USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume II > Part 44
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Robert W. Brooke was given the advantages of a common-school education and also of a commercial course and, making good use of his opportunities, was at fifteen years of age ready to begin his battle with the world. He worked for wages on various farms for seven years and was then associated with his father in the creamery business for three years. However, he was attracted to agricul- ture as an occupation more congenial to his taste and at the age of twenty-five he began renting land and nine years later purchased eighty acres, since which
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time he has owned four different farms and is now living on the place on section 8, Goshen township, which he bought in 1908, being the owner of one of the most highly improved properties in the neighborhood, the farm comprising one hun- dred and twenty acres, all of which is under an excellent state of cultivation. He is a successful raiser and feeder of stock and also cultivates the land to good advantage.
On the 14th of December, 1892, Mr. Brooke was united in marriage to Miss Ida Schenck, who was born in Muscatine county, September 8, 1867, a daughter of James F. and Maria (Bell) Schenck. Her father was born in Ohio and her mother in Kentucky. They were married in Iowa and Mr. Schenck followed farming in Muscatine county until 1885, when he retired, passing away in 1900. The mother makes her home with one of her daughters and is now seventy-two years of age. There were eight children in the family, namely : John B., now liv- ing on the old homestead in Muscatine county; Phoebe, the wife of Joe Bow- man, of Cedar county, Iowa; Charles, of Muscatine; Mary B., the widow of W. C. Crozer; Ida, now Mrs. Robert W. Brooke; Elizabeth, the wife of Allen Hemingway, of Cedar county; James, of Davenport, Iowa; and William, who died at the age of twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Brooke had four children, three of whom are now living: Thomas F., born May 2, 1894, now a student in the high school; Robert W., born January 29, 1896; and Clare I., born November 22, 1900.
Mr. Brooke is a man of practical ideas as is demonstrated by his success in business affairs. He has marked force of character and starts upon an enterprise only after carefully considering all its advantages and disadvantages, and he gen- erally wins in what he undertakes. He has been especially successful in develop- ing farms, increasing their productiveness until they command a fair price. He is genial and pleasing in manner and in business affairs always aims to be just and true. Politically he gives his support to the republican party and religiously he and his wife are identified with the Presbyterian church.
JOHN C. HARPER.
Among the natives of Muscatine county who have spent their entire lives upon the home farm and have successfully followed the business of their father is John C. Harper, of Lake township. He was born September 23, 1870, and is a son of William and Mary (Murphy) Harper, both of whom were born in Ireland. The father came to Muscatine in the pioneer period, arriving at a time when there were only a few log houses upon the spot now occupied by the city. He farmed in several localities of the county, finally settling in Lake township, where he continued until his death, which occurred in 1898. The mother was called away in 1902. Eleven children constituted their family : Martha and Mary, twins, both of whom are deceased; Maggie, the widow of H. N. Ensfield, now living in California; Nellie, the wife of George Malone, of Muscatine; Frank, of Hills, Iowa; William, of Lake township, Muscatine county ; Robert D., a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Josie, the
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wife of Joseph Zybarth, of Nichols, Iowa ; John C., our subject ; James, who died in 1896; and C. S., a record of whom may also be found in this work.
John C. Harper was reared under the kindly influences of a happy home and educated in the district schools of Muscatine county. After arriving at years of manhood, having shown a strong inclination for farming, he rented the old homestead which he cultivated for ten years and then purchased the farm, em- bracing one hundred and seventy-nine acres on section 15, Lake township, being in one of the richest agricultural districts of the county. He is a gen- eral farmer and has applied himself with a diligence that produces good har- vests and has insured for himself and family a life competence.
In 1903 Mr. Harper was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Huber, of Mus- catine county, a daughter of Joseph and Emma (Lucas) Huber, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Ohio. They have been residents of Muscatine county for many years and are now living on the farm with which they have long been identified. They were the parents of eleven children. One daughter, Mary Margaret, born October 23, 1906, has come to brighten tlie home of Mr. and Mrs. Harper.
