USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume II > Part 23
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In 1865 Mr. Heckelsmiller was united in marriage to Miss Odelia Gerlich, who was born in 1844 in the same village which her husband claims as the place of his nativity. In 1851 she came to America with her parents, John and Margaret Gerlich, the family taking up their abode in Galena, Illinois, where both passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heckelsmiller were born ten children, but only four of that number still survive : Mathias, residing in South Dakota; Stephen, who died at the age of eighteen months; John, who passed away in infancy ; Adam, also deceased; Theo., who died when twelve years of age; Katie, whose death occurred in infancy ; Charles, who also passed away in infancy ; Ida, the wife of Roy Brown, of Michigan; Josephine, who married Seymour Brown and also makes her home in Michigan; and Frank, still at home. In 1903 the wife and mother was called to her final rest, her demise occurring on the 21st of September, and aside from her family she left a large number of warm friends to mourn her loss.
Mr. Heckelsmiller is a communicant of the Catholic church, the teachings of which form the guiding influence of his life, while his political allegiance is
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given to the republican party. He has never sought public preferment, how- ever, as the reward for party fealty, although he has ever cooperated in those movements which have for their object the upbuilding and growth of the com- munity and he takes commendable interest in all those things which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. Starting out in life at an early age to earn his own livelihood, he has placed his dependence entirely upon the safe qualities of energy, industry and perseverance and thereby made steady prog- ress in the business world, his life labors being crowned with creditable and honorable success.
LOYAL GODARD.
By the consensus of public opinion Loyal Godard is accorded a position as one of the most prominent and popular agriculturists of Jackson county. He has been very successful as the years have gone by, his prosperity being won through close application, unfaltering perseverance and intelligently directed labors. He is one of Jackson county's native sons, his birth having occurred in South Fork township, September 29, 1848. His parents were Milton and Amoret (Clark) Godard, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Massachusetts. Both were representatives of old New England families and their marriage was celebrated in Trumbull county, Ohio, whither Mrs. Godard had removed in her girlhood days in company with her parents. The father had previously married in Connecticut and had removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he purchased forty acres of timber land. This he proceeded to clear and cultivate. After coming to Iowa but before moving his family to this state he lost his first wife and later wedded Amoret Clark, by whom he had two children. He came to Jackson county in 1843, making the journey on foot. Three years were to elapse ere Iowa was admitted to the Union and the work of development and improve- ment seemed scarcely begun within the present borders of the state. He entered three hundred and twenty acres of land in one body and eighty acres in another tract in this county and twenty acres in Clinton county, after which he returned to Ohio, but did not remove with his family to this county until a year or two later. He then located on his farm of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he resided until his death, in 1897. He was one of the earliest settlers of this part of the state and took active and helpful interest in transforming the wild lands into productive fields and in carrying forward the work of progress along lines leading to substantial results. He was a republican in his political views and served for one term as a member of the board of county supervisors. In his district he was an influential citizen, doing much to mold public thought and opinion and laboring at all times for the benefit and improvement of the county in which he made his home. A son by his first marriage, Alphonso Godard, en- tered the army from Jackson county, becoming a member of the Thirty-first Iowa Infantry. He contracted chronic diarrhea and was brought home by his father, dying here, July 6, 1862.
LOYAL GODARD
MRS. LOYAL GODARD
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Loyal Godard was reared on his father's farm, where his experiences included the hardships and privations that usually fall to the lot of the pioneer. His edu- cational opportunities were limited, for during his boyhood days his parents were working to pay for their land and it was necessary that Loyal Godard should aid in cultivating the fields. On reaching his twenty-second year he sought em- ployment in a carriage shop in Maquoketa, where he remained for about a year. He then returned home and rented the farm which he continued to operate until 1899. In the meantime, however, he had acquired the ownership of two hundred and forty acres of the farm and as time passed on he diligently and successfully cultivated his fields, winning a substantial competence as the reward of his labors. In 1899 he purchased seventeen and a half acres bordering the city limits of Maquoketa and erected the present handsome suburban residence which he now occupies, living here a retired life.
