USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
On the Ist of September, 1897, Mr. Santee was united in mar- riage to Miss Ora MI. Meeks, a native of Hardin county, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Nada Maxine, born August 18, 1912. Mr. Santee attends the Methodist church and is connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a repub- lican in his political beliefs and has served as secretary of the school board and is now township assessor. As a resident of Franklin county he has been loyal in his advocacy of everything pertaining to the general welfare and has made some substantial contributions to development and progress.
CHARLES F. MEIER.
Charles F. Meier, prominently connected with business inter- ests of Hampton as secretary and treasurer of the Hampton Mer- cantile Company, Incorporated, was born in Germany, October 13, 1860, a son of William and Elizabeth Meier. He came to America in 1882 and located in Waverly, Iowa, where he engaged in the general merchandise business until 1898, when he moved to Hamp- ton. Here in 1902 he assumed the management of the business con- ducted by the Hampton Mercantile Company, Incorporated, and he has since been secretary and treasurer of this concern, the presi- dent being Dr. J. C. Powers. The company controls one of the largest general mercantile establishments in Hampton, and under Mr. Meier's competent and intelligent management its interests have grown steadily. Its business has increased in volume and importance and has reached gratifying proportions at the present time.
97
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
Mr. Meier married Miss Maggie Hoddel, and they have two children, Louis and Lenora. Mr. Meier is well known in business circles of Hampton as a man of force, experience and capacity and he occupies a high place among representative and valued citizens.
THEODORE THOMAS.
Agricultural interests of Franklin county find a worthy and pro- gressive representative in Theodore Thomas, who has been engaged in farming in Reeve township since 1876, winning in the interval a degree of success which places him among the representative agri- culturists of his locality. He was born in Ogle county, Illinois, Octo- ber 2, 1844, and is a son of Elias and Susan (Rice) Thomas, natives of Washington county, Maryland. The parents went to Illinois in 1837, and the father engaged in farming in Ogle county until his death, which occurred in January, 1881. His wife has also passed away, dying September 13, 1907, at the advanced age of ninety- one. She came of a long-lived family, her mother having reached the age of one hundred and three years, four months and three days. Mr. and Mrs. Elias Thomas became the parents of six children : Catherine, deceased ; Drusilla, the widow of B. F. Stevenson, of Leaf River, Illinois; Sarah, deceased; Theodore, of this review; Bar- bara, the wife of David Emmett, of Mount Morris, Illinois; and Frances, the wife of William Gaffin, also of Mount Morris.
Theodore Thomas remained at home until he was seventeen years of age and then enlisted at Byron, Illinois, in Company B, Ninety- second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving afterward for three years and taking part in Sherman's march to the sea. He was mustered out at Concord, North Carolina, and received his honorable dis- charge at Chicago, Illinois. He immediately returned to the home farm and in the spring of 1868 moved to Iowa, locating near Faulk- ner, where he remained until 1876. In that year he moved to Reeve township, Franklin county, settling upon a farm on sections 23 and 26, Reeve township, where he has since resided. He owns two hun- dred and seven acres of valuable land and in the course of years has by intelligent management and constant supervision made this a very valuable and attractive property. He engages in general farming and stock-raising, both branches being important sources of income to him.
.
98
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
On the 21st of March, 1867, Mr. Thomas married Miss Eliza- beth Wagner, a native of Ogle county, Illinois, and they became the parents of seven children : Winnie, who died in infancy; Olin W., of Hamilton township; Elias W., of Craig, Colorado; Edna Eliza- beth, the wife of R. E. Towle, of Hampton; Theodore L. and Frank A., who reside in Geneva; and Henry R., of Hampton. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Christian church. He gives his political alle- giance to the republican party and was township trustee for nine years, serving with credit and ability. He prefers, however, to con- centrate his attention upon his business affairs which, capably con- ducted, have brought him richly merited success.
JOHN E. COONLEY.
