USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 90
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
wife of Henry Luwe, of Davenport, but she is now deceased. Henry is living retired in Davenport, owning six hundred acres of valuable land in Hickory Grove township. He wedded Miss Katherine Hagedorn, a daughter of Claus and Margaret Hagedorn, of Scott county, on the 18th of November, 1864. They have three children. John married Katherine Stoltenberg, lives in Scott county and has one child, Gilbert. 'Amanda is the wife of Ferdinand Stoltenberg, of Du- rant, Iowa, and they have two daughters, Lillie and Lulu. Theodore, who lives in Scott county, wedded Anna Koberg, by whom he has one son, Robert.
Fritz Kardel, the other member of the family, was educated in the schools of Germany and was a youth of nineteen years when he accompanied the family on the emigration to the new world. He proved a valuable assistant to the father in gaining a start in the new world and the knowledge he himself gained also proved a factor in later life when he started out to make his own way in the world. In 1880 he purchased two hundred and one acres of land in Cleona township, to which he removed, and after operating the place for about seven years he abandoned business pursuits and removed to Davenport, where he owns and occupies the residence purchased by the father many years ago. He still owns his farm and the rental of this supplies him with all the comforts of life.
Mr. Kardel was married October 29, 1861, to Miss Margaret Klindt, a daugh- ter of Henry and Katherine Klindt, of Scott county. Mrs. Kardel came alone to the new world from Germany when a young lady of eighteen years. Her parents came later and both passed away in Scott county. She is the eldest in a family of five children, the others being: Claus; Henry; Katherine, the wife of John Sindt; and Helen, deceased. Both Mr. Kardel and his brother are members of the German Pioneer Society. In early life he shared with the other members of the family in the hardships incident to establishing a home in a new country, where the language, manners and customs are unfamiliar to those of foreign birth. He, however, addressed himself to the task and his activity in business not only contributed to his individual success but was also a factor in the devel- opment of Scott county and he is now accounted one of the honored pioneer set- tlers and retired residents of Davenport.
EDWARD R. TAYLOR.
Edward R. Taylor is giving his entire time to the raising of fruit on forty acres of land in Buffalo township. He was born in Preston, Minnesota, April 5, 1866, a son of William Murray and Caroline R. (Noble) Taylor, the former born in Jamestown, New York, in 1825, and the latter in Essex Junction, Vermont. The father was a merchant tailor in Preston for many years but in 1894 came to Scott county, where he has since made his home.
Edward R. Taylor was reared in the place of his nativity and acquired his edu- cation in the public schools. After putting aside his text-books he was employed as a clerk and as buyer of wheat in a flour mill at Preston for a time but in 1886, seeking the broader opportunities to be enjoyed in a city, he went to Minneapolis, and for several years was engaged as reporter on the Minneapolis Tribune. In
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1894 he came to Buffalo township, Scott county, with his father and mother, and, the latter having inherited forty acres of land from her father's estate, the tract having been settled by him in 1836, Edward R. Taylor took up his abode on the farm. He is devoting this to horticultural pursuits, his principal products being grapes, plums, pears, peaches and all kinds of berries. He has made a close study of fruit-raising, understands thoroughly the care of his trees and shrubs so that they will bear good crops in their respective seasons and thus he is meet- ing with success in his field of labor. He finds no difficulty in disposing of his products in the Davenport market, where it demands good prices, owing to its fine quality.
Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Jennie McKim, a daughter of Daniel R. McKim, of Troy, Indiana. The father now makes his home with his daughter. Mr. Taylor votes for the men and measures of the republican party but is not a man in public life in the sense of office seeking. He prefers to devote his full time to his private business affairs and his labors are bringing him a merited reward. Both he and his wife are people of sterling worth and com- mand the respect of neighbors and friends.
HENRY A. ARP.