Mr. Harper gives his adherence to the democratic party, as he believes by so doing he is advancing the interests of the entire country. He has never sought political office, as his attention has been given to his family and his farm. He and his wife are worthy members of the Catholic church and assist to the extent of their ability in advancing its welfare. In his wife Mr. Harper has found a loving companion who has been to him a constant encouragement in the accomplishment of every worthy object.
CHARLES J. HUCKE.
A representative of the younger element in the farming community, Charles J. Hucke, of Muscatine county, has attained a position in comparatively a short time that under ordinary circumstances requires many years of untiring labor. He possessed unusual advantages of education and training in his early years, and having a natural adaptability for agricultural pursuits, he found in his work a pleasure as well as a steadily increasing source of revenue.
Born in Muscatine county November 22, 1884, he is a son of Henry and Annie (Globes) ITucke, both natives of Germany. The parents came to America in 1853, locating in Muscatine county, Iowa, where the father rented the old Hunt farm for about five years. Meeting with success, he then purchased eighty acres in Moscow township, to which he has added from time to time until he is now the owner of six hundred and twenty acres, and is known as one of the most prosperous farmers in his part of the county. Of his family of seven chil- dren, six are now living, namely : Henry T., of Bloomington township; Anna, now Mrs. Theodore Schuessler, also of Bloomington township; Emma, now Mrs. William Freymuth, of the same township; Charles J., our subject ; Lena, the wife of George Duffy, of Muscatine county ; and Rosa, now living at home.
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Charles J. Hucke was reared under the paternal roof and carefully instructed by his father in all details pertaining to farm work. He gained his preliminary education in the district school and, showing a capacity for literature which war- ranted an extension of his educational facilities, he entered the Wilton Junction College and there continued for two years. He was a good student and gained a solid foundation upon which he has since built by reading and observation. After arriving at manhood he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Goshen township, where he has since conducted general farming and stock- raising with highly satisfactory results.
On the 25th of August, 1909, Mr. Hucke was united in marriage to Miss Clara Lake, who was born December 13, 1887, and is a daughter of P. B. and Amy (Scott) Lake. There were six children in the family to which she be- longed, the others being: Clarence, of Muscatine county ; Lillie and Albert, both at home; Mary, deceased in infancy ; and Norton, also at home. The father of this family is a native of Iowa and the mother of Pennsylvania. She came to Iowa at the age of seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Hucke have a little son, Ray- mond Carl, born November 5, 1910.
Mr. Hucke casts his ballot in support of the democratic party, believing that its principles best represent the ideals of popular government. In religious faith he is affiliated with the German Lutheran church and gives it his undivided sup- port. Having been familiar with agriculture and stock-raising from his earliest youth, he gained a practical knowledge and was, therefore, prepared at the very beginning of his business career to handle the various problems that arise ac- cording to present day methods. He may today be regarded as one of the highly favored men of Muscatine county.
R. M. STILES.
R. M. Stiles, who is one of the respected citizens of Atalissa, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1846, a son of Josiah and Beulah (Albertson) Stiles. The father and mother were also born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and lived there all their lives. There were nine children in the family : Almira, the wife of J. L. C. Klein, of Benton, Pennsylvania ; R. M., our subject ; R. B., a traveling salesman residing in Des Moines, Iowa; J. W., a policeman of Des Moines; Elizabeth, the widow of George Cole, of Benton, Pennsylvania ; Emma, the wife of George Keckler of Shamokin, Pennsylvania ; Robert ; one who died in infancy; and Hiram, of Westport, Pennsylvania.
R. M. Stiles received his education in a log schoolhouse in the Keystone state and grew up on the home farm. There he continued until twenty-one years of age, when he began working for neighboring farmers. In 1870, being then twenty-four years of age, he decided to seek his fortune in the west and came to Muscatine county, Iowa, taking up his abode in Atalissa. He worked at the carpenter's trade in this town for twelve years and also did some contracting. He then located upon a farm in Goshen township, this county, which he cul- tivated for twenty-six years with a diligence that yielded quite satisfactory re-
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turns. In 1908 he returned to Atalissa, where he now maintains a wagon-making and general repair shop. He is the owner of a fine business building in Atalissa, a commodious residence and a block of ground, being recognized as one of the prosperous citizens of the community.
