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 89
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years, and in religion is a Baptist. On January 19, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie M. Smith, daughter of John and Sarah Eliza (Cain) Smith, born in Lafayette, Indiana, while her mother was visiting in that place. Her father was a son of William Smith and a native of Oxfordshire, England. His parents came to America when he was but two years old, but shortly thereafter returned to England. When ten years old he went to sea as a cabin boy, and at the age of forty-three was captain of his vessel. After coming to America he engaged in lead mining in Dubuque county, Iowa, and during the gold excitement of 1849 journeyed to California with the thousands of wealth seekers and was unusually successful. He then re- turned to Dubuque county, and in 1857 died at the age of fifty- seven years. He was a Methodist in religion, while his wife was a Congregationalist. For a time she taught school in Dubuque county and also helped to dedicate the first court house in the city of Dubuque. Her father, Col. Paul Cain, was a veteran of the Black Hawk War, a Democrat in politics, noted as an orator and public speaker, and was prominent in the early affairs of Dubuque county. He was a native of New York state, and his wife, Ann Marie (Price) Cain, of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Higgins the following named children have been born: Edwin Alwood, born November 13, 1874, married Blanche Davis, and now engaged in farming; Samuel Joseph, born November 17, 1876, at home ; John W., born December 26, 1879, now residing in Los Angeles; and Clifford Roscoe, born September 7, 1885. at home.
JOHN H. KIFER, retired farmer and stock raiser, who now makes his home in the village of Zwingle, was born in the state of Pennsylvania on May 11, 1831, and is a son of Daniel and Eliza (Spaning) Kifer. His parents were farmers and lived and died in the East, the father when at the age of seventy-seven years, and the mother in 1839, at the age of thirty. Their chil- dren were as follows: Noah, deceased; John H .; Ellebella, de- ceased ; James, deceased ; Hettie, and Mary Ann. John H. Kifer was left an orphan at the age of eight years and was taken into the home of his grandfather, Daniel Kifer, to be reared. His early life was rather unpleasant, and his education limited to
the meager advantages of the day. When twenty-one years old he started out in life for himself, without money or influential friends, and decided that greater chances for success could be found in the West. Accordingly he came to Dubuque county, Iowa, and secured employment with Daniel Kifer, who conducted the mills at Washington Mills, Washington Township. These are no longer in operation, but Mr. Kifer well remembers hauling flour to market when not working on the little farm of forty acres
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he had purchased near by. He improved his property, erecting suit- able buildings, and when his means permitted added another 80- acre tract to his holdings. He later disposed of this and bought 200 acres in sections 34 and 35, Washington Township, which he improved and farmed until his retirement from the active cares of life in 1907. He then removed to the village of Zwingle, where he has since resided. Whatever property and means Mr. Kifer may have accumulated is the result of hard and conscientious labor, and as an honest citizen he bears the respect and esteem of all who know him. June 11, 1840, he married Anna Mary Kamerer, daugh- ter of Daniel and Mary (Kuhns) Kamerer, natives of Pennsyl- vania. In 1850 Mr. and Mrs. Kamerer, with their five children, Anna, Laura, Simon, Sarah and Jake, came west and settled on the border line between Jackson and Dubuque counties, and here these children were born to them: Mandy, Alice and Samuel, the latter dying in infancy. The father died in February, 1894, aged seventy-seven years, and was followed by his wife the following May, at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Kifer takes an active interest in local affairs of importance, but has always refused to hold office. In religious views he is a member of the German Reformed Church, and has served that body as deacon and elder for many years. To him and wife have been born the following named children: Daniel Jacob, born February 20, 1860, died at age of six years ; Alice Salinda, born May 5, 1862, married Charles Huston, who died August 24, 1883, had one child, and subse- quently became Mrs. Henry Brouillard; Albert Culum, born No- vember 8, 1865. now in Denver, Colorado: Simon Henry, born January 3, 1867, farming in Washington Township; James Edwin, born February 18, 1869, died when four weeks old; William Amos, born January 31. 1872, died aged six years; George Wesley, born August 10, 1873, farming in Washington Township, Jessie Irena, born May 4, 1875, married Frank Wagner, farmer of Jackson county ; and Howard Elwood, born February 27, 1881, farming old homestead in Washington Township.