In 1869 occurred the marriage of Mr. Godard and Miss Emma Crevlin, of Jackson county, whose birth occurred, however, in Pennsylvania. Unto this union were born eight children, of whom six still survive, namely: Elmer, of Delmar Junction ; Martin, residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Milton, of South Fork township, Jackson county, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits ; Walter, Perlia and Arthur, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Godard is an earnest republican and for several years past has served in various township offices, acting at different times as trustee, clerk, treasurer and member of the school board. In all of these posi- tions he has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity, for he is deeply interested in the welfare and improvement of this section of the state and has therefore been active in conserving its interests through the field of political ser- vice. He belongs to Peerless Lodge, No. 60, K. P., and Ben De Meer Temple, No. 12, D. O. K. K., while both he and his wife hold membership in the Metho- dist Episcopal church. They have here a circle of friends coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance, and their home is justly celebrated for its warm- hearted and cordial hospitality. In manner Mr. Godard is genial and his unfail- ing courtesy and deference for the opinions of others are qualities which have made for him a firm place in the regard of those with whom he has been asso- ciated. The sound knowledge that he has displayed in business affairs and his unremitting diligence have constituted the foundation of his success and as the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well.
NICHOLAS C. BISDORF.
Iowa numbers among her native sons Nicholas C. Bisdorf, a progressive and enterprising merchant, of Bellevue, whose birth occurred in Black Hawk county on the 2d of May, 1872. His parents, Nicholas and Eva (Johnas) Bisdorf, were natives of Germany, the former born on the 27th of September, 1838, and the lat- ter September 26, 1835. They were reared and married in the old country, after which they came to the United States, landing in New York on the day of Lin- coln's assassination. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that
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pursuit until his retirement from active life. He still survives and makes his home in Bellevue, but his wife has now passed away, her death occurring on the 24th of December, 1907. Their family consisted of eight children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: Bertha, the wife of John Faxon, of Milwau- kee, Wisconsin; Anna, the deceased wife of Sam Elmer, of Dubuque, Iowa, by whom she had three children; Mary, who wedded Henry Wideman, after whose death she became the wife of Ben Stames, of Milwaukee; Jacob, a farmer of Bellevue township; Nicholas C., of this review; Tony, residing in Bellevue; and Eva, the wife of George Saunders, of Chicago. The two oldest members of this family were born in Germany.
When the subject of this sketch was but a year old he was brought by his parents to Bellevue and here continued to reside until seven years of age. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Dubuque, where he remained until fifteen years of age, when the family again took up their abode in this city. His education was acquired in the public schools of Dubuque and Bellevue, re- maining a student therein until sixteen years of age. He completed his training by a course in the high school, although he did not graduate from that institu- tion. After laying aside his text books he started out in the business world on his own account, being employed in the capacity of clerk in the general store of A. C. Sieverding for six years. At the expiration of that period he succeeded Mr. Sieverding in business, which had originally been established by Matt Mosler, one of the pioneer merchants of this district, who sold the business to Mr. Siev- erding, who in turn disposed of it to Mr. Bisdorf on the 27th of January, 1896. Since that time the latter has concentrated his energies on its management, care- fully planning for the expansion of the trade, working out his plans in such a man- ner that his efforts have been crowned with most gratifying success, and he to- day is the proprietor of one of the most extensive and important mercantile en- terprises of the community. In 1898 he erected his present store building, which in architecture and appointment is one of the finest in the entire county. It is a brick structure, thirty-three by ninety feet, consisting of two stories and a base- ment, and he also has a warehouse forty by fifty feet, the entire space in both buildings being utilized for the conduct of a general mercantile business. Not only is the store modern and up to date in point of equipment but he carries a well selected line of goods valued at thirty-five thousand dollars. The Weis wardrobe system in use in the store was the first to be introduced in the state. It extends the entire length of the store and was installed at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. The safe and reliable policy which Mr. Bisdorf has instituted in the control of his business has gained the confidence of the public, while the extensive trade which is carried on over the counters of his store is due in large measure to the fact that, realizing that satisfied customers are the best advertise- ment, he has closely studied the needs of the public and endeavors in every way to meet the demands of his patrons.
