USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 30
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Henry E. Marty was reared in Geneva township and acquired his education in the district schools. His entire active life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits. His first tract of land-two hun- dred and sixty acres -- was given him by his father and he has since added to this from time to time until he now owns five hundred and thirty acres, one hundred and seventy-one of which lie in Ingham township and the remainder in Geneva. Mr. Marty engages in general farming and stock-raising and has been remarkably suc- cessful along both lines.
On the 14th of March, 1895, Mr. Marty was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Pfaltzgraff, a native of Germany, and they have become the parents of four children : Earl E., born August 6, 1897; a son who died in infancy; Edith Lily, born November 15, 1900; and Ray Harold, born June 14, 1903.
Mr. Marty is a member of the Evangelical church and a republi- can in his political views. His worth is widely acknowledged, his business enterprise having gained him a high place in agricultural circles and his integrity standing as an unassailable fact in his life record.
CHARLES G. KLOUSIA.
Charles G. Klousia has been connected with agricultural interests of Franklin county since 1879, and has now important holdings in Mott township, owning two hundred and forty acres of excellent land on section 14. He was born in Germany, November 22, 1853. and is a son of William and Annie Rosa ( Lossa) Klousia, also natives of that country. The parents came to America in 1855 and located in Wisconsin, where the father died one year later. In their family were two children, a daughter who died in infancy and Charles G., of this review. After the death of the father the mother married
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Michael Wolf and of this union were born six children: John F., of Kimball, South Dakota; George, of Mount Vernon, Washington ; Rosa, the wife of Frank Smith of Platt, South Dakota; Dora, David and Adolph, all of whom reside in Kimball, South Dakota.
Charles G. Klousia was two years of age when his parents came to America and he was reared in Wisconsin, acquiring his education in the public schools. At the age of twenty-one he removed to lowa and engaged in farming in the employ of others for five years. In 1879 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 14, Mott township, and afterward added to his holdings a half section east of that. He later purchased two hundred and forty acres on the same section and this he operates in conjunction with one of his sons, carry- ing on general farming and stock-raising.
On the 14th of February, 1879, Mr. Klousia was united in mar- riage to Miss Catherine Meselheiser and they became the parents of nine children : Clarence of Joplin, Missouri ; Alma, who married J. H. Wolf of Boise, Idaho; Walter, a resident of Mott township; Florence, the wife of Edward Fleming of Wisconsin; Lauretta, at home; Della, who married C. W. Patton of Mott township; George A., Howard A. C. and Irving L., all at home.
Mr. Klousia is a member of the Evangelical church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party, serving as treasurer of the school board. During the long period of his residence in the county his enterprise and industry have carried him forward into important relations with business affairs and he has won a creditable reputation in every connection in which he has been found.
WILLIAM R. BUNKER.
William R. Bunker has spent practically his entire life in Frank- lin county and for a number of years past has been connected with agricultural interests as the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres on sections 17 and 18, Geneva township. He was born in New York, December 23, 1860, and is a son of William and Carrie (Place) Bunker, the former of whom was killed in the Civil war.
William R. Bunker came to Franklin county when he was two years of age and has been a resident of this locality since that time. Since the beginning of his active career he has been connected with agricultural pursuits and has accumulated valuable landed holdings,
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owning two hundred and forty acres of excellent land on sections 17 and 18, Geneva township. This property he has greatly improved, providing it with substantial buildings and modern machinery and neglecting nothing which would add to its appearance or value. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and has met with grati- fying and well deserved success.
Mr. Bunker married Miss Benson and they have become the parents of three children : Alida May, the wife of A. M. Royer, of Janesville, Iowa; and Frank E. and Floyd R., both of Franklin county. Mr. Bunker gives his political allegiance to the republican party but is not active in public affairs, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his farming interests, which under his able manage- ment have become extensive and lucrative.
