USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 4
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He continued to reside upon the farm until 1896, when he built a fine residence at No. 603 Reeve street, and removed to Hampton, where he now resides. Year by year while upon the farm he care- fully cultivated and cared for his crops and annually gathered good harvests of corn, wheat and other cereals. He also raised cattle and hogs. The products of the farm found a ready sale upon the mar- ket, and thus year by year he was able to add to his financial resources.
Mr. Barker was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Smith, a native of Illinois, and unto them have been born three children: C. Maude, now deceased; Bertha B., at home; and Cariola, who is in the state library at Iowa City. They have one grandchild, Thelma B. Watt, of Sheffield. Mr. Barker gives his political alle- giance to the republican party and although he does not seek nor desire office, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church, and
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
he stands at all times in support of progressive public measures, hav- ing to do with the material, political, intellectual and moral progress of the community.
THOMAS PEARSE.
Thomas Pearse, carrying on general farming and stock-raising upon the old Pearse homestead in Geneva township, was born in Ontario, Canada, January 8, 1859. He is a son of James and Jane (Reynolds) Pearse, natives of England, whose marriage occurred in Canada. They came to the United States in 1871 and located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they spent a year and a half. At the end of that time they moved to Franklin county and purchased land on section 7, Geneva township, the father afterward engaging in agricultural pursuits until his death. His wife has also passed away. To their union were born nine children: a daughter, who died in infancy; William, of Marshalltown, Iowa; Hannah, who died in 1874; Jeffrey, of Geneva township; Thomas, of this review; John, of Cherokee county ; James, who died February 28, 1908; and George and Stephen, both of Geneva.
Thomas Pearse acquired his education in the district schools of Geneva township and in Albion Seminary, Marshall county, where he spent two terms. After he laid aside his books he turned his attention to farming, following this in the employ of others for two years. About the year 1885 he bought eighty acres of land in Geneva township and cultivated this property for a number of vears. He afterward gave it in part payment for the homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and upon this latter property he now resides, giving practically all of his attention to its improvement and development. There is an excellent set of buildings upon the farm and the entire property is in good condition, for the owner is a practical and able agriculturist.
On the 2d of March, 1882, Mr. Pearse married Miss Hannah Rubee, a native of Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of two children. The elder, Velma, is a graduate of the Hampton high school and attended Cornell College and is now teaching in the district schools of Franklin county. Rubee J. was graduated from Hampton high school and also from Cornell College and afterward taught in the high school in Colfax, Washington, for two years. He
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
is now a student in Harvard University, where he is taking a course in landscape engineering.
Mr. Pearse is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and he is now serving as assessor and member of the school board. He is one of the progressive farmers of Geneva township, identified with its growth and development and well known in .Franklin county as one of its public-spirited citizens.
GEORGE DUNN.
George Dunn, an enterprising, successful and representative young citizen of Alexander, holds the position of assistant cashier in the Alexander Savings Bank. His birth occurred in England on the 22d of August, 1885, his parents being John and Annie (Cook) Dunn, who are still living in that country. Their children are eight in number, as follows: Joseph, Sarah Ann, Harriet, Arthur John, Mary Jane, George, W. Fred and Ruth. After a visit in England, in 1906, George Dunn returned to this country with his younger brother, W. Fred, who is now employed as bookkeeper in the Alex- ander Savings Bank. The six other children still reside in their native land.
George Dunn crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1900, when a youth of fifteen, and making his way direct to Franklin county, Iowa, here worked as a farm laborer for several years, also attending the common schools in Scott township and spending one year in study at Hampton. Subsequently he followed the profes- sion of teaching in this county for two years and in 1907 became bookkeeper in the Alexander Savings Bank, later being promoted to the position of assistant cashier, in which capacity he has since served and has made a creditable record: Mr. Dunn has a financial inter- est in the institution and also owns a well furnished and attractive home in Alexander. In association with Mr. Cook, the cashier of the Alexander Savings Bank, he writes fire insurance in some of the best companies.
