USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 59
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In the spring of 1878 Mr. Smith was converted to the Christian faith and united with the Evangelical church, of which he was a most devoted member to the date of his death. For many years he served as a trustee of the church and also for a long period filled the office of Sunday-school superintendent. In politics he was a democrat and his fidelity and public spirit is perhaps best at- tested by the fact that for twenty-five years he served his township as clerk, while for three years he was township trustee. His fraternal relations were with Ely Lodge, No. 581, I. O. O. F., and his widow belongs to the Rebekahs. He was a most unselfish man, his sole aim in life being to do good and to serve the public to the best of his ability. His advice and counsel were often sought by his fellowmen and to those whose good fortune and pleasure it was to know him intimately, his companionship and friendship were appreciated and helpful. With him there was no turning aside from right and duty but his everyday life reflected the true Christian character. In his relations with his fellowmen and in his treatment of his neighbor he never lost sight of the principle of the golden rule. All who knew him feel his loss but he is missed most of all in his own honsehold, where he was known as a kind and loving husband and father.
EDWIN R. FINSON
Through the cultivation of the rich soil of Linn county Edwin R. Finson finds scope for his activity and is now the owner of a farm of one hundred and forty- eight acres, located in Buffalo township. He is a native of the county, born in Central City, September 2, 1879, a son of Lee R. and Ida E. (MeKenny) Finson, the former a native of Maine and the latter of Linn county. The father was a little
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lad of five years when he was brought by his parents to Linn county and here he was reared and educated, while in 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Mc- Kenny. Following their marriage they located on a farm in Maine township, where they have since made their home, and he is now cultivating a tract of two hundred and twenty-two acres, being numbered among the substantial and well- to-do farmers of the northern part of Linn county.
Edwin R. Finson remained at home until he attained his majority, his public- school education being supplemented by a business course. At the age of twenty- three years he engaged in teaching sehiool, following that profession during the winter months for six years, while in the summer seasons he gave liis attention to farming. In dne time he purchased his present farm in Buffalo township and on the 25th of November, 1908, completed arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Mary II. Porter, a daughter of John Porter, now deceased. Mr. Finson immediately brought his bride to the home which he had prepared for her and from that time to the present has been actively and energetically engaged in cultivating his land. On his farm he has a good residence and outbuildings and everything about the place is kept in good condition, method being one of the strong features in the conduct of his business.
Mr. Finson favors the principles of the republican party but is rather liberal in his views, supporting men and measures rather than adhering to party. His relig- ious faith is indicated by his membership in the Freewill Baptist church and Mrs. Finson is identified with the Methodist denomination. They are popular young people, worthy representatives of old and honored pioneer families in Linn county, and hospitality of their pleasant country home is enjoyed by their numerous friends.
J. F. RALL
J. F. Rall, president of the Commercial Club and publisher of labor saving lodge books, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of March, 1863, the son of the Rev. O. Rall, a minister of the Evangelical church. Coming to Iowa in 1868 the family settled in Council Bluffs. The ministerial labors of Rev. Rall, how- ever, carried him to various sections of the state and he took an ateive part in promoting the moral development of lowa.
J. F. Rall was a pupil in the public schools until sixteen years of age when he began providing for his own support as a clerk in the postoffice of Ackley, Iowa. Later he served as a elerk in the postoffice at Iowa Falls, and in 1887 he came to Cedar Rapids, where he has now made his home for twenty-three years. Soon after his arrival here he sceured a position as cashier at this point with the United States Express Company, in which capacity he served until 1893. About that time he established his present publishing business which he has since conducted with growing and gratifying success. He was also elected justice of the peaec in 1894 and filled that office until 1905 when his business had developed to such a point that it required his undivided attention. He then withdrew from his offi- cial position in which he had proven most capable, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, so that he "won golden opinions from all sorts of people."
