History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 80

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 80

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).

Herman Eggers was born in Germany, November 16, 1818. At twenty-seven years of age he went to England, and in 1848 came to America, landing in New York where he remained five years, work- ing in a sugar refinery; thence to Illinois, and in 1854 to Etna, and settled on sec- tion 35, where he now owns 130 acres of land. He was married September 19, 1852, in New York, to Taalke Steenblock, who was born in. Germany, October 9, 1826, and came to America in 1851. Their children are-Rebecca Johanna Hennetta, born in New York City, July 18, 1853; Wortyni Teresa Willemena, born April 12, 1856; John Frederick William, born, 1858. .November 15, died May 27, 1860; John William Frederick, born January 26, 1861; Antye Morgaurntle Jesine, born September 18, 1863; Henry Wirtye Steenblock, born December 18, 1865; Delle Amalla Violet

Steenblock Wilhelm Johan, born January 13, 1869.

Solomon Clover located on section 27, where he now resides, on the 31st day of May, 1855, and purchased 420 acres of unimproved land. On this he spent about one thousand dollars for improvements the first year, and he lived quite comfortable, until 1862, when he had the misfortune to have his house and all household goods destroyed by fire. He, however, at once rebuilt and now has a comfortable home, and now owns 1163 acres of land, having given his sons the balance. Mr. Clover is a citizen who is highly respected, a Republican in politics, and a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Clover was born in Franklin county, Ohio, September 25, 1816, being the oldest of eight children, of Joshua and Rachel Clover. June 8, 1837 he married Miss Jane Widner. They have had ten children,. six now living One son-George, enlisted in the 3d Iowa Battery, and now fills a soldiers grave at Little Rock Arkansas. The six children now living are-Artemissa, now Mrs. L. Scott; Alice, now Mrs. Augustus Homan; Mary Jane, now Mrs. Thos. Richardson; William F., Solomon M. and Charles La Fayette.

A. Bongar, one of Etna's early settlers and prominent farmers, is a native of Ger- many, and was born in the year 1825. Mr. Bongar resided in his native country until 1855, when he came to the United States, and soon settled where he now resides, and has since made farming a business. In 1880 he gave seven acres of land to the B. C .- R. & N. Railroad Company, and thereby succeeded in having the station of Cleves located near his residence. He owns

677

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

about 200 acres of well improved land. In 1864 Miss Tena Myers became his wife. She died in June, 1881, leaving six child- ren, five of whom are now living-John, Katie, Ellen, Minnie and Nantke. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and religion, a Baptist.

Among the pioneers of 1855 is found Joseph Strahorn. He had purchased 500 acres before coming to the county, but of this he gave his sons 340 acres, so that at the time of his death, which took place July 20, 1876, he owned 160 acres, valued at about $3,000. Mr. Strahorn was a na- tive of Chester county, Pa .; born in 1805. He married Miss Eliza Alcott, and in 1853 emigrated to Iowa, and first settled in Cedar county. His wife died December 1, 1877. They had twelve children, eleven now living-Mary Jane, George K., Han- nah, Samuel, Lizzie, Belle, Joseph, Frank, Jesse, William and Anna.

I. M. Lieser, oldest son of Augustus and Mary Ann (Humphreys) Lieser, was born in Hardin county, on January 1, 1857. He was educated at Cornell College, of Mt. Vernon, where he graduated in the Normal course, in 1879. In 1880 he purchased the business of Wilson & Jenkens, of Abbott, and has since been doing a general mer- cantile business. October 1, 1879, he mar- ried Miss Isabelle M. Wilson, and they now have two children-Melvin A. and Ray Gilbert.

Wesley L. Lieser was born in Hardin county, May 26, 1861. He received a good education at Mt. Vernon and Cedar Rapids, and now, with his brother Frank, who is four years his junior, has charge of the homestead.

John Stotser, a native of Switzerland, born in 1816, came to the United States with his parents when he was but eleven years of age. He first lived in Pittsburg, Pa., then in Vermillion county, Ind .; after- wards in Stephenson county, Ill., and in 1857 came to Hardin county, and became a resident of Etna township. He now owns 200 acres of land. Mr. Stotser, in 1837, married Miss Hannah Hathaway. Their children are: Mary Jane, Elizabeth, Han- nah, Maria, Sarah, Louise, George and Mahala. The oldest son, William, enlisted in the United States service, and now fills a soldier's grave having fallen at the battle of Pittsburg Landing.

