USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume II > Part 8
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MRS. CELESTA PARKINSON.
Mrs. Celesta Parkinson, residing on a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in South Fork township, enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest native citizens of the county, having been born in the house in which she now lives December 1, 1856. Her father, Franklin Battles, was a native of Vermont and was about thirteen years of age when he came to Jackson county, Iowa, with his parents. They located on the Page farm in South Fork township, and thereon Mr. Battles grew to manhood. On the Ist of January, 1855, he married Miss Ellen Slater, who was born in New York state and came to Jackson county, Iowa, as a child with her parents. They settled near Delmar and later removed to Jones county, locating north of the village of Onslow. Mr. and Mrs. Battles began housekeeping upon the farm in South Fork township, where Mrs. Parkinson now lives and where they spent the remainder of their lives, he being fifty-six years of age when on the 4th of September, 1883, he was called to his final rest, and his wife being fifty-nine when her death occurred.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Mrs. Parkinson in her girlhood days. She attended the public schools of South Fork township and enjoyed the social pleasures of the neighborhood. In 1875 she gave her hand in marriage to Albert Parkinson. In their family were five chil- dren, namely : Frank, who is deceased; John, who operates the home farm ; Ellen, who is the wife of John Mylhousen, of Clinton county, Iowa; Almon, who is deceased ; and Clark, who is residing in Glenwood, Iowa. John Parkinson is one of the well known young men of his township. He has given proof of un-
FRANK BATTLES
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MRS. ELLEN BATTLES
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
doubted business ability and of a character of high worth and enjoys the respect of a large circle of friends. Fraternally he is actively identified with Elwood lodge, No. 715, I. O. O. F., and with Elwood Camp, No. 4119, M. W. A.
Mrs. Parkinson is the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres' in South Fork township, where she lives, having inherited this property, together with sixty acres of timber land elsewhere in the county, from her parents. With the aid of her son she carries on the place, exercising a wise supervision of its business interests, while its attractive and well kept appearance is a visible evidence that she is capable, is imbued with progressive ideas and keeps in touch with the best methods of farming. Yet with all this capacity for able management she possesses true womanly traits, and both in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which she belongs, and outside of it she has made many warm and sincere friends.
GEORGE W. BLAKE.
Among the widely known and substantial citizens of South Fork town- ship must be numbered George W. Blake, who was born in Franklin county, New York, July 8, 1858, and is of sound New England stock, his parents being Winthrop P. and Paulina S. (Clary) Blake, the former a native of New Hampshire, the latter of Vermont. About the close of the Civil war they came to Iowa and located in Maquoketa, the father pursuing his trade which was that of a shoemaker. He was familiar not only with that but also with farming for while still a resident of the state of New York he had operated a farm in conjunction with shoemaking. He was successful in both lines, especially in that of shoemaking for he owned a crimping machine, then a rarety, and he had large government contracts for crimping and sewing the upper parts of boots. In fact he did all of the custom work for that part of country in which he lived. Upon coming to Maquoketa he continued shoe- making throughout his active years. He died March 3, 1881, in the seventy- ninth year of his age, and the mother of our subject survived for a number of years, passing away October 7, 1908, having nearly attained her eighty- third year.
George W. Blake was reared at home and acquired his education in the public schools and in the Maquoketa high school. His career as a wage- earner dates from his twelfth year. He spent three years and a half in the woolen mills of Maquoketa and following this worked for one season on the farm and another on the section, and then resumed farm work until after his twentieth year. About this time he entered upon his career as a market gardener and two years later took up floriculture in connection. In course of time he abandoned the latter, selling his green houses and substituting fruit growing, in which he still engages. He is very fortunate in possessing a twenty acre fruit farm within the city limits of Maquoketa. In 1897 Mr. Blake purchased one hundred and twenty acres of the homestead, upon which he and his family reside, and in 1905 he added an adjoining one hun- dred and sixty acres, in the latter year taking up his residence thereon.
