Hickory Grove township. Five years later John Hell married and in March, 1862, removed to Cleona township, where he lived until 1891, when he came to New Liberty, here engag- ing in the general merchandise business. In the preceding years he had fol- lowed farming with great profit, for in addition to the quarter section of land on which he lived in Cleona township, he owned two hundred and forty acres additional, eighty acres in Cleona township on the Cedar county line, another tract of eighty acres in Cedar county, comprising the old homestead farm, and two hundred and forty acres in Cedar county, in the same section as the tract just mentioned. These extensive landholdings were entirely the result of his own labor, for he came here with little capital. The land was unimproved and its resources were then untried. He overcame the many obstacles that beset his path, however, and in 1900, at the beginning of the new century, re- tired from active life. He died in New Liberty, August 13, 1908. His wife, whom he wedded January 18, 1862, was born in Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, January 12, 1833, and had come to this country in 1860. She is still living and makes her home in New Liberty. Six children were born to them: John, a farmer at Hankinson, North Dakota; Charles, a mechanic at Grundy Center, Iowa; Theodore, who died in childhood; William, who is a molder and lives in Davenport; George, a farmer at Sunbury, Iowa; and Henry, the sub- ject of this sketch.
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Dr. Henry Hell was reared at home and lived with his parents in Cleona township and New Liberty until 1900. He attended the public schools of his district during his youth, in which he received a good foundation for the studies he later pursued in higher institutions of learning. When he left home upon his father's retirement from business in 1900, he went to his brother John, who was at that time a contractor of railroad construction. He devoted some of his time to that labor for several months and in the fall of 1901 took a course in veter- inary medicine at the Iowa State College at Ames. In the fall of 1903 he was admitted to advanced standing in the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, where he pursued his studies in his chosen profession until June 15, 1904, when he was given a degree from the veterinary department of that institution. He came to New Liberty almost immediately after his graduation and on the Ist of July commenced the practice of veterinary surgery in that village. A young man, who felt that from his boyhood he was peculiarly fitted for his line of work, and being endowed with a quick and alert mind, which has been most thoroughly trained, he has proved that he is well able to care for the most troublesome cases entrusted to his care. A skillful practitioner he has also a keen understanding of animal nature, so that in the half decade that he has been practicing here he has been of invaluable assistance to the farmers and stock owners of the surrounding country.
At Omro, Wisconsin, December 26, 1906, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Hell and Miss Minnie Elmegreen, who was born in Schleswig township, Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, February 19, 1884, and is a daughter of August Elmegreen. She received her early education in the place of her birth and then received private instruction under Professor Gensch at Hilbert, Wisconsin, after which she engaged in teaching for three years. In the fall of 1904 she was engaged as an instructor in Liberty township and here met Dr. Hell, whom she afterward married. Two children, Chester John and Ethel' Mae, have been born to the couple.
Dr. Hell is a stanch republican in his political views and is at present treas- urer of the town of New Liberty, for he is a young man in whom all place the greatest reliance. Fraternally he enjoys pleasant relations, being an active mem- ber of Lodge, No. 221, A. F. & A. M., at Davenport.
FERDINAND SCHLAPKOHL.
Davenport has a large percentage of German people who, imbued with the spirit of progress, sought the opportunities of the new world, bringing with them the salient characteristics of the Teutonic race, which has ever been an important element in the colonization of America. To this number belongs Ferdinand Schlapkohl, now a retired business man and one of the veterans of the Civil war. His life record commends him to the confidence and good will of all and cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers.
Mr. Schlapkohl was born in Holstein, Germany, April 22, 1841, and is a son of Henry and Margaret Schlapkohl. The father was a farmer in his native
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
land and left that country for America in 1853, accompanied by his family. He did not live to reach his destination, however, but died on the voyage. The mother and her four children afterward continued on their way to Davenport, where they had friends living. The two sisters, Kathryn and Dora, and the brother Henry Schlapkohl are all now deceased, while the mother passed away in 1856.
