USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 95
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Edward Crowell (deceased) was born in the town of Half Moon, N. Y., in 1807. When about six years of age he moved with his parents to Allegany County, N. Y., where he made his home till about thirty-six years of age. In 1828 he and Miss Esther Felt were united in marriage. They had five children-Elmina, George W., Andrew J., Phoebe and Helen M. Mrs. Crowell died in 1840. In 1841 he married his second wife, Mrs. Caroline (Persons) Capen. They had nine children-Edward, Abigail, James M., Silas R., John H., Oren L., Charles W., R. Esther and Lily L. Mrs. Crowell had two children by her first husband. Their names were Richard W: and Sylvia Capen. Of this large double family all are still living except Sylvia, who died in 1860, at the age of twenty-two, and Esther, who died in 1881, at the age of 29. She was the wife of Sereno Whitney. In 1856 Mr. Crowell moved with his family to
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Ulster Township, this county, where he resided till his death, which occurred March 11, 1881. Mrs. Crowell still makes the homestead her abiding place. Of Mr. Crowell it may be said he was one of the pioneers who helped lay the very foundations of the history of Floyd Conuty. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crowell were mem- bers of the M. E. church for thirty years. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and started the order in this county.
Elward Crowell, Jr., was born in Centreville, Allegany County, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1840. In the year 1843 his father and family moved to Bloomfield, Walworth County, Wis., where they remained till 1856, when they came to Floyd County, Ia., and located in Ulster Township, upon a farm of 240 acres. Edward Crowell, Sr., had entered on sections 30 and 31 the year previous. This property the family call the old homestead. It is here the family grew to man and womanhood; it is here the father and mother lived happily together till death broke the ties by remov- ing Mr. Edward Crowell, Sr., March 12, 1881; and it is here the mother still lives. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Edward Crowell, Jr., the subject of this sketch, enlisted in Company G, Twenty- seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served his full term, be- ing three years; was mustered out May 6, 1865, at Davenport, Ia .; was never wounded nor taken prisoner, but was a hospital patient about fifteen months; was very low with typhoid pneumonia and erysipelas, and we are sorry to have this fact to chronicle that he is still a sufferer from the effects. His army experience was that of the usual faithful soldier-hard marches, hot skirmishes, and short rations, and the usual exhausting and undermining camp-life. After his return from the army he moved upon his farm of eighty acres, which he had purchased in 1863, on section 29, Ulster Town- ship. Here he lived till the year 1880, when he sold and pur- chased eighty acres on section 31, same township, where he still resides. He has under cultivation about fifty acres, and has usu- ally about fifteen head of cattle, four horses and thirty hogs. June 3, 1864, he and Miss Sarah Y. Porter were united in mar- riage. She was a native of Steuben County, N. Y., born in 1846. They have five children-Dora L., Clarence H., Clyde A., Guy E. and Ida C. Politically Mr. Crowell is a sound Republican. Is at present Justice of the Peace, which he has been for many years, and has held various township offices. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
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John H. Crowell was born in Walworth County, Wis., in 1847. He is a son of Edward Crowell, who came from Allegany County, N. Y., to Wisconsin about 1844, remaining till 1856, when he came to Iowa, and located upon 240 acres which he had bought the year previous, on sections 30 and 31, Ulster Township. this county, where he made his home till his death, which occurred in March, 1881. Edward Crowell, as will be seen by these dates, was one of Floyd County's pioneers, and his position in those matters of early date shows that he was a man of public spirit, whose name will never be forgotten in the history of this county. The author of this work was one of his early friends and associates. An item of interest is well worthy of the space it takes here, and we give it as related by his son, J. H. Crowell: One day, when he and his little brother were in the field, W. P. Gaylord came and asked his father to accompany him that day. In answer to the boys' inquiry as to where he was going, Mr. Crowell replied that they were go- ing to set the most important stake in the county, it being the staking off of the court-house ground. This spot was in the geo- graphical center of the county and near the east line of Ulster Town- ship. History shows that this place was one of some contest and contention, and after some hot spirit and solid voting it was placed upon record as the county seat, by a large majority. But after- ward some of the Charles City people, and those whose interests centered there, concluded there was some discrepancy in the vot- ing, and, without thoroughly testing the technicality, proceeded to locate the county seat at Charles City and erect public buildings. J. H. Crowell accompanied his father to this county, and made his home with him till he was twenty-one years of age. At this date he married Miss Libbie Pyatt, a native of New York State, being born there in 1852. Their family consists of five children-Jennie G., Burton L., Irving R., Granville P. and Charles G, aged twelve, ten, seven, four and one, respectively. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crowell are members of the Congregational church of Ulster Township. In the year 1861 he purchased forty acres on section 31, Ulster Township, where he still resides, and also a forty on section 30, making a farm of eighty acres, all under good cultivation. He usually puts in crop of from fifty to sixty acres, and keeps in stock, all told, about forty head.
