USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 54
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
a Methodist, active in church work, and has been a trustee of his church in St. Charles since 1910 and from 1912 to 1915 was steward, while since 1914 he has been recording steward. He has also been superintendent of the Sunday school since January, 1912, and has been secretary of the South Township Sunday School Association since that year. His interests are not confined alone to the county in which he lives, for he is associated with the Iowa Academy of Sciences, for which he has written three articles: "Shrubs and Trees of Hamilton County" in 1809; "Shrubs and Trees of Madison County" in 1901 ; and a preliminary list of flowering plants of Madison county, in 1904. He is a life member of the Iowa Horticultural Society and of the State Park and Forestry Association and is a member of both the State and Mississippi Valley Historical Societies. His activi- ties have been somewhat varied. Reared on a farm, he still clings to the farm and owns eighty acres near St. Charles; he taught school for a while, then was in public office and later was for eight years in the bank, learning all phases of the business necessary to the conduct of a country bank. He has also solicited in- surance and sold real estate and is serving as director for South township on the board of the Madison County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, while at the present he is assistant cashier in J. F. Johnston's bank.
On the 30th of June, 1909, at St. Charles, Mr. Mueller was married to Cora Irwin, who was born near New Virginia, Iowa, July 28, 1875, and lived upon the farm until coming to St. Charles with her mother in 1889. Her father, Hon. Samuel Irwin, was born in the north of Ireland, in June, 1834, and when eight years of age was taken by his parents to Ohio. In 1853, when a youth of nine- teen years, he went overland to California but in 1855 returned to the middle west, settling in Virginia township, Warren county, Iowa. Responding to the call of his country for troops to aid in the preservation of the Union, he enlisted in May, 1861, as a member of the Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was pro- moted from private to second and then first sergeant and then to first lieutenant. In July, 1863, he was taken prisoner and sent to Libby and through the succeed- ing twenty months was held in various prisons until exchanged in March, 1865. At one time he and two companions escaped and traveled two hundred and forty miles through brush and swamps, but when within twelve miles of the Union lines were recaptured and returned to Libby.
When the war was over Mr. Irwin began farming near New Virginia and on the 28th of September, 1865, was married to Isabell Steel, who was born February 20, 1848, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. She accompanied her parents to Mis- souri when nine years of age and to Clarke county, Iowa, in 1861 and at the time of her marriage was living with a married sister in Winterset, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin became parents of seven children: Alexander J., of New Vir- ginia ; Mary, the wife of Ed Reed, of Virginia. township; William, also of Vir- ginia township; Anna, the wife of Hugh P. Anderson, of St. Charles; Cora, the wife of H. A. Mueller ; James, who met death in 1903 while employed as a brake- man on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad; Samuel, who was born No- vember 5. 1879, after his father's death, which occurred in August, and who is now living in Virginia township. Mr. Irwin held several township offices of trust, was a member of the board of supervisors of Warren county for seven years and represented his county in the state legislature from 1874 until 1876. His family continued to live upon the farm until 1889, when they moved to St. Charles that
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the children might attend school. After graduating from the high school there in 1894, Cora Irwin engaged in teaching for four years, being for three years a teacher in St. Charles. She was afterward employed as bookkeeper in the Citi- zens Bank there from 1901 until 1904 and made her home with her mother until her marriage, after which she and her husband continued to live with the mother. Mrs. Mueller is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of St. Charles and of the Eastern Star, in which she has held several offices.
Mr. and Mrs. Mueller own a farm, their home and a business house in St. Charles. They have three children : Byron Irwin, born April 8, 1910; Catharine Isabell, who was born February 7, 1913, and was named for her two grand- mothers; and Herman A., who was born February 28, 1915.
SWAN C. BLOMQUIST.
