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 90
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Elizabeth Schrady, by whom he is the father of one son, Carl. In religion Mr. Sauser is of the Roman Catholic faith ; as a Democrat he has served as trustee of Cascade Township a number of years.
L. P. FREEMAN, president of the Electric Light & Power Com- pany, Cascade, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1843, a son of Calvin O. and Hannah D. Freeman. Calvin O. Freeman was a native of New York state, and when a young man went to Ohio and there married, his wife being a native of Massachusetts. He was a gunsmith by trade, but followed the occupation of general blacksmith in Ohio until 1844. At that early date he came to Cascade, Iowa, with his wife and five children, two children being born after the removal to this place. Cascade and the surrounding country, at the time of their location here, was practically in a state of nature. The country was sparsely settled and wide stretches of wild prairie land intervened between the homesteaders. Mr. Free- man's blacksmith shop was the second in the village and he was the first to manufacture plows at Cascade. In conjunction with blacksmithing he farmed until 1854 or 1855, then retired, and in 1885, when eighty-three years old. passed away. He was an old- time Democrat, a Baptist in religion, and a man of strong character and upright conduct. His wife died in 1870, when sixty-five years of age. L. P. Freeman, the subject of this sketch, never married. He received his education in the public schools and lived at home until his father's death. He farmed in White Water Township, near the village of Cascade, but in 1893 disposed of his property and has since been identified with the civic life of the village. As was his father before him, Mr. Freeman is a Democrat, but of the liberal kind, invariably aligning himself with all movements for the betterment of the community regardless of party affiliation.
WILLIAM HEERY, retired farmer and stock raiser, residing in Cascade, was born a subject of Queen Victoria, his birth occurring in 1836, in County Cavan, Ireland. His parents, James and Cath- erine (McGovern) Heery, were also natives of the Emerald Isle, where the father, a son of William and Ann ( Boltie) Heery, fol- lowed his trade of shoemaker. To better his condition and to afford his children greater opportunities for advancement, Mr. Heery and family embarked on a sailing vessel bound for the United States in 1847, their destination being New Orleans. While on the way the mother died and was buried at sea, the infant daughter, named Kate, for whom the mother gave her life, dying shortly after the arrival of the boat at New Orleans. The other children born in Ireland were William, John and Ann. Upon arriving in this country the family came north to St. Louis, but in 1850 came to Dubuque, Iowa, being first preceded by William, the subject of this sketch. Government land was bought in Washing-
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ton Township, Jones county, Iowa, and there the family located and established a home after the primitive manner of the times and as their means afforded. James Heery died in 1891. William Heery assisted his father for a time, then bought and improved a farm near the old homestead, which he conducted until about fourteen years ago, at which time he moved into Cascade and retired from the active work of farming. In 1860 he married Elizabeth Drummond, daughter of John and Isabella Drummond, natives of Ireland. John Drummond was born in County Tyrone in 1831, came to Baltimore, Maryland, at an early day, moved from there to Pittsburg, thence to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1851, where he lived one year and finally located on a farm near Temple Hill in Washington Township, Jones county, Iowa. There he lived the remainder of his days. Mr. and Mrs. Drummond were the parents of these children : Alice, born in Ireland, married John Cornwall, who was a blacksmith in Cascade in the early fifties and is now deceased ; Samuel, deceased : Ellen, married Frank Jones and re- sides in Idaho; William, deceased ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. William Heery ; William (2), now residing in Cascade; Isabella, the wife of Patrick Seery, of Cascade ; and John, who married Ellen McDer- mitt and lives in South Dakota. William Heery is one of Dubuque county's most worthy and esteemed citizens. He has worked hard and from his means has contributed liberally to all worthy causes. Aside from his valuable real estate holdings he is a stockholder in the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank in Cascade, of which he is also a director. To Mr. and Mrs. Heery no children have been born, but they have two adopted children, Bernard Drummond, born in 1873, and Mary Drummond, born in 1877.
