USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume II > Part 15
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JOHN THOMSEN.
John Thomsen, who is now capably serving his fellow townsmen as chair- man of the board of county supervisors, is widely recognized as a prosperous and progressive agriculturist as well as one of the most extensive and success- ful cattle feeders in the county. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on the 8th of May, 1858. his parents being Carston and Maria (Petersen) Thom- sen, who spent their entire lives in the fatherland. Mr. Thomsen of this review spent his youthful days under the parental roof and obtained his education in the public schools of his native land. In 1878, in order to avoid military service, he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York city in August of that year. Owing to the fact that he had a brother-in-law, August Levsen by name, living in Jones county. Iowa, he made his way at once to this part of the country and, securing employment as a farm hand, was thus busily engaged for three years. On the expiration of that period he went to Carroll county, Iowa, where he rented a farm and was successfully engaged in its operation for two years. He then returned to this county and for a period of twelve years was here iden- tified with agricultural pursuits as a renter. At the end of that time, owing to his frugality and unremitting industry, he had accumulated capital sufficient to en- able him to purchase a home of his own, and in 1896, he came into possession of the old Pratt farm of three hundred and sixteen acres of Madison township- one of the finest farms in the entire county. In addition to his agricultural in- terests he also handles stock on an extensive scale and is widely recognized as one of the largest and most successful cattle feeders in Jones county, having acquired a snug little fortune from this source in the past few years.
In 1884 Mr. Thomsen was joined in wedlock to Miss Maria Jensen, a native of Germany, who came to the United States in 1883. By this union there were five children, namely : Dora, who attended Coe College ; Meinhardt, a graduate of
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the Wyoming high school ; Clara, a graduate of Coe College; Jennie, who has also completed the course in the Wyoming high school; and August, who is now pur- suing his studies in that institution. All of the children are still at home. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 7th of January, 1909, and her death came as a severe blow not only to her immediate family but also to a large circle of friends.
Mr. Thomsen is a stalwart democrat in his political views and has served as a member of the school board for many years. He fully realizes the value of good mental training as a preparation for the practical and responsible duties of life and his children have enjoyed the best advantages obtainable in this direction. In 1906 he was appointed to the office of county supervisor to fill a vacancy and on the expiration of the term, in 1907, was regularly elected for another term. He is therefore the present incumbent in the position, the duties of which he discharges in a highly satisfactory and most capable manner. His record may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others who are obliged to depend upon their own resources for success, for when he arrived in this country he was not only without money but also in debt for his passage. Work- earnest, persistent work-has been the source of his prosperity, enabling him to pass on the highway of life many who started out more advantageously equipped. His three daughters are members of the Presbyterian church, and the different members of the family are well known and highly esteemed through- out the community.
JOHN H. ROHWEDDER.
Jolın H. Rohwedder, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Madison town- ship. Jones county, was the first German to settle near Wyoming. Iowa. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein. Germany, on the 2d of October. 1845, and came with his parents to America in 1852. After residing in Illinois for three years, his parents took up their abode in Clinton county, Iowa, and resided there until their death.
John H. Rohwedder was but seven years of age when he accompanied his parents to the promising shores of America. He remained under the sheltering roof of his parents, until the year 1871, when he was married to Miss Frederica Guebel. a native of Germany. Upon their marriage, they started out in life on their own account, first renting a tract of land in Missouri, which they farmed for two years. On returning to Iowa, in 1874. Mr. Rohwedder purchased the old Harvey Niles farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Madison township, Jones county, Iowa, on which he located in the spring of 1875 and which remained his place of residence until 1899, when he purchased the old Nathan Shaffer farm of three hundred and twenty acres, also in Madison township, which has continued to be his home and upon which he now resides with his wife and chil- dren. His family consists of his faithful wife and companion in life, and seven children, five sons and two daughters, namely : Harro C., at home ; Hans H .. re- siding at Hale, who married Frederica Sieveke, March 4. 1908: Ernest F ..
