USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 43
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On the 28th of September, 1892, Mr. Brush was united in marriage to Miss Florence Tracy, a daughter of Wallace and Malinda (Speese) Tracy. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Brush, Samuel and Lydia ( Rank) Speese, were both born in Union county, Pennsylvania, and were of German descent. The latter, an undertaker by trade, later took up the occupation of farming and, coming west in 1866, located at White Pigeon, Michigan, where he purchased a tract of land. There he and his wife remained until their death, the former passing away in 1904 and the latter in 1901. Wallace Tracy, the father of Mrs. Brush, was born in New York, and was a car repairer by trade. He was residing in Tama, Tama county, Iowa, when he met death about twenty-nine years ago, being accidentally killed while repairing an engine. After his demise his widow remained at Tama for a time and then, on the 11th of May, 1885, was again married, her second union being with Joseph Wilkinson, a well known farmer of Madison township, where both are now residing, making their home on a farm on section 3, where Mr. Wilkinson has lived continuously since 1865.
Mr. and Mrs. Brush are the parents of three children, namely: Bernice, who resides at home and attends the Brooklyn high school ; Charles, aged eleven years ; and Marian, eight years of age, the two latter attending the Brooklyn public school. Mrs. Brush and her eldest daughter are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Brooklyn, and she also holds membership in the Rebekah lodge of Brooklyn.
Mr. Brush's fraternal relations are with Brooklyn Lodge, No. 112, I. O. O. F., while in politics he votes for the men and measures of the republican party. He has never had time nor inclination to seek for public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his private interests, and he is a careful, prudent business man whose honorable and upright methods and well directed efforts are meeting with merited success. He is known throughout the district in which he lives as a breeder of fine horses and is recognized as one whose labors have been effective forces in upholding the high standard of stock in this county.
THOMPSON MILLER.
The success which now enables Thompson Miller to live retired in Brooklyn is due entirely to his own efforts along agricultural lines. He was born in Rock- ingham county, Virginia, December 27, 1846, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Shaw) Miller. The parents were born, reared and married in the same county. and the mother passed away in the Old Dominion when sixty-eight years of age. Subsequently the father came to Poweshiek county with his son Thompson, and four years later his death occurred, when he was seventy-five years old. Their family consisted of thirteen children, of whom the subject of this review was the youngest, and of this number eleven reached mature years.
No event of especial importance came to vary the routine of life for Thomp- son Miller during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was passed in the state of his nativity, where he acquired his education in the common schools
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near his father's home. On attaining man's estate, however, he was attracted toward the opportunities of the rapidly growing west, and in 1875 he came to Iowa, locating first on a farm northeast of Brooklyn. Later he purchased a farm northwest of Brooklyn, in Madison township, and for a third of a century he was busily engaged in the development and cultivation of that property. Ile engaged in general farming and stock-raising and in both branches success was continuous and substantial, owing to the progressive methods which he pursued and the spirit of industry, enterprise and perseverance which actuated him in the conduct of his affairs. As the years passed and he prospered he became the owner of three hundred and sixty-eight acres, all in one body, forty acres of which are located in Sheridan township, the remainder lying on sections 18 and 19, Madison township, which property is still in his possession and is a highly improved place. The extent of his success is indicated by the fact that in 1908 he was able to withdraw from active life and in that year he took up his resi- dence in Brooklyn, making his home in a modern, up-to-date house which also belongs to him.
Mr. Miller was married, December 24, 1868, while still a resident of Vir- ginia, to Miss Sarah Driver, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, December 28, 1845, and by her marriage to Mr. Miller became the mother of eleven children, namely : Rebecca, at home ; John, residing in Sheridan township ; Samuel, also of Sheridan township; Harvey, residing in Stuart, Iowa ; Charles, deceased, who was killed by lightning in November, 1909, leaving a widow and three children ; Mary, at home; Maggie, of Des Moines; Jesse, operating his father's farm in Madison township; Earl, farming in partnership with Jesse : and Ira and Grace, at home. All of the children with the exception of the four eldest were born in Poweshiek county.
