USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 42
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The marriage of Mr. Bersley to Miss Jestena Ellis occurred on the 18th day of October. 1880. Mrs. Bersley is a daughter of John and Angeline Ellis, natives of Ohio, who came to Linn county in 1856 and always followed farming. By this marriage there is one son, Homer S., who is now nine years of age.
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Mr. Bersley votes the republican ticket in affairs national, but is not re- strieted in his choice of those at the head of the local affairs. He has never sought office of any kind but confines his efforts toward accomplishing results in the conduct of his farm. His wife has long held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and both enjoy the confidence and esteem of all with whom they have come in contact.
FRED W. BORGHART
The concensus of public opinion accords Fred W. Borghart a prominent place among the substantial agriculturists and representative citizens of College town- ship, Linn county, where his birth occurred on the 9th of February, 1866. His parents were Henry and Jane (Furmeister) Borghart, the former a native of Germany, where his birth occurred in 1838. In 1849 he accompanied his parents on their removal to the United States. His entire life was devoted to agricultural pursuits and he became one of the first settlers of Linn county, Iowa, loeating on section 3. College township, and casting in his lot with the pioneers of that distriet. His first home was a log cabin, which he erected, and in this the family continued to reside until it was blown down, without, however, any serious in- juries to any member of the household. He was most successful in his farming and was able therefore to provide his family with many of the comforts of life. His death occurred on the 5th of June. 1893. when he had passed the fifty-fifth milestone on life's journey. Besides Fred W., of this review, three daughters still survive, as follows: one who resides near Ely; Amelia, the widow of George W. Smith, one of the most prominent men in the district, whose death, in March. 1910, was the occasion of deep regret throughout Linn county; and Martha, who wedded Henry Wilkin, a farmer of College township.
On the home farm, amid the hardships and environment of pioneer life, Fred W. Borghart was reared to manhood, and in the public sehools of Linn county he acquired his education. He early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the farm lad, assisting his father in the ardnous work attendant upon the cultivation of a frontier farm. He remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age. when, eager to provide for his own livelihood and wisely choosing as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared. he entered the business world on his own account as a farmer. In 1890 he purchased his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has highly improved, and also rents an adjoining tract of one hundred aeres, which he op- erates in connection with his own farm. His fields have been sown to corn and oats, having forty acres of the former and thirty-five acres of the latter. The balance of his land is meadow and pasture, for he is also engaged in stock-raising, having on hand many head of horses, cows and hogs. In both branches of his business he has been most successful. for he has carried on his affairs in a careful, systematic and methodical manner, while at the same time he has not been lack- ing in that spirit of progress which is manifest in agricultural circles at the present time.
It was on the 19th of March, 1890, that Mr. Borghart was united in marriage to Miss Calla Lilly. a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Lilly. of Cedar Rapids, the former now living retired. Unto this union have been born six children, namely: Alta E., born in 1891; Berniec, born in 1893, who is attending Coe College ; Jessie, born in 1895 ; Maud, in 1897 : Fred Il., in 1899 ; and Ara, in 1902. The family circle was broken when, on the 14th of October, 1904, the wife and mother passed away, and since then her parents have resided most of the time
F. W. BORGHART
NS PUBLIC
L VILDLA ILLA
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with Mr. Borghart, looking after the welfare of the children and caring for the household.
