USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 40
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Under the parental roof Judson E. Mullenix was reared, and thorough training made him familiar with all departments of farm work. He has resided on his present place since four years of age and devotes his life unremittingly to the further develop- ment and improvement of this property, which comprises one hundred and seventy-one acres on section 7. In addition, he has eighty acres in Keokuk county. His farm work is carried on along practical, progressive lines and good results are achieved.
On the 22d of December, 1898, Mr. Mullenix was united in marriage to Miss Ada Moorhead of Creston, Iowa, and they now have three children, Wilbur, Edna and Otis.
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Mr. Mullenix formerly belonged to the Anti-Horse Thief Association. His political indorsement has always been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and he has served as township trustee. He has been a director of the Highland Telephone Association since its organi- zation and, in fact, he and Henry Robinson were the chief pro- moters of the enterprise, the value of which to the township can- not be overestimated. Mr. Mullenix belongs to the Highland Baptist church, and for about twenty-two years has been school treasurer of his district-all of which indicates his deep interest in the material, intellectual and moral progress of the community in which his entire life has been passed and where many substan- tial qualities and sterling traits of character have won him the high regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
N. O. JOHNSON.
It has been said that in America "labor is king;" at all events effort is not hampered by caste or class and the individual who is persistent and energetic and whose activities are intelli- gently directed may win success. At the outset of his career N. O. Johnson had no influential friends to aid him and was de- pendent entirely upon his own resources. He did not scorn hon- est labor and his industry has constituted the foundation upon which he has builded his prosperity.
He was born in Sweden, December 16, 1851, and in 1869 he came to the United States, then a young man of about eighteen years. He landed at New York on the 19th of May, but did not tarry in the eastern metropolis, making his way directly to Iowa. It was about the Ist of June that he reached Ottumwa and here he secured employment on the railroad. He was after- ward in the employ of Thomas Foster, a farmer of Wapello county, for whom he worked for about ten years. His long service with one man indicates unmistakably his fidelity as well as his industry. In 1881 he returned to Sweden and was mar- ried, remaining for three months in his native land, after which he brought his bride to the new world. Once more he made his way to Wapello county and rented a farm in Washington town- ship. He continued to cultivate leased land for six years, but during that period carefully saved his earnings until his in-
MR. AND MRS. N. O. JOHNSON
الحبيب -صـ
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dustry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to cnable him to purchase a farm. He then bought two hundred acres of Jerry Lanning on section 30, Agency township, and afterward he added to this property. He now owns three hundred and ninety acres on sections 19, 30 and 31. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and keeps on hand high grades of cattle. For a long period he remained the active head of the farm, but has now practically retired, while his sons are carry- ing on the work, operating the farm on shares.
On the 17th of March, 1881, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Annetta Siegerstrom and they became the par- ents of four children : Charles A .; Clara E., who is a graduate of the State Normal School and for several years has been suc- cessfully engaged in teaching; Wilbur S .; and Harry E., who is a high-school graduate. Mrs. Johnson and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Johnson votes the republican ticket and has served as township trustee. He is ever loyal to the land of his adoption and is much interested in the development and progress of his home locality. A self-made man, he had but a dollar and a half in his pocket when he first reached Ottumwa; not only this but he was terribly handicapped by not being able to speak the language, but this he has since mastered and now speaks it very fluently. He has gradually worked his way upward, early recognizing the eternal principle that industry wins, and he has ever depended upon earnest, honorable labor in order to attain success. He has never neglected his duties but has performed the tasks that each day has brought and by working earnestly and unremittingly he has gained the handsome competence which he now enjoys and which ranks him with the substantial citizens of this part of the state.
DAN R. SHEA.
Dan R. Shea, of Ottumwa, has for the past twelve years been engaged in business as a wholesale and retail dealer in ice cream and since 1910 has also handled coal on an extensive scale. enjoy- ing an enviable and profitable patronage. His birth occurred in Eddyville, just over the Wapello county line, in Mahaska county, Iowa, on the 27th of May. 1880, his parents being John
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and Honorah (Garvey) Shea, both of whom were natives of Ire- land, the former born in 1834 and the latter in 1841. They came to this country as children and were married in Iowa. John Shea, followed railroading for many years, acted as track fore- man when the Rock Island Railway was built from Keokuk to Des Moines. After the completion of this work he was made roadmaster of the old Keokuk & Des Moines line. His demise occurred in 1912, and his wife is also deceased. Unto them were born nine children, eight sons and one daughter, as follows: Frank, who has passed away; T. E., who is employed as a con- ductor on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, with headquarters at Ottumwa; John, a resident of Two Harbors, Minnesota, who serves as general roadmaster with the Duluth & Iron Range Railway; William, roadmaster with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, who is also interested in the Shea-Spilman Hardware Company, owning most of the stock ; Jerry, the manager of the Doty Clothing Company; James R., whose home is in Two Harbors, Minnesota, and who is a travel- ing engineer on the Duluth & Iron Range Railway; Alice, the widow of Thomas Callahan ; Edward, who is deceased, and Dan R., of this review.