For a long period Mr. Rall has been an enthusiastic supporter of the interests of Cedar Rapids and has done everything in his power to advance the interests of the city. Prior to the organization of the Cedar Rapids Commercial Club. meetings were held in his office to discuss the subject of how best to promote the city's growth and commercial enterprises. The preliminary meetings resulted in the organization of the Commercial Club of which Mr. Rall became a member and in that connection an active and prominent factor in the city's progress. In
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January, 1909, he was chosen president of the club in which capacity he has since ably served.
In September, 1896, Mr. Rall was married to Miss Florence E. Ashby, of Centerville, Iowa, and unto them were born four children, namely: Richard, Staten, Owen and Everett. The parents hold membership in the First Congrega- tional church of which Mr. Rall is treasurer and in the work of which he manifests a most helpful interest. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Redmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his office was headquarters for the committee that seenred the adoption of the commission plan for this city. He favors every- thing that tends to promote reform and progress in municipal affairs and his public- spirited citizenship is manifest in practical, beneficial and far-reaching effects.
LEWIS DOBROVSKY
Lewis Dobrovsky is the owner of eighty-three and one-half acres of well im- proved farm land, located on section 20, College township. He is a native of Bohemia, born on the 24th day of February, 1853, a son of Anthony and Theresa (Rypka) Dobrovsky, who in 1855 emigrated to the new world and settled in Linn county on thirty acres of unbroken prairie land. They reared a family of four sons and five daughters, as follows: Lewis, of this review; Joseph and Frank, who live retired in Cedar Rapids; Wesley, who is engaged in the real-estate and grocery business in that city ; Mrs. Anna Bitner, of Solon, Iowa; Mrs. Pauline Fisha, a resident of Cedar Rapids ; Mrs. Sylvia Tlapa and Mrs. Mary Korab, both of Iowa City ; and Mrs. Frances Mitalsky, now deceased. The father, who was born in 1825, departed this life on the 25th of September, 1877, while the mother died in June, 1901, at the age of seventy-three years, her birth having occurred in 1828.
Lewis Dobrovsky, the eldest child in his father's family, was but two years of age when brought by his parents to the United States. He attended the public schools of Linn county and remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty-seven years, at which time he was married and established his home on a farin of eighty acres, situated in College township. He later added to this a tract of eighty acres, so that his farm later embraced one hundred and sixty- three and a half acres on section 20, College township, his second purchase being formerly owned by his brother Joseph. He has since sold eighty acres of his land. Although Mr. Dobrovsky still makes his home on his farm, he is now practically living retired, having since 1906 rented the land to his son-in-law, Milo C. Von- dercek, who carries on general farming.
Mr. Dobrovsky was married in 1880 to Miss Anna Zalesky, their marriage be- ing celebrated on the 7th of February of that year. Mrs. Dobrovsky was born December 6, 1860, a daughter of Frank and Anna Zalesky, farming people of College township, both now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dobrovsky have been born three daughters and one son, namely : Mary, born May 30, 1881, is now the wife of Anton Reigel of Cedar Rapids and has two sons, Leo and Lester; Frank, born October 12, 1882, also makes his home in Cedar Rapids and has two daughters, Leonora and Martha; Emma, born January 19, 1884, is the wife of Milo C. Von- dercek, residing on her father's farm, and they have one child, Marguerite; and Tillie, born October 16, 1886, is the wife of Frank Konigsmark of College town- ship, who is mentioned on another page of this volume, and they have two children, Lumir and Alma.
Mr. Dobrovsky is a democrat in his political views and affiliations and by his fellow townsmen has been called to fill some local offices. For twenty-five years he has served as road supervisor and has also acted as township trustee, while for
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five terms he acted as school director. He has ever discharged his duties with the same loyalty and fidelity that he displays in the management of his private business affairs. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen. He has never been known to betray any trust reposed in him, and this combined with the hon- orable methods he has ever employed in his dealings with his fellowmen has brought him the ligh esteem in which he is uniformly held.