T. W. GAULKE.
T. W. Gaulke, a native of Germany, has become one of the suc- cessful agriculturists of Morgan township, where he owns a valuable farm and also serves at the present time as township assessor. He was born May 11, 1864, and is a son of Herman and Wilhelmina (Pigolpke) Gaulke, natives of the fatherland, who came to America about 1867 when our subject was but three years of age. They settled in Wisconsin but after two years came to Franklin county, locating in Morgan township, where the father still lives at the age of seventy- seven years. The mother has passed away. To their union were born seven children: Otto, of Hampton; a daughter who died in infancy; Ernest, of Morgan township; T. W., our subject; Ida, the wife of George A. Hess, of Bird Island, Minnesota; Emma, deceased ; and Sarah, of Dows.
T. W. Gaulke received his education in the schools near his father's farm and remained with his parent, assisting him with the farm work until twenty-nine years of age. He then took up farming independently, acquiring title to one hundred and seventy-three acres in Morgan township. He has since added to this property and also owns in partnership with his brother Otto four hundred and eighty acres in North Dakota. For a number of years Mr. Gaulke devoted his attention to his farm, bringing the land to a high state of pro- ductivity and installing the most modern machinery. He now rents his property and lives retired at Dows.
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On September 13, 1893, Mr. Gaulke married Miss Sarah Buge, a native of Hardin county, this state, and a daughter of William and Caroline (Schwantz) Buge, natives of Germany, who upon coming to this country located in Morgan township. The father died June 22, 1910, and the mother now makes her home in Dows. They had five children: August, a resident of Dows; Frank, of Popejoy; Sarah, wife of the subject of this review; Otto, of Minnesota; and Lucinda, who married E. Erickson, of Oakland township. Mr. and Mrs. Gaulke have seven children, Harry H., Edna Estella, Louis W., Inez Esther, Orville Newton, Leo Theodore and Fay Sylvester.
MIr. Gaulke is a democrat and has been actively interested in politics. He is now serving as township assessor, faithfully fulfilling the duties falling upon him in this official capacity. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, in which order he is very popular. His religion is that of the Evangelical church. Mr. Gaulke has by diligence and modern methods succeeded in making himself financially independent at a comparatively early age in life and his success is the merited reward of honest labor. He is a man of high character and pleasant manner, and those who call him friend are proud of the distinction of being admitted to his close acquaintance.
PHILIP E. KRATZ.
Philip E. Kratz is a representative of one of the best known pioneer families in Franklin county and during the entire period of his active life has been closely connected with agricultural interests here, owning and operating one hundred and twenty acres of land in Reeve township and one hundred and eighty acres in Grant town- ship. He was born in Reeve township, May 2, 1861, and is a son of Philip and Louisa (Reed) Kratz, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born in 1829 and came to America at the age of twelve years, arriving in 1841. He became a resident of Wisconsin and there engaged in farming until he removed to Iowa. He settled first in Buchanan county, this state, but in 1854 removed to Franklin county, where he secured a homestead, walking to Des Moines in order to close the deal whereby he became the owner of the property. From time to time he added to this until his possessions were extensive and valuable. He died December 31, 1905, when in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and his wife, who was born June
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30, 1833, died April 17, 1900. They were the parents of five chil- dren : Paulina, who was born February 21, 1857, and died January 30, 1900; Valentine J., living retired in Hampton; Philip E., of this review; Mary, who was born August 8, 1864, and died October 14, 1866; and Lemuel MI., who was born December 7, 1866, and is an attorney at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Philip E. Kratz remained upon the home farm throughout the period of his boyhood and youth and early became familiar with the best methods of farm operation. In 1892 his father deeded him one hundred acres on section 8, Grant township, and to this he has since added eighty acres. In addition to this he owns a one hundred and twenty acre tract in Reeve township and is active in the develop- ment and improvement of both properties. He engages in general farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale and has met with excellent success in the conduct of his interests.
Mr. Kratz married Miss Mary E. Bailey, a native of Wisconsin, and a representative of a family which has been in Franklin county for about forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Kratz have three children: Milford Lemuel, born July 11, 1892; Edna K., born August 14, 1894; and Lewis Bailey, born July 16, 1900.
Mr. Kratz is a member of the Methodist church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. During the entire period of his active life he has been closely associated with agricul- tural interests of this locality and he is a man whose character and standards have always merited the respect and confidence of his neighbors.