· The last named acquired his education in the graded and high schools of Eddyville, and when fifteen years of age became iden- tified with railroad work, being thus employed during the sum- mer months and attending school in the winter seasons. After putting aside his text-books he continued in railroad service until June, 1899, when he abandoned the work because of injuries received, and during the following three years was associated with the Ottumwa Steam Laundry Company. In 1902 he embarked in business as a wholesale and retail dealer in ice cream at No. 333 Church street, Ottumwa, also handling cigars and to- bacco. Here he has thus remained in business to the present time, and since 1910 has likewise dealt in coal. Mr. Shea furnishes employment to seventeen men and is accorded a patronage of ex- tensive and gratifying proportions.
On the 16th of February, 1904, Mr. Shea was united in mar- riage to Miss Mamie B. Devol, a native of Ottumwa and a daughter of W. L. and Blanche ( Buncutter ) Devol. They now have two children, James Devol and Daniel R., Jr. In politics Mr. Shea is a democrat, while his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, of which he is a devout communicant. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America,
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the Knights of Columbus and the Loyal Order of Moose. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shea enjoy an extensive and favorable acquaint- ance in the community where they have always resided, and the hospitality of the best homes is cordially extended them.
HON. SANFORD KIRKPATRICK.
In taking up the personal history of Hon. Sanford Kirkpat- rick we present the record of one who needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for he has a wide acquaintance in Wapello county and, in fact, throughout the state and in various sections of the country. He is usually called Sant by those who know him, a term indicative of friendliness and of close compan- ionship. A native of Ohio, Mr. Kirkpatrick was born in Madi- son county, February 11, 1842. His father, Minor Kirkpatrick, a native of Virginia, was born in September, 1816, and made farming his life work. On coming to Iowa in 1849 he settled in Highland township, Wapello county, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers. Year after year he tilled the soil and developed his place, and he also took his part as a factor in the community for its betterment and its upbuilding along many lines. He died in December, 1894, and for seventeen years was survived by his wife, who passed away in December, 1911. She bore the maiden name of Hannah Godfrey and was born in West Virginia in March, 1819, so that she had attained the notable old age of ninety-two years at the time of her demise. In their family were seven children: Sanford; Mary J., who died in childhood; Wade, a capitalist at Hedrick; Almira, who is the widow of J. J. Lintner and lives at Hedrick; Gwynne, who died in November, 1889; Abel, who passed away in December, 1861; and Thomas, a practicing physician at Garnett, Kansas.
Sanford Kirkpatrick was a little lad of about seven years when brought by his parents to Iowa, so that he was largely reared in Wapello county, amid the scenes and environment of frontier life. He followed farming on the old homestead to the age of nineteen years, when he entered the army, his patriotic spirit being aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union. He went to the front with the Second lowa Infantry and served for four and a half years, taking part in many of the most hotly contested engagements, including the battles of Fort
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Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth and the one hundred days' fight around Atlanta. He also went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, which proved the weakness of the southern Confederacy, and when the preservation of the Union was an assured fact he returned to his home with a most creditable mili- tary record.
Mr. Kirkpatrick resumed farming in Wapello county and in 1 877 removed to Ottumwa, where he engaged in merchandising for eight years. He then entered the government service, with which he was connected for twenty-seven consecutive years in a war with crime and criminals, looking after everything pertain- ing to the government revenues. One of his special duties was to prevent the nefarious work of the moonshiners and to prevent counterfeiting. In fact, he was at all times fighting as a stalwart enemy of crime which had to do with the government and has been the means of putting more men behind the bars than any other officer of the United States. In 1912 he was elected to congress from the sixth district and has again been nominated for the office. The record which he made in office placed him with the careful, painstaking legislators who place the public good before personal aggrandizement and seek the general welfare rather than the advancement of partisanship.
In 1865 Mr. Kirkpatrick was united in marriage to Hester M. Lintner, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of George M. and Mary Lintner. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick became the par- ents of four children: Maud, the wife of A. H. Post of Cali- fornia; Stella, the widow of George E. Porter, a resident of Ottumwa; Minor, who is living in Baltimore, Maryland; and Chase, who died in early childhood. In 1888 Mr. Kirkpatrick was again married, his second union, celebrated in Nashville, Tennessee, being with Miss Nellie Woodington, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a daughter of George and Mary Woodington. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick have a wide acquaint- ance in Ottumwa, and their circle of friends is coextensive there- with. Mr. Kirkpatrick is known throughout the country in con- nection with his work in the government service and the record which he has made is, indeed, creditable. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. His political support is given to the democratic party. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. There is fighting blood in his veins, for he is a great-grandson of one of seven brothers who fought from Bunker Hill to York-
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town, taking part in many of the hotly contested engagements which brought independence to the nation. Mr. Kirkpatrick is also well known as an author and lecturer. He has delivered many public addresses upon the subject of crime and its preven- tion and is now engaged in writing a book dealing with crime and criminals, a volume of six hundred pages. His life work has been productive of good along many directions and no one has ever questioned his fidelity to the public welfare.
GEORGE WILBER MOORE THOMPSON.