GEORGE THOMAS GADD
George Thomas Gadd, president and treasurer of one of the leading retail hard- ware concerns in eastern Iowa, occupying a prominent and enviable position in mercantile circles in Cedar Rapids, was born in Oskaloosa, this state, on the 5th of January, 1873. His father, Enoch Thomas Gadd, a native of Ohio, located in Davenport in 1850, having come to that place in company with Ex-Governor Sherman of Iowa, and there engaged in general merchandising. Later he removed to Des Moines, where he engaged in the life insurance business. During his resi- dence there he became recognized as a public-spirited citizen and served as a trustee of Drake College. After several years he removed to Dallas, Texas, where he engaged in the manufacture of barbed wire for a period of six years, and served for some time as deputy United States marshal, but the north proved to him more attractive than the south and he returned to Davenport, where the succeeding year was passed. At the end of that time he went to Oskaloosa and again reentered the field of life insurance, conducting business in that line until 1888, when he organ- ized the firm of Hatcher, Gadd & Company and turned his attention to real-estate operation at Omaha, Nebraska. He platted and laid out what is now South Omaha at a time when the city was undergoing a boom, prices in real estate advancing very rapidly. In connection with the development of his real-estate interests Mr. Gadd bent every energy toward the improvement of the city and was largely instrumental in securing the location of the Union Pacific Railroad shops at Cheyenne, Wyoming. He also made the sale of the lands now occupied by the shops. Greatly interested in the Christian church and its projects, he was not only connected with Drake University at Des Moines, a school under the auspices of that church, but was also in charge of the finances or endowment fund of the Cotner University, a Christian church school at Lincoln, Nebraska. After leaving Omaha he resided at Lincoln for five years and then retired from aetive business life, removing to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained until 1905. In that year he came to Cedar Rapids but passed away while visiting in St. Paul and his remains were interred in the family burying ground in that city. He was a man of enterprising spirit and determined purpose and his success largely lay in the fact that he had the ability to recognize and utilize opportunities that others passed heedlessly by. His family consisted of four sons and one daughter: Talbot R., Fred H., L. A. and Alice, the wife of the Rev. A. D. Harmon, all resi- dents of St. Paul; and George T., the subject of this review. The mother of George T. Gadd hore the maiden name of Sarah Hartzell. She was a native of Warren county, Ohio, and a daughter of Rev. Jonas Hartzell, one of the first ministers of the Christian church in Iowa. He began his ministerial labors in this state in Scott county and did much to spread the gospel according to the teach- ings of his church in this state. Mrs. Gadd passed away in 1900 and her grave is beside the grave of her husband in St. Paul, Minnesota.
George Thomas Gadd was educated at Cotner's University in Lincoln. After leaving school he went with his parents to St. Paul, Minnesota, and entered bus- iness life in connection with the Haekett Walthers Gates Hardware Company, with which he remained for twelve years, going upon the road as a traveling sales-
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man. IIe then purchased the business of the Cedar Rapids Hardware Company and changed the name to the Gadd Boynton Company, while in 1907 the name became the Gadd Hardware Company. Under this caption the business still continues and the house has become one of the leading retail hardware establish- ments of eastern łowa. It is governed by the best known business principles, sells merchandise of trustworthy quality, maintains as low prices as are commen- surate with good service, and by fair dealing has won a liberal patronage. Mr. Gadd also owns extensive real estate in Montana and in business affairs displays notably sound judgment.
Mr. Gadd was married to Miss Marjorie Hall, a daughter of Dr. O. H. and Delia (Mead) Hall, of St. Paul, Minnesota, October 12, 1904. He has attained high rank in Masonry, belonging to Mount Hermon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., while in the Iowa Consistory, No. 2, he has attained the thirty-second degree. In politics he is independent, yet is never remiss in the duties of citizenship. He belongs to the Commercial Club of Cedar Rapids and the Union of Commercial Travelers and his chief source of recreation is hunting and fishing. Religiously he is a member of the First Christian elmurch. Because of the innate refinement of his nature he rejects everything opposed to good taste. He is nevertheless an alert, energetic business man, to whom obstacles scem but a spur to further effort.
HENRY GRUPE, JR.