Mr. Miller and his family hold membership in the Brethren church and are well known to a large circle of warm friends in Brooklyn and its vicinity. He is a republican in politics, deeming that the platform of that party is best con- ducive to good government, and for six years filled the office of township trustee. The success which is his today has been worthily won along legitimate lines and in every relation of life, whether private or public, the principles which have governed his actions have commended him to the respect, confidence and good will of his fellowmen.
FRED E. REHBERG.
A well tilled farm of eighty acres on section 28 in Sheridan township pays tribute to the agricultural ability of Fred E. Rehberg, who has been engaged in its cultivation for nine years.
He is a native of this county, having been born on the old homestead in Sheridan township on the ioth of December. 1862, a son of John and Susan (Harmon) Rehberg. The father, who was born and reared in Germany, came to the United States in the early '50s, settling upon a farm in Sheridan township, in the cultivation of which he engaged until his demise in 1891. Mrs. Rehberg
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is a native of Missouri, from which state she migrated to lowa with her parents, who were among the pioneer settlers of Poweshiek county. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Rehberg continued to reside with her children upon the old homestead until 1908, at which time she removed to Grinnell to live with her daughter, Mrs. August Schroeder.
The early years of Fred E. Rehberg's life were very similar to those of the majority of lads reared upon a farm. He acquired his education in the district schools of this county, giving his father such assistance as he could in the cul- tivation of the farm during vacations and when he could be spared from his studies. After he had obtained such knowledge as he felt to be essential in his vocation, which he had decided should be that of an agriculturist, he with- drew from school and engaged in farming with his father. Following the lat- ter's leath he remained with his mother, cultivating the homestead until his marriage, subsequently renting from her one hundred and twenty acres on section 33, which he operated in connection with eighty acres, just south of his present home which he had inherited. After farming as a renter for six years he purchased eighty acres on section 28, upon which he has lived con- tinuously ever since.
On the 29th of April, 1896, Mr. Rehberg was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Hanssen, a daughter of P. J. and Wiebke ( Stoldt) Hanssen, who were at that time residents of Malcom township. Three children have been born of this union: Harry Edward, who was born on the ist of April, 1898: Nonie Wiebke, born on the 7th of May, 1901 ; and Stella Leona, born on the 6th of November, 1905. The two elder children were born on the old homestead where the father's birth occurred.
His political support Mr. Rehberg has always accorded the candidates of the democratic party. He takes an active interest in township affairs, and for six years has been a member of the board of school directors of district No. 8. which is the one his children attend. Always having lived in the immediate vicinity of his present home he is well known and has many friends, among the closest of whom are included some of the comrades of his boyhood.
JOHN L. WHELAN.
.An agriculturist whose capably directed efforts have won him recognition as one of the affluent citizens of Madison township is John L. Whelan, whose beautiful homestead. "Four Elms." is one of the most valuable properties of the county.
He was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, on the 2d of March, 1853. a son of Joseph P. and Catharine ( Fuller) Whelan. The father, who was also a farmer, was born in Oneida county, New York, on the 7th of November, 1827. and was a son of Eri Whelan, a native of Vermont but of Irish extraction. When a lad of ten years Joseph P. Whelan removed with his parents to Len- away county, Michigan, where he resided for seven years. At the expiration of that period he went to Wisconsin and there he met the lady who subse-
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FOUR ELM FARM
JOHN L. WHELAN AND FAMILY
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quently became his wife. Mrs. Whelan was a native of Vermont, her birth occurring in Windsor county on the 22d of June, 1831, but when a girl of fifteen years she removed with her parents to Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Whelan began their domestic life in Wisconsin, but in 1867 they went to Tama, Tama county Iowa, and there the father, who was a laborer, worked for one year then removed to Poweshiek county. Upon his arrival here he rented the Spaulding farm in Chester township, not far from Grinnell, continuing to cul- tivate it for ten years. In 1878 he migrated to Minnesota, where he bought a farm which he operated until his death in 1880. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in Company A, Fourth Regiment, Wisconsin Vol- tinteer Infantry, in June, 1862. Mr. Whelan, who was then living at White- water, Wisconsin, spent two years in the service as a member of the army, be- ing at New Orleans under General Butler. He was discharged on account of disability and returned home, where he remained for a year and then went to Nashville, Tennessee, for a short time. After the death of her husband Mrs. Whelan returned to Iowa and is now living in Schaller, Sac county.
