History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 54

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 54
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 54
USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Thomas II. Lantry, agent for the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad at Algona, is a native of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., born July 24, 1838. When thir- teen years of age, he accompanied his par- ents to Canada West, where he remained three years. He then removed to Madi- son, Wis., where he remained seven years, during which time he served an appren- ticeship of three years to the carpenter's trade, and made a visit to Pike's Peak in 1857. In 1861 he went to Prairie du Chien, Wis., and entered the service of the Chi-

cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, in the mechanical department, and there remained until January, 1864, when he was sworn into the Government service, and went with Sherman's army as far as Atlanta, where he was honora- bly discharged, and returned home to Prairie du Chien. He again entered the service of the railroad company, and where he has stayed ever since, coming to Algona on the first train that was run to that village. He has had charge of the company's repair shops at Algona and discharged the duties faithfully until June, 1883, when he was appointed agent for the company at Algona. Mr. Lan- try was married Dec. 20, 1861, to Kate MeGlynn. They have six children- Hannah, Mary, Ilarry, Eva, Katie and Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Lantry are mem- bers of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Lantry has been a member of the city council for five years; he is also a member of the village school board.

Charles C. Smith was born Aug. 25, 1850, in Germany, and came with his par- ents to America when quite young, set- tling in New York State. Soon after both parents died, leaving him an orphan among strangers in a strange land. He went to the village of Dexter, Washtenaw Co., Mich., and in 1869 moved to Ohio, where he lived until 1881, when he came to Kossuth county, and bought eighty acres of land on seetion 26, in its primi- tive State, but now has fifty acres under cultivation. Ile was married Dec. 25, 1878, to Sarah Abel of Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio. They have one child-Fred N. Mr. Smith is an Odd Fellow. In polities a republican.

430

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY.

Eli Ferris was born Nov. 26, 1819, in Blakley, Luzerne Co., Penn. In 1858 he made a trip west, and laid a claim on part of seetion 14, township 96, range 29, went to Illinois, and was married to Nancy Jane Fitch, born March 14, 1839, in Knox Co., Ill. After living in Illinois one year, he moved back to Pennsylvania, where he remained five years, then removed again to Illinois and spent six years. lle then came back to his claim in Iowa where be still lives. While he was making his claim, he, with John Callender, kept bachelor hall, in a log shanty. They killed a wild goose, and after cooking it three weeks, threw part of it away, too tough to eat. At one time when all the men were out of the neighborhood except Messrs. Ferris and Callender, the prairies took fire, and they had to fight two days and two nights to save the houses in the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris have five children-Isaac J., Silas M., James M., Jennie and Bert B. Both are members of the Baptist Church, and belong to the Grange.

Joseph Zanke is a native of Prussia, born Nov. 2, 1835. He followed milling in the old country. In 1869 he emigrated to America, locating in Whitewater, Wis., where he remained one year, working in a mill. In 1870 he removed to Algona township, this county. He purchased eighty acres of land on section 35, and has since bought 160 acres of wild prairie land on section 34. He now has build -. ings on the latter, which cost over $2,000. Mr. Zanke was married May 5, 1870, to Helen Hulburt, a native of Germany. They have had four children-Joseph N., Mary, Emma and George. Mr. Zanke is

a member of the Catholic Church. Politi- cally, he is a democrat. Mr. Zanke stands in the front ranks of the enterprising and go-ahead farmers of Kossuth county.

George Simpkins came with his parents from England to America when seven years of age, settling in Dane Co., Wis., where his father still lives. During the passage they were shipwrecked, on Lake Ontario, and lost all they owned. The disaster was caused by a drunken captain. The first winter in Wisconsin, the chil- dren, of whom there were seven, went without shoes, and had very little cloth- ing. George worked on a farm, with a threshing machine, when quite young. In oiling a machine, when fourteen years old, his clothing caught in some of the ma- chinery, drawing him on to it, and cutting off his left arm above the elbow. In 1872 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, bought a claim on section 20, township 96, range 29, where he now resides, owning 400 acres of land, 300 acres of which is under cultivation. He is now turning his atten- tion to the raising of fine cattle. In 1873, the first year on his farm, he had seventy acres in wheat; the grasshoppers took all but fifty bushels, and the next year they took the whole crop, which was very dis- couraging for a beginner, yet he is now one of the enterprising and successful farmers of his township. Ile . was mar- ried July 4, 1864, to Inlda Peck, born April 4, 1844. They have three children -Henry, Nellie and Nettie. Ile is an Odd Fellow, also a member of the Bap- tist Church.

