USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 74
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REV. FREDERICK WILLIAM OBERBROEKLING, pastor of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic church at Luxemburg since February 22.
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1872, is a native of Prussia, Germany, his birth occurring at the village of Dellbruck on November 10, 1844. His parents, Johann Heinrich and Anna Maria (Helmig) Oberbroekling, were descended from old German families, and came to America and St. Louis, Missouri, in 1856. They located, in March, 1857, on a tract of 160 acres in New Wine township, Dubuque county, Iowa, which the father cleared and improved and added to as his means afforded; and here they spent their remaining days. Johann H. Ober- broekling died December 27, 1884, aged eighty-five years, preceded by his wife in 1876 at the age of seventy-five years. Both were highly respected by all who knew them and now lie at rest in the cemetery at New Vienna. Father Oberbroekling received his early education in the public schools of his native country and came with his parents to the United States when twelve years old. His twelfth birthday was celebrated on the Mississippi river, and at St. Louis, Missouri, his schooling was continued for six months in St. Joseph's of the Jesuit Fathers parochial schools. He then went to Quincy, Ill .. and from September, 1864. to July, 1865, attended the Fran- ciscan College. In the fall of the following year he went to Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, and entered St. Francis Seminary, and on December 20, 1871, was ordained to the priesthood. For a time he remained with Rev. Conrad Schulte. at New Vienna, and on February 22, 1872, was summoned to Luxemburg to take charge of the work here and has ever since been thus connected. Much good has been brought about through Father Oberbroekling's efforts in the Master's service, and he is highly esteemed and beloved by all who know him. From May, 1873, to July, 1874, he journeyed twice every month to Lattnerville, then a mission, seventeen miles from his church at Luxemburg, aside from the various sick calls he received. In 1874 the church he first erected at Luxemburg was destroyed by a tornado July 26, but nothing daunted he built the present beautiful edifice, the pastorage, the Sisters' house and the school. Father Oberbroekling has seen this portion of Dubuque county grow in importance and at the present time nearly all of his parishioners are men and women of means and influence. He has always taken an active interest and part in any movement toward the betterment of the county, and at the World's Exposition of 1893 his school system received a bronze medal with the following inscription : "World's Columbian Exposition in commemoration of the Four Hundredth Anniversary of the landing of Columbus; for the Holy Trinity School of Luxemburg, Iowa."
ALEXANDER SCHOLLIAN, one of Dubuque's foremost tailors, is a native of this county, and the son of Matthias and Annie D. Schollian, who came here from Pennsylvania at an early date and settled on a farm near Washington Mills, where he subsequently died and was buried. Alexander Schollian was born January 12.
M. M. /Fam
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1862, and during boyhood days assisted his father and attended the common schools. Early in life he learned the tailoring trade and after thoroughly familiarizing himself with all the details of that line of business, opened an establishment at the corner of Fourth and Main streets, Dubuque, where he has been unusually successful. In September, 1904, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Murray, daughter of Thomas and Ellen Murray. Mrs. Schollian is active in any movement that tends toward the betterment of mankind. She is president of the Mercy Hospital Association, which was inaugurated for the purpose of raising money to care for and provide medical services for the needy poor, regardless of nationality or religious views. This associa- tion has one room in Mercy Hospital, fully equipped with all mod- ern conveniences, and now has in view another similar one. Mrs. Schollian is also a member of the St. Elizabeth Association and the Sherman Society. No less interested in public affairs of im- portance is Mr. Schollian. He is a Democrat in his political views, is a staunch member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, is treasurer of the local order of Knights of Columbus, and for six years served as a member of the Dubuque County Board of Super- visors. He and wife are among the highly respected people of the city of Dubuque.
