USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 26
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schleichert were born four children, as follows: Otto, who is engaged in farming in Louisa county ; Lydia, who married Hailey Kralıl, of Muscatine county, Iowa; Amelia, the wife of Orlen Kemp, of Louisa county ; and Elma, who married Oliver Hoffman, of Muscatine county, where he follows the trade of masonry.
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The family are all communicants of the German Lutheran church, in which Mr. Schleichert also held membership, and his political support he gave to the republican party. He always took an active interest in township affairs, par- ticularly those of an educational nature, and for fourteen years was a member of the local school board. A man of energy and perseverance Mr. Schleichert was highly respected in the community where he resided, having proven himself in every way a worthy and desirable citizen.
E. S. CURTIS.
E. S. Curtis, one of the well known and enterprising agriculturists of Con- cord township, owns a highly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. His birth occurred in Chillicothe, Illinois, on the 14th of August, 1853, his parents being S. C. and Harriet ( Briggs) Curtis. The father was born in Steuben county, New York, on the oth of September, 1826, while the mother's birth occurred in Lincolnshire, England, on the 13th of October, 1831. Harriet Briggs accompanied her parents on their emigration to the new world when fourteen years of age, the family home being established in Constantine, St. Joseph county, Michigan. The paternal grandparents of our subject also took up their abode in Michigan, in which state S. C. Curtis and Harriet Briggs celebrated their marriage on the 11th of March, 1852, the ceremony being per- formed at Three Rivers, Michigan. From that state they removed to Illinois. and in 1855 to Muscatine county, Iowa. Mr. Curtis was successfully engaged in business as a railroad contractor until the fall of 1857, the last contract which he executed being the deep cut from the Island to the town of Letts, Iowa. Sub- sequently he took up his abode at Letts, conducting a hotel and livery stable and also having charge of a farm near the corporation limits of the town. He likewise embarked in business as a stock dealer and grain merchant, con- tinuing operations along those lines until called to his final rest. On leaving Letts he purchased a farm three and a half miles southeast of the town, operat- ing the same until the spring of 1868, when he disposed of the property and removed to Concord township. There he bought a tract of land comprising six hundred and forty acres, a quarter section of which is now in possession of our subject. He acted as the fire arbitrator of the Rock Island Railroad Com- pany and also had supervision of all the live-stock shipping points of the cor- poration, while in 1876 he was appointed by the Rock Island system to combine interests with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. On the 23d of December, 1853. he had joined the Masonic fraternity, becoming a member of Hawkeye Lodge at Muscatine, Iowa. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife and children also belonged. His demise occurred at Columbus Junction on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1804, and his remains were interred in the Letts cemetery. His widow continued to reside at Columbus Junction until a short time prior to her death
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but spent her last days in the home of our subject, passing away on the 9th of December, 1905. She was likewise buried in the Letts cemetery. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, as follows: E. S., of this review ; Frances M., born August 18, 1856, who is the wife of T. II. Ifull, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; John Q., whose birth occurred December 5. 1858, and who passed away on the 27th of January, 1861; W. L., born February 8, 1861, who is a traveling salesman residing at Columbus Junction, Iowa; T. J. 1 .. , whose natal day was December 23. 1864, and who lives on a farm in Concord township, Louisa county; Nellie F., born December 16, 1868, who gave her hand in marriage to F. W. Murdock of Columbus Junction and passed away on the 12th of November, 1880; Albert E., who was born on the 8th of January, 1872, and died September 4, 1872; and Caroline, twin sister of Albert, who (lied on the 20th of September, 1879.
E. S. Curtis, whose name introduces this review, supplemented his prelimi- nary education by a course of study in the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant. Ile was married when a young man of twenty-two and subsequently spent three years on a farin in Concord township. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode at Fredonia and in August, 1878, was appointed by the Rock Island Railroad Company to take charge of their stock and grain shipping business at Fredonia. He was likewise appointed postmaster, serving in that capacity until 1887. During this period he also conducted a mercantile establishment at Fredonia. In 1887 he returned to his farm and has since devoted his attention to the tilling of the soil and the raising and feeding of stock. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of highly improved and valuable land and has the finest waterworks system in the county. Mr. Curtis has traveled as live-stock solicitor for Baugh Brothers of Chicago for five years.
