USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 61
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 61
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
of the most successful farmers of Ross township. On the 28th of October, 1848, he married Susan Phillips, who was born in Columbiana county. Her grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, and her parents were early settlers in Ohio. They have had twelve children, of whom nine are living-Lorena A., wife of William Shinn, of Ohio ; Mary C., the wife of W. HI. Jenkins, of West Fork ; Jacob L., now in Nebraska; James S., living at West Fork ; John G. ; Albert W. ; Sarah E., wife of Ira Jenkins; Abraham and Charles A. Mr. and Mrs. Knesel are mem- bers of the Christian Church.
J. S. Knesel is a son of John Knesel, a pioneer settler of Franklin county. He is a native of Iowa, and was born in Clin- ton Co., April 27, 1856. Mr. Knesel, Sr., settled in this county in 1866, and engaged in farming. He bred his son to the pur- suit of agriculture, who remained as his father's assistant until 1878. At that date he purchased a farm on section 6, West Fork township, which he has since occu- pied. His farmed includes 120 acres of first class land, all under improvement, and worth $25 an acre. Mr. Knesel is still a young man, and with his habits of industry, and the careful judgment he displays, he has a future of prosperity be- fore him. He was married Dec. 25, 1878, to Mary Smothers, a daughter of one of the pioneers of Floyd Co., Iowa. She was born in that county. They have one child -Almon Herbert. Mr. Knesel has al- ways acted with the republican party.
William Thornberry came to Franklin county in 1867, and purchased his pres- ent farm in West Fork township. He is the son of Richard and Agnes Thornberry,
born in Tennessee, in 1805. His parents left the south on account of slavery and removed to Indiana. William remained at home until he was twenty years of age, and received only a limited education. He was married to Elizabeth Young, who died in 1855. This union was blessed two children, one of whom is living- Sarah, wife of Isaac Hurst, now residing in Kansas. In 1856 Mr. Tho nberry was again married to Margaret Conrod, a na tive of Kentucky. Two children have been born to them, of whom one is living -Margaret, now teaching. Mr. Thorn berry was formerly a democrat, but since the war has voted with the republican party. For over forty years he has been a member of the United Brethren Church.
Garrett Van Riper, an early settler of West Fork, was born in Yates Co., N. Y., March 22, 1835. His father was a car- penter, and lost his life while raising a barn when his son was fourteen years old. Mr. Van Riper subsequently moved to St. Joseph Co., Ind., where he enlisted, Aug. 27, 186z, in company K, 87th Indiana In fantry. His term expired in January, 1863, and he re-enlisted in the 38th Indiana. At the battle of Perryville he had his ankle broken, and is now in receipt of a pension in consequence. His second term expired in 1864, and he again enrolled as a soldier of the Union, and remained until the war ceased. He was mustered out in June, 1865, and went to Illinois, residing eighteen months in Stephenson county. His house there was destroyed by fire, and a child perished in the flames. The building and contents were entirely de- stroyed. In January, 1867, he came to Franklin county, and has since resided
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
in West Fork township. On arrival, his financial assets showed a total of ten cents. He has, by energetic persever- ance, accumulated a substantial property. Mr. Van Riper, married Elizabeth Wood, at Edwardsburg, Mich., in February 1858. Her parents were pioneers in In- diana. Eight of her eleven children are living-Emma J., Ermina M., William H., James N., Bertha A., Mary E., Sarah L. and George A. Mr. Van Riper has served as constable, and is now school director. He has been road supervisor for the past twelve years.
Joseph Slade is regarded as one of the enterprising farmers of West Fork. He was born in Hampshire, England, May 21, 1840. While a babe his mother died. An aunt living in Dorsetshire took him, with whom he lived until he was sixteen, when he emigrated to America to seek his fortune. He went to Winnebago, III., where he learned the blacksmith trade. He enlisted in company C, 67th Illinois Infantry, and after serving four months was taken sick and discharged on account of disability. After his return he was pros- trated eight months, and has never fully recovered from the effects of his illness. He came to Franklin county in 1867, loca- ting on section 5, West Fork, where he first bought forty acres. He had the first blacksmith shop in the township, which for years was the only one within a radius of six or seven miles, and had all the work he could attend to. He began life with nothing but an invincible deter- mination to succeed, and, as a result, is the possessor of of 300 acres of farming land, and ten acres of timber. He has a pro- ductive orchard, with fine groves, which
were started in 1868, making the place pleasant and attractive. He is also largely engaged in stock raising. In October, 1882 he formed a partnership, under the firm name of Hocking & Slade, and en- gaged in general merchandising in Shef- field, which is proving successful. He was married Oct. 31, 1863, to Rosa Burns, of Winnebago, Ill., whose parents emigrated from Massachusetts to Illinois, in 1857. Mr and Mrs. Slade are the parents of ten children-Melinda, wife of Irvin Scott, Thomas J., Minnie L., Charles H., Nellie, Nettie, Freddie, Lucy, Georgia and Ches. ter Leroy. Politically, he is a republican. He has held the office of secretary of the township school board, and is now treas- urer. He has been a director for a number of years.
