USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 2
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Frederick D. Rodemeyer grew to manhood in his native county, attending the common schools in the acquirement of an education and assisting his father in the work of the home farm until eighteen years of age. He then began earning his own livelihood, being employed as a farm hand by Joseph Roberts in 1900-01, while during the following year he worked for Edward Heuer. of Burdette, Iowa, and in 1902-03 was in the service of Jefferson Pearse, of Gen- eva, Iowa. On the 19th of February, 1903, when twenty-two years of age, he entered the service of the Interstate Lumber Company of Hampton, Iowa, remaining at that place until March 1, 1906. On the Ist of May following he went to Barron, Wisconsin, to build the lumberyards of the firm at that place, while on the Ist of Novem- ber, 1906, he was placed in charge of the Alexander yards of the Interstate Lumber Company. In this capacity he has remained to the present time, ably and wisely promoting the interests of the concern which he represents. He owns an attractive and well fur- nished home in Alexander and is widely recognized as one of the successful and representative young citizens of the town.
On the 8th of December, 1909, Mr. Rodemeyer was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Yaw, who was born in Scott township,
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this county, on the 27th of September, 1891, acquired her education in the common schools of Alexander and has always remained within the borders of Franklin county. A sketch of her father, George S. Yaw, appears on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Rode- meyer have two sons : Boyd Yaw, whose natal day was April 9, 1911; and Robert Frederick, whose birth occurred on the 5th of June, 1913. Both were born in Alexander.
In his political views Mr. Rodemeyer is independent, support- ing men and measures rather than party. He was reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church, while his wife inclines toward the Methodist Episcopal faith. They are well known and highly esteemed throughout the community and have gained an extensive circle of friends during their lifelong residence here.
GEORGE GRAFF.
Since 1883 George Graff has been a resident of Franklin county and during practically all of the intervening period has been closely connected with agricultural interests. He is today one of the pro- gressive and representative farmers of Grant township owning and operating two hundred and eighty acres of land on section 9. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, August 17, 1860, and is a son of Christian and Dorada (Haas) Graff, also natives of Germany. The parents emigrated to America on the 17th of October, 1882, and on the Ist of March, 1883, came to Franklin county, joining the sub- ject of this review, who had located here in the previous autumn. Both the father and mother died in Franklin county. They had six children: George, of this review; Matthew, a resident of Chicago; Gottlieb, deceased; Mary, the wife of Jacob Schwartz, of Lemoore, California; Christ, of Popejoy, Franklin county ; and Andrew, resid- ing in Reeve township.
George Graff came to Franklin county in the fall of 1882, and after he was joined by his parents made his home with them until he was thirty years of age. He married in 1890 and then rented one hundred and sixty acres, whereon he resided for five years. At the end of that time he bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 9. Grant township, and he has since increased this farm to two hun- dred and eighty acres. He has provided it with substantial barns and outbuildings and modern machinery, and he has made other
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excellent improvements, making the property a visible evidence of his life of industry and thrift.
Mr. Graff married Miss Mary Beilharc, a native of Germany, and they became the parents of eight children: John, a resident of Minnesota; Andrew, deceased; and Emma, Herman, Ella, Rosa, Carrie and Mabel, at home. Mr. Graff is a member of the Lutheran church and in politics votes independently. His life has been such as to give him high standing in the eyes of the community, and he is generally recognized as a man whose long years of earnest labor in this township have not only contributed to his own prosperity but have influenced also general growth and advancement.
HENRY O. BEED.
Henry O. Beed, a hardware merchant of Hampton, and one of the native sons of the city, was born January 20, 1873, a son of John and Celma (Rose) Beed, the former a native of England, but the latter of Ohio. At an early period in the development of this state, the father came to Iowa, where he engaged in buying grain to the time of his death. His widow survives. In their family were five children, but three daughters died in infancy. The surviving sister of Henry O. Beed is Mrs. Emma Cogswell, the wife of F. A. Cogs- well, of Rockwell, Iowa.