MOSES M. HAM, deceased, for thirty-five years editor-in-chief of the Herald, was a man of unusually strong character and very prominent during his long residence in Dubuque. Born March 23, 1833, in Shapleigh, York county, Maine, he was the son of Dr. Levi J. and Mary (Ayer) Ham, and a direct descendant of Will- iam Ham, the progenitor of the family in this country, who came from England to America in 1640 and settled in New Hampshire. During the French and Indian troubles, the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, and Civil war, members of this family loyally served their country. Moses M., when fourteen years of age. entered Cary Collegiate Seminary, Caryville, New York, and after- wards pursued his studies at the Genessee Wesleyan School and Union College, where he graduated in the class of 1855. Suc- ceeding his graduation from the latter, Mr. Ham removed to Jonesville, Michigan, and for two years was principal of the high school there, but later went to Detroit, Michigan, and for seven years was associated with the Free Press as assistant editor, under Wilbur F. Story. He first came to Dubuque in 1863. as city editor of the Herald, two months later acquired by purchase the controlling interest in that paper, and several months later took in D. D. W. Carver as a partner, having charge of the job depart- ment and bindery. He became editor-in-chief of same, and for a period of thirty-five years was thus associated. In 1899 he dis- posed of his interests and retired from the active duties and busi-
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ness cares of life. Mr. Ham was always a staunch Democrat in his political views and voiced and advocated the policies of that party during his many years as head of the Herald. For sixteen years he was a member of the National Democratic Committee, four years a member of the state senate, and during Presi- dent Cleveland's administration was postmaster of Dubuque. He was at one time offered the first assistant postmaster- ship of the nation, but declined the honor, claiming his time was fully taken up with his newspaper work. Mr. Ham always took a keen interest in the early history of Dubuque county, and many authentic stories of the early doings of Julien Dubuque and other pioneer men have been made a matter of history because of his careful research. At one time, while traveling down the St. Lawrence river, he became acquainted with a French priest, who, upon learning from where Mr. Ham was, told him of the early history of Julien Dubuque, and in corroboration referred him to a Canadian history, written in French, which gives the memoirs of the early French explorers of the Mississippi valley. This volume was eagerly procured by Mr. Ham and is now a valued possession in the library of his family. It is thus the just credit is due Mr. Ham of having discovered and brought to light the early history of Julien Dubuque, and much of the early history of the city of Dubuque, which, until that time, had been in obscurity. Mr. Ham was always interested in schools and in matters pertaining to edu- cation. For many years he was one of the regents of the Iowa State University, and president of the Public School Board in Dubuque. In religious views he was identified with the Episcopal church, of which he was for many years a vestryman. In 1859 he was united in marriage with Miss Helen M. Tucker, a native of Massachusetts, who passed away in 1870, leaving two children :
Clifford D., now of Manila, Philippine Islands, and Hellen M., of Dubuque. In 1874 Mr. Ham married Miss Rebecca M. Wells, and she died three years later. They now lie at rest in the family lot at Linwood cemetery. On December 25, 1902, sorrow invaded the homes of many when it became known that Mr. Ham had been summoned to the Great Beyond. He was one of those hon- est and fearless men whom we so much admire, and with his pass- ing the nation, county, city and home lost a good man, an honest citizen, a kindly neighbor and a loving father.
MICHAEL ROCHE, now living a retired life in the city of Du- buque, is a native of the Emerald Isle, his birth occurring in the year 1840, and a son of Thomas and Ellen (Callahan) Roche. Thomas Roche was born in Ireland in 1805, and when forty-four years of age crossed the Atlantic ocean to America, accompanied by his family, and settled on a tract of 120 acres in Jefferson township, Dubuque county, Iowa. Here he resided many years
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and in 1897 died, a man respected by all who knew him. His wife passed away in 1877, and both are buried near the old homestead. The early life of Michael Roche in this country was spent much after the manner of other country boys of those days-assisting his father on the home farm and in attending the public schools, then little more than log cabins. When the elder Roche's eye- sight began to wane, the work and responsibility of the farm fell to the lot of Michael, but when the father was badly hurt from a fall, he relinquished the management of the estate to his younger brothers, John and Joseph. In 1902 he disposed of the old home place and bought a smaller farm on Asbury Road, near West Dubuque, but four years later, having accumulated considerable means, retired from the active duties of life and removed into the city of Dubuque, where he has since resided. In 1865 Mr. Roche decided to go West and visit the mountains of Montana. He accordingly went to Sioux City, Iowa, and was employed as deck hand on a steamboat at $60 per month. The water in the upper river was so low that they succeeded in getting but a few miles above Fort Ripley. The commanding officer of the fort advised them not to go any farther, as the Indians were becoming very troublesome, and to do so would be dangerous. Nothing