USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 60
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It was on the 4th of December, 1884, that Mr. Hamann was united in mar- riage to Miss Thrina Arp, a native of Germany, who was born in Holstein on the 30th of July, 1866, and came to Davenport with her parents, who arrived in this country in the spring of 1870. She is a daughter of Hans and Liza (Brock- mann) Arp, both natives of the fatherland. The father, who was born on the 18th of July, 1841, was a weaver in the old country, but after coming to Amer- ica was engaged as a farmer and laborer for a number of years. His death occurred on the 19th of April, 1896. The mother, whose natal day was the IIth of August, 1840, still survives and makes her home in Davenport. In their family were five children, as follows: Hans, who passed away at the age of six years; Helena, who died when twenty-one years old; Thrina, the wife of our subject; Julius, residing in Minnesota; and Rudolph, of Davenport. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hamann have been born eight children, namely: Albert, operating one of his father's farms in Cleona township; Emil, also making his home in
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that township; and Hugo, Leonard, Walter, Leona, Luella and Leroy, all under the parental roof.
In the political life of the community Mr. Hamann has never taken an active part for, although he gives stalwart support to the principles of the republican party, he has never sought nor desired public office as the reward for party fealty. Public-spirited and loyal in his citizenship, however, he is thoroughly identified with the interests of the community and gives ready cooperation to all measures which have for their object the general progress, advancement, im- provement and reform. Having passed his entire life within the borders of Scott county, he has become well known here, the circle of his friends being almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances, and all who know him entertain for him high regard and respect because of his many excellent traits of character.
HENRY KLINDT, JR.
The business interests of Maysville, Scott county, find a worthy represen- tative in Henry Klindt, who was born in this village, September 25, 1880, a son of Henry and Celia (Sindt) Klindt. The father was born in Hohndorf, Probstei, Germany, March 12, 1846, and was there reared to the age of fifteen years, when his parents, Heinrich and Katharine (Stelk) Klindt, removed to Prussia, Germany. Heinrich Klindt was a wagon maker by trade and followed that occupation in the old country but in 1868 he emigrated to America and settling in Scott county, here engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his business career. Their family numbered seven children, but the youngest a daughter, was drowned in Germany at the age of six years. The other mem- bers were: Claus, now a resident of Davenport; Maggie, the wife of Fritz Kardel, also of that city; Lena, who became the wife of Jochim Lamp, but is deceased; Jochim, who has also departed this life; Henry, Sr .; and Katie, the wife of John Sindt, a resident of Lyon county, Iowa. Both the parents passed away in Maysville, the father when seventy-one years of age, and the mother at the age of sixty-nine years.
Henry Klindt, Sr., accompanied his parents on their various removals and was a young man of twenty-two years when the family sought a home in the new world, and from that time to the present he has made his home in Scott county. After coming here he was engaged at farm labor for six years and then became proprietor of a hotel in Maysville, conducting a saloon in con- nection with his hostelry. He gave his time to this business for sixteen years and in the meantime, meeting with success, he invested his money in farm lands in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Since retiring from active business he has made his home in Maysville and now gives his time to his land interests in the north. Mr. Klindt was married on the 8th of February, 1876, to Miss Celia Sindt, who was born in Scott county, October 16, 1854, a daughter of Henry and Bertha Sindt, who were natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to America and located in Scott county in the early '50s. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Klindt have been born five children but Hertha and Grover are deceased, while the three sur-
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viving members are: Mate, the wife of William Jurgens, a resident of New Liberty, Iowa; Albert, who conducts a hotel in Donahue; and Henry. Jr., of this review.
Henry Klindt, Jr., was reared under the parental roof and acquired his ele- mentary learning in the common schools of Maysville, while later he pursued a business course in Duncan's Business College at Davenport. Well qualified for the practical duties of life he began his business career as a traveling sales- man, representing a Davenport firm for several years. In 1904 he engaged in business in Maysville as a general merchant and has built up a good patronage which he draws from the surrounding districts as well as from the village. He keeps a stock of goods that meets the demands of the public and his moderate prices and his fair dealings has proved his best advertisement. He owns his own store building, a modern, two-story structure, sixty by thirty-two feet, the lower floor being devoted to the business, while the second story is occupied as a dwelling.