Henry A. Arp, admitted to the bar in 1896, has practiced in Davenport since 1898 and has built up an extensive loan and mortgage business. As legal coun- selor he has been active in promoting the interests of various business concerns in this part of the state and in general practice has become known as a strong and able lawyer. He was born in this county, May 3, 1868, a son of Heinrich Arp, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1847, landing at New Orleans. He at once left the Crescent city, however, proceeding by boat up the Mississippi to Davenport. After a short time he took up his abode in Davenport township, where he engaged in general farming for many years, bring- ing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improve- ments to his place. He retired from active work a few years before his death, which occurred in 1895, when he had reached the age of seventy years. It was subsequent to his arrival in Scott county that he married Miss Caroline Fey, and unto them were born thirteen children, of whom nine are yet living. The mother had come to this county in her girlhood days from Germany with her father, Wil- liam Fey, who was a respected and representative farmer in Davenport town- ship in pioneer times, Heinrich Arp was also numbered among the worthy pio- neer settlers whose labors had constituted an important element in bringing about the present prosperity and progress of the county. He never had occasion to re- gret his determination to come to America, for in the improvement of the oppor- tunities here offered he won substantial success and enjoyed the friendship and regard of many of the residents of the community in which he established his home.
In the public schools Henry A. Arp mastered the elementary branches of learn- ing and subsequently attended the Duncan Business College, receiving there a training which has been of value to him in his later connection with business af-
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fairs. Taking up the study of law, he completed a course in the law department of the Iowa State University in 1896 and opened an office at Le Mars, where he practiced for two years. He then removed to Davenport and formed a partnership with A. J. Noth. For eight years they were associated and since that time Mr. Arp has been alone, conducting a successful practice in the conduct of various litigated interests. He is strong and resourceful in argument and in the presentation of his cause his deductions follow in logical sequence. He does not indulge in gen- eralities but gives specific proof of his points, and is seldom, if ever, at fault in the application of a legal principle or a precedent. He is also conductng an extensive loan and mortgage business and he has assisted in organizing a number of country banks, which he represents in a legal capacity, these including banking institutions of Scott and adjoining counties.
On the 8th of April, 1897, Mr. Arp was married to Miss Clara C. Sindt, a daughter of Thies Sindt, who was born in Germany and after coming to the new world engaged in the tinware business in Davenport in the early days. He af- terward turned his attention to farming, which he followed in Davenport town- ship until his retirement from active life with the competence which had been acquired through his previous earnest and unremitting labor. Mr. Arp gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is active in the ranks of the party but is not an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his pro- fessional and business interests, which are now extensive and of an important character.
JOHN C. F. PALM.
John C. F. Palm makes his home on a well improved farm of forty acres in Le Claire township and he also owns another tract of forty acres in the same township, which he rents. He was born in Germany, October 24, 1828, a son of John and Mary (Jalt) Palm, who lived and died in Germany. The father was a tailor by trade and he also engaged in farming to some extent. They reared a family numbering two sons and two daughters but our subject is the only one who survives, the others being Theresa, Christopher and Mary.
John C. F. Palm was educated in the schools of his native country and, ac- cording to custom, served five years in the German army. He also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for four years prior to his emigration to the new world, he being a young man of twenty-five years when he sought a home in America. He located at Le Claire, in Scott county, and owing to the improve- ment which this section was then undergoing, he had no difficulty in securing work at his trade, being first employed by a Mr. Longbottom. He carefully saved his earnings and in course of time purchased of his employer three and a half acres of land in Le Claire township and, as his financial resources increased, he kept adding to his tract until it now embraces forty acres. There had been some improvements made on the land by the former owner but Mr. Palm erected a new house and made other improvements, so that the place is now supplied with sub- stantial buildings. In the meantime he continued to engage in carpentering and
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also cultivated his land, his time being thus occupied until 1890. Today a large number of residences in this immediate section stand as monuments to his handi- work.
Mr. Palm was married to Mrs. Mary Kathryn Church in 1875. She was like- wise born in Germany and was left an orphan at the age of four years, after which she was reared by an uncle in France. Her death occurred in 1903.