Ferdinand Schlapkohl attended school for about six years in Germany and after coming to America worked by the month as a farm hand in the summer seasons, while in the winter he attended school. He also took care of race horses in his young days and at different times was employed as a clerk in a store in Rock Island, where he obtained his first experience in the grocery busi- ness. He then enlisted on the 23d of September, 1861, as a member of Com- pany I, Twelfth Missouri Infantry. He was enrolled at Davenport and joined his regiment at St. Louis, after which he went up the Missouri river to Jefferson City, where the regiment were in camp for a couple of weeks, proceeding thence by rail to Sedalia, where they spent two days. They afterward marched to Springfield, Missouri, and winter quarters were established at Rolla, Missouri. In January, however, they broke camp and proceeded southward into Arkansas, participating in the battle of Pea Ridge, the next battle at Chickasaw Bayou occurring about New Year's day of 1862, after which the troops took part in the battle of Arkansas Post. Later came the battles of Jackson and Vicksburg, includ- ing the siege of the latter place until its capitulation. From that point the regi- ment proceeded to Memphis, where three days were spent, after which they started to Chattanooga and took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, proceeding on to Ringgold, where they again met the enemy in a hotly contested engagement. From that point they went to Woodville, Ala- bama, and camped there until May Ist. Mr. Schlapkohl with his command was all through the Atlanta campaign and after the capture of the city he was mus- tered out at St. Louis, September 23, 1864, by reason of the expiration of his three years' term of service.
Mr. Schlapkohl then returned to Davenport and in 1866 joined Mr. Prim in the grocery business on Harrison street. Later they removed to Second street, where the business was conducted until 1871, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Schlapkohl remaining alone in the grocery trade for thirty-seven years, or until the time of his retirement in 1903. For more than a third of a century he was one of the well known leading and prominent grocery merchants of the city, having a large trade which came to him as the result of his well selected line of goods, his careful business management, his reasonable prices and hon- orable dealing.
On the 22d of June, 1868, occurred the marriage of Mr. Schlapkohl and Miss Theresa Schmidt, a daughter of Carl Schmidt, of Long Grove. Unto them have been born seven children: Hulda, who married Charles Korn, of Daven- port, and has three children, Gertrude, Ferdinand and Charles; Matilda, the wife of Chris Wohlert, of this city; Henry, deceased; Marie, at home; Wil- liam, a business man of Durant, Iowa, who married Miss Petersen and has one child, Alice; Dora, who is a teacher in the schools of Davenport; and Thelka, at home.
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Mr. Schlapkohl is a member of the Unitarian church and also belongs to the Turners and the Pioneer German Society. In politics he is a republican and is a citizen of worth, loyal at all times to high principles of manhood and to the best interests of municipal, state and national government. Moreover, he is a self-made man, dependent upon his own resources from an early age, working earnestly for the success which he has achieved, realizing ever that "there is no excellence without labor." His diligence has constituted the key that has un- locked for him the portals of success, enabling him now to live retired.
LOUIS AND HENRY MOELLER.
In looking over the roll of those ambitious men who crossed the ocean and sought to hake a new home for themselves in the state of Iowa in the early days of its history, may be discovered the name of Fritz Moeller, the father of Henry and the late Louis Moeller, who have for a number of years been prominent in the agri- cultural circles in Blue Grass township. He was born in the province of Mecklen- berg, Germany, in 1828, and, having married Miss Dorothy Moeller, a native of the same locality, came to America in 1852. He settled first in New Orleans, where he remained two years, engaged for the most part in the operation of a truck farm. In 1854 he ascended the Mississippi river to Scott county, Iowa, where he pur- chased eighty acres of land. In the course of years, however, as he won success from his cultivation of the soil, he added to his farm until at his death it embraced two hundred and forty acres. He was twice married and by his first wife had six children, namely : one daughter who died in infancy; Henry; Louis; Alvina, the wife of Carl Swenser, of South Dakota; Matilda, the wife of John Jockheck, of Sioux City, Iowa; and Willie, who died in infancy. The children by the second marriage were: Fredericka, the deceased wife of Henry Boss, of O'Brien county, Iowa; Minnie, the wife of Harvey Chase, of the same county; Sarah, who died in infancy ; and Hulda, who died at the age of nine months.