Henry Grupe, Jr., after a long, active and industrious life, by which he acquired two hundred and one acres of valuable land in Linn county, is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former labor. As the name indicates, he comes of German parentage, although he was born in Cook county, Illinois, March 15, 1855. His parents were Henry and Henrietta (Campe) Grupe, both natives of the fatherland, and the latter was related to a German nobleman. The parents emigrated to America in 1854 and established their home in Cook county, Illinois, where the father died in 1863. The mother continued to reside in Cook county for a few years, there rearing her family of six children, of whom three are now living, but in 1877 she accompanied her son Henry to Linn county. Here she continued to reside up to within the last year of her life, when she returned to Cook county, Illinois, and there passed away in 1884. Her father participated in the battle of Waterloo under the command of Wellington.
Henry Grupe was reared to years of maturity in Cook county, Illinois, and during the years of his boyhood and youth he pursued his studies in the common schools of that locality. In 1877, when a young man of twenty-two years, he came to Linn county, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land in Otter Creek township. After making his home thereon for five years he disposed of that tract and invested his money in another eighty-acre traet located northeast of Marion, on which he resided for eleven years. He then purchased forty acres adjoining the city limits of Marion and subsequently added another eighty-acre tract to his possessions. He devoted a portion of his time to raising general crops but made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and in this branch of business he was particularly successful. He has now put aside business cares, however, and is living retired. He has recently sold his farm of forty-one acres northwest of Mar- ion and will erect a modern residence on his farm northeast of that city. He deserves much credit for the excellent management and business ability he has displayed, for the success he has attained in life is due entirely to his own efforts and labors in earlier years.
On the 25th of May, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Grupe and Miss Emma Geffert, who was likewise a native of Cook county, Illinois. She is a representative
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of one of the pioneer families of that county, her paternal grandfather having eon- ducted the first hotel in Chicago. She is one of five children whose parents were Frederick and Mary Geffert, both natives of Germany, who emigrated to the new world in an early day. The father departed this life in 1907 but the mother is still living and now makes her home with a daughter, Mrs. C. M. Kennedy, near Marion, Iowa.
By her marriage Mrs. Grupe has become the mother of a daughter and two sons but the parents mourn the untimely death of their elder son, Frederick John, who was born September 6, 1888. On the 8th of April, 1910, he was killed by accident, eaused by a runaway horse, and his remains were interred in the Oak Shade cemetery. He was twenty-one years of age and had a host of friends among the young people of his community. The surviving children are: Leona May, who was born May 28, 1883; and Weston, whose birth occurred December 26, 1890. Both are graduates of the Marion high school and are with their parents.
Mr. Grupe is a republican in his political belief and affiliation but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. While he does not accept some of the dogmas of religious bodies and belongs to no church, he is nevertheless deeply. religious in thought, is charitable toward those whom he deems worthy of assist- anee, and in his relations with his fellowmen and in his treatment of his neighbor he never loses sight of the principle of the Golden Rule. In his earlier years he improved his advantages and opportunities and is now enabled to live retired and provide a good home for himself and family, while at the same time he is sur- rounded by a host of warm friends.
JOSEPH MICHALEK
A well improved farm of one hundred and sixty-seven aeres is the home of Joseph Michalek, this property being located in Bertram township. He was born in Bohemia, Austria, in 1859, a son of Joseph and Franees Michalek, who, on their emigration to America in 1875, settled in Johnson county. Iowa, where they made their home until the father's death, which occurred in 1906. The mother now resides in Jones county, this state.
Joseph Michalek spent the period of his early boyhood and youth in his native land and there acquired his education. He was sixteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world, the family home being established on a farm in Johnson county, this state. He subsequently worked at farm labor in Linn county for two years, and then rented a tract of land, which he operated for five years. In the meantime he carefully saved his earnings with the hope that he might sooner or later become the owner of land and at the end of that period he found himself in possession of a sum of money that justified his purchase of forty acres, which he operated for thirteen years. He made many improvements on the farm and placed his fields under a good state of cultivation so that when he sold the property it was much more valuable than when he took possession of the same, and he thus disposed of it at a good profit. In 1902 he bought his present home farm, con- sisting of one hundred and sixty-seven acres, situated in Bertram township. Ile carries on general farming and also raises stock and is meeting with suceess in his work. He has ereeted good buildings on his farm and it is now one of the best improved in Bertram township.