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residing in Madison township, who married Elsie Levsen, December 20, 1906; Toni (Rohwedder) Holst, residing in Scotch Grove township, who married Nicholas Holst, April 29, 1908; Albert G. Minna H., and Otto G., residing at home.
For the past thirty-four years, Mr. Rohwedder has devoted his attention largely to the feeding of cattle and the raising of hogs. He is widely recognized as one of the most extensive stock feeders of the county, feeding from eight to ten car- loads of cattle annually. He likewise raises from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head of hogs each year. He is a progressive and a successful farmer.
Mr. Rohwedder is a democrat in politics but is not a bitter partisan. He will often support a candidate of the opposition party if he believes such a course will best conserve the general welfare. Fraternally he is identified with the Wyoming Camp, No. 183, M. W. A. Both he and his wife have now resided in this county for more than a third of a century and have a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout the county. Mr. Rohwedder is a substantial man in every respect. He is not only successful as a farmer, he is a practical and a worthy citizen, a man large of heart, kind by nature, liberal in thought and worthy of trust and confidence.
W. W. EYE.
W. W. Eye, a well known farmer of Wyoming township, was born in this county, June 28, 1856, and is a son of George J. and Margaret Eye. The par- ents were both natives of Virginia, but about the time the government first opened this state to homesteaders, offering large inducements to those who would come here, they started upon their journey across the mountains and prairies, travers- ing a large part of the distance by wagon. When he arrived in Jones county Mr. Eye had about five cents in his pockets, but it was at a time when physi- cal strength and courage counted for more than money if a man were to convert the virgin fields and wilderness into a productive farm land. For many years the family lived in a cabin which he had built of logs with a clapboard roof, and when conditions improved he was able to move to a better dwelling. In the course of years, amid the comforts of his later life the hardships and privations of the first years became a memory merely, so that at his death, in 1893, he felt a pardonable pride in the success which had come to him in requital for his years of toil. His wife died in 1894, within six months of his death, and was survived by her five children: J. W., who lives in this county ; Mary M., who is the wife of C. A. Sinett, of Jones county ; L. M., who is the wife of P. Snyder, of this county ; Susanna, deceased ; and W. W., the subject of this sketch.
Being the oldest of this family W. W. Eye bore his share of the early hard- ships of the family, assisting in the farm work even during his school days. He received a fair education from the popular institutions of instruction and re- mained with his parents until he became twenty-five, when he married and started in life for himself. At first he rented his father's place and later bought the farm on which he now lives. It consists of one hundred and fifty-two acres on
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which he carries on general farming, with a success that has made him one of the substantial agriculturists of Wyoming township. His fields are well improved and cultivated to a high degree, in their appearance evincing the skill and thrift of their owner.
On the 5th of March, 1881, Mr. Eye wedded Miss Ellen Taylor, who was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, a daughter of James and Lucina Taylor, both natives of Kentucky. Of this union twelve children were born: R. W., who is living in South Dakota; Albert W., who is now in Idaho; Lucina M., who is the wife of P. W. Bodenhofer, of Moline, Illinois; L. Maude, Ora E. and Wil- liam A., who are at home ; Verna T. and Vera M., who are twins; and four who have passed away. Mrs. Eye died March 15, 1903, and was buried in North Mineral Cemetery, Wyoming.
Mr. Eye is a democrat in his political views, but he has never sought nor held any office within the gift of the people. He gives his religious adherence to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife was a devout member and in whose work he takes a deep interest.
CHARLES HENRY STOUT.