Samuel Esslinger has been a resident of Franklin county since 1869. He came with his brother, Emanuel, and after liv- ing one year near Hampton removed to his present location. He owns 105 acres of land, having on it a never-failing spring of water which greatly increases its value as a stock farm. He has seventeen head of cattle and fifty hogs. He was born on his father's farm five miles from Milwau- kee, Oct. 12, 1842. His parents were among the first settlers of Milwaukee county. Samuel enlisted in the war of the rebellion, Aug. 20, 1862, enrolling in com- pany K, 33d Wisconsin Infantry. He fought beside his brother, Emanuel, and was in the engagements at Vicksburg, Corinth, Nashville, Franklin, Spanish Fort, and all the skirmishes and campaigns in which his regiment took part. On one occasion while in action a piece of shell passed between him and his brother. One
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
or both must have been killed had they been in close rank. At Spanish Fort he was in advance and the first man on the fortifications. He rushed up alone to about twenty rebels and demanded their · surrender. Under the belief that he was supported by his comrades they obeyed, realizing when too late that they had been captured by a single man. After his discharge he returned to his former home, and three months later went to Geneseo, · Ill., where he remained until he came to this county. He and his brother came through with a team, and arrived March 19, 1869. Mr. Esslinger was married to Theodosia Riggins, of Franklin county, Jan. 25, 1872. She was born in the Key- stone State, and with her parents was among the pioneers of Winnebago Co., Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Riggins are yet living in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Esslinger have six children - Ellsworth E., Homer D., Judson D, Preston, Bernice, Amanda and Emma Ida. Mr. Esslinger is a re- publican in politics, and is now road supervisor, and has acted as constable two years. He is a member of the Evangeli- cal Church.
Emanuel Esslinger was born in Penn- sylvania, Dec. 24, 1836. His father, George Esslinger, was born in Germany, and emigrated to Pennsylvania when young. The family went to a farm in the vicinity of Buffalo, N. Y., in 1837, and soon after made another move to Mil- waukee, Wis., where they lived on a farm about five miles southwest of the city. Mr. Esslinger enlisted Aug. 22, 1862, in company K, 33d Wisconsin Infantry. He was in the service three years, and passed through some of the severest
campaigns of the war. His regiment was in the engagement at Coldwater, Miss., and was part of the division ordered to reinforce General Grant at Vicksburg. The rebel General Forest cut off their supplies while they were on the march, and for nine days the command subsisted on the scantiest fare, many of the soldiers yielding to exhaustion. They fell back through Moscow where they lay several weeks. A large number died from cholera, the results of overeating after starvation. The division went back to Memphis, and from there by boat to Vicksburg. They took part in the thirty-seven days siege and capture of Vicksburg, and were in action at Jackson, Miss., and afterwards in the Meridian Expedition. The regi- ment was sent to Natchez and on the Red River expedition, where the men were detailed to guard transports. The White River expedition pursuing Price to War- rensburg, Mo., was their next severe service, followed by an order to proceed to St. Louis with prisoners of war. They were under fire at Nashville, Franklin, Spanish Fort and Mobile. The regiment was mustered out at Vicksburg and re- turned to Madison, Wis., where it dis- banded. Mr. Esslinger returned to Mil- waukee, and soon after went to Geneseo, Ill., remaining there until the spring of 1869, when he came to Franklin county. He lived near Hampton a year, and then settled on section 9, West Fork township. He has a fine farm of 110 acres which he improved from the prairie, has built a substantial house and surrounded it with trees, and also has a prospective orchard. On the 12th of April, 1866, Mr. Esslinger was married at Geneseo, III., to Caroline
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Schuck. Her parents settled in Henry Co., Ill., when the nearest markets were Galena and Rockford. Their children are-Ada, Edward, George, Millie, Hayes, Clyde and Katie. Mrs. Esslinger and Ada are members of the Evangelical Church.
