USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume II > Part 29
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John Hosch, who came to America in 1868, spent his first three months on American soil in St. Charles, Minnesota. and then proceeded to Jones county, Iowa, where he located. He was a stonemason by trade and after two diligent and thrifty years he branched out as a property owner, buying two hundred and seven acres of his present home farm. The year 1881 was marked by the erection of a most comfortable and substantial stone house, where he is still residing.
In 1871, Miss Catherine Bisenius became the bride of Mr. Hosch. Although at that time a resident of Dubuque county, Iowa, she is a native of Prussia, Germany, having come to the United States in 1853 at the early age of two years. Her parents were among the earlier settlers of Dubuque county. Mr. and
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Mrs. Hosch have to their credit, that increasing rarity, a fine, large family, numbering twelve: Matthias, who lives in Cedar county, Nebraska : Mary, the wife of Peter Kurt, whose home is in Dubuque county; William, also a resident of Dubuque county : Margaret, the wife of Nicholas Knapper, of Dubuque county ; Michael, who has settled in Pierce county, Nebraska ; Anna, who married Jacob Brightbaugh and is living in Chicago, Illinois : and Nicholas, John, Peter, Susan, Lena and Catherine ; all six living at home and adding greatly to its cheer and attractiveness by their presence.
Mr. Hosch has achieved success in his special line of agricultural endeavor, which is the raising and feeding of cattle. He belongs to the democratic party but is content with the exercise of the right of franchise, never having sought the honors and emoluments of office. He and his family are members of the Catholic church. The case of Mr. Hosch is especially gratifying as it exemplifies the possibility of rising from the most lowly circumstances to pros- perous and influential citizenship. When he arrived in Minnesota, he had but one dollar and twenty-five cents in his pocket, and one dollar of that amount he was forced to expend for his first night's accommodation. thus leaving him with a capital of twenty-five cents. Today he owns six hundred and twenty-seven acres of land and is undoubtedly one of the very substantial citizens of Jones county. Among his holdings are a half section of land in Cedar county, Ne- braska. and a section of land in Meyer county, that state. owning in all one thou- sand. five hundred and eighty-seven acres.
MRS. MARY L. CLARK.
Mrs. Mary L. Clark, who in her maidenhood was Mary L. Joslin, is a lady most highly respected in Jones county, where she has made her home for many years, deriving her income from a good farming property located in Castle Grove township. She was born in the state of New York, and there spent the first nine years of her life, after which she came with her parents to Jones county, Iowa. Here she was reared and educated and in 1874 gave her hand in marriage to Bently Clark, who was born in this county on the 224 of January. 1852, a son of Joseph and Matilda C. (Spencer) Clark. The father was born in Ohio, while the mother's birth occurred in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from which place she later moved to Butler. Pennsylvania, and in May, 1830, came to Jones county, Iowa. Here she was united in marriage in 1847 to Joseph Clark, and unto this union were born three children, all of whom are now deceased. Mr. Clark entered land in this county and erected a log cabin with clapboard roof and puncheon floor and with the proverbial latchstring hanging out. He was engaged in farm- ing up to the time of his demise, which occurred April 16, 1881. while his wife still survives at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years.
Under the parental roof in his native county Bently Clark passed the years of his boyhood and youth, and after reaching man's estate became identified with the dentist's profession, which he followed for six years. He then pur- chased a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits up to the time of his
BENTLY CLARK
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demise, which occurred on the 4th of February, 1905, his remains being interred in Oakwood cemetery. Aside from his mother and wife he left three children to mourn his loss. Harry B., who was born on the 6th of June, 1875, is now re- siding in South Dakota. Ford M., born September 19, 1882 is operating the home farm for his mother. Mattie E., who was born December 28, 1889, also resides at home with her mother. She is a graduate of the academy at Hopking- ton, Iowa, and has been engaged in teaching for some time. There are two grandchilren, Arthur R. and Effie E., both living with Mrs. Clark.
