History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II, Part 69

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


USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 69


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Frank De Cock has lived upon his present farm ever since he was nine years old, except for the year and a half he was abroad. He acquired his elementary education in district school No. 4, of Winfield township, and upon completing the required course of study attended St. Ambrose College for two years. Then


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he went to Europe to enter the agricultural college of St. Peter's in Belgium, and after spending a year and a half there he returned to Scott county to assume charge of the farm. It has since been his home continuously, the neat and at- tractive appearance of the fields and the well kept buildings being an indication of the good management of the owner. He raises various crops, such as are adapted to soil and climate, and in addition keeps a number of hogs and cattle. He finds a ready market for his harvests and his stock, so that his income there- from is of generous proportions.


On the Ist of September, 1893, Mr. De Cock was married to Miss Mary De Jagher, a daughter of Felix and Natalia De Jagher, who came to this country from Belgium, accompanied by their daughter, about six months before Mr. De Cock returned from his college work. The young couple went to the Chicago world's fair on their wedding trip and then returned to the farm, where they have since lived. Their family numbered seven children, one of whom, Anna, died at the age of six months. The others are: Leona, Antoinette, Rosalia, Berna- dine, Francis and Colette, all of whom are at home.


Mr. De Cock is a communicant of St. Ann's Catholic church and exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, on which ticket he was elected school director, a position he still holds. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he withholds his influence from no measure or movement which is calculated to benefit the county. In fact, he is numbered among its most progressive citizens and public-spirited men.


HANS KETELSEN.


Hans Ketelsen, now living in retirement in Dixon, was for many years one of the prominent agriculturists of Allens Grove township, where he owned a large tract of land. He was born in Schleswig, Germany, February 27, 1839, and is a son of Peter and Christina (Reimers) Ketelsen, both natives of the same province of the fatherland. They came to America in 1861, making their way direct to Scott county, Iowa, where Mr. Ketelsen followed farming with such profit that, although he had come here with little money, by the time he felt that advancing age necessitated his retirement from active life he was the owner of nearly six hundred acres of valuable land. The last years of his life were spent in Dixon. Nine children were born to him and his wife: Hans, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Margaret Eichner, of Davenport; Christina, who became the wife of Hon. Ernst Moeller, at one time a member of the state legislature but now like his wife deceased; Katherine, the wife of Peter Koch, of Omaha; Chris- tian, who died in this county in April, 1908; Peter, of Clay county, Iowa; Thomas, who resides in New Liberty; Henry, whose home is in Davenport; and Mary, who is deceased. All the children were born in Germany, and all came to the United States.


Hans Ketelsen was about twenty-two years of age when he accompanied his parents to this country. As they made their way almost immediately to Scott county, he found work here as a farm hand, receiving fifty cents a day in com-


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pensation for his labor. For four or five years he continued in the employ of others and then, having married, he took up farming on his own account. His first farm consisted of eighty acres in Liberty township, on which he lived for two years. Then he sold it and bought one hundred acres in Allens Grove town- ship. This remained his home until he retired from active life, March 1, 1899, but in the course of years he had cultivated the soil with such profit that he had been able to add to it frequently until his landholdings embraced four hundred acres, a part of which lay in Liberty township. Much of the land, however, he has now sold, retaining in his possession only the one hundred and eighty acres on which one of his sons lives and which he operates. This success of Mr. Ket- elsen, which tells its own story of the skill he possesses as a farmer, is the result of the keen foresight which has always been conspicuous in his character and of his ability to realize and benefit by a need which is either existent or potential. It was this progressive policy of his which urged the establishment of a bank here, and when the Dixon Savings Bank was organized he became one of its directors, holding that position to the present.


In 1867, Mr. Ketelsen was married to Miss Maggie Eichner, who was born in Schleswig, Germany, March 20, 1847. In 1864, she came to the United States with her parents, Peter and Christina Eichner, who located in Scott county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ketelsen six children have been born: William, who re- sides in Davenport; Emma, who became the wife of William Jurgens but has passed away, leaving one child; Henry, who operates his father's farm in Allens Grove township; Alvena, who died unmarried at the age of thirty years; Otto, who is living with his father; and Clara, who is the wife of Emil Brockmann, of Allens Grove. Mrs. Ketelsen died in Dixon May 1, 1908.


