USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 46
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Mr. Dye was born and reared in the faith of the democratic party, but since 1896 has given stalwart support to the republican party. He has never sought nor desired public office, and. in fact, the only political office which he has ever filled is that in which he is now serving, being representative from his district in the state legislature. He has been a member of the school board and the town council, but the town offices are kept free from political connections. Mr. Dye. from the age of twenty-one years, has been connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a charter mem- ber of Macedonia lodge, No. 421. He also belongs to Ruby lodge, No. 415, A. F. & A. M., of Macedonia, and to the Elks lodge. of Council Bluffs. He has recently completed a fine dwelling which is the most beautiful and com- modious in this part of the county, and, moreover, its hospitality is one of its attractive features. His successful business career has not prevented him from taking active and helpful interest in matters pertaining to the public good. On the contrary, he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and has been the prime mover in various measures and plans for general advance- ment. In his business life his labors have been directed along lines which
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have not only proven of marked individual profit, but have also promoted general prosperity. He has acquired a measure of success beyond that of the ordinary business man. By reason of his prosperity, his unblemished eharac- ter, his just and liberal life, he is held in the highest esteem.
GEORGE H. OSBORN.
One of the best known and prominent stock breeders of Pottawattamie county is George H. Osborn, the proprietor of the Pleasant Hill Stoek Farm situated on section 29, Hazel Dell township. Here he is engaged in the breeding of high grade shorthorn cattle, having at the head of his herd the noted bull, King Gloster, No. 267768. It was upon this farm that Mr. Osborn was born December 2, 1874. He is yet a comparatively young man but has already attained a measure of success which many of the older resi- dents of the community might well envy. His father, James W. Osborn, was born in Virginia, February 2, 1827, and was a son of George and Mil- landa (Goodwin) Osborn, who were likewise natives of the Old Dominion. The father, whose birth occurred April 13, 1780, died at his old home near Winchester, Virginia, while the battle was being fought in that vicinity dur- ing the period of the Civil war. He had long survived his wife, who was born December 3, 1789, and passed away on the 11th of October, 1845.
James W. Osborn acquired his education in the subscription schools of Virginia but though his educational privileges were limited he became a man well posted on all questions of general interest and the affairs of the day. As a business man he was occupied with farming interests and kept in touch with the general progress which has been manifest in agricultural lines. He became a farmer, following that pursuit in the south during the years of his early manhood, while later he removed to Missouri, settling near St. Joe. In 1865 he took up his abode in Pottawattamie county, Iowa. Here he purchased a traet of land on section 29, the old home, Hazel Dell town- ship. It was improved to only a very limited degree but with characteristic en- ergy he began its further development and cultivation, transforming the wild prairie into richly productive fields that annually returned to him golden harvests. The first morning that he saw the farm was on the 15th of April, 1865, the day after the assassination of President Lincoln. As the years passed he accumulated a large estate, making judicious investments in prop- erty and winning for himself a place among the substantial residents of the county. In early manhood James W. Osborn was married to Miss Margaret Ester, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, born February 23, 1834. Her par- ents were John and Susan Byard (Perkins) Ester, the former a native of Ire- land, who was born in 1802 and died in 1864. The mother's birth occurred in 1802 and she was called to her final rest in 1853. This worthy couple were active and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hazel Dell and their lives were in harmony with their professions, for they at- tempted to do good to all men, to live at pe wee with their friends and neigh-
MR. AND MRS. JAMES W. OSBORN.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AS OR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATION&
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bors and to extend the influence and work of the church as opportunity offered. The death of the father occurred in June, 1901, and the mother passed away in April, 1900. Unto this worthy couple were born nine chil- dren, as follows: O. E., an agriculturist of Hazel Dell; J. H., who resides at Indianola, Iowa; Charles E., deceased; Albert W., of Watertown, Nebraska; Susan M., who is the widow of Robert Prentice and resides at Hazel Dell; Lillian, the wife of Frank Roosa, of Boulder, Colorado; George H., of this review; Margaret, the wife of Charles Hough, of Hazel Dell township; and Hunter, residing in Council Bluffs.
George Il. Osborn has always made his home upon the old farm which was his playground in early boyhood and his training school in youth. He came into possession of two hundred acres at the time of his father's death and after the division of the property he continued to reside upon the old homestead, which is improved with excellent buildings which were put there by his father. In tilling the soil he has displayed keen business dis- vernment and annually gathers rich erops as the reward of his labor.
On Christmas day of 1901 Mr. Osborn was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Driver, who was born in Boomer township, and they have one child, Howard D. The young couple are much esteemed in the community where they live, having the warm regard of all with whom social or business rela- tions have brought them in contact. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, loyal to its interests, and Mr. Osborn is connected with the Modern Woodmen camp at Crescent. He belongs to one of the old and prom- inent families of this part of the state, where the name of Osborn has figured in connection with the business development and with the intellectual and moral progress for more than four decades.
