USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 18
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JACOB HEUBERGER.
Jacob Heuberger, an agriculturist residing on section 20, Ross township, has made his home in Franklin county for more than a third of a century and is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of rich and productive land. His birth occurred in Canton Aargau, Switzerland, on the 3d of March, 1844, his parents being Henry and Mary (Buchle) Heuberger, who passed away in that country. The father attained the age of eighty-two, while the mother was seventy-seven years old when called to her final rest.
Jacob Heuberger was reared in his native land and acquired a good education in its schools. He learned the wagon maker's trade in Switzerland and was also a soldier in that country, being registered and meeting for practice several times each year. From earliest youth he had cherished an ambition to see the world and in 1872, when twenty-eight years of age, crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling at Scales Mound, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where he worked at his trade. In December, 1875, he returned to Switzerland, visiting with his parents until the following June, when he returned to the United States and again began working at his trade in Scales Mound and Apple River, Illinois. In 1879 he came to Franklin county, Iowa, and for a number of years worked as a wagon maker at Chapin. He was a competent workman and did a profitable business, being eventually enabled to purchase one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Ross township. In 1890 he took up his abode on the farm, erected a set of substantial buildings and undertook the cultivation of the land, which had been merely plowed when it came into his possession. As the years have passed he has won prosperity in his farming operations, the well tilled fields
JACOB HEUBERGER
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annually yielding golden harvests in return for the care and labor bestowed upon them. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land and is widely recognized as one of the substantial and representative citizens of the community.
At Scales Mound, Illinois, Mr. Heuberger was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Gerber, who was born in Switzerland on the 14th of December, 1858, her parents being Henry and Mary (Werndle) Gerber. The Heuberger and Gerber families were neighbors in Switzerland. Mrs. Elizabeth Heuberger was eight years of age when she came to the United States with her parents, both of whom passed away on a farm in Jo Daviess county, Illinois. Our subject and his wife have five children, namely: Mamie E., Harry H., Bertha A., Louis F. and Charley J., all at home. The sons are splendid specimens of young manhood, being all more than six feet tall.
Mr. Heuberger has always supported the men and measures of the republican party and keeps well posted on political questions. He and his oldest son are worthy exemplars of the Masonic frater- nity, the father belonging to the lodge in Hampton and the son belonging at Sheffield. Both are members of the commandery of lowa Falls, having attained to the Knights Templar degree. The religious faith of the family is that of the Congregational church. Seeking the advantages of the new world as a young man, Mr. Heu- berger eagerly availed himself of the opportunities which presented themselves and, wisely directing his energies, has won prosperity and high regard in the country of his adoption.
EDWARD HUGH STINSON.
Since 1870 Edward Hugh Stinson has lived upon his present farm of two hundred acres on section 21, Hamilton township, and by his well directed efforts and intelligent management has surrounded himself with a comfortable degree of prosperity, contributing at the same time in substantial measure to community growth and develop- ment. He is numbered among the early settlers and among the prosperous and progressive farmers of his locality, and he is, more- over, entitled to representation in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, January 24, 1842, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Kelly) Stinson, natives of Ireland. The father came to America when he was eighteen years
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of age and after five years returned to Ireland, where his marriage occurred. With his wife he crossed the Atlantic and settled in Ver- mont, whence after one year he moved to Chicago. Later he pre- empted a tract of eighty acres of land in Stephenson county and there remained until his death, which occurred May 4, 1895. when he was ninety-five years of age. His wife has also passed away, her death occurring April 4, 1870. To their union were born six chil- dren: Edward Hugh, of this review; Michael, a resident of Rock- ford, Illinois; William Francis, operating the old homestead in Stephenson county, Illinois; Mary Ellen, deceased; Nora, widow of Thomas Highland, of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Elizabeth, the wife of James Crane, of Los Angeles, California.