Mr. Ketelsen has always been a republican since he was admitted to citizen- ship, and while a resident of Allens Grove township evinced the same public spirit which has distinguished his life in Dixon, for he was trustee for six years and school director off and on for a number of years. In fact he has proved himself wholly worthy of the high respect and honor which his fellow citizens have shown him, for he is a man of sound principles, by the aid of which he has won a large prosperity.


BEN F. LUETJE.


Ben F. Luetje, county treasurer, and one of Davenport's successful business men, was born in Geneseo, Illinois, August 10, 1878. He is of German paren- tage, his father, William Luetje, having severed home ties at the age of nine- teen. Upon reaching our shores he came almost directly to Davenport where he engaged in the grocery business. Following this he secured a position with the Petersen Dry Goods Company, his association with this concern continu- ing to the present day. He married Miss Frederica Petersen, a daughter of J. H. C. Petersen, a member of the firm, and it was while the father was man- aging a branch house at Geneseo that Ben F. Luetje was born. One other member, a brother Harry, completes the family.


BEN F. LUETJE


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


Ben F. Luetje received his education in the public schools, graduating from the higher department in 1895. His first experience as a wage-earner was gained in the shoe and clothing department of the Petersen Dry Goods Com- pany. In course of time he became manager of the department, only relin- quishing this position to accept another, likewise in a managerial capacity, with the Davenport Woolen Mills, where he has given efficient service for a year and a half. In 1908 Mr. Luetje was elected county treasurer of Scott county by a majority of one thousand, five hundred and fifty. Not only was this ma- jority flattering, everything considered, but he has the distinction of being only the third democratic treasurer ever elected in Scott county.


In April, 1892, Mr. Luetje laid the foundation of a congenial home life by his marriage to Miss Anita Johannsen, a daughter of John C. Johannsen, of Davenport. Mr. Luetje is a man who takes pride and pleasure in his fraternal relations. He is prominent in Masonry, in which he has taken high rank, hav- ing membership in Fraternal Lodge, No. 221, A. F. & A. M., Davenport Chap- ter, No. 16, R. A. M .; and Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also be- longs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 298, and several other orders, among them the Turners. He makes friends readily and is equally happy as a business man, the guardian of a public trust and a genial companion.


JOHN BEHRENS.


John Behrens, who was formerly engaged in house-moving in Davenport but is now living retired, his sons having undertaken the management of the business inaugurated by him. He is a native of Germany, the date of his birth being September 20, 1846. His parents were Henry and Katherine (Eccers) Behrens, the father, who was a farmer, lived and died in his native land. Early in life the subject of this sketch decided to try his fortune in the new world and after landing in New York came direct to Davenport, where he has ever since made his home. Here for some time he gained his livelihood as a laborer, willing to turn his hand to anything honest, but his ambition to become independent was nevertheless smouldering. This independence he achieved when he went into the house-moving business and as soon as his efficiency became known his services were in demand in many different cities. He was extremely successful and the business which he placed in the hands of his sons two years ago upon his retirement from active life was a large and remunerative one.


On March II, 1873, Mr. Behrens married Miss Elsie Ramm, their union being blessed by the birth of three children who reached the age of maturity. Henry married Anna Weiskoph and has a family of three children, Walter, Helen and Marie. Anna is the wife of Harry Struck and is the mother of two children. Bertha, who became Mrs. Charles Moeller, is deceased, a son, John, surviving her. On April 23, 1881, Mr. Behrens was a second time married, the lady who became his wife being Miss Mary E. Hoffmann. Six children were born to this marriage, two of whom survive. The elder, Otto, married Miss Emma Gochins and has a son, John. The daughter, Flora, has finished school


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and is completing her education with study at home. She is an excellent piano player, having taken lessons since the age of nine years. Another son, John, was drowned in the Mississippi river at the age of twenty-one years.


