USA > Iowa > Sac County > History of Sac County, Iowa > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
John R. Markley, proprietor of a half section of fine farming land in Eden township, Sac county, Iowa, was born June 6, 1878, on the farm where he is now residing. His parents were Isaac M. and Enimeline ( McLaughlin) Markley. Isaac Markley was born May 5, 1841, in Canada, and died in Sac county, Iowa, Angust 15, 1903. His people left Canada and were among the early settlers of Alamakee county, this state, and came to Sac county in its early history. His possessions were a mule team and a yoke of oxen. His wife, Emmeline Mclaughlin, was born April 13, 1858, in Palo Alto county, Iowa, and died in Sac county. this state, in 1903. They were the parents of four children: William, deceased; Harvey A., of Storm Lake, Iowa ; John R., whose history is here presented, and Ernest A., of Buena Vista county, Iowa.
John R. Markley has always lived on the farm where he is now making his home. He received a good, common school education and assisted his father with the management of his large estate until his father's death, in 1903. Upon his father's death the estate was divided among the children and he received three hundred and twenty acres as his share.
Mr. Markley was married December 18, 1907, to Magdalena Halling, born March 29, 1888, in Richland township, Sac county, Iowa, daughter of John and Anna Christina Halling. John Halling was born November 28, 1856, and is now living in Cook township, this county. His wife, Anna, was born September 23, 1865, and died December 10, 1897. Both Mr. and Mrs. John Halling were natives of Schleswig, Germany. They were the parents of six children, Oda May, Magdalena, Lillian, deceased, John An- drew, deceased, Raymond and Emily Amelia, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mark-
MR. AND MRS. JOHN R. MARKLEY
4
SAC COUNTY, IOW.A. 649
ley have two children, Hazel Fay, born September 26, 1908, and Leslie Ray- mond, born July 14, 1912. Mr. Markley has been a Republican since casting his first vote, but has never felt inclined to be an active participant in political affairs. He and his wife have a charming home and are the center of a large circle of friends and acquaintances who delight in their genuine hospitality.
CHRISS J. THIELHORN.
It is the pride of the citizens of this country that there is no limit to which natural ability, industry and honesty may not aspire. A boy born in ignorance and poverty and reared amidst the most adverse 'surroundings, may nevertheless break from his fetters and rise to the highest station in the land. Thousands of young men of German parentage have realized how easy it is for a man of courage and willing hands to rise in our republic and have accordingly cast their lots with us, with the result that they have bene- fited themselves as well as the communities in which they have settled. Sac county's German citizens bear witness to the fact that America is indeed the land of opportunity. Among the citizens of German parentage who are now prosperous farmers in Sac county, Iowa, there is no one who is inore prom- mently identified with the agricultural interests of Coon Valley township than C. J. Thielhorn, whose brief history is here given to the reader.
Chriss J. Thielhorn, the proprietor of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Coon Valley township, was born February 18. 1885, on the home farm in Sac county, the son of Christ and Fredericka (Wulkow ) Thielhorn, who were both natives of Germany, coming to Sac county, Iowa, about 1878. Christ Thielhorn was born in 1844. and upon coming to this country with his family, he soon became one of the substantial farmers of this country. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Christ Thielhorn : Mrs. Lottie Reaman, of Calhoun county, Iowa; C. J., whose history forms the theme of this narrative, and A. W., who was born in the county De- cember 6, 1886.
C. J. Thielhorn received his education in the schools of his home neigh- borhood. and early in life decided that he would follow in the footsteps of his father, and, with this end in view, he helped his father on the home farm until his marriage in order to become thoroughly familiar with all the details of farin life. It is said that there are "tricks in all trades," and this trite ex- pression is peculiarly true of the farmer. The successful farmer of today
650
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
must not only be a man who can handle the plow, but he must also have some knowledge of a dozen other professions. In a small way he must be a veter- inary surgeon, a blacksmith, a harness maker, a carpenter, etc., and the most successful farmer is a man who can do these various things in the best way.
