USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume II > Part 54
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W. E. Tallman had all the advantages of education that those who followed the pioneers were able to enjoy. He attended the district schools and Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, in which he completed his formal training for life. Until he became of age he remained at home, assisting in the work of the farm, but with the advent of manhood he started out to make his own way in the world. For two years he worked as a renter and then bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 7, Rome township, which is his home today. With the lapse of years he has been able to add forty acres to this farm and to buy other land which has brought his holdings to three hundred and ninety-five acres, all situated in Jones county. In addition to his agricultural pursuits Mr. Tall- man has engaged in the stock business, breeding and raising black polled cattle. He has been successful in his operations and has won the confidence of the people in whose midst he lives.
Mr. Tallman was married April 20, 1886, to Miss Delilah Merritt, who was born in Rome township in 1863 and is a daughter of John and Caroline (Dun- lap) Merritt. The former was born in New York state, February 23, 1806, while the latter was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1827. In 1836 John Merritt came to Iowa and entered land in Jones county. The next year, after he had satisfied himself as to the advisability of moving to this new country, he sent for his family to join him. Here the parents made their home until their deaths, which occurred, in the case of the father, December 1, 1886, and the mother February 16, 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Merritt were born seven children, six of whom are still living. Of Mr. and Mrs. Tallman's union there have been eight children: W. E., Jr., Laura J., Marion, Lucinda F., Odessa C., Mary Bell, John and Lily J. W. E., Jr., is a farmer of Rome township, but the other children are all at home. Mr. Tallman is a republican in his political beliefs and has filled the offices of trustee and assessor at the behest of the voters of his township. His success has given the people confidence in his ability, and they have found they made no mistake in bestowing upon him those marks of their esteem.
HENRY F. KOHL.
Henry F. Kohl, one of the substantial farmers of Greenfield township, though not a native of this state was only eight years old when in 1864 his parents, Amos and Maria (Grimm) Kohl, came to Iowa and procured their homestead in Greenfield township, Jones county. They removed from Penn- sylvania to Wisconsin and later came to Iowa, where they made their home until their death. They secured a good tract of land at a very moderate cost and upon it reared their family of nine children, four sons and five daughters: Mrs. Mary Kline, Henry F., Will, Mrs. Nellie Hempy, Lewis, Mrs. Emma Stearns,
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Mrs. Tena Melton, Charles and Mrs. Minnie Fink. The parents have both passed away, but the children all survive and many of them are living in Green- field township.
Henry F. Kohl was born in Greenfield, Wisconsin, March 4, 1856, and grew to manhood upon his parents' farm, learning the secrets of the cultivation of the soil and acquiring an education in the public schools. When he attained his majority he had no desire to leave the scene of his early endeavor and secured two hundred acres of land in Greenfield township, on which he is living at pres- ent. It represents the result of many years of labor, while the many improvements and the modern buildings are additional evidence that his toil has been produc- tive of substantial results. Progressive in his agricultural methods, he shares in the general prosperity of the county.
In 1876 Mr. Kohl married Miss Mary Amanda Kline, who was born on the 26th of August, 1857, and is a daughter of John F. and Catherine (Hicka- thorn) Kline, residents of Prairieburg, Linn county, Iowa. Five sons and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kohl; Mrs. Lona Smith, of Blunt, South Dakota; Eldon Lewis, who lives north of Martelle; Harry Amos, a resi- dent of Blunt, South Dakota; and Dewitt, Lowell Delos and Otto Albert who are living at home. A firm believer in the doctrines of the Methodist church, Mr. Kohl has reared his children in that faith and those of the family at home are members of the congregation at Martelle. Politically he is a democrat, having faith in the measures advocated by that party, and while not a politician he has held offices in the township, namely that of trustee, a position he has occupied for six years, and that of a member of the school board. In educational matters he is especially interested and has ever been zealous in working for the increased efficiency of the instruction given to the youth of the locality. Fraternally he enjoys pleasant relations with the White Rose Lodge. No. 279, K. P., at Mar- telle, for whose welfare and that of his fellow members he is always deeply concerned.
