USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 19
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Mr. Storck is one of the stanch supporters of the republican party in this county and takes a commendable interest in public affairs. From 1882 to 1885 he was a member of the board of county supervisors and discharged his duties to the full satisfaction of his constituents. He is secretary and manager of the Madison County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, which was organized in 1880 and of which he was president until 1803, when he became secretary and manager. The excellent conditions of the finances of the company and its high standing in this county are due in no small degree to his excellent business judgment and his personal attention to the details of the management of the company. He is also secretary of the North Branch Horse Company and has completely identified his interests with those of this county, being recognized as a good citizen and a suc- cessful farmer and business man. His religion is that of the German Lutheran church as he believes in its tenets.
W. H. DOAK.
The firm of Doak & Hartsook is the largest firm dealing in vehicles and agri- cultural implements in Winterset and its senior partner is one of the leading business men of the town. He also has extensive stock-raising interests in the county. He was born in Hancock, Illinois, on the 24th of March, 1861, a son of Samuel H. and Isabel (Myers) Doak, natives of Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, whence at an early day they removed to Illinois. After farming in that state for a time they returned to Washington county, Pennsylvania, but in 1877 came to Madison county, Iowa, where the father died shortly afterward. He served in the Union army during the Civil war and proved a loyal soldier.
W. H. Doak was educated in the schools of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming county, New York. In 1879 he came to this county and for four years worked upon a farm. At the end of that time, together with his brothers, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and they carried on agricultural pursuits together for three years. At the end of that time the land was leased and W. H. Doak entered the implement business at Dexter, Iowa, which claimed his entire attention for about nine years. He met with success from year to year and in 1909 bought the John Cox farm of four hundred and eighty-five acres. He has since engaged in farming and stock-raising, paying
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particular attention to the latter phase of agricultural activity, and his financial returns from the farm are most gratifying. In 1909 he traded a farm which he owned near Tileville in this county for an interest in an implement business, which is now conducted under the name of Doak & Hartsook and which is one of the leading commercial enterprises of Winterset. His previous connection with the implement business well qualified him for his new venture and the patronage of the firm has steadily increased as their reputation for a high quality of goods and reasonable prices has extended over a wide territory.
Mr. Doak married Miss Callie Farquhar, a daughter of Robert and Frances ( Brown) Farquhar, who were formerly residents of Ohio and in the early days removed to Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Doak have a daughter, Frances Isabel.
Mr. Doak finds that he has little time for political activity but exercises his right of franchise in support of the republican party. Fraternally he is a member of Evening Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Lotus Lodge, K. P., both of Winter- set, and has many friends not only in those orders but throughout the county. He has been unusually successful in all of his business ventures and his ability is equalled by his integrity and probity.
AUGUST F. BURGER.
August F. Burger, a retired farmer of Winterset, is one of the many valued citizens of Madison county who were born in Germany. His birth occurred in Wittenberg on the 3d of August, 1843, and his parents were Gottlob Abraham and Franciska (Zweigle) Burger. The father was a paving contractor and in 1848 brought his family to America, landing in New York and locating first upon a farm near Cleveland, Ohio. After remaining there for a year removal was made to Cleveland, where the father entered the bakery and hotel business. A few years later he was called to his final rest at the age of thirty-five years, and his widow subsequently remarried, becoming the wife of Gottlob Abraham Bur- ger, a cousin of her first husband. Upon removing to Iowa the family located successively at Keokuk, at Montrose and in Madison county. They arrived here in 1859 and settled permanently upon a farm in Jefferson township. The chil- dren of the first marriage were Franciska, Louise, August F., Frederick W. and Charles G. and those born of the mother's second marriage were William H. and Pauline. The mother died February 14, 1901, on the home farm, at eighty-four years of age.