DANIEL LEFFERT, who conducts the farm known as the "Maple Grove" farm on section 36, Washington Township, was born here November 16, 1878, and is a son of the old and well-known pioneers, Nicholas and Sarah Leffert. Casper Leffert and his two boys, John and Nicholas, located on the above tract of land about 1846, which then comprised some 623 acres. Two men had located here the year previous and had erected a small log cabin near a spring, but this was the only improvement on the land when the Lefferts came. Here they experienced all the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life, and by hard work they gradually improved their prop- erty until it became one of the finest farms in the community. To Casper Leffert and wife these children were born: John, Nicholas,
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Olrich, Casper, Margaret, Anna and Eve, all of whom are now deceased. Nicholas Leffert was reared to hard work on the farm, and upon starting out in life for himself purchased 215 acres of the old homestead in section 36, to which he later added 143 acres. He built a fine home and barn, making his property modern in every respect, and became one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of the county. He was a Democrat in politics, served as township trustee eighteen or twenty years and as school director for a long time, and was a staunch member of the German Re- formed Church. He was one of the organizers of the latter, and was a deacon and elder of same for many years. In 1892, at the age of sixty-one years, he passed away and was buried at Zwingle. To him and wife the following children were born:
Menerna, twice married, first to Mr. Mitchell (deceased ) and later to John Connolly, of Des Moines, where they now reside; Daniel, the sub- ject of this sketch ; Lillian, single, and lives in Des Moines ; David, a civil engineer ; James, died at age of five ; and William, who died when three years old. Daniel Leffert was educated in the public schools and learned farming under the direction of his father. He married Henrietta Chesterman, daughter of Frank C. and Teni- perence (Gillespie) Chesterman, who now reside at Zwingle. To Mr. Leffert and his wife one son, Burton C., was born during April, 1909. Mr. Leffert is a Democrat in his political views, has served as township clerk of Washington Township for the past six years, and has been treasurer and a director of the school board. Socially he is identified with the Woodmen Lodge at Zwingle. He was but thirteen years old when his father died, and later bought 143 acres of the homestead and hereon he has since been successfully engaged in general and diversified farming.
MARTAIN DENLINGER, now residing in the village of Zwingle, came to Dubuque county in 1856, and for many years has followed farming with unusual success. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 1827, a son of Isaac and Mary (Irvin) Denlinger, and was there educated and reared to manhood. The father was a school teacher and also followed farming as a means of livelihood, and died in 1851, at about the age of fifty-one years. To him and wife these children were born: Christ, who located in Washington Township in 1854: Ione, who married James Rhodes and resides in Davenport, Iowa: Isaac, farming in Jackson county ; Martain, the subject of this memoir. Succeeding her husband's death Mrs. Denlinger joined her daughter. Mrs. Ione Rhodes, in Davenport, and died in 1870, aged about seventy years. In 1856 Martain Denlinger came west to Dubuque county to join his elder brother, Christ, but after farming seven years returned to Pennsylvania. Seven years later he again came to Dubuque county and bought 244 unimproved acres of land on section 36,
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Washington Township, and this he improved by erecting a fine home and suitable barns and outhouses. He engaged in general farming and stock raising, and later was enabled to purchase 540 acres of land in Jackson county. Having accumulated a com- petency he retired from the active duties of life and now resides in the village of Zwingle. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the German Reformed Church. He was married in his native state in 1850 to Miss Elizabeth Wortz, who died in August, 1891, aged sixty years, having borne her husband the following children : John, farmer of Washington Township; Mart, on home place in Jackson county ; Dave, farming in Cherokee county ; Anna, married William Walters and resides at Zwingle; Ione Elizabeth, deceased : Isaac, farming in Washington Township; Samuel, same ; Della, married Daniel Huntington, of Dubuque; Albert, deceased ; Aden Henry, farming in the West; and Massina, residing in Zwingle. In October, 1895, Mr. Denlinger married Sarah Kamerer, who was born September 22, 1846, in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Kuhns) Kamerer.