JOHN O'HARA.
Although not one of the native sons of Wyoming township, John O'Hara has spent almost his entire life in the township and has become closely identified with its interests, agricultural and otherwise. He was born in Philadelphia, August 15, 1861, and is a son of Jolin and Margaret O'Hara. They came to Jones county in 1861, locating in Wyoming and in 1869 settled on the farm where their son is living today. It was their own home until their deaths, the father dying in 1873 and the mother in 1894, and the place on which their eight children were reared to maturity. These are Mary, who is the wife of P. F. Kelly, now living in Omaha, Nebraska; Charles, whose home is in New Mexico; John, the subject of this review ; Margaret, who is the wife of Ed Mulverhill: T. S., who resides in Rock Island, Illinois; Ella, who lives in Omaha, Nebraska; Jennie. who is the wife of T. J. Flannigan and lives in Omaha. Nebraska ; and James, deceased.
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John O'Hara received his education in the schools of the county, while he worked on the farm in the summer months and at such other times as were not given to the prosecution of his lessons. When he attained his majority he bought the homestead, so that his residence on it has not been interrupted since his parents located thereon. He has continued the diversified agriculture in which his father was engaged and has given considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, which he ships in large numbers to the important markets. Through care and industury he has won a pronounced success and is now re- garded as one of the substantial men of his locality.
In 1905, Mr. O'Hara was united in marriage to Miss Frances Riches. She was born in Wyoming, Iowa, where her mother is still living. One son, John C., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. O'Hara, on the IIth of November, 1908. They are consistent members of the Catholic church, whose teachings find exemplifi- cation in their lives, and they are attentive in the discharge of their religious duties. Politically Mr. O'Hara is in sympathy with the principles of the demo- cratic party and never fails to vote for its candidates. He has taken part in the public affairs of the township, for he has served as assessor for six years and has acted as road supervisor. Conscientious in the execution of his duties he has won the respect of those who placed confidence in his ability, so that besides being a successful man he is one whose good fortune has obtained for him the good will of his friends and neighbors.
H. A. TOENJES.
H. A. Toenjes, a farmer and dairyman of Wayne township, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, March II, 1856, and is a son of John Christopher and Anna (Guelfs) Toenjes. The parents were both natives of Germany, where until his death John Toenjes followed farming. In 1869 his son John came to the United States and five years later Mrs. Toenjes, who was then a widow, H. A., Dietrich and a daughter, Elizabeth, came here, settling in Jones county. After she arrived in Iowa Mrs. Toenjes married again and passed the last years of her life in Ireton, at the home of her daughter. She had reared a family of five children: Rev. John Gerhart, who is the pastor of the German Lutheran church at Quyvrel, Idaho; Mrs. Johanna Ludwig, a widow, who is still living in the old country; H. A., of this sketch; Dietrich, who lives in Chicago; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of H. L. Vonder, a farmer of Ireton, Iowa.
Accompanied by his mother, brother and sister, H. A. Toenjes came to the United States in 1874, settling in Jones county where he has since resided. He had learned the carpenter's trade in the land of his birth, and after coming to this country he followed it for about two years. He then took up farm work by the month, and four years later engaged in farming for himself. He selected Wayne township as the scene for his labors and bought here eighty acres. After he had proved to his satisfaction that he could make a success of this vocation he bought one hundred and twenty acres more, so, that he now has a farm of two hundred acres on section 28. This is especially well improved, the result
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of his own endeavors, and the buildings are of an exceptionally fine character. In addition to the work of the fields he milks about thirty-five cows, engaging to some extent in the dairy business. He assisted in the organization of the Co-oper- ative Creamery Company of Amber and is now on the board of directors of the concern.