JOHN J. RODENBOUGH.
John Jackson Rodenbough was born near Trenton, New Jersey, on the 10th of June, 1832, and died upon his farm on section 19, Grove township, Pottawattamie county. September 1, 1906. so that his life record covered the span of seventy-four years. In all that he did he was actuated by a sense of conscientious obligation and his integrity and trustworthiness in every rela- tion of life gained for him unqualified confidence and good will. His parents. George and Elizabeth (Jackson) Rodenbough, were natives of New Jersey, whence they removed to Illinois, there spending their last days.
John J. Rodenbough, one of a family of twelve children, continued a resi- dent of the east until he had attained his majority, and at the age of twenty- one accompanied his parents on their removal to Roseville, Warren county, Illinois, where he resided until his removal to Towa about 1869. He was ac- companied by his first wife and two children and established his home in Grove township, where he resided until his life's labors were ended in death. He owned three forty-acre tracts of land in the township, his home place being on section 19 and there were two sets of buildings on this farm of one
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hundred and twenty acres. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and his carefully directed labor brought him a good living and en- abled him to provide well for his family.
In early manhood Mr. Rodenbough wedded Miss Mary Ann Axtell, a native of Pennsylvania, who in early life went to Illinois with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Axtell. The children of this union were: Wilbert Elsworth, now deceased; George Thomas, of Idaho, and Flora Bell, the wife of Nathan Moore, of Pendleton, Oregon. In 1873, having lost his first wife, Mr. Rodenbough was again married, his second union being with Miss Eunice Dilley, who was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1839, and when two years of age went to Warren county, Illinois, with her parents, William and Mary (Axtell) Dilley, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. Some years later they removed to Sterling, Kansas, where their last days were passed. Prior to their removal from Illinois, their daughter Etnice became the wife of Mr. Rodenbough. She was a relative of his first wife, her grandfather and his first wife's father having been cousins. Three children have been born of the second marriage: Mary Ann Elizabeth, the wife of John Mills, who is residing in the second dwelling on the old homestead farm, and by whom she has five children; William Herbert, who is living with his mother and has three children; Mrs. Nettie May Williams, who died in Ma- haska county, Iowa. There are now twenty-five grandchildren.
The death of the husband and father occurred on the 1st of September, 1906. He had been a stalwart republican in his political views, and his Chris- tian faith is indicated by his membership in the Protestant Methodist church. His life covered more than the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, and the record is one of usefulness, activity and integrity. All who knew him respected him, and those whom he met socially gave him their warm friendship. Mrs. Rodenbough still resides upon the home place on sec- tion 19, Grove township, where she has lived since her marriage.
THOMAS J. JOHNS.
Thomas J. Johns, county supervisor, and a leading, influential and re- spected farmer of Center township, living on section 5, was born near Des Moines, Polk county, Iowa, August 26, 1852, and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the state. His father, Peter S. Johns, was a native of Indiana and with his parents came to Iowa, where he was reared amid pioneer environments and conditions. Having reached man's estate he mar- ried Miss Sarah Fisher, who was born in Kentucky and who accompanied her parents to Iowa in her early girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Johns continued resi- dents of Polk county until 1864, when they removed to Pottawattamie county, and soon afterward he offered his services to the government and joined the army. His death occurred in this county in 1866, and he is still survived by his widow, who is now living in Oakland at the age of seventy- seven years. Their children were as follows: Angeline, the wife of M. S.
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Gillespie, of Valley township; Thomas J .; Newton F., who died in the state of Washington; Lucretia, who died when a little more than twenty-three years of age; and Anderson B. and Henderson F., twins, the former now of Denver, Colorado, and the latter of Woodbine, Harrison county, Iowa. Both are practicing attorneys.
Thomas J. Johns was a little lad of twelve years when he came with his parents to what is now Bellknap township and has resided in the vicinity of the old home since that time. The father died in 1866, soon after he returned from the war, in which he had contracted disease, and later Mr. Johns re- moved with his mother to Center township. In connection with his brother, he purchased a half section of land in this township and together they culti- vated the place for several years. About 1898 Mr. Johns purchased his pres- ent farm. comprising three hundred acres on sections 5 and 8, Center town- ship. Since that time he has built two good barns and a hog house. He has remodeled the dwelling and keeps all of the buildings upon his place in a state of good repair. The latest improved machinery is used in carrying on the work of the fields and in the pastures are found high grades of stock. Polled Angus cattle is the leading feature of the farm and he now feeds about a hundred head annually, this branch of his business constituting an impor- tant source of revenue.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Johns was married January 6, 1887, to Miss Izora B. Butler, who was born in Polk county, Iowa, in 1860, and in 1879, came to Pottawattamie county with her parents, W. B. and Tacy Butler, natives of Indiana and Ohio respectively. The father is now living in Oakland, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johns have been born five children : Frances Genevieve, Grace Edna, Newton Butler, Homer Plummer and Ruth Louise.