S. W. Crowell was born in Bloomfield, Walworth County, Wis., in 1845. He is a son of Edward Crowell, who was one of Floyd County's pioneers, and whose biography will be found in this
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work. S. W. Crowell became a citizen of Floyd County in 1856 ; made his first purchase of real estate in 1864. This was a tract of forty acres on section 30, Ulster Township; this he afterward sold and bought eighty acres on section 29, which he also sold. IIe again made a purchase of forty acres on section 31. This he also soon sold, cach transaction yielding him a fair profit. In the year 1866 he purchased fifty acres on section 5, where he now resides. In 1873 he bought forty acres on section 31, adjoining his other land, making a farm of ninety acres. He usually puts in crop about sixty acres, and keeps about six head of cattle, two horses, and from fifty to seventy hogs. He was married in Charles City in 1871 to Esther A. Collins, a native of New York, born in 1841. They have two children - Ralph, aged five years, and Nellie, aged two. Politically Mr. Crowell is a Greenbacker ; has held the office of Assessor for two years.
C. Dinkel was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1839; came to America in 1856, locating first in Dodge County, Wis., where he spent about four years working as a farm hand ; from thence he went to Marathon County, where he owned a piece of timber. Here he remained about eight years engaged in the lumber business as a hand. In the year 1868 he became a citizen of Floyd County ; purchased same year eighty acres on section 14, Ulster Township, where he still resides ; has since added to his original purchase eighty acres ; forty was bought in 1872 and forty in 1874. The location and soil and improvements of this farm number it among the best in the county. He used to farm as high as eighty and ninety acres of wheat, but the crop proving an unprofitable one he now farms only about twenty-five. Has in corn fifty acres, and twenty-two in oats. In addition to farming, Mr. Dinkel makes stock-raising quite an item, and expects to go into it even more extensively. Keeps on an average about twenty- five head of cattle, and from thirty to forty hogs, and four head of horses. Mr. Dunkel was married in Wisconsin, in 1866, to Miss Paulina Kopplin, a native of Germany. They have eight children - Bertie, Mary, Anna, Carl, Otto, Clara, Lena and Huldah. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dinkel are members f the Lutheran church.
John Drager was born in Germany in 1842, and came to the United States about the year 1868, locating first in Wisconsin, working on the farm as a hand about five years, then rented a piece of land one year. In the fall of 1874 he became a citizen of Floyd County, Ia., and purchased a farm of forty acres on section 3,
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Ulster Township, where he still resides. He has since bought 105 acres, making a farm of 145, that is as good as the county affords; farms about sixty-five acres usually, putting out about ten acres of wheat, thirty-five of oats, and sixteen of corn. He farms in addition to this, thirty-four acres of corn, five of oats, and fifteen of wheat. He was married in Wisconsin in 1869 to Miss Augusta Grete. They have seven children, four boys and three girls - Amel, Frank, Emma, Elizabeth, Lena, Charles and George. Both Mr. and Mrs. Drager are members of the Methodist church.
Herman Eichmeier was born in Germany in 1838. At the age of eighteen he came to America, locating first in Freeport, Ill., where he remained about thirteen years, engaged in farming prin- cipally, though part of the time he was engaged in making brick. In the year 1871 he came to Floyd County, Iowa, and purchased his present farm of eighty-three acres, where he now resides, in Ulster Township. In 1878 he made another purchase of eighty acres adjoining his other. For the first he paid $1,800; for the second, $1,050, the last being unimproved land. Floyd County farmers have generally found both grain and stock farms to be the most profitable. This year Mr. Eichmeier has in crop twenty acres of wheat, seventeen of oats, forty-three of corn, and thirty of grass; keeps about twenty head of cattle, forty hogs and seven horses. Mr. Eichmeier was married in Freeport, Ill., in 1866, to Miss Caroline Bicker, a native of Germany, being born there in 1847. Their family consists of five children-William H., Saimon A., Henry, Hermon and Anna Mary. Both are members of the Methodist church. He votes the Republican ticket.