August F. Burger attended school in Keokuk, Iowa, but after acquiring a common-school education put aside his text-books and upon the arrival of the family in this county worked upon the home farm. In 1861, when but eighteen years of age, he gave indisputable proof of his loyalty to his adopted country by enlisting for service in the Civil war as a member of Company B, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted on the 29th of September, 1861, and was mus- tered in on the 6th of December of that year at Keokuk. He was first under fire at Pittsburg Landing and participated in a number of battles, being wounded on the 3d of October, 1862, at Corinth. In May, 1863, the company reenlisted as veterans and Mr. Burger continued at the front until the close of the war, being
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mustered out on the 4th of July and finally discharged August 3, 1865, at Daven- port, Iowa, having served for almost four years.
In December of that year Mr. Burger formed a partnership with his brother Frederick and V. B. Wiggans and they purchased and operated the Weller mill, located on Middle river. Subsequently Mr. Burger of this review bought his brother's interest and eighteen months later sold out to Mr. Wiggans. He then applied himself to the occupation of farming and after a year, or in 1869, pur- chased forty acres of land in Jefferson township. As the years passed he added to his holdings until he became the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of fine land, which he operated until 1894 with gratifying success. In that year he re- moved to Des Moines but his wife died shortly afterward and he returned to Madison county, for two years residing with his parents. In January, 1897, he again took up his residence in Des Moines and remained there for eighteen months, after which he returned to his farm and gave his time and attention to its operation until 1912. As he had acquired more than sufficient to supply his needs for the remainder of his life he retired from active work and has since resided in Winterset.
On the 7th of April, 1867, Mr. Burger married Miss Ellen Foshier, who passed away on the 10th of August, 1804. On the 31st of December, 1896, he married Miss Laura May Mueller, a daughter of George and Catherine (Schott) Mueller, who were natives of Germany. She is a sister of Herman Mueller, the historian of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Burger have three children: August F., George Mueller and Louis Herman, all small and at home.
Mr. Burger has consistenty voted the republican ticket, believing that the wel- fare of the country can best be served by the adoption of its principles. He has held the office of road supervisor and proved scrupulous in the performance of his duties. In his early manhood he was a member of the United Brethren church but he and his wife are now identified with the United Presbyterian church. For many years he has been a member of Pitzer Post, No. 55, G. A. R., of Winterset, and is most loyal to the purposes of that organization and finds much pleasure in association with his comrades, who in the time of their country's need placed patriotism above all other considerations.
D. E. HOLLINGSWORTH.
D. E. Hollingsworth, a worthy native son and enterprising agriculturist of Madison county, is the owner of an excellent farm comprising one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Scott township, and has won a gratifying measure of success in its operation. His birth occurred in that township on the 19th of December, 1874. his parents being N. B. and Eveline ( Hiatt) Hollingsworth, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work. He was reared on the home farm and in the acquirement of an education attended the common schools and also pursued an agricultural course at Ames. He taught school for one term but has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits almost exclusively and six years ago purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Scott township, this being the old William Hircock
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place. It was an improved property and Mr. Hollingsworth has since added a silo and corn crib. The neat and thrifty appearance of the place bespeaks the supervision of a practical and progressive owner and the well tilled fields annually yield bounteous harvests in return for the care and labor bestowed upon them.
In 1909 Mr. Hollingsworth was united in marriage to Miss Bessie J. Lorimor, her father being Benjamin Lorimor, a resident of Ringgold county, Iowa. They have three children : Helen, Eveline and Nimrod Bernard. Mr. Hollingsworth is a republican in politics and has ably served in various township offices, including that of township clerk. His wife is a devoted and consistent member of the United Presbyterian church. He has been a lifelong resident of Madison county and his record is that of one of its substantial agriculturists and esteemed citizens.
JOHN M. BARNETT.
John M. Barnett, an honored veteran of the Civil war, is one of the venerable and esteemed citizens of Earlham, where he has lived retired since 1912. His birth occurred in Ross county, Ohio, on the 17th of February, 1837, his parents being Hiram and Pauline (McArthur) Barnett, likewise natives of the Buck- eye state. They removed to Indiana in 1838 and in that state the father worked as a carpenter and cabinetmaker during the remainder of his life, passing away in 1849. His wife was called to her final rest in the year 1848.