In 1870 Mr. Stiles was united in marriage to Miss Alice Fullmer, a native of Pennsylvania, who was the only child of John W. Fullmer by his first wife, though he had five children by a later marriage, four of whom are still living. Mr. Fullmer was also born in the Keystone state. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stiles are : W. A., now living on a farm in Wapsinonoc township, near West Liberty, Iowa; H. B., a farmer who lives near Atalissa; Edna, who is at the head of the household affairs at home; and Claude, in partnership with his father. The beloved mother of these children departed this life in 1907, and her remains were interred in the cemetery at West Liberty, Iowa.
Mr. Stiles is an adherent of the republican party and although he has not sought public office, has most acceptably filled the position of school director. He has been a resident of Muscatine county for forty years, during a large part of which time he was identified with farming interests. He has applied himself diligently and now enjoys the rewards of many years of conscientious labor. At the same time he possesses the respect of his neighbors and friends and today no man in the locality has in a higher degree the unreserved confi- dence of the community.
CHARLES WRIGHT.
Charles Wright, who for three years past has been the owner of a valuable farm in Goshen township and also is recognized as one of the industrious and enterprising citizens of Muscatine county, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, August 28, 1860. He is the son of David and Hannah A. (Ford) Wright, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, May 2, 1821, and the latter in Ohio in 1830. They were married in Ohio in 1851 and came west four years later, locating in Cedar county, Iowa, where Mr. Wright purchased a farm which he cultivated until his retirement to Wilton in 1877. He departed this life March 18, 1907, being then eighty-six years of age, the mother having been called away in 1896. Of this union six children were born, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of E. Hall of Kansas; George J., of Kellogg, Iowa; David, of Tipton, Iowa; Charles, the subject of this review; Mary, the wife of Theodore Kistenmacher, of Davenport, Iowa; and Lincoln, of Wilton, Iowa.
Charles Wright was reared under the parental roof and began farming on his own account when twenty-one years of age, renting land which he cultivated to good advantage and acquiring sufficient capital to invest in property in his own name. He now owns a farm of sixty-three acres which is located on sec- tions 13 and 14, Goshen township, it being one of the most productive places of its size in the township. He carries on general farming and is recognized as a thoroughly efficient man who keeps well posted as to methods and markets and generally succeeds in securing a fair price for what he has to sell.
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In 1886 Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Lucy McCroskey, who was born in Cedar county, June 22, 1869, a daughter of David and Sarah (Gay) McCroskey. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Virginia. They were married in Iowa and Mr. McCroskey is still living upon the home farm in Cedar county, being now sixty-nine years of age. His wife passed away in 1888. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. McCroskey, three are now living: William, a farmer of Cedar county; Lucy, now the wife of Charles Wright ; and George, also engaged in farming in Cedar county. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wright has been brightened by the arrival of two children : Zola L., who was born September 16, 1887, and is now the wife of Frank Oepping, of Muscatine county ; and Myril, who was born September 6, 1891, and is living at home.
Mr. Wright politically is identified with the republican party and gives to its candidates his earnest support, having a firm faith in the ability of the party to carry the country through any troubles that may arise. He attends closely to his farming and has attained a measure of prosperity which is proof of laud- able ambition and wisely directed effort.
SYLVANUS G. VAN ZANDT.
Sylvanus G. Van Zandt, who owns a beautiful farm of four hundred and forty acres in Lake township, Muscatine county, which he acquired through his own industry and good judgment, was born in Baltimore, New York, June 5, 1852, a son of Joseph and Mary ( Shurrager) Van Zandt. The father and mother were both natives of New York state, the latter having been born in Columbia county. Joseph Van Zandt, the grandfather, who was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, was a quarryman and lost his left arm by a premature blast in a quarry at Baltimore. The great-grandfather was a native of Holland and his wife of Germany. The father of our subject was a man of great muscular strength. In his day wrestling matches were quite common and it is said that he was never thrown on his back nor was he ever outlifted by another man. Being a man of high principles, he once struck another man who offered him twenty- five dollars for his vote. Our subject is heir to a part of the Anna K. Jans estate. The mother came of the same ancestry as the father. There were thir- teen children in the family, four of whom are now living: Sylvanus G., our subject ; and Frank, Robert and Malinda, all of New York state.