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On July 2, 1881, Mr. Blake was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Miller, of Wilton Junction, Cedar county, Iowa. They have become the parents of three children. The eldest son, George F., is engaged in operating the fruit farm in Maquoketa. Harry C. works in partnership with his father in operating the home farm. Fred N. was graduated from the Maquoketa high school and now attends the State Agricultural College at Ames. Both Harry C. and Fred N. are gifted vocalists. The former has a fine tenor voice and his services are in demand upon all local occasions of note. Fred N. is a bass singer and is a member of the college glee club.
Mr. Blake is republican in politics and gives an intelligent consideration to all matters of public import. He has for years been a factor in his party's councils and is at present one of the board of trustees of South Park township. When in Maquoketa he served for two terms on the board of aldermen and for years has given splendid service as a director of the Farm- ers Institute of Jackson county, having in 1909 been elected to the presi- dency. Mr. Blake and his family give generous support to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which they are members, and that he is accounted one of its most valued factors is evinced by the fact that he holds the office of president of the church board of trustees, as well as serving as head usher. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the com- munity and as an exponent of the most scientific methods employed in all branches of agriculture he cannot but be powerfully influential in bringing about their general adoption. Moreover, as a man he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.
A. L. BROXAM.
A. L. Broxam, senior partner of the firm of Broxam & Hinckley, druggists of Maquoketa, holds high rank among the progressive business men of the city and also among those who are leaders in every movement pertaining to public progress and advancement. He was born in Welton, Clinton county, Iowa, December 16, 1867, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Lynch) Broxam, the former a native of Hull, England, and the latter of Youngstown, Ohio. The father came to the United States as a young man and after spending a year or two in the east located in Clinton county, Iowa, where he followed farming. He was one of the early set- tlers of this part of the state, taking up his abode here in the early '50s. He pur- chased land at a low figure, becoming owner of two farms which aggregated three hundred acres. As the years passed he successfully tilled his fields and brought his farms under a high state of cultivation, his labors in due course of time gain- ing for him the substantial competence which has enabled him to live retired in Maquoketa since 1892. He has ever been honorable and upright in his dealings, diligent and determined in business, and his prosperity is, therefore, well merited.
A. L. Broxam was reared under the parental roof and his experiences in youth were those that usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. He became acquainted with the common branches of English learning in the district schools, afterward
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attended the high school of Maquoketa and later pursued a business course at Dixon, Illinois. In 1892 he determined to become a druggist and to this end se- cured a position in a drug store in Dewitt, Iowa, where he remained until the fall of 1895, when he entered the Highland Park School of Pharmacy, in Des Moines. In March, 1896, his previous experience and his collegiate instruction enabled him to pass the examination before the state board of pharmacy, and he was granted his diploma. He then returned to Maquoketa and for one year worked as a phar- macist in the drug store of D. N. Loose & Company. On the expiration of that period he entered into partnership with Walter Doe, doing business under the firm name of Walter Doe & Company, which partnership existed for four or five years, when Mr. Broxam and E. L. Hinckley acquired Mr. Doe's interest in the firm. The business has since been carried on under the style of Broxam & Hinckley. and they are recoginized as the leading druggists of Maquoketa, having a large and well appointed store, in which they carry the best line of drugs manufac- tured together with all drug sundries and kindred lines. In addition to his mer- cantile interest Mr. Broxam figures in financial circles as a stockholder in the American Savings Bank and in the Farmers' and Citizens' Bank.
On the 25th of September, 1905, Mr. Broxam was married to Miss Alice Lan- dridge, of Maquoketa, and in the best social circles of the city they are cordially received. Mr. Broxam belongs to the Commercial Club and fraternally is con- nected with Helion Lodge, No. 36, A. F. & A. M .; Bath Kol Chapter, No. 94, R. A. M .; Tancred Commandery, No. 40, K. T .; Kaaba Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Davenport ; Peerless Lodge, No. 60, K. P .; and Ben De Meer Temple. No. 12, D. O. K. K. His wife holds membership in the Congregational church. Politically Mr. Broxam is a democrat and is now serving for the third term as a member of the city council. To him is due much credit for the paving of the streets and for other substantial and practical improvements. He is a man who believes in progress and has always been foremost in any movement tending to promote the interests of the city. He has never been so engrossed in private business affairs as to exclude his active participation in movements for the pub- lic good, and Maquoketa, therefore, profits by his labors and his wise counsel concerning municipal interests.