After the completion of his education, which was acquired in the district schools. John L. Whelan remained at home assisting his father in the culti- vation of the farm until the latter's demise. Two years thereafter he returned to lowa, locating in Ida county, where he farmed as a renter for eleven years, then bought a quarter section which he operated for nine years. Disposing of his land at the end of that time he came to Poweshiek county, buying two hundred and forty acres of land in Madison township. He has since sold eighty acres of this but still retains the, remainder of his, original purchase, which is located on section 26. Mr. Whelan calls. his- homestead "Four Elms" from four large elms which stand in his' front yard. "The idea of so calling it oc- curred to him after he had read J. G. Holland's story of "Seven Oaks." He and his son cooperate in the work of the farm. The latter also breeds and raises registered Shropshire sheep, while "the father makes a specialty of feed- ing cattle and hogs for the market. His farm is one of the very valuable prop- erties of the township, the land all being under cultivation, thoroughly tiled and capably supervised, while the improvements are all good and substantially constructed.
On the 29th of September, 1886, Mr. Whelan was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Emerick, a daughter of Emanuel and Elizabeth (Bodifield) Emerick, natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, but of German descent. The parents migrated to lowa in 1857, locating at Carnsforth, Warren town- ship, this county, buying some land on which the village of Carnsworth was later established. Mr. Emerick, who was a blacksmith, followed his trade at various places near Brooklyn, doing the work of the old stage drivers, until 1886, when he went to Ida county. He has made his home with Mrs. Whelan, with whom he now resides at the venerable age of eight-one years, ever since her marriage. Mrs. Emerick passed away in Brooklyn on the 8th of September, 1882. Mr. Emerick belongs to a long-lived family. He had twelve brothers and sisters and in 1907 ten of the thirteen members of their family were liv- ing at an average age of seventy-three years; nine are now surviving at an average age of seventy-seven years. Of the four children born unto Mr. and Mrs.
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Whelan but one, Ralph L., is now surviving. The others were as follows: John Eri, who died at the age of two years and his twin who died in infancy; and Mary, who was born on the 13th of January. 1899. and died on the 23d of April, 1906.
Mr. and Mrs. Whelan are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church of Brooklyn, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order, holding membership in Brooklyn Lodge, No. 174. A. F. & A. M .; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Schaller, Iowa, and also the Modern Woodmen of America of Brooklyn, while both Mr. Whelan and his wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star, with membership in the lodge of Brooklyn.
His political support Mr. Whelan accords the republican party, his views coinciding with the more progressive faction of that body. He served for four terms as school director and was twice elected township trustee but never quali- fied for the office, as he has never aspired to public honors or the emoluments of office. One of the most interesting occurrences in the life of Mr. Whelan was a visit to Nashville, Tennessee, with his father and brother, Leslie, when a lad of eleven years. They were in the city at the time General Hood at- tempted to drive General Thomas from his position and were most interested witnesses of the battle. Mr. Whelan has ever worked earnestly and persistently, which fact has made him one of the successful agricultural representatives of Poweshiek county.
HENRY P. BAUSTIAN.
The activities of Henry P. Baustian have always been concentrated upon general farming and stock-raising, in both of which he has met with more than average success.
He was born in Joliet, Illinois, on the 20th of December, 1863, a son of George and Elizabeth (Schmidt ) Baustian, natives of Germany, from which country they emigrated to the United States, locating upon a farm in the vicin- ity of Joliet. Later they migrated to Poweshiek county, settling upon a farm north of Grinnell, from which place they emigrated to Sheridan township, where Mr. Baustian rented eighty acres of land from his uncle, Charles Schultz. In 1880 he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 29 and 32. Sheridan township, later adding to this another eighty acres, upon which his son, Joseph W. Baustian, is now residing.