MICHAEL KENNEDY, engaged in farming and stock raising on sections 22 and 23, in Taylor Township, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, May 7, 1871. His parents, Martin and Catherine (Walsh) Kennedy, were natives of Ireland and Virginia, respect- ively. They each came to Dubuque county at an early day, and were here married. They have always followed farming and now reside near Bankston, honored and respected citizens and the parents of nine children. Michael Kennedy was reared to manhood on the home farm, attended the public schools when a boy, and in 1906 was united in marriage with Miss Alice Reynolds. Mrs. Kennedy was born October 4, 1880, the second in a family of five children born to Thomas and Mary ( Powers) Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds was a native of Ohio and his wife of Ireland. They were married in Dubuque county and are among the highly respected farmers of the locality. They now live at Peosta. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are the parents of two children, Harold Martin and Joe Walter, the latter deceased. Mr. Kennedy is the owner of a well improved farm of 130 acres and is considered one of the foremost men of his
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locality. In politics he is independent, voting for the man he con- siders best fitted for the office without regard to political creed. He and wife belong to the Roman Catholic Church at Placid.
MATTHEW GARRIGAN, who died August 22, 1899, was one of the foremost farmers of Taylor Township and was deserving of much credit for the success he made of life under adverse circumstances. He was a native of County Meath, Ireland, and in 1849 came with his widowed mother and sisters to America and established a home in the state of New York. In 1857 he married Julia O'Reilly, and in 1864. attracted by the glowing reports of the opportunities for getting ahead in the West, came to Dubuque county, Iowa. From the savings of himself and wife he bought 120 acres of unimproved prairie land in Taylor Township and, locating on this farm, began improving it to the best of his ability. He was hard working and industrious, and was ably assisted by his wife and children until the property was brought to a high state of cultivation. He later bought an additional 80 acres and, at the time of his death, when eighty years old, was the owner of 200 acres of valuable land. Mrs. Garrigan was born November 18, 1830, in County West Meath, Ireland, the second in a family of seven children born to James and Ann (Brady) O'Reilly. She came with her parents to the United States in 1847, and resided with them at Lansingburg. New York, where she was married. Some time after the death of her husband she moved to Farley, where she now lives, honored and respected, at the age of nearly eighty-one years. To Mr. and Mrs. Garrigan the following named children were born: James. unmarried and living at home with his mother; Ann, the wife of Frank Cunningham, the mother of six children and residing in Omaha, Nebraska; Mary, now Mrs. Samuel Cotter, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and the mother of one child: Catharine, the Mother Superior of the Academy of Immaculate Conception, Dubuque ; Matthew, who married Ada Gunn, by whom he has three children, and resides at Coney Island, New York; Theresa, died in infancy ; and Julia, the wife of Robert Lockwood, now living at Chicago, Illinois, the mother of six children. Mr. Garrigan was a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church at Farlev, as is also Mrs. Garrigan, and all their children were reared in the Catholic faith.
JOHN P. SANNER, president of the Farley State Bank, was born in Delaware County, Iowa, July 27, 1868. As a boy he attended the public schools and until twenty-three years old assisted in the work of the home farm. May 2. 1892, he married Mary C .. daugh- ter of Michael Connell, of whom appropriate mention is made in connection with the biographical sketch herein of Charles W. Connell. For one year succeeding his marriage Mr. Sanner farmed on the old homestead. The fall of 1893 he moved to Dubuque,
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where for two years he was engaged in the shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, and the following few years was associated with John T. Hancock in the wholesale grocery business In March, 1899, he came to Farley and embarked in mercantile pursuits, at which he has since been engaged. Upon the organization of the Farley State Bank in 1906, Mr. Samer was elected its president and has since officiated in that capacity. Mr. Sanner is a Democrat, a town councilman, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Order of Foresters. To him and wife eight children have been born : John Lloyd, Charles G., Mabel F., Leo M., Addelen C., Clarence H., Thomas J. and Loilola A. The family are members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. The parents of Mr. San- ner, George and Mary F. (Willging) Sanner, were natives of Germany. They came to this country when young, were married in Ohio, and came to Dubuque in the early days, subsequently re- moving to Delaware county, where the father died in 1902 at eighty- three years of age. The mother, aged eighty-five years, is yet living on the old homestead with a daughter.