The family attend the Evangelical church, and in fraternal circles Mr. Borg- hart is well known, holding membership in Ely Lodge, No. 581, I. O. O. F., at Ely. IIe is likewise identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, is a member of the Brotherhood of Yeomen, and belongs to the Order of the Eagles. In politics he gives stanch support to the democratic party and for five terms held the office of township trustee. For two years he served as sehool treasurer, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion, while he is now the candidate for county supervisor. Faithful at all times to the duties devolving upon him and strong in his advocacy of all measures which tend toward the material, intellectual and moral development of the community, he has, by his own upright life and manly principles, gained the admiration and respeet of all who know him and his circle of warm friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
EDWARD EHDA
Edward Ehda, one of the worthy native sons of Linn county, has resided on his present farm in Monroc township for the past twenty-six years and in the conduct of his agricultural interests has won a gratifying measure of suc- cess. He was born on the 22d of November, 1847, a son of John C. and Eliza- beth (Kramer) Ehda. The father, whose birth occurred in Germany in 1814. attended the common schools of that country until nineteen years of age and then spent two years in a medical college at IIamburg. Subsequently he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, landing at New York eity, whence he made his way to Pennsylvania, where he wedded Miss Elizabeth Kramer, a native of Lancaster county, that state. They continued to reside in the Keystone state until 1844, when they came to Linn county, Iowa, here remaining until called to their final rest. Mr. Ehda entered a tract of land on his arrival and for many years lived in a log cabin, for this part of the state was still largely un- developed. The period of his residence in this county covered a half century and when he passed away about 1895 the community mourned the loss of one of its best known and most respected citizens. ITis political allegiance was given to the democracy, while his religious faith was indieated by his membership in the Evangelical church, though originally he had been affiliated with the German Lutheran church. The demise of his wife occurred about 1894.
Edward Ehda obtained his education in the common schools and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he has made his life work. He remained under the parental roof until he had reached man's estate and seven years later was married and established a home of his own. In 1884 he purchased a farm of seventy-six and three-fourths acres in Monroe township, to the further culti- vation and improvement of which he has since devoted his time and energies with excellent results.
When twenty-eight years of age Mr. Ehda was united in marriage to Miss Ellen J. Oliver, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Bigger) Oliver, of Linn county. She was one of a family of three sons and three daughters, but at the present time only one of her sisters and a brother are living and both reside in other states. Mr. and Mrs. Ehda are the parents of four children, as follows: Charles Leon, who is married, has four children and lives near his father's home; Mabel Ethel, the wife of H. R. Emerson, who is connected with the Board of Trade in Chicago: Myrtle, who is the wife of Walter Byse and resides on her father's farm; and Ernest R .. a resident of California.
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Politically Mr. Ehda is a stalwart advocate of the democratic party, exer- eising his right of franchise in support of its men and measures. He has con- tinuously remained a resident of this county from his birth to the present time and that his life has ever been an upright and honorable one is indicated by the faet that the associates of his boyhood and youth are still numbered among his stanehest friends.
HORACE D. NEWLAND
Horaee D. Newland is now well known in Cedar Rapids as an enterprising business man, possessing considerable initiative spirit and executive force, suc- cessfully controlling an important productive industry, under the name of the Newland Manufacturing & Supply Company. He is engaged in the manufacture of household supplies, including toilet waters, perfumes and flavoring extracts, and his carefully managed business interests and thorough understanding of the market and of the trade have enabled him to attain a creditable position in the ranks of the city's representative business men.
Mr. Newland was born in Lawrenceville, St. Lawrence county; New York, on the 19th of June, 1848, and is descended from Scotch ancestry and also from early American families long connected with the history of this land. IIis parents were Jacob Waters and Patience Padderford (Bullock) Newland. The grandfather of the latter was a relative of the Roosevelt family and the Bullock family is one of equally long connection with American interests. The grand- mother of our subject on the Newland side was a great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Peabody, the first female child born in Plymouth colony of Massa- chusetts. The Newlands were of Puritan lineage, the family being established in America by ancestors who came in the Mayflower. Jacob W. Newland, the father of Horace D. Newland, was born in Middleton, Vermont, in ISIS. His eldest brother. Peabody Newland, was for over fifty years a deacon of the Bap- tist church at Lawrenceville. New York, and lived to the remarkable age of ninety-eight years. Their mother was a Grinnell, being a sister of the founder of Grinnell, Iowa, and their father was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The old home farm near Lawrenceville, New York, which he cleared shortly after leaving the army, is still owned by a member of the family.