N. C. Kuhn, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania, July 12, 1831. Ile learned the carpenter trade at Ship-

431

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY.

ington, Penn., and followed that business until the year 1856, when he moved to Prairie City, MeDonongh Co., Ill., where he remained nine years, making building and contracting his business. In 1864 he removed to Galesburg, III., where he worked at his trade for the next nine years, and in 1866 he bought eighty acres of land in Kossuth Co., Iowa. In 1872 . he removed to Algona, and followed his trade until the spring of 1873, when he commenced breaking and improving his farm on section 35, township 96, range 29, and for the next two successive years the grasshoppers destroyed his erops en- tirely. He was married March 16, 1852, to N. A. Bivens, who also was a native of Pennsylvania. Her parents still reside in Illinois. They have had nine children, of whom seven are living-O. B., Charlie C., William, Joseph E., George, Fred T. and Nellie. Jennie and Mary J. are de- ceased. William is married to Sarah Bowls. Mr. Kuhn at present follows car- pentering and farming. IIe has eighty acres under cultivation. He belongs to the M. E. Church. In politics he is a re- publican.

Rev. Dennis F. McCaffrey was born in Leitrim, Ireland, toward the close of the fall of 1846; and there, amid all the pleasures of childhood, were passed some five summers, the fond remembrances of which are still alive in memory. The loss of a father, kind but stern, together with the painful effects of those years of want, necessitated a final change of home. The change came, and came, too, for the better. And here it might be remarked that the family was the second of the race to settle in Providence, R. I. The

seventh summer finds him attending the village school, while the next spring shows the lad of not yet eight years taking early lessons in gardening from Capt. Smith, who was, perhaps, more widely known for the oddity of humanity than for the length of years. The seven or eight years that followed only speak of long summers of labor and a few months of school in the winter. During the few years that follow, he filled a position of some importance in one of the mills of Valley Falls. While thus engaged he saw the necessity of a night school for the youths who labored all day in the fac- tory. About this time an opening to at- tend the Lonsdale high school offered itself, and was readily embraced. Some nine months at this institute prepared the way for entering Holy Cross College, sitnated at Worcester, Mass., in Septem- ber, 1864, in company with Rev. W. Hines, pastor at East Greenwich, R. I. Six years of college life-years of hope and anxiety, were not slow to pass, leaving footprints of the happiest nature. The fall after graduating he entered the Grand Semi- nary at Montreal, Canada, and in the third year after, December, 1872, he seeks rest from study, as his health was much im- paired by the severe routine of the Grand Seminary. Ile spent a year and a half with his sister in Pennsylvania. In Sep- tember, 1873, he was requested to teach a class in his Alma Mater. This position he held for two years, during which time he gave his spare hours to books of no light nature. When strong again, and with the necessary means to complete his studies, he entered the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, Suspension Bridge, N.

432

HISTORY OF KOSSUTHI COUNTY.

Y., and there received ordination from the hands of Bishop Ryan, Dec. 23, 1873. Iowa then became his field of labor, and for about a year and a half he acted in the capacity of assistant in Ottumwa, Des Moines and Fort Dodge. Fairfax, Linn county, was his first mission, where he spent two years, when he was changed to Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he now resides.

Fred Kopke, a native of Prussia, came to this country in 1866, and located in Janesville, Wis., remaining there two and a half years. He then removed to Sank Prairie and remained there about four and a half years. In 1873 he came to Kossuth county, purchasing the northwest quarter of section 3, township 96, range 29, where he now resides. He has since bought the southeast quarter of section 33, in Burt township. He has about 125 acres under cultivation. Mr. Kopke was united in marriage in November, 1862, in the old country, with Henrietta Bailey, born in August, 1840. They have eight children -Amelia, Bertha, Mary, Frank, Willie, Minnie, Otto and Katie. Amelia is mar- ried to August Darring. Mr. and Mrs. Kopke are members of the M. E Church. lle is a republican, politically.