Mr. Thielhorn was married in 1907 to Matilda Brehm, and to this mar- riage have been born three children. Chriss F., Irene Mildred and Fern Evlyn. Politically, Mr. Thielhorn is a Democrat, but the affairs of his home and farm have demanded all of his attention, so that he has had little time to devote to political questions. In his religious belief he and his family are loyal members of the German Lutheran church, giving to it liberally of their time and substance. Mr. Thielhorn has always lent his aid to the best interests of his community, and has given his support to all movements having for their object the welfare of his fellow citizens. He is not backward in expressing his honest convictions on any subject affecting the welfare of the community. and for this reason is deservedly popular with a large circle ot friends and acquaintances.
ALBERT D. MINER.
One of the most prosperous farmers of Coon Valley township, Sac county, lowa, is A. D. Miner, who was born December 7, 1846, in Jo Daviess county, Illinois. His parents were Ransom H. and Lucinda ( Post ) Miner. Ransom HI. Miner was born August 25. 1809. and was the son of Asher Miner, a native of New York who bought land in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, in about 1836 from the government at one dollar and a quarter an acre. Asher Miner was born in Schoharie county, New York. Ransom H. Miner came from New York to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, when he was twenty-nine years of age and lived there until his death in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Ransom H. Miner were the parents of eight children : Lwelleyns V., deceased : Jolin A., deceased : Mary A., deceased : Gertrude E., deceased; Beulah A., deceased ; Mrs. L. M. Scofield, of Chicago; Mrs. Jennie Harris, of Stockton, Illinois, and A. D., with whom this narrative deals.
A. D. Miner was reared and educated in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and was married in that state. About ten years later he came from Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and settled in Jackson county, Iowa, coming to this state in 1882. In 1892 he moved to Clinton county, where he lived for eight years. In February, 1900, he came to Sac county and bought his farm of one hun- dred and forty acres in Coon Valley township for seventy-six dollars an acre.
651
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
Later he purchased forty acres, for which he paid one hundred dollars an acre. This land is now easily worth two hundred dollars an acre. Mr. Miner still owns ten acres in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, which was a part of the land which was homesteaded by his grandfather in 1836.
Mr. Miner was married in 1873 to Ella A. Watts, of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and to this marriage have been born six children : Mrs. Florence E. Wilson, of Cedar township; Dwight L., of Jackson township, who is farm- ing one hundred and twenty acres; Abby G. : Kingsley A., born March 29, 1887. and now engaged in real estate and land business in Sac City ; Paul R., who is at home, and Frank Watts, a student at Ames College.
In politics, Mr. Miner has been affiliated with the Republican party since he cast his first vote. While living in this state he has held various township offices, in all of which he performed satisfactory service. Ile.and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have always taken a deep interest in church activities. Mr. Miner is a member of various fraternal insurance orders. He has always been active in the public affairs of his community and has performed his full part as a public-spirited citizen, and in the various official positions which he has filled he has used the same sound judgment and good business principles which he has exercised in his own per- sonal affairs. Honest in his various business dealings and faithful to his many friends, he has won and retained the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the township and county.
KINGSLEY ALBERT MINER.
One of the enterprising and rising young men who are native born to Sac county and who are making names and reputations for themselves in the marts of trade and in their chosen professions, is Kingsley A. Miner, the son of A. D. Miner, one of the substantial farmer citizens of the county. Marked aptitude and diligence characterizes the activities of this young man, who is highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities and for his quiet, gentle- manly methods of transacting his business affairs in the community. The headquarters of his business is located in Sac City, which place has been his home since leaving the home place in Coon Valley township to carve out a career for himself.
Kingsley Albert Miner, of Sac City. was born on a farm in Sac county, March 29, 1887, and was educated in the district schools of his neighborhood,
653
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
the Sac City high school. the Auburn high school and the Highland Park Seminary. For the past four years he has followed the difficult profession of sales and live stock auctioneer and is meeting with creditable success in his life work. He devotes his activities to the promotion of land sales and handles considerable real estate and also devotes some attention to the insur- ance business. His specialties, however, are the sale and purchase of farm lands and the crying of public sales for the people of the surrounding com- mimity. Although Mr. Miner is young in years, he is gifted with a poise and ability common to older heads and is universally liked and esteemed for his many sterling qualities of heart and mind.