NICHOLAS SEBO, engaged in business in Zwingle, was born in that village October 15, 1860, a son of Charles and Barbara (Hupinenger ) Sebo, the father a native of the Kingdom of Han- over and the mother of Byer, Germany. Mrs. Sebo was twice married ; first to a Mr. Frantz, whom she bore two children, John and Margaret, both now deceased. She married Mr. Sebo in Penn- sylvania, and to them these children were born: Henrietta, in Pennsylvania, and the following in Iowa: Charles, now deceased ; Mary, wife of Stewart Simpson, of William Springs, South Da- kota; Sarah, married L. Delinger, of Jackson county; Louise, a school teacher ; and Nicholas. After Henrietta was born the family came west to Iowa and for four or five years the father followed his trade of blacksmith in Dubuque. He then located in Zwingle. being the first to follow blacksmithing here, and in 1906, aged seventy-six years, passed away. He was a member of the German Reformed Church and a strong advocate of home and church work. His wife died in 1895, aged seventy-two years. Nicholas Sebo, the immediate subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools at Zwingle and learned the blacksmith's trade under the tutelage of his father. This he followed in his father's shop until the latter's death, then conducted the business alone, and in 1900 engaged in the farm implement business. Eight years later he added a feed mill and has been successfully engaged at these various lines of business ever since. He is a Democrat in politics, and although he has served as school director a number of years, has always refused to hold office, preferring to confine his atten- tion to private business affairs.
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
BARNARD HONERBAUM, residing on a farm in White Water Township where he is engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing, was born a subject of the German Empire, birth occurring July 17, 1859, in the Prussian Province of Westphalia. His parents, Barnard and Elizabeth ( Westcott) Honerbaum, were also natives of that country and had these children: Elizabeth, who married Peter Hanson, of Luxemburg, Germany, and now resides in North Dakota; Barnard, subject ; and Henri, who died in the old country, aged four years. In 1881 the family came to the United States and located at Luxemburg, Dubuque county, Iowa, where the father followed farming and his trade of carpenter until his death in 1894, aged sixty-six years. The mother passed away two years later, at the age of sixty-seven. Barnard Honerbaum, Sr., was the only son of Antoin and Catherina ( Plimper ) Honerbaum; and his wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Henry and Catherine ( Bus- wingle) Wescott. Her father was a stock dealer in Germany and there lived and died. To him and wife these children were born : Barnard, farmer of Prairie Creek Township; Antoin, same; Ger- trude, remained in Germany; Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Honer- baum. Barnard Honerbaum, Jr., the immediate subject of this memoir, attended the public schools of his native country until eighteen years old, receiving a better education than most of the boys of that time, and later learned carpentering, which he followed after coming to America. After arriving in Dubuque county he engaged in the hotel business in Prairie Creek Township three years, then was in business at Worthington a year, and later for six years conducted a general store at Gilt Edge. Succeeding this he took up farming and rented his present farm of James Fagan. In 1886 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Steil, daughter of Nicholas and Lena ( Armstrong) Steil, who were natives of Luxemburg, Germany, and came to America and Dubuque county, Iowa, in 1846. They were early pioneers in this section of the country, and had the following children: Elizabeth, wife of sub- ject ; Maggie, who married Joseph May and resides in Minnesota ; Steve, living on old Steil homestead in Dubuque county ; and Mary. To Mr. and Mrs. Honerbaum have been born children as follows: Elizabeth, who married Joseph Dunkel, farmer of Prairie Creek Township; Barnard, Peter, Maggie, deceased; Mary, Josephine, Wilhelmina, Phoenecia, and Joseph. The Honerbaum family have contributed their part toward the growth and development of Dubuque county and are highly regarded in the community where they reside.
EDWARD TUCKER, now owning and operating a farm on section 8, White Water Township, was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1873, and is a son of John and Charlotte ( Parrott ) Tucker, who were also natives of that locality. The father died in England in
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1879, aged fifty-eight years, and the widow and son, Edward. the only child, came to America to join the family of Vinicent Tucker, who had immigrated to the United States some ten years previous and invested in farm land in White Water Township, Dubuque county, Iowa. Vinicent Tucker was also a native of Somerset- shire, England, and married Christiana Parrott, a sister of our subject's mother, and upon locating in Iowa purchased 120 acres of farm land, which he improved by erecting a fine home and barn. He prospered and became one of the foremost farmers of his community. He passed away in 1907, aged sixty-five years, followed by his wife February 2, 1911, aged seventy-three years, and both were members of the Episcopal Church. To them were born Emily, residing in Cherokee county, Iowa, and Albert, of South Dakota. Charlotte (Parrott) Tucker resided with the Tucker family in White Water Township until her death on March 9, 1903, when seventy-two years old, and was a member of the Episcopal Church. Edward Tucker was but eight years old when brought to Dubuque county by his mother, and was here educated in the public schools. He engaged in farming with his uncle, Vinicent Tucker, and at that time they had 15 or 20 acres of sugar cane, having their own crusher and well-equipped ma- chinery, and turned out on an average of 2,000 gallons of sorghum molasses each year, which they marketed in Dubuque at 40 cents per gallon. Since the death of his uncle Edward Tucker has con- tinued to operate the home place and raises graded horses and cattle in addition to general farming. He married Anna Tucker. of the same name but no relation, who was born in Nebraska in 1888, the daughter of Joseph and Clara ( Flasher) Tucker, natives of Illinois and Somersetshire, England, respectively. Her father died in White Water Township, Dubuque county, in 1901, but the inother is still living and resides in Taylor county, Iowa. Mr. Tucker is an Episcopalian in religion and a Republican in politics, but has always refused to hold office, preferring to confine his attention to private affairs. To him and wife one daughter, Viola, was born on January 2, 1909.