Shortly after his parents settled upon their farm in this county, Henry Moeller was born, January 18, 1854, and his brother Louis' birth occurred at the same place November 9, 1855. Both boys attended the district school and worked upon the homestead from the time they were able to handle the lighter of the farm imple- ments and assume some of the responsibilities in the operation of the place. After the death of their parents, the brothers assumed the management of the farm their father had bought, although Henry Moeller also bought, in 1898, two hundred acres just west of the village of Blue Grass. He never took up his residence upon it, however, as the home place demanded all of his attention. Since the death of his brother he has operated it for his widow, continuing the successful methods which have placed both the men among the prominent and successful agricul- turists of Blue Grass township. The tract Mr. Moeller cultivates is well im- proved and is of a fertility which makes general farming profitable.
Henry Moeller has never married, but on the 15th of March, 1883, Louis Moel- ler was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Jockheck, a daughter of Ernst F. Jock- heck, who is still living in Durant, Iowa. They became the parents of the follow-
HENRY MOELLER
LOUIS MOELLER
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
ing children : Emma, born January 15, 1884, is now the wife of William Illian, of Muscatine, Iowa; Ida, born July 9, 1886, died March 5, 1907; Fred, born May 28, 1888, died August 16, 1894; Ernst L., born March 17, 1891, Wilma A., born August 27, 1895, and Louis J. H., born July 18, 1899, are all at home.
Henry and Louis Moeller were stanch adherents of the democratic party, and both played some part in the local affairs, for Louis Moeller was school director for four years, and his brother was road supervisor for six years. The latter holds stock in the Blue Grass Savings Bank. Indeed both men were representative of the best farming interests of Blue Grass township, which was deprived of one of its most worthy citizens when, on the 22d of November, 1907, Louis Moeller passed away. He was mourned not only by his family, but also by the many of his associates who through frequent intercourse with him had come to respect and honor him.
CHARLES BEIDERBECKE.
Charles Beiderbecke, coming to America as a young man of seventeen years and his youthful training being that of a German lad, entered upon activities in the new world with no false ideas concerning the advantages here offered. He knew, however, that the path to success is open to all and that the fruits of labor are sure and certain. Therefore with persistent energy he sought pros- perity and in time came to be known as one of the leading merchants and financiers of Davenport.
Born in Westphalia, Germany, July 20, 1836, Charles Beiderbecke spent the first seventeen years of his life in his native country and there attended a uni- versity, studying for the ministry. He sailed for America in 1853. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way to Indianapolis, Indiana, and for three years was employed in the postoffice.
He was sent by the government to Dubuque, Iowa, where he also held a posi- tion in the postoffice, but not liking that city he remained for only a short time and then removed to Davenport. Here he afterward entered into partnership relations as the senior member of the firm of Beiderbecke & Miller, wholesale grocers. They were located at the corner of Gaines and Second streets and afterward removed to Second street between Main and Harrison streets. In 1880 Mr. Beiderbecke erected a business block in which he continued to carry on his commercial interests throughout the remainder of his days. He built up a large and successful enterprise and was considered one of the leading business men of the city. He based his business principles and actions on the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity and in the development of his business ever kept in mind the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. He held to high standards in the personnel of the house, in the character of goods carried and in the nature of the service rendered to the public, and as the years passed he enjoyed a constantly growing trade that for many years gave him a very substantial and gratifying income. Extending his efforts to other lines, he was recognized as one of the leading representatives of financial interests,
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