Wise investment of his money has also been one of the salient features in Mr. Bisdorf's success. He is a stockholder in the Bellevue Piano Company, one of the most important industrial enterprises in the community, and, realizing that there is no safer investment than real estate, he has from time to time pur- chased land in the Dakotas, Kansas and Wisconsin, until today he is the owner
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of eleven hundred and sixty acres in those states, constituting him one of the ex- tensive property owners in this region.
On the 24th of October, 1895, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bisdorf and Miss Minnie L. Glade, a native of Jackson county and a daughter of John Henry and Minnie (Etting) Glade, natives of Germany and Jackson county respectively. The mother has now passed away but the father still survives and makes his home in Bellevue. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bisdorf have been born two children: Dorothea Glade, whose birth occurred on the 4th of January, 1905; and Clar- ence Corinthian, born on the 28th of December, 1906.
Mr. Bisdorf has been a member of the Commercial Club since its organization, and although he is deeply interested in all matters pertaining to the general wel- fare and does all in his power to further the best interests of the community, he has no desire for public office. He prefers rather to concentrate his energies upon the management of his business affairs, which, carefully conducted, are proving a source of gratifying success. Placing his dependence upon the safe and sub- stantial qualities of energy and industry, his close application and sound judg- ment have advanced him rapidly in the business world and the prosperity which he today enjoys has come to him as the legitimate and logical result of in- telligence and well directed effort.
WILLIAM MORAN.
William Moran has occupied no inconspicuous place in the public life of Prairie Spring township and as a farmer has won a success that is gratifying and entitles him to be numbered among the substantial citizens of the com- munity. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, January 6, 1850, his parents being Michael and Catherine (Fitzpatrick) Moran, natives of Counties Long- ford and Wexford, Ireland, respectively. The father came to the United States in 1837 and after living in New York for a time went to Kentucky, where he was married. In 1857 he came to Jackson county, Iowa, settling in Prairie Spring township, where he secured a tract of land and lived until his death in 1896.
William Moran was about seven years of age when he was brought to this state and from that time was reared in Jackson county, attending the district schools near his home in the acquirement of an education through the winter months and in the summer seasons engaging in the general work of the farm. He remained with his father until he reached the age of thirty-two years, when he purchased the tract of land on which he is now living. The experience of former years had well qualified him for the responsibilities that devolved upon him as an independent farmer and subsequently he met with great success, obtaining a generous income from the sale of his crops.
It was on the 19th of April, 1882, that Mr. Moran was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Kirk, a daughter of Frank Kirk, formerly a resident of Jackson county, Iowa, but now living in Dubuque. Mrs. Moran died October 26, 1901. Twelve children were born to the couple, seven of whom are now
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living, as follows: William, Faustina, Leo Joseph, Marie, Catherine, John B. and Donald E. The eldest is employed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and is a resident of Dubuque, but the others are living at home.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Moran has in- variably voted the democratic ticket, having firm faith in the principles of the party as conducive to good government. His fellow citizens, recognizing his ability and integrity of purpose and action, have called him to several offices, and he has served acceptably as justice of the peace, as mayor of Lamotte for two terms and as a member of the county board of supervisors for two terms. He also rendered valuable service while a school director, in this capacity, as in those previously mentioned, displaying a sincere desire to promote the progress and advancement of the community in every way possible. His public, like his private life, has been without shadow of suspicion or stain of dishonor, and now at the age of sixty years he enjoys not only a com- fortable income, which is the reward of his labor, but also the unqualified re- spect of his fellowmen, which is the more satisfying compensation for years spent honorably and in strict conformance to high ideals of manhood.