AEILT BRASS.
Aeilt Brass is now living in retirement in Bradford, this county, after having been for many years influentially identified with agri- cultural and stock-raising interests. He was born in Germany, March 30, 1848, and is a son of W. E. and Hilka (Joesten) Brass, natives of Germany, where the father passed away. The mother came to America in 1878 and located in Ogle county, Illinois, whence in 1880 she moved to Iowa. She located in Butler county, this state, and later removed to Grundy county, where her death occurred October 26, 1881. In this family were seven children: Klaas, deceased; Ehme, of Ogle county, Illinois; Aeilt, of this review; John also residing in Ogle county; Siebentia, the wife of Isaac
MR. AND MRS. AEILT BRASS
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Harkan, of Butler county, lowa; W. E., who makes his home in Missouri; and Hilka, the wife of John Roos, of Ogle county, Illi- nois.
Mr. Brass remained in Germany until 1880 and then emigrated to America, locating in Grundy county, where he remained for seven years. At the end of that time he moved to Hardin county and thence after two years to Franklin county. He located in Grant township and bought a quarter section of land here. He afterward added another quarter of section 17, Grant township, and upon this property carried on general farming and stock-raising for many years, meeting with gratifying and well deserved success as a result of his practical methods and careful supervision of his interests. He acquired a comfortable competency and in 1912 retired from active life, moving into Bradford, where he erected the modern home in which he now resides.
On May 5, 1875, Mr. Brass was united in marriage to Miss Waltje Arends, a native of Germany, and they have become the parents of seven children: Wiard, of Kossuth county, Iowa; Fred- erick, living near Buffalo Center, lowa; Klaas, of Grant township; Elizabeth, the wife of Charles A. Duit, of Grant township; Ehme, of Buffalo Center; Eppe, of Grant township; and John, also resid- ing in Grant township.
Mr. Brass is a member of the Evangelical church and gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has been active in public affairs and has held a number of local offices, serving as jus- tice of the peace and also as road supervisor. His life has always been in keeping with high standards, and he justly deserves the full measure of confidence and respect now entertained for him by all who know him.
HARRY E. LUKE.
Harry E. Luke, a well known stock buyer and shipper of Geneva township, was born in Reeve township, this county, August 16, 1870. He is a son of Garrett W. and Harriett (Turner) Luke, the former a native of New York and the latter of Maine. The parents came to Iowa in June, 1868, and located in Reeve township, Franklin county, where the father engaged in farming until his death, which occurred February 7, 1910. His wife has also passed away.
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Harry E. Luke acquired his education in the district schools of Reeve township and afterward remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time he began farming on rented property and has since been connected with agricultural interests here. For four years he engaged in general farming but he now concentrates his attention upon buying and shipping stock. He has built up a large business along this line and his animals command a high price and a ready sale upon the market.
On the 16th of January, 1901, Mr. Luke married Miss Emma Hagenah, a native of Germany, who came to Iowa in 1886, locating in Geneva township. Her father died in Germany and her mother afterward married George Van Eschen. By her first marriage she had three children, as follows: Emma, wife of the subject of this review; John, who died in infancy; and Anna, deceased. She and her second husband had four children : George, a resident of Butler ; Margaret and John, of Ackley; and Johanna, the wife of P. Welke, of Golden, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Luke have an adopted daugh- ter, Anna, who was born June 16, 1908.
Mr. Luke is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is connected fraternally with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America. He gives his political allegiance to the repub- lican party and has been elected county supervisor, entering upon the duties of that office January 1, 1914. He is well known in his township and throughout the county and occupies an enviable posi- tion in business circles, having fully demonstrated his worth and his progressive spirit.
ALVA M. CREIGHTON.
