USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 56
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The educational training of Frank Konigsmark, Jr., was thorough and com- prehensive. After graduating from the public schools he pursued a business course in a commercial college and then became a student in the Iowa State Uni- versity, where he completed a course in agriculture. He thus fully equipped himself to meet the responsible duties that would devolve upon him in providing for his own support, for he had already decided upon the occupation to which he had been reared as a life work. Accordingly, although many opportunities were open to him and he received several offers to enter the business world, he rented the old home farm upon the retirement of his father and there at once began
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putting the scientific knowledge of farming which he had aequired to the practical test. He is carrying on his agricultural pursuits along strictly up-to-date and modern methods and devotes one hundred and fifty-five acres, of the three hun- dred and twenty acres constituting the farm, to the raising of cereals, having one hundred aeres in eorn, thirty acres in oats and twenty-five in wheat. The balance of the farm is meadow and pasture land, for he also engages quite extensively in stock-raising, fattening a large number of hogs and cattle for the market an- nually. He makes a specialty of shorthorn cows, having at present fifty head of high grade stock with a fine bull at the head of the herd.
It was on the 5th of September, 1906, that Mr. Konigsmark laid the foundation for a happy home of his own by his marriage to Miss Tillie Dobrovsky, a daughter of Lewis and Anna (Zalesky) Dobrovsky, her father being a retired farmer of College township. Unto this union have been born two children: Lumir, born April 2, 1907; and Alma, whose birth occurred October 12, 1909.
In politics Mr. Konigsmark is a stalwart demoerat and was elected to the office of township clerk at the primary election held in June, 1910. He belongs to a family which has long been identified with the growth and upbuilding of Linn county and Iowa, who have ever taken their part in the work of improvement and development and who have ranked at all times among the valued and representa- tive citizens of the county. A station on the Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Inter- urban Electric Railway is named after his father, and the old original house, ereeted by his grandfather, is still standing on the homestead farm, a well known landmark throughout the locality. The personal history and business record of Frank Konigsmark, Jr., have ever been in harmony with an honored ancestry, and he stands high in the opinion of his fellow citizens, a position to which he has attained, however, through his own good merits. Although numbered among the younger farmers of this section, he has, nevertheless, won a degree of prosperity which augurs well for a successful future. Progress has been the keynote to his advancement and the excellent results which have attended his labors are but the proof of what may be accomplished when practical experience is guided and directed by intelligent and thorough knowledge of the science of agriculture.
WILLIAM HARMON NORTON, A. B., A. M.
Professor William Harmon Norton, educator and author, who is not only con- sidered an authority upon the various phases of his specialty but whose author- ship covers numerous works along educational and scientific lines, has also had important connection with the state and national geological surveys, his efforts in that direction having proved of the utmost value not only to the state of Iowa but to the country at large.
One of Ohio's native sons, his birth occurred at Willoughby on the 3d of April, 1856, his parents being Roderic and Caroline N. (Pardee) Norton, who were likewise born in Ohio. The former, who was also closely identified with educational lines in connection with various schools and colleges in both Ohio and Iowa, was reared in the northern part of the former state and acquired his early education in its public schools. Later he attended Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, entering that institution with but twenty-five cents in his pocket. He worked his entire way through college, and after his graduation therefrom was given charge in succession of two seminaries in Ohio, and several charges in the Erie Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church as pastor. Throughout almost the entire period of his residence in Iowa he served as trustee of Cornell College at Mount Vernon, where his name will ever be commemorated by the departmental library on geology, a collection of about fifteen hundred
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volumes. In 1875 Roderic Norton was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who left beside her husband two children : Mrs. Mina Norton Galloway, who also passed away in that year; and William Harmon Norton, whose name introduces this review.
The last named was a lad of five years when he came with his parents to lowa and in the schools of this state received excellent educational advantages. Reared in an atmosphere of culture and refinement, into his mind were early instilled lessons which in after years bore rich fruit in honorable and upright manhood. He accompanied his parents on their various removals throughout the state and, after studying two years at Cedar Valley Seminary, Osage, Iowa, was for a similar period a student in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. Later one year was spent at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875. His scholarly attainments during his college career were such that upon his graduation he was offered and accepted a position on the faculty of his alma mater, becoming instructor of Latin and Greek, in which capacity he served from 1875 until 1877. In the latter year he was pro- moted to adjunct professor of Latin and Greek, remaining as such until 1881, when he was chosen professor of Greek and geology, thus continuing until 1890. He had ever been intensely interested in the subject of geology, which had been his favorite study throughout his college course, while his extended reading and research along that line had given him an unusually broad and comprehensive knowledge of this department of science. In 1890 he was appointed professor of geology and has since continued in that chair.