C. H. PATTERSON, JR.
One of the native farmers of Maquoketa township whose well directed labor and economy has secured for him success in agricultural pursuits is C. H. Pat- terson, Jr. He was born June 8, 1860, a son of C. H. and Lorinda (Pate) Pat- terson. The former was born in Jackson county but the latter was a native of Tompkins county, New York. In 1855 or 1856 he came to Iowa and bought a farm in this county, on which he lived until his death, June 28, 1898. His wife survived him almost a decade passing away May 18, 1907. They had eight chil- dren : George, deceased; C. H., the subject of this sketch; Jesse, who is living in Maquoketa township; Elmer B., deceased; William E. and Archie W., both resi- dents of Maquoketa township; Nellie B., the wife of Bert Shattuck, now residing in Texas; and Viola M., the wife of Harry Rogers.
Reared in this county and to the life of a farmer, C. H. Patterson, Jr., re- ceived such education as was afforded to boys by the common schools near his home. Until he was twenty-four years of age he remained with his parents, as- sisting his father in the operation of the homestead, and then rented a farm of his own. Four years later he bought a tract of fifty-one and a half acres in Maquoketa township, to which he added as the years brought bountiful re- turns for his labor. He also invested in land in Kansas, owning now two hun- dred and forty acres in that state.
It was on the 15th of October, 1884, that was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Patterson and Miss Carrie E. Thomas, who was born in Andrew, this county, November 12, 1864. Her father is Benjamin F. Thomas, one of the leading at- torneys of Maquoketa, and her mother was Miss Mary E. Gallow in her maidenhood. Mrs. Patterson was a school teacher before her marriage. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson. Benjamin H. was graduated
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from the Maquoketa high school and later from Brown's Business College in Davenport. After having attended Peoria Training school, he is now engaged in educational work in Champaign, Illinois. Pansy Evelyn, born April 3, 1887, died February 23, 1905, and was laid to rest in the Bridgeport cemetery.
Mr. Patterson has always voted the democratic ticket and has been identified with the best interests of his township, which has been his home throughout life, rendering efficient service as trustee, assessor and school treasurer. Fraternally he holds membership in lodge No. 33, I. O. O. F., at Maquoketa, and has filled all the chairs. His well directed industry and his conspicuous good management have won for him a pronounced success as a farmer, while the principles for which he has stood in his official life have secured for him the esteem a generous people ever extend to men of proved honor and integrity.
SAMUEL WALTERS.
Dr. Samuel Walters, who has been a resident of Jackson county for a num- ber of years, now makes his home in Spragueville, where he is engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery. He was born in Pennsylvania, March 15, 1840, and is the only child of George and Elizabeth Walters, who were also natives of the Keystone state. Toward the close of their lives they settled in Illinois, which remained their home until their deaths.
Dr. Walters received the advantages of a common school education, which was supplemented by the practical experience in agriculture he obtained while as- sisting his father in cultivating the home farm. He was thus busily engaged until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when, in 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In the three years of his service he participated in a number of fiercely contested battles, among which may be mentioned that of Perry Hill, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. At the culmination of hostilities he was mustered out of the army in Tennessee and returned to Illinois, whence he came to Jackson county, Iowa, and located on a farm in Van Buren township. For some years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits but for a quarter of a century has devoted his time to the practice of veterinary surgery, in which he has met with good success. He owns a nice home in Spragueville, where he now resides.
It was in 1866 that Dr. Walters wedded Miss Clara E. Shaw, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Joseph and Hope Shaw. They have eight children, as follows: Frank E .; Samuel, who is at home; Emma, the wife of William Lillie, of this county ; Viola, the wife of William Dalton, of Clinton county, Iowa ; Lila, who is the wife of Clarence Berk, of Springfield, Illinois; Bernice, who married Oliver Byers, of Illinois ; Nellie, the wife of Emil Stocker, of Clinton county ; and Isabel, who is a nurse and lives in Chicago.