John E. Coonley, who since 1895 has been connected with mer- cantile interests of Hampton, was born in Kenosha county, Wiscon- sin, February 20, 1864. He is a son of Edward R. and Ulilla (Titus) Coonley, natives of New York. The father was a building con- tractor by trade and died in 1885, having survived his wife ten years. To their union were born ten children: Charles T., who served as a member of the state legislature for two terms and is now a resident of Bristow, lowa; William Henry, of Racine, Wisconsin; Obadiah G., a farmer near Pickrell, Nebraska; Hiram F., who is engaged in mining in Rapid City, South Dakota; Gilead G., engaged in the implement business in Bristow, Iowa; Mary, deceased; George H .. a contractor of Racine, Wisconsin; Ella, the wife of G. H. Harris, of Racine; John E., of this review; and Lewis I., a resident of Waverly, Iowa.
John E. Coonley acquired his education in the public schools of Racine and when he began his independent career turned his atten- tion to the mercantile business in Bristow, continuing for ten years. In 1895 he moved to Franklin county and settled in Hampton, where he has since been connected with mercantile interests. He owns two large modern stores, incorporated and conducted as the Coonley Grocery Company and controls a representative patronage, for his stock is well selected, his prices reasonable and his business methods beyond reproach. Mr. Coonley has erected more buildings in Hampton than any other one man, seventeen residences and a fine brick block on Reeve street evidencing his business enterprise and
99
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
progressiveness. His interests are all carefully conducted and have brought him a gratifying degree of success.
On the 4th of June, 1909, Mr. Coonley was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Trier, a native of Delaware county, and they have become the parents of two children: James Edward, born March 27, 1910; and Robert Trier, born June 4, 1911. Mr Coonley is a member of the Methodist church and is connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. In business circles he has made for himself an enviable position, and he is one of the most popular and representa- tive citizens of Hampton.
HANS H. PETERSEN.
Hans H. Petersen needs no introduction to the readers of a his- tory of Franklin county, for he is well known as one of the most prosperous and progressive agriculturists in Richland township. He owns one hundred and fifty-one and a half acres of land on sections 6 and 7, and in its cultivation has met with a gratifying measure of success. He was born in Schleswig, Germany, December 1, 1862, and is a son of Peter and Anna Petersen, both of whom were born in Schleswig when that province was under Danish control. They made their homes there until their deaths.
In order to avoid his term of service in the German army Hans H. Petersen came to America, settling in Warren county, New Jer- sey, where he joined his brother, Henry, who had crossed the Atlan- tic ten years before. He spent two years working in a blast furnace and nail factory there and then came to Iowa, securing a position on a farm in Cerro Gordo county, where he worked by the month at seventeen dollars and a half a month. Later he and his brother bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Cerro Gordo county, farmed it for five years and then sold the place. Mr. Petersen of this review then came to Franklin county and purchased his pres- ent farm of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 6 and 7, Rich- land township, where he has since engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has replaced all of the old buildings by substan- tial modern ones, has fenced his fields and installed modern machinery. The farm is today a productive and valuable property, and Mr. Petersen holds a high place in the ranks of progressive and successful agriculturists.
200233
100
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
In Cerro Gordo county Mr. Petersen married Miss Maria Juhl, a native of Schleswig, born June 13, 1854. She is a daughter of Hans P. and Christina Juhl, both of whom died in their native prov- ince. Mr. Petersen is a member of the Lutheran church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has held the office of school director but is not active politically, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs, in which he is meeting with well deserved success.
G. A. CORNING, M. D.
G. A. Corning, M. D., is the oldest practicing physician in Hamp- ton and is still an active follower of the profession, although he has now passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey. He was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, August 18, -1835, and is a son of George and Phoebe (Webster) Corning. The mother was a rela- tive of America's eminent statesman, Daniel Webster, and as a rep- resentative of one of the old American families represented in the war for independence, she is eligible to membership in the Daughters of the Revolution. Her youngest brother, J. P. Webster, was a noted musician and song writer.
On leaving New England, George Corning, father of Dr. Cor- ning, removed westward to Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming to the time of his death. His wife, however, passed away in New Hampshire.