Edward Esslinger, one of the most enterprising farmers of West Fork town- ship, was born in Berks Co., Penn., Nov. 13, 1832. His father was a carpenter and moved to the State of New York. Two years later he went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade, and finally settled at Milwaukee. He was master builder on the first tavern erected on Walker's Point. Mr. Esslinger can remember when there was but a single dry goods store in the city of Milwaukee. He sold wood in that market at three shillings per cord, and at a later period, disposed of the same quantity for seven dollars. He went to Racine to learn the cooper's trade, and while there enlisted in the Union army. HIo was enrolled, in 1862, in company F, 3d Wisconsin Infantry, and served through the war. He went back to the Bulger State, where he resided until the spring of 1869, when he came to Franklin county, and the ensuing winter located where he now resides. Himself and two brothers bought a half of section 9 and divided it among themselves. Mr. Esslin- ger has 105 acres, whose aggregate value he rates at $2,625. He devotes much at- tention to stock-raising, and owns twenty- two head of cattle, twenty-eight hogs and twelve horses
He was married Feb. 26, 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of Christian Kiefer, an carly settler of Milwaukee. Mr and Mrs. Esslinger have
had twelve children, eleven are living, as follows-Adaline, Lilly, Amelia, Edward E., John, Julia, Minnie, Cora, Frank, Reuben and Richard. Mr. Esslinger has been township trustee eight years and school director two terms. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church.
Henry Nolte was born in Germany, July 20, 1836. He borrowed his passage money to come to America, and used his first earnings to refund it. He labored as a farmer's assistant in Dane Co., Wis., and by practicing the closest economy succeeded in accumulating a small sum of money, which he invested in land. He transferred his interests to Franklin county, in 1870, and by the exercise of his inherited traits of thrift and industry, he has acquired a fine property. He owns 200 acres of land, stocked with forty-four head of cattle and about thirty-five hogs. His land is worth $25 per acre. Mr. Nolte was married in 1860 to Caroline Korfmaker. Mrs. Nolte's parents came from Germany and were pioneers in Wis- consin. Mr. and Mrs. Nolte are the parents of nine children, only four of whom are living-Augusta, Henry, Rosa and George. The father and mother are members of the Evangelical Church. Mr. Nolte is a republican in politics. and has filled the positions of road supervisor and school director.
E. Riggins is one of the active and prosperous farmers of the township. He has 100 acres of valuable land on section 2, where he located in the spring of 1871. He was born in 1823 in Cumberland Co., N. J., where he attained his majority and was educated. He then went to Pennsyl-
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
vania, where he learned the miller's trade and followed it fifteen years. He emi- grated to Winnebago Co., Ill., in 1857, which he made his home until com- ing to Iowa. He has a number of head of cattle, but gives his attention chiefly to hogs, turning off a large number yearly. He was married in 1841 to Lucy Ann Yohn, of Pennsylvania. They have fourteen children, ten of whom are living-Lo- renzo, Payton B., Sherwood, Pulaski, Ed- mund, Lewis, Beulah, Theodosia, Julia and Nancy. They are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He is a good citizen.
Frank Avery is the proprietor of eighty acres of valuable land in West Fork township, where he located in 1870. The place is all under cultivation, and is one of the most productive in the township. Mr. Avery was born in Hill, Grafton Co., N. H., on the 25th day of October, 1823. His parents, Ebenezer and Polly (Brad- bury) Avery, were also natives of the old Granite State and were farmers, rearing their children to that calling and giving them such educational advantages as the district schools afforded. When twenty- one years of age Mr. Avery set out to carve out his own fortune. He labored as a farm hand until he accumulated a small sum of money and bought a farm in Mer- rimac county, in his native State, where he remained until October, 1870. He and Eunice Smith were married July 14, 1851. She was born in New Hampshire, as were her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Avery have three sons and two daughters-Gilbert, Albert, Arabelle, Mary and John. Mr. Avery is a democrat in political sentiment
William Krukrow, in 1870, bought his present farm of 260 acres, in West Fork township, upon which he has a fine resi- dence and all necessary outbuildings, all of which speak of thrift and good man- agement. He was born in Prussia, in 1832, and emigrated to the United States in 1862, first settling in Prairie du Chien, Wis., where he worked by the month un- til he came to Franklin county. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and is a thorough republican in politics. He was married to Mary Bunder in 1856. They have four children-Frank, William, Henry and Lewis. Frank was married Sept. 14, 1882. He purchased 130 acres of land, on section 32, where he now lives.