HENRY J. MESCHER, engaged in general merchandising at New Vienna, is a native of this village and a son of Frank X. and Angela Mescher, pioneers of this section of the county. Frank X. Mescher was also born in Dubuque county, his father coming here from Oldenburg, Germany, at a very early period, and is at present residing on a farm in New Vienna Township engaged in general farming and stock raising. Henry J. Mescher was born at New Vienna, July 6, 1880, and until fifteen years old attended the parochial school at that place, later taking a course in a business college at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For a year thereafter he served as clerk for the firm of Kerper & Meyer at Petersburg, Iowa, then was employed in a similar capacity with B. K. Dentmeyer, general merchant, at New Vienna. In 1905 he and brother, Anton B. Mescher, bought out Mr. Dentmeyer, and have since conducted the business in partnership with unusual success. Under their manage- ment the business has grown and prospered and they are today regarded as representative business men and citizens of Dubuque county. Mr. Mescher is a Democrat in his political views, has served as alderman, and is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society of the State of Iowa. In religion he espouses the beliefs of his forefathers and is a staunch adherent of the Roman Catholic faith. On January 30, 1907, at New Vienna, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Koelker, a native of Petersburg, Iowa, who died January 1, 1909, and is buried at New Vienna. One daughter, Mary, was born to them on December 21, 1908.
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FRANK G. ABELN, engaged in the embalming and undertaking business at New Vienna since 1908, is a native of New Wine Township, this county, and a son of Herman and Catherine. Her- man Abeln was a wind-power mill builder before coming to America in 1872 from Oldenburg, Germany, and after locating that year in New Vienna, Iowa, followed carpentering. In 1890 he embarked in the manufacture of butter tubs, which venture proved successful, and he followed same until his death, January 30, 1898. He was buried in St. Boniface Cemetery at New Vienna. His widow yet survives him, and to them were born these children: Anton, en- gaged in the real estate and abstract of title business at Dubuque ; Dr. Joseph L., practicing physician and surgeon at New Vienna ; Mary, the wife of Anton E. Hoefer, farming at Albion, Nebraska ; Sophia, married J. L. Meyers, coal, wood and ice merchant of Dubuque ; Elizabeth, who married J. C. Fangmann, farming in New Wine Township: Josephine, the wife of A. E. Majerus, grocer at Dubuque : Catherine, married Alois Oberbroeckling, farming in New Wine Township; and Frank G., the subject of this review. Frank G. Abeln was born January 30, 1883, and until fifteen years old attended the parochial school at New Vienna. He then assisted his father in the manufacture of butter tubs, and upon the latter's death he became associated with Jacob Kerper as salesman, which position he still retains. Mr. Abeln is a Democrat in politics, is present recorder of New Vienna, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters, Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Association of the State of Iowa and St. Bonifice Cath- olic Church. On May 25. 1909, at New Vienna, he was united in marriage with Miss Abelina Klosterman, and they and Mrs. Abeln, mother of our subject, reside in the village. Mrs. Abeln, wife of Frank G., was the daughter of the old pioneers, F. H. and Catherine Klosterman, both of whom are yet living, and in 1906 celebrated their silver wedding.
CLEMENS KENTER, retired farmer and stock raiser, now residing in the city of Dyersville, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, September 27, 1850, the son of Bernard and Mary (Kramer) Kenter. The father was a native of Germany and came to America and Cincin- nati in 1848, where for seven years he engaged in various lines of business. He then came west to Dubuque county, Iowa, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in New Wine Township, which he improved and developed, and later added another tract of eighty acres to his holdings. He was one of the progressive farmers of the community, and died August 4. 1888, aged fifty-three years. His widow yet survives him and resides on the old homestead with her son. John Elmer. Until thirteen years of age Clemens Kenter attended the parochial school at Luxemburg, this county, and then remained at home assisting his father with the work of the farm
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until 1873. At that time he borrowed money and purchased a farm of 160 acres and followed farming and general stock raising until his retirement from the active cares of life in 1904. By hard and conscientious work he gradually prospered and honorably settled all obligations, and today is one of the prosperous men of the community. He is a Democrat in politics and for six years has served as treasurer of the board of education. In religion he espouses the belief of his forefathers and is an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith. Mr. Kenter has been twice married ; first, in 1876. His first wife having passed away in 1879, he married, second, April 28, 1890, at Dyersville, Miss Katie Greiner, daughter of the pioneer stone mason, John Greiner, who died in 1908 and is buried at Luxemburg. To Mr. Kenter's first marriage two chil- dren were born: Mary, wife of John Boge, farmer of New Wine Township, and Cecelia, who married Nicholas Elens, also farming. To his second marriage have been born: Joseph, student at Chris- tian Brother's College, St. Louis, Missouri; Phillimine, at home; and Marcella, attending school. Mr. Kenter and family are num- bered among the best people in the community in which they reside.