In 1908 Mr. Dunn was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Mes- selheiser, who was born in West Fork township, Franklin county, on the 25th of April, 1884, her parents being George and Hermena (Kugler) Messelheiser. The father, a native of Wisconsin, was
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
successfully engaged in business at Hampton and Alexander, lowa, for a number of years and is now a resident of California. The mother passed away in Hampton, this state, leaving an only child, Minnie. George Messelheiser was married a second time and he and his wife now reside in California. Mrs. Minnie Dunn grew to womanhood here and has always been a resident of this county. She acquired her early education in the common schools, completed a course in the Highland Park College of Des Moines and also attended the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls. Subse- quently she taught in the rural schools of Franklin county and like- wise in Alexander. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter, as follows: Margaret Ann, born August 14, 1909; Gordon Leland, whose natal day was August 5, 1911; and Stanley Livingston, whose birth occurred on the 19th of July, 1913. All are natives of Alexander.
In politics Mr. Dunn is a stanch republican. He has served as mayor of Alexander and gave the town a businesslike, progressive and beneficial administration. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church, and fraternally he is identified with the Alexander lodges of the Yeomen and the Modern Brotherhood of America and Windsor Lodge, No. 71, K. P., of Hampton.
DAVID BENNING.
One of Franklin county's most progressive and successful native sons is David Benning, who for a number of years has owned and operated a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 9 and 19, Osceola township. He was born in Grant township, this county, September 15, 1875, and is a son of Gottlieb and Amelia ( Meinberg) Benning, natives of Germany. The father came to America about 1860 and located in Illinois, from which state he enlisted for service in the Civil war. In 1875 he moved to Franklin county, Iowa, and purchased land in Grant township, whereon he resided until his death, which occurred in 1897. His wife survives him and makes her home in Grant township. To their union were born nine children : Henry and Caroline, of Grant township; Emma, the widow of Charles Hof- meister, of Osceola township; Frederick, deceased; David, of this review; Herman and Minnie, deceased; Mary, at home; and one child who died in infancy.
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David Benning was reared at home and aided in the operation of the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age, becoming in this way thoroughly familiar with the best and most practical agricultural methods. When he began his independent career he rented one hundred and twenty acres and after operating this for five years pur- chased the farm which he now owns. This comprises one hundred and sixty acres lying on sections 9 and 19, Osceola township, and Mr." Benning's able management has made it one of the best improved and most highly productive properties in the locality.
On the 22d of November, 1900, Mr. Benning was united in mar- riage to Miss Caroline Burkle and they have become the parents of six children : Bertha, born November 19. 1901 ; David, born July 28, 1903; Sophia, July 11, 1905; Edward, December 11, 1907; Louis, February 28, 1911; and Martha, March 19, 1913. Mr. Benning is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and a republican in his political beliefs. He is a man of high character, industrious and enterprising, and his honesty and uprightness have always merited him the confidence and respect of his neighbors.
LEONARD SCHINAGEL.
Leonard Schinagel, who devotes his attention to general agricul- tural pursuits on section 21, Ross township, where he owns two hun- dred and forty acres of rich and productive land, is a self-made man who owes his present prosperity entirely to his well directed industry and wise management. His birth occurred in Bavaria, Germany, on the 31st of August, 1864, his parents being John Leonard and Mary (Komm) Schinagel, who passed away in the fatherland many years ago.
Leonard Schinagel spent the first sixteen years of his life in the land of his nativity and then sailed for America, desiring to test the truth of the many favorable reports which had reached him con- cerning the opportunities and advantages of the new world. During the first three years of his residence in the United States he was employed in the car shops and as fireman with the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad Company at Aurora, Illinois, while subse- quently he worked by the month as a farm hand in Kane county. In 1888 he came to Franklin county, Iowa, and during the following three years cultivated a rented tract of land on section 21, Ross town- ship, which he then purchased and which is still in his possession. It
MIR. AND MRS. LEONARD SCHINAGEL
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
was merely wild prairie when he first located thereon, but he has since developed and improved the property until it is now very desirable, and erected a set of substantial farm buildings. His place embraces two hundred and forty acres of valuable land and in its operation he has won a gratifying measure of success, annually har- vesting excellent crops, which find a ready sale on the market.