George William Leverton, a son of Wil- liam and Mary Ann (Kelley) Leverton, was born in Cook county, Ill., January 5, 1852. He came to Hardin county with his pa- rents. Here he helped till the soil, re- ceived a good common school education, and subsequently had charge of his fath- er's farm. In February, 1874, he married Miss Luella Stiarwalt. In 1878 he located at Abbott, where he has since been en- gaged in a brokerage business, He also deals in stocks, etc., and owns considerable real estate. Mr. Leverton is a very agree- able and accommodating gentleman, plain and unassuming in his appearance, and very highly esteemed by his fellow men. They have one child-May.

FIRST BIRTH.

. The first birth was Martha, a daughter to Daniel Richardson and wife, born Sep- tember 7, 1854. She is now the wife of Edwin Bedford, living on section 22.

678

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

FIRST MARRIAGE.

The first marriage was August Leiser to Mary Ann Humphreys, August 5, 1855, at the home of the bride's parents, by the Rev. E. C. Crippen. She died April 24, 1880, and he was killed by a horse June 9, 1882. Both are buried in the Hazel Green cemetery.

FIRST DEATHS.

The first death was a man by the name of Thomas Downs, who was frozen to death March 22, 1856, and is buried in Franklin county.

Thomas E. Shumway died June 5, 1856, of lung fever, and is buried on the north- east corner of the northeast quarter of section 33. He was the first buried in the township.

There is only one regular cemetery in the township, located on section 33, and known as the Hazel Green cemetery. The first interments were Mrs. Wm. P. Rich- ardson, and twin daughters, in July, 1856. There is a private burial place of the Steenblock family, located on the south- east quarter of the northeast quarter of section 35.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school house was built during the winter of 1864-5, of hewed logs, by the people in the neighborhood, each one contributing either money, work, or mate- rial. The size of the building was 18x22. It was located on the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34, on land owned by Ichabod Lathrop. The first school was taught during the summer of 1855, by Martha George. The attendance was 21

scholars. There are at present nine school houses in the township, eight of which are frame, and cost from $500 to $1,000 apiece. The districts are all independent.

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious services were held at the house of David Hawk, on the south- west corner of section 34, in November, 1853, by Rev. E. C. Crippen, a Methodist divine.

A CENTENARIAN.

On Saturday evening, January 15, 1876, Edward Graham died in Etna township, aged 101 years. He was born December 31, 1775. His ancestry was of the sturdy Scotch-Irish combination. His parents lived on the banks of the Ashley river, near Charleston, S. C. In 1791, when Gen- eral Washington visited Charleston, Mr. Graham was sixteen years old, and came in from his. home in the country to gaze upon the countenance of that hero who was "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen." When Lafayette visited Charleston, Edward Gra- ham was then a man who had lived his half century, but he went to the city to welcome the friend of his country in its infancy-the friend of his country's savior, in his youth. Mr. Graham voted at every Presidential election in this century up to the time of his death, his last vote being for General Grant.

REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Frederick Kelocow is a native of Ger- many, born in 1836. He came to the United States in 1854, and first settled in Racine county, Wis., when he worked at

679

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

various employments in that and Jefferson county for eleven years. He then came to Iowa, as he had previously purchased 120 acres of his present farm. In 1866, he returned to Wisconsin, and married Sabra Farver, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. They now have six children-Ellen, Frank, Idella, Elmer, Seymour and Henry.

Robt. P. Wilson, of the firm of Risse & Wilson, was born in Clinton county, Pa., in 1843, and, when ten years of age, he removed with his parents to Stephenson county, Ill. Here, in 1861, he enlisted in Company A, of the 46th Illinois, and served until January 20, 1865, serving as fifer in a drum corps. He then came to Hardin county, and, in 1867, married Miss Maria Stotser. He continued farm- ing until he engaged in his present busi- ness. Their children are, Minnie, Willie, Frank and Mollie.

John Windecker is a native of Wayne county, N. Y., born in 1844. In 1850, the family removed to "Stephenson county, Ill., and in 1861, the subject of this sketch en- listed in Company A, 46th Illinois, and served over four years. In the fall of 1865, he came to Iowa, and has since resided in Hardin county. In 1869, he married Miss Sarah C. Stotser. Their children are, Otis, Hiram, Etta and Arthur.

Martin E. Ryken was born in Holland, February 15, 1829, and learned the carpen- ter's trade in his native country. He came to 'America in 1854, and settled in Stephen- son county, Ill., where he worked at his trade for three years, and, until 1866, was engaged in farming; but, being ambitious for more land, he came to Etna and bought land on section 10, where he now owns 400 acres. He was married in 1858 to

Anette Pemen, a native of Hanover. Three children were born to them-Peter, Ever- bert and John. Mrs. Ryken died August 15, 1865. Mr. Ryken was again married, in 1866, to Frouke Rykena, his present wife.