WILLIAM MACHOGAN, for over thirty years engaged in the marble and granite business at Dyersville, was born at Fremont, Ohio, November 2, 1856, and is the son of Thomas and Margaret MacHogan, who were of English descent. The father was a con- tractor and builder by occupation and operated throughout the East and Middle West. When Civil War was declared between the North and South he enlisted for the preservation of the Union and served with credit until honorably discharged by the War Depart- ment of the United States government. He died at Pueblo, Colo- rado, and his wife at Waterloo, Iowa.
William MacHogan, the well-known immediate subject of this review, spent his boyhood days in the different parts of the country where his father happened to be working, and in 1873 came to Waterloo, Iowa. Here for two years he learned the trade of marble cutting, and the following four years worked at his trade in San Francisco and other parts of California. His early scholastic training was acquired in the public schools of Madison and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and he also for a time attended the State Uni- versity at Madison. In 1880 Mr. MacHogan came to Dyersville and opened a small marble and granite house on Main street. He gradually prospered and today many of the beautiful tombstones to be found in the cemeteries throughout lowa have been made under his supervision. Mr. MacHogan is a Republican in politics, is the present secretary of the board of education and was one of the organizers of the Red Jacket Fire Engine Company at Dyers- ville, of which he for years served as chief. Socially he has long been identified with the Masonic fraternity and has served as wor-
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shipful master of his lodge. On October 28, 1890, at Dyersville, he was united in marriage with Miss Leta E. Ramsey, and to them two sons have been born, named Orval A., druggist at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Claude R., clerking in a drug store at Manchester, Iowa. Mrs. MacHogan is a daughter of the old pioneer jeweler, Peter D. Ramsey, and his wife, Laura J. He died July 3, 1889, and is buried at Manchester, where his widow at present resides. Mr .: MacHogan and family are highly respected members of the com- munity in which they reside.
FRANK L. DREXLER, of the firm of Goerdt Brothers & Company, grain and live stock merchants at Dyersville, was born in Deleware county, Iowa, December 20, 1869, and is a son of John and Mary Drexler. He was educated in the public schools at Dyersville until his fifteenth year, and for a time thereafter assisted his father in the work of the home farm. He then took a course in Bayless Busi- ness College at Dubuque, succeeding which for four years he was in the employ of Joseph Bilmyer, who sold out to Holscher Brothers. When Henry Goerdt embarked in the grain and live stock business Mr. Drexler went with him as bookkeeper, and when Goerdt Brothers bought out Holscher Brothers he still remained as book- keeper until he acquired an interest in the business by purchase in 1906. Aside from the above Mr. Drexler is identified with various other local enterprises, and is president and a director of the First National Bank of Dyersville. He is an independent Democrat in politics, and in religious views is an adherent of the Catholic faith. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Association of the State of Iowa. November 14, 1891, at Dyersville, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Goerdt, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Goerdt, pioneers of the county. Her father died in 1907 at the age of seventy-four years, and his widow resides in Dyersville. To Mr. and Mrs. Drexler one daughter and three sons have been born as follows: Louis J., student at St. Joseph's College, Dubuque ; Laura M., a graduate of St. Francis Academy; Bernard, attending Christian Brothers' Col- lege ; and Marcellus, attending same. Mr. Drexler is one of the representative business men of the county and takes an active in- terest in all local affairs of importance.
