USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 7
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Martin Henderson was educated in the public schools of his native section and his early life was spent upon his father's farm. He has always been identified with agricultural pursuits and at the present time owns three hundred and seventy acres in Ells- worth township, equipped with all the improvements necessary to the conduct and management of two model farms. He has erected many large barns, sheds and silos and has the finest granary in Hamilton county. This he has equipped with scales to weigh the grain, an elevator to carry the corn and oats to two large bins, each of which has a capacity of six thousand bushels. A large gasoline engine does the elevating and in addition to this Mr. Henderson has a grain cleaner and a sheller which is also attached to the engine. He has been foremost in establish- ing these advantages for the modern conduct of a farm and is very enthusiastic over every new development and improvement -a leader as it were in eliminating the drudgery of farm life in the west. He resides upon his property in a comfortable, modern and well furnished home, equipped with all necessary conven- iences and accessories. He gives most of his time to stockraising.
Mr. Henderson was united in marriage June 4, 1889, to Miss Josephine Johnson, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, December 25, 1863, a daughter of John and Sophia (Olson) John- son, natives of Norway. Her mother passed away in Benton county, Iowa, and her father died in the same section August 9, 1873. In their family were four children: Mrs. Delia Melberg, of. Benton county, Iowa; Mrs. Sarah Tjernagel, of Story City; Josephine, the wife of our subject; and Martin, who resides in Scott township. Mrs. Henderson came to Iowa with her parents in 1865 and remained at home until her marriage. She and her husband became the parents of seven children : Mrs. Myrtle Josephine Erickson, who was born June 22, 1891, and who re- sides in Randall; Walter LeRoy, whose birth occurred June 29, 1892, who during his vacations assists his father in the conduct of the home farm; Frances Cornelia, and Porter Irving, both of whom reside at home; twins, who died in infancy ; and Porter I., who passed away at the age of three years. All the children were born in Randall. Mrs. Erickson, in addition to securing a common-school education attended Jewell College of Jewell, while Walter has attended Morning-side College, and is at present a student at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa.
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In his political affiliations Mr. Henderson is a consistent re- publican and has served as justice of the peace. For a number of years he held the position of township trustee and was secre- tary of the school board for almost fifteen years. He has carried on his father's work of development and improvement, changing his methods to keep pace with modern advancement but adhering steadily to the old standards of honesty and industry. He has shown a progressive spirit and intelligent business discrimina- tion combined with a faculty for making his ability effective and is a native son of whom Hamilton county has every reason to be proud.
PETER SCHOMER.
Peter Schomer is well known in Webster City as one of its leading coal merchants and is a man who has been prominent in business circles of the community and active in the promotion of its municipal progress since 1892. He is a native of Germany, born September 26, 1858. His parents were Nicholas and Mag- dalene (Schmalen) Schomer, also natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1863. They arrived in Chicago on the 4th of July of that year and went immediately to the vicinity of Aurora, Illinois, where they resided for five years. In the summer of 1868 they established their residence in Hamilton county, Iowa, where the father successfully followed farming for some time and later was engaged in a commercial enterprise in Webster City until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-three years of age. His wife passed away in Hamilton county in the seventy-ninth year of her age.
Peter Schomer was educated in the public schools of Iowa and as a boy assisted his father in the work of cultivating the soil. He was actively engaged in this occupation until he was eighteen years of age, when with his parents he removed to Webster City and was associated with his father in business until 1892. In 1899 he formed a partnership with D. F. Shea in a harness enterprise which he operated with some success for one year. His present coal business was established in 1902 and has grown since that time to be one of the important industries of the kind in Webster City. Mr. Schomer has always given his
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personal attention to the conduct of his business and his well directed energy has resulted in a gratifying measure of success. His business is operated under principles of honor and integrity and its commercial standards are high and worthy.
On October 13, 1902, Mr. Schomer was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary H. Murphy, a daughter of James Hennebery, of Webster City. She died November 13, 1911. By her first mar- riage she became the mother of one child, Margie Murphy, who is a teacher in the kindergarten connected with the Webster City public schools.