Herman Reitsmeyer is a native of Prus- sia, and was born in 1829. He came to the United States in 1852, and worked at the carpenter's trade at Freeport, Ill., until 1867. He then came to Hardin county, and settled in Etna township, where he now owns 240 acres of land, which he cul- tivates, and also works some at his trade. Mr. Reitsmeyer was married in 1855 to Miss Barbara Fisher. They have five children-Herman, Mary, Pauline, Lois and Ella. In religion, they are of the Lutheran faith.

James B. Hathaway, who resides on section 31, Etna township, is a native of Vermillion county, Ind., and was born April 2, 1839, his parents being Daniel and Mary (Blair) Hathaway. In 1842 the family removed to Illinois, where, in 1844, the father died, and in 1846 the mother, with her four children, removed to Ohio, and there married James Shaw. In 1857, James B. Hathaway commenced steamboat- ing on the Ohio river, and followed the same about three years, and then located at Freeport, Illinois. In 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 46th Illinois, and served nine months, when he was discharged on account of disability. In 1863, he returned to Ohio, and in 1864 came back to Free- port, Ill., where he again enlisted, this time in Battery H, Illinois Light Artillery. and served until the close of the war. He then resided at Freeport, until 1867, when he came to Hardin county. December 25,

. 680

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

1873, he married Miss Ella Bird, daughter of E. M. Bird. They have three children Edna, Mabel and Myrtle.

Samuel Patten was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, July 19, 1848. He was the youngest of seven children, and was left motherless when only two years old, but lived with his father until 1864, when he enlisted in Company B of the fifteenth Illinois, and served until the close; was a prisoner at Andersonville for seven months. In 1869 he came to Hardin county, and in April, 1871, married Miss Louisa Stotes. The children living are-Robert, Jennie, George and Harry. Samuel died August 11, 1882.

Frank P. Strahorn, a son of Joseph and Eliza (Alcot) Strahorn, was born in Chester county, Penn., in 1851. He came to Har- din county with his parents; received a common school education, and in 1875 married Miss Cynthia Bird. They have four children-Herbert, Nellie, Harry and Ray. Mr. Strahorn owns 160 acres of land on section 29, which is valued at forty dollars per acre.

William Stiarwalt was born in the State of Ohio, in the year 1820. He was bred to a farm life, and resided in his native State until he reached his majority. He then migrated to Knox county, Ill., and commenced work at the carpenter's trade. In 1858 he came to Iowa, continued his trade at Earlville, Delaware county, two years, then went to Dubuque, where for six years he was engaged in the lumber búsi- ness, and subsequently in the manufacture of paper. In 1870 Mr. Stiarwalt came to Hardin county, and located in Etna town- ship, where he has since succeeded in lo- cating Abbott Station. He is now Station

and Express Agent and Postmaster. In 1858, at LaCrosse, Wis., Mr. Stiarwalt mar- ried Mrs. Catharine Euke. They have an adopted daughter -- Luella, now the wife of George W. Leverton.

TOWN OF ACKLEY.

The town of Ackley is situated on Bea- ver creek, a tributary to the Cedar. Its location is an excellent one, being sur- rounded by as rich a farming country as can be found in the State. It was first surveyed and platted in 1857, for a com- pany composed of William J. Ackley, Henry L. Huff, Roby R. Parriott, Abagail Parriott, A. J. Parriott and Malinda Par- riott. The plat was filed for record De- cember 12, 1857.

When the town was first laid out it was thought that the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad would, in a short time, be com- pleted to the place; but the hopes of its projectors were doomed to disappoint- ment. The monetary crisis of 1857 was first experienced, and the hard times suc- ceeding put an end to almost every rail- road enterprise, and every enterprise, of any kind. The war succeeding turned the attention of the people to the fact that the Union must first be saved, or these grand enterprises contemplated would be of little worth. So it was that Ackley was but a paper town for eight long years after it was laid out. In the meantime Ankney & Huff, and the Parriotts sold out their interests in the town to Mr. Ackley, who became the sole proprietor. This was fortunate for Mr. Ackley, as the sequel will show. Subsequently Burns & Foster and Mr. Schrieber made addition to the place.

J. Suthiop

683

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

THE BEGINNING.