In the public schools Henry O. Beed acquired his early educa- tion, which was supplemented by study in a business college at Des Moines. He was graduated therefrom and afterward went to Florida, where he engaged in the orange business for ten years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Hampton and for two years was employed in the feed store of his uncle. He next pur- chased the hardware business of F. D. Smith in 1902 and has since been proprietor of the store. He carries a large and well selected line of shelf and heavy hardware and has a liberal patronage which he well merits, owing to his honorable business dealing and enter- prising methods.
Mr. Beed was united in marriage on the 23d of August, 1893, to Miss Grace E. Ross, a native of Franklin county, and unto them have been born seven children: Eunice, Lloyd, Cecil, Winnifred, Carol, John and Celma, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. Mr. Beed holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and with the Congregational church-associations that indicate much of the rules
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that govern his conduct and the principles which shape his life. He has served as alderman and is a member of the school board, and the cause of education finds in him a warm and stalwart friend, anxious to do everything in his power to promote the interests of the schools and of public affairs in general. He has a wide acquaintance in Hampton and Franklin counties, and that his life has been well spent is indicated by the number of his friends.
LEWIS E. HAECKER, M. D.
In a record of the medical profession as represented in Frank- lin county it is imperative that mention be made of Dr. Lewis E. Haecker, who by individual merit and ability has worked his way steadily upward in his chosen calling and has become recognized as one who with notable skill, combats the onslaughts of disease. Dr. Haecker was born at Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, November 17. 1863, and is a son of Henry and Barbara (Drohman) Haecker, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Switzerland. When fourteen years of age Henry Haecker came to America and settled at Cleveland, Ohio, and on the 17th of November, 1864, he arrived in Iowa, taking up his abode in Franklin county, two miles north of Hampton. He was a farmer, engaging in agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life. He was deeply interested in politics and kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day yet never sought nor desired political preferment for himself. He died in Hampton in October, 1895, while his wife passed away in July, 1901. They were pioneer settlers of the county, having come here when the work of development and progress had scarcely been begun. They lived to witness many of the notable changes which have been brought about and were always loyal and progressive citizens. In their family were eleven children : Emanuel and John D., both now deceased; Theopolis L., for many years professor of animal industry in the State University at Minnesota; Lydia, the wife of Charles Beed, of Hampton; Christina, the wife of T. H. Rose, of Oklahoma; Theodore and Mary, both now deceased ; Char- lotte, the wife of Henry Andrews and a resident of Hampton; Eli- jah D., of Hampton; Lewis E .; and Emma Delle, the wife of C. F. Johnston, of Sheffield, Iowa.
Lewis E. Haecker spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, being but a year old on the day when the family
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arrived in Franklin county. He continued to assist in the work of the farm through his minority and at twenty-three years of age left home. Realizing the value of education and wishing to enjoy fur- ther opportunities in that connection he entered the Albion Sem- inary when twenty-three years of age, devoting a year to study in that institution and during that time covered a two years' course.
He afterward spent four years in Nebraska, after which he returned to Hampton. While in Nebraska, where he went orig- inally for the benefit of his health and where he was miles away from neighbors, he had on several occasions the opportunity to dis- play something of his inventive genius and his mental resourceful- ness. At that time he had secured no education along medical and surgical lines, but on two occasions, when accidents happened and there was no chance to secure the services of a physician, he set fractured bones, although he had never seen a splint. The phy- sician, when later called, could find no fault- with the dressing and strongly advised Mr. Haecker to take up the profession of medicine, which he later did. Following his return to Hampton he taught school during the winter seasons and attended Rush Medical Col- lege of Chicago until graduated with the class of 1894. He spent thirteen months as interne in the Alexian Brothers Hospital of Chicago and then located for practice in Hampton in June, 1895. Here he has since remained and his ability has gained him wide recognition. He is a thorough student, constantly reading along broadening professional lines, while experience also adds to his skill and ability. After a few years' practice in Hampton, Dr. Haecker had become recognized as the leading physician of the city and it was only on account of his great sorrow and deep bereavement when he lost first his beloved daughter and later his wife that he for a time practically retired. It is a matter of gratification to all of his old-time and later patrons that he has resumed his practice, which no doubt will soon gain its former proportions. He is widely known for his ability in surgery and is constantly experimenting with his two X-ray machines in detecting diseases and fractures, becoming regarded as an expert in this line.