JOHN O'NEILL, farmer and stock raiser, has resided on section 25, White Water Township, since he was eleven years of age. In the biography of his brother, William, who spells the family name Oneill, is given the sketch of the parents of the subject of this review. John O'Neill was born in the city of New York, July 28, 1841, and came west with his parents in 1852. He was reared to manhood in the log cabin first erected by his father, attending in a limited way the pioneer schools, aiding in the work of clearing and improving, and participating in the hard work and privations com- mon in those early days. After the death of his mother he received 40 acres as his share of the estate, and to this he has added at dif-
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ferent times until he now owns 180 acres. His time is devoted to diversified farming and stock raising, and at this Mr. O'Neill has met with more than ordinary success.
WILLIAM C. AITCHISON, JR., deceased, son of William and Agnes (Young) Aitchison, was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, April 5. 1837. In 1842, the family moved to Roxburgh, in the famous Vale of Tweed, and it was in the shadow of Melrose Abbey, made familiar to all English speaking people by Sir Walter Scott, that the subject spent his youthful days. When fourteen years old he removed with his parents to Glasgow, where for one year he attended the Glasgow University. Here he was employed at book- keeping, and from January, 1853, to May, 1855, was identified with the iron and shipping industry. On May 1. 1855. the family sailed from Glasgow for New York, arriving at their destination forty-five days later. Here Mr. Aitchison found employment at bookkeeping, his wages being $200 for the first six months and $500 for the next twelve months. In 1857 he became head book- keeper and confidential clerk in a large commission house in Chi- cago, and when the firm dissolved two years later Mr. Aitchison became its successor and successfully conducted the business during the stormy period of the Civil War. April 5. 1860, he married Harriet Amelia Babcock, by whom he became the father of William C., Albert W., Lydia G .. John Y. and Harriet Ruth. Mrs. Aitchi- son was born in Providence, Rhode Island, June 26, 1840, a daugh- ter of Cyril and Lydia (Clark) Babcock, of Puritan ancestry. In June, 1865, owing to failing health, Mr. Aitchison moved to Cas- cade, Iowa, to find rest and quiet, at which place he had provided a home for his aged parents. His was a deeply religious nature, and, while at Chicago, he helped organize and was the first secretary of the Young Men's Religious Improvement Society, which, as the Young Men's Christian Association, recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. After his removal to Cascade he was often called upon to preach, owing to the church of his denomination having no regular minister, and his labor was fraught with great good. He was ordained September 13. 1882. In 1887 he moved to Council Bluffs, and from there. in 1890, to Des Moines, where he died September 14, 1908. Mrs. Aitchison having died February 6, 1894, Mr. Aitchison married Mrs. Flora T. Rogers, who survives him. William Cyril Aitchison, the oldest son of William C. Aitchi- son, Jr., deceased, was born in 1861 in the township where he now resides. He was educated in the public schools and at Lenox Col- lege and, for the most part, has passed his life engaged in agricul- tural pursuits and operating a creamery. He is the owner of a well-equipped farm on section 12, Cascade Township, and in con- junction with farming devotes considerable of his attention to stock raising and dairying. He is a Republican in politics, has
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occupied several local positions with credit, belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1883, he married Miss Anna M. Kearney, and to this union have been born these children : Elizabeth A., Adrian, Charles B., Eleanor R., Anna M., Edward C., John A. and Roland.