Franklin county numbers among its most progressive and suc- cessful native sons Alva M. Creighton, who owns and operates two hundred and eighty acres of land on section 22, Reeve township, and who by constantly following the most practical and modern agricultural methods has surrounded himself with a gratifying degree of success. He is a native son of Franklin county, born in Reeve township, January 23, 1868, his parents being David and Sarah (Bird) Creighton, the former a native of Ohio. The father engaged in farming during his entire active life and is now living retired in Hampton. He and his wife became the parents of eleven children : Alva M., of this review; Edmund of Lee township, Franklin county ;
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
James A., operating the homestead in Reeve township; Elmira, Oliver, Melvin, Ellen and David, all of whom have passed away; Beryl; May, the wife of E. N. Wolford, of Reeve township; and Elsie Vere, of Geneva.
Alva M. Creighton acquired his education in the public schools of his native township and when he began his independent career turned his attention to farming, an occupation which he has fol- lowed during the entire period of his active life. His first purchase of land consisted of one hundred and twenty acres on section 22, Reeve township, and to this he has since added one hundred and sixty acres. His farm is well improved in every particular, and his farmi- ing and stock-raising interests have grown every year more extensive and important. Mr. Creighton has followed always the most prac- tical methods in the improvement and development of his homestead and stands today in the front ranks of progressive agriculturists of this locality.
On the ist of January, 1891, Mr. Creighton was united in mar- riage to Miss Elma Nichols, a native of Butler county, and they became the parents of three children: David D., deceased; Glenn D .; and Arthur C., who is also deceased.
Mr. Creighton is a member of the Christian church and con- nected fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Mystic Workers. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has held a number of township offices, proving capable and reliable in posi- tions of trust and responsibility. He is widely and favorably known in the county, his business enterprise having carried him forward into important relations with agricultural interests and his personal characteristics having won him the warm and lasting regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
HENRY BUZZELL.
Since 1890 Henry Buzzell has been prominently connected with agricultural interests of Franklin county and has made substantia! contributions to general development and progress through his intel- ligent management of his fine farm of two hundred and forty acres on sections 25 and 26, Lee township. He was born in Cook county. Illi- nois, June 1, 1852, and is a son of Daniel P. and Lucina (Henry) Buzzell, the former a native of Montpelier. Vermont, born June 27
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
1821, and the latter of New York. In December, 1852, they removed from Cook county, Illinois, to De Kalb county, that state, where Daniel P. Buzzell purchased a farm of eighty acres and continued to reside until his death, which occurred May 1, 1886. His wife was called to her final rest on the 29th of March, 1889. To them were born ten children: Lydia, the deceased wife of A. Cook, of Saratoga, California; Nathaniel, who has passed away; Henry, of this review; George, deceased; Orin, of Sycamore, Illinois; Mary, the wife of Samuel J. Mason, of lowa Falls; Ira, of Tracy, Mon- nesota; Otis, a resident of Sycamore, Illinois; Lottie, of lowa Falls; and Ada, the wife of George Bunk, of Hardin county.
Henry Buzzell remained with his parents until he was twenty- five years of age and then removed from De Kalb county to Kane county, Illinois, where he remained for one year. At the end of that time he went to Boone county, Illinois, and after another year returned to Kane county, where he spent two years. He made his first purchase of land in 1879, buying eighty acres in Kane county, Illinois, whereon he resided for two years. In 1881 he bought one hundred and thirty acres in Boone county, Illinois, where he resided for nine years or until 1890, when he came to Franklin county and purchased two hundred and forty acres on sections 25 and 26. Lee township. Upon this property he has practically resided since that time with the exception of two years, from 1892 until 1894, when he returned to De Kalb county to operate and dispose of his father's homestead. He has steadily carried forward the work of improve- ment and cultivation, adding to his buildings and equipment when- ever necessary and making the farm one of the finest in this locality. In addition to the work of the fields, he also raises and feeds stock and his interests along this line are extensive and important.
In January, 1877, Mr. Buzzell married Miss Emily Hawley, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Theodore S. and Sarah (Cramp) Hawley, the former a native of New York state, born July 4, 1815, and the latter born in England, March 20, 1826. Mr. Hawley died in Kane county, Illinois, in 1900, and his wife in May, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Buzzell became the parents of five children : Cora, Arvin and Menzo, deceased; Harry, who was born in Boone county, Illinois, April 29, 1888, and is at home; and Susie Pearl, the wife of Louis Newton, a resident of Lee township.