The education of Henry P. Baustian was obtained in the district schools of Illinois and lowa, which he attended until he had acquired such knowledge as he considered necessary to enable him to assume the heavier responsibilities of life, at which time he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He remained a member of the paternal household until he was twenty-five years of age and then left home in order to begin his career. His first independent venture was the rent- ing of one hundred and twenty-eight acres of land in Malcom township, which he cultivated for two years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Jas- per county, where he farmed on shares for two years. Returning to Poweshick
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county in 1801 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 31, Sheridan township, upon which he has ever since continued to reside. Although he engages in general farming his fields are almost entirely devoted to the rais- ing of corn and oats, as he is an extensive feeder of cattle and hogs for the mar- ket. He keeps all of his land, which is thoroughly drained, under cultivation, and is meeting with very satisfactory returns from his ventures. His home- stead is well improved and thoroughly cared for, everything about the place suggesting a spirit of thrift and capable supervision of details which bespeaks success in any undertaking. Mr. Baustian has two brothers, George and Joseph WV., who are also well known farmers of Sheridan township.
In 1890 Mr. Baustian was united in marriage to Miss Nettie May Rehberg, a daughter of John and Susan ( Harmon) Rehberg, residents of Sheridan town- ship, where Mr. Rehberg was a well known farmer at that time. Three children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Baustian : Nora, who married Fred Lidka, a farmer of Sheridan township; Edna, who is nineteen years of age and Sylvia, aged sixteen years. The two latter both reside with their sister, Mrs. Lidka. Mrs. Baustian passed away on the 19th of July, 1897, after a week's illness with the measles, and on the 12th of May, 1910, Mr. Banstian and Miss Avis How- ard were married. Mrs. Banstian is a daughter of John Henry and Nettie (Mintle) Howard, who live on a farm adjoining that of Mr. Baustian. Mr. Howard was born in Columbus, Franklin county. Ohio, on the 14th of May, 1853. being a son of John H. and Nancy ( Baker) Howard, natives of Holland. Nettie B. Mintle, now Mrs. Howard, was a daughter of P. J. and Susan (Max- well) Mintle, the father a native of Zanesville, Ohio, and the mother of Texas.
Mr. Banstian is a member of Grinnell Lodge, No. 358, I. O. O. F., and his wife of the Rebekah lodge and also of the Congregational church of Grinnell. Politically Mr. Baustian affiliates with the republican party, but not being an aspirant to public honors or the emoluments of office he does not prominently participate in civic affairs. He is well regarded in the community, where the greater portion of his life has been spent, and both he and Mrs. Baustian have hosts of friends to whom they extend the hospitality of their home.
ROLAND O. HARMAN.
Roland O. Harman is a progressive young farmer of Madison township operating a tract of land comprising one hundred and sixty acres. He is a native of this township and was born June 27. 1883. a son of Henry and Julia A. ( Boyle) Harman.
The father was born in Montgomery county, Illinois, October 11, 1839, and is of German descent. In his childhood days he accompanied his parents on their removal from Illinois to Missouri and he was a lad of fourteen years when they removed from the latter state to Poweshiek county, the family home being established on a farm in Sheridan township. He was reared to the oc- cupation of farming and remained at home until he attained maturity. At the time the Civil War was inaugurated he offered his services to the government
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and went to the front as a member of Company E, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, which he joined at Grinnell. He did valiant service in behalf of his country for four years, or until the close of hostilities. He then returned to his home in Poweshiek county and on the 25th of March, 1866, was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Boyle, their wedding being celebrated at the home of her father, Jonathan Boyle, in Jefferson township. She was born in Crawfordsville, In- diana. December 14. 1848. Following their marriage, the young couple took up their abode upon a farm which he had previously purchased, this tract being located on section 19. Madison township. He was there engaged in farming for quite a long period, or until about four years ago, when he rented his land to his son Charles, and he is now living retired in Brooklyn, making his home with a daughter, Mrs. Bessie B. Kibbee. The wife and mother departed this life March 21, 1910, when in her sixty-second year.