Dr. Corning is the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children. He went to Wisconsin in 1855, where he took up the pro- fession of surveying, and also engaged in teaching school there. Desir- ous of improving his own education he entered the Portage City Classical Institute of Portage, Wisconsin, and completed his classi- cal course in that institution in 1860. He next located at Kilbourn, Wisconsin, and was principal of the schools there for two years. Later he went to Union county, Illinois, and when his health failed he abandoned professional activity to engage in the fruit business. At the time of the Civil war his patriotic spirit prompted his enlist- ment, and in 1863 he offered his services to the government, but was rejected on account of the condition of his heart. He found that he was a failure in the fruit business, and in 1865 he went to Bureau county, Illinois, where he resumed the profession of teaching which he followed until 1868, when his wife died. He then gave up teach-
DR. G. A. CORNING
103
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
ing and built a home for his brother and sister-in-law. The latter was his wife's sister and had previously been given a position as teacher in the schools of Bureau county, through the influence of Dr. Corning, but later she resigned and moved to Wisconsin.
After building the home previously mentioned Dr. Corning traveled extensively over the southwest, visiting various sections and working in different places. Eventually he worked his way back again to Iowa and thence to Minnesota, after which he returned to his old home in Wisconsin, where he was welcomed with open arms. Later he went to Bureau county. Illinois, and there engaged in teach- ing in the graded schools for several years. He then entered Hahne- mann Medical College, Chicago, and graduated two years later. He first took up the practice of medicine at Marseilles, Illinois, in 1875, and in 1878 he came to Hampton, where he has since been practicing, being now the oldest physician of the town.
Dr. Corning has been twice married. He first wedded Isabelle Town, who died leaving a son, Ernest Banks Corning, who is now a surveyor of Loup City, Nebraska. Dr. Corning afterward married Josephine Town, a sister of his first wife and they have become the parents of two children; Edward Ray, of Hampton and Stanley Town, who is a farmer of this county.
Dr. Corning attends the Universalist church and is affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows lodges, the beneficent principles of which he exemplifies in his life. His political allegiance has long been given to the republican party which has indeed found in him a stalwart supporter. Dr. Corning is still active, though well advanced in age. He bears his seventy-eight years lightly and in spirit and interest seems yet in his prime.
HENRY BURMESTER.
Since 1876 Henry Burmester has been closely connected with agricultural interests of Franklin county and is now the owner of three quarter sections of land in Mott township. He was born in Germany, November 4, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Marguerite (Hartman) Burmester, the former of whom died in Germany.
Henry Burmester came to America in 1869 and located in Cha- pin, Iowa, where for five years he engaged in railroad work. At the end of that time he moved from the town, and in 1876 he bought a quarter section of land in partnership with his step-son. His hold-
104
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
ings increased steadily throughout the years which followed, and he owns today three quarter sections, all well improved and in excel- lent condition, reflecting the care and supervision he has bestowed upon his property. Mr. Burmester follows always the most prac- tical and progressive methods in the conduct of his interests, with the result that he is now one of the successful and representative farmers of his locality.
Mr. Burmester married Mrs. Anna (Meyer) Gade and they became the parents of three children: Will; Anna; and an infant, who passed away in Germany. Mr. Burmester's first wife died in 1882 and in 1883 he wedded Miss Annie Schrader, by whom he had seven children: Henry and August, at home; Elizabeth, deceased ; Emma; Magdalena; Wilhelmine; and Esther, who has passed away.
Mr. Burmester is a member of the Lutheran church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has served as road supervisor and is always interested and active in the promotion of movements for the general welfare. Throughout a period of residence in Mott township covering thirty-seven years he has made many valuable contributions to agricultural development and has become widely known not only as a successful farmer but also as a public-spirited and useful citizen.
HAROLD DUDLEY BALDWIN.