Mr. Clark was well known in local political ranks, being a stalwart supporter of the democratic party, and he held several township offices. He and his wife were both faithful and exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the teachings of which have ever formed the guiding influences of their lives. Fraternally Mrs. Clark is a member of the Royal Neighbors, the Rebekahs and also of the Royal Patrons, in all of which organizations she is actively and help- fully interested. She has many warm friends in the county, within whose borders she has resided for so long a time, for she possesses many excellent traits of character such as endear her to all who come within the close circle of her friendship, while in her own family she has ever been a devoted and loving wife and mother.
J. H. J. STUTT.
J. H. J. Stutt, one of the well known stockmen and farmers of Lovell town- ship, was born in Wayne township, this county, May 3, 1867, and is a son of John and Mary (Harms) Stutt, both natives of Germany. John Stutt, however, came to this country in his young manhood, in 1861, and from the first closely identified himself with affairs here, for shortly after his arrival in the state of Illinois, he enlisted in the Union army. He served valiantly throughout the course of the Civil war and then at its close came to Jones county, Iowa, where he found work with John Jacobs, of Scotch Grove township. The next year, how- ever, he returned to Germany to wed the woman he had courted before coming to this country, and when he crossed the ocean again he came immediately to Jones county, once more entering the employ of Mr. Jacobs. After one year's experience on the farm he located in Wayne Center, where he remained for two or three years, afterward buying a tract of land in Wayne township. That has been his home ever since and is his residence today. During the two score years and more that have passed, however, he has invested extensively in real estate, at one time owning three hundred and twenty acres. Some of this he has dis- posed of but he is still possessed of two hundred acres, and is still an active rep- resentative of the agricultural interests.
J. H. J. Stutt was reared at home under the careful guidance of his parents, attending the common schools, from which he received a good preparation for the responsibilities of life. At the age of twenty-two he began his business ca- reer as a farmer. He bought first one hundred and twenty acres of land west of Lambert, in Wayne township, on which he lived for about two years. Then he
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sold that tract. buying instead two hundred and forty acres at Langworthy, one hundred acres of which he sold the next year. Thereupon he rented one hun- dren, nineteen and a half acres, adjoining the one hundred and forty acres he still held, and after three years' satisfactory experience in its cultivation, added that tract to his possessions. Ever on the alert to profit from opportunity, his in- vestments did not cease there nor his real-estate operations, for in 1902 he bought four hundred and eighty acres of land in South Dakota, which he traded in 1905 for his present farm in Lovell township. It embraces four hundred, eigh- teen and a half acres and was formerly known as the old Hosford place. To it Mr. Stutt removed January 10. 1906, and has since made it his home. He still owns in addition one hundred, nineteen and a half acres of his Wayne township farm. besides one hundred and fifty-four acres two miles north of Anamosa, hav- ing purchased it during the spring of 1909, and a tract of one hundred and sixty acres one mile west of Langworthy, all rich and arable lands. Although he has been most successful as a tiller of the soil, with a view to winning the largest returns from his vocation, he has embarked in other enterprises connected with the farm. Since he was twenty he has been engaged in threshing and now owns a modern traction engine of twenty-two horse-power and a gasoline engine of fifteen horse-power, both of which have proven not only a welcome source of revenue to him but also of great accommodation to men in his vicinity. Almost from the time that he began his life as an agriculturist he has been interested in buying and shipping stock, and as he has developed this branch of his business with characteristic energy and ability he has become well and widely known as one of the important stockmen of his section of the county. Endowed with a high degree of business acumen, industrious and progressive, these qualities have been the means of his success in his undertakings. In consequence he enjoys a handsome competence and the satisfaction that comes from the knowledge that his work is well accomplished.
In 1889 Mr. Stutt was united in marriage to Miss Catherine M. Zimmerman, of Wayne township, this county. Eight children were born to them, six of whom survive : Henry, Elizabeth, Clarence. Emil. George and Alva, all at home. Mrs. Stutt passed away May 1. 1908, being deeply mourned by the family who knew her love and care. On the 19th of October. 1909, Mr. Stutt married Catherine M. Valster, a native of Germany.
Politically Mr. Stutt has allied himself with the democratic party, but has evinced no desire to participate in local politics. He has given his religious al- legiance, as did his parents before him, to the faith of the German Lutheran church, up to whose tenets he has endeavored to live.