John M. Barnett, who was a lad of but twelve years when he lost his parents and was thus early thrown upon his own resources, worked in Indiana until he had attained the age of seventeen. He then came to Iowa and for some time was employed as a farm hand in Dallas county, while subsequently he worked at the brick business in Des Moines until the outbreak of the Civil war.
In April, 1861, Mr. Barnett enlisted for service in the Union army as a mem- ber of Company D, Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, continuing with that com- mand for four years, four months and four days and making a most creditable record as a brave and fearless soldier. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, and in numerous other conflicts manifested his unflinching and courageous spirit. The flag of his company now rests in the historical building at Des Moines.
After the cessation of hostilities Mr. Barnett returned to Des Moines and resumed work in the brickyards, also learning the blacksmith's trade. In 1871 he removed to Dallas county and there followed farming for three years, on the expiration of which period he began the operation of a gristmill in Dexter, being thus engaged for some time. Subsequently he spent several years as a station- ary engineer at Des Moines and Grinnell and later made his way to Jamestown, North Dakota, where for two years he manufactured brick for the state asylum. He then went to Oklahoma and took up a claim, which he began improving. operating the place for about eighteen years or until 1912. In connection with the production of cereals he devoted considerable attention to live stock, raising high-grade animals and owning the finest breed of milch cows in the country. In 1912, however, he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode
JOHN M. BARNETT AND FAMILY
JOHN M. BARNETT
FILO
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in Earlham, Iowa, there purchasing a pleasant and attractive home in which he has since resided.
In June, 1871, Mr. Barnett was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Wilson, a daughter of John and Lydia ( Pearson) Wilson, both of whom were natives of South Carolina. They removed to Ohio in an early day and in 1827 went to Indiana, in which state the father followed farming until 1853, when he came to Iowa, settling on a farm a half mile from Earlham, in Dallas county. There he successfully carried on agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his active business career, accumulating twenty-four hundred acres of valuable and pro- ductive land and giving each of his children a quarter section. His demise occurred on the Ist of September, 1881, while his wife was called to her final rest on the 15th of December, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have two children, namely : Ralph W., who is a miner of Cripple Creek, Colorado; and Arthur B., the proprietor of the Progressive Welding Company of Kansas City, Missouri.
Mr. Barnett gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a Methodist in religious faith, while his wife was reared a Quaker. He still main- tains pleasant relations with his soldier comrades as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and proudly wears the little bronze button of the organiza- tion. He has now passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey and his career has ever been such as to win and hold the friendship and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact.
HENRY CARROLL KELSO.
Although extensively engaged in the real-estate business in Mitchell, South Dakota, Henry Carroll Kelso still retains his residence in Winterset, where he is widely and favorably known. He was born on the IIth of June, 1848, in Abing- don, Knox county, Illinois, a son of Joseph C. and Augusta (Graham) Kelso and a grandson of Joseph Kelso, who with four brothers emigrated to America in an early day from Kelso, Scotland, the town being named for the family. The five brothers settled in South Carolina and Joseph Kelso was well known in the locality of which he became a resident. He was twice married and had two children by his first union, Joseph and William, and four by his second, John, Brainard, Marcus and Amarilla. The mother of our subject was a native of Kentucky and was descended from John Hays. On the 10th of October, 1852, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Kelso arrived in Winterset, having made the journey overland from Illinois. At that time there were but comparatively few settlers in the county and much of the land was not yet under cultivation. Mr. Kelso rented a farm for two years and then for a short time operated a limekiln. Upon abandoning that pursuit he entered the general mercantile business. While en- gaged in farming he planted some Kentucky blue grass which is credited as being the first grown not only in the county but also west of the Mississippi. He planted the grass in his yard in order to please his wife who was from Kentucky. They spent their last days in Mitchell, South Dakota, where he died at the age of eighty-one years and she at the age of eighty-four.