Mr. Schomer resides at No. 221 Prospect avenue and has many friends in Webster City who are attached to him by the warm ties of personal regard. Politically he gives his allegiance to the democratic party but has never taken an active interest in public affairs. He belongs to Webster City Camp, No. 416, M. W. A., and has held this membership since 1899. In the Knights of Columbus he is affiliated with Bishop Clement Smith Council, No. 838, and has been connected with the organization since 1906. He now holds the office of trustee of the lodge. Mr. Schomer is a member of the Roman Catholic church and his religion influences and elevates his life. There are degrees of financial success in the world but no one can gain more personal recognition than is embodied in the title of an honest man. This title has never been denied Mr. Schomer, for his honesty and integrity of purpose dominate his activity and influence his busi- ness and individual life.
EDWARD L. EPPARD.
Edward L. Eppard was born on section sixteen, Liberty town- ship, Hamilton county, Iowa, on April 15, 1874, grew to manhood there and has followed farming since the beginning of his active career. He has his tract of land highly improved and intel- ligently developed, and has achieved his prosperity by earnest work along progressive lines. He is a son of George W. and Emily E. (Huff) Eppard. His father was born in Miami county, Indiana. He enlisted in the Union army for service in the Civil war as member of Company K, One Hundred and First Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after three years received an honorable
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discharge. He returned to Indiana and resided in various parts of the state until 1873. In that year he moved to his farm, one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hamilton county, Iowa, which he had purchased in 1869. At the time he removed to this farm the county was all an unbroken range and the conditions of living were extremely primitive. He broke the soil, improved, devel- oped and cultivated his property, and was numbered among the successful pioneers. He resided here until his death which oc- curred in Liberty township, in January, 1897. The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood Miss Emily E. Huff, and was the parents of four children, three of whom are still living: Ed- born in Wabash county, Indiana. She and her husband became ward L., the subject of this sketch; J. W., of Liberty township; and Edith M., who is residing with her brother upon his farm.
Edward Eppard attended the district schools of Hamilton county and later took a commercial course in Jewell College. He supplemented this by a few years' attendance at Ellsworth Col- lege, and since laying aside his books has followed farming. He is now residing upon his father's homestead which is one of the best improved farms in Liberty township. His place is equipped with large barns and granaries which have replaced the original structures. Mr. Eppard has just removed one of the first build- ings which his father erected. His residence which he built a few years ago is one of the commodious, substantial and beauti- ful homes in Hamilton county. Mr. Eppard's success has been achieved by diligence and industry and he now owns one hun- dred and sixty acres of the most fertile and productive land in Iowa.
On December 20, 1911, Mr. Eppard was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Vogelsang, who was born in Arlington, Fayette county, Iowa, January 29, 1886. She attended the public schools of her native district and grew to womanhood there.
In his political views Mr. Eppard is a consistent republican, and his influence is weighty in the affairs of local organizations. He has been township assessor for six years and made a record for ability and efficiency as a public official. He has been for the past ten years a member of the republican county central com- mittee. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, hold- ing his membership in Blairsburg, and is a director of the Web- ster County Mutual Insurance Association. He studies farming in all its different phases and has been successful from the' be-
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ginning because of his personal efficiency. He is ranked among the enterprising and substantial citizens of his district, and his activities are regarded as a valuable influence in agricultural de- velopment.
E. D. BURGESS.
E. D. Burgess is now librarian of the Kendall Young Library of Webster City, Iowa, and has done efficient work in this capac- ity since 1898. He was born in 1851 at Lafayette, New Jersey, and is a son of Jesse Raymond and Huldah Lanning (Dodder) Burgess. His parents came to Hamilton county in 1857 and settled in Webster City where the father practiced medicine until his death. The mother is still living in this city.