On the 7th of May, 1894, Dr. Haecker was united in marriage to Miss Josephine L. Heitman, a Franklin county girl, although the wedding was celebrated in Chicago. The death of Mrs. Haecker occurred March 6, 1913, to the deep regret of her many friends as well as her relatives. The only daughter of this marriage, Bar- bara, died on the 8th of July, 1911, and the loss was an irreparable Vol. II-2
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one to her devoted parents. She was a most beautiful, lovable child, but fifteen years of age at the time of her death. Every possible effort had been made by her parents to save her, but all to no avail. At the funeral services Dr. De Witt Clinton said: "The wisest of Kings wrote a poem in which he represents his bride as saying, 'My beloved is gone down into his garden to gather lilies.' A recent interpreter makes a parable of this, figuring the Lord as coming down to earth and selecting the choicest specimens of our race and often the beautiful bud half opened, to transplant them to His para- dise to bloom forever. Such a lily was Barbara Haecker, just blos- soming into young womanhood, fifteen years of age, frail, beautiful, pure, of fragrant influence and memory Hers was a beauty of face and mind. She had a taste for the beautiful in nature and art. She loved only the best in literature and recoiled from that which lacked naturalness and genuineness. Hers was a beauty of character shin- ing in her countenance and giving a grace to her manner that attracted particular attention wherever she went. Hers was the beauty of a white soul in its simplicity and innocence, over which would play at times the flush of indignation at the recognition of evil."
A memorial article written of her said, "Barbara was a remark- able girl, inasmuch as hers was a dual nature in which was com- bined the sweetness, tenderness and peace of childhood and the wisdom and judgment of older age. The vista that opened before her extended far. In early years she harbored conceptions which rang true to life. Justice and charity were inborn traits. To hear people criticised harshly and unwarrantedly grated on her fine sensibil- ities and she was not slow to chide those who might err in this regard. Evidently, by that intuition that so often is associated with the feminine, she understood that conditions which are not easily changed mold the characters of men and women. For her age, she possessed a wonderfully philosophical mind and her power of dis- cernment was bright as a crystal. Sophistry found less lodgment in her mind than it does in the minds of the majority of those who are called grown up. She had come to understand that cause and effect give birth to circumstances and thus she paid homage to the laws of the Creator. She was the child's friend, particularly the poor child's friend, and the simple, crumpled flowers-flowers without stems, but which bore the aroma of love-that were brought to the door by soiled hands, were a more precious tribute than a green- house could produce."
Such a life leaves behind it a memory that is more precious than untold wealth-an inspiration through all the years to come. In
BARBARA HAECKER
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religious faith Dr. Haecker is a Methodist, while his political alle- giance is given to the republican party. He holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and with the Modern Woodmen. He has a wide acquaintance in Franklin county, where almost his en- tire life has been passed, and the circle of his friends is an exten- sive one, owing not only to his professional ability but also to his personal worth, which inspires admiration and warm regard.
GEORGE WILLIAM VAN EVERY.
George William Van Every, who has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career, is now the owner of an excellent farm comprising one hundred and eighty-four acres on section 31, Ross township. His birth occurred at Apple River, Illinois, on the 9th of April, 1875, his parents being David Edward and Anna (Goldsboro) Van Every, the former a native of Canada and the latter of England. They were married in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and took up their abode in Franklin county, Iowa, in 1881, having here remained throughout the inter- vening thirty-two years. They now reside on a little farm in Rich- land township and are well known and highly esteemed throughout the community.