A. H. NEWMAN.
Among those who are seeking their fortunes in agricultural lines and are meeting with gratifying success is A. H. Newman, a native of Greenfield town- ship, his birth occurring on the 3d of May. 1861. He is the fifth in order of birth in a family of ten children. five sons and five daughters, born unto Emanuel
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and Elizabeth (Spade) Newman, mention of whom is made on another page of this work.
On his father's farm, amid the scenes and environments of rural life, A. H. Newman was reared and at the usual age was sent as a pupil to the district schools near his home, wherein he gained a good knowledge of the various branches of English learning. During the periods of vacation he assisted his father in the work of the fields, and in the broader school of experience gained a thorough and comprehensive training, becoming well equipped for the practi- cal and responsible duties of life. He remained upon the homestead until by his marriage he laid the foundation of a happy home life of his own. He began business on his own account on the farm which is now his home and upon which he has continously resided. Agricultural interests have claimed his time and attention during the intervening years and in the tilling of the soil he has met with most gratifying success, being ranked among the progressive and enter- prising agriculturists of the township. He owns two hundred and fifty acres in the home place, another tract of forty acres in this township and also eighty acres in Fairview township. Upon the homestead he has erected an attractive modern residence, while in the rear stand commodious barns and outbuildings, which are substantial evidence of the thrift and industry of Mr. Newman. He is methodical, systematic, progressive and up-to-date, and his farming interests have been so wisely and carefully conducted that he has won substantial success.
On the 19th of August. 1886, Mr. Newman was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Bates, who was born in Rome township, Jones county, May 3. 1863, and is a daughter of Dr. Ira and Emily (Spear) Bates. Dr. Bates was numbered among the early settlers of Jones county, being one of the first to practice his profession in this district, where he was well known and highly esteemed. His practice was large and extended over considerable territory, and he was often called upon to travel many miles in order to minister to a sick patient. How- ever the distance was never too long nor the weather too disagreeable to prevent his attendance upon the sick and suffering, and he was the loved and trusted family physician in many homes. His knowledge of the science of medicine was extensive and comprehensive, and he was keenly alive to the obligations that rested upon him in the practice of his chosen profession. The home of Dr. and Mrs. Bates was blessed with five children, of whom Mrs. Newman was the third in order of birth. One son, George Christian, passed away at the age of one year, while the other members of the family are residents of Fairview township.
Mr. and Mrs. Newman have an adopted son, Harry Ray Newman, who was born on the 4th of November, 1897, and is the life and light of the household. He was but fifteen days old when his mother was called to the world beyond and at her urgent request he was received into the home of Mr. and Mrs. New- man, in whom the mother had the utmost confidence and trust. The whole- some atmosphere of the home into which the child was taken has had an excel- lent influence upon the life of the lad who, though but twelve years of age, al- ready gives promise of an honorable and upright manhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Newman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Martelle. Iowa, in the work of which both Mr. and Mrs. Newman have taken
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a very active part. She has for a number of years acted in the capacity of superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Newman belongs to White Rose Lodge, No. 279, Knight of Pythias of Martelle, and in his political allegiance is a democrat, being a firm believer in and a stalwart supporter of the principles of that party. He served for several years as township clerk and has also been a member of the board of education, the cause of education finding in him a warm champion. Public-spirited in citizenship, his influence is ever upon the side of progress, improvement, reforin and advancement, and the principles which have governed his entire career are such as make him a most desirable and valuable citizen. He and his wife occupy a high place in the social circles of the com- munity in which they reside because of their many excellent traits of charac- ter, and their home is the seat of a warm-hearted and generous hospitality which is freely extended to their many friends.
W. A. MIRICK, M. D.
For more than thirty-two years W. A. Mirick has followed the profession of medicine in the city of Monticello, where he enjoys the honor not only of being the oldest resident physician here but also of having one of the largest and most lucrative practices. And yet, however gratifying these things may be, the knowledge that he retains the respect of the many persons who have come into contact with him and the satisfaction that comes to even the most humble and modest of men, from a daily recognition of the fact that their lives have been led to good purpose and to the benefit of others, affords him the greatest reason to feel a justifiable pride in the work of the past years.