In Kane county, Illinois, Mr. Schinagel wedded Miss Minnie Rhutassel, a native of that county, by whom he has four children. Ella, married Henry Gerfin, of Ross township, on the ist of January, 1914, and they are farming the Tom Williams farm in that township. George, Lillie and Clarence are at home. Mr. Schinagel was reared in the Lutheran faith and will not depart therefrom but attends and contributes to the support of the Congregational church, to which his wife and children belong. He is widely recognized as a progress- ive and enterprising citizen, and is the owner of an automobile. Coming to the new world in early life, he eagerly availed himself of the opportunities here afforded and has worked his way steadily upward to a position among the substantial and representative citi- zens of Franklin county, where he has now resided for a quarter of a century.
SAMUEL T. BLAIN.
Samuel T. Blain occupies an attractive residence in Hampton, where he has lived since retiring from active farm life. He had devoted his energies and efforts for many years previous to general agricultural pursuits, owning and cultivating almost five hundred acres of land. Mr. Blain is a native of Ohio, his birth having oc- curred in Muskingum county on the 24th of April, 1853, his parents being John and Mary (McCamett) Blain, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. John Blain made farming his life work and thus provided for his family which numbered five children: Joseph, who is now living in Chapin, Iowa; William, a resident of Oregon; Samuel, of this review; John R., a resident farmer of Monroe, Wisconsin; and Martha, the wife of V. J. Ward, of Plymouth, Iowa. Both parents have now passed away, the father dying in May, 1909, after surviving his wife for twenty-one years, her death having occurred in March, 1888.
On leaving Ohio the family traveled by wagon to Wisconsin, Samuel T. Blain being then an infant. He was reared in the latter
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
state, early became actively interested in farming and continued to assist his father in the development and improvement of the old home place until twenty-two years of age, when he started out in life independently by renting land. He came to Franklin county, Iowa, in 1880 and two years later purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, to which he added from time to time as his financial resources increased until he was the owner of four hundred and ninety-five acres in West Fork and Ingham townships .. There he carried on general farming and stock-raising, both branches of his business proving successful. He divided his farm into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and the place presented a neat and thrifty appearance, while good crops were annually gathered and high grades of stock were found in the pastures. In 1901 Mr. Blain retired from active farm life and purchased a fine home in Hampton, which he now occupies, it being his intention to spend his remaining days here in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.
On the 11th of March, 1880, Mr. Blain was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Eitel, a daughter of John G. and Magdalena ( Fishes) Eitel, who were natives of Germany and in 1848 came to America. They settled in Wisconsin in 1852 and there both passed away. In their family were seven children : Louis, of Palacios, Texas; Mary, deceased ; Robert, who is living in Marshall, Minnesota; Mrs. Blain; Lena, the widow of B. W. White, of Hampton; John, also living in Hampton; and Edward, who makes his home in Hawkeye, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Blain have one child, Pearl Gertrude, who is the wife of Frank Foughty, of Hampton, and they have two children, Gene- vieve Opal and Blaine Blain. In his political views MIr. Blain is a democrat but has never been an office seeker. He holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, but he has always preferred the quiet of home and business life to great activity in other fields. Many sterling traits of character have gained him high regard and made him widely known.
JOHN W. ATZBAUGH.