daunted, however, they continued their journey, and about two weeks later became stranded on a sandbar at some distance from the fort. The pilot and five men went out in a small boat to locate the channel, entirely unarmed, and after locating same decided to go ashore for a time. While there they were attacked from ambush by the "redskins," and, being unarmed, could do nothing but try their best to escape. Two men succeeded in mak- ing their way to the boat, but were killed and the boat cast adrift, to be later picked up by the soldiers at Fort Ripley. One man dove in the water and made his way to a sandbar, where he was shot while rolling over in the water, sinking and disappearing for- ever. One large Irishman put up a desperate struggle, but was captured alive and never heard of again, probably perishing at the stake. Another, a German, was shot through the shoulder with an arrow, but managed to hide under the bank until the steamer came down and rescued him. The other man of the party divested himself of all save underclothing and swam the river unmolested by the Indians, who took him to be one of themselves because of the red color of his attire. When the boat returned to Sioux City in the fall, the captain offered Mr. Roche an increase in wages of $20 a month, but he declined, claiming that the desire for adven- ture in him had been appeased. He then returned to his old home in Dubuque county, where he has always been regarded as an honorable man and a useful and progressive citizen. He was married to Catherine Burke, February 8, 1866. Eight children have been born to this union, as follows: William T., Michael
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James (deceased), May, Ella, John Francis, Joseph E .. Catherine E. and Clara.
HERMAN DEMENT, whose untimely death was caused by acci- dent in 1899, was for years one of Dubuque's prosperous and suc- cessful business men .. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, August 1, 1850, the son of Herman Dement, Sr., who came from Ger- many to America at an early date and embarked in the furniture business at St. Louis. In 1862, when our subject was but twelve years old, the father was accidentally suffocated in a cistern which was being repaired, and this threw the son on his own resources at a time when every boy should be attending school instead of working for a living. For a time he was second cook in the St. Julien kitchen, and then followed this trade on the Mississippi river until 1882. He then came to Dubuque and in a building erected by himself embarked in the gentlemen's furnishing busi- ness. By honest and conscientious business dealings, he built up a large trade. On October 18, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Eulberg, daughter of Casper and Frances Eulberg of Galena, Illinois, and to them the following named chil- dren were born: Evelyn, Mabel H. and Margera F. Mr. Dement took a keen and active interest in local affairs of importance, and was a prominent member of the First Presbyterian church. In 1899, while riding a bicycle, he accidentally fell in front of a mov- ing street car and was instantly killed; thus Dubuque lost one of her best and most deserving citizens. Mr. Dement was essentially a self-made man; by the early death of his father he was forced to make his own way in the world, and step by step mounted the ladder of life. His loss was mourned generally throughout the county by his many friends.
HENRY A. KNOWLTON, well-known resident of Dubuque, is a son of the old pioneer. Thomas J. Knowlton, and a direct descend- ant of Captain Knowlton of Revolutionary fame. Thomas J. Knowlton was born in 1821, in Wales, Erie county, New York, and there was reared and educated. In 1857 he came to Dubuque as western representative for a Buffalo (New York) sleigh and carriage concern, and was thus engaged until war was delcared between the North and the South. In answers to his country's call for defenders of the Union, Mr. Knowlton was with the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, which command was stationed at St. Louis and later ordered to Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Afterward he was with the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and while with the regi- ment in Tennessee was taken seriously ill and sent home; he died February 28, 1864. To his marriage with Miss Laura M. Beecher, a cousin of Henry Ward Beecher, solemnized in 1846, three chil- dren were born: Henry A., Franklin (deceased), and Adelia,
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also deceased. When the elder Knowlton was sent home from Fort Donelson, his son, Henry A., joined the eighth Iowa Cav- alry and served until honorably discharged by the War Department at the close of the struggle. Early in life he learned the printer's trade and upon his return to Dubuque opened and operated a small printing establishment until advised by his doctor to seek outdoor employment. He became connected with the Illinois Central Rail- road as engineer, and has been forty-one years in continuous serv- ice. In 1896 Mr. Knowlton was united in marriage with Miss Isabella Saunders, of Waterloo, Iowa. She is an active member of the Westminster Presbyterian church and is managing editor of the Phi Gamma, a church publication originated by Rev. D. J. Burrell, of New York, while he was pastor of the church. She is also a member of the Woman's Club and the Visiting Nurses' Association, and is greatly interested in hospital work. Mr. Knowl- ton is a Knight Templar Mason. His mother is yet living at the advanced age of eighty-three years, and takes great interest in her children and all important topics of the day. Since 1857 she has resided continuously at 45 Fourth street ; she is greatly esteemed and respected by all who know her.