Mr. Miner was united in marriage with Irene Furman, June 10, 1914. He is religiously associated with the Methodist Episcopal denomination and is an Odd Fellow. Politically, he is allied with the Republican party.
THEODORE JACOBSEN.
The little peninsula of Jetland, in Europe, has furnished a few sturdy farmers for Sac county, Iowa. The people of Denmark have always been prosperous and for that reason a great many of its citizens have emigrated to this country. A few of the more ambitions and hardy sons of Denmark have come to America and a few of these have made their permanent homes in Sac county. History recounts that in the medieval ages, and even before then, the Danes were the great rovers of the sea, and for more than a thou- sand years people of the little kingdom of Denmark have been known as a people of sturdy qualities of character. Among the few citizens of Sac county who are of Danish descent is Theodore Jacobsen, a prosperous farmer of Wall Lake township.
Theodore Jacobsen was born January 28, 1860, in Denmark and is the son of Hans and Helena Jacobsen. He received a good practical education in his native land and there learned the little habits of thrift and industry which have characterized his successful career in this county. Upon reach- ing his majority in 1881 he decided to come to America to seek his fortune. Accordingly he came to this country and settled in Livingston county, Illi- nois, where he lived until 1902, working by the month, and later by renting farms. In 1902 he came to Sac county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres for fifty-five dollars an acre. The family moved to the farm in Wall Lake township in 1903. In the last twelve years this land has in-
653
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
creased fourfold in value and is now worth at least two hundred and twenty- five dollars an acre. Mr. Jacobsen has always been a hard working man and has been assisted by an excellent wife who has done her full share towards the success of her husband.
Mr. Jacobsen was married on March 23, 1883, to Margretta Amomsen, of Illinois. She was born in Denmark and came to this country alone and settled in Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsen have been born six children : Hans C., of Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Lena Heath, of Sac City ; Mrs. Katie Quin- lan, of Wall Lake township, and John and Theresa, who are still with their parents.
Mr. Jacobsen has cast his vote for the Republican party since he was naturalized, but owing to his many interests on the farm he has never taken a prominent part in politics. He and his family are loyal members of the Lutheran church and help with the various activities of that denomination. Mr. Jacobsen has truly been the architect of his own fortune and upon his entire career since coming to this country there rests no blemish. He has been true to the highest ideals of American citizenship and has become one of the worthy and representative men of Sac county, Iowa.
J. B. TOURGEE.
Among the younger members of the legal profession in Sac county is J. B. Tourgee, of the firm of Elwood & Tourgee, of Sac City. Although he has been in the county only a short time, yet he has already impressed those with whom he has come in contact as a man of good legal ability and one who can take his full share in the life of the community. Mr. Tourgee was born October 30, 1875, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and is the son of H. H. and Alice E. (Morse ) Tourgee. Both of his parents were born in Ohio and were descendants of pioneer New England families. H. H. Tourgee at- tended school in the old Chester Seminary and Oberlin College, Ohio. After finishing his course, H. H. Tourgee went onto a farm in his native state and in 1877 came with his family to Ida county, Iowa, and purchased a farm, be- coming one of the successful farmers of the county. Two years before his death he retired to Ida Grove, where he died in November, 1905. His wife is still living in Ida Grove. They were the parents of two children, Carl H .. of Ida Grove, Iowa, and J. B., with whom this narrative deals.
J. B. Tourgee was reared on his father's farm and educated in the Sac
654
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
City Institute, from which institution he graduated in 1900. He then entered the State University of Iowa and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Law in 1903. Upon his graduation he started the practice of his profession in Armour, South Dakota, but a year later disposed of his practice and located in Holstein, Iowa, where he remained until the fall of 1912. On September 1, 1912, he came to Sac City and became a member of the firm of Elwood & Tourgee.
Mr. Tourgee was married January 1, 1906, to Dora B. Trumbauer, of Lytton, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Trumbaner. To this union have been born two children, Mildred and Alice. Politically, Mr. Tourgee is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in politics. However, he is a close observer of the various political questions of the day and has decided convictions on the big issues which are now confronting the American people. Mr. Tourgee is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has taken the degrees of the chapter. Being well grounded in legal prin- ciples and having a comprehensive view of life gained from experience, Mr. Tourgee is well qualified to give to his clients excellent service. As a speaker he is clear and concise and effective in presenting the issues of the case. He gives his support to every movement which promotes the advancement of the educational, moral or social welfare of his community, and as a citizen of Sac City he is anxious to do all in his power to make it a good city in which to live.