Mr. Klindt was married February 8, 1905, the lady of his choice being Miss Clara S. Keppy, a native of Donahue, Scott county. She is a daughter of Frank Keppy, who is engaged in merchandising in the latter place, and by her mar- riage she has become the mother of one child, Lorane. Upon the incorporation of the village of Maysville on the 11th of July, 1909, Mr. Klindt was elected its first mayor and he has already demonstrated his fitness for the office. In his business affairs he is very methodical and accurate as to details and shows splendid judgment in the treatment of his employes and of all with whom he comes in contact.
D. C. McCAUSLAND.
D. C. McCausland is a representative of one of the old families of Scott county and has resided here from his early boyhood days. Members of the family have always been actively interested in the work of general progress and, like the others of his name, D. C. McCausland has assisted in the material develop- ment of the county and in the support of many public measures for the general good. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of October, 1846, and is a son of John C. and Catherine McCausland, who removed from the Keystone state to West Virginia when the subject of this review was only a year old. There they resided for seven years, after which they came to Scott county. The father had previously visited this district. Looking over the country and being pleased with its future prospects he purchased a half section of land two miles south of the present town of McCausland. He then brought his family to Iowa and began life as a pioneer settler of Scott county. Upon his land there was a large stone house that had formerly been the property of a Mr. Brakenridge, who owned a ranch in this district. As the years passed on and he prospered in his undertakings John C. McCausland became one of the extensive landholders of the district, adding to his property from time to time until he had an entire section and a tract of one hundred and eighty acres
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additional when he died. He was a man of undaunted enterprise and good business ability and his careful management of his interests brought him sub- stantial and gratifying success. At the same time he commanded the respect and confidence of all who knew him.
D. C. McCausland acquired his early education in the schools of West Virginia and continued his studies in the district schools of Scott county and in private schools, gaining a good knowledge of those branches of English learn- ing which are considered essential factors to success in business life. Through the period of his youth he was instructed and trained by his father in the work of the fields and gained a practical knowledge of farm methods so that he was well qualified to take charge of a farm of his own, when, in 1880, he removed to his present home, which he had purchased and which has since been his place of residence. The town of McCausland, where he now resides, was named in his honor. He was the first postmaster here, establishing the office in 1883 and continuing in charge thereof for ten years. He also conducted a gen- eral store here, which was the first in the town, and for a decade he remained in merchandising, building up a good trade. He also dealt in horses for some time, but at the present writing is handling South Dakota lands and in his real- estate operations is meeting with excellent success. He is the owner of a large amount of property in that state, while his holdings in Scott county embrace five hundred acres of very valuable farm land.
On the 6th of May, 1880, Mr. McCausland was married to Miss Celina E. Smith, a daughter of Seneca Smith, of Dubuque, and unto them were born three children : John W., of Chicago; Mary B., the wife of O. O. Coe, of Canada, by whom she has one child; and Guy C., at home.
Mr. McCausland has served as justice of the peace of Butler township and proved a capable incumbent in that position, but has never been an office seeker, always preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs. In the capable direction of his mercantile, live-stock and land interests he has met with substantial success and is recognized as one of the representative and lead- ing business men of this part of the county.
WILLIAM PRUTER.
Among the many men who have followed farming with success and have now put aside the more arduous duties and live in retirement in Davenport is William Pruter. He owns about seven hundred acres of farm land in Craw- ford county, Iowa, besides the fine town property where he lives. He was born in Holstein, Germany, October 27, 1830, a son of Hans and Agnes Pruter. The father was a carpenter by trade and, like his wife, died in the fatherland.