ANDREW J. YORK.
Andrew J. York was born in Clinton county, Indiana, March 5, 1843, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Frasier) York, both natives of Ohio. The family subsequently removed to Indiana, and in the Hoosier state he was reared and married and resided there until 1873. In that year he removed to Jackson county, Iowa, with his family, which then consisted of a wife and three children. He located on a farm in Farmers Creek township and in 1878 he purchased his present homestead of two hundred acres in South Fork township near Hurstville. Here he has by the employment of scientific methods brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, and he is accounted one of the successful general agriculturists. Mr. York is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted July 29, 1862, in Company
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B of the Eighty-Sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served until the close of the Rebellion, being mustered out of service in June 6, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee.
Mr. York was married to Miss Catherine Kamerer, of Carroll county, Indiana, September 29, 1868. To this union eight children were born, all of them growing to manhood and womanhood. They are: Cora, deceased; Wallace, a farmer of Maquoketa; Mary, the wife of J. K. Davis, of Maquoketa ; Lucy, deceased ; Ida, the wife of Bert Woods, of Farmers Creek township, Jackson county ; Minnie, the widow of E. S. Millikan, residing in Chicago, Illinois; Junie, the wife of Her- man A. Parker, of Chicago ; and Oscar, who still resides under the parental roof.
Mr. York gives loyal adherence to the men and measures of the republican party. He is a champion of education and for many years has served upon the school board, being a member at the present time. He is also connected with the board of trustees, this being his fifth term in office. He still keeps alive old mili- tary memories and associations by means of his membership in the A. W. Drips Post, No. 74, G. A. R. Both he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, whose good works always have their ready support. The esteem in which he is held by his fellowmen has been evinced by the public trust which they have reposed in him. He has reared his children to good citizenship, has husbanded the resources of that part of Jackson county which has fallen to his share, and has always been willing to shoulder his part of the com- mon duty, thus serving his country as well in time of peace as in time of war.
FRANK COVERDALE.
Frank Coverdale, one of the extensive landowners of Jackson county and regarded as an authority upon bee culture, being today one of the best known apiarists in the state of Iowa, makes his home in Maquoketa and his business interests are a source of commercial enterprise here. He was born October 4, 1861, in Clinton county, Iowa, about eight miles south of Maquoketa, on the old Coverdale homestead now owned by his brother, Elijah A. Coverdale. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Coverdale, were both natives of England, where they spent the period of their minority and were married. In 1850 they sailed for the United States and after three years spent in Aurora, Kane county, Illinois, came to Clinton county, Iowa, settling on what has since been known as the old homestead, the father purchasing a quarter section of land for which in its undeveloped condition he paid two dollars and a half per acre. With characteristic energy he began its development and as the years passed transformed the land into richly improved fields. As his financial resources increased he added to his property from time to time until his landed interests aggregated eight hundred and seventy-three acres at the time of his death, which occurred in 1890. His widow still sur- vives and now resides in Maquoketa with a daughter.
Frank Coverdale was reared on the old home farm, dividing his time be- tween the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the
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work of the fields. Thus his boyhood and youth passed and in early man- hood he made preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage on the 24th of January, 1884, to Miss Susan Benton, a native of Center Grove, Clinton county, and a daughter of George Benton, who was one of the first set- tlers of that county, where he located after his emigration from England. The young couple began their domestic life on a farm of two hundred and forty acres which was the property of his father. Since that time prosperity has attended them and, making judicious investment in land, Mr. Coverdale is today the owner of seven hundred and thirty-five acres of rich and arable land in Clinton and Jackson counties. He has placed his farms under a high state of cultivation and from his fields yet derives a substantial income. In his boyhood days he began the study of bee culture and in this field of labor has met with wonderful success, being today one of the best known apiarists of the state, his opinions being considered as authority by all who are interested in bee culture. He keeps many hundred stands and ships honey in car-load lots. He is thoroughly familiar with the best methods of propagating bees and producing high grade honey, so that his output finds a ready sale on the market. In 1899 he left the farm and removed to Ma- quoketa, where he has since resided. He still operates one tract of land, however, as an experimental farm for the cultivation of sweet clover.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coverdale were born nine children, seven of whom survive, namely : William, still at home; Ada, attending Brown's Business College at Davenport; Emily, also attending that institution; and Edna, Flossie, Frances and Alene, all still under the parental roof.