Harold Dudley Baldwin, a well known druggist of Hampton, was born in this city December 11, 1884, a son of Emmet V. and Sarah Jane (Cook) Baldwin, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Wisconsin. When the father was eighteen years of age he came to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and for a time engaged in farming in the vicinity of that city. He afterward passed his exam- ination and became a registered pharmacist, establishing a drug store in Hampton in partnership with Dr. J. H. Hutchins. Eventu- ally he purchased his partner's interest and erected a fine brick store, the first floor of which he used as his pharmacy, the second floor being occupied by business offices. Emmet V. Baldwin conducted this enterprise successfully until his death which occurred in August, 1911. He is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Hamp- ton. To their union were born two children : a daughter, who died in childhood; and Harold Dudley, of this review.
105
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
Harold Dudley Baldwin acquired his education in the Hamp- ton grammar and high schools and afterward attended the University of Illinois, graduating from that institution in 1908. Immediately afterward he became connected with his father's drug store and after the latter's death assumed charge of the enterprise which he has since conducted. He carries a full line of drugs and sundries and controls a large and representative patronage.
Mr. Baldwin is a member of the Congregational church, is con- nected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Elks and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is a young man of force, ambition and enterprise and will undoubt- edly be carried forward into still more important relations with mercantile interests of the community.
JOHN L. FRENCH.
Since 1866 John L. French has made his home in Franklin county and has become well known here as an able business man and a use- ful citizen. For a long period he was connected with mercantile interests of Faulkner but for a number of years past has been engaged in writing insurance He is a veteran of the Civil war and loyal and public-spirited in matters of citizenship. Mr. French was born in Vermont, October 16, 1845, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Webster) French, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. The father spent his entire active life engaged in farming, dying in 1850. He was survived by his wife until 1866. both passing away in Vermont. To their union were born nine chil- dren: Shepard, Reuben, James and Marinda, deceased; John L., of this review; Ann and Martha, who have passed away; Julina; and Hattie, deceased.
John L. French was reared in Vermont and at the age of sixteen enlisted in Company D, Ninth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war. He was discharged at Annapolis, Mary- land, in November, 1863, and on the Ist of June, 1864, reenlisted as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-second Illinois Volun- teer Infantry. He was captured at Winchester, Virginia, and was a prisoner for five months, this time being spent in Libby prison and in the prison at Belle Island. He was mustered out of service with his honorable discharge at Chicago, Illinois, and in 1866 came to Franklin county, Iowa, where for a few years he engaged in farm-
106
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
ing near Faulkner. Later he established himself in the general merchandise business in the town and built up a large and represen- tative patronage, for his goods were always of a high quality and his business methods above reproach. Mr. French served as post- master of Faulkner for a number of years, doing conscientious and capable work in this office. He has since discontinued these con- nections and for the past few years has been engaged in writing insurance.
On the 7th of November, 1875, Mr. French was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Riddle, a native of Franklin county and a daugh- ter of James Henry and Elizabeth (Millslagel) Riddle, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father served in the Civil war and was wounded in battle, later dying at the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. French became the parents of six children: George, who has passed away; a daughter who died in infancy; Elmer and Elizabeth, deceased; Grace, the wife of Louis Reiken, of Hardin county; and Cora, at home.
Mr. French is a member of the Methodist church and is con- nected with the Grand Army of the Republic. He gives his politi- cal allegiance to the republican party and for a period of fifteen years did able and conscientious work as clerk of the school board. During the forty-eight years he has lived in Franklin county he has contributed in substantial measure to general growth and advance- ment and has won for himself a high place in the esteem and con- fidence of many friends.
NEWTON B. CLAYPOOL.
Newton B. Claypool, living in Hampton, is the owner of a quar- ter section of valuable land in Franklin county and derives therefrom a substantial annual income. He was formerly actively engaged in farming, but now in the evening of life, is living retired. He was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, May 14, 1836, and is a son of Milton and Rosanna (Higgins) Claypool, who were natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation and after removing westward to Illinois continued to reside there until called to his final rest. In the family were the following children: Newton B .; James M., deceased; Alvira, the widow of Frederick Rendisbacher, living at Stockton, Illinois; Martha and William, both now deceased; Benjamin R., who is engaged in the
NEWTON B. CLAYPOOL
109
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
banking business at Orleans, Nebraska ; Milton, who has passed away ; Elmira, who is the widow of George Claywell, of Austin, Minne- sota ; Louise, the wife of T. L. J. Clapp, of Chicago; Edward, a res- ident of Spencer, lowa; and Joseph, who is living in Minnesota.