Charles Henry Stout, one of the younger generation of farmers of Wayne township, was born in Cass township, Jones county, April 8, 1873, and is a son of William and Mary (Jacques) Stout. The parents were both natives of County Cork, Ireland, where William Stout was born July 13, 1825. At the time of the famine in the land of his birth he came to the United States, settling near the city of Boston, Massachusetts, where he was married and where three of his chil- dren were born. In 1870 the family came to Jones county, Iowa, locating upon forty acres he had purchased in Cass township. There he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits with considerable success, for at one time he owned two hundred acres in Cass and Wayne townships, and at the time of his death still owned one hundred and sixty. While in the east he had worked as a laborer so that on coming to the west he made the best use of the opportunities afforded by the farm to attain to a position of independence. He had been reared in the faith of the Episcopal church and was a republican in his political views. On the 3d of July, 1898, in Wayne township, his life was brought to a close and he was buried beside his wife, who had died in September, 1890, at the age of fifty-nine. They were the parents of cleven children : Elizabeth, the widow of W. W. Gray; Richard, a resident of Cass township; John, who died at the age of eighteen ; Charlotte, who died when fifteen years of age; Thomas, who died at the age of eighteen ; Charles Henry, of this review ; Dora E., who married Nelson Bradley and lives in Lamoine, Iowa ; and four who died young.
Since he was fifteen years of age, Charles Henry Stout has lived upon the farm which is now his home and to which his parents moved in 1888. He has devoted his whole life to the cultivation of the soil, for even the period when the city boy spends his days in the preparation of lessons was not without its practical training for the vocation of his later years. He now owns one hundred and fifty
HARRISON DUNNING
WILLIAM STOUT
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acres, on sections 19 and 30, Wayne township, on which he follows general farm- ing with profit to himself. He is both thrifty and hard working, and unites with these characteristics a will and capacity to make the best use of the scientific ad- vancement in the methods of cultivating the soil. He makes an especial study of the crops best suited to his fields, finding his care well rewarded in bountiful harvests.
On the 23d of March, 1898, Mr. Stout wedded Miss Nellie E. Dunning, who was born in Cass township, June 16, 1875. Her parents, Harrison and Elizabeth ( McDaniels) Dunning, were natives of New York state, the father having been born in Wyoming county, May 31, 1835, and his wife on Staten Island December 23. 1842. She came to Iowa with her parents, but he came here alone. In Ana- mosa they were married and then settled in Wayne township, where they passed the remainder of their days. Mr. Dunning was engaged in farming during his active life and saw several years of service as a soldier of the Civil war, for on the ist of August. 1861, he enlisted in the Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry for three years. At the expiration of his term he reenlisted and remained at the scene of war until the close of hostilities. His life was ended November 17, 1902, and his wife had preceded him to the grave some years, her death having oc- curred May 5. 1898. They were the parents of three daughters: Vina, who is the wife of Frank Lamb, of Anamosa ; Mary, who is the wife of Wylie Smith, of Jackson township ; and Nellie, who is Mrs. Stout. Mr. and Mrs. Stout have two chilren : Mary E. and Clifford William.
HERMAN E. TECH.
While Herman E. Tech is of German birth the greater part of his life has been passed in Oxford Junction, and he has come to occupy a leading position in the business circles of the town as proprietor of a furniture store and under- taking establishment. He was born in Germany, October 7, 1873, his parents being Michael and Wilhelmina (Rux) Tech, who in the year 1882 left their native country and with their family came direct to Oxford Junction, Iowa, where they spent their remaining days, the death of the mother occurring March 26, 1893, while the father passed away November 26, 1902. In their family were five children : Augusta, now the wife of M. Herbstreuth, of Oxford Junc- tion ; August, who is living at Strawberry Point, Iowa; John E., who follows farming near Algona. Iowa; Carrie, the wife of William Abernethy, of Port- land, Oregon : and Herman E.
The last named was but nine years of age when the family sailed for the new world, and in the town where he yet lives he was reared and educated, the public schools affording him his opportunity for intellectual development. Following his mother's death he went to Arizona, where he was employed in mining copper, and after several years spent in the southwest he returned to Oxford Junc- tion in 1902 and purchased a half interest in his present business. The store contains a large line of furniture of various grades, and in addition a well stocked undertaking establishment is conducted. Mr. Tech was in partnership with
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F. E. Zeigler until about 1906, when he became sole owner. He also is half owner of the building in which he conducts business, it being one hundred and ten by twenty-two feet, and its entire space being occupied by Mr. Tech for his stock of furniture. He has a well appointed establishment and the neat and tasteful arrangement of his store, together with his well known business probity, is a prominent feature in his success.