In his political views Mr. Coverdale is an earnest republican. well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day, but has always refused politi- cal preferment. He is well known fraternally, being a member of Helion Lodge, No. 36, A. F. & A. M .; Bath Kol Chapter, No. 94, R. A. M .; Tancred Commandery, No. 40, K. T., of which he has served as prelate; and is like- wise identified with Kaaba Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Davenport. Mr. Coverdale holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, is serving on its official board and contributes generously to its support and cooperates in all of its activities. His life has been a busy and useful one, crowned with that success which always follows intelligently directed labor, and the sterling traits of his manhood have gained him in this section of the state a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
HENRY MEYER.
Henry Meyer forms a part of the German element which played a prominent and important role in the settlement of Van Buren township. He was born in Hanover, Germany, March II, 1832, his parents being Conrad and Mary Meyer. They came to America in 1857, some time after Mr. Meyer's arrival on our shores, and remained here until their death. They were the parents of five ~hil- dren, two of whom survive.
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Henry Meyer came to America in 1853 about the time of attaining his major- ity, the fame of American opportunity having reached his ears, and many of his companions having preceded him in crossing the Atlantic to test personally the truth of these reports. He landed in Baltimore and after residing there for about six months came on to this county, within whose borders he has ever since made his home. Speedily securing work as a farm hand in the locality, he made this his means of livelihood for some five years. At the end of this period he found himself, by the exercise of thrift and industry, in a position to purchase land and he became the possessor of a forty acre farm in Van Buren township. In course of time he prospered sufficiently to buy a much larger tract of three hundred acres and still later added to his holdings one hundred and sixty acres more. He was a general farmer and made a specialty of the feeding and raising of cattle, his methods being scientific and progressive. In 1894 Mr. Meyer retired and removed to Preston, where he owns not only a substantial residence but six valuable lots in addition.
Mr. Meyer was married February 16, 1860, to Miss Dora Plough, who also was born in Germany, the date of her birth being January 26, 1842. She is the daughter of Ernest and Henrietta (Gerke) Plough, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are the parents of ten children: Emma, now the wife of Henry Kokkuk of Brookfield, Missouri; William, located at Elwood, Iowa; Minnie, the wife of Henry Griffith of Milford, Iowa; Lena, at home; Reba, who married Frank Washburn and lives in Chicago, Illinois; Herman, engaged in the cultivation of the home farm; Bertha, formerly a school teacher, now the wife of Tony Hollerman, of Jackson county; Mary, the wife of Arthur Rodewald; Arthur, located in Chicago, where he is engaged in teaching music; and Lula, the wife of George Wethers of Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are faithful and consistent members of the Lutheran church, the former having for twelve years lent his assistance in the management of its affairs in the capacity of trustee. He possesses the esteem of the com- munity, for it is generally recognized that his influence is of an uplifting and altruistic character.
HENRY LEHMKUHL.
Henry Lehmkuhl, devoting his entire time and attention to the cultivation of the soil, in which line of activity he is meeting with gratifying success, is num- bered among those representative American citizens who claim Germany as the place of their nativity, his birth there occurring November 13, 1847. His parents, George and Sophia (Berg) Lehmkuhl, who were also born in the fatherland, where they were reared and married. They came to America in 1857, the father passing away in New York state while he was on his way to Iowa. The mother with two children continued their journey westward, locating first in Jackson county, Iowa. Later she removed to Woodbury county, this state, and there her remaining days were spent. She was the mother of seven children, four of whom passed away in Germany ere the removal of the family to this country,
MR. AND MRS. HENRY LEHMKUHL
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while one son, Christ, died while crossing the Atlantic and was buried at sea. The two surviving members are: Henry, of this review; and Mary, the wife of Henry Meyer, of Ida county, Iowa.