JOHN A. KINSELLA, deceased, for many years one of the well- known and highly respected residents of Dubuque county, was born on a farm in Washington township, in 1856, the son of James and Anna Kinsella, who came from Canada to Dubuque county in 1834. At that date this locality was sparsely inhabited, Indians being more plentiful than whites, and the land in a rough and unbroken condition. The privations and hardships of the early pioneers can scarcely be appreciated by the generation of today who have but to look out on either side to see broad and rolling fields of finely cultivated farm land, well stocked with cat- tle and modern machinery of every description. To these pioneer settlers is due much of the credit for the present advanced state of affairs. John A. Kinsella assisted his father and attended the country schools during boyhood, and in 1882 married Miss Kath- erine McNamara, daughter of a neighboring farmer, and to them Joseph, James. Mary, Salome C. and Martha (Maley) were born. In 1893 Mr. Kinsella disposed of his farm and moved into the city of Dubuque, where the year following he passed away, leaving the responsibility of rearing his children to Mrs. Kinsella. She cheerfully put her shoulders to the wheel and reared her boys and girls to honorable and useful lives in the Catholic faith. Mary Kinsella is now engaged in the millinery business in Mason City, Iowa: Salome C. is with the M. J. Mulgrew Company ; James is in the employ of the Chicago Great Western Railroad at Stock- ton, Illinois; Joseph is with the Illinois Central Railroad. Mrs. Kinsella is still residing in the city of Dubuque, where she has
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many friends, and where she bears the respect and good-will of all who know her.
DAVID F. EDE, since 1895 the active head of the Ede's Robe Tanning Company, with headquarters at Dubuque, is a native of the Province of Ontario, his birth occurring in 1846. He is of English extraction. His boyhood days were passed in acquiring such education as was afforded by the common schools, and while yet a young man he went to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and embarked in the marble and granite business, and in the buying and selling of real estate, in which he became wealthy. This was during Win- nipeg's boom period, when it was a city of 45,000, but every man of means who had holdings in real estate went down with the breaking of the boom. When the Canadian Pacific Railroad was constructed, Mr. Ede foresaw the wonderful possibilities of the grain business, and invested his money in elevators at various points along that line. Owing to the bonding system of shipping, however, which allowed the shipper to bond his wheat in transit throughout the United States, this venture proved very disas- trous, and Mr. Ede was forced to relinquish his idea and holdings. He then went to Sioux City, Iowa, and in partnership with Mr. T. P. Murry embarked in the real estate business, at which he was unusually successful. Later, in 1895, he came to Dubuque, and soon afterwards founded a fur tanning establishment at the corner of Jones and West Main streets. The business has grown and prospered until today the firm is recognized as one of the largest of its kind in the world. They cater to the world's custom trade for fine robes and garments, and also operate branch establish- ments in Omaha, Nebraska ; St. Paul, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Dubuque plant is 100x150 feet, and employs regularly from forty to sixty skilled workmen. In 1875 Mr. Ede was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Tuer, and to them have been born the following named children: St. Clair, secre- tary and treasurer of the Ede's Robe Tanning Company ; Olive, wife of Dr. Lytle, of Lansing, Iowa, and Ruth V.
Mr. Ede is one of Dubuque's representative business men, takes an active interest in all local affairs of importance, and is highly regarded in the community where he resides.