JOHN B. GEBHARD, now retired from the active cares of life and residing in Dyersville is a native of Delaware county, Iowa, and a son of Joseph and Clara Gebhard. The father was born in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany, and in 1852, when but ten years old, was brought to America and Dubuque county, Iowa, by his parents. They first settled on 40 acres in New Wine Township, thien moved to Liberty Township, and in 1868 removed to Delaware county, Iowa, locating on a farm near Petersburg. Here the father
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farmed until he retired, and at present makes his home with the sub- ject of this sketch. His wife died in 1893, aged forty-three years, and is buried at Petersburg. Mr. Gebhard has always taken great interest in local affairs of importance, and for twenty-five years served as treasurer of the board of education. He was also justice of the peace for eighteen years. John B. Gebhard was born on his father's farm near Petersburg, April 7, 1873, and received his early education in the district schools. He later attended Highland College, Des Moines, Iowa. He assisted his father with the work on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-one was assistant veterinary surgeon to Dr. Bruner. He practiced this profession two years in Dyersville, and then took a special course in pharmacy. In the spring of 1904 he bought the Pennsylvania House and con- ducted same up to January, 1911. Mr. Gebhard has invested exten- sively in valuable real estate properties, and also manufactures an invention of his own-a draw bar for folding harrows-which has proved very practical and successful. As a Democrat in politics he served two years on the Colony Township Central Committee of Delaware county, Iowa, and in religious views is a Catholic. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Association of the State of Iowa. February 15. 1904, at New Vienna, he married Miss Mary Bunker, daughter of Frank and Mary Bunker. Her father came to America and Dubuque county about 1854, and was the first blacksmith in the village of New Vienna. To Mr. and Mrs. Gebhard have been born two sons: Charles, born April 13, 1906, and Martin, born July 24, 1908. The family are highly regarded in the community where they reside.
BERNARD TEGELER, since 1909 engaged in the machinery and farm implement business at Dyersville, is a native of Dubuque county, born on a farm in Liberty Township, October 7. 1857, and the son of Gerhard and Antonetta Tegeler. Gerhard Tegeler was born in Germany, and in 1838 immigrated to America, locating in Dubuque county, Iowa, where he was one of the very early settlers. He was a farmer and plasterer by occupation, and after a long and honorable life passed away in 1900 at the age of seventy- five years. His wife died in 1901, aged seventy-seven years, and both are buried in the cemetery at Dyersville. Until sixteen years old Bernard Tegeler attended the district schools, then for a time assisted his father on the home farm and later bought a tract of 120 acres in New Vienna Township, which he disposed of shortly afterwards to buy a farm of 190 acres in Delaware county, Iowa. This he improved in various ways and still retains. In 1909 he embarked in the machinery and farm implement business at Dyers- ville and has been very successful in this line of endeavor. Mr. Tegeler is a Democrat in politics, and for sixteen years was a director and member of the board of education at Hicker Valley.
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In religious views he is an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith. February 1, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Beckman, daughter of Gerhard and Agnes (Kramer) Beckman, pioneer settlers of Dubuque county. Eleven children, four daugh- ters and seven sons, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tegeler as follows: Gerhard, farmer in Delaware county; Antonetta, wife of Henry Wessel, a farmer of Delaware county ; John, a student at Bayless Business College : Katie, graduate of New Vienna school ; Isidor, assisting his father; Agnes, at home; Ulrich, with father; Bernard, Jr., same, and attending Christian Brothers' school ; Peter, attending same school : Olive, at St. Francis Academy ; and Hilarius, four years old. Mr. Tegeler and family are among the best people of their community.
GEORGE B. DEYEN, engaged in the jewelry business at Dyers- ville, was born in this city September 1, 1871, and is the son of Henry and Mary Deyen, natives of the Kingdom of Hanover and Prussia, Germany, respectively. Henry Deyen came to America in 1848, locating first at St. Louis, Missouri, and later at Galena. Illi- nois. In 1866 he came to Dubuque county, Iowa, and settled on a farm north of New Vienna, remaining here for two years. He then removed into the village of Dyersville and here established an early lumber yard to operate in this section of the county. He con- ducted same successfully until up to within two years of his death, which occurred October 26, 1895, at the age of seventy-one years. He was honest and industrious and his memory will long linger in the hearts and minds of his many friends and neighbors. George B. Deyen attended the district schools and assisted his father during boyhood days, and for eight years was in the employ of the Dyers- ville Commercial. He remained at home two years because of ill health, and in 1889 went to Dubuque as shipping clerk for the Knapp-Stout Lumber Company, with whom he remained five years. In 1894 he was sunstruck while working in the lumber yard and for the succeeding few years retired from any active business pursuits. During this time he became acquainted with a jeweler, of whom he learned the trade, and he later attended the Bradley Horological College with a view to entering the jewelry business. In 1899 he opened his present concern at Dyersville, where he has been very successful. In religious views he is a Catholic. February 7, 1903. he married Miss Margaret Graves, daughter of Herman and Kath- erina Graves, pioneer farmers of Delaware county, and one daugh- ter, Mildred, was born to them on February 19, 1905.
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