Mr. Toenjes wedded, January 28, 1877, Miss Margaret Zimmerman, who was born near Dixon, Illinois, May 13, 1859, but was only four weeks old when brought to Jones county by her parents, A. G. and Anna (Grumm) Zimmerman, who were born, reared and married. in Hanover, Germany. They came to the United States in 1854 and five years later came to Iowa, where Mr. Zimmerman, bought a farm in Wayne township, where he lived until he retired from active life and took up his residence in the village of Amber. There his death occurred in 1904 and there his widow still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Toenjes have had thirteen chil- dren ; John C., of Ireton, Iowa; Anna E., who is the wife of Warner Heiken, of Cass township; A. G., of Wayne township; Augusta M., who is the wife of Herman Folkers, of Wayne township; Julia, who lives at home; Johannah, who resides in Greeley, Colorado ; George. Elizabeth, Clara. Laura and Herman, who are still at home; William, who died in infancy; and Maria, who died at the age of three. The family are members of Zion German Lutheran church of Wayne township, and take an active part in its social and religious life. Since he has become a citizen of this republic Mr. Toenjes has looked to the demo- cratic party for his guidance in political affairs and while he has not been active in public affairs he held the office of township trustee for a period of three years and has ever been interested in the welfare of his fellowmen. He is not only a diligent worker but is also imbued with those ideas of progress which make his counsel of real value to other men who are struggling toward success and distinction in the same line of work.
J. V. SMITH.
J. V. Smith, who is now one of the substantial farmers of Wyoming town- ship, was born in Scotland, June 20, 1835, and is a son of David and Isabel (McCladen) Smith. The parents were also natives of that country, but in 1855 they brought their family to the United States. They came direct to Iowa, locating upon a farm in Jones county, which remained theirs for the remaining years of their lives. Mr. Smith died in 1872, but his wife survived him for ten years, witnessing the success which had already opened for her son. Of the six children who were born of their union two alone are now living: J. V., of this sketch, and Elizabeth, who makes her home in Center Junction.
J. V. Smith received a good common-school education in his native land and remained with his parents until they settled in this county. Then he began to make his own way in the world, having attained the age of twenty years. For a time he worked by the day as a laborer and then, in 1856, went to Nebraska, where he preempted land, living upon it for about five years to insure his pos -. session and improving it during that period. In 1861 he returned to this county
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and bought the farm on which he now lives. It embraces one hundred and sixty acres, has been well improved and is cultivated so that it renders rich returns for the labor spent upon it. It was in 1875 that Mr. Smith put up the fine brick house which is his home, and he has since made several improvements, so that it is a very comfortable and convenient dwelling.
In 1858 Mr. Smith wedded Miss Sarah J. Hunt, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, in 1840. Her parents, J. W. and Catherine Hunt, were among those who sought homesteads in Nebraska when that state was thrown open with many inducements to families and they passed the remainder of their lives there. Two of their eight children have also died. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: George D., who is now in Clinton, Iowa; James A., of Onslow; Emma L., who is the wife of Delbert Wright, of this county ; J. E., who lives at home ; Jennie, who is the wife of Jerome Bender, of Wyoming ; Laura A., and John G., who are at home ; and six who have died. Mrs. Smith was taken from this world in 1902 and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Wyoming. Reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Smith still gives unwavering support to its creed, while politically he affiliates with the republican party, feel- ing convinced of the value of its principles in the government of a nation. He has taken no small part in public affairs of the township, for he has filled some of the offices within the gift of the people and always with the same success which has attended his own agricultural operations.
FRANK KENNEY.
While the newspaper of the average country town is usually taken as a cri- terion of the business enterprise of the place, and the support accorded it is gen- erally indicative of the thrift and progressiveness of the people, it is upon the editor that rests the responsibility of making the news medium representative of the best interests of the community he seeks to serve and securing the support and loyalty of those who will profit by a large circulation. For almost a decade, Frank Kenney has guided the destinies of the Oxford Mirror, more than doubling its general efficiency and vastly increasing the value of the position it has come to hold in Oxford Junction. The present editor was born at Albany, Illinois, June 16, 1880, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kenney. The pa- rents were of Canadian birth and ancestry, their native home having been Smiths Falls. During his life the father was a roadmaster in the employ of a railroad, but he died when his son was but eight years of age, so that the latter was reared by his mother, who is still living.