LEWIS T. QUIRK.
Among the inen of Sac county, Iowa, who have been closely identified with the material, moral and educational advancement of its various inter- ests, is Lewis T. Quirk, the present proprietor of Fairacres farm. He has not only been a successful farmer of this county, but he has also occupied many positions of trust and honor which have come to him by reason of his ability to fill them. Ile has been a public school teacher, a township clerk and township assessor, and in all these positions of trust he has adminis- tered their duties in a manner which was entirely satisfactory to his constitu- ents. Being a man of education, he has actively identified himself with all measures which were brought forward to advance the interests of his com- munity, and for that reason he is a representative man of his township and county.
Lewis T. Quirk, the son of Thomas and Mary (Cain) Quirk, was born
655
SAC COUNTY, 10W.A.
January 20, 1874, in Clinton county, Iowa. His parents were both natives of the isle of Man, a small island lying between England and Ireland, where they were reared and married. They came to America in 1866 and settled in Clinton county, Iowa, and in March, 1875, permanently located in Sac county, on a farm near where their son, Lewis, is now living. Thomas Quirk and wife were the parents of three children : Mrs. Mary McWilliams, of Clinton township: Lewis T., with whom this narrative deals, and George, of Cook township. Mary Cain, the mother of Lewis Quirk, had been mar- ried previous to her union with Thomas Quirk. Her first husband was a Mr. Moore, of the isle of Man, who died in that island. By her first mar- riage there were two children reared, Sage E. Moore, deceased, the wife of Robert Mylchrist, deceased, formerly of Cook township. After the death of her husband. Mrs. Mylchrist married a Mr. Hayes, and in the summer of 1913 Mrs. Hayes died in Rapid City, South Dakota. The other child of the first marriage of Mrs. Thomas Quirk was J. D. Moore, who is now living in Schaller, Iowa.
Lewis T. Quirk was educated in the district schools of Levey township, this county, and later spent one year in the Sac Institute and one year in Morningside College, of Sioux City, lowa. He then taught school for six years in Sac county, spending his summer vacation in farming. In 1899 he began farming for himself, having previously been in partnership with his father. In 1906 he bought his present farm of eighty acres, and has so im- proved it that it is now worth two hundred dollars an acre. In 1913 he erected a fine, modern bungalow of eight rooms, at a cost of three thousand dollars. In addition to the raising of the grains common to this locality, Mr. Quirk has been a breeder of Shorthorn cattle for the past twelve years and now has a herd of thoroughbred Shorthorns, numbering twenty-five. He also raises hogs and in 1913 produced fifty head which found a ready market at a good price. He is a member of the Shorthorn Breeders Asso- ciation of Sac County and takes an active interest in the cattle department of the Sac County Fair Association.
Mr. Quirk was married on April 18, 1899, to Fannie L. Fox, the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Fox, and to this union there has been born one son, Edward L:, born August 20, 1913.
Politically, Mr. Quirk is a Republican, and has served two terms as clerk of Clinton township and one term as assessor of Levey township. He filled both these important offices to the entire satisfaction of the citizens. irrespective of their political affiliations, and made one of the most satisfac- . tory officials these townships ever had. Fraternally, he is a member of the
656
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, while, religiously, he and his wife are both loyal and earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has thrown the force of his strong individuality, sterling integrity and upright- ness into the advancement of the interests of his township and his efforts have not failed of appreciation on the part of his fellow citizens. He has had his full share in bringing his township to the front, and has the satisfac- tion of feeling that his work has been acceptable to the best citizens of his community.
COL. FESTUS J. GREEN.