Gottlieb Kugler came to Franklin county on a prospecting tour in 1869, and the following year removed here with his family. He purchased 160 acres of land on section 4, West Fork, and in the first year broke up sixteen acres, and the next year put twenty-two acres more under the plow. In 1870 he built a house while his sons were engaged in breaking land. In 1876 he began to set out fruit trees, and now has a bearing orchard which produces all the fruit needed by the family. He has forty head of cattle, nine of them being milch cows; he also keeps thirty hogs. His land is all cultivated, with thirty-five acres of meadow. He was born May 26, 1832, in Wurtemburg, Germany. In 1848 he came to America and at once learned cigar making at Philadelphia, thus occupy- ing one year, He went to Milwaukee in 1849, and not securing work at his trade, he learned the business of a cooper, at which he worked until he came to Franklin county. His shop was located six miles
583
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
from Milwaukee on the Janesville plank road. He married Harriet Esslinger at Milwaukee in1853. Her parents emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania, removing thence to Wisconsin. Ten of eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kugler are living -George, Rudolph, Albert, Arthur, Walter, Tillie (wife of Adam Messhiser), Rosa, Julia, Loreno and Hermine, wife of George Messelhiser. Mr. Kugler has served three years as road supervisor, four as trustee, one term as school director, and is now chairman of the school board. Mrs. Kugler is a member of the Lutheran Evangelical Church.
William H. Kiefer is at present consta- ble of West Fork township. He is a prominent citizen and farmer. He is pro- prietor of 160 acres of land known as Highland Grove farm, which he holds at $4,000. Eighty-five acres are under the plow and the remainder in meadow land and pasture. The place is stocked with twenty-five head of cattle and a number of sheep; it also furnishes thirty-five hogs annually for market. The house, built in 1871, is surrounded by a fine grove. Mr. Kiefer was born in Milwaukee, April 4, 1858. His parents, Christian and Eliza- beth ( Leonhardt) Kiefer, sett led here in 1847, his father having the position of weighmaster at an elevator. In 1864 the family went to Prairie Du Chien, Wis., where the father was employed in the same capacity, and also was in the grocery and provision business one year. In 1871 the family settled in West Fork township, the parents residing with the son. Mr. Kiefer was married June 5, 1881, to Sarah, daughter of S. A. Garber. They have one child-Chester Kiefer. Mr. and
Mrs. Kiefer are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Kiefer has always voted the republican ticket, and been active in pro- moting the welfare of his township. George Kiefer, a brother, enlisted at Mil- waukee in a Cavalry regiment, served through the war and was severely wounded.
A. W. Ufford settled in Franklin county in the fall of 1871. He owns 100 acres of improved land on section 3, West Fork township, which he values at $25 per acre. He resides at this writing on the farm of R. C. Mathews. He is a practi- cal farmer and devotes much attention to stock raising. He owns sixty head of cattle and is engaged in the manufacture of butter. His herd includes twenty-five milch cows. He was born Aug. 8, 1836, in Oneida Co., N. Y. His parents Charles and Polly ( Warner ) Ufford, were natives of the Empire State, where they belonged to the farming element and reared their son to the same vocation. He obtained a fair education at the district schools, and at nineteen, went to Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand until the war of the rebellion. He enlisted at Rockford, Ill., in company A, 74th Illinois Infantry, and served three years. He was under fire at Stone River, and soon after his company was detailed to act in the Pio- neer Corps. He was afterward transferred to the First U. S. Engineers, where he completed his term of enlistment. The regiment was chiefly employed in getting out lumber to be rafted to the Tennessee river, for use in building bar- racks, fortifications, etc. Mr. Ufford was discharged in 1865, and again engaged in farming in Winnebago Co., Ill. Two
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
years later he removed to Fayette Co., Iowa. He resided there three years, sold his property and settled in Franklin county. He was married June 11, 1861, in Winnebago county, to Caroline Smith. Their family comprises six children- Franklin A., Alfred H. and Albert H. ( twins ), Ella May, Polly Ann and Charles Gilbert.