Dr. Mirick was born in Chenango county, New York, January 8, 1854. and is a son of Augustus and Jane (Hakes) Mirick. In 1857 they came to Iowa for the sake of the health of Mrs. Mirick, locating in Anamosa, but she died shortly afterward, and the father married Mrs. Fannie Boon, of Anamosa, whose was the only maternal care of which Dr. Mirick has any distinct remembrance. Upon his advent to this county, Augustus Mirick acquired a tract of land in Fairview township, on which he pursued his calling as a farmer. A pronounced success attended his efforts and although about sixteen or seventeen years ago he retired from active life he still owns about two hundred acres of land. At present he is living in the village of Anamosa, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. In politics his sympathies were with the republican party, and during the greater part of his active years he was a dominant factor in its cause in his township besides taking a vital interest in the public affairs of his locality and serving in the various township offices. He was also prominent in the work of the Baptist church and in the ranks of the Masons and of the Odd Fellows. to local lodges of which he belonged. In short, he was a man possessed of a strong personality. of great energy, and of a capacity for execution that won the attention of all with whom he associated. accordingly his influence was felt far and wide and men placed reliance in his judgment.
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Dr. Mirick has lived in Jones county since he was four years old and when of suitable age was enrolled as a pupil in the public schools. Later he took a special course in Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and in 1874 began the study of medicine. At first he read under the preceptorship of Dr. L J. Adair, of Anamosa, and then under that of Dr. G. W. White, of the same place, so that he was fairly well prepared in 1875 for entrance to the Hahnemann Medi- cal College of Chicago, Illinois. He was graduated from that institution in the spring of 1878, and on the Ist of March of that year, located in Monticello. Here he has built steadily up a large and remunerative practice and for years past has been one of the best known physicians in his section of the county. A skilled diagnostician, an experienced practitioner, and endowed by nature with those personal qualities that perhaps have greater weight in attaining a suc- cess in this than in any other vocation of life, his record is one of continued advance, of increased confidence in his abilities on the part of others. and of enlarged realization by them of strength of his character and the integrity of his purposes. He is a surgeon as well as a physician and for the past twenty years has been employed in the former capacity by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad in this city.
On the 12th of September, 1882, Dr. Mirick wedded Miss Catherine S. Curtis. of Independence, Iowa, who for the four or five years previous had been teaching in the Monticello schools. She had attended the Iowa State College, from which she was graduated in the same class with J. W. Doxsee. To this union three children have been born, namely: Irving A., Maud A. and Galen C. The oldest was graduated from the Monticello high school and then spent three years at the Iowa State College. He is now associated with the Chicago & North- western Railroad, with headquarters at Huron, South Dakota. The daughter is in her senior year at the Iowa State College at Ames, while the youngest of the family is a pupil in the Monticello high school. Dr. Mirick belongs to several organizations which have as their aim the advancement of the interests of those engaged in his profession, for he is a member of the American Medical Association. of the Iowa State Medical Society and of the Jones County Medical Society. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, being a member of Burns Lodge, No. 173. A. F. & A. M. He did belong to the chapter and commandery of the local lodge here. but they have now disintegrated.
PAUL PAULSEN.
One of the prosperous German farmers of Scotch Grove township whose well tilled fields are representative of the high quality of the agricultural inter- ests of the county, was born in Holstein, Germany, August 17, 1865, his parents being Bahne and Sabina (Hansen) Paulsen. They were also natives of the same province of the fatherland. where the father died during the childhood of his son. After his demise his widow came to the United States with her three children, locating, in 1870, in Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa. Later she removed
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to Charlotte, that county, where she married Nicholas Holst, of whom extended mention is made in another part of this work.