On the 24th of September, 1902, Mr. Tech was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Nowachek, who was born in Oxford Junction, March 7, 1873, and has always resided here. She is a daughter of Frank and Katie (Henak) Nowachek, the former a native of Bohemia, while the latter was of Bohemian parentage. The father is. deceased, while the mother makes her home with her children, who are six in number. Mr. and Mrs. Tech have one child, Lois. Theirs is a hos- pitable home, whose good cheer is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. They are members of the Catholic church.
In politics he is an independent republican, advocating the principles of the party at national elections but voting without regard to party ties on other occa- sions, regarding only the capability of the candidate in his election to the public service. Mr. Tech is now acting as a member of the village council, in which position he discharges his duties with promptness and fidelity, seeking at all times the general welfare of the community. He is a self-made man, for what- ever he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors. He started out empty-handed and in the legitimate lines of trade and commerce has worked his way upward.
HENRY G. MANUEL.
One of the progressive and prosperous farmers of Madison township is Henry G. Manuel, a native of Iowa. He was born in Mahaska county, March 2, 1879, and is a son of James L. and Delia (Boutilier) Manuel, the latter a native of Nova Scotia. James L. Manuel, on the other hand, was born in England, but came to this country when a lad of nineteen years. He located first in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in the anthracite mines. After two years there spent, he came west to Iowa and for about three years remained in Mahaska county, where he farmed as a renter. He went from there to Han- cock county, where, having secured a section of land, he lived and worked until within the past few years, when he retired from active life and removed to the town of Britt. There with his wife he enjoys the comforts of life which he so richly deserves after his years of toil. They are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and active in its work. Politically Mr. Manuel is in sympathy with the principles of the republican party and has closely identified himself with the public life of his township, having filled a majority of the offices that are within the gift of the people. His voice is ever raised in behalf of progress and good government and he occupies a position of influence in his section of the county.
Henry G. Manuel received his early training for life at home under the wise guidance of his parents. He attended the public schools, whose instruction he
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supplemented by a business course at Charles City College. He was graduated from that institution with the class of 1898 and in 1900 commenced farming on his own account. For a period of four years he operated a rented farm in Hancock county, and then in March, 1905, came to Jones county, where he had previously purchased eighty acres of his present farm in Madison township. Here he located and has lived since, though as the years brought him rich re- turns for his toil he has been able to increase the extent of his fields until now he owns two hundred acres. It is good land and by care and study he has made it one of the most fertile tracts in Madison township, for he is a progressive man and employs scientific methods in the cultivation of his crops.
In 1901 Mr. Manuel was united in marriage to Miss Elsie E. Erickson, of Madison township, a daughter of H. Erickson, of whom extended mention is made in another part of this volume. Of this union there have been born two children : Albert T. and Harvery H. Mrs. Manuel is a member of the Presbyterian church. but her husband does not belong to any denomination, though he is a Christian in the larger acceptation of the term. The perseverance which has distinguished his labors has brought him more than the success which is evident to any one who has seen his farm and the well kept buildings; it has brought him the good-will of his fellow citizens who supported him so effectively when his name was put upon the republican ticket as a candidate for the office of township trustee. Fra- ternally he is a member of Wyoming Lodge, No. 147. I. O. O. F. and of the Mystic Workers of America.
GEORGE SAUM.
In the death of George Saum there passed away one of Jones county's promi- nent and honored pioneer residents. His history is worthy of appreciation for his life was characterized by many sterling qualities, and the work which he did in the development and improvement of this section of the state was of a most im- portant character. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, April 22, 1814, and was a son of Jacob Saum.