Not to the theoretical side of the science only has Professor Norton confined his attention, however, but has extended his efforts into the practical field, and the results of his labors in that direction have proved of great and lasting benefit. Soon after his graduation he made the first detailed geological survey of the county ever made. Since the organization nof the Iowa Geological Survey in 1893 he has been an active member of the staff, having charge of the department of artesian wells. He has also contributed detailed reports on several counties of the state and other special papers. In 1903 he undertook to resurvey the ground water resources of the state of Iowa for the United States Geological Survey, and in this work was assasted by eight members of the state survey. This important work, in which he had some eight assistants, was completed in 1910. He has made artesian wells and glacial geology his specialties and is recog- nized as one of the best informed men on these subjects in the country. In this connection he has built up one of the best equipped geological laboratories in the United States and has one of the most extensive collections of fossils in the west, while he has built up for the college one of the half dozen largest geological col- lections of lantern slides and photographs in the country.
There is still another medium through which Professor Norton has become well known to the scientific world, and in this line his efforts have been equally valuable. He is the author of numerous scientific and educational papers which have been widely read and accepted. In 1905 he published a text-book on Elementary Geology for high schools and colleges, which is in use at the University of Chicago, the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Illinois, the University of Iowa and other well known educational institutions; is the author of Artesian Wells of Iowa, Vol. VI, Iowa Geological Survey; and Ground Water Resources of Iowa, United States Geological Survey, now in press.
On the 27th of August, 1883, Professor Norton was united in marriage to Miss Mary Florence Burr, a resident of Mount Vernon, whose birth occurred, however, in the state of New York. Her father was Isaac P. Burr, who for many years was engaged in agricultural pursuits but spent his last years in well earned rest in Mount Vernon. Mrs. Norton is a graduate of Cornell College and a lady of superior mental ability, being now alumni professor of mathematics in that
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institution. The harmony of thought and taste of Professor Norton and his wife makes their home the center of a cultured class of people, while the hospitality of the best homes of the city is freely extended them.
Although the demand made upon the attention of Professor Norton in eon- nection with his educational and scientific work is very heavy, he nevertheless finds time to take an active and helpful interest in public affairs, giving stalwart support to the republican party. He is progressive in his citizenship and although caring nothing for the honors and emoluments of office, gives his influence on the side of all those matters which tend toward the development and upbuilding of the community along material, intellectual and moral lines. His religious faith is indicated by the fact that he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, while his membership relations also eover several scientifie organizations. In 1900 he served as president of the Iowa Academy of Science and in 1902 as the president of the science section of the National Educational Association. He belongs to the National Geographic Society and is a fellow in the Geological Society of America, with which he has been identified since its organization. The last named society seleets its members from among the most eminent scientists of the country and has a membership of about three hundred. Actuated by high ideals in all of his professional service, Professor Norton stands today among those whose labors have been effective in promoting the interests of his state and country along seientifie and educational lines, while in his personal relations he has ever stood as a splendid type of the high-minded American gentleman with whom contact means expansion and elevation.
JAMES M. HAYES
James M. Hayes, one of the prominent and influential citizens of Fayette township, has throughout his entire business eareer devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. He was born on the farm where he now resides January 29, 1867, a son of James D. and Lovina (McVey) Hayes. The birth of the father occurred in Buffalo, New York, November 7, 1836, his parents being William and Johanna (Kinney) Hayes, natives of Ireland, who with their respeetive parents came to this county during childhood. The family removed to Wisconsin when the father was nine years of age and improved a good farm near Sheboygan. Later the grandfather went to Texas, where he passed away at the age of sixty- three years. His wife died in Wiseonsin. In their family were four children : James D .; Mary and Ellen, who died in Wisconsin unmarried, and William, who died in Texas.
James D. Hayes remained under the parental roof until sixteen years of age and then began life for himself as a farm hand. Subsequently he learned the cabinet-maker's trade and afterward took up farming, to which occupation he devoted considerable attention throughout his life. It was in the spring of 1856 that he came to Linn county, Iowa, and located near Palo in Fayette township, where he continued to work at his trade and also purchased and improved a farm on section 20. He steadily prospered during his residence here and became the owner of some valuable property. In 1859 he married Miss Lovina McVey, who was born in Ohio in 1838 and unto them were born six children: Hattie, now the wife of Emcry MeArthur, a farmer of Fayette township; Nettie, the wife of Stephen Mobry, a farmer of the same township ; Anna, the wife of Lyman Carver, also a farmer of Fayette township ; Elizabeth, the wife of B. F. Childs, a laundry- man of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; James M., of this review; and Sylvanus. For four years the father condueted a general store at Palo but his last years were spent in retirement in Cedar Rapids, where he owned several store buildings and eon-
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siderable residence property. After a useful and well spent life he passed away on the 28th of May, 1906, having survived his wife by about two years as her death occurred September 28, 1904.