On the 23d of December, 1875, Mr. Curtis was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Newell, a native of Concord township, this county, and a daughter of R. F. and Christina Newell, who are mentioned at greater length on other pages of this work. She obtained her early education in her native township and subsequently attended the State University of lowa at lowa City. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children. Maud, whose birth occurred on the roth of May. 1878, is the wife of A. W. Newell, of Denver, Colorado, by whom she has four children: Mary I ... Thomas E., Faith C. and Agnes B. Robert S., whose natal day was February 14. 1881, taught school for one term after his graduation from the high school and in 1905 completed a course in animal husbandry at Ames. The following year he devoted six months to post-graduate work ot the same place and in September, 1906, was made profes- sor of animal husbandry in the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts at West Raleigh. He is the father of two children, Robert and Kenneth. Caroline F. Curtis, who was born in February, 1887, is a high school graduate and also has a good musical education. Benjamin H. Curtis, whose birth occurred on the 7th of March, 1889, is also a high school graduate and resides on a farm in Louisa county. Edward C., whose natal day was April 13, 1894, is now attending the high school at Columbus Junction.
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Mr. Curtis is h republican in his political views and supports the men and measures of that party by his ballot. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Lodge No. 107 and Chapter No. 92 at Columbus Junction. Both he and his wife are charter members of the Eastern Star lodge at that place. They have gained an extensive circle of friends throughout the community, their genuine personal worth commending them to the confidence and esteem of all with whom they come in contact.
JOHN F. WALTER.
A prosperous agriculturist of Grand View township is John F. Walter, who owns one hundred and ninety acres of land upon which he engages in general farming and stock-raising. His birth occurred in the township where he is now residing on the 20th of September. 1803, being the eldest son of George and Anna ( Blauer ) Walter.
The father is a native of Germany and the mother of Switzerland, and they emigrated from their respective countries to the United States. They met and were subsequently married in Muscatine county, following which event they located on a farm. From that period until the death of his father Mr. Walter cultivated rented land. Being the only heir he inherited the homestead of his parents, containing fifty acres, upon which he resided until 1876. Disposing of his property at that time he bought two hundred acres of land east of Grand View, which he operated until his retirement in 1907. When he withdrew from active farming Mr. Walter owned three hundred and thirty-six acres of land. all of which was well improved and in a good state of cultivation. This he has recently divided among his four sons. Mr. and Mrs. Walter are now residing in Grand View, enjoying in their latter days the ease and comfort rewarded them for their hard work and self-denial during their youth. Besides our sub- ject the other members of their family consisted of : George, who passed away on the 8th of December, 1910, at the age of forty-one; Martha, who was eight years of age at the time of her death; Fred, who is an agriculturist of Louisa county ; William, who resides in Letts; Benjamin, who died at the age of two years ; and one who died in infancy.
Practically the entire life of John F. Walter has been spent in the township where he is now residing, the district schools of which provided him with his education. After acquiring sufficient knowledge of the common branches to enable him to begin his life work, which he had already decided should be farming, hte devoted his entire attention to assisting his father with the work of the homestead. At the age of twenty-six years, he began his independent career as an agriculturist by renting land which he cultivated for a year. At the expiration of that time he bought his present homestead, which contains ninety acres located on section 26. During the period of his occupancy he has wrought many improvements in this property, which he has brought to a high
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state of cultivation. He is operating this in connection with the one hundred acres of the old homestead which was presented to him by his father.