In his political views Mr. Johns is a republican, taking a deep and active interest in the party and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He has been a delegate to the county and state con- ventions and has served on the various committees. For over twenty years he was a trustee of Center township, was secretary of the township school board for five years, and in 1906 was elected county supervisor. in which position he is now serving. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Oakland. His long retention in political office indicates how faithful he has been to his duties, and over the record of his public career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
OSCAR H. BROWN.
Oscar H. Brown, who for a quarter of a century has conducted a success- ful enterprise as a drug merchant of Council Bluffs. is a native of Henderson county, Illinois, his birth having occurred on the 28th of September, 1857. His parents were Clinton W. and Louisa (Short) Brown, the former born in Tennessee in the year 1829. He followed agricultural pursuits as a life occu-
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pation, and was married in Illinois, in 1855, to Louisa Short, by whom he had six children, of whom three survive: Oscar H., Fanny A. and Elray Clare Brown. The mother died in 1878, while the father, who still survives her. now makes his home in Council Bluffs. The grandfather of our subject was Reuben Brown, a native of Tennessee, who removed to Illinois and later to Fremont county, Iowa, where his death occurred.
Oscar H. Brown was reared on the farm on which he was born until he had reached the age of eleven years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Pottawattamie county, Iowa. Here he divided his time be- tween the work of the home farm and the duties of the schoolroom, and also taught for four years in the district schools. He remained under the parental roof until 1875, and when he had finished his education in the schools of Council Bluffs, he entered the drug store of Harle & McKune, of that city, and during the six years of his connection with that firm mastered the busi- ness in principle and detail. In 1883 he purchased the retail business of the concern, and in the years which have since passed has made the enter- prise one of the prominent and successful retail establishments of the county. Aside from the drug department, Mr. Brown also deals in paints, oils and glass. . He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and his close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is today his. He is vice president of the Iowa Pharma- ceutical Society, and is also a member of the National Association of Retail Druggists, to which he has twice been a delegate from Iowa.
In 1890, Mr. Brown was united in marriage, in Council Bluffs, to Mame A. Sherlock, and unto this union was born one son, Arthur C. Brown. Mr. Brown is not active in politics, preferring to give his entire time and atten- tion to his business affairs. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Maccabees and the Woodmen of the World. and in his daily life exemplifies the benevolent principles of these various organizations. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known for their many excellent traits of heart and mind and the hospitality of their pleasant home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends throughout the county.
JOHN L. HARSCH.
John L. Harsch makes his home in Silver Creek township, where he car- ries on general farming and stock-feeding. He owns and operates three hun- dred and twenty acres lying on sections 23 and 26, and in addition he has a tract of two hundred acres near Macedonia. His stock-feeding interests are conducted on quite an extensive scale and he is well known as a reprezenta- tive business man of this community.
Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on the 12th of September, 1868, Mr. Harsch is a son of Adam Harsch, who was a tanner by trade, and carried on
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business along that line during his active life. He was born in Germany, but became a resident of Ohio when seven years of age, and in the early '40s cast in his lot with the pioneer residents of Wisconsin. He became an influential, well known and prominent citizen of Sheboygan and for a number of years was active in the management of municipal interests as a member of the city council. He died about 1900 at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Dunbar, has also passed away. She was born and reared in Ohio and by her marriage became the mother of six sons and two daughters, Louisa and Wallace being now deceased. They passed away when about eighteen and nineteen years of age respectively. Those still living are: Joseph, who is engaged in feeding stock at Herman, Nebraska, where he owns a good farm of two hundred and forty acres; Benjamin and George, who are engaged in farming in Wisconsin; Wesley, of Marion, Ohio, where for years he has conducted business as a dealer in hides and leather and also buys grain : Mrs. H. G. Fleith, whose husband is a banker at Warsaw. Wisconsin ; and John L.
John L. Harsch spent his boyhood and youth in the state of his nativity and learned the tanner's trade under the direction of his father. On his removal to the west he made his way to Omaha, where he entered the employ of the Stockyards Company, becoming assistant night yardmaster. He removed from South Omaha to Pottawattamie county on the 1st of May, 1897, and has since been identified with agricultural interests of this locality. He began here by purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 23, Silver Creek township, but has more than doubled his possessions since that time. Today his farming property comprises three hundred and twenty acres situated on sections 23 and 26. Silver Creek township, whereon he makes his home, and a valuable tract of two hundred acres near Macedonia. He has placed many improvements upon the home farm, which is now equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences, while the latest machinery is used to facilitate the work of the fields. The principal feature of his business, how- ever. is raising and feeding live-stock. He feeds about sixty head of cattle per year. has from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and twenty-five head of hogs on his place and in former years had about one hundred head of lambs annually. His shipments are made to the Chicago and Omaha mar- kets and he is accounted one of the leading stock-feeders of this locality. In all of his work he is systematic, methodical and practical, and he believes in keeping high grades of stock that he may demand good prices on the mar- ket.