F. W. Gabel was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1839. In 1854 he came to the United States with his father and mother, John and. Josephine Gabel. There was of the family nine children. Here in Wisconsin Mr. F. Gabel spent the first fourteen years. A little instance of his life is well worthy of mention here, to illustrate how a man may start from nothing and by energy and perseverance wring from the hard hand of toil an independent fortune: At the age of sixteen he, in company with another lad of his own age, started from home with a lunch between them, and only ten cents to bear expenses. This was the possession of Mr. Gabel. They walked to Rosedale, a distance of 35 miles. Failing to find work they returned, still holding on to the ten cents. These are remembered by Mr. Gable as being the hardest times it has ever been hislot to pass through. In 1868 he became a citizen of Floyd County. The
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same year purchased eighty acres ou section 14, Ulster Township, where he still resides. To this he has since added 320 acres, making one of the largest and best farms in the county. In 1875 he built the finest house in the township, and the county affords no better. He not only has its surroundings beautified with shade and ever- green trees, symmetrically arranged, but he has the inside beauti- fully furnished and ornamented with modern art. Of this large farm all is under cultivation except eighty acres of timber and pasture land. He puts in crops yearly 320 acres, besides keeping seventy-three head of cattle, and about 100 head of hogs and ten head of horses. Mr. Gabel was married May 5, 1868, to Miss Agnes Devilla. She was a native of Belgium, born there in 1847. They have four children-Devilla, John, George and Freddie. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gable are members of the Catholic church.
August Gelhaus was born in Germany, July 5, 1847. In 1873 he came to America, locating first in Illinois. In December, 1873, he became a citizen of Floyd County, purchasing his farm of eighty acres, on section 19, Ulster Township, where he still resides. He built a nice barn in 1877. In 1876 he purchased eighty acres on section 29; has in corn seventy acres, wheat twelve, oats thirty, hay twelve, and rye ten; has six horses, seventeen cattle and sixty hogs. Dec. 15, 1873, he and Miss Wilhelmina Winter were married. They have four children-August, Lydia, Clara and Ma- tilda. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gelhaus are members of the Methodist church. Politically he is a sound Republican.
E. H. Hanchett was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., May 18, 1830. At the age of four he moved with his father to Cuyahoga County, O., where they remained ten years. From there they moved to Walworth County, Wis., where E. H. made his home about twelve years, engaged in farming. At the expira- tion of this time E. H. Hanchett came to Iowa, locating upon a farm of eighty acres, which he purchased of the Government in 1855, section 29, Ulster Township. Here he has since resided, making him one of Floyd County's pioneers, and one of the very first settlers of Ulster Township. Has added to this first purchase five acres of timber. Built himself a good farm house in 1870. With the exception of a few oak-trees he set out all that now so- beautifully surrounds his house. He has indeed a nice farm and pleasant home. Has under cultivation about sixty acres. In Walworth County, Wis., Feb. 25, 1858, he and Miss Caroline Bessee were united in marriage. She was a native of Michigan.
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They have five children-Allen, Lanson, Lucinda, Silas and Nellie. Of Mr. Hanchett we are pleased to say he is not only one of the first men in this county in point of time, but one of the first in society and in the interests of agriculture and the county generally.
G. F. Heitz was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill., Dec. 11, 1855. He is a son of John Heitz, who, in the year 1868, purchased 183 acres on section 2, Ulster Township, Floyd County, where G. F. Heitz and his brother, John Heitz, Jr., now reside. In the year 1876 G. F. Heitz came to Ulster Township and worked about one year on a farın. That fall he returned to Illinois, there he remained till the following March, when he, in company with his father and family, moved to Floyd County, Ia., where his father still resides. In the fall G. F. returned to Illinois, and the 19th of February was married to Miss Mary Haas, who was also born in Jo Daviess County, Ill. This same spring he and wife moved to Charles City, remaining only a short time, when he moved on to the piece of land formerly purchased by his father in Ulster Township; he and his brother each buying a half of 183 acres. In the year 1869 Mr. Heitz built himself a pleasant residence. His farm is one of the good ones of Floyd County. Up till the present he has turned his attention principally to farming, but recently has turned his mind toward stock-raising. This year he has thirty acres of corn, eighteen acres of oats, fifteen acres of wheat, and twenty-eight acres in hay. Has on hand fifty head of hogs, eight head of cattle, and four horses. His family consists of two children-John William and an infant daughter. Is a sound Republican. Is at present the Constable of Ulster County.