Mr. Palm is not narrow in his political views but votes for the men whom he regards as best qualified to fill office, irrespective of party ties. His first vote after coming to America was cast for Abraham Lincoln and on the democratic ticket he was elected as councilman of Le Claire. He lives on his farm and de- votes his time to its cultivation, while from his neighbors and friends he receives esteem and admiration.
THEODORE ZABEL.
The business interests of Theodore Zabel are those represented in a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land on section 8, Lincoln township, and also in another tract of eighty acres on the same section. He devotes his time and energies to farming with good results and the neat and thrifty appear- ance of his place is indicative of the progressive spirit of the owner. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, August 17, 1863, and is a son of William and Sophia Zabel. The father was a blacksmith in his native country, where he remained until 1869, when the opportunities of the new world attracted him and he crossed the Atlantic, landing at New York. He at once made his way to Scott county and for four years was a resident of Davenport, after which he removed to Butler township, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he occupied for thirteen years, when his wife died and he returned to Davenport. He still makes his home in the city and is now living retired. In their family were eight children : William, a resident of Winfield township; Fritz, a resident of Butler township; Charles and Albert, who make their home in Lincoln town- ship; Amelia, who is the widow of Andrew Schwartz and resides on the old homestead property ; Meta, the wife of Henry Thoede, a resident of Butler town- ship; Alvina, deceased; and Theodore, the subject of this review.
Theodore Zabel acquired his education in the district schools and has followed farming throughout his entire life. He gave his father the benefit of his services until twenty years of age, after which he secured work in the neighborhood as a farm hand and was thus employed until the time of his marriage in 1888. Wish- ing to have a home of his own, he purchased his present farm from his father-in- law and has now occupied it for twenty-two years, making all of the improvements here, setting out all of the trees and continuing the work of progress until his property is regarded as one of the valuable and attractive. farms of the district. As the years passed by and he prospered he made further investment in land, becoming the owner of eighty acres which was the old Samuel Stanley farm.
On the Ist of March, 1888, Mr. Zabel was united in marriage to Miss Wilhel- mina Horst, a daughter of Claus and Marietta Horst, who were early settlers
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here, coming to Scott county about 1850. The father had served in the war be- tween Holstein and Denmark from the year 1848 to 1850, and had then crossed the Atlantic, arriving in Scott county when it was still a pioneer district. He purchased prairie land and turned his attention to farming. In the course of years he owned two good farms and was numbered among the leading agricultur- ists of the community. Botli he and his wife and three sons are now deceased. Mrs. Zabel and Mrs. John F. Kuendel were born in Lincoln township, where their girlhood days were passed. The former was trained in the work of the house- hold and pursued her early education in the district schools. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Zabel have been born four children: Walter, Alfon, Grover and Hulda.
Mr. Zabel is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp, No. 8971, at Eldridge, and has held office in the order. He is also connected with the Turner Society at Eldridge and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has served as trustee of his township and as school director, and the cause of educa- tion finds in him a stalwart champion. His attention, however, is chiefly given to his farming interests and in the cultivation of his fields he raises diversified crops and he always keeps on hand good grades of stock. He has been diligent and persevering in business, watchful of all details pointing to success, and his close application and energy have made him one of the substantial agriculturists of the community.
SEVERIN KRESS.
The characteristics of economy, energy and determination that are usually found in the German race are strongly manifest in the life of Severin Kress, who is successfully following agricultural pursuits in Buffalo township. He was born near Coal Valley, Illinois, October 7, 1859. His father, who was born in Hessen, Germany, in 1830, came to the United States when a young man, and in 1860 lo- cated in Buffalo and commenced mining coal, continuing work along this line for two decades. In the meantime he had purchased farming property and even- tually he removed to his tract of land and gave his attention to its cultivation throughout the remainder of his business career. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1904, he owned two hundred and forty acres of rich Iowa land. Mr. Kress was married to Miss Theresa Weber, who, like her husband, was born in the fatherland, in 1837. Of this marriage there survive three sons and two daughters, those besides our subject being: John and August, who operate the home farm in Buffalo township; Amelia, who makes her home with her brothers; and Margaret, the wife of William Kolway, of Buffalo township.