Rochns Hartman was born March 17, 1839, in Austria. Ile came to America in 1865, stopped awhile in Illinois, working by the day, then removed to Clayton Co., Iowa, and in 1875, bought eighty acres on section 17, township 96, range 29, where he now resides. lle was married May 22, 1865, to Mary Ilerman, also a native of Germany. They have three children- Ilerman, Kresenzia and John. Mr. and

Mrs. Hartman are members of the Catho- lie Church. In polities, he is a democrat.

Joseph Osterbauer is a native of Aus- tria, born Aug. 12, 1855. When seven years of age he came to America with his mother, who was a widow. She died soon after landing in this country, and he was left an orphan. He lived around and worked on a farm until twenty-four years of age. In 1875 he came to Kossuth county, and stopped for a short time in Algona. In 1877 he purchased eighty acres of land in Algona township, section 7, and moved thereon. lle afterwards purchased another eighty acres on the same seetion. Mr. Osterbauer was mar- ried to Kate Walters. This union has been blessed with three children-Mary, Tracy and Annie. It can truly be said that Mr. Osterbauer is one of the most energetic and enterprising young farmers in the county.

Christian Dan is a native of Mecklen- berg, Schwerien, Germany, born May 21, 1834. In 1866 he came to America, locat- ing in Whitewater, Wis., where he worked at wagon-making ten years. In 1876 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased 120 acres of land on section 23, Algona township. lle afterwards added 160 acres, now owning 280 acres of land, 160 acres of which is under eultivation. Mr. Dau has erected some good buildings on his place. Ile married, in November, 1860, Fredericke Gease, also a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Dau have eight children-Mary, August, Ilerman, Frank, Max, Willie, Amanda and George. Mr. and Mrs. Dau are members of the Evan- gelical Church.

IIISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 435

Conrad Herman was born Nov. 16, 1833, in Austria. He came to America in 1864, locating in Clayton Co, Iowa, where he remained eleven years. In 1875 he bought eighty acres in this county on section 15, township 96, range 29, where he moved his family in 1876. He has since bought another eighty acres, having 130 acres of it under cultivation. He was married in the old country, Oct. 18, 1859, to Cath- rina Herman. They have eight children - Alexander II., Conrad, Agatha M., Lena M., John, Ernest, Ilngh and Katie. Al- exander and Lena are married. All are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Herman was admitted as a citizen of the United States, Oct. 16, 1873, in the Du- buque circuit court. In politics he is a democrat.

Jolin Kargleder, a native of Bavaria, was born March 26, 1826. He was a brewer by trade. In 1862 he came to America, locating in Milwaukee, Wis, where he remained ten years. He then went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he lived two years, then moved to St. Paul, where he resided four years. HIe then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased 320 acres of land in Algona township. He now has a farm of 480 acres, 225 of which are under cultivation. Mr. Kargleder was married, in 1868, to Selma Haas. They have five children- Charles, May, Ella, Arthur and Emma.

John Swanson was born Sept. 21, 1813, in Sweden. In 1869 he came with his wife Sarah (Neilson) Swanson to America, landed in Boston, went to New York city, to Tomkins' Cove, where he remained eight years, then moved to Iowa. After stopping in Algona a few weeks he rented

a farm, lived on it one year, ånd in 1878 bought forty acres on the northwest quar- ter of the northeast quarter of section 25, township 96, range 29, where he now re- sides. About half his farm is under cul- tivation, the rest in native timber. Ile was married in 1852, and has five children -Christina, wife of Nels Peterson, who resides in Red Wing, Minn .; John J., Mary C., who has taught school five terms, and also taught the first term in the new school house; Ida S, also a teacher, and Esther L. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.

John McDonald was born in Dundee, Huntington Co., Canada, May 1, 1850. His parents died when he was a child. In 1869 he went to Illinois, remained there one year, then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased sixty-seven acres of land, which he afterwards sold. In 1879 he bought the south half of section 8, and afterwards eighty acres on section 1, Al- gona township. He is a very successful farmer. Mr. McDonald was married April 20, 1880, to Anna Hay, a native of Ohio. They have one child-Mary Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. MeDonald are members of the Catholic Church.

Ernest Krueger is a native of Germany. When nineteen years of age he was drafted in the Prussian army, serving three years. He and his brother was in Prince Freder- iek's Army Corps, participating in nine battles. He was at the battle of Metz on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of August, 1870. Ile was also in the battle at Paris for four days. After he left the army he followed his parents, who had preceded him in 1869, to America. His parents settled in Ozankee Co., Wis., where they now re-

334

HISTORY OF KOSSUTHI COUNTY.

seattered like a covey of quails at the ap- proach of the hunter-all running, some in one and some in another direction. It was evident that the country would be aroused, and we would have the hunters on our trail, if they were not following us before.