In 1863, Jesse C. Foster, from North Carolina, came and located adjoining the village plat in the grove, and there opened a general store. As the surrounding country was settled to a considerable degree, he thought it would be a good opening for business, and his reasoning was correct. Here he met with good success, which continued without opposi- tion for two years, or until that mighty herald of civilization, the locomotive, awakened from sleep the dreamers in and around Ackley. At this time the town site was nothing but naked prairie, inter- spersed with brush, and beyond its name Ackley had no existence. No sooner was the railroad established, however, than enterprising men from the east, whose foresight enabled them to discover that Ackley was destined to be a town of great importance and prosperity, came and settled here, and an enterprising town sprang up as if by magic. The signal for people to rush to Ackley, was the com- pletion of the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad to this point.

Just before the railroad was completed to Ackley, Carton & Joseph began the erection of an elevator, which is still standing, and is owned by Mr. Carton. This was the first building commenced in Ackley. But, to William Francis, belongs the honor of completing the first building on Main street, in which he opened a stock of general merchandise, and was therefore the first merchant. (The Committee on re- vision appended to this statement the fol- lowing note: The first store on the town plat was opened by Secrist & Mershon, in the early spring of 1865, and located in the same

block where the German Methodist Church now stands, in which they remained until the fall of 1865, when they built near where Kolar's blacksmith shop now stands, and soon after moved to main street.)

Jesse C. Foster realizing that it would not do for him to remain longer in the timber, erected a building on the north side of Main street, to which he removed shortly after Mr. Francis com- pleted and occupied his store-room. About the time these store-rooms were being fitted up, Mr. Burns, as well as Carton & Joseph, was engaged in erecting a ware- house and elevator. The elevator of Car- ton & Joseph was commenced on the 1st day of July, 1865; on the 14th of October the firm placed in the building one of the large platform scales of Fairbanks,and on the 16th of October purchased the first load of grain.

M. Burns, for a long time previous to his coming to Ackley, had been engaged in the lumber trade at Cedar Falls, but being satisfied that the former place would, in the course of time, take the lead of the latter, he disposed of his business at the Falls and established a lumber yard at Ackley, hauling by team, under con- siderable difficulties, over one hundred thousand feet of lumber from Aplington, distant from Ackley about ten miles. About this time, or a little later, Mr. Eggert started another lumber yard, to which business he added that of dealing in agricultural implements. J. S. Nye, who is one of the early settlers, on his arrival, or shortly after, built a fine store, and entered upon the hardware business.

Among the first citizens of Ackley was John Rath, who, being in the employ of Mr. Burns, accompanied him to Ackley,

684

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

stopping on his way at Aplington to attend to the sending forward of lumber from this point to Mr. Burns in his new location, where he himself shortly after- wards arrived. By strict attention to duty, and being industrious and economical, in two years after his arrival he became a partner in the firms, and subsequently sole owner.

In September 1865, Ackley had but a few houses upon its town plat, but at the close of the year there were five stores, three elevators, two lumber yards, and several dwellings. Thus Ackley had its beginning.

During the next two years Ackley rapidly improved, since which time its growth has been slow but sure. It has never had any backsets, its growth keeping pace with the surrounding country.

FIRST THINGS.

The first store-house was built by Wil- liam Francis.

The first elevator by Carton & Joseph. The first jeweler was E. P. Ripley.

The first livery was kept by George Ly- man.

The first physician was Dr. Ghrist.

The first furniture store was kept by A. F. Meyer.

The first birth was that of Geo. A., son of Judd Bradley, in November, 1865.

The first death was that of Sarah Newell, daughter of B. Newell. Her body is in- terred in the Ackley cemetery.

The first brick block was erected in 1869, by Dr. W. H. Roberts, who has since occu- pied the same as a drug store.

Judd Bradley built the first dwelling house in Ackley.

The first load of wheat brought into Ackley was on October 16, 1865, and was bought by John A. Carton.

THE POSTOFFICE.

Long before the town of Ackley sprang into existence, a postoffice was established in the neighborhood, known as the Fon- taine Postoffice. Miner Gallop was the first Postmaster. Shortly before its removal to the town, he was succeeded by Joseph C. Knowles, who was the first Postmaster in the town. The office was moved here in the fall of 1865, just after the completion of the railroad to the place. The name of the office was changed to Ackley, on its removal. Mr. Knowles continued to dis- pense the favors of Uncle Sam at this point until Andy Johnson saw fit to re- move him, in 1867, when Julius Hoffman was appointed, who served until General Grant came into power, when his head, too, rolled into the basket, and E. P. Ripley became Postmaster. Mr. Ripley served until February, 1879, being succeeded by William Francis, the incumbent. A money order department was added to the office in 1871. Coleman P. Cain drew the first order in favor of Littlefield & Dane, Bos- ton, Massachusetts, for the sum of $2. Four hundred and sixty-two orders were issued that year. The business of the office in this department has gradually in- creased, until it amounts to $30,000 per year. Foreign as well as domestic orders are issued.