The subject of this review was educated in the common schools of New York and after reaching manhood became mate of a barge on the Hudson river. In 1877, just before starting for the west, he was offered the position of pilot at a salary of one hundred and twenty-five dollars per month, but he refused as he had decided to seek his fortune elsewhere. He came to Benton county, Iowa, and a year later, while visiting in Muscatine, entered the employ of Colo- nel Kincade, upon whose farm he continued for five years. He then ran a threshing machine on his own account and, having married, rented land and in 1893 located upon the farm which he now occupies. Here he has made all
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the improvements, including the dwelling, barns, outbuildings, fences, drainage and planting of shade and ornamental trees, and his farm has become one of the most valuable and productive in the township. He is an extensive stock- raiser and feeder and also owns a fine herd of pure-bred Hereford cattle and some good graded horses. He has used good judgment in his affairs and is one of the well-to-do citizens of the county.
In 1882 Mr. Van Zandt was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Lawler, a native of Muscatine county and a daughter of James and Mary (Lynch) Law- ler. The father was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1845, spending three years in Ohio, after which he located in Muscatine county. He was a contractor and grader and assisted in building the levee on Muscatine island. In 1862 he moved to Lake township, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1876, his remains being interred in Seventy-six cemetery. The mother was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and was mar- ried there. She was called from earthly scenes in 1900. There were eleven children in the family, five of whom are now living: Liza, the wife of James Dunphy, of Atchison, Kansas; James and Peter, both of Muscatine; Rebecca, the wife of Charles Bennett of Muscatine; and Maggie, now Mrs. Van Zandt. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Van Zandt: Sylvester, Sylvanus, Margaret, Mary, Anna, Mellvina, Ralph, Clara, Leonard, Allen and Edmond, all of whom are living at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Van Zandt are both members of the Dutch Reformed church and active workers in that organization. Politically Mr. Van Zandt is in sym- pathy with the democratic party. He served as justice of the peace of his town- ship for five years and as trustee for two terms, also filling the office of school director for several years. He owes no small part of his success to the co- operation of his wife, who has been to him a loving helpmeet and to hier chil- dren a true mother. The family home is a center of good-will and hospitality and the younger generation is here taught those lessons of helpfulness and for- bearance so necessary in every truly happy life. Mr. Van Zandt does not regret that he cast his lot in Muscatine county, for here he has found what many seek in vain-friends, prosperity and happiness.
JOHN J. HEALEY.
To John J. Healey farming has been the key that unlocked the door to for- tune and today he is the owner of one of the most beautiful and productive places of Muscatine county. He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, De- cember 28, 1856, son of Michael and Bridget (McAcy) Healey. The parents were both natives of County Kilkenny, Ireland, and were married on the Emer- ald isle, coming to America in 1847. The father worked for twelve years as moulder foreman for Hastetter & Smith of Pittsburg, and then, his health hav- ing failed, he came to Iowa. After a short stay in this state he returned to Pennsylvania, and in 1858 once more came west and settled on a farm of one hundred acres in Moscow township. Muscatine county. Subsequently, he pur-
JOHN J. HEALEY AND FAMILY
RESIDENCE OF JOHN J. HEALEY
1
9.9.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
chased one hundred and sixty acres near Muscatine and continued adding to his holdings until he became the owner of sixteen hundred acres of good land in Muscatine county and also of valuable property in the city of Muscatine. He was a man of remarkable business talent and gained a position as one of the leading citizens of the county. He made several trips to Europe, taking his daughter with him on one of them. He departed this life March 12, 1896, at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife died August 25, 1883, at the age of fifty-eight years. They were both members of the Catholic church and by their upright lives proved the sincerity of their faith. They were laid side by side in St. Mary's cemetery at Muscatine.