Accompanying his parents on their removal to America in 1857, Henry Lehm- kuhl was a lad of ten years when he arrived in this country, and the death of his father made it necessary for him, even at that early age, to provide for his own support. The fact that he was dependent upon his own resources, however, but served to stimulate his ambition and determination, for it is only through the stress of necessity that the best in one is brought out and strengthened. He ob- tained employment as a farm hand on various farms throughout the district, and during the winter months, when the work was lighter and he could find the time, he attended the country schools, thereby gaining a fair knowledge of the English language. He continued in the capacity of farm hand until twenty-five years of age and during this time manifested those sturdy qualities of industry, frugality and thrift so characteristic of the Teutonic race.
When he felt that the capital which he had accumulated was sufficient to jus- tify such a step, he established a home of his own in his marriage in 1873 to Miss Caroline Nieland, who was born in Germany on the 25th of June, 1857, and was one of eight children born unto John and Dora (Witt) Nieland, also natives of Germany. They came to America in 1857, locating first in Scott county, Iowa, and after four years spent there they removed to Clinton county. Later, however, they came to Jackson county and here their remaining days were passed.
After his marriage, desiring that his efforts should more directly benefit him- self, Mr. Lehmkuhl purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Fair- field township, which he continued to operate for nine years, when he sold that property and removed to Ida county, where a similar period was spent. Return- ing to Jackson county, he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, and his entire energies have since been concentrated upon its further development and improvement. The farm. which consists of one hundred and forty-nine acres. has, under his careful supervision, been brought to a high state of cultivation, for he has made a close study of agriculture and is methodical, systematic and pro- gressive in his methods.
With the passing of the years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lehmkuhl has been blessed with ten children, as follows: one who died in infancy; John C., also cleceased; Mary, the wife of Fred Voigt, a resident of Illinois; H. J., of Fair- field township, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume; Fred H., of South Dakota; Dora L., the wife of T. L. Mitchell, also of South Dakota; Wil- liam J., living in Chicago, Illinois; Lena M., at home; Alma D., also residing in Chicago; and Martha W., still under the parental roof.
The parents are faithful and consistent members of the Lutheran church and are people of most excellent character, holding a high place in the regard of their fellowmen. In politics Mr. Lehmkuhl's views are in accord with the principles of the democratic party, and as a reward for his party fealty he has been called to office, serving both as township trustee and as school director, the cause of edu- cation finding in him a warm champion. Public-spirited in his citizenship, he sup- ports many public movements which have for their object the general welfare, and he is deeply interested in all those things which pertain to the growth and
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upbuilding of the community in which he resides. Starting out to earn his own livelihood when only ten years of age, he has steadily worked his way upward in the business world, wisely placing his dependence upon the safe and substantial qualities of energy, industry and wise management, and today he is numbered among the enterprising and representative agriculturists of the township. Few men deserve in greater measure the proud American title of a self-made man.
MORTIMER RICE.
No history of the commercial development of Maquoketa would be com- plete were there failure to make prominent reference to Mortimer Rice, who for thirty-eight consecutive years was in active business here, developing the leading mercantile establishment of the city. He has recently retired from that field of labor, however, but is still financially interested in business pro- jects of the city. He was born in Phoenix, New York, January 1, 1841, of the marriage of Jacob and Harriet (Bigsbee) Rice. The father's birth oc- curred in Oswego county, and the mother's in Onondaga county, New York, and after their marriage they located in Phoenix, that state, where Jacob Rice was engaged in merchandising, becoming prominently identified with the business interests of that city. He there resided until 1856, when he re- moved westward to Lyons, Iowa, where he carried on merchandising for three years. He then went to Mechanicsville, Iowa, where he spent the re- mainder of his active business life as a merchant and was one of the best known representatives of commercial interests in Cedar county. His plans were always carefully formed and promptly executed and he did not fear to venture where favoring opportunity led the way. He died about 1889, at the age of seventy-five years.
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