Frank Kenney received his education in the public schools of Oxford Junc- tion, graduating in the class of 1896. In 1893, while he was still a pupil, he be- gan to learn the printer's trade in the Oxford Mirror office under the direction of Charles A. Seaton, and then when his education was completed he went to Savanna, Illinois, to work in the Daily Journal office, of which his brother-in- law, F. S. Greenleaf, was proprietor. In 1898 he had an opportunity to buy the plant of the Oxford Mirror, and feeling that it was a chance not to be
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missed, he assumed charge of the paper on the 9th of March, that year. The Mir- ror had been started in 1879 by George F. Crouch, under very favorable circum- stances, although Oxford Junction was at the time only a small village. The first issue appearing October 30, was a six column folio and sold at a subscrip- tion price of one dollar and a quarter a year. The next year the price was re- duced to a dollar and the journal continued on a prosperous career, although with several changes of editors until February 5, 1889, when the office was to- tally destroyed by fire. The founder, Mr. Crouch, again appeared upon the scene and, bringing out the paper, said editorially : "Phoenix like, the Mirror has arisen from the ashes, and today appears before its readers in a new form, printed on new presses, from new type, in a new office, and with a new editor at its head." The subscription has grown from five hundred and seventy-five each week to one thousand, while the advertising patronage has increased in relative proportion and the job department more than tripled its effectiveness. While these increases are materially due to the business policy of the owner, they are due in even greater degree to his wise foresight which permitted nothing but the best work to issue from his office. This policy won customers from other towns that were not lacking in printing establishments, although they were not able to produce the quality of typographical work upon which the Mirror prided itself. Standing by the town, working for its best interests, the paper has won a loyal support from the citizens of Oxford Junction, who have every reason to feel proud of the weekly that bears the name of their town.
In Oxford Junction, July 31, 1902, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ken- ney and Miss Bess Panuska, and they have one son, born April 14, 1909. Po- litically Mr. Kenney has allied himself with the democratic party, on which ticket he was elected to the city council in 1903 and to the secretaryship of the school board in 1908, holding both positions up to the present. Fraternally he enjoys pleasant relations with the Masons since he was admitted to the order in 1902, and with the Knights of Pythias. In the latter society he has been especially ac- tive, having filled all the chairs, finishing as chancellor commander in January, 1908. Enterprising and a man of strong principles, he has contributed in no small degree to the progress of Oxford Junction, while his administration of public trusts has been both efficient and honorable.
HENRY EICHHORN.
Henry Eichhorn is one of the German farmers of Wyoming township, the extent of whose fields affords another indication of what can be accomplished through industry and economy, for when he came to this country he did not have as much as five dollars in his pockets. He was born in Germany, March 14, 1858, and is a son of Christ and Christina Eichhorn, who died in the fatherland which had been their home since their birth.
Under their guidance Henry Eichhorn had learned those invaluable lessons of industry and frugality which have brought him such large returns since he came to this country, and he obtained his education in the public schools of
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his birthplace. In 1879, when he had reached man's estate, he embarked on his journey to the United States, and upon landing made his way to Jones county, Iowa, where he secured work as a farm hand. In three years he felt he had saved enough and had become sufficiently familiar with our language and customs to warrant his engaging in farming on his own account, so he rented land, which he operated for ten years. At the end of that period he was able to buy one hundred and eighty acres, a part of the farm on which he is living today. As his undertakings prospered he added one hundred and twenty acres to this tract and then one hundred and sixty more, until now he owns in the aggregate four hundred and sixty acres of good land in Wyoming township. While a part of this is cultivated more is used as pasture land for the large herds of cattle and the hogs he raises in such number that he sends annually four and five carloads to market. Such has been the profit of the thirty years he has spent in this section of the state.