Roland O. Harman was reared on the home farm in Madison township and pursued his studies in district school No. 4. that township. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty years of age, when he went to Rockford. Illinois, and for one year was employed in a sugar factory. While in that city he was married. April 29, 1903, to Miss Maude Graham, a daughter of Merrick Graham, a well known farmer of Madison township, extended mention of whom is made on another page in this volume.
Following their marriage Mr. Harman worked for two years for his father- in-law, and then for three years rented the William Pierson farm in Madison township. For the past three years, however, he has rented the place on which he now lives, this land belonging to Nathaniel Catherman, and comprising one. hundred and sixty acres on section 16, Madison township. He carries on gen- eral farming, raising the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and he also raises some stock, principally hogs. He is progressive in his farm work and as a result of his excellent knowledge of the best methods of agriculture he annually gatliers good harvests.
Mr. and Mrs. Harman lost their only child in infancy, its death occurring April 17. 1906. Mr. Harman is a republican in his political views, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Madison township. His wife belongs to the Fairview Christian church. They are young people of respectability and worth and have a host of warm friends in their home locality.
FLETCHER JEREMIAH MCCORMICK.
There is no record which the American citizen holds in higher honor than that of the man whose strength of character, determination of purpose and inde- fatigable energy have enabled him to work his way upward from a comparatively humble position to one of affluence, and who throughout his business career has followed a straightforward, honorable course that neither seeks nor requires dis- guise. Such has been the history of F. J. McCormick, one of the most extensive
FLETCHER J. MCCORMICK
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stockdealers of Poweshiek county, who took his initial step in the business world when a little lad of about eleven years.
He was born in Montezuma, Iowa, on the 4th of November, 1859, a son of James and Mary A. ( Polston ) MeCormick. The parents were natives of Wheel- ing. West Virginia, where the father was born on the 9th of January, 1818, and the mother on the 22d of April, 1817. They came to Montezuma in 1855, ar- riving here on the Ist of April with their family of three children. The father engaged in various kinds of work and was especially skillful in coal mining, fence building, etc. Through his industry, enterprise and perseverance along those lines he finally became financially independent, owning at the time of his death two hundred and eighty aeres of land. He was also a money loaner in later life. He had never been accorded any educational advantages and was in the strictest sense of the word a "self-made man." He and his wife both passed away in Montezuma, lowa, the former on the 28th of March, 1895, and the latter on the 23d of November, 1884. In their family were four children, of whom our subject was the youngest and only one born in Iowa. The others are: Mary A., the wife of L. H. Boydston, of Los Angeles, California; Joseph D., a successful man engaging in the real-estate, banking and general merchandising business for many years in Davenport, Iowa, where his death occurred on the 3d of Septem- ber, 1910; and W. H., engaged in mining and prospecting at Deadwood, South Dakota.
Spending the period of his boyhood and youth in Montezuma, Fletcher J. McCormick remained with his mother until the time of her death, although for many years previously he had been engaged in farming and stock-raising. In faet his first step in the business world was taken when but eleven years of age and he has been the architect of his own fortune. "He began as a boy by buying calves and naturally he gradually drifted into the live-stock business, expanding his efforts with the passing years until he is now recognized as one of the largest stock-dealers in his part of the county. With the exception of land valued at twenty-five hundred dollars, which he received from his father after he had made his start in business, all that is his today has been acquired through his own efforts, and no man more richly deserves the success which has come to him than does Mr. McCormick. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land in addition, to which he operates an eighty aere tract belonging to his brother, and also rents other land for stock-feeding purposes. He makes his home on a farm of eighty aeres which his father had owned and which has been in the family for about forty-five years. This property has been very highly de- veloped. all of the modern improvements upon it being due to the enterprise of Mr. McCormick. It is well tiled, the fields are protected by good, heavy fences and it is equipped with all of the necessary buildings for the successful conduct of an extensive stock-raising enterprise. All are well built and substantial and he has two of the best hog houses in the state of lowa, built of concrete and cement blocks and sanitary in every particular. His entire attention is given to his live stock interests, raising, buying and feeding cattle, hogs and horses. He handles about one thousand head of hogs annually, raising four or five hundred of this number and purchasing the rest. In recent years he has made a specialty of raising mules and horses and now has on hand about sixty head of mules, while
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