Jacob W. Newland became a tanner and eurrier by trade and was the owner of several tanneries. Ilis well developed business interests enabled him to ex- tend the scope of his activities and brought him prominence in industrial and commercial circles. While in the east he also engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In 1861 he started for the west with Iowa as his destination. and on reaching this state purchased land in Jones county, where for two decades he carried on farming. In 1881, however, he left the farm and removed to Cedar Rapids, where he lived retired until the day of his death, which oc- enrred December 18, 1901, when he was on a visit to his daughter in Sterling, Illinois. He had then reached the age of eighty-three years and seven months. and his remains were brought back to Mount Vernon for interment. His wife, who hore the maiden name of Patience Bullock, was born April 15. 1821. and died January 15, 1908. In 1901 a family reunion was held in celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage. Mrs. Newland was a daughter of Jared J. and Elizabeth (Farnsworth) Bullock, the former a son of Seth Bul- lock, who came from Scotland to the new world and was the founder of the family in the United States. He settled first in New Hampshire, while at a later day the family was established in Franklin county. New York, the journey being made with ox-teams from the old home in the Granite state. For a long
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period the Bullock family was represented in New York, but the children came to the west.
Horace D. Newland is one of a family of five children, the others being Emma J., now Mrs. George L. Werntz of Chicago; Henrietta, the widow of Walter P. Leonard and a resident of Parkersburg, West Virginia; George Cas- sins, who is engaged in business as a contractor at Martelle, Linn county, Iowa ; and Alice Patience, the wife of C. L. Stout of Cedar Rapids.
Horace D. Newland first attended school in New York but continued his education after becoming a resident of Linn county. His youthful days were devoted to the work of the farm when not occupied with the duties of the school- room, and he continued to engage in general agrieultural pursuits until twenty- three years of age, when he came to Cedar Rapids and was connected with the police department here. For a short time he acted as chief of police. Later he became a representative of railway interests and in recognition of his ability was promoted to full charge of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Rail- way yards. After sustaining an injury he was appointed to a position in the freight auditor's office and later served in the capacity of weighing clerk, oceu- pying that position for six months. In 1883 he was employed by the Chieago & Northwestern Railway and removed to Evanston, Illinois. Later he was made freight agent at Evanston, and was connected with different offices, being appointed ticket agent of the Dempster street station, Evanston. Appointed deputy sheriff of Cook county, Illinois, in 1886, he filled that position for four years, acting under Sheriff Gilbert. On the expiration of that period he re- turned to the farm and a little later came to Cedar Rapids. Here he took up manufacturing and now has a well equipped plant, the output of which is toilet waters, perfumes, flavoring extracts and other household supplies. Ile has secured a good market for his products by reason of their excellence, and also owing to the well known reliability of the house he enjoys a liberal patron- age which has been continuously growing.
On the 8th of June, 1871, Mr. Newland was married to Miss Mary E. Hennigh, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of the Rev. Henry K. and Rebecca (Surface) Hennigh. Her father was a Presbyterian minister. Mr. and Mrs. Newland have become parents of two sons and a daughter. William L., the eldest, now a druggist of Chicago, married Grace Lee and has three children. Edward. living at home, is also engaged in the drug business. Elsie B. is the wife of Earl C. Gould. The family residence is at 519 Seventh avenue West. They hold membership in the Westminster Presbyterian church and Mr. New- land has guided his life by the principles and teachings of that denomination. He has always utilized the opportunities and advantages that have come to him for advancement and progress, and the success which he has achieved is the legitimate outcome of his diligence, perseverance and carefully formulated plans.
FRANK HAMILTON PEASE
Frank Hamilton Pease, editor of the Railway Conductor, published at Cedar Rapids, was born in Columbus, Ohio, on the 18th of October, 1853. He is a lineal descendant of Robert Pease, who came to this country in the ship Francis from the port of Ipswich, England, in April, 1634. He landed in Boston and settled in Salem, Massachusetts. One of the ancestors of our subject was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and took part in the battle of Stillwater at the time of Bur- goyne's surrender. His father, Phineas Pease, who was a railroad man, was born in Somers, Connecticut, but spent his last days in Columbus, Ohio, where he
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died on the 8th of October, 1893. Long years before he had wedded Elizabeth M. Edson and her demise occurred in May, 1881.
Frank H. Pease pursued his education in the public schools of Centralia, Illinois, until he was about fourteen years of age, after which lie spent two and one- half years in a bank as bookkeeper. He did not find the occupation congenial, however, and turned his attention to railroading, in which he continued until 1904. During that time lie served successively as brakeman, conductor and train- master and in 1904 was made chief clerk to the president of the Order of Railway Conductors, while in 1909 he became editor of the Railway Conductor, a magazine which has a circulation of forty-six thousand in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He has made this a valuable journal for railway men, discussing themes of vital interest to them, and the paper thus enjoys a wide circulation.