Charles Nolte settled in Franklin county in 1873. He is a German by birth, and came to America in 1861, when his father located in Dane Co., Wis. Mr. Nolte was born Oct. 20, 1851, and has resided in West Fork since coming to the county. His farm of 140 acres is situated on sec- tions 17 and 29. He holds his real estate at $3,500 in the aggregate, and owns twenty-two head of cattle and thirty- seven hogs. He is a careful manager and is rapidly putting his place under improve- ments of the most valuable character. He was married in 1878 to Rosa Faerber, a native of Illinois, and then resident in Adair Co., Iowa. Their three children are Clarence, Lydia and an infant. The parents are members of the Evangelical Church. Mr. Nolte is a republican.
Ernst Marks was born in Prussia in De- cember, 1828. His father died and left a family of six children. In 1854 he emi- grated to America and settled in Dane Co., Wis. He enlisted, in 1862, in com- pany B, 17th Wisconsin Infantry. At the siege of Vicksburg he was wounded by a shell, in his left arm, and lying on the battle field all night without receiving at- tention caused the loss of his arm. He was four months in the hospital and now draws a pension. He came to Franklin
county in 1873 ånd now owns a fine tract of land in West Fork township. It in- cludes 142 acres and is valued at $20 per acre. He was married in 1869 to Mrs. Elizabeth Hoops, a widow with two sons -Henry and Herman. Mr. and Mrs. Marks are members of the German Meth- odist Church. Mr. Marks has always been a republican, and is now road supervisor.
C. D. John owns a farm of ninety-eight acres on section 4, on which he has re- sided since 1875, at which date he came to West Fork. His farm is a valuable one and is believed to contain extensive beds of coal. When sinking a shaft for a well, indications proved the presence of a coal formation which was pronounced by ex- perienced miners to be of first class quality Mr. John contemplates future prospecting. He was born in Northumberland Co, Penn., Sept. 23, 1841. Ten years later his parents removed to Winnebago Co., Ill., where on the advent of civil war, Mr. John enlisted in the 8th Illinois Cav- alry, serving three months, after which he was discharged for disability. He enlisted again in August, 1862, enrolling in com- pany F, 74th Illinois Infantry, where he was in service three years. He was in action at Perryville, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Nashville, Franklin, etc. At At- lanta he was promoted to second sergeant. On his discharge he returned to Illinois where he lived until his removal to Frank- lin county. Mr. John was married Aug. 5, 1871, to Elizabeth McGregor of Winnebago Co., Ill. Their children are -Grace, Marian, Rhoda and Nellie. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. John has acted three terms as justice of the peace and
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
as school director. He is a republican in political faith.
E. J. John made a trip to Franklin county in 1865 and found the county so little improved and settled that he re- traced his steps. He was born in Schuyl- kill Co., Penn., Oct. 5, 1848. His parents removed to Winnebago Co., III., when he was one year old, and he remained there until 1873 At that date he went to Kan- sas. Four years later he settled in West Fork township. Ile owns . 120 acres of land on which he has made the best im- provements. Ile was married in Septem- ber, 1872, to Sarah Mckinstry, a native of Pennsylvania. They have three children -Patience, Hortense and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. John are members of the M. E. Church. He has held the offices of school director and road supervisor and is a re- publican in political faith.
L. Horstman settled in Franklin county in 1876. His farm of ninety acres is located on section 18, of West Fork township, and is worth about $3,000. It is in a productive condition, and Mr. Horstman is by degrees making arrange- ments to engage in stock farming. He has thirteen head of cattle, twenty hogs and five horses. He was married Dec 4, 1873, to Matilda Pogemiller, of Dane Co., Wis. They have four children- William, Sophia, Theodore and John. They have lost one child. Mr. Horstman was born July 25, 1849, and is a native of Prussia. He came to America in 1867 and settled in Dane Co., Wis., which was his home until he came to Franklin Co., Iowa. He is a democrat in political belief and action.
E. T. Davis emigrated to Franklin county in 1876. He bought eighty acres of raw prairie which he has so improved that he now has a most desirable home. He was born in Green Co, Wis., Feb. 9, 1852. Ile is the son of D. M. and Charlotte A. (South) Davis, both natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Green connty at a very early date. E. T.'s grandfather moved to Wisconsin in 1834 with his family, consisting of twelve sons and two daughters. The death of one of the sons was the first death to occur in Green county, and an uncle resided in Wisconsin so early in its history that for two years he did not see a white man, his only neighbors being Indians. The sub- ject of the sketch resided with his parents on a farm, until he came to Iowa. In October, 1874, he married Belle, daughter of John A. and Judith (Luce) Brown, who were also early settlers of Green Co., Wis. In politics he is a republi- can. They are the parents of two chil- dren-Dallas E. and Elsie.
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