William Pruter was reared and educated in the province of his birth, there learning the trade of a cabinetmaker. When he reached manhood he entered the German army, serving through the war of 1848-50. After its culmination he worked at his trade until 1869, when he embarked for America. The ocean vessel dropped anchor at New York, whence he and his wife and three chil-
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dren made their way to Iowa. He bought eighty acres of land in Clinton county, on which the family lived for the next three years, and then selling it they removed to Crawford county, where Mr. Pruter purchased a tract of prairie land. He broke the soil, prepared it for cultivation and in the course of years improved it greatly, making it his home until 1902, when a large income and advancing years suggested the wisdom of his retiring from active life.
Mr. Pruter has been married three times. His first wife was Miss Margaret Fehrs, who died in 1867, leaving two children. Frank, who is now living in Crawford county, wedded Miss Augusta Kruse, and they have five children : Carolina, Julius, Frank, Gustave and Emma. Charles, who married Miss Dora Lamas, lives in Crawford county and is the father of a daughter, Elsie. For his second wife Mr. Pruter married Miss Carolina Schroader, who died leaving one son, John. On the 26th of November, 1872, Mr. Pruter married Miss Mag- dalene Rohwer, a daughter of Hans and Magdalene Rohwer, who spent their entire lives in Germany. One son, William, has been born of this union. He lives in Crawford county and married Miss Clara Miller. They have two chil- dren, Clarence and Leslie.
While still in active business in Crawford county, Mr. Pruter was closely identified with public interests in his locality and served as trustee, a member of the school board and as supervisor of the roads in Hayes township. He fulfilled the duties of these several offices with care and discrimination, which gained for him the esteem of those who had chosen him as their representative. The memory of the past years, which brought him such good fortune, holds little bitterness for his success is due entirely to his own efforts and not to the misfortune of others.
JACOB MILLER.
In the death of Jacob Miller, which occurred at his home on the Middle road, May II, 1897, Scott county lost one of its well known and honored pioneer residents. He had come to Iowa in 1846, removing to this state from Indiana. He was, however, a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Brown county, that state, in 1806. His father, John Miller, was a tailor and followed his trade in Ohio and Indiana. Both he and his wife, Mrs. Anna Miller, were of German birth and parentage. They removed from the Buckeye state to In- diana during the boyhood days of Jacob Miller, who acquired his education in the common schools. After putting aside his text-books he learned the black- smith's trade and then, thinking to have better business opportunities in Iowa, he removed to this state. He engaged in blacksmithing on the farm which he purchased in Le Claire township, making investment in government land, which he cleared and developed, breaking the sod and planting his fields, which in course of time brought forth rich harvests. Year after year he carefully car- ried on the farm work and in addition to the cultivation of cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he also raised stock and found it a profitable source of income. He continued to carry on general farming until the fall of 1882, when
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he removed to his home on the Middle road. He retained the ownership of his farm, however, until his death. His property interests were a visible evidence of his well directed energy and activity and he could truly be called a self-made man, for his success came as the just reward of his earnest and unfaltering labor.
Mr. Miller was married twice. In Indiana, in 1831, he wedded Miss Jane Aikens and unto them were born five daughters, including Mrs. Heavlin, whose daughter, Mrs. James Kough, now resides with Mrs. Miller in Davenport. His first wife passed away in November, 1876, and in 1881 he wedded Hila Bishop, whose father came to Iowa from Illinois.
Mr. Miller voted with the democracy and had firm belief in the value of the party principles as elements in good government. He did not seek nor wish for office, however, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his busi- ness affairs. He held no membership in fraternities but was a devoted member of the Baptist church for fifty years, serving for a long period as deacon in the church. He took deep interest in all of its work, doing everything in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. His life was ever honor- able and upright, in harmony with his professions, and his sterling personal worth commanded for him the respect of young and old, rich and poor. Had he lived until June, 1897, he would have been ninety-one years of age. His life span covered much of that century which up to this time has been the most im- portant in the world's history, chronicling as it does the most notable progress along the paths of civilization. When he first saw the sunlight in Ohio, Iowa had no place on the map save as a part of that great unexplored western country. The first crude steamboat had not yet been floated upon the Hudson and a num- ber of years were to pass before the first telegraph line would transmit a mes- sage. Mr. Miller lived to see all these and many more things accomplished, to- gether with the settlement of the great west and its division into states whose enterprises and opportunities equal if not exceed those of the older east.