Mr. Walter was married February 19, 1890, to Miss Ella Haas, who was born in this county on the 29th of April, 1868. Mrs. Walter's father, the late Peter Haas, was a native of Germany, from which country he emigrated to the United States with his parents when a youth of fifteen. Mrs. Haas, who prior to her marriage was Emma Judiesch, was born in Switzerland and when a child of five years she was brought to the United States by her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Haas were married in Muscatine county, and began their domestic life on a rented farm, in the cultivation of which he was engaged for several years. When they had acquired the necessary capital they bought land in Louisa county, and there the mother, who is now sixty-seven years of age, still resides, but Mr. Haas passed away in April. 1910, at the age of seventy-one years. Their family numbered ten children: Frank, who passed away at the age of twenty- six years ; Elizabeth. the wife of George Haschar, now living on the old Haas homestead; John, who died when he was six years of age ; Ella, now Mrs. Wal- ter; Mary, who married William Allen, of Louisa county ; George, who is a resi- dent of Louisa county ; Emma, the wife of Edwin Kluckhohn, of Garner, Iowa; Lulu, who became the wife of Herman Lohse, of California; Edward, who is unmarried and living in Grand View ; and Esther, who died when she was eight- een years of age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Walter have been born seven children: Earl, who was born on the 9th of February, 1892, and was graduated from Muscatine high school with the class of IQ11; Ruth M., born on the 25th of September, 1894, at home : Lulu F., born on the Ioth of February, 1897, and now attending high school; Mildred L., born on the 10th of October, 1901, and attending the dis- trict school; Elsa L., born on the 26th of July, 1903; and Donald K., whose birth occurred on the 13th of August, 1906. Their eldest child died in infancy.
In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Walter are Congregationalists, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being identified with the Grand View lodge. The political views of Mr. Walter coincide with those of the republican party, for whose candidates he always casts his ballot, but he has never had official aspirations. He has a wide acquaintance in Louisa county, and that he possesses the fine qualities and noble traits which win him lasting friends is attested by the fact that he continues to hold the regard of the com- rades of his youth.
FRED C. SCHOMBERG.
Fred C. Schomberg, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits, is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and eighty acres on sections 16 and 21, Columbus City township. His birth occurred in Louisa county. Iowa, on the IIth of December, 1878, his parents being Jacob and
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Catherine Schomberg, both of whom are natives of Germany. It was in the year 1850 that they crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating in this county. At the present time, however, they are residents of Muscatine, Iowa. They reared a family of seven children, all of whom are yet living.
Fred C. Schomberg enjoyed the advantages of a high-school education and was reared to manhood under the parental roof. On attaining his majority he rented the old homestead farm, devoting his attention to its operation for seven years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a tract of one hundred and eighty acres on sections 16 and 21, Columbus City township, and has since been busily engaged in its further cultivation and improvement. In connection with the tilling of the soil he makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and has gained a place among the substantial and representative agricul- turists of the community.
In December. 1905. Mr. Schomberg was united in marriage to Miss May Chown, a native of Louisa county and a daughter of George and Mary Chown, who were born in Virginia and Iowa respectively. They are still residents of this county and are mentioned at greater length on another page of this work. Mrs. Schomberg, who is a graduate of the high school at Columbus Junction. tanght school for several years prior to her marriage. She is now the mother of three children : Florence L., Alice L. and Catherine L.
Mr. Schomberg is a democrat in politics and is now serving as a school di- rector, the cause of education having ever found in him a stanch friend. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at Columbus Junction, while both he and his wife are devoted and consistent members of the Reformed church. They have always remained residents of this county and the circle of their friends is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintances.
DANIEL 11. WESTBROOK.
An extensive landowner and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Grand View township is Daniel H. Westbrook, who during the thirty-eight years of his agri- cultural career has acquired fifteen hundred acres of land in Louisa and Musca- tine counties. Ile was born in Chemung county, New York, on the 8th of January. 1841, his parents being James H. and Clarissa ( Scott ) Westbrook, also natives of the Empire state. Ilis father was of Holland Dutch parentage and his mother of Dutch and Scotch extraction. He has a chart showing the family tree, dating back to 1746. His great-grandfather on his mother's side was a colonel in the Revolutionary war under General Washington, while on his father's side his great- grandfather was a paymaster in the Continental army.