Mr. Pease has been married twice. Ilis first wife was a Miss Alma Culley of Indianapolis, Indiana, who died on the 5th of December, 1887, leaving two chil- dren : George F., who is now twenty-eight years of age and is a traveling salesman in Colorado; and Arthur H., a cashier for the American Express Company at Springfield, Illinois. After losing his wife, Mr. Pease was again married, his second union being with Adah Hay, a daughter of the late Alexander D. Hay, a banker of Centralia, Illinois, whom he wedded on the 16th of October, 1889. There was one child of this marriage, Elizabeth, eighteen years of age, who is now in school but intends to take up the study of music in the fall of 1910. She is widely and favorably known as a local singer of high repute and will study in Boston.
Since 1876 Mr. Pease has been an active member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained a high rank, taking degrees in both the York and Scottish Rites up to and including the thirty-second degree. Hle belongs to the Order of Railway Conductors and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. IIe is also a member of the Westminster Presbyterian church and guides his life by its teachings, endeavoring to treat all men fairly and to use his talents to the best advantage for his own benefit and for that of others.
WELLINGTON WESLEY IIIGLEY
The name of Wellington Wesley Higley was long an honored and prominent one in the business circles of Cedar Rapids, where he was for many years identified with the hardware trade and was also actively interested in the banking business. Possessing broad, enlightened and liberal minded views, with faith in his own pow- ers, he met with well deserved success and his was an active career, in which he accomplished important and far-reaching results, contributing in no small degree to the expansion and material growth of his adopted eity. His early home was in the New England states, for he was born at West Granby, Connecticut, on the 14th of July, 1831, but at an early day he came west in company with his parents, making the journey across the country with a horse and wagon.
Mr. Higley started out in the business world as clerk in Green's general store at Cedar Rapids and for some years was clerk in the postoffice under Homer Bishop. On leaving that service he embarked in the hardware business in partnership with his brother and continued in that trade throughout the remainder of his life. He became interested in organizing the Merchants Bank, to which he gave its name, and was also interested in the Security Bank besides being connected with various other enterprises, which not only proved of benefit to himself but also advanced the business interests of the city.
On the Sth of April, 1858, Mr. Higley was married to Miss Jane E. Farnum, who still survives him. They became the parents of three children. Jessic E. is now the wife of Dr. E. A. Kegley, of Cedar Rapids. Charles W., who married
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Miss Nora Hall, of Cedar Rapids, is now living in Hinsdale, Illinois, and is general agent in the northwest for the Hanover Fire Insurance Company, with office in Chicago. William M., who married Miss Belle Farmer, of Cedar Rapids, makes his home in Minneapolis and is special agent for the same company as his brother.
Politically Mr. Higley was an ardent republican, taking an active interest in publie affairs. He was also prominently identified with ehureh work, belonging to the Second Presbyterian church of Cedar Rapids, of which he was a trustee for some time. In business affairs he was always found prompt and reliable and it was one of his characteristies to pay all hills on Monday morning, no matter how large or how small, everything must be settled at that time, while his help were always paid on Saturday morning. He never withheld his support from any enterprise which he believed would advanee the interests of his fellowmen and at his death, which occurred on the 19th of May, 1899, the city of Cedar Rapids realized that it had lost a valued and helpful citizen, one who was devoted to the general good. He left many warm friends as well as his immediate family to mourn his loss. He was greatly interested in the development and beautification of Oak Hill cemetery of which he was treasurer for many years.
FRANCIS SENNINGER
At an early period in the development of Linn county Francis Senninger arrived here and bore an active and helpful part in the pioneer development of this portion of the state. He was born in Germany in 1820 and was a son of Peter and Katherine Senninger. The father never left his native country but continued to reside there throughout his life. He was a well edueated man and a citizen of some influence in his home locality. Franeis Senninger was reared and edueated in his native country and was about twenty-five years old when he left that land for the new world. He had previously learned the ear- penter's trade and after becoming familiar with the business went to France, where he resided for a few years. He then came to America and settled first in New York. after which he removed to Meadville, Pennsylvania. whence he came to Iowa in April, 1854. He walked from Chicago to his destination in this state. He was one of the early settlers in the county, for comparatively little had been done in the way of advancing publie progress and general improvement here at that time.