Severin Kress was but an infant when he was brought from his native state :o Scott county. The period of his boyhood and youth was spent in assisting his father in the work of the home farm, his time being thus employed through the spring and summer months, while in the winter seasons he pursued his studies n the district schools of the neighborhood. He remained under the parental 'oof until he was thirty-two years of age and then rented a tract of land, which le operated for a few years. He later purchased of the Brus estate one hundred
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
and sixty acres and removed to that farm and in due time he purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres adjoining. He sold this entire tract in 1907 and invested the money in his present farm on section 7, Buffalo township, and is now giving his attention to this place. His farm is improved with substantial buildings which are kept in good repair, while through the rotation of crops, the use of fertilizers and strict adherence to practical and modern methods of agriculture, he keeps his fields in a cultivable state.
Mr. Kress was united in marriage in 1891 to Miss Rose Brus, a daughter of Jacob Brus, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. Three daughters and one son grace the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kress : Ida, Alice, Theo- dore and Clara.
Mr. Kress is a democrat in his political views but aside from casting his bal- lot takes little interest in public affairs. He has, however, served on the school board for six years and in more direct business lines is a stockholder in the Blue Grass Savings Bank. He is a communicant of the Catholic church. Quiet and unassuming in manner, he thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleas- ure in the society of his family and friends, while in his business affairs he ranks among the substantial men of this section of the state.
THOMAS CONVILL.
Thomas Convill, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Buffalo township, Scott county, who for many years was identified with mining interests in Illi- nois and Colorado, is a native of England, his birth occurring in Manchester on the 15th of April, 1855. His parents, Alexander and Elizabeth (Larety) Con- vill, were also born in Manchester, the former in 1806 and the latter in 1821. They emigrated to America in 1857, locating first in Humphreysville, Connecti- cut, and later came west, settling in Illinois. In 1861, at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, Alexander Convill was residing in Monmouth, that state, and he enlisted in the Union army as a member of the Fiftieth Illinois Regiment, serving for two years. After leaving the army he returned to the Prairie state, where his remaining days were passed.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for .Thomas Convill during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was mostly spent in Mercer county, Illinois. There he acquired his education in the country schools, and early in life began mining coal in Illinois, being thus engaged for some time. He later took up agricultural pursuits in connection with his father, in which line of activity he continued until after the latter's death, when he went to Col- orado and was there engaged in prospecting and mining. In 1904 he returned to Illinois and continued to make his home there until 1908, in which year he sold his farm and came to Buffalo township, where he purchased the tract of two hundred and fifteen acres upon which he now resides. He has since de- voted his energies to the further development and improvement of this farm, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. The soil, which is nat- urally rich and fertile, responds readily to the care and labor bestowed upon
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it and the fields yield abundant golden harvests as the result of his industry and energy. Systematic, methodical and progressive in his methods, he is carefully managing his interests in a way that is bringing to him a creditable degree of prosperity, and he is ranked among the representative and substantial agricul- turists of the community.
Mr. Convill holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Cable, Illinois, and his life record is in harmony with the basic principles of that organization. His political views are in accord with the principles of the democratic party and he keeps well informed on the issues and questions of the day, so that he is able to support his position by intelligent argument. He does not seek nor desire office, however, but prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. Although one of the more recent arrivals in Buffalo town- ship, he has nevertheless gained many warm friends during his brief residence here, and by reason of his honorable and upright manhood has commanded the respect, confidence and good will of his fellowmen.
HANS STOLTENBERG.