Upon the home farm James M. Hayes grew to manhood and he pursued his studies in the public schools. During his boyhood and youth he gave his father the benefit of his services in conducting the farm and at the age of twenty-two years took charge of the home place, which he has since successfully operated. On the death of the father the homestead of two hundred and forty-one acres came into his possession and he now has one of the best improved and most highly cultivated farms in his locality. He has a new modern residence heated with hot air below and hot water on the second floor. He uses the latest improved machinery in carrying on his work and is thoroughly up-to-date in all his methods.
On the 27th of February, 1889, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hayes to Miss Minnie C. Rehder, a daughter of John Rehder, a native of Germany and an early settler of Clinton county, Iowa. Of the eight children born of this union seven are still living, namely: Rutherford Burns; Mary; Fay S .; Esther ; Her- bert H .; Leora and John.
Fraternally Mr. Hayes is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and politically is identified with the republican party. In the fall of 1908 he was elected a member of the board of township trustees, in which capacity he is now serving. He is also serving his ninth year as a member of the school board and for two years of that time was president of the same. He is today one of the most substantial and influential men of Fayette township, taking a very active and prominent part in public affairs and doing all in his power to promote the inter- ests of his native county.
MICHAEL FORD
While many hold that success is largely a matter of environment or of fortu- nate circumstance, careful investigation into the history of the great majority of successful men will indicate that their progress has been largely due to their recognition of the fact that the present and not the future holds their opportunity and that faithful and conscientious performance of each duty will win for them advancement and better chances. This is manifest in the life of Michael Ford, who is today one of the leading contractors of Cedar Rapids, employing a large force of workmen in the execution of the business interests entrusted to his care. A native of this state, Mr. Ford was born in Iowa City, July 6, 1868, and is a son of Larry and Mary (Barry) Ford, both of whom were natives of Ireland, where they were reared and married. Soon thereafter they came to the United States, settling in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where Mr. Ford became associated with rail- road interests. He was a resident of Holyoke for some years but afterward became one of the early pioneers of this state, where he continued in railroading throughout his active life. He was for many years with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company in the capacity of engineer. Both he and his wife are yet living and have passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey. They are members of the Catholic church.
Michael Ford was reared at home, acquired his education in the public schools of Iowa City, in St. Patrick's parochial school and in the Iowa City Business Col- lege, after which he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store in which capacity he remained for several years. He was then importuned by a friend to join him in the barber business and Mr. Ford learned the trade under his friend and later engaged in business for himself, continuing in that field of labor for a number of
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years. In 1884 he came to Cedar Rapids and opened a shop here, which he owned and conducted until about 1902. He has not carried on business in this line, how- ever, for fifteen years. About 1895 he turned his attention to contracting in partnership with R. C. Delahunt, under the firm style of Ford & Delahunt, doing sewer, paving and heavy construction work. The business relation between them was continued for three or four years, after which the firm of Snouffer & Ford was formed, with J. J. Snouffer as the partner. This firm existed for three or four years and since its dissolution Mr. Ford has carried on business independ- ently. He has done practically all the paving work in Cedar Rapids and carries on an extensive business in that field of contracting. He is now a member of the Bryan, Ford & MeLaughlin Paving Company, which owns and operates five asphalt plants, while in ten surrounding states they have operated extensively in paving work in various cities. Mr. Ford also controls a paving brick plant at Buffalo, Kansas, is one of the stockholders in the Purington paving brick plant at Galesburg, Illinois, and a stockholder in the Barr paving brick plant at Streator, Illinois.
In May, 1890, Mr. Ford was married to Miss Elizabeth Menz, a native of Cedar Rapids, and a daughter of Michael Menz, one of the early settlers of this city. Her father, a native of Germany, served in the German army and after coming to the United States enlisted in the Civil war and was said to be the best drilled man in his regiment, becoming known among his comrades as the "fighting Dutchman." Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ford has been born a son, Leo M., who is now attending the State Agricultural College at Ames.
Mr. Ford belongs to the Cedar Rapids Commercial Club and is interested in its various projects for the upbuilding and development of Cedar Rapids in bus- iness lines and for the promotion of those projects which tend to beautify and adorn the city. From a humble place in the business world he has made commendable advancement until with wide and important interests he stands today in a leading position among the contractors of this city.