Edward H. Stinson remained at home. until September 4, 1862, when he enlisted in Company 1, Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain William Irwin. He took part in many engagements and battles, including the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864, and was wounded in that engagement. He was after- ward transferred to Company C, Thirty-sixth Infantry, Veteran Volunteers, and he had charge of the government mail from New Orleans to San Antonio, Texas. He still has his official papers signed by General Phil H. Sheridan. Mr. Stinson continued at the front until October 11, 1865, when he was mustered out with his honor- able discharge at Springfield, Illinois. He returned to Stephenson county and there worked at farm labor for two years, receiving six- teen dollars a month. In 1868 he rented land near his father's home- stead, chopping cordwood to earn money to pay the rent. In the same year he purchased eighty acres of land in Hamilton township, Franklin county, and in 1870 he moved upon this property, adding to it from time to time until he now owns two hundred acres. He has now resided upon this place for over forty years. With charac- teristic energy he has carried forward the work of improving and developing his land and has made it a productive and valuable prop- erty provided with substantial buildings and modern machinery. He is ranked with the representative and progressive farmers of his locality, and his influence has been for many years a force in agri- cultural development.
On the 22d of February, 1874, Mr. Stinson was united in mar- riage to Miss Maria Underkofler, a daughter of Amos and Susan (Schoul) Underkofler, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Stinson have become the parents of seven children: Lydia Irene, the wife of A. S. Stockdale, of Hamilton township; Cora Nina, who married Fred C. Rawlston, of Meservey, Iowa; Jesse Edward, of
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Hampton; Ellen, the wife of Guy Booth, of Hamilton township; Ira W., of Mason City; Irvin H., at home; and Susan Viola, who married William Roach, of Bradford.
Mr. Stinson is a member of the Catholic church and is connected fraternally with the Grand Army of the Republic. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has taken an active interest in public affairs, having held various township offices and being now secretary of the school board. During the years of his residence here he has gained a high place in both business and social circles and well deserves mention as one of Franklin county's repre- sentative agriculturists and useful citizens.
HERBERT E. BOEHMLER.
Herbert E. Boehmler, an extensive landowner in Franklin county and prominently connected with commercial interests of Hampton as the proprietor of a large shoe store, was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, March 20, 1870, a son of George Henry and Elizabeth (Segelman) Boehmler, natives of New York. The parents were pioneers in Iowa and during the early years of their residence here had to contend with all the struggles and hardships of a frontier district. The father engaged in the lumber and grain business in Cedar Falls, where he established the first elevator. He and his wife became the parents of five children: George, of Saskatchewan, Canada; Albert, claim adjuster for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Cedar Falls; Harry, engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad at Waterloo; Carrie, the wife of J. P. Herman, of Des Moines; and Herbert E., of this review.
Herbert E. Boehmler acquired his early education in the public schools of Blackhawk county and afterward entered Iowa State Uni- versity, where he studied pharmacy. In 1890 he came to Franklin county and for six years was connected with a Mr. Baldwin in the drug business. At the end of that time he turned his attention to the shoe business, purchasing the store which he has since conducted. He carries a large and well assorted stock and controls an important patronage, for his business methods are at all times honorable and his integrity is beyond question. He owns an attractive home in Hampton and has besides about one thousand acres of farming land in Franklin county. His large interests are all carefully and con-
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servatively managed and have brought him a gratifying degree of success.
On the 20th of March, 1895, Mr. Boehmler was united in mar- riage to Miss lone O. Hutchins, and they have become the parents of three children, Ronald, James and Gwendolyn. Mr. Boehmler is a member of the Congregational church, is connected fraternally with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is prominent in both business and social circles and is today regarded as one of the leading citizens of the community.
ANTON DUIT.