In 1883 Mr. Eichhorn married Miss Anna Broaderson, who was born in Ger- many and had come to the United States and to Jones county a year before hier marriage. To their union nine children have been born: Christina; Peter; Hattie; Christ ; Laura; one who died in infancy; Henry; another who died in infancy; and Thomas. The children are living at home with the exception of Laura, who, having graduated from the Wyoming high school, is now engaged in teaching.
Mr. and Mrs. Eichhorn were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church and continue to give to it their religious adherence. When he was admitted to citizenship in this republic Mr. Eichhorn turned to the democratic party for his guidance in political matters and has since been stanch in his support of its principles, believing that they embody some of the best ideas for the government of a nation. He has taken no part in local affairs, except during a period of sixteen years when he was a member of the school board, and yet his record and the success he has won for himself in the difficult line of agriculture naturally brings his name before the minds of his fellow citizens as a man who could ably guide their fortunes along a straight and prosperous road.
CHARLES WILBERT EYE.
Charles Wilbert Eye, a successful representative of the agricultural interests of Madison township, was born in Wyoming township, this county, May 1, 1874. His parents, Selo and Margaret (Pilsenbarger) Eye, are numbered among the early settlers of this section of the state. The father came from West Virginia, his native state, in his young manhood, and the mother was born in Illinois, while her parents were en route to Iowa. The young people took part in the develop- ment of the country and when in the course of years they were married they lo- cated in Wyoming township, where they still reside, Mr. Eye long figuring as one of the enterprising and prosperous farmers of the community.
Charles Wilbert Eye attended the common schools from which he received fair instruction in the rudimentary branches of English education. He worked
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with his father during vacations, so that when twelve years ago lie decided to engage in farming for himself, he was not unprepared for his responsibilities. It was in 1897 that he rented a farm in the neighborhood in which he had grown to manhood and four years later he assumed the management of his father's place, while in 1907 he purchased the land on which he lives and works today. It is a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, well improved, and cultivated in a way to obtain the largest harvests possible. In addition to the raising of cereals, Mr. Eye has engaged extensively in the stock business for the last four years making a specialty of Aberdeen Angus cattle. In the fall of 1909 he had two carloads ready for the market and as they were fine animals, he disposed of them with a handsome profit to himself. His income, sufficient to permit his enjoy- ment of many of the luxuries of life is earnest of the industry with which he has pursued the calling to which he has devoted himself.
In 1896 Mr. Eye was united in marriage to Miss Bertha N. Wright, of Wy- oming, and they now have two sons and a daughter: Charles H., Joyce O. and Loyal E. He and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church. Since he has been of an age to exercise the franchise right of every American citizen he has cast his ballot invariably for the candidate of the democratic party, as he places the utmost reliance in the ideas promulgated by it. He has never sought official preferment for himself, however, although the success which he has won in his work and the strong qualities of his personality would naturally suggest him to the minds of his fellows as an efficient trustee of the people's interests.
W. L. OVERLEY.
W. L. Overley, deceased, who during his lifetime was one of the conspicuously successful farmers of Jones county, was born in Kentucky in 1847. He was still a young man, however, when he came to this state, seeking to make a fortune for himself in a region which was comparatively new and unimproved. He procured a place of good size, to which he devoted himself with an energy that was not slow in winning results. Bountiful harvests repaid him richly for the days of hard toil he had spent in the fields and then by husbanding his resources and his profits he was able to take advantage of the land values spread out before him, adding from time to time, as opportunity offered, to the fields he had first attempted to cultivate, until at his death he was possessed of three hundred acres. His land was all well improved, as the result of his own efforts, and both in the orderliness of its appearance and in the quality and maintenance of the buildings gave evidence of the skill of the owner in his work and of his thrift in caring for his possessions. On the 25th of December, 1906, Mr. Overley's life was ended and a good man was known to have passed from the community in which he lived. Since his death Mrs. Overley has disposed of the real estate he left, retaining only the house and lot in Onslow where she now lives.
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