Now then for it boys ! We must gain all on them we can. A short run brought ils to a stream of water, and into it we plunged, without a moment's hesitation. Turning our heads down stream, we floun- dered along; now over huge bouhlers, then into holes up to our chins, now through shallow rapids and again through the deep still water. We were profiting by the South Carolina "manehunter" in the swamps. The stream was rapid most of the way, and would carry our scent flown with its turbulent waters. W.e must stick to the stream as long as we could. Stop! What is this? A bayou putting into the stream, and overhung with willows on its banks. Here was our refuge. Wading out into the bayou and behind the willows, we were safe from observation, at least.

We had left no track since reaching the stream, and unless the hounds were saga- cious enough to catch our seent from either the air or water, they would be baffled. At all events, it was our only safety.

Ilark! did you hear it? Listen! Yes here they come! Away up the creek, at regular intervals, the baying of the hounds could be distinctly heard. Now then for it! Will they be able to discover our re- treat? Listen! do you hear them? No, they have ceased their infernal howl. Now comes a long pause, and then the

notes of a horn; soon a noise along our side of the creek was heard! The hunt- ers are upon us! The bayou is reached and crossed-on and on, down the creek, out of sight and hearing!

Thank God, thank God, we are safe! ITark! not too fast! they are coming back! Nearer and nearer the hounds of the hunt came, on the other side of the creek, and going up again. They have passed us, and again the sounds of the chase die out, and are heard no longer.

Shivering with cold, we remained in the water until night, and then, exhausted as we were with cold and hunger and ex- citement, traveled during the entire night, making at least twenty-five miles.

Just before daylight it commenced to rain, not a drizzling mist, but a regular down pouring rain-as though it had a days work to perform, and meant to get most of it done before noon. A rain that not only wet to the skin, but gave you a good sound pelting beside. The reader will recollect that it was in October, and even in South Carolina the weather was not as warm as it might be, and the nights especially, were cold and unpleasant. It was no pleasing prospeet-that of crawl- ing into a thicket and lying down in the pelting rain, with neither shelter nor fire. But disagreeable as it was, we hailed the rain with rapture. We remembered the lesson of our man-hunter of the swamps.

"The rain gits us; dogs can't keep the scent after a smart rain." We knew that beyond a reasonable doubt, that the hunt- ers would be able to get on our track in the morning, and without this merciful rain-sent, as it seemed, by kind Provi-

335

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY.

dence-we should probably be overtaken before night.

Shivering with cold and nearly exhaust- ed by fatigue and want of food, we crawled into a thicket, some twenty rods or less from the highway upon which we had been traveling, and throwing our- selves upon the ground, drew our one blanket, and the old coverlet obtained from our black friend over us,and sought, by lying close to each other, to retain enough of the natural heat of our bodies, to prevent perishing with cold. Oh, how we did suffer! It required all the force of will of which we were possessed to prevent us from stirring around. It was only by keeping before our minds, con- stantly, the fact that if we attempted to travel, or even stir around among the wet bushes, it would be a very easy matter for the hounds to get our scent again. So with aching bones and chattering 'eeth, we lay there in the rain and waited.

The sun was up, but his rays could not penetrate that dense rain cloud. Oh, what a blessing would have been even a few moments enriched by his cheering beams! If we had only dared, we had the material with which to build a fire and relieve our suffering; but to build a fire would only advertise our exact local- ity for miles. Thus the tedious hours slowly passed.

About noon we were rewarded for our self-denial by seeing two horsemen and five hounds pass along the road. Their business-it required no stretch of the imagination to determine. The men were armed with carbines, and were evi- dently searching for somebody, and we

were strongly of the opinion that we knew who it was.

In the afternoon the sun came out once more, and throwing off our wet blankets, we sunned ourselves in his cheering beams. But still we did not dare to move around much. Our own safety consisted in keeping down the scent. If we started on now through the wet bushes, we could be easily followed, for after our impromptu bath of the day before and our thorough drenching sub- sequently from the rain, it would not re- quire a very sagacious dog to smell us at a quarter of a mile.