As the name indicates the family is of German lineage and was founded in America by the grandfather of George Saum, who held official position in the commissary department of the continental army under Washington. In 1828 Jacob Saum removed with his family from Ohio to Warren county, Indiana, so that the experiences of pioneer life in the latter state were familiar to George Saum during the period of his youth. He continued in Indiana during the ages of fourteen and twenty-five years and in 1838 made his first trip to Iowa, stop- ping on the Indian reserve in Lee county. He made temporary location there with his family but in June, 1839, removed to Jones county, settling at Walnut Grove, Rome township. His family then numbered a wife and three children- J. D., afterward of Olin; Nicholas, who became a resident of Mechanicsville, Iowa, and died February 1, 1907; and Polly A., who became Mrs. Robert John- son, of Anamosa.
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Mr. Saum's first purchase of land was one hundred and sixty acres which is still in the possession of the family. Through some mistake Orville Cronkhite entered eighty acres of the same quarter which Mr. Saum was improving, and the latter gave him his note for one hundred dollars with twenty per cent interest. He succeeded in wiping out the indebtedness in two years, although that was at a time when money was very scarce in the neighborhood. On reaching the farm the family camped under a bur oak tree, but Mr. Saum at once began the construction of a good log house, and although it contained only one room it was sixteen by eighteen feet. In its building he had the assistance of the few men who were then living in the district. His possessions, aside from his land, consisted of a yoke of oxen, an old wagon and a pony which would not have sold for a sum sufficient to enable him to discharge his indebtedness, which amounted to eighty dollars. Wal- nut Grove at that time contained about six hundred acres of good timber land. The well known Tom Green afterward a resident of Wyoming, a man of the Dan- iel Boone type in some of his sterling traits of character, also located at Walnut Grove and the two married sisters. They were also associated in the purchase of three hundred and twenty acres of land held as a claim by William Hamilton, and each thus secured eighty acres of prairie and eighty acres of timber land. Mr. Green attended the government land sales in Dubuque in July, 1840, completed the entry of the three hundred and twenty acres and paid for it.
After arriving in the county Mr. Saum bent his energies to general agricultural pursuits and continued to reside upon his farm until 1878. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings and became the owner of about sixteen hundred acres in Jones county and four hundred acres in Cedar county. About 1874 he divided up something like sixteen hundred acres between his eight children, and at that time he closed out his other business interests. For three or four years, how- ever, he continued to reside in Anamosa and in Davenport, after which he went to California, where he devoted twenty years to horticultural pursuits. In the meantime he had been one of the early horticulturists of Jones county, for in the spring of 1842 he bought from an old Quaker from Richmond, Indiana, about one hundred apple trees and a few pear and cherry trees, which he planted on his farm in Rome township. The apple trees were soon in good bearing and for years thereafter he made display of his fruit at the county fairs. thus giving tangible evidence to the unbelieving of what could be done in the line of fruit production on the Iowa prairies. He was likewise the pioneer in the introduction of thor- oughbred shorthorn cattle, for in 1846 he brought to the county three cows and an imported bull, Locomotive, which had been purchased in England by a Ken- tucky company. Cattle then sold at a very low figure, but Mr. Saum purchased his shorthorns at a cost of a little over one hundred dollars each. He had to borrow a part of the money, but he determined to have the best stock, and the wis- dom of his course was demonstrated. His farm work was at all times actuated by the spirit of progress and improvement, and he was among the first to introduce the improved farm machinery which invention gave to the agriculturist. In 1844 he purchased the first McCormick reaper brought into the county and with it cut his own wheat and oats and also assisted his neighbors. This reaper was sold a year later for another and afterward that was replaced by a third, having a Moore attachment. In those days the plows used had wooden mold-boards, and
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Mr. Saum was among the first to learn of the manufacture of steel plows-made by John Deere of Grand De Tour, Illinois. He then handled plows for Mr. Deere for six or seven years, selling to the farmers of the community, and although he trusted them for payment he never lost a cent.
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