Mr. Buzzell is a thirty-second degre Scottish Rite Mason, being a member of Masons Home Lodge, No. 192, A. F. & A. M., of Iowa Falls, and Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, S. P. R. S. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and gives his politi-
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cal allegiance to the republican party, serving at the present time as township trustee. The course which he has followed throughout the period of his residence in Franklin county commends him to the confidence and good-will of all and he has an extensive and repre- sentative circle of friends.
FRANK P. FINN.
Frank P. Finn, carrying on general farming and stock-raising on two hundred and forty acres of land on section 16, Geneva town- ship, was born in Green county, Wisconsin, May 18, 1869. He is a son of John and Cecilia (McGuire) Finn, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of London, Ontario. The father went to Canada when he was about twenty-two years of age, later removed to Green county, Wisconsin, and thence came to Iowa in 1870, locating on section 16, Geneva township, Franklin county, where both he and his wife passed away. Eight children were born to them: James, of Nebraska; Mary Jane, deceased; Josephine C., of Mason City, Iowa; John L., a resident of Nebraska; Jarvis C., deceased; William W., of Kossuth county, Iowa; Frank P., of this review; and Norbert E., of Dumont.
Frank P. Finn was one year old when his parents came to this county, and he was reared upon his father's farm here, acquiring his education in the district schools. He began his independent career operating the homestead, and he continued thus until 1901, when he went to Geneva, thence to Dumont and then to Shell Rock, where he was in the butcher business for one year. He was obliged to dispose of that enterprise on account of ill health and was pre- vented for the same reason from engaging in any other occupation for four years thereafter. At the end of that time he was elected mayor of Dumont and served for two years, giving to the city a straightforward and businesslike administration. In 1910 he pur- chased the interests of the other heirs in his father's homestead in Geneva township and has since carried on general farming and stock- raising on this property. It comprises two hundred and forty acres and is provided with substantial barns and outbuildings and all the necessary equipment of a model farm.
On the 19th of October, 1910, Mr. Finn was united in marriage to Miss Bertha E. Morrison, of Jones county, Iowa, who had previ- ously been engaged in school teaching. She is the daughter of
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Thomas A. and Sina Catherine (McMurrin) Morrison, of Black- hawk county. Mr. and Mrs. Finn have two children: Gwyneth Lu Sina, born November 16, 1911; and Anna Cecilia, born May 27, 1913.
Mr. Finn is a member of the Knights of Pythias and gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is not only indus- trious and enterprising but also a man of high moral character and greatly esteemed both as a citizen and a business man throughout the township.
J. ALBERT REEVE.
J. Albert Reeve, a native son of Franklin county, a representa- tive of one of its honored pioneer families and one of the progressive farmers and extensive stock feeders and shippers of this locality, is a son of James B. and Adeline (Riggs) Reeve, natives of Con- necticut. The father came to Iowa in October, 1852, and here pur- chased a farm in Reeve township. He was one of the pioneer settlers of this locality, assisting in the organization of the county and serving as the first county judge. He took up the first claim in Franklin county and Reeve township was named in his honor. At the time of the Civil war he raised Company H of the Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, was elected its captain and went to the front in June, 1863. He died at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, and his wife has also passed away.
They were the parents of eleven children: Fernando L., who was a member of the Ninth Iowa Infantry in the Civil war and who died in Andersonville prison in August, 1864; Theodore H., who was a member of the same regiment and who is now engaged in the practice of law and also conducts a real-estate office at Dewey, Okla- homa; Orilla M., who married John T. James, of Arkansas; Orson G., a member of the Iowa state legislature; Beulah M., deceased ; John R., who is engaged in the coal and grain business in Hampton; Susan M., the wife of H. A. Clock, of Long Beach, California; J. Albert, of this review; Ella, the wife of F. Foster, of St. Marys, Idaho; Herman D., who was secretary to Congressman Hall and who is now practicing law in Washington, D. C .; and Emily A., a teacher in a missionary school in India.
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