Swan C. Blomquist, a representative farmer of Penn township, was born in Sweden on the 27th of March, 1869, a son of Justen and Anna C. (Anderson) Blomquist, both of whom were also born in that country. Although the father was a carpenter and stonemason in Sweden, following his emigration to America in 1882 he farmed in Nebraska. He resided there for several years and then removed to the state of Washington. The mother of our subject was married a second time, becoming the wife of Charles J. Anderson, who died in February, 1915. She is still living in Jackson township, this county. To her first marriage were born four children: Swan C .; A. J., who is farming in Nebraska; B. August, a farmer of Adair county, Iowa ; and J. D., a carpenter living in the state of Washington. To her second marriage was born a son, E. A. Anderson, who is residing with his mother on the farm in Jackson township.
Swan C. Blomquist was eleven years of age when he came to America with his brother, B. August, who was only six years old. Although they were both but children they made the long journey by themselves and on arriving in this country continued westward to Des Moines, where they joined their mother, who was a resident of that city. Our subject went to work on a truck farm the fall that he arrived in the United States and the following year came to Earlham, Madison county, Iowa, and soon after entered the employ of Charles Anderson, a farmer of Jackson township. He continued to work for Mr. Anderson until he became of age and then began his independent career. For ten years he rented land and carefully saved his money with the end in view of purchasing land. In 1895 he bought eighty acres from H. L. Kail and later added another eighty acre tract, which he purchased from S. M. Holmes. The quarter section of land in Penn township which he now owns is one of the well developed properties of that township and most of the improvements have been made by Mr. Blom- quist. When he first removed to the farm there were no buildings upon the place save the residence, but in 1908 he erected a fine barn and in 1914 built the cattle barns. He is progressive and energetic, devoting much time and thought as well as money to the development of his place and his improvements not only increase the value of his farm but also enable him to work to better advantage. About twenty-five years ago he began threshing with an old style horse power outfit,
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but after three years he purchased a steam power threshing outfit and during the years that have since elapsed he has received a good share of the patronage of the farmers in Madison county. For several years he shipped his outfit to north- western Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota and engaged in threshing in those states during the season, which is later than the season in Madison county, and by so doing added materially to his income.
Mr. Blomquist is a republican and for five years was trustee of Penn town- ship, while he is now serving his second term as school treasurer of that township. He is a self-made man and has always given the closest attention to his work as a farmer and stock-raiser as he has realized that success is dependent upon industry and good management. He believes in the wisdom of raising a good grade of stock and as his cattle and hogs are always in good condition when sold he receives high prices for them in the market. The same spirit of progressive- ness that distinguishes him as a farmer is characteristic of him in all of the rela- tions of life and he is justly held in high esteem.
JOHN SCHOENENBERGER. .
After thirty-seven years of active life, John Schoenenberger is now over- seeing the operation of his farm, leaving the actual work mainly to his son. He has gained a handsome competence from farming and stock-raising and has achieved distinction in the political field, having represented his district in the state legislature. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 5th of June, 1850, the oldest of ten children whose parents were Nicholas and Louisa (Tennis ) Schoenenberger. The father, a native of Germany, came to the United States with his parents when but fourteen years of age, the family home being estab- lished in Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents of our subject, John and Elizabeth Schoenenberger, resided in that state for a few years, the former being employed on the construction of the first railroad built there. Subse- quently the family removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, where the grandparents passed away. In 1855 the parents of our subject removed with their children to the west, and on the 25th of June of that year located in Scott township, this county. The following spring, however, they settled on the Harper farm in Walnut township, containing one hundred and twenty acres, which they ac- quired and operated. It was subsequently known as the Schoenenberger home- stead. The father died there in 1902, and his widow then made her home with her youngest son, Edward D., in Monroe township, where she passed away in 1904.