The strong qualities of industry and frugality which are marked characteris- tics of the German race were conspicuous in securing for Hans Stoltenberg the success which enabled him to retire from the active life of the farm and live in the enjoyment of many comforts in Davenport. He was born in Germany, September 20, 1828, his parents being Hans and Anna (Mundt) Stoltenberg. With his wife and twelve children the father came to America in 1847. He landed at New Orleans and later ascended the Mississippi river to Davenport. In Scott ^county he bought seven hundred acres of fine farm land about five miles from the city. Unfortunately, however, he was not permitted to enjoy it or to see the success of his children for he died about two months after his arrival.
His son Hans Stoltenberg was about eighteen years of age when he left his native land. He had received all his education in the public schools there and after coming to this country assisted the family in settling upon the new farm. After the father's death he and his brother Claus remained there for six years and the tasks were many and hard that were laid upon their shoulders in order to care for their brothers and sisters until this land, which had been but little culti- vated, was producing richly. At the end of six years the homestead was divided be- tween the children and for the next twenty-two years Hans Stoltenberg re- mained upon his share of the estate. A skillful farmer, he soon had his fields highly cultivated and his place well improved, winning therefrom large and ample returns for his labor. With advancing years he determined to give up the ictive operation of the place and came to Davenport in 1887, where he devotes himself to looking after his several interests, for besides retaining possession of lis farm he holds some stock in the Farmers & Mechanics Savings Bank.
Mr. Stoltenberg was married in 1854 to Miss Elda Baresa and they had seven hildren : Minnie, the wife of Richard Petersen and a resident of Davenport;
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Henry, who wedded Miss Tillie Speck and has seven children; William, who married A. Hoss; Amelia, who is the wife of E. Stoltenberg; Louis, who wedded Melia Deckman; Edward; Mrs. Theresa Miller; and Caroline who became the wife of William Mann. For his second wife Mr. Stoltenberg wedded Miss Elizabeth Hoss. The family have been raised in the Lutheran church in harmony. with whose teachings they endeavor to order their lives and in whose support Mr. Stoltenberg has always been liberal. He belongs to the Society of Old Settlers here and, having witnessed and participated in the growth of Davenport, the memories of his past years are rich in reminiscences of the early days and the incidents and hardships connected with them. His home is at 911 West Seventh street.
FRED B. SHARON.
The name of Fred B. Sharon is well known in connection with banking inter- ests of Davenport, and to the Catholic membership throughout the country as the publisher of the Catholic Messenger, one of the strongest church papers of the United States. Moreover, his name figures largely on the records of Catholic fraternal and beneficial societies in many of which he has been a guiding spirit. He was born at Sterlingville, Jefferson county, New York, within thirty miles of the Thousand Islands that for miles adorn the majestic St. Lawrence. He is a son of Thomas Sharon, who was born in 1816 and in his early youth had come with his father, Patrick Sharon, from the ancestral home at Trim, County Meath, Ireland, very near the famed Hill of Tara, with Carthage, New York, as their destination. Both the father and grandfather of Fred B. Sharon were pioneers of northern New York in a heavily timbered country at the foothills of the Ad- irondack mountains. The grandfather died while Thomas, the oldest of his eight children, was in his teens. This son removed the family to Sterlingville, a place ten miles north of Carthage, where he puchased two hundred acres of forest land which was cleared by cutting down the trees and converting them into char- coal for the blast furnaces at Sterlingville. From that time on Thomas Sharon was a farmer, continuing to cultivate the same tract of land until his death, which occurred in 1871 at the comparatively early age of fifty-five years. He was a prominent and influential citizen in his home locality and for fifteen years held the office of justice of the peace. He was also called to many positions of private trust, being noted for his honesty and faithfulness which inspired the confidence of all who knew him. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Mary Keon, was born in county Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1822, and accompanied her parents to this coun- try in 1835. She was married in 1844 at Sterlingville to Thomas Sharon and unto them were born ten children. The mother passed away in 1876 after a use- ful and well-spent life filled with kindly deeds and charitable acts.
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