We were nearer the road than we thought really safe, but we were afraid that if we attempted to put more distance between us and the road, we would run more risk of creating a scent that could be caught by the dogs than by remaining where we were.

About 5 o'clock in the afternoon we saw the same men and dogs returning. As they were about opposite to us, one of the dogs, evidently the leader, stopped and threw up his head, snuffed the air for a moment as though there was game near; but the men fortunately did not notice him. After snuffing around for a short time, he dropped his head and followed the other two brutes on horseback-on, and out of sight.

Hurrah! we are saved! Not by any skill or foresight of our own, but by the merciful interposition of Divine Provi- dence, in sending the rain, and thus de- priving our enemies of their only means of tracing us.

We had now been without food about twenty-four hours, were cramped and our

436

HISTORY OF KOSSUTII COUNTY.

side. He stopped in Wisconsin three years, then went to Carroll Co., Ill, re- maining there three years. In February, 1879, he removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa. On Oct. 31, 1879, he was united in mar- riage with Louisa Steinbach, a native of Stephenson Co., Ill., born Oct. 24, 1858. Her parentsare natives of Germany. The result of this union was three children- Emma M., Minnie E. and Clara A. Mrs. Krueger is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Krueger is a democrat, politically. He is 'in enterprising farmer, and enjoys the respect of his fellow men.

J. B. Hofius was born in Mercer Co., Penn., Feb. 28, 1854. His father, a native of Mercer county, was born March 16, 1801. His mother was a native of New York, born July 23, 1823. His father was married twice. First, to Mary . Du. gan, Sept. 23, 1828 ; and the second time to Maria Bearss, Feb. 17, 1846. The subject of this sketch lived with his par- ents until of age. He has traveled quite extensively throughout the west. In 1876 he came to łowa on a visit. In 1877 he was married to Mary Thompson. He re- turned to Pennsylvania, where he resided about five years. In May, 1882, he re- turned to Iowa and bought 160 aeres of land on section 35, Algona township. He erected a good house and barn on his farm. He is a member of the Baptist Church. Politically Mr. Hofius is a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Hofus have two children-Henry, born Oct. 14, 1878, and died Dec. 2, 1881; Frank, born Nov. 2, 1882. By industry and hard work Mr.

Ilofius has succeeded in amassing a nice competence, and will in his old age be able to enjoy life comfortably. He is one of the most highly respected and influen- tial men in the county.

Swen P. Peterson was born Dec. 5, 1837, in Sweden. Con ing to America in 1854, he landed in Boston, Mass., and went at once to Galesburg, Knox Co., Ill., where he remained four years. From here he went to California and worked in the mines six years, after which time he returned to Galesburg. After living there two years, he moved to Henry Co., Ill., and followed farming seventeen years, owning eighty acres of land, which he sold for $3,600, and then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he bought 160 acres of good land on section 36, township 96, range 28, of James Roan, for which he paid $40 per acre. He cultivates grain of all kinds, and makes a specialty of thor- oughbred Poland China hogs. Mr. Peter- son was one of Illinois' best farmers, and Iowa may well be proud of his coming in her midst. He owns forty or fifty acres of fine timber, lying on the East Fork of the Des Moines river, and he can get from 85 to $6 a cord for all the wood he chooses to bring into Algona, a distance of a mile and a half. He was married Aug. 26, 1866, to Emma Christina Run- beck, born in Sweden. They have five living children-Edah R., Ella A., Esther L., Edwin P. and Alfred L. He and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a republican.

437

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

BURT TOWNSHIP.

This township is contained within the limits of what is known as township 97 north, range 29 west, and is bounded on the north by Greenwood, on the south by Algona, west by Fenton, and east by Portland. The surface is, as a whole, comparatively level, the slight swells or undulations being just sufficient, as a rule, to drain the land. The East Fork of Des- Moines river flows across sections 1 and 12 in the northeast corner, while sections 29, 32 and 33 are traversed by a branch of the Black Cat creek. The township is comparatively new, only a small portion being under cultivation, the principal business of the inhabitants being stock raising, as the prairie is covered with a most luxuriant growth of native grass, This grows exceedingly thick and fine and affords a magnificent range for large herds of cattle, whose plump appearance and sleek hides show plainly its nourishing qualities. But little, if any, native tim- ber is found in this locality, but where the old settler is found, may be seen fine groves of elm, ash, cottonwood and other trees, set out and protected by their hands.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 54

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 950

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950