There are some professions which demand a certain amount of native talent, and without this no man can make a success of that particular pro- fession. Some one has said that man can train himself for practically any line of business, but there is one profession which takes a number of qualities of a peculiar nature in order to bring about success in that particular line. It is safe to say that the profession of the auctioneer demands certain innate characteristics which are not possessed by every man. A man must be a good judge of human nature. a psychologist, in order to judge what to do and how to do it at the proper time. The auctioneer must first of all have a good voice, which means that he must be a man of good physique : secondly, he must have a thorough knowledge of the goods which he attempts to sell ; and, thirdly, he must be a reader of human nature in order to carry his con- versation so as to keep his buyers in a happy frame of mind; and. lastly, he must be absolutely honest, or he will soon lose the confidence of the citizens of a community.
Col. Festus J. Green, a retired farmer, successful business man, and one of the most prominent auctioneers of this section of the country, has all of the characteristics which go to make up the successful auctioneer. He was born March 29, 1857. in Somersetshire, England. His parents were Harry and Elizabeth (Popham) Green, his father being a tailor by trade in his native land. Neither of Colonel Green's parents ever came to this country and both have long since passed away. He was self educated, for the reason that he had no opportunity to attend the schools in his country, but he has read and studied at home until he now is well qualified to speak upon any of the current topics of the day. The nature of his profession demands that he keep in close touch with a great variety of interests, and the success which
COL. FESTUS J. GREEN
057
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
has attended his efforts on the block indicate that his reading has not been in vain.
Colonel Green came to America in 1872, at the age of fourteen years, and located at Manchester. Iowa. Before leaving his native country he had learned the brick and stone trade and followed this profession in Manchester for five years. In 1878 he returned to England, but came back to this country seven months later and located at Dyersville, Iowa, where he farmed until 1894, then moved to Early, in Sac county, where he has since resided. He purchased a farm of two hundred and eighty-five acres two miles from Early, and has been engaged in breeding thoroughbred Hereford cattle, and he has shown his cattle in various county fairs, as well as the state fair of lowa, and has taken many prizes. He has been one of the most prominent members of the Sac County Fair Association, and has been superintendent of the cattle department ever since the association was organized.
While Colonel Green has been a success as a farmer, his greatest reputa- tion has been won in the auctioneer's field. He is strictly a self-taught man in this profession, and since he started in 1824 his fame has increased until he has cried live stock sales in California, South, Dakota. Minnesota, Illinois, Ne- braska, as well as all over his own state. He receives the highest salary as an auctioneer of any man in the state of Iowa. His record of farm sales runs from seventy-five to one hundred a season. and every year he has a sale for every day in December. His fame as an auctioneer is such that people come for miles to hear him talk, who have no other reason for coming than to hear the admirable way in which he conducts his sales.
Colonel Green was married in 1883 in Dubuque county, Iowa, to Ada House, and to this union there have been born seven children: Harry. a rancher of Montana; Alonzo, a salesman in a dry goods store in Mobridge, South Dakota; Elmer, of Storm Lake, Iowa, where he is operating a meat market : Rov, a professional ball player with the Storm Lake baseball club ; Charles, who is a student in the high school at Early ; Blanche, who is a book- keeper in a hardware store at Early, and Hazel, who is at home with her parents.
Colonel Green is a follower of the Republican party, but has never been a candidate for any public office. In his religious belief he adheres to the Presbyterian church, as do the other members of his family. He is a mem- ber of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Early, and a member of the chapter and commandery at Sac City, and of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias at Early. In 1908
(41)
.
658
SAC COUNTY, 10WA.
Colonel Green made a trip to England, and visited the London horse show, as well as his old home. Colonel and Mrs. Green have a fine home in Early. where they dispense genuine hospitality to their many friends. He is a pro- gressive and substantial citizen who is always interesting himself in the wel- fare of his home city.
DONALD McCORKINDALE.
In Donald McCorkindale, of Clinton township, we had a true repre- sentative of the empire builders and one who accomplished more than the ordinary man since he came into the county nearly forty years ago and pur- chased a tract of unbroken prairie land. His herds of cattle and droves of horses now feed over thousands of acres of Sac county land where at first it was necessary for him to be content with a few hundred acres purchased on a time contract similar to that of the other settlers in his neighborhood. Ile was known far and wide as one of the largest land owners and one of the ablest financiers of the section in a decade-yet, he was just a plain farmer, shrewd and intelligent, a son of Scotland who naturally inherited the ex- cellent traits peculiar to his forbears.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.