After he obtained his grammar-school education Mr. Burgess en- tered the State University of Iowa and attended within a few months of graduation. He studied civil engineering and followed that profession until 1878. He studied law and was admitted to the bar of Iowa and practiced in that state for twenty years. In 1898 he became librarian of the Kendall Young Library and has retained this identification since that time.
In 1883 Mr. Burgess was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth Bassett Sladden, a daughter of W. C. Sladden of Webster City. Mr. and Mrs. Burgess reside at No. 902 Wilson avenue and have many friends in the social circles of the city in which they live. Mr. Burgess is a man of wide reading and has a cultivated and well trained mind. He has been of valuable as- sistance to patrons of the library in directing their reading.
ROY GRANT AUSTIN.
Roy Grant Austin is a civil engineer of Webster City and in the practice of his profession is specializing in drainage work. He was born October 8, 1879, in this city, his parents being A. H. and Chloe (Scullin) Austin. The father came to Hamilton county in 1877 and is a bridge contractor, still residing in Webster City. He has long occupied a creditable position in connection with
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industrial activity here, the excellence of his work bringing to him a liberal and growing patronage.
At the usual age Roy G. Austin entered the public schools and after completing a course of study therein matriculated in the Iowa State College at Ames, from which he was graduated in 1904 with the degree of Civil Engineer. He started in drain- age work in Humboldt county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1904 be- came connected with the American Bridge Company at Ambridge, Pennsylvania, in the capacity of draftsman. He was with that company for three years and in 1907 returned to Webster City, where he opened an office. Here he does general civil engineer- ing work, yet makes a specialty of drainage and in this connection his services are in constant demand. He was county surveyor from January 1, 1909, until January 1, 1912, when the office was discontinued.
In November, 1910, Mr. Austin was united in marriage to Miss Lola Derr, her father being S. D. Derr, who has been a resident of Hamilton county for the past thirty-five years. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Margaret Ann, whose birth occurred on the 12th of September, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Austin have their home on Wilson avenue. They are widely known here and occupy an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Austin is yet a comparatively young man but has made a credit- able record in connection with his chosen profession. He has given ample demonstration of his ability to handle complex en- gineering problems and his work at all times has been followed by such practical and excellent results that his patronage has steadily increased.
STEPHEN DOUGLAS PRINGLE.
Stephen Douglas Pringle is successfully engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits and stock-raising in Cass township, Hamilton county, where he owns one hundred and eighty-four and a half acres of valu- able and productive land located on sections 19 and 30. He is a na- tive of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Keokuk county on the 26th of October, 1860, and a son of Thomas and Nancy (Welch) Pringle. The father was a native of Indiana and the mother of West Virginia. They were married in Iowa, and soon thereafter located on govern-
S. D. PRINGLE AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
ment land in Keokuk county. Thomas Pringle assiduously applied himself to the further improvement and cultivation of his farm until 1874, when he sold it and came to Hamilton county. Here he pur- chased two hundred and forty acres of land located on section 3, Cass township, and continued his agricultural pursuits for nearly twenty years. ` About 1892, he sold his farm and retired from active life, having accumulated a competence that made it possible for him to spend his latter days in well earned ease. For about six years there- after he made his home in Webster City, but he subsequently removed to Toledo, this state, and there he passed away in the spring of 1905, at the venerable age of eighty-six years and eight months. He had long survived the mother, whose death occurred on the 5th of Janu- ary, 1884, when she had reached the age of sixty years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Pringle numbered fourteen, our subject being the eighth in order of birth.
The education of Stephen D. Pringle was acquired in the common schools of this state, and while engaged in the mastery of the com- mon branches he was familiarizing himself with the practical duties of an agriculturist by assisting his father with the work of the fields and care of the stock. He remained at home until he was twenty- three years of age, when he married and began farming on his own account. For sixteen years thereafter he engaged in the cultivation of one hundred and twenty acres of land which he had previously purchased in Wright county, but at the expiration of that time he disposed of his holdings and invested the proceeds in a hundred and sixty-two acre tract in Cass township, this county. He likewise sold this place in 1898 and purchased his present farm, comprised of one hundred and eighty-four and a half acres. That Mr. Pringle is enter- prising and progressive in his agricultural methods is manifested by the general appearance and condition of his homestead. His entire holding is fenced, one hundred acres of it hog tight, and his fields are tiled and under high cultivation. One hundred and forty acres of his land is devoted to general farming and in connection with this he en- gages in stock-raising.