Fol. 11-10
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Henry Carroll Kelso had but meager educational opportunities, as the early schools of this county were of necessity primitive and limited in curriculum. In 1869, in company with his father, brother and brother-in-law, he went to Buena Vista county and filed upon land, each getting eighty acres. In 1870 he removed to his claim and began its operation. In 1877 the father sold his land and re- moved to Mitchell, South Dakota. Our subject continued to reside in Buena Vista county and engaged in the implement business at Alta, that county. In 1895 he disposed of his interests there and was for some time engaged in the real- estate business in Brownsville, Tennessee. In February, 1896, he returned to Winterset and established his home here. For three years he was in the hard- ware and implement business as a clerk of J. F. Tate and subsequently was for two years a traveling salesman in Nebraska for the Deering Harvester Company. In 1902 he went to Mitchell, South Dakota, and entered the real-estate field there, in which connection he has since been successful. He buys, sells and trades land and has handled much valuable property in that locality. He sold forty-six quar- ter sections of land in Dakota to friends who never saw the land, which statement speaks for itself, and he still owns an interest in four hundred and eighty acres in South Dakota. He has business interests in Winterset and resides here.
On the HIth of November, 1875, Mr. Kelso was united in marriage with Miss Hattie W. Herren, a native of Vermont, and they have had two children: Ger- trude C., the wife of J. A. Ramsey, an undertaker of Winterset ; and Roscoe B., who died in Goldfield, Nevada, in 1906.
Mr. Kelso is a republican and for eleven years served as township trustee while living in Buena Vista county. He and his wife are members of the First Presby- terian church of Winterset and are earnest supporters of the work of that organi- zation. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Work- men. He is one of the best known men in Madison county and nothing but good is heard of him as a business man or as a citizen.
JAMES HENRY BLACK.
James Henry Black was one of those pioneer farmers of Madison county who had a part in the work of developing a prosperous and highly cultivated agricul- tural region from a wild stretch of prairie. He was justly held in high honor in the county and his death, which occurred in Winterset on the 31st of May, 1914. was a loss to the community. He was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1827, a son of James Henry Black, Sr. He was one of a family of five sisters and four brothers and was the last to pass to the great beyond.
Mr. Black received his education in Pennsylvania and remained there until he was twenty-seven years of age, removing from his native state to Carthage, Illinois, in 1854. A year later he continued westward and prospected in various parts of the middle west in search of an advantageous location, as he had de- cided to devote his life to farming. He walked and rode across southern Iowa and went as far as Denver, Colorado. He then returned eastward and came to Douglas township, Madison county, which so pleased him that he at once pur- chased a farm, upon which he lived for many years. He paid eleven dollars per
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acre cash in gold which he had carried in a buckskin belt on all of his journeys. The farm comprised a quarter section but at that time only five acres had been broken and a log house had been erected thereon. His first task was to make a fence around the cultivated ground and he accordingly split rails for that purpose. Like most of the pioneer farmers, much of his work was done with an ox team and before many months had elapsed he had the greater part of his land under cultivation. In the early days in addition to farming he outfitted six mule teams and freighted farm products from Warren and Madison counties to Denver, Colo- rado, across the treacherous Missouri and other streams, running the risk of attack by hostile Indians upon the plains. He was very successful in all of his undertakings, his determination enabling him to surmount all obstacles that seemed to prevent him from accomplishing his purpose. As the years passed he not only improved and developed his own farm but also aided in community projects, such as building bridges, locating roads and erecting schoolhouses and churches. He was a man of marked public spirit and the growth of the county was a source of as much pleasure to him as his own material prosperity. When the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad was built into this part of Iowa he was among the first to realize something of the great benefit that it would be to the community and subscribed one hundred dollars toward securing it for Winterset. Seven years before his demise he retired from active life and re- moved to Winterset, where his last days were spent in peace and quiet. He passed away at the advanced age of eighty-six years.