Mr. Michalek was married on the 7th of May. 1888, to Miss Antonia Faymon, a daughter of John and Josephine Faymon, who were likewise natives of Bo- hemia, Austria. Their family numbered four daughters and one son but only three are now living, the surviving sisters of Mrs. Michalek being Josephine
MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH MICHALEK
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and Frances, still residents of Bohemia. The parents are also deceased, the father passing away in 1869, while the mother, surviving for a long period, de- parted this life in 1889. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Michalek have been born two sons and three daughters: Joseph, Tena, Josephine, William and Mary, all still under the parental roof. The family are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Michalek's study of the politieal questions of the day has led him to give his support to the democratic party. He is an industrious and energetic man, spending few idle moments, and this constitutes the basis of his present success.
AUGUSTUS AYRES BAUMAN
Augustus Ayres Bauman, the well known editor and proprietor of the Mount Vernon Hawkeye, has spent almost his entire life in Mount Vernon, being only two years of age when brought here by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. II. Bauman. He was born in Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, May 29, 1865. During his boyhood and youth he attended the public schools and after completing the course entered Cornell College, where he further pursued his education. Becoming desirous to enter into actual business, he carly sought such active pursuit and at the age of nineteen years became agent at Mount Vernon for the American Express Com- pany, although the agency for a time was in the name of his father.
On the 1st of January, 1892, he entered into active participation in the publi- cation of the Mount Vernon IHawkeye, of which his father was the founder, under
the name of S. H. Banman & Son. In 1900 the senior member of the firm retired and the two sons, Augustus A. and Fred A., assumed the conduct of the business under the name of S. H. Bauman's Sons. In the fall of 1908 Fred A. Bauman retired and since that time our subject has been the owner and publisher of the Hawkeye newspaper and job printing business. He is an enterprising, progres- sive business man and in the conduct of his paper has met with most excellent suc- cess, having built up a large subscription and gained good advertising patronage.
On the 9th of August, 1892, Mr. Bauman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Gilchrist, a daughter of Judge and Mrs. George M. Gilchrist, of Vinton, Iowa. They are quite prominent socially in the city, where Mr. Bauman has spent so much of his life.
JAMES DUNN
A descendant of one of the pioneer families of Iowa, James Dunn, who operates one of the finest farms in Linn county and who is the owner of seven hundred and seventy acres of valuable land in Spring Grove township, stands well to the fore as one of the representative citizens of this county. A native of the state, he was born November 5, 1854, in Clinton county, his parents being Alexander and Susan (Crawshaw) Dunn, the former of Irish and the latter of English birth.
Alexander Dunn came to America in 1837 and at once located in Clinton county, Iowa, where he secured a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of raw land. Steadily he improved it, draining the land and erecting a house, barn and the necessary outbuildings, and, as the years rolled past, he continued to improve the place until it became one of the best in that section of the country. There, too, he reared his family of children, all of whom are now residents of the state. For forty-nine years he and his wife lived there and then retired in 1886, locating near Clinton, where he died January 20, 1890. His wife, who survives him, makes
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her home with her son James. She is ninety-one years old, yet is hale and hearty, in complete possession of all her faculties and gifted with wonderful memory for the days of the early pioneers.
James Dunn remained with his parents, working upon the home farm until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. Then for a year he operated one of the farms owned by his father in Linn county. His duties called him to his father's place for a time but he later returned to Linn county and operated two hundred and seventy aeres of land which he secured from his father. He was remarkably successful and soon purchased five hundred aeres of land, which now makes him the owner of seven hundred and seventy acres. This farm he has improved very de- cidedly, has erected a fine house, four large and commodious barns, sheds for grain and feed, cattle and storage of machinery, and has erected a fine sixty- foot steel-tower wind-mill.
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