JOHN LEFEBURE
John Lefebure, a prominent and progressive farmer and stockman residing on section 32, Fairfax township, is the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in that township. He is numbered among the worthy native sons of this county, his birth having occurred in Fairfax, Iowa, on the 7th of August, 1872. IIis education was begun in the district schools, where he pursued his studies until twelve years of age and then entered the Fairfax high school, from which he was graduated at the age of eighteen. He next spent a year in the Cedar Rapids Bus- iness College and after putting aside his text-books turned his attention to the operation of the home farm, assisting his father until the latter's death in 1901. At that time he received two hundred and twenty acres from the estate and in addition to this bought a tract of one hundred from his brother and eighty acres from the E. J. Swoyer estate, one hundred aeres of which is in section 23, while the remaining eighty lies in section 22. In connection with the tilling of the soil he also devotes considerable attention to stock-raising and is at present the owner of eighty head of cattle, fourteen horses and one hundred hogs. This year he has planted one hundred and fifty acres to corn and ninety acres to oats, while the bal- ance of his land is in hay and pasture. He still resides on the old homestead place where he was rearcd and as the years have gone by has made many substan- tial improvements on the property, having erected new corn cribs, a tenant house, etc. The neat and thrifty appearance of the farm indicates the constant super-
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vision of a practical and progressive owner, and the attractiveness of the place is greatly enhanced by the many fine pine trees around the home.
On the 17th of February, 1897, in Mechanicsville, Iowa, Mr. Lefebure was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Foley, by whom he has four children, as follows: Leon, who is twelve years of age and attends the Marion Catholic Seminary at Marion, Iowa; Winifred, who is nine years old and attends the district schools; and Lloyd and John, who are six and two years of age respectively.
Mr. Lefebure is a Catholic in religious faith and belongs to the Holy Name Society. His fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has a host of warm friends in the county where his entire life has been spent and is widely recognized as one of its prosperous and representative citizens.
WILLIAM A. MOHRBACHER
William A. Mohrbacher, chief of the Cedar Rapids fire department and well qualified for the position, has during his incumbency brought the department up to a high standard of efficiency and organization, his service being of such a char- acter as to win uniform commendation and approval. He was born in Caledonia, Wisconsin, ou the 15th of May, 1871, and is a son of Peter and Katherine (Severa) Mohrbacher. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and of Pennsylvania Dutch descent, while the mother's birth occurred in Bohemia. In his boyhood days Peter Mohrbacher removed with his parents to Wisconsin and settled on a farm near Caledonia, about twenty miles from the city of Milwaukee. It was in that locality that Katherine Severa had taken up her abode on coming to America and there the parents of our subject were married. While living in that district Mr. Mohrbacher responded to the country's call for troops to serve for ninety days in the Civil war. He adopted farming as his life work and followed that pursuit until his removal to Cedar Rapids in 1886, at which time he went to work in a packing house and for the past four or five years he has been on the city pay. roll.
William A. Mohrbacher was reared at home and the public schools afforded him his education. He was thirteen years of age when in 1884 W. F. Severa, his mother's brother and a manufacturing chemist of Cedar Rapids, sent for him and his sister Frances to come to this city. After their arrival here they continued their education in the Cedar Rapids public schools and when sixteen years of age William A. Mohrbacher began working in his uncle's chemical laboratory, where he was employed for two years. He then went west to Wilber, Nebraska, where he occupied a position in a general store for eighteen months. On the expiration of that period he returned to Cedar Rapids but soon went to Racine, Wisconsin, where he was employed in a sales and feed barn for one year. Again coming to Cedar Rapids, he secured a situation in the Sinclair packing house, where he remained for six or eight months, after which he was appointed a member of the city fire department, his appointment being made on the 1st of June, 1894. On the 1st of December, 1897, he was promoted to the rank of captain in charge of hose company No. 2, and on the 17th of March, 1902, he was promoted to assistant chief and captain of the central fire station. Since the 13th of December, 1909, he has been chief of the fire department, his appointment coming to him from the city council.
Prior to his connection with the paid fire department of Cedar Rapids he had served for eight years as a member of the volunteer fire department under Chief L. M. Ayers, so that his service in connection with the fighting of fires in Cedar Rapids covers a period of a quarter of a century. He has closely studied the best methods of handling conflagrations and is placing the present department on a
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plane with the most efficient fire fighting systems of the country. Modern appara- tus is in use and each company is well drilled, while the system is so carefully organized that the companies reach the place of conflagration with the least pos- sible waste of time and effort.
Mr. Mohrbacher was married in 1891 to Miss Susan M. Louvar, of this city, and they have many friends here. Mr. Mohrbacher is non-partisan in his political views. Fraternally he is connected with John Hus Lodge, No. 151, I. O. O. F .; Sovereign Camp of the Woodmen of the World; Court Cedar Camp of the For- esters of America; and the Fraternal Aid. His has been a somewhat varied experience, bringing him eventually into a position of prominence where his service is of value to his fellow citizens.
GEORGE M. STARK
Since 1888 George M. Stark has made his home on his present farm in Clinton township, Linn county, and purchasing land from time to time he now owns here three hundred and fifty acres, all of which is tillable and productive. Born in that township, on the 6th of February, 1861, lie is a son of Andrew and Mary Stark. The father was born in Germany in 1835 and was a young man of eighteen years when he emigrated to America, locating in Linn county, where he followed farming throughout life, and owning land in this section of the state.
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