On the 22d of February, 1883, Mr. Pringle was married to Miss Nettie Segar, the fifth child in a family of fourteen and a daughter of B. B. Segar. She was born on the 3Ist of March, 1862, and passed away at the age of twenty-five years, her death occurring on May 5, 1887. On the 14th of April, 1888, Mr. Pringle was married to Miss Mary Segar, a sister of his former wife and next to the youngest member of the family, her natal day being May 26, 1868. Five chil-
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dren have been born to Mr. Pringle and his second wife, of whom three died in infancy. Elva May, the elder of the two daughters who are living, is a student in the high school at Webster City and Hattie Alice is attending the district school.
Mr. and Mrs. Pringle are active members of the United Brethren church. He is serving as class leader and superintendent of the Sun- day school and for four years was trustee and steward. In politics he is a democrat, but has never been identified with any official posi- tion. Mr. Pringle is a public-spirited man and assists in forwarding every movement which he feels will elevate the standards of the com- munity along intellectual, moral or social lines, his influence always being exerted in behalf of progress and development.
JOHN H. SPARBOE.
There is no family in Hamilton county spoken of in terms of higher respect than the Sparboe, whose members have figured promi- nently in the agricultural, business and political circles of the commu- nities in which they reside. One of the representatives, John H. Spar- boe, has for many years been actively and successfully identified with the agricultural development of Scott township, where he owns four hundred acres of land. He is a native of Norway, his birth having there occurred on the 3d of June, 1863, and is the eldest in a family of four sons, the youngest of whom, O. A. B. Sparboe, has passed away. The other two brothers, Hartvig M. and Carl, are mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work under their respective names. The parents, Anton and Bergitte (Karolusson) Sparboe, were born, reared and married in the Norseland, where the father passed away in 1870, three days before the birth of the youngest son. For three years after the death of her husband the mother continued to reside in her native land. Believing that America would afford her sons better opportunities and greater advantages than the old country, she resolved to establish a home for them here and in 1873 took pas- sage for the United States, accompanied by her four sons and her mother. Upon their arrival in this country the family made their way from the Atlantic coast to Hamilton county, settling in Scott township. Here Mrs. Sparboe, who has attained the advanced age of eighty-four years, still makes her home. Her sons have all grown up to be a credit to her and the community, but their success has not
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
caused them to neglect the mother, who made untold sacrifices for them, and she is spending her latter years in comfort on a farm which they purchased for her.
John H. Sparboe was a child of seven years when his father died. Being the eldest of the family he was compelled to assume many of the responsibilities of manhood at an age when the thoughts of the average lad are largely devoted to youthful sports. His early ad- vantages were necessarily limited, but his home training was such as to qualify him well for the duties of life, and as he has made the most of every opportunity he is today numbered among the foremost men of his community. He has always engaged in farming, in which he has met with more than average success. Early in life he realized that he was dependent upon his own efforts only, and applied himself to anything he undertook with the diligence and determination which pave the way to prosperity. He owns four hundred acres of land located on sections 8, 16 and 17, on which he has placed two sets of improvements, those on the home farm being as good as are to be found in the county. Here he engages in diversified farming and also raises stock. He directs his work in a systematic manner, with careful regard for every detail, and the results are satisfactory, his fields annually yielding abundant harvests. His farm presents a most attractive appearance with its substantial residence, large barns and well-kept fields, and clearly manifests that its operation is being di- rected in a methodical and business-like manner.