CHARLES MEIER.
A tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Winfield township is the property of Charles Meier, and that he deserves mention among the energetic and capable agriculturists of Scott county is shown by the attractive appearance of his farm. He was born in Bremen, Prussia, Germany, September 30, 1849, his parents being Fritz and Marie Meier. The father was a laborer in the old country and was the first of his family to come to the United States. Later, in 1859, two of his sisters, Minnie, the wife of Christian Voss, and Caroline, the wife of Charles Fent, followed, settling in Long Grove, Scott county, Iowa. In 1862, a brother, William, who is now deceased, also came to this county, and the next year the rest of the family, consisting of father, mother, a brother Fritz, and sisters Rica, Mary, and Augusta came here, all of them locating in Long Grove township, this county. The father died one year after coming here, but his wife lived about twenty years after her arrival.
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES MEIER
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Charles Meier was fourteen years of age when he came to America. He had attended school in Germany and had been confirmed in his native land. For two winters after his arrival in this county he was a pupil in the district school of Long Grove, that he might become familiar with the English language. For many years, in fact until he married, he worked as a farm hand, and then, in 1876, he engaged in farming for himself, renting land in Butler township. Two years later he removed to Winfield township, where he lived upon rented land for a year, and then he went to Sheridan township, where he farmed as a ten- ant for seven years. At the end of that period he returned to Winfield town- ship, where he bought eighty acres, the tract constituting part of the farm on which he now lives. The other eighty acres his wife received from her father. As the years have gone by Mr. Meier has improved and cultivated his place until now it is one of the neat, attractive and up-to-date farms of the locality and its fields bring forth rich harvests that well compensate him for his labor.
On the 3d of September, 1876, Mr. Meier wedded Miss Mary Farenkrug, a daughter of Lewis and Anna Farenkrug. Mrs. Meier was born in Holstein, Germany, March 5, 1857, and was seven years of age when she was brought to America by her mother, her father having died in the fatherland. After coming to this country her mother married Mr. Farenkrug, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Meier became the parents of nine children, as follows: Bertha, who married Herman Ertzman, of Davenport, and is now the mother of four children, Wilma, Martha, Marie and Mildred; Martha, the wife of Albert Ertzman, by whom she has two children, Werna and Lewis; Lewis, who died at the age of five years; William, who died when three years of age; Louise, who became the wife of Thomas Wolfe, of Long Grove; and Ferdinand, Alma, Hilda and Edna, who are at home.
Mr. Meier belongs to the Woodmen of the World at Long Grove, and to the Knights of Pythias at Eldridge, while he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. On its ticket he was elected as trustee of Winfield township for two terms, during which time he proved that he was a man of great public spirit and progressiveness. He is true to every trust reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature, and has many good qualities as manifest in his business career and social relations, so that he well deserves to be mentioned among the representative citizens of Scott county.
REV. W. P. SHANNAHAN.
Rev. W. P. Shannahan, president of St. Ambrose College, one of the strong Catholic institutions of this state, was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, Febru- ary 2, 1870. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Cashman) Shannahan, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Kentucky. His early education was obtained in St. Ambrose College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1896, while later he was graduated from the St. Paul Seminary in 1898. He afterward did post-graduate work in the Catholic University of Washing- ton in the scholastic year of 1899 and 1900, and was thus well qualified by liberal
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training for the important work that has devolved upon him in connection with educational interests.
On the 27th of May, 1899, the Rev. W. P. Shannahan was ordained to the priesthood, taking his holy orders in St. Paul. After his studies were completed in Washington he came to St. Ambrose College as one of its professors and in January, 1907, was chosen president of the institution, which is a very old and important one of this city, promoting in large measure the Catholic educa- tion of the young in central Iowa.
HENRY W. MEIER.