Mr. Harsch was married in this county to Miss Viola MeKenzie, a daughter of Mack Mckenzie, now deceased. Her birth occurred in Pottawat- tamie county and she has always made her home within its borders. Three children have graced this marriage: Wallace, Lucile and Avis. The parents are well known in the community and they have an extensive circle of warm friends.
Politically Mr. Harsch is an independent democrat, usually voting for the men and measures of the party, yet not considering himself bound to do so. His attention has chiefly been given to his business affairs and the strong
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determination which he has manifested in carrying to successful completion whatever he undertakes, combined with his laudable ambition and honorable dealing, have secured to him a place among the men of affluence in Silver Creek township.
JONAS B. BLAKE.
Jonas B. Blake, who in the face of obstacles and difficulties which would have utterly discouraged many a man of less resolute spirit, has steadily worked his way upward, becoming one of the prosperous citizens and repre- sentative business men of Pottawattamie county, was born in Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 19th of April, 1834. He is one of the two surviving children of Eben D. and Adeline (Ball) Blake, whose family num- bered seven children, the living daughter being Mrs. Elizabeth A. Spooner, the widow of L. L. Spooner, of La Salle, Illinois. The father was born in Massachusetts and the greater part of his life was spent in Worcester county, that state. He conducted a hotel in Northborough for many years, and was one of the well known men of that section. Late in the '50s he came to Iowa, settling in Crescent City, where he died three months later.
Jonas B. Blake was reared in his father's home, became a public-school student at the usual age and eventually attended the high school at West Newton, Massachusetts. When about seventeen years he left home to become a factor in business life of Boston, where he was employed in a wholesale house for three years, receiving seventy-five dollars the first year, one hundred dollars the second year and one hundred and twenty-five dollars the third year. On the expiration of that period he went to New York city, where he was again employed in a wholesale house for a year, after which he removed to Buffalo, New York, where he worked for one year in a retail boot and shoe house. He then continued his journey westward, arriving in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1856, and a short time afterward he settled in Crescent City. His desire for knowledge of and experience in the west, however, was not satisfied and with a wagon and team of horses he and his brother, with another party, drove through to Denver, Colorado, being twenty-eight days on the road. After a year passed in Denver, Jonas B. Blake returned to Crescent City and, being married soon afterward, settled in Council Bluffs. He became associated with a mercantile firm there.
Mr. Blake has been an influential factor in community affairs and in local political circles. For more than ten years he was a member of the school board in Avoca, and acted as chairman of the building committee at the time of the erection of the magnificent school building there. For many years he was a member of the republican central committee of this place and. while never an office seeker, his opinions have carried weight in the councils of his party and his influence has been strongly felt. He served for several years as a member of the board of supervisors, and has always taken an active part in any movement pertaining to the advancement of Avoca's welfare and
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upbuilding. For sixteen years he was postmaster of the town, and in politics he has always been an earnest republican.
Mr. Blake was married to Miss Harriet L. Bennett, of Rockford town- ship, Pottawattamie county, who died in 1894. In their family were six children, of whom four are yet living: Anna A., the wife of Merritt Barnes, a jeweler of Avoca; Fannie L., the wife of Dr. George A. Spaulding, of Avoca: Walter, who is in Chicago; and Helen, at home.
In all of his business life Jonas B. Blake has manifested an unfaltering purpose, and difficulties and obstacles have seemed but to serve with him as an impetus for renewed and vigorous effort. He has so utilized his oppor- tunities that he stands today as one of the prosperous residents of the county.
R. W. JONES.
R. W. Jones is now practically retired from business life but still resides upon his finely improved farm on section 34, Grove township. Three years ago, however, he relegated its active work to others, having up to that time successfully carried on the work of tilling the soil and raising stock. He has lived upon this farm for thirty-one years, or since his arrival in Pottawattamie county in 1876. He made his way to the middle west from Pennsylvania, but is a native of Wales, born in 1844. His parents, William and Margaret (Evans) Jones, both died in Wales, the mother passing away during the early childhood of her son, R. W. Jones, who was forced to start out in life for himself at a very early age. Whatever success he has achieved or en- joyed is attributable to his own labors. He early came to a realization of the fact that success has its basis in unremitting toil and that advancement depends largely upon capable management and perseverance. Having thus early learned the lessons of life. he has put them into actual practice as the years have gone by.
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