Among the successful farmers of Franklin county is numbered John W. Atzbaugh, who since 1894 has owned and operated a fine property of one hundred and forty acres on section 13, Lee township. He was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, October 24, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary (Mondic) Atzbaugh, the former a native
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
of Pennsylvania and the latter of Germany. They came to Iowa in 1869, and both passed away in this state, the former dying in 1889. In their family were four children: Mary, the wife of H. Grice; John W., of this review; and Christina and Daniel, deceased.
John W. Atzbaugh acquired his education in the public schools of Hardin county, and when he began his independent career at the age of nineteen turned his attention to farming. After a few years he secured employment in a machine shop in Ackley and at the end of one year became connected with a repair shop in Bradford. In 1894 he purchased one hundred and forty acres of land on section 13, Lee township, and he now has this farm in a high state of culti- vation, equipped with substantial buildings and modern machinery. In addition to general farming interests he pays some attention to stock-raising and has met with excellent success in this line.
On the 16th of April, 1881, Mr. Atzbaugh married Miss Mary Ritchmeier, and they have become the parents of six children : Rosa, the wife of Mike Smith of Rockford, Illinois ; Clara, at home ; Frank, of Hampton; Mary, at home ; William, a resident of Hampton ; and Lilly, at home. Mr. Atzbaugh is a member of the Masonic order and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. In his business dealings he has ever been straightforward and reli- able, enjoying in the fullest degree, the confidence of those with whom he has been associated.
WALTER H. HOXIE.
Walter H. Hoxie is one of the extensive landowners of Frank- lin county, making his home in Hampton. His possessions aggre- gate sixteen hundred acres, and all has been acquired through his own persistent, energetic and intelligently directed efforts, showing what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do. He is now one of the venerable citizens of this part of the state, having passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey, and he receives from young and old, rich and poor, the respect and warm regard which should be tendered one of his years whose life has been well spent. He was born in New York, November 3, 1831, a son of Zebu- lin and Anna (Gardner) Hoxie. The greater part of his minority was spent in the east and in 1853, attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he came to Iowa, settling in Butler county, where he entered land. For ten years he continued in that county and in
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
1864 came to Franklin county, where he has now made his home for about a half century. He began buying land and from time to time added to his possessions until his realty holdings now include sixteen hundred acres. His home farm was situated ten miles from Hampton, and thereon he engaged in raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also paid considerable attention to stock- raising, both branches of his business proving profitable. He remained upon the farm for six years and in 1870 removed to Hamp- ton, where he built a fine home, which he has since occupied. From this point he has superintended his investments and his property interests, although in recent years his business affairs have largely been turned over to the care of his son, William.
Mr. Hoxie was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Babcock, a native of Stephenson county, Illinois, and to them have been born ten children: Dwight, a practicing physician, of North Dakota; Frank, who is living in Ogallala, Nebraska; Edith and William at home; Arthur, deceased; Fred, who is a traveling salesman ; Anna, the wife of J. Y. Luke, an attorney at Ames, Iowa; George; Lua, the wife of H. J. Rice, an electrical engineer of Mobridge, South Dakota; and Bess, who is the wife of I. B. Robinson, a banker of Pasedena, California.
No history of this county would be complete without reference to Mr. Hoxie, who has so long resided within its borders and been so actively connected with its farming interests. In matters of citi- zenship, too, his name stands for progress and improvement. He has long given his political allegiance to the democratic party and he has filled the office of county supervisor. Fraternally he is a Mason and in his life has exemplified many of the sterling principles of the craft. He bears an enviable record in business circles and wherever he has gone he has made friends, so that the history of his life will be gladly received by the readers of this volume.
ERNEST S. MANATT, D. O.