George W. Van Every, who was a lad of six years when he came to this county with his parents, remained at home until twenty-two years of age. Starting out as an agriculturist on his own account he first owned and operated a farm in South Dakota but subse- quently sold the property. He next owned and cultivated a tract of land in Marion township, this county, and after disposing of that place purchased a forty-acre farm on section 25, Richland town- ship, which he operated successfully for seven years or until 1913. In that year he sold the tract and bought one hundred and eighty- four acres of land in Ross township, where he has resided to the present time. He is an industrious and enterprising agriculturist and success has attended his well directed efforts.
In Franklin county, in 1898, Mr. Van Every was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Crawford, a daughter of James Crawford, of Mott township. They now have two children, Edra and Harry. Mr. Van Every is a republican in his political views and has served as assessor of Richland township for five years, while during one term he acted as constable. He has likewise been a school director,
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the cause of education ever finding in him a stanch champion. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at Chapin and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at that place, being a charter member of the latter organization. The salient qualities of his life have ever commended him to the confidence, good-will and friendship of those with whom he comes in contact, and he has always enjoyed the warm regard of a host of friends.
JOSEPH MITCHELL ..
Joseph Mitchell, who has resided within the borders of Frank- lin county for the past forty-five years, has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits with excellent success throughout his entire business career and is now living in honorable retirement at Chapin, having recently leased his farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres on section 31, Ross township. His birth occurred in Hazel Green, Grant county, Wisconsin, on the 30th of September, 1853, his parents being Joseph and Mary Ann (Crase) Mitchell, both of whom were natives of England. They emigrated to the United States in early manhood and young womanhood and were married in Wisconsin. In 1868 they established their home in Franklin county, Iowa, Joseph Mitchell, Sr., who was an agriculturist by occupation, purchasing one hundred and eighty-five acres of land on section 31, Ross town- ship, on which stood a little house. He made a number of substan- tial improvements on the property and continued its operation throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in February. 1907, at the age of eighty-three years. His demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he had gained an extensive circle of friends during the period of his residence in this county, which covered almost four decades. For a number of years he had sur- vived his wife, who passed away at the age of sixty-eight, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mr. Mitchell also belonged. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Eliza Jane, who is the wife of Dr. Ross and resides in Hampton ; Joseph, of this review; Mary, who gave her hand in marriage to T. M. Hamilton, of Chapin; and William, who died at the age of fifteen years.
Joseph Mitchell, who was a youth of fifteen when he came to this county with his parents, remained on the old home farm in Ross township and eventually came into possession of the property. After
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the death of his mother he kept bachelor's hall with his father for a number of years and has been alone since the latter's demise. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he has won a well merited measure of prosperity, the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestowed upon them. He has recently leased the farm and erected a residence in Chapin, where he is now living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. Mr. Mitchell is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community in which he has so long resided and is justly entitled to representation among its best citizens.
JOHN MCGRATH.
John McGrath, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Franklin county, owning and operating two hundred acres of well improved land on section 21, West Fork township, was born in Canada and is a son of Michael and Mary (Hogan) McGrath, natives of Ire- land. The father came to America when he was twenty years of age and the mother at the age of thirteen, and their marriage occurred in Canada, where Michael McGrath owned land. They came to Franklin county in 1872 after having spent one and a half years in Vermont, and they settled on section 8 on what is now Marion town- ship. The father purchased eighty acres of wild land for three hun- dred dollars and operated and developed this property until his death, which occurred in 1876. His wife passed away in Ackley just before the family removed to the Franklin county farm. In this family were seven children, of whom five grew to maturity as follows: James, who owns two farms in West Fork township, but who makes his home in Mason City; Mrs. Catherine Roaner, a widow living with her daughter in Adrian, Minnesota; John, of this review; and Mrs. John T. Kenefick and Mrs. J. H. Ochs, both of whom have passed away.