Mr. Sparboe was married on June 29, 1904, to Miss Nettie Bran- jord, whose birth occurred in Scott township on the 24th of Novem- ber, 1875, and there she was likewise reared. She had the privilege of an excellent education, in the pursuit of which she not only at- tended the Lutheran Normal School at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but also the Lutheran Ladies' Seminary at Redwing, Minnesota, in 1901-02. She is a daughter of Ole O. and Helen Christina (Rahto) Branjord, natives of Norway. In the early years of their domestic life they emigrated to the United States, coming direct to Iowa. They first located in Hardin county, coming from there to Scott township in 1871. Here the father, who was a farmer, continued his agricultural pursuits for many years, but lives since the spring of 1906 retired and he and the mother are spending their latter days in a comfortable home in Ellsworth. They still own the home farm, however, known as "Elm Lawn," which they have turned over to the management of their youngest son. To them were born eleven children: Olena Christina, Mary Antoinette and Martin, deceased; Berent M., a suc-
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
cessful attorney of Spokane, Washington; Olena and Mary, also de- ceased; Mrs. Sparboe; Christina and Oluf, deceased; Nettie, second of the name, who died in Clinton, Iowa; and Oluf Martin Christian, a resident of Scott township, who is mentioned more fully elsewhere in this work. The two first named were born in Norway, the next two in Hardin county and the younger members of the family in Scott township. To Mr. and Mrs. Sparboe has been born one son, John Henry, Jr., whose natal day was October 22, 1905.
Mr. and Mrs. Sparboe are members of the Congregational church of Ellsworth, of which organization he is a charter member. He is a man with high standards of citizenship, and has for many years taken an active interest in political affairs, giving his support to the demo- cratic party. . He has served with efficiency as township trustee and justice of the peace, while for two terms he was a member of the board of county supervisors. Mr. Sparboe is interested in all mat- ters affecting the upbuilding of the community, and can be depended upon to support every progressive movement, which appeals to him as being practical. In his business transactions as in the fulfilment of his official duties he is straightforward and honorable, and is held in high regard by his neighbors and fellow citizens, who through long years of acquaintance have found him to be thoroughly trustworthy and reliable.
F. P. HENDERSON.
F. P. Henderson, postmaster of Kamrar and prominently con- nected with the furniture business in Hamilton county, was born in West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1855. He is a son of Alexander and Harriet (Quay) Henderson, the former a native of the Isle of Man and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both were pioneers in Iowa, having crossed the plains to this state in early times, making the journey in a covered wagon. After his arrival the father took up land in Hamilton county and farmed successfully for a number of years. Eventually, how- ever, he removed to Benton county, where he died in the seventy- eighth year of his age. His wife passed away in the same section of the state and was sixty-eight years old at the time of her death. In their family were eight children, all born in Penn- sylvania : Mrs. Abbie Oppelt, who died in Benton county, Iowa,
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in 1882; William H., who died while serving his country as a mem- ber of the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the Civil war: George G., who gave his services to the Federal government as a member of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry and who was drowned at Fort Kearney; L. Q., who resides in Kamrar; Joseph, of Fort Dodge; John G., who died in Kansas; F. P., of this review; and Mrs. Martha Jane Oppelt, who lives in Vinton, Benton county.
F. P. Henderson was only two years of age when his parents came to Henry county, Iowa. In 1861 they moved to Benton county and remained in that section until 1876. Consequently, Mr. Henderson's education was acquired in the public schools of that section and he followed the usual course of studies until he laid aside his books. At the age of twenty-one he came to Hamil- ton county and purchased land, which he developed and im- proved for four years. At the end of that time he gave his atten- tion to the stone mason's trade, which he had learned in his youth, and is still active at this occupation, although he does not work at it so steadily as formerly. In April, 1910, he secured control of an excellent furniture business in Kamrar and has been man- aging it successfully since that time. He makes quality rather than quantity his aim in selecting his goods and has thus been unusually successful in having on hand the styles of furniture most in demand. His patronage has substantially increased dur- ing the two years of his activity, as a result of his progressive busi- ness methods and his constant courtesy.
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