On the 3d of July, 1852, Mr. Senninger was united in marriage to Miss Mary Nidereiter. a daughter of Seaboldt and Mary (Lechner) Nidereiter, of Pennsylvania, who always remained residents of the Keystone state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Senninger were born four children: Agnes, deceased; Albert, who is living in Mississippi and has two children, Ada and Robert; Mary, the wife of Pat Laffin ; and Fred. who lives in Marion. He wedded Della Adams and their children are Gerald and Francis.
Mr. Senninger was a government employe during the Civil war and after the elose of hostilities returned to Marion. Here he worked at the carpenter's trade and was elosely identified with building operations for a long number of years, his capability securing him a liberal patronage, while his honesty in all business affairs was a matter above question.
Mrs. Senninger is today one of the oldest ladies living in Marion, having been born on the 29th of December. 1836. She has for fifty-six years been a resident of the county seat and is very widely and favorably known throughout this part of the state. She was the first dressmaker in Linn county and made the wedding dresses and shrouds not only for the people in and around Marion,
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but also as far as Farley and Monticello, and successfully carried on business for thirty years. She has a farm of ninety acres of fine land, which she has managed for twenty-six years and from which she derives a gratifying annual income, sufficient to supply her with all of the comforts and many of the lux- uries of life.
JUDGE CHARLES B. ROBBINS
Identified with the profession in which advancement depends entirely upon individual effort and ability, Judge Charles B. Robbins has made continuous pro- gress since entering upon the active practice of law and is now serving as judge of the superior court, his service on the bench being distinguished by high legal ability. He was born on a farm near Hastings, Mills county, Iowa, November 6, 1877, a son of Lewis and Harriet E. (Benson) Robbins. The ancestry of the Robbins family is traced back to an early period in the history of New England and several representatives of the name participated in the Revolutionary war. Joseph Robbins, the grandfather, was a miller by trade and removed to Nelson- ville, Ohio, at an early period in the development of the latter state. There he reared his family, including Lewis Robbins, who learned the miller's trade, which he followed during his residence in Ohio. He was born in Nelsonville and was there married to Miss Harriet E. Benson, who was a native of Buffalo, New York, but at the time of her marriage was teaching school in Nelsonville. She was a daughter of James Benson, a native of England, who soon after his marriage came to the United States and engaged in business at Buffalo, New York. Subse- quently he removed to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he again engaged in the same business. Soon after the marriage of Lewis Robbins and Harriet E. Benson they removed westward to Iowa, settling in Mills county, where he secured a homestead and engaged in farming. He was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of that district, but in March, 1893, removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he died in October of the same year, his widow surviving him only until May. 1896.
Judge Robbins was reared on the home farm, acquiring his education in the publie schools of Mills county, lowa, and in a private school at Hempstead. Long Island, after which he entered the preparatory department of the State University of Nebraska at Lincoln and was graduated from that institution with the Bachelor of Arts degree in the class of 1898. On the 27th of April of the same year he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company B, First Nebraska Infantry, and thus joined the United States Volunteers. In May following he was promoted to first sergeant and on the 14th of May started with his command for San Francisco. They left that city on the 17th of June for the Philippines, arriving in Manila harbor on the 21st of July after a voyage of thirty-four days. He was then promoted and commissioned lieutenant of Com- pany I on the 24th of April, 1899. On the 27th of March of that year he was wounded, being shot in the head. The regiment participated in the operations of the American army in the orient, including the battle of Manila, on the 13th of August, 1898, and later they took part in quelling the insurrection that followed. This regiment participated in more battles than any other regiment in the Phil- ippines, their reeord covering twenty-eight battles, with sixty-five men lost and two hundred and twenty-five wounded. In the latter part of June, 1899. they returned to the United States and the regiment was disbanded in San Francisco. in August of that year.
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