Mr. Behrens is a popular and influential citizen, particularly among the Ger- man element in Davenport. He is a public-spirited man, ever ready to give his support to the cause likely to bring the greatest good to the greatest number. He is possessed of that admirable German characteristic, a love of good music. He belongs to several German singing societies and is identified with the Freie- gemeinde and the Kampfgenossen Verein.


WILLIAM UNTIEDT.


Among the prominent farmers of Davenport township will be found those who are its native sons and have as their inheritance the excellent traits of char- acter with which the German race is endowed and which have proved of such value in agriculture as in the other phases of life. He was born upon the land which he operates at present, March 2, 1853, his parents being Claus and Kathrina (Stoltenberg) Untiedt. They were both natives of the fatherland, were married and had one child born to them before they decided to come to America. They landed in New Orleans in the fall of 1847 and then came up the Mississippi river to Davenport. Mr. Untiedt received from his father-in-law eighty acres of prairie land, which now constitutes a part of his son's farm. He broke the land, erected a small dwelling upon it and devoted himself to its cultivation and improvement. As the years brought him a generous return for his labors he purchased another eighty acres contiguous, making his home upon the whole tract until 1875, when he moved to another part of the township. He and his wife are now deceased. They reared four children to maturity, namely: Anna, who is the widow of Henry Rohwedder, of Davenport; Mary, the deceased wife of George Roggen- kamp; Amelia, who married George Roggenkamp, of Blue Grass township; and William, the subject of this sketch.


William Untiedt has spent all of his life upon the farm which is now his home and claims that he has never been absent from it more than six weeks at a time. He attended the district school of his locality and later a German school so that he had a good training both in the fundamental branches of English educa- tion and in particular studies which those of German birth and parentage are anx- ious that their offspring should know. He has devoted his time since childhood to agricultural pursuits, even as a youth assisting his father in the heavier work, and as he advanced in years assuming no small share of the responsibility in the operation of the place. He is engaged in general farming and as he has spared neither effort nor industry to improve and develop his land he has been successful beyond the ordinary. In addition to the one hundred and sixty acres which consti- tute the homestead, Mr. Untiedt owns another tract of equal area in Blue Grass township, this county, and is accounted one of the prominent Germans of his locality.


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On the. 14th of July, 1875, Mr. Untiedt wedded Miss Anna M. Sindt, a daughter of Claus and Lena Sindt, who had come with her parents from Ger- many. Nine children have been born to the couple. Herman N. married Miss Lena Nagle and lives on his father's farm in Blue Grass township, where he is rear- ing his two children, Herbert and Melinda. Theodore R. has remained at home. Albert A. married Miss Hulda Joens and lives in Dickinson county, Iowa. They have three children. Alvina is the wife of Charles Kroenenberg of Blue Grass township, and is the mother of a daughter Lillie. Alma became the wife of Hans Bockwoldt, of Minnesota, and they have two sons, William and Walter. The four youngest children-Rudolph, Otto, Hugo and Hertha-are at home.


Mr. Untiedt has served as school director and road supervisor in his town- ship, but while his duties were ever fulfilled with dignity and to the satisfaction of those who had placed confidence in him, he took little active part in the public affairs and could never be called an aspirant for official distinction.


GEORGE A. GOULD.


Held in uniform affection and esteem by those who know him best and in- deed by all those with whom he comes in contact is George A. Gould, president of the Gould Construction Company, one of those thriving industries which contribute in large measure to Davenport's prosperity and standing among cities of its size.


He was born August 7, 1854, and comes of fine New England stock, among his ancestors being the usual quota of patriots. His parents were Isaac C. and Betsy R. (Read) Gould. His maternal grandfather, Benjamin Read, was a soldier in the Revolution and a captain in the war of 1812. He lived to witness the war of the Rebellion and its outcome and died in 1865 at the age of ninety-two years at Heath, Massachusetts. The father, Isaac Gould, was a mechanic and had a family of five sons and a daughter. He decided to come west, as he expressed it, "to give the boys a chance in life." Before he could get his family to Iowa, where he had preceded them, he was taken ill and lived only about six months after they finally arrived. Mr. Gould's only sister also died about one year after the death of the father, being at the time of her demise about twelve years of age.