Since 1898 Henry W. Meier has carried on a profitable business at Long Grove as a dealer in farm implements, hardware and coal and is well known as a progressive, energetic and representative citizen of Scott county. One of her native sons, he was born in Sheridan township August 8, 1871, his parents being Heinrich and Lena (Wiese) Meier, both of whom were of German birth. The father was born in Hanover in 1838 and when a boy decided to come to the United States. He landed at New Orleans, whence he went to Lexington, Ken- tucky, living there for several years and then coming to Scott county, Iowa. He was one of the first to break the prairie in this section of the state and when he had saved enough from his earnings he sent for his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Meier, to come here. Their last years were passed in this county, the grand- father being ninety-four years of age at the time of his death.
Heinrich Meier had received some education in his native land, but it was very little and he was what might truthfully be called a self-made man. He bought first eighty acres of prairie land and then eighty acres adjoining, on which he built a house and lived throughout his life. Subsequently he pur- chased another farm of one hundred and fifty acres. He owned the first steam thresher on this side of the Mississippi and was one of the first to use the Mc- Cormick binder. During his entire life he engaged in threshing for others in every part of Scott county. Nor did he confine his interests to his private af- fairs but found time to serve as school director and road supervisor for a long period, being elected to both positions on the democratic ticket. Indeed he was one of the most prominent farmers of the county, and his death, which occurred at the comparatively early age of forty-eight years, was felt as a serious loss by the community. His remains were laid to rest at Pine Hill. His wife survived him many years, passing away in 1906, when sixty-two years of age. They were the parents of four children: Emma, the wife of Peter Stoltenberg, of Mount Joy; Henry W., of this review; Augusta, who married August Lafranz, of Eldridge, Iowa; and Edward, who lives on the old home place.
Henry W. Meier has spent his entire life in Scott county, being reared to manhood upon the home farm. At the usual age he entered the district school of his locality, and after completing his education therein assisted with the work on the farm until he attained his majority. For the next five years he was engaged in running a thresher, and in partnership with Mr. Lafranz con-
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ducted a grocery store at Eldridge at the same time. He sold his interests in this enterprise to his partner in 1895, and after the outbreak of the Spanish- American war, in June, 1898, enlisted in Company B. Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he went to Jacksonville, Florida, where he was in camp for six months. On being discharged he returned to Scott county and the same year embarked in the implement business in Long Grove, which he has con- ducted successfully to the present, carrying not only the various machines needed in modern farming but also a full line of hardware, automobiles and several varieties of coal. His enterprise and aggressiveness have secured for him a large patronage, while his sound methods and business probity have gained the respect and confidence of all with whom he has had dealings. He holds stock in the Stockman's Savings Bank of Long Grove and in the American Security Company of Davenport.
On the 18th of December, 1901, Mr. Meier wedded Miss Millie Lahl, a daughter of John and Louisa Lahl, old settlers of Winfield township, which is the birthplace of Mrs. Meier. Her father died in 1898, at the age of forty-five years, but her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Meier are the parents of four children: Roma, Helen, Carl and Alta.
He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge of Eldridge, to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Long Grove, and to the Woodmen of the World at Long Grove. In these organizations he has many friends and he is well known in this county, where his entire life has been passed, and those who have known, him since boyhood are most loyal to him now, an indication of his honorable and upright character.
DICK R. LANE.
Dick R. Lane needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he is a representative of one of the most prominent and distinguished families of Dav- enport, in which city he was born October 27, 1882. His grandfather and his father, both distinguished representatives of the Iowa bar, are mentioned else- where in this volume. The public schools of Davenport afforded Dick R. Lane his early educational advantages and later he had the benefit of instruction in the Phillip Academy at Andover, Massachusetts. Thus he gained a broad literary knowledge to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the super- structure of professional learning and in preparation for the bar he entered the law department of the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 1904. He then commenced practice with his father and is proving an active, working member of the firm. His knowledge of the law is also constituting an element in his successful management of business interests. He is now the secretary and treasurer of the Lane Building Company, secretary and treasurer of the Kimball Hotel Company and treasurer of the White Lily Manufactur- ing Company. His interest in Davenport's development along business lines is of most practical and tangible character and his standing among the leading
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