John Schoenenberger remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age, his time in his boyhood and youth being divided between the work of the farm and the acquirement of an education. He attended school in district No. 6 and district No. 2, Walnut township, but not being content with the knowledge gained there, continued to read and study at home until he became a well in- formed man. When twenty-five years old his marriage occurred and he then located on section 5, Walnut township, where he purchased eighty acres of land. After two years he traded it in on his present homestead, which includes
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN SCHOENENBERGER
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three hundred and ten aeres of land. He became the owner of five hundred acres, but as his children married and began life for themselves he gave them each a farm, and his own property now comprises three hundred and ten aeres. He has always carried on general farming and has also devoted consider- able attention to the raising of Jersey hogs and shorthorn and Jersey eattle, feed- ing about two carloads of cattle annually and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred hogs each year. He has attained gratifying financial prosperity and now rents his farm to his son, Iver Earl Schoenenberger, although he continttes to direct its operation to some extent. He is a stoekholder and was one of the organizers of the Savings Bank of Peru.
On the Ioth of March, 1875, Mr. Schoenenberger was united in marriage with Miss Lavina Travis, a daughter of M. B. and Lavina ( Byer) Travis. Mr. and Mrs. Schoenenberger have five children, as follows: Adelaide L., born December 26, 1875, married Emory Nicholson, of Winterset, who has now passed away. To their union was born a daughter, Mary Lavina, who is fourteen years of age. Ralph Travis, born December 13, 1878, married Grace Adelaide Hartsook, and they reside in Scott township. Their children are three in number, Kathryn, John and Paul. Walter James, born January 11, 1881, married Cora Jane Welch and is engaged in farming in Scott township. John Guy, born August 27, 1885, is a graduate of the State Agricultural College at Ames and is now a veterinary surgeon of Winterset. He married Miss Hazel Wheeler, of Des Moines. Iver Earl, born January 31, 1890, is farming in Walnut township. He married Miss Lela Alice Deardorf, of Ohio township, and they have a son, Charley Carl.
Mr. Schoenenberger has consistently voted the democratic ticket since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he has been honored with a num- ber of offices of public trust. For four years he served as assessor of Walnut township, for several years was township clerk and trustee, and for eighteen years was school treasurer of his district. In 1906 he was elected to the state legislature on the democratic ticket, although his district is ordinarily repub- lican by a majority of eighteen hundred. He served for two years and fathered some important legislation. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Peru. Both have performed well the duties that lay before them and have contributed in no small degree to the community welfare.
FRED COCHRAN.
Fred Cochran, who is farming on section 14, Grand River township, was born upon the Cochran homestead, in this county, on the 25th of April, 1879, a son of Wesley and Elizabeth ( Hamblin) Cochran, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He was reared under the parental roof and as soon as old enough began assisting in the work of the farm, being thus prepared to win success as an agriculturist in later life. His formal education was acquired in the public schools in the neighborhood of the homestead. After he reached years of maturity his father gave him a good farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres in Grand River township.
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Mr. Cochran married Miss Blanche Livingston, who was born in Union county, Iowa, and is a daughter of W. C. Livingston. Her father is now farm- ing in Grand River township, this county, and is well known and highly esteemed. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran have four children, Esther, Katherine, Martha and Kirk.
Mr. Cochran is a democrat in his political belief and finds time to take the interest of a good citizen in public affairs.
ELMER B. MARSH.