Anton Duit, a native son of Grant township and today one of the representative and successful farmers of his locality, operating one hundred and sixty acres of land, was born February 27, 1885. He is a son of John Gerald and Eliesa Jajjenetta (Grothaus) Duit, natives of Germany. For twenty-seven years the father followed the sea, and when he abandoned this occupation he came to America, settling in Franklin county, Iowa, about the year 1883. He turned his attention to general farming and has accumulated valuable landed holdings, owning today three hundred and sixty acres. He is liv- ing retired in Ackley and has survived his wife since March 10, 1905. To their union were born seven children: Gerald, deceased ; Carl J., of Grant township; Anton, deceased ; Tjode, who has passed away; Anton, of this review; Annie, who resides in Ackley; and Tjode, second of the name, the wife of John Ubben, of Garrison, Iowa.
Anton Duit acquired his education in the district schools of Franklin county and during his childhood and youth worked upon his father's farm. He is now operating one hundred and sixty acres of the homestead and has met with gratifying success in the con- duct of his interests, for his methods are at all times practical and he possesses a thorough knowledge of the details of farm operation.
On the 12th of February, 1907, Mr. Duit married Miss Otillia Heinz, of Grant township, and they have become the parents of two children : Harry John, born July 13, 1909; and Selma Eliesa, Jaj- jenetta, born July 2, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Duit are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Duit is connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America. He gives his political allegiance to
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the democratic party and is interested in the growth and welfare of his native community. He is one of the progressive and success- ful young men of the township and holds the esteem and confidence of all who are associated with him.
HENRY HUMKE.
A fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 36, Osceola township, is the property of Henry Humke, who is accounted one of the leading agriculturists in his locality. He was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, September 22, 1869, and is a son of Charles F. and Eva (Rath) Humke, the former a native of Iowa and the latter of Germany. The father came to Franklin county in 1881 and located in Osceola township, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred July 7, 1913. His wife has also passed away. To their union were born eight children: John F., a farmer of Osceola township; Henry, of this review; Anna, the wife of Henry Hembd, of Grundy county, Iowa; Charles and William, of Osceola ; Lydia, the wife of Wyatt Johnson, of South Dakota; a son, who died in infancy; and George, residing on the old homestead.
Henry Humke was reared at home and when he began his inde- pendent career turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, renting one hundred and twenty acres from his father. Later he purchased this property and under his able management it has become valuable and productive, reflecting everywhere the care and labor which the owner has bestowed upon it.
On the 31st of May, 1894, Mr. Humke was united in marriage to Miss Emma Kliebenstein, a native of Lee county, Iowa, and a daughter of Rev. L. and Mary (Meiser) Kliebenstein, natives of Germany. The father was a Presbyterian minister and had charge of a congregation in Lee county for about nineteen years, after which he moved near Ackley, in Grundy county, where he had charge of a congregation for nearly twenty years. He died in Dubuque county, this state, May 5, 1907, and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in St. Louis, Missouri. To their union were born eight chil- dren, the eldest of whom, a son, died in infancy. The others are: Mary, the wife of Ed Dippell, of Mitchell county, Iowa; Emma, wife of the subject of this review ; Lydia, who married H. F. Girard, of Dubuque; Louis F., a banker of Kingsley, Iowa; August, a resi-
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dent of Chicago, Illinois; Edward, who has passed away; and Amelia, the wife of A. C. Reibert, of St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Humke have two children : Willard Henry, born April 19, 1898; and Marie Amelia, born February 20, 1901. Mr. Humke is a member of the Presbyterian church and gives his politi- cal allegiance to the republican party. He has served as a member of the school board, and the cause of education finds in him a loyal supporter. He is well and favorably known in Osceola township, and his record is a credit to a name that has long been an honored one in his community.
EDWARD 1. EVANS.
Many of our American citizens of Norwegian birth have achieved success along agricultural lines in this country. Among them is Edward I. Evans, who owns a valuable farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres on section 34, Morgan township, from which he receives a gratifying income. Mr. Evans was born in Norway, May 20, 1877, and is a son of Ingebret and Gertrude Oleson, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1887, locating in Wright county, where both are still living. They were the parents of four- teen children: Edward 1 .; Bertha, who married Paul Lynn, of Hartland, Minnesota; Ole, of Iowa Falls; Christian, of Hamilton county, of this state; Marion, of Hardin county; Matilda, Albert, Gunda, Mott and Bernice, at home; and four who died in infancy.