Ernest S. Manatt, the pioneer osteopathic physician of Franklin county, now practicing in Hampton, was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, on the 26th of September, 1878: He represents one of the old families of the state. His father, James Manatt, was for a half century a resident of Poweshiek county ere death called him to the home beyond. He was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in
DR. ERNEST S. MANATT
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
February, 1827, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Manatt, both of Irish descent. Robert Manatt was born in County Down, Ireland, and in 1812 became a resident of Pennsylvania. Some years after- ward he removed with his family to Holmes county, Ohio, where his wife died. Later he brought his children to Iowa, living for a time in Washington county and afterward in Brooklyn, Poweshiek county, where he passed away in 1863. James Manatt attended district schools of Ohio and Iowa and at twenty years of age was married and began farming. In time he became one of the most extensive landowners of the county. In 1880 he removed to Brooklyn, where he passed away in February, 1911. He was twice married. He first wedded Livina Snook of Warren township, Poweshiek county, and they had six children. For his second wife he chose Miss Cor- nelia Squires, a daughter of Sumner L. and Parizode (Payne) Squires. The latter was a descendant of Sir Simon Fiske, and belonged to one of the oldest and best known cultured families of Vermont. Mrs. Squires was born in Highgate, Vermont, and was a liberally educated woman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Squires engaged in teaching in the east in early life. In 1855 they became residents of Poweshiek county, Iowa, and for thirty years remained upon the old homestead, but spent their last days in Brooklyn, the father dying in February, 1892, and the mother in April, 1904. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Manatt were born four children: Earl L., who became a physician of Newcastle, Indiana, was born in 1877 and died in April, 1907; Ernest S., is the next of the family. Rex Irving is liv- ing in Hampton, and Horace J. T. was accidently killed at play in 1 898.
Dr. Ernest S. Manatt spent his youthful days under the parental roof, and as he approached manhood he became interested in the science and practice of osteopathy which he determined to make his life work. Accordingly he supplemented his public-school educa- tion by a course in the American School of Osteopathy at Kirks- ville, Missouri, from which he was graduated on the 31st of January, 1901. In the following March he came to Franklin county and has since been located in Hampton, being the oldest osteopathic practitioner of the county. He has been quite successful, his ability being attested by those who have come under his professional care.
Dr. Manatt was united in marriage to Miss Maude Kratchovil, a native of this county, and unto them has been born a son, Earl, now three and a half years of age. In politics Dr. Manatt is a republican but has never been an office seeker, preferring to con- centrate his energies upon his private professional interests, with
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leisure for the enjoyment of home and social pleasures. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious faith is that of the Congre- gational church, of which he is a consistent member.
EDMUND SLEE. .
Edmund Slee occupies a commodious, beautiful and attractive home on Franklin street in Hampton, where he has lived since retir- ing from active business life. Industry, perseverance and energy have been the salient features in his life record and have brought , to him the measure of prosperity which enables him to live retired. He was born in England, July 4, 1828, and is a son of Robert and Margaret (Foster) Slee, who were natives of the same country and have long since passed away. In their family were thirteen chil- dren. This number included Elizabeth, now deceased; Edmund; Robert, who died in Hampton February 7, 1912; Hislop, still liv- ing in England; and William deceased.
Edmund Slee spent his youthful days in his native land and at the age of fifteen years took up the active work of the farm. He was a young man of twenty-three years when in 1851 he became a resident of Wisconsin, having determined to try his fortune in the new world, of the advantages and opportunities of which he had heard much. For two years he lived in the Badger state and then went to California, hoping to benefit by the discovery of gold on the coast. For eight years he engaged in mining and then returned to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1864. In that year he drove an ox team from Wisconsin to Montana, thence to British Columbia and afterward returned to Montana, where he remained for fourteen years engaged in farming. In 1880 he arrived in Iowa, settling on a farm in Franklin township. For a considerable period he was iden- tified with general agricultural pursuits here but in the evening of life disposed of all of his farm land and purchased a fine home on Franklin street, which he now occupies. His extensive travels over the west brought him wide experience and broad and inter- esting knowledge concerning the country, and he relates many pleas- ing anecdotes of his travels.
Mr. Slee was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Graham, now deceased. They were the parents of seven children: Margaret, the wife of James Sheets, of Franklin county; Alvinza, the wife of C.
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