Elmer B. Marsh, who is one of the most progressive of the farmers of Grand River township, was born at Atwater, Minnesota, on the 19th of May, 1870, a . son of Samuel and Catherine (Butler) Marsh, the former born in Jennings county, Indiana, and the latter also a native of that state. In 1861 the father put aside his work as an agriculturist and enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was captured and kept in prison for ten months at Tyler, Texas, and he saw much hard fighting, in which he did his part bravely. He was at Shiloh, and the siege of Vicksburg, but the most stubborn battle in which 'he participated was at Prairie Grove, Missouri. He was with the colors for three years and the greater part of his time was spent in marching to head off some Confederate army or other. When peace was restored he went to Minnesota and took up a homestead there. His marriage occurred in that state and he continued to reside there until the early '70s. In 1874 he arrived in Madison county and entered into partnership with J. A. Lowe in the implement business at Winterset. In 1875, however, he removed to a farm in Adair county, where he continued to reside for many years, save for the period of time that he lived in Indianola in order to give his children better educational opportunities. He owned a tract of good land and carried on general farming and stock-raising successfully. He is now living retired at Orient. He has held a number of town- ship offices and is a stanch adherent of the republican party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
Elmer B. Marsh is the oldest of three children and in his youth learned prac- tical methods of agriculture under the instruction of his father. He also received an excellent scholastic education, attending the district schools, Creston high school and Simpson College, which conferred upon him the degree of Ph. B. in 1894. He was quite active in student affairs, taking part in various class games, and served as president of the Phylomathian Club. Following his graduation he began teaching in the rural schools of Warren county and after a year became a teacher in the Indianola schools, where he remained for two years. In the meantime he had purchased land and following his marriage he turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits, residing in Warren county for about seven years. For the last eleven years, however, he has lived in Madison county and his farm on section 18, Grand River township, is one of the well improved and well kept up places of that township. He devotes practically all of his time to the operation of his farm and as he gives much thought to the planning of his work and uses the most approved methods and the latest machinery, he is meeting with a gratifying measure of success. He is also director of the Macks-
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burg National Bank and is a director and president of the executive board of the Creston, Winterset & Des Moines Railroad.
On the 22d of February, 1898, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Marsh and Miss Sibyl Wilson, a daughter of J. M. and Lura M. Wilson. This union has been blessed with five children: Leslie L., whose birth occurred on the 5th of September, 1900; Mirian L .; Katherine; and Wilson and Wilma, twins, born on the 24th of July, 1912.
Mr. Marsh is a republican, but has no political aspirations whatsoever, being content to perform his public service as a private citizen. His life is guided by his belief in the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a member, and he can be counted upon to further the moral progress of his com- munity. He owns three hundred and sixty acres of fine land and operates about eight hundred acres altogether, and in furthering his own material interests he has also contributed to the agricultural development of his township, and as an extensive stock-raiser has advanced the interests of his locality along that line.
WILLIAM W. DRAKE.
William W. Drake, a farmer and stockman of Webster township, is a native of that township, born February 2, 1868, of the marriage of Dennis and Maria (Crumrine) Drake, the father born in New Jersey in 1828 and the mother in Washington county, Pennsylvania, also in that year. Dennis Drake, who was born and reared upon a farm, came by wagon to Madison county in 1858 and entered government land, built a cabin and broke the land, thus transforming part of the wild prairie into a farm. He had the usual pioneer experiences and was one of the leaders in the promotion of community enterprises. He helped to organize the Webster Methodist Episcopal church and was on the building committee when the church edifice was erected. He was also quite prominent in political affairs and held a number of township offices. He passed away upon the homestead in January, 1908, while his wife's death occurred in 1906. Two of his sons are residing in this county, the brother of our subject being John N. Drake, of Jackson township.
William W. Drake is indebted to the public schools of Webster township for his education and to his father for his early knowledge of agriculture. He remained at home and farmed nearby land until 1898. In that year he moved to Jackson township, where he still owns one hundred and sixty acres. However, in 1912, he rented one hundred and eighty acres in Webster township, which he is still operating. He feeds some stock and is proving very successful both as a stock-raiser and as a general farmer.
On the 20th of March, 1894, Mr. Drake married Miss Effie Devault, a daugh- ter of Henry Devault, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have four living children: Alfred, who was born in January, 1895; Cecil, born in December, 1899; Deva, whose birth occurred in 1904; and Loretta, born June 19, 1910. One son, Harold, died in infancy.
Mr. Drake is a progressive in politics and in all phases of life is forward- looking, seeking to secure development along the right lines. Both he and his
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wife are quite active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they belong. They are widely known in Madison county and those who know them best esteem them most highly.
ROBERT HERREN.
An active, busy life, guided by high and honorable principles, made Robert Herren a respected citizen in every community in which he lived. His life record covered the intervening period between the 10th of April, 1824, when he first opened his eyes to the light of day in Hull, England, and July 27, 1914, when his eyelids were closed in death in Macksburg, Iowa. He was the only son of John and Harriet ( Wilds ) Herren, who in the year 1839 came with their family to the new world, settling at Waterville, Vermont, where the father soon became actively engaged in various manufacturing enterprises.