After his marriage James H. Westbrook engaged in farming in his native state until 1851, when with his family he removed to Pennsylvania. After remaining there for a short time they went to Illinois, where Mr. Westbrook farmed for
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MR. AND MRS. D. H. WESTBROOK
IMON AD
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seven years. At the expiration of that period they came to lowa, locating in Bremer county, where they bought property and there Mr. Westbrook lived until his retirement to Letts. They continued to reside in the latter place until they were too feeble to live alone, following which they made their home with their son Daniel H. Both had attained the age of eighty-six years when they passed away. the father dying February 22, 1895, and the mother November 26, 1896.
In their family were thirteen children: Andrew J. and James B., both resi- dents of Oklahoma City; Daniel H., our subject; Edward D., a resident of the state of Washington; Hector H., who is living in Louisa county; Caroline, who married David Olin, both now deceased; Lydia Ann, Clarissa, and Laura M., all of whom are deceased; Emma, the wife of John Wilson, of Minnesota ; Roanna, who married S. K. Diller, of Seattle, Washington ; Delphine, the wife of Robinson Dowson, of Louisa county ; and William Penn, who is deceased.
Daniel H. Westbrook, who was a lad of seventeen years when his parents settled in Iowa, obtained his education in the common schools of New York and Illinois. Reared on a farm he was early trained to the work of the fields, having instilled in him from his boyhood the habits of thrift and industry characteristic of his Dutch and Scotch ancestry. At the age of twenty-two years he began work- ing for himself, naturally adopting the vocation for which he had been trained from boyhood. During the forty-eight years which have elapsed since he first engaged in agricultural pursuits upon his own responsibility Mr. Westbrook has acquired fifteen hundred acres of land, all of which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Westbrook married Miss Malinda Wagner on the 9th of January, 1866. She is a daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth (Gower ) Wagner, her birth having occurred in Louisa county on the 25th of November, 1846. She has a record of the family tree that traces back to 1779. Mr. Wagner was a native of Ohio, hav- ing been born in the vicinity of Dayton on the 3d of March, 1808. In his early manhood he removed to Indiana, and there he married Miss Gower, who was a native of Maryland, her natal day having been the 13th of August, 1813. They came to Louisa county in 1844, arriving here in the month of January, having made the trip across the country by wagon. Mr. Wagner, who was a pump-maker. followed his trade during his younger days but after coming to Iowa he engaged in farming. He was one of a family of ten children, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of his youngest sister, Mrs. M. B. Decamp, of Fruit- land, Iowa, who is now eighty years of age. Mrs. Wagner, who passed away on the 18th of March, 1884, had three sisters and one brother: Nancy, Martha. Catherine and John, all of whom are deceased. The death of Mr. Wagner oc- curred on the 20th of April, 1885, one year after the demise of his wife. Their family consisted of five children: Lucinda, who became the wife of Alec Hidle- baugh, of Letts ; Malinda, now Mrs. Westbrook ; George W., who married Martha Small, both of whom are now deceased ; and Clarinda and Louisa, also deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Westbrook were born eleven children: Ella, the wife of Lem Dickerson, of Louisa county ; Philip W., who is now residing in Montana ; George W., who passed away at the age of fifteen months; Bessie F., who is at
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home ; James H., who is a resident of Rowe. New Mexico; Emma, the wife of Frank Frye, of Louisa county; Martha, the wife of R. W. Furnas, of South Dakota; Fred S., who is living in Reliance, South Dakota; Harrison, who is at home ; and the ekdest and youngest, both of whom died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Westbrook also reared two children, a son and daughter of her brother, who passed away in 1804 and was survived but two years by his wife. The daughter, Mabel E., is attending college, while his son, Phillip II., has been given a business college education. Both are now of age.
The religious affiliation of the family is with the United Brethren church, of which organization Mr. and Mrs. Westbrook are members of long standing. Definite aim and determination of purpose have been salient factors in the success of Mr. Westbrook, who despite obstacles and discouragements possesses the tenacity of will which enabled him to dominate conditions.