William Francis, the pioneer merchant of Ackley, and the present postmaster, is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1825. His father, Robert Francis, was a Protestant of Hueguenot stock, and his

685

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

mother, Delia (Donlan) Francis, was of Celtic descent. In 1834, the family emi- grated to America, and settled at Kings- ton, Canada. Robert Francis was a civil engineer at Fort Hemans, in the employ of the Royal Engineer Department of the British Government, and as such he had the superintending of the building of the light-houses on the Canada side of the St. Lawrence river, at Thousand Islands, the construction of the lock and dam at St. Ann's Island, Montreal, and the widening of the Lachine canal. The subject of this sketch was educated to the lumber trade, and at the age of twenty-one he engaged in business, and continued the same until 1856. He then came to the United States and entered the employ of a large lumber firm at Oconto, Wisconsin, as agent in full charge; but, as the firm was obliged to succumb during the panic of 1857, Mr. Francis, in 1858, returned to Canada, and again engaged in a lumber business. But during his stay in Wisconsin he became too strongly attached to Western life to permit him to live contented in Canada. He therefore, in 1860, migrated to Chicago, Ill., and in the fall of the same year he removed to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he engaged in a general mercantile business. In 1865, when the Illinois Central Rail- road was pushing westward, Mr. Francis concluded to go farther west, and locate in some new town, and there pursue his busi- ness. This idea brought him to Ackley. Here, he built the building now occupied by the postoffice, and in it kept the first regular store in the town of Ackley. Mr. Francis continued in the mercantile line until 1879, since which time he has been Postmaster of Ackley. Mr. Francis is a

man who thinks a great deal of home. - He has one of the finest residences in the city, and his family is supplied with all the re- quirements of the best social life. He has always aided every enterprise tending to build up or advance the interest of his. town. He aided in securing the Central Railroad of Iowa, and was one of its first Directors. He is a Republican in politics, was the first Mayor of Ackley, and has always taken an active part in education. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a charter member of Lodge No. 219, of Ackley, and a citizen who is highly re- spected. Mr. Francis was married at Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1862, to Miss Amelia Bradley, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they have had six children, three of whom are now living-Cora A., William and Robert.

INCORPORATION.

The village of Ackley was incorporated . in 1869. The first officers were: William Francis, Mayor; William H. Roberts, Re- corder; E. S. Ensign, F. Eggert, H. Trainer, J. S. Nye and E. J. Higgins, Trustees; John Diller, Marshal; John A. Carton, Treasurer. Its present officers are: W. B. Bonacker, Mayor; Eugene T. Tool, Re- corder; John C. Lusch, Treasurer; F. C. Williams, Marshal; John A. Carton, John Rath, G. G. Tiddens, L. O. Taylor, J. S. Nye, Sr., and E. J. Higgins, Councilmen; J. H. Hurley and S. Bloch, Justices.

ATTORNEYS.

The first attorneys to locate in Ackley were Charles E. Clough and S. A. Read, who came in 1865. They both left some time after. The present members of the

686

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Bar are J. H. Scales, W. V. Allen, Fred Gilman, A. M. Bryson, Daniel Eiler and John S. Roberts. [See Chapter on the Bar.]

Mr. Eiler's sketch should appear among the members of the bar, but was misplaced, and is therefore given in this connection:

Daniel Eiler is a son of Philip and Fredreka Eiler, and was born in Waukesha, Wis., on the 21st day of January, 1857. In 1868 the family came to Iowa, and settled at Cedar Falls. Here the subject of this sketch entered the public schools, and sub- sequently the State Normal School, where he graduated in 1879. After leaving school, Mr. Eiler pursued the study of law with J. J. Tolerton as preceptor; in Jan- uary, 1882, was admitted to the bar, at Waterloo, and has since been located at Ackley, engaged in a general law and col- lection business.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician to locate here was Dr. J. W. Ghrist, who came in the summer of 1865, and remained about ten years, when he moved to Waterloo. The medi- cal profession is now represented by W. H. Roberts, J. L. Potter, J. McDermott, J. S. Kelso and W. M. Hill.

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.

History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 80

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002