The son followed in his footsteps and early became interested in manufactur- ing, displaying such adaptability and industry in that connection that when he was in his twentieth year he was admitted to a partnership by his father. He grad- ually worked his way upward in business relations but soon after the financial crisis of 1857 a disastrous fire totally destroyed the woolen factory of which he was the proprietor and swept away the earnings of his first industrial experience. Business conditions resulting from the wide-spread financial panic of that year made it difficult for him to again engage in that line of business. Disposing of other prop- erties which he held, he scrupulously paid every claim against him to the last dol- lar and with characteristic energy and determination once more started out in busi- ness life. He was now empty-handed but he possessed indispensable qualities of success-industry, determination and energy. He turned his face toward Cali- fornia and, making his way to the Sacramento valley, there engaged in buying and shipping wool. He had hardly started in the new enterprise when a flood swept down upon the valley, carrying away much of the season's clip and thus wrecking his last business venture. Still undaunted, he once more started out empty-handed and engaged in prospecting for the precious metal, which was known to be in the mountains of the Pacific slope. For a few years he continued to engage in pros- pecting, meeting sometimes with success and again with failure, but the hold which the east had upon him was very strong and he determined to return to that part of the country.
While upon the return trip Mr. Herren formed the acquaintance of Messrs. Munger and White, woolen manufacturers of Winterset, Iowa, and entered into business relations with them as manager of their factory, his previous experience as a woolen manufacturer now coming into good play. Returning to Vermont for his family, he left New England in the spring of 1869 and thereafter until his death maintained his abode in Madison county, Iowa. It was not long before the result of his industry was manifest in the business with which he became con- nected, and the mill was in successful operation. For seven years Mr. Herren con- tinued his relations with John D. White and Nelson W. Munger, two of the worthy and valued pioneer settlers of Madison county, their activities contribut- ing in substantial measure to its upbuilding.
ROBERT HERREN
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
In 1876, when fifty-two years of age, Mr. Herren withdrew from active connection with manufacturing interests and took up his abode upon a tract of land in Grand River township, where he began farming. He had previously had no experience along agricultural lines but possessed sound business judgment, natural sagacity and indefatigable industry and therefore it was not difficult for him to win success in his new line of work. For about thirty years he followed farming and then retired from business in 1905, establishing his home in Macks- burg, where he lived until his death, which occurred about nine years later.
On the 25th of October, 1845, Mr. Herren was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Strew and to them were born five children, of whom three are yet living : John L., a resident of Perry, lowa; Robert M., who makes his home at Enid, Okla- homa ; and Harriet W. Kelso, of Winterset, Iowa. On the Ist of November, 1854, Mr. Herren wedded Sophia Hatch and they became the parents of six chil- dren, of whom four survive: Mrs. Addie S. St. John, of Des Moines; Fred C., living in Macksburg; Clarence M., who makes his home at La Junta, Colorado ; and Mrs. Belle Shell, who was with her father throughout his last illness. On the 23d of December, 1874, at Winterset, Iowa, Mr. Herren wedded Anna (Church ) Parkins, who survives him, and to them were born two daughters : Mrs. Glenn V. Mayer, of Collins, Montana; and Mrs. Daisy Dell Ross, of Chin, province of Alberta, Canada.
Mr. Herren was a member of the Presbyterian church of Winterset from 1871 until his demise and for many years he was also an exemplary representa- tive of the Masonic lodge. He voted the democratic ticket but he never sought or held public office, preferring always to concentrate his energies upon his busi- ness affairs, which, carefully directed, brought to him a substantial measure of success. He never sought to figure prominently in any public connection but the sterling traits of his character were recognized by all and as a man and citizen he enjoyed the high regard and goodwill of those with whom he came in contact.
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