John McGrath was twelve years of age when he began herding cattle on the Iowa prairies, and he later secured a position as a farm hand working for twenty-three years thereafter for A. M. Mott, a large landowner and prosperous farmer of Franklin county. Mr. McGrath managed Mr. Mott's farms for a number of years, resign- ing his position in 1903 in order to become an independent agricul- turist. He bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 21, West Fork township and to this has since added until he owns two hundred
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acres. The land is in a high state of cultivation and is provided with excellent buildings and modern machinery.
Mr. McGrath is a member of the Catholic church. He served as a member of the county board of supervisors for three years and in matters of citizenship is helpful and progressive, cooperating heartily in measures for the general advancement and growth. He enjoys in full measure the friendship of those with whom he has been brought in contact, and a life of well directed activity has gained for him a high place in agricultural circles.
GEORGE A. BIRD.
George A. Bird, one of the successful and representative farmers of Franklin county, owning three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 30, Mott township, was born in England, April 10, 1864. He is a son of John and Ann (Beet) Bird, natives of Eng- land. The mother died in that country in July, 1910, and is sur- vived by her husband. Eleven children were born to their union : Ruth, of England; George A., of this review; Mary, residing in England ; John A., deceased; Maggie and Ada, of England ; James, a Methodist minister located at Monona, Iowa; Joseph and Chris- topher, who reside in England; Harold, engaged in railroad work in Connellsville, Pennsylvania; and a son who died in infancy.
George A. Bird was reared in England and at the early age of thirteen began farming, following that occupation there for seven years. He then came to America, locating in Wisconsin, whence after five years he moved to Franklin county, Iowa. He rented a farm here for seven years and at the end of that time bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 30, Mott township. This he has since increased to three hundred and twenty acres, and he has greatly improved the property, erecting substantial barns and out- buildings and providing modern equipment. He engages in gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and his success is the natural result of his wise and capable management.
On the 25th of August, 1887, Mr. Bird was united in marriage to Miss Mary Fox and to this union have been born three children : Arthur C., of Mott township; and Raymond George and Roy John. twins, at home. Mr. Bird is a member of the Methodist church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party, serving at present as township trustee. He enjoys in a high degree the
GEORGE A. BIRD AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
respect and confidence of his friends and acquaintances and is known as a man of unusual energy, perseverance and ability who is governed by a high sense of honor in all business and personal deal- ings.
CHARLES H. SCANTLEBURY.
Charles H. Scantlebury, who since 1911 has filled the responsible position of manager of the Farmers Elevator and has conducted a prosperous and growing business in this connection, was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, August 26, 1868, and is a son of Edward D. and Elizabeth (Ormrod) Scantlebury, both of whom were natives of England. They came to America in 1848, settling in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where they remained until 1873. They then went to California and two years were passed on the Pacific coast. In 1875 they came to Iowa and in 1878 came to Franklin county, where Mr. Scantlebury continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death on the 28th of February, 1897. His widow survives him and makes her home in Hampton. In their family were six children: William F., now a traveling salesman who resides in Des Moines; Charles H .; Josephine, the wife of H. J. Henderson, of Hampton ; F. J. also living in Hampton ; Ella, the wife of Frank O. Roberts, of Fresno, California; and Edward C., a veterinary surgeon engaged in practice in Hampton.
Charles H. Scantlebury spent his youthful days upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. At length he rented one thousand acres of land, which he cultivated for three years and on the expiration of that period removed to Sheffield, where he engaged in buying grain for a year. He next purchased eighty-seven acres in Washington township and thereon resided from 1894 until 1903. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable land adjoining Hampton. In 1911 he was made manager of the Farmers Elevator and conducts the business in connection with the supervi- sion of his farm. He is an energetic, practical and progressive farmer and business man and thus contributes much to the substantial devel- opment of the community.
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