At the age of ten years Edward I. Evans earned money for his own support, herding cattle until fourteen years of age on the prairie. He was then engaged in farming for ten years but in 1901 bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 34. Morgan township, which he has since cultivated. All of the improvements have been made by him and success has come to him in return for honesty, industry and energy. He engages in general farming and his acres are under high cultivation.
On October 13, 1900, Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Marie Gunnell Hanson, a daughter of Carl Hanson, who is more extensively mentioned in another part of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have six children : Alvin C., Ernest L., Gladys R., Manwell H., Carl 1. and Edna Vernetta, all at home.
Edward I. Evans, although young in years, has achieved a fair measure of success along agricultural lines and is considered one
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of the substantial men of Morgan township. He is a member of the Lutheran church and is interested in its work. Mr. Evans has many friends in the neighborhood and is highly regarded by all who know him.
WILLIAM BARRY.
Among the successful pioneers of Franklin county William Barry occupies a conspicuous position by reason of his progress- ive work along agricultural lines. Mr. Barry has not only attained individual success but has contributed toward agricultural stan- dards of the state and has always been a leader in accepting new ways and means toward reaching the farmer's goal of success. He was born on the 13th of August, 1845, a son of Edmund and Eliza- beth ( Kirby) Barry, both natives of County Cork, Ireland. Together they emigrated to America in 1840 and first located in Syracuse, New York, where the father found employment in a salt works. By rea- son of his ability, close application and faithfulness to duty he soon rose to a prominent position. However, the call of the west had its charm for him and about two years later he departed, making his way to Green county, Wisconsin, where he embarked in agriculture. He at first rented two hundred and forty acres on shares, which he cultivated with such good results that he was later enabled to pur- chase one hundred and sixty acres. Close application and good judgment resulted in continued prosperity and he increased his hold- ings until he finally owned eight hundred acres. He was one of the foremost agriculturists of his district in Wisconsin and stood high in the estimation of his friends and neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Barry had nine children. Those living are John, who is located on the homestead in Green county; William, our subject; and Frank, who is a business man of Long Beach, California. Both parents died in Wisconsin about 1899, their demise occurring but a short time apart.
William Barry received his early education in the country schools of Wisconsin and had the usual experiences of a farmer lad, begin- ning early to assist his father in his extensive farming operations. He showed unusual qualifications for this kind of work and applied a number of new ideas in working the farm. While yet assisting his father he made his first investment by buying one hundred acres in Green county, Wisconsin, at the rate of ten dollars per acre, and he
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later sold this tract at a handsome profit. Shortly thereafter Mr. Barry made his first trip to Iowa, walking from Ackley, this state, to what is now Franklin county, and looking for possible investments in land. Although a friend who had accompanied him purchased property Mr. Barry decided to wait, but in 1870 he returned and with his brother traded a horse as a first deposit on land in Ingham township. There they together bought one hundred and sixty acres of rich prairie land. This was at a time when practically every farmer gave his attention to raising wheat and the first two crops of this cereal were so bountiful that all continued along that line. However, in the third year the wheat turned out to be an utter failure, and while most of the other agriculturists continued in try- ing to raise the same cereal for several years thereafter Mr. Barry and his brother grew timothy and their hay crop was probably the largest ever seen in their part of the state. They had in the mean- time bought cattle to a considerable extent, and while the farmers around them were failing and were forced to give up they succeeded and derived large profits from the cattle business. They disposed of their stock in the Chicago market. Mr. Barry subsequently made numerous and advantageous trades in land, always increasing his holdings, until finally in 1894 he moved to Hampton. He today still owns nearly five hundred acres of land and has ever followed the rule of investing his surplus in good Iowa agricultural property. He has for a number of years been considered an authority on land values and has never risked his capital in dubious investments. He has made his money in Iowa and believes in home investments. His spirit of attachment to the soil has not only brought him prosperity but has left the money where it was made and in that way he has been a great factor in the upbuilding of the prosperous state, of which he is a successful citizen. He has ever shown extraordinary judgment in all business transactions, and his reputation is of the highest on account of his fair methods, which underlie all his bus- iness deals.