John Heitz, Jr., was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill., Jan. 30, 1852. He is a son of John Heitz, Sr., who is now a resident of St. Charles Township, Floyd County. In the year 1875 John Heitz, Jr., left Illinois and came to Floyd County, and worked the first summer for Mr. Blunt, near Charles City. The spring following he moved upon the north half of the 183 acres his father had pre- viously purchased on section 2, Ulster Township. This same spring he purchased this tract of land from his father. In the fall previ- ous to moving upon the farmn he built himself a pleasant residence, where he still resides. His farm has the appearance of thrift and of being under the care of a model farmer. He makes farming his principal avocation. This year has in erop fourteen acres wheat; oats, twenty ; corn, thirty-five; one-half acre potatoes; has five head of cattle; usually keeps twenty-five or thirty hogs and three horses.
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He was married in 1876 to Anna Sabina Toepfer, a native of Germany, boru May 6, 1850. Their family consists of three chil- dren-Henry John, Anna Elizabeth, Emma Lonisa. Both Mr. and Mrs. Heitz are members of the Methodist church. Politically he is a Republican.
Mathias August Hirsch was born in Grant County, Wis , March 4, 1853. He is a son of Fredric Hirsch, who emigrated to this country in 1847, from Germany, locating in Illinois; moved to Grant County, Wis., the following year, where he remained till his death, which occurred in the year 1866, leaving a family of five sons and one daughter. In 1875 M. A. Hirsch married Einma Stoeber, a native of Grant County, Wis., being born there in 1854. The family consists of three sons -- Irving S., Henry W., Charles A. Mr. Hirsch owns a nice place of forty acres which he purchased in 1874, all under fine cultivation and improvements; his buildings and surroundings surpassing many older homes and in older counties. Mr. and Mrs. Hirsch are both members of the German M. E. church. Mr. Hirsch is an old-time sound Republican.
C. W. Hudson was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1830. When a young man he received a common-school education. He re- mained in New York till about twenty-four years of age engaged in farming, principally in Steuben, Wayne and Oneida counties. In the year 1855 he went to Ogle County, Ill., where he worked by the month and day as a farm hand, remaining abont four years. In the winter of 1859 he became a citizen of Floyd County, thus making him one of its pioneers. Located in Ulster Township. The first season rented a piece of land on section 30. Afterward rented for two years the farm of 140 acres which he now owns and where he resides, section 30, Ulster Township. This purchase was ma de in the fall of 1865, paying $1,090. Has since erected good farm buildings; has a splendid barn, built only last summer, 36 x 60. He used to put out twenty-five and thirty acres of wheat; oats, fifteen ; from sixty to seventy acres of corn. His farm is about the same now, with the exception of wheat, which he does not find profitable to raise. Of late years has turned his attention more to stock, keeping about twenty-five head of cattle, and from sixty to eighty hogs. In Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill., July 5, 1858, he and wife, Susan Hellman, were united in marriage. They have no family. He votes the Republican ticket, and has several years held the office of Trustee. Though lie never learned the trade he built his own barn, never drawing a draft.
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Thomas W. Johnson was born in England in 1826; came to the United States in the fall of 1877; spent the first two years in company with his son, George W., and his wife, upon the farm of his deceased brother, Wilbert G., an account of which is given in the biography of W. R. Johnson. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Johnson bought eighty acres of R. M. Curry, on section 26, Ulster Township, where he still resides. Besides this eighty, he and his son, George W., farm the adjoining eighty. Mr. Johnson's farm is well calculated for stock; near a herd yard, and plenty open prairie. He has a nice house and pleasant surroundings. In England Thomas W. Johnson was married to Miss Mary Capaw in the year 1854. They have seven children-Anna Mary, Jane Annetta, George Willis, Elizabeth Chapman, Zilpah Lydia, Henry Theophilus, and Nellie. Mr. Johnson's wife and family are still in England, except George W. (who married Alice Jane Napels, a native of England; they keep house for his father; they have two children -- Florence Anna and Julia Annetta), and a daughter, Jane Annetta, who married Oren Bowen, a son of Mr. Bowen, of Rockford Township. They reside in Fargo, Dak. Previous to coming to America Mr. John- son had been connected with the dry-goods and shipping business in Manchester, England, for about twenty years, with one of the largest firms of the city, A. and S. Henry & C o.who shipped large quantities of goods to New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Thir- teen millions of sterling in amount of goods were sometimes shipped in twelve months. Mr. Johnson returned to England in the fall of 1882 to see his family and mother, who still resides there at the advanced age of eighty-five. He is her only surviving child of a family of five children.