RICHARD COTTER.
The distinction of being the most extensive landowner in Elm Grove town- ship belongs to Richard Cotter, who is engaged in general farming and stock- raising on his homestead which contains six hundred acres. He was born in Franklin county New York, on the 14th ofApril. 1844, and is a son of William and Mary ( Brodrick ) Cotter, natives of County Cork, Ireland. Upon their arrival in the United States they first located in the state of New York where they resided until 1850. From there they removed to Kankakee, Illinois, where they remained for thirteen years. In 1863 they came to Louisa county, settling on the farm in Elm Grove township where their son Richard is now living. Here Mr. Cotter passed away on the 13th of January, 1885, but his wife survived until December 19, 1895. Of the six children born unto them all are deceased but Richard. In order of birth the others were: Margaret, Edward, Ellen, Julius and Mary, Richard having been the third.
In the acquirement of his education Richard Cotter attended the common schools of Illinois until he had obtained such knowledge as he deemed essen- tial to enable him to start in business life for himself. Having been born and reared on a farm, with the work of which he early became familiar, naturally he elected to become an agriculturist. After leaving school he gave his entire time and attention to the cultivation of the homestead, under the supervision of his father. Upon the death of the latter. the property came into the hands of Mr. Cotter, who has since continuously resided there. He now owns six hun- dred acres of excellent land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. During the period of his ownership he has made extensive improvements on the place, having erected some very fine buildings, and now has one of the most valuable properties in Louisa county. In connection with the tilling of his fields Mr. Cotter raises a great deal of stock and is an extensive feeder, always keeping on hand a large number of cattle and liogs as well as horses.
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For his wife and helpmate Mr. Cotter chose Miss Jennie Blair, their union being solemnized on the 27th of March, 1879. Mrs. Cotter is a daughter of W. T. and Sarah (Duncan) Blair, who were born near Loudon, Tennessee, and were married there December 9. 1845. After their marriage they lived there two years and then came to Louisa county. With the exception of one year they resided here continuously until their death, the father dying July 31, 1875, and the mother September 23, 1899. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: James, who is a resident of Buffalo, Kansas; Samuel, of Walter Oak, Oklahoma ; Joseph Blair, who is living in Columbus Junction, Iowa; Wil- liam of Wilmington, North Carolina ; and Jennie.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cotter has been blessed with eight children : William, Francis, Cleveland, James, Dollie, Edwin, Helen and Pauline. They are all still at home with the exception of Francis, who has passed away.
Mr. Cotter is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and his wife of the German Reformed. He votes with the democratic party, but has never been an aspirant to public honors or the emoluments of office, finding his time fully occupied in the administration of his extensive agricultural interests. He is meeting with most gratifying success and in addition to his attractive home- stead, which is located on section 36, Elm Grove township, he owns a section of land in Stratford, Texas.
LOUIS A. BILLICK.
One of the representatives agriculturists and stockmen of Oakland town- ship is Louis A. Billick, who was born January 5, 1872, on the farm where he is now residing. He is a son of James and Susan ( Jacobs) Billick, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Virginia, in which state they were married and spent the early days of their domestic life. In 1855 they migrated to Iowa, locating on a farm in the vicinity of Columbus City which they rented. Mr. Billick engaged in its cultivation until 1861, at which time he purchased two hundred acres of land on section 13. Oakland township. As success at- tended his efforts he was able to add to his tract at divers times until he had acquired four hundred and sixty acres of fertile land, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He passed away September 27. 1887. but Mrs. Billick survived until the 6th of July, 1899. Of the eleven children born unto them seven are deceased, while those living are: Louis A .; Thomas J., on the old homestead; James H., who is a resident of Kansas; and Ella, the wife of Frank Lutz, of Johnson county.
The boyhood and youth of Louis A. Billick were spent on the farm where he is now located, his education being acquired in the district schools in the vicinity. After the death of their father he and his brother Thomas, who is unmarried, acquired the old homestead. They engage in general farming, mak-
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