On February 11, 1873, Mr. Barry married Miss Mary E. Walker, a lady of Kentucky parentage. They have two children : Frank, who is connected with shipping interests in Oregon; and Joseph, at Hampton. The second son was born September 2, 1878, and received his early education in the country and district schools, later graduating from the high school at Hampton. He spent some years in traveling in the west and was also connected with a whole- sale house of Spokane for a time. Later he returned to Hampton and is now assisting his father in looking after the properties which
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they jointly own. He married on November 9, 1912, Miss Lulu Ferris, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Adeline (Forrest) Ferris, the former a native of Binghampton, Broome county, New York, and a prominent nurseryman of Hampton. Mrs. Barry's father is a veteran of the Civil war and in 1861 enlisted as a soldier in Com- pany F, First Colorado cavalry, remaining in the service three years and three months. He participated in the battle of Pigeon's Ranch and in that of Apache Canyon, New Mexico. In the first battle he lost his horse, and in the second he received a wound in the leg. However, for the greater part of the time he was engaged in service against the Indians, and in scouting. From 1866 to 1868 he took part in the war which the Mexicans waged against Maximilian and was in the battle in which Maximilian was captured. At the con- clusion of the war in Mexico he removed to Texas.
Politically Mr. Barry is a democrat and has always taken a deep interest in the progress of his section. Political honors have been offered him, but he has always declined preferment of a public character. However, he for years was a trustee of Ingham town- ship. When he arrived here there were twenty-five voters and of these two were democrats, he and his brother bringing the repre- sentatives of this party up to the number of four. Mr. Barry has watched the onward march of civilization and has always partici- pated in activities that have made Iowa the foremost agricultural state of the Union. He is highly esteemed and respected in Hamp- ton for what he has done and for what he is. Physically and men- tally he appears to be a man many years younger than his record shows, and he is still intelligently interested in all objects which have for their purpose the development and advancement of the people in a moral, intellectual and material way. The honors which are accorded him are highly merited.
JAMES HARVEY TOBIAS.
James Harvey Tobias has been connected with agricultural interests of Franklin county since 1875 and has risen in the interval to be one of the leading farmers of Marion township, where he owns two hundred and forty acres of valuable land. He was born in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1861, and is a son of William and Caroline (Krause) Tobias, also natives of the Keystone state. They went from Pennsylvania to Ogle county, Illinois, and there
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the mother's death occurred in 1869. The father afterward moved to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, and at the end of ten years went to Wichita, Kansas, where he now resides. He and his wife became the parents of nine children, four of whom survive, as follows: Car- rie, the wife of H. A. Cunningham, of Maryville, Missouri; Emma J., who married E. J. Rickart, of Texas county, Missouri; James Harvey, of this review; and Samuel, of Enid, Oklahoma.
When James H. Tobias was fourteen years of age he came to Franklin county and began working as a farm laborer continuing thus until 1891, when he rented land. In 1905 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Scott township and after culti- vating this for five years disposed of it. In 1911 he purchased two hundred and forty acres on section 20, Marion township, and here he has since engaged in general farming and stock-raising, meeting with substantial- and well deserved success.
Mr. Tobias married Miss Clara E. Carpenter, a native of Galena, Illinois, and they became the parents of two children: a son who died in infancy ; and Hazel M., born February 25, 1903. Mr. Tobias is a member of the Methodist church and a republican in his political beliefs. He belongs to the Masonic lodge of Hampton and was mas- ter of this organization for two years. He is a man of many sterling traits of character, reliable in business, progressive in citizenship and at all times trustworthy and straightforward.
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