There were twelve children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Healey, two of whom died in infancy, the other members being: Thomas, who died at the age of forty-two years from the effect of a rattlesnake bite three years after he had been bitten, and left a family of nine children; Frank, who was married and died at the age of thirty-five years from the effect of a railway accident at the foot of Iowa avenue. Muscatine; Edward, who was educated at St. Mary's College, Kansas, and died from apoplexy at the age of thirty-eight years, January 3, 1906; Anna M., the widow of Jolin Spellman, of Adair county, Iowa, and the mother of three sons and one daughter, the family own- ing seven hundred acres of land; Catherine, who entered the convent at Dubuque and is now at Elgin, Illinois; Andrew, who is a widower and has nine children ; James, a farmer of Muscatine county, who is married and has six children ; John J., the subject of this review; William C., now living on a farm in Lake township; and Clara, of Muscatine.
John J. Healey came with his parents to Iowa in infancy and was educated in the public schools, being reared in a large family, each of whom was ex- pected to perform his part in the work about the house and in the fields. He remained at home until twenty-three years of age and then began farming on his own account on land owned by his father, continuing thus for twenty-seven years. In 1907 he removed to a place of five hundred and six acres, comprising the R. T. Shannon farm and the Umscheid farm, and he also owned one hun- dred and sixty acres in Wilton township. He is the owner in all of six hun- dred and sixty-six acres, upon which he has made many improvements, the farm being known as the Linwood farm and is recognized as one of the model places in the county, being provided with a handsome residence, large barns and every modern facility for carrying on agriculture and stock-raising according to up-to-date methods. Mr. Healey has been very successful as a hog feeder, be- ing one of the largest in the county, and he also feeds cattle for the market.
On the 4th of April, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Agnes E. Byrne, who was born in Muscatine county, July 5. 1861, a daughter of James and Mary A. (Byrne) Byrne. They were both natives of Ireland and came to this country with their parents, who located in Seventy-six township, Mus- catine county, in 1848, and were the first settlers in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Byrne lived in this county after their marriage until 1868, when they re- moved to a farm on Muscatine island in Louisa county. The father died from typhoid fever in 1869, and the mother conducted the farm until she passed away October 18, 1896, her death being occasioned by a runaway accident. There
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were ten children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Byrne, namely : John, who died in infancy; Peter J., who died in Colorado at the age of fifty-two years; Hemma, who died in the convent in California at the age of forty-eight years; Mary M., who entered a convent and is now at Hudson, New York; Frank, of Denver, Colorado, who is married and has two daughters; Agnes E., now Mrs. John J. Healey; Urban P., of Muscatine; Matthew A., of Muscatine, who is married and has four children; Katharine M., a teacher in the public schools of St. Louis; and Julia A., also a teacher in the public schools of St. Louis.
Six children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Healey: Mary R., now the wife of John L. Brugman of Muscatine county ; Alberta F., a graduate of St. Agatha Academy, who has taught school for five years and is now living at home; Cyril J., who spent three years as a student at St. Ambrose College at Davenport and is now at home; Clement U., twenty years of age, who also attended St. Ambrose College; Helen Agatha, a student in the academy at Lyons, Iowa; and Leo John, now six years of age. Mrs. Healey was educated in the public schools and previous to her marriage taught for three years in Muscatine and Louisa counties.
Mr. Healey has devoted his attention principally to his family and to his private business. He has had little time to give to politics, but votes with the democratic party. Socially he is greatly esteemed as a man of genial and friendly qualities, who readily attracts others. In religious belief he is identi- fied with the Catholic church. On account of his unsullied character and his splendid business ability he has exercised a constantly growing influence for good in the community, and no man stands higher in the respect of those who know him than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.
ELLIS D. SMITH.
Through the years of an active business life Ellis D. Smith has demonstrated his ability as a man of affairs and his worth as a citizen and today he occupies an enviable position as one of the substantial men of Muscatine county. The success he has attained is a striking example of the effect of an energetic life governed by worthy ambition. He was born in Meigs county, Ohio, April 12, 1851, a son of John S. and Rachel (Beeson) Smith. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and removed with his parents to Ohio when a boy and thence to Indiana. He came to Iowa in 1854 and for twenty-seven years cultivated a farm near Centerdale, Cedar county. In 1881 he retired to West Liberty, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1892. The mother passed away when the subject of this review was in his infancy. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, namely : Richard B. and John, both of California ; Anna B., now of Iowa City; Mary, of Mediapolis, Iowa; and Ellis D., the subject of this review.
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