CHARLES L. BOARD, engaged in farming and stock raising on section S, Cascade Township, Dubuque county, Iowa, was born March 29, 1863, in New Wine Township, a son of Robert and Mar- tha Board and a grandson of Ferdinand Board. Robert Board was a native of England and came with his parents to the United States when a lad of twelve years. After a year spent at Kenosha, Wis- consin, the family located on a farm in New Wine Township, northeast of Dyersville. On Thanksgiving day, 1867, Robert Board and family moved to the place now owned by the subject of this sketch, and here for many years the father devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. Mr. Board in later life moved to California, where he died in 1899, having lost his wife six years previously. They were the parents of four children: Lewis E., Charles L., Frankie, who died when ten years old, and a daugliter who died in infancy. Robert Board was twice married, his second wife, Sarah Hasenwell, to whom he was married in California, dying in 1911. Charles L. Board was educated in the public schools and at Epworth Seminary, and in 1886 married Nellie, daughter of Arthur and Ellen Miller, early settlers of Iowa, and now residing in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were the parents of the follow- ing named children: Elizabeth, Arthur, Fannie, William, James, Harry, John, Albert, Nellie, Pearl, Bertha and Charles. Charles L. Board and wife have four children, named Leroy, Ernest. Everett and Bardina. For six years after his marriage Mr. Board was engaged in farming on property adjacent to the home place in Cascade Township. He then bought the old homestead, which he has improved to such an extent that it is now considered one of the best farming properties in the county. In all worthy enter- prises Mr. Board is a liberal contributor. He is a Republican in politics with independent tendencies, has served as school director and was a charter member of the Modern Woodmen Lodge at Cascade.
WILLIAM S. KEARNEY, associated with his brother, E. M. Kear- ney, in the lumber business at Cascade, is a son of Adrian G. and Elizabeth (Long) Kearney, and is descended from Revolutionary ancestry. Adrian Kearney came from Virginia to Iowa in 1857 and settled in Cascade Township, Dubuque county. He was a prominent figure in local circles and a man who commanded uni- versal respect because of his upright life and character. His chil- dren are Sarah, Anna, E. M., Adrian F., Dr. C. A., of Farley, and
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Eleanor, deceased. William S. Kearney is one of the virile, enter- prising representatives of the younger business element of Dubuque county. He was born in Cascade Township on December 8, 1861, and as a boy received a good, practical education. At the age of twenty-one years he began teaching school. succeeding which for a time he was engaged in railroad work. He then bought an interest in the lumber business at Cascade of W. W. Hamilton, and for ten years was a member of the firm of Hamilton & Kearney. Mr. Hamilton then retired and the firm became Kearney Brothers, which has since continued with unvarying success. Mr. Kearney is a director of the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank, is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Mystic Workers, and in politics is a Democrat. In 1899 he married Wathena Rafferty, daughter of W. P. Rafferty, an old settler of Dubuque county and a native of Kentucky. Mr. Rafferty passed his early life in Illinois, to which state his parents had moved in pioneer times, and from there came to Dubuque, Iowa, where he married Eugenia Haddock. Mr. and Mrs. Rafferty lived in Cascade for a time, then moved to Missouri and from there to Grinnell, Iowa, where Mr. Rafferty died in 1902, and is survived by his widow. To Mr. and Mrs. Kearney one son was born on April 29, 1900, named Wilfred Carlton.
J. P. SAUSER, like others of his family living in Dubuque county, is one of the substantial men of the locality and a credit to the community in which he resides. John Sauser, Sr., his father, was one of the pioneers of Cascade Township, having come here from his native country. Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1848, at a time when the settlers were scarce and the hardships endured beyond the com- prehension of the present generation. Further mention of Mr. Sauser is to be found in connection with the sketch of John Sauser, Jr., appearing elsewhere in this book. J. P. Sauser was born on the old home farm in 1854. In boyhood he attended the public schools and assisted his parents in their efforts to improve their property and get ahead in the world. In 1878, the year following his marriage, he began farming for himself in Cascade Township, which he successfully continued until 1905. He then moved to his present beautiful, modern residence in Cascade and this has since been his home. Mr. Sauser was first married in 1877 to May Faber, daughter of John Faber, who came from Luxemburg, Germany, to Iowa at an early date, and here passed the remainder of his life. To this marriage eight children were born: Josephine, who died in 1910, aged twenty-nine years ; Walter, living in South Dakota: John, whose home is in Nebraska ; Maggie, now Mrs. Peter Schmidt, of Idaho; Lewis, Arthur. Francis, and Adel, the last four living at home. The mother died in 1904, at the age of forty-two years. In 1905 Mr. Sauser married
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