DR. FRANK W. WIELAND, one of the leading medical practi- tioners of Dubuque, is a native of Switzerland, his birth occurring March 10, 1856, at Grau Bunden. He was the son of Rudolph and Marie (Truden) Wieland, and was brought by them to Amer- ica and Dubuque county in 1863, when but seven years of age. Here they remained four years, and then removed to Grant county, Wisconsin, where the father purchased a farm. When fourteen years old, Dr. Wieland left home and started out in life for him-
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self. For a time he secured employment as a farm hand during the summer months and attended the district schools during win- ter, paying for his board by doing chores. After obtaining a com- mon-school education in this manner, he taught school for several winters and continued working as a farm hand during summers. He early in life decided to take up the study and practice of medi- cine, and with this idea in view entered the office of Dr. Duffin, of Guttenberg, Iowa, and there began the study of his future pro- fession. One year later he went to Chicago and entered Rush Medical College, from which institution he was duly graduated in 1888 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For one year fol- lowing this he practiced successfully near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, but then came to Dubuque, where he has ever since been actively engaged in the general practice of his profession. By careful and conscientious work the doctor has built up a large and lucrative practice, and is now recognized as one of the leading men of his profession in Dubuque. He is a member of the Dubuque County Medical Society, of which he is an ex-president, and was examin- ing physician of the United States Pension Board. He also served three years as city physician and one year as a member of the Board of Health. He has served on various committees in Du- buque Medical Society and has taken a post-graduate course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago. To his marriage with Miss Clara Jungk, born in Dubuque, June 24, 1872, the daughter of Christian Jungk, the ceremony being solemnized in 1896, three children have been born, as follows: Edgar F., Janu- ary 9, 1899: Edna M., July 2, 1900, and Arthur W., December 17, 1905. The doctor is a Knight Templar Mason, in which order he has served as Senior Warden, and is a member of the Court of Honor and Mystic Workers. He is independent in politics.
CLAUS ANDRES, for many years a resident of Dubuque, is of German extraction, his father, Claus Andres, Sr., being a native of Holstein, that country, where he was born March 18, 1805. In 1851 he left the old country and immigrated to America, where for a time he secured employment at his trade of miller, in Har- lem, New York City. Six years later he came West, and on December 1, 1857, located in Dubuque, and until 1864 worked in the Sageville mills. He then, in partnership with a Mr. Burres, established a mill at Galena, Illinois, but four years later, when the latter desired to convert their establishment into a distillery, Mr. Andres disposed of his interests and embarked in the milling business on his own account at Henry, Henry county, Illinois. This he conducted until his death, which occurred March 4, 1871, and his remains were laid at rest in Linwood, Dubuque. Mr. Andres lived and died a good citizen, a loving parent and a kindly
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neighbor, and his loss was mourned generally by all who knew him.
His son, Claus Andres, the immediate subject of this memoir. received his education in the public schools of New York City, and early in life learned the cigar-making business, which subse- quently, from 1865 to 1875, in partnership with his brother Henry, he followed in Dubuque. In comparatively recent years Mr. Andres has retired from the active business cares of life, and now lives with his wife and children in their city residence. When war was declared between the North and South, Mr. Andres enlisted in Company G of the Missouri State Troops, and until 1863, when his command was officially disbanded, he saw guard duty and participated in the guerrilla warfare. He then enlisted in Company A of the Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, took part in the Tennessee campaign, and at the conclusion of the war was honorably discharged. On May 1, 1866, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Barbara Kappes, daughter of Alfred Kappes, of Freeport, Illinois, and to them were born: August Henry, de- ceased: Amelia, now teaching in city schools of Dubuque, and also prominent in Sunday school work; Christina, deceased, wife of Burton Brownell, to which union two children were born; Mary, teaching in Seattle (Washington) schools; Josephine D., teach- ing in Kickapoo Indian School, Horton, Kansas; and Harriet. instructor in Sherman Institute, Riverside, California. Mr. Andres was for years president of the International Cigar Makers' Union, and is still a member of that organization. He is also identified with the G. A. R. Society. In politics he is and always has been an unswerving Republican, and has taken an active part in public affairs.
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