Dr. Walters still holds to the Dunkard faith, in which he was reared, and gives his political endorsement to the republican party. He believes in its prin- ciples and rejoices in its success, but he has never been an aspirant for official preferment. On the contrary he has been content to devote himself to his work,
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making good use of all his opportunities, and as the years have gone he has steadily progressed, winning a good home for himself and family. The upright- ness of his life is worthy of emulation, while the fact that he belongs to the rapidly diminishing fraternity of Grand Army veterans, makes even his presence an inspiration to the patriotism of the young men and women who come in contact with him.
JOHN HENRY ANDERSON.
John Henry Anderson, who is the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in Jackson county and to some extent gives his attention to its oper- ation, is perhaps more widely known as a builder of bridges and in connection with his son he is now conducting business under the name of Anderson & Son. The latter business so fully claims his time and attention that he ex- pects in the near future to abandon his agricultural pursuits and remove to Maquoketa, from which point he can superintend his interests to better ad- vantage.
He was born in Jackson county in 1849, the eldest son and third in order of birth in a family of twelve children, whose parents were Joseph A. and Mary E. (Ellis) Anderson, the former born in Kentucky in 1817, and the latter in Indiana in 1828. The father had but limited educational advantages, attending school only about three months. He was a lad of eleven years when he left the Blue Grass state and removed to Indiana, where he was reared and married. He started out to make his own way in the world at a very early age, following the occupation of farming, which continued to be his work to the time of his death. In 1848 he came to Iowa and took up one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government. At that time he had a team and three dollars in cash but he diligently applied himself to the task of develop- ing and improving a new farm and as time passed he met with success, but although he provided a good living for himself and family, his generosity did not allow him to accumulate much wealth. However, he had many warm, friends and was a devoted and consistent member of the Christian church, in the faith of which he passed away in 1882, when he had reached the age of sixty-five years. The old homestead farm on which he lived and died is now owned by Artie McDonald. The mother of our subject was called to her reward many years previously, her death occurring in 1866, when she was but thirty-eight years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born twelve children, two daughters and two sons living; Mrs. Mary E. McDonald; Mrs. Sarah J. Carrington ; John H., of this review ; and Lewis E.
John H. Anderson was reared on the home farm and acquired his edu- cation in the common schools. He started out in the business world at an early age, following the occupation to which he had been reared. Later he . took up the work of bridge building and when he had reached the age of thirty- five years he had saved twelve hundred dollars. At that time, in 1884, he made his first purchase of land, becoming owner of eighty acres. As the years
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have passed he has added to his original holdings until he now owns four hundred acres all in one body. He gives a portion of his time to general farming and also raises stock, keeping about one hundred head of cattle, twenty-five head of horses and from fifty to seventy-five head of hogs annu- ally. He has also during all these years been engaged in bridge building, and his work in this connection has reached large proportions. In recent years his son Charles has been identified with him in the business and they are now operating under the firm style of Anderson & Son. They erected the first concrete bridge in Jackson county, and nearly all the bridges in the county, numbering fifteen hundred, have been built by them. Their work is done entirely in steel and concrete. In the near future, owing to his increase in business, Mr. Anderson expects to abandon farming and remove to Maquo- keta to give his entire time to the construction of bridges.
In the year 1880 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ward, a daughter of Paul and Mary Ward, of Jackson county, both now deceased. Mr. Ward was the first man to engage in building bridges in Jackson county and it was under his direction that Mr. Anderson first learned the business. In those days the bridges were made of wood, the timber being hewed by hand. The first bridge spanning the Maquoketa river was built by Mr. Ward, the foundation for the same being made by driving piles into the earth.
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