Diverse fortunes befell the brothers, all those who were old enough enlisting in the Civil war. Joseph R. had been admitted to the bar and was already prac- ticing in Rochester when the Rebellion broke out. He raised a company in Cedar county and was made first lieutenant in the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry. He served most of his time as quartermaster until 1863, when he was promoted to a captaincy and only four days after his promotion was killed in the valley of the Shenandoah. He left a wife and one son, Herbert, who died at the age of two years. Benjamin Gould, the second brother, enlisted at the first call from the state of New York and served as a private. Later he reenlisted and served until peace was declared, doing light duty. His wife was Sarah Glaspell. Isaac C., the third brother, also offered his life to the cause of freedom, enlisting as a private in the Eleventh Iowa Infantry, in which he served three years. Upon his


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reenlistment he became lieutenant in charge of colored troops and served until the close of the war. Franklin T., the fourth brother, emulated the example of the others and at the age of fifteen years ran away from home to enlist. He was admitted to the Second Iowa Cavalry and served during the entire war, having reenlisted. He married the widow of his eldest brother and resided in Davenport to the time of his death. Had the subject of the sketch been more than seven years of age when the first guns were fired at Fort Sumter, he would doubtless have been found in the thickest of the fray, but destiny had ordained otherwise. He is the last surviving member of the family, his mother having died at the age of eighty-three years.


George A. Gould received his education in the public schools and found his first employment in the bridge and building department of the Chicago, Rock Is- land & Pacific Railway. After giving efficient service there for a number of years he became superintendent of bridges and buildings, his promotion coming as a natural sequence to his prowess. In 1904 he brought into play his dormant talents as an organizer and the Gould Construction Company came into being. This enterprise has enjoyed the most abundant success, doing work of superior excellence and employing many people.


Mr. Gould was married December 27, 1876, to Miss Emma Smith, and two children were born to the union. The elder, Augustus G., is vice president of the Gould Construction Company. After finishing in the public schools, he entered the Davenport Business College, taking a course in the engineering department. He is now very familiar with that subject, having been for a time associated with the Rock Island Railway and the Delaware & Lackawanna Railway. He mar- ried Miss Jennie Reed and they have one child, Elizabeth. Mr. Gould's daughter, Grace E., is the wife of Orville Davies and resides in Kirksville, Missouri, her husband being a traveling salesman. They have two children, John and George. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have a delightful home at 1039 Arlington avenue.


Mr. Gould belongs to the Masonic order, in which he has taken all the de- grees. He is also a member of the Commercial Club and has various other affiliations. Many things have contributed to the success which he now enjoys, his determination, his poise and sound judgment, his upright life, his gift for mak- ing friends and his championship of just measures.


HANS HARKERT.


Hans Harkert, president of the Harkert Cigar Company, one of those indus- tries which operate for Davenport's prosperity, was born February 17, 1852, in Holstein, Germany, his parents being Claus and Anna (Hinrichs) Harkert. His father was a mechanic and windmill-maker. Upon coming to the United States he settled in Davenport, where he was one of the earliest citizens.


Hans Harkert received his education in the school of the fatherland, and had attained the age of eleven years when he arrived in the land of his adoption. He landed in New York and came almost directly to Davenport. For seven years thereafter he engaged in farming and then located in Davenport to test


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his fortunes as a teamster. He eventually took up cigarmaking, acquiring skill in that trade in three months' time, and then started a small factory of his own. Discontinuing this after a while, he secured employment in another factory of greater proportions and soon became foreman, in which capacity he continued for fifteen years. Severing this association he tried a second independent venture and started a cigar factory, in which he employed two helpers. From this modest beginning grew the present business, one of the largest of its kind in the city, giving as it does eniployment to one hundred people and steadily grow- ing in size and importance.


Mr. Harkert was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Weissermal, their union being celebrated February 18, 1872. His wife's people like his own are Ger- mans who were attracted to America by its many opportunities and its newer civilization. Mr. and Mrs. Harkert are the parents of eleven children, of whom four survive. Richard married Miss Dora Spath and they have two children, Herbert and Dorothy. Arthur married Miss Dora Berger, and they also are the parents of two children. Adolph and Verona are at home. The Harkert resi- dence is situated at 518 West Fourth street.