Through the period of his boyhood and youth Newton B. Clay- pool remained upon the home farm and assisted his father in the work of the fields from the time when he was old enough to handle the plow. On starting out on his own account he leased a farm and continued to cultivate rented land for thirteen years. In 1872 he arrived in Franklin county and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, then all wild and unimproved land. With char- acteristic energy he began its development and transformed the tract into rich, cultivated fields. He followed farming until October 29. 1908, when he removed to Hampton. He still owns a quarter sec- tion of valuable land and derives therefrom a substantial income. In all of his farm work he was persistent and energetic, and as inven- tion brought forth new and improved machinery he used it to facil- itate the work of the fields.
On the 4th of July, 1855, Mr. Claypool was united in marriage to Miss Annett Townsend, a daughter of George N. and Mary (Miner) Townsend, whose ancestors came to the new world as pas- sengers on the Mayflower. Her parents eventually settled in Illinois and her father built the first house in the township in which he lived in that state. In their family were the following children: Saman- tha, who married E. M. Backus and who is now deceased; Amanda, who is the wife of A. B. Chambers, of Boone, Iowa; Asher and Nel- son, who have passed away; Mrs. Claypool; Joseph, who has departed this life; Jennie, the wife of H. Z. Tucker, of Walnut Grove, Illinois; Susan, the wife of W. B. Bryan of Hampton; Olive; Gazelle, the widow of Charles Pulfrey, of South Dakota; Mary, the widow of J. G. Renwick; Emeline, the wife of T. L. Staver, of Chicago; and Hugh, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Claypool had a family of eight children: Eben- ezer E.,living at Hansler, Iowa; B. Edward, who is located in Min- nesota; Rosanna, the wife of Sam McDowell of Hampton; Mary, the wife of E. F. Klinefelter, of Alexander, Iowa; George M., of Alberta, Canada; Phillip H., living in Chapin, Iowa; Altha, de- ceased ; and Newton B., of Franklin county.
Mr. Claypool belongs to the Baptist church, and his life has ever been in accord with its principles. He also holds membership with the Masonic fraternity and with the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. He is entitled to wear the little bronze button of the Grand
110
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
Army from the fact that he enlisted in 1865 as a member of Com- pany K, Ninety-sixth Illinois Infantry. He was afterward trans- ferred to Grant's regiment, twenty-first Illinois, and was honorably discharged at San Antonio, Texas, in November, 1865. In politics he has always been a republican, thus supporting the party which was the defense of the union in the dark days of the Civil war and has always been the acknowledged party of progress and reform and improvement.
WILLIAM AVERY RIDDLE.
William Avery Riddle, a worthy native son and representative agriculturist of Franklin county, has here resided throughout his entire life, covering a period of more than a half century. He and his wife own a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 31, Ross township. He was born in what is now Richland township, then Clinton township, on the 7th of February, 1859, his parents being T. C. and Sarah (Colt) Riddle, who were born, reared and married in New York. In 1856 they came to lowa, locating in Poweshiek county, and two years later took up their abode among the earliest settlers of Franklin county, settling on a tract of land near Old Chapin. T. C. Riddle devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career and passed away in 1877, the community thus losing one of its pioneer farmers and esteemed citizens. His widow, who survives at the age of eighty-six years, now makes her home at Vincent, Webster county, Iowa. She is a devoted member of the Baptist church, to which Mr. Riddle also belonged.
Our subject was named for an early settler of this county, Wil- liam Avery. He grew to manhood in Old Chapin and has made farming his life work. His holdings now embrace one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land on section 31, Ross town- ship, and in connection with the cultivation of cereals he makes a specialty of the raising of shorthorn cattle, meeting with gratifying success in both branches of his business. Industry and perseverance have been among his salient characteristics, and he has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the substantial and respected citizens of his native county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.