Mr. Black was married near Winterset in July, 1857, to Miss Charlotte Shafer, a daughter of Henry and Betsy ( Meyers) Shafer, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana respectively. The father removed to Switzerland county, Indiana, and there followed farming for a number of years. To Mr. and Mrs. Black were born seven children : Abner, George M., Harry and Mrs. C. W. Brown, all of Winter- set ; Mrs. O. E. Hardy, of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Mrs. Jennie McGee, of Den- ver, Colorado; and Frank, who died in Winterset, December 9, 1911.
Mr. Black was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a thorough student of the Bible, which he found an unfailing treasure- house. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party, whose meas- ures and candidates he supported at the polls. He was greatly attached to his family and found more pleasure at his own fireside than in outside connections. He was, however, genial and hospitable in spirit and had many friends, whom he valued highly and who much enjoyed his society. His life was characterized by industry, publie spirit and integrity and Madison county is the gainer for his having been a resident thereof.
WILLIAM W. GENTRY.
William W. Gentry, a retired farmer living in Winterset, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, July 30, 1841, a son of William and Sarah (Wright) Gentry, both of whom were born in 1815. the former in Kentucky and the latter in Vir- ginia. Their marriage was celebrated in Indiana and they were residents of that
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state when it was still largely timbered and when there were few evidences of white settlement. Mr. Gentry cleared his land and built a log house, which served as the family residence. He farmed there until 1841, when he removed with his family to Worth county, Missouri, which was also a frontier district, and he remained there until 1847, in which year he and his family came to Madison county, Iowa. They made the trip with wagons and ox teams and upon arriving here they found but very few settlers and again it was necessary to break land, erect a log house and endure the privations that of necessity fall to the lot of the pioneer. There were deer, wolves and turkeys and even a few elk and smaller game of all kinds in the county at that time and Indians were numerous but always friendly. Provisions were hauled by ox teams from St. Joseph, Missouri, and most of those comforts and luxuries which we today con- sider indispensable were unknown at that time. Nevertheless the lives of the early settlers had many pleasant features and, most important of all, there was the consciousness of performing a work that would not only benefit themselves but also those who came after them. Mr. Gentry displayed noteworthy public spirit and enthusiastically cooperated in the measures undertaken to advance the welfare of his community, assisting among other things in building bridges and log schoolhouses. The early settlers were compelled to do those things that the people of this day have done for them and became remarkably self-reliant and independent. Mr. Gentry made shoes for his family, which numbered eleven children, while his wife carded, spun and wove wool besides making the clothes for the family. Matches were scarce and they often had to carry fire from a neighbor's or else start one by striking flint in gunpowder and tow, a flax prepara- tion. The homestead was in Union township and was purchased from the govern- ment at a dollar and a quarter per acre. At the time of his death in 1861, at the age of forty-six years, Mr. Gentry had two hundred and forty acres of land near Winterset and was known as a successful agriculturist. In addition to gen- eral farming he raised a good grade of English, or as they are now called, short- horn cattle. He was one of the leaders in political affairs, helped to organize the county, was one of the first county supervisors, was deputy sheriff and served in all of the township offices. He was also one of the first three directors of the independent school district of Winterset. His ballot was consistently cast in support of the candidates and measures of the democratic party. His religious allegiance was given the Hardshell Baptist church and he reared his family in that faith. His wife, who was also a Baptist, died in Heppner, Oregon, June 16, 1898, at the age of eighty-three years.
William W. Gentry first attended school in a double log house, which was also used as the courthouse in Winterset, and later was a student in the district schools of Union township. The benches of those early schools were but rough slabs hewn out of logs and the other furnishings were correspondingly primitive. He was the fifth child in order of birth in his father's family and at the time that he reached manhood was the only son living upon the homestead. He there- fore remained with his mother, assisting in the work of the farm until a couple of years after his marriage. He then rented a farm and as his financial circum- stances permitted purchased land until at the time of his retirement from active life in 1913 he owned three hundred acres. He was not only energetic but also efficient, planning his work to the best advantage, and his labors were rewarded
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