Mr. Harkert enjoys great popularity among his fellowmen and has many pleasant affiliations, being identified with the Turners and indeed with most of the German societies. Humane, public-spirited and broad-minded, he contributes materially to the good citizenship of Davenport.


REV. HARVEY F. FINEFIELD.


Rev. Harvey F. Finefield, who since April, 1906, has been the pastor of St. Ann's parish of Winfield township, was born in Davenport, Iowa, November 12, 1877. His father, William Finefield, was born in New York state in 1832, was a steamboat carpenter and engineer by trade, and ran a steamboat on the Great Lakes and the Mississippi river for many years, enjoying the distinction of having helped to bring the first steam engine across the Father of Waters. In Kiespburg, New York, he wedded Miss Rosana Connelly, who was born in Ohio, December 26, 1841, and about forty years ago the young couple came to Davenport, being among the early settlers of the city. Now they make their home with their son Harvey. In their family were nine children: John, who died in infancy; Mary, who married Dr. Rogers, of Davenport; one who died in in- fancy; Bertha, who is the wife of M. J. Flynn, of Davenport; Elizabeth, who married F. X. Bath, of Chicago, Illinois ; William F., proprietor of the Davenport Hotel; Edward, who died in 1905, at the age of thirty-three; Vernard P., of Omaha, Nebraska; and the Rev. Harvey F. Finefield.


The last named received his early education in the public schools of Daven- port and in St. Mary's school, later attending St. Ambrose College, from which he was graduated in the classics in 1899, and in philosophy in 1901. Thereupon he entered St. Paul's Seminary, from which he received the sacrament of holy orders in 1904, after which he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he spent nine- teen months with Monsieur Flaven. At the end of that period in April, 1906,


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he was assigned to the pastorate of St. Ann's parish in Winfield township, where he has since been located.


St. Ann's church is situated in Winfield township about two miles from Long Grove. The parish was organized in 1857 by a number of the pioneers of Scott county, including John McMannis, who took a very active part in the work of the early congregation; John McGurty; Maurice Norton; Richard Toben; Pat Dempsey ; Thomas Malony; Mr. McGary; Martin Lillis; Martin Cahoe; Mr. Cooper; Mr. Hogan and others, and Father Francis McKenney was the first priest. He traveled through the township on horseback, saying mass in different houses. About 1855 the first church was built, a small structure that is now used as the vestry room. Father McDermott was the second priest and later Father Cosgrove came, remaining in charge until 1859, when Father Dennis Wheeler became pastor. He was here only a year, however, and was succeeded by Father John Foley, who was pastor until 1868, during part of which year Father Maurice Flavin was in charge. He built St. Mary's church in Daven- port, but as he died before it was completed his brother finished the work. The first resident priest of St. 'Ann's parish was Father Thomas Smith, who came in July, 1870, and continued in charge until January, 1893. He was a very active worker in behalf of his congregation, set out all the trees in the beautiful church- yard, built the church and the parsonage and in other ways improved the prop- erty of the parish. At present he is located at Cosgrove, Iowa. Father P. J. Moran was his successor, remaining until December, 1895, when Father Martin McNamara assumed charge of the parish until 1902, when Father Gall came, and remained until 1904. For a few months subsequently the church was at- tended by priests from St. Ambrose College at Davenport, and then Father James P. McGillin became pastor. He was Father Finefield's predecessor. Father Finefield has done excellent work in behalf of the church during the four years of his residence here, carefully ministering to the spiritual needs of his con- gregation and at the same time proving of assistance to them in material things by his kindly advice and counsel.


HENRY KOHRS.


Henry Kohrs, whose foresight enabled him to realize the possibilities of Dav- enport as the center of many industries and a prominent shipping point for the west, was born in Holstein, Germany, November 15, 1830, a son of Carsten and Gesche (Krause) Kohrs. The father was born in the same place as his son and died there in 1835.




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