Paul Paulsen was about five years of age when the family embarked upon their journey to this country, so that all his training for the responsibilities of life has been obtained in this state, at home and in the common schools where he was a pupil. He worked upon the farm belonging to his stepfather through- out the period of his youth, and when he reached man's estate he was taken into partnership by Mr. Holst. Together they operated the place until February, 1903, when Mr. Paulsen married and started out in life for himself. Then he purchased the southwest quarter of section 24, Scotch Grove township, and has made his home thereon ever since. It was formerly known as the Alex Sutherland farm, and was only partially improved, but since it has come into his possession Mr. Paulsen has carried on the work of development and improve- ment with a vigor that is characteristic of him until it is now one of the highly cultivated and finely improved tracts in Jones county. Successful in his under- takings beyond the ordinary, he has risen to a substantial position in the com- munity, a fact which is indicated by the large shares of stock he holds in the Lovell State Bank of Monticello and in the Onslow Savings Bank.
On the 10th of February. 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Paulsen and Miss Mary Eckelberg, of Jackson county, lowa. Her father is John Eckel- berg, who was for many years one of the prominent farmers of that county and is now living in retirement at Spragueville, Jackson county. Six children have been born of this union: Alvina, Paul, Jr., Edward, John, Harry and Emil. They are all at home and are being reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church, that being the creed to which Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen give their religious allegiance. Since he was admitted to the ranks of the citizens of this republic Mr. Paulsen has voted the democratic ticket. finding himself in greater accord with the principles promulgated by that party. He has had no desire to enter the arena of public life, however, although his success, the strong qualities of character upon which it has been reared and the wide influence he has exercised in his community as a result of a good life well lived, would naturally suggest him to his fellows as a man worthy and capable of administering any trust with which the people might care to honor him.
J. F. WAGGONER.
The farmer of today dominates the situation in Iowa because he holds the balance of power. There are three million more Americans engaged in farm- ing today than in manufacturing and mechanical pursuits, and Iowa is one of the states that contributes many agriculturists to the United States. One of the thoroughly modern farmers of Jones county is J. F. Waggoner, of Jackson town- ship, who was born in that township on his father's homestead, February 26, 1866. He is a son of Charles and Mary (May) Waggoner, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work, and the second in order of birth in their family of four children.
J. F. WAGGONER
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Until he was twenty-eight years of age, Mr. Waggoner resided with his parents, but he then married and located on his present farm. This property consists of one hundred and twenty acres of farming land on section 22 and eleven acres of timber land on section 32, Jackson township. On this farm he has built a substantial residence, commodious barns, and made many other im- provements which give comfort to his family and enable him to care for his. stock and machinery. Experience has taught Mr. Waggoner the value of speci- alizing and he is now raising Poland China hogs to the extent of fifty head annually.
The marriage of Mr. Waggoner occurred in 1883, when he was united with Carrie Luella Bills, who was born in Jackson township, May 5, 1867, daughter of D. B. and Emma Bills, of Anamosa. Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner are the parents of two children, namely : Stanley and Harold.
The success which has come to Mr. Waggoner has not been gained by any unusual methods but through the close application of his natural ability and knowledge of farming which he had obtained from his father. He has known how to develop his land and make investments pay, and consequently is now enjoying the results of his years of labor, although still in the very prime of life and filled with ambition for future achievements.
EARL C. PEET.
Greenfield township, Jones county, numbers among its native sons many sub- stantial and progressive farmers who through their own efforts and industry are meeting with gratifying success. This number includes Earl C. Peet, whose birth occurred on the 29th of September, 1875, his parents being Eber G. and Oriana Peet. No event of special importance came to vary the routine of daily life for him during the period of his boyhood and youth, which were spent upon his father's farm amid the scenes and environments of rural life. He acquired a good knowledge of the common branches of English learning as they were taught in the Greenfield Center school, and since laying aside his text-books has greatly extended his early training by thorough reading, observation and broad, practical experience. He remained upon the home farm, giving his father the benefit of his assistance in the work of the fields, until twenty-nine years of age, and during that time learned many lessons concerning the value of industry and thrift and, surrounded by the wholesome influences of farm life, acquired good habits and clean morals, all of which well qualified him for the practical and responsible duties of life. In 1905 he started out in business on his own account, locating upon a farm of fifty-four acres which his father had given him. It is located near the center of Greenfield township and he has continued to make his home thereupon to the present time, although in the meantime as he has prospered he added to his original holdings and is now the owner of one hundred and thirty-four acres of land. The soil of Iowa is proverbially rich and fertile, and under the careful management of Mr. Peet his fields have been
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