W. R. Johnson was born in Ulster Township in 1858. He was a son of W. G. Johnson, who came from England in 1856 and pur- chased a farm of 380 acres in Ulster Township. Upon this farm he made many improvements-hauled brick from Waverly, a dis- tance of fifty miles, and built a two-story brick house, 16 x 20, with a one-story L, the base of which was nearly as large as the two-story part; he also built a log stable, 18 x 28. Here he and his wife made their home about four years, when Mrs. Johnson was killed by lightning while standing in the stairway of her house. Shortly after this event Mr. Johnson and his son, W. R., went to Chicago to live, renting the farm; returned in 1867, and lived here till the fall of 1869, when they both returned to Yorkshire, England, and there Mr. Johnson Sr., died in 1876,
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
In the fall of 1877 Mr. Johnson, accompanied by an uncle and cousin, returned to America to look after his interests in the West. During his absence the place had been lying idle, and he found that the neighbors had hauled the house almost entirely away. The seareity of brick of course made a valid excuse, but the stealing of the log stable and a log house in the woods in the midst of timber scarcely excuses the act. His uncle and cousin assisted in the care of the farm till 1880, when W. R. assumed control, and has since that time been manager and proprietor of three fourths of the farm, having a sister in England. He has 140 acres under cultivation. While in England he spent eighteen months on the sea; visited Australia and San Francisco in a sailing vessel, touching Ireland on the return voyage. In 1881 he again visited England. He was married in the spring of 1881, in Charles City, to Miss Mary Blunt.
August Koch was born in Germany, in 1841. He was a son of Christian Koch, a native of Germany, who died there in 1875. At the age of twenty-eight August Koch came to the United States, locating first in Wisconsin, where he remained about two years, working as a farm hand. At the expiration of that time he became a citizen of Ulster Township, Floyd County, Ia., where he spent the first summer as a farm hand; afterward rented a farm and continued as a renter for about four years. In 1876 he purchased eighty acres in Union Township, where he remained one year, when he sold it at an advance of his purchase price. In 1877 he purchased eighty acres where he still resides, on section 17, Ulster Township. The same year he built himself a good residence, and put the farm under a good state of cultivation. His surroundings are very pleasant, and he now owns one of the good farms and en- joyable homes of Floyd County. In January, 1880, he purchased a nice piece of timber of five acres. He used to put out from fifty to sixty acres in wheat, but late years only eighteen or twenty acres. At present he has about thirty-two acres of corn; oats about ten; has about thirteen head of cattle, thirty-five hogs, and four head of horses. In Germany, in 1867, he and Miss Minnie Sthal, a native of Germany, were united in marriage. Their family con- sists of six children-Minnie, John, Emma, Albert, Otto and Herman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Koch are members of the Methodist church. Politically Mr. Koch is a Republican, and is at present Constable in Ulster Township; has held the office of Supervisor and School Director. Of Mr. Koch we are pleased to say we find
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him one of Floyd County's model farmers, and a man of energy. He has by his own exertions brought himself from the position of dependence to that of independence.
August Koehler was born in Germany in 1838; came to America in 1865, locating first in Wisconsin, where he remained two years, working as a farm hand. He afterward rented a farm, which he ran about eight years. In 1874 he came to Floyd County, and rented a farm in St. Charles Township one year. In 1875 he pur- chased the farm of eighty acres where he still resides, on section 17, Ulster Township. In the year 1882 he repaired his house, making indeed a pleasant home, surrounded by a fine grove. He owns one of the good farms of Floyd County, and has it under a fine state of cultivation. He has in wheat twenty five acres; oats, sixteen acres; corn, twenty-two acres, besides twenty he is working on another farm. His stock consists of two horses, fourteen head of cattle and eighteen head of hogs. In 1866, in Wisconsin, Mr. Koehler and Miss Amelia Koehler were united in marriage. Their family consists of seven children-Ida, William, Minna, Henry, Albert, Mertie, and an infant daughter not yet named. Both Mr. and Mrs. Koehler are members of the Methodist church. Politi- cally he is a Republican.
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