George W. M. Thompson, engaged in merchandising at Kirkville, has for a considerable period been closely associated with the commercial activity of his part of the state, and intelli- gently directed effort, unfaltering enterprise and laudable ambi- tion have constituted the keynote of his success. He was born in the Mohawk valley of Coshocton county, Ohio, March 31, 1860. His father, William Thompson, was a native of Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, and was the son of a Scotch Presbyterian minis- ter. The mother of William Thompson was in her maidenhood Miss Belle Moore, likewise a native of Ireland, and of Scotch Presbyterian stock. Reared in his native land, William Thomp- son came to the United States as a young man and in Ohio was united in marriage to Polly Hogle, who was born and reared on the banks of the Walhonding river in Ohio. She was born of American parentage. To Mr. and Mrs. William Thompson came three sons, the brothers of our subject being : John Quigley, who was assistant attorney general of the United States and died in 1913, while serving his country in that capacity; and James Sites, a farmer living near Bancroft, South Dakota. There were also four daughters in the family: Eva and Fannie, residents of Kirkville; and Mrs. Harriet Simpson and Mrs. Bertha Thomp- son, who are residents of Canton, Kansas.
In the public schools of his native county George W. M. Thompson pursued his education. His early experiences were those which usually fall to the lot of the farm lad, and in early manhood he took up the occupation of farming, which he fol- lowed for some time. Later, however, he turned his attention to merchandising, establishing a store in Kirkville, of which he is still the proprietor. He carries a large and well selected line of
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goods and his energy, close application and unfaltering deter- mination are the salient features in his continued success.
In the Methodist Episcopal church at Kirkville, on the 24th of March, 1889, was performed the marriage ceremony which united the destinies of George W. M. Thompson and Miss Myrtle Waddell, a daughter of John N. and Sarah (Drake) Waddell. The father was a graduate of the Phopopathic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, with the class of 1844, and in 1853 removed westward to Iowa, coming to Kirkville, Iowa, in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are widely and favorably known in Kirkville, having a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
Mr. Thompson has been quite active in connection with pub- lic matters. For twelve years he was a member of the Kirkville board of education and during a part of that time served as its president, in which connection he did important service for the schools of the city. For three terms he was treasurer of the Kirk- ville Mutual Insurance Company. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party, and he does every- thing in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He belongs to the Masonic lodge of Kirkville, in which he has filled all of the chairs, and his life exemplifies its beneficent spirit. He is likewise a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Thus he manifests a deep and active interest in educational, social and moral progress in the community.
HERMAN B. OSTDIEK.
Herman B. Ostdiek, engaged in the manufacture of brick in Ottumwa, has a well equipped plant and the excellence of his product constitutes the salient feature in his growing success. For forty years he has continued in this line of business, and his out- put during that period has averaged a million and a quarter bricks. He was born in Lee county, lowa, March 15, 1855, and is a son of Ferdinand B. and Catherine (Schnitker) Ostdick, who were natives of Munster, Westphalia, Germany, both born in the year 1814. They were reared and married in their native land and with their two older children came to Iowa in 1846, settling in Lee county, where their remaining days were passed. The father followed school teaching in Germany, but in the
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United States carried on general farming, owning a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of land. He also taught school for a few years in Lee county and was an excellent penman. Ile also engaged in the manufacture of lime and brick to some extent. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party, and his religious faith was that of the Catholic church. He died in 1873, while his wife passed away in 1885. They had ten children, of whom four died in early life, while six are yet living : Gerhard and John, residents of Neola, Iowa; Mrs. Minnie Soppe, also living in Neola; Mrs. Elizabeth Holtfaster, of Council Bluffs ; Herman B .; and Mrs. Mary Holtkamp, of Lee county.
Herman B. Ostdiek was a resident of Lee county until 1870, when he came to Ottumwa and joined his brother Gerhard, who had established a brick yard at this place, making the first brick here. Herman was employed by his brother until he reached the age of twenty-one years and was then admitted to a partner- ship. In 1898 he purchased his brother's interest and has since conducted the business alone. He has averaged about one million, two hundred and fifty thousand bricks for the last forty years, and his entire life has been devoted to brick manufacturing. He is familiar with every phase of the business, utilizes modern processes and is very successful in the conduct of his business. In addition to his plant he owns eighty-eight acres of land where he resides, twenty-eight of it being within the city limits, his home being situated at No. 1003 East Pennsylvania avenue. He also has fourteen acres of land where his brick yard is located at Riverview.
On the Ist of March, 1881, Mr. Ostdiek was married to Miss Ellen M. Derks, who was born in Center township, this county, July 15, 1854, and has resided here all her life, being baptized in St. Mary's church. She is a daughter of Gerhard and Petronella ( Kosman) Derks, both of whom were natives of Hol- land, in which country they were reared and married. The father was born January 15, 1825, and the mother on the 29th of September, 1829. They crossed the Atlantic to New Orleans and thence made their way up the Mississippi river in 1850. Mr. Derks engaged in general agricultural pursuits and in the raising of bees and the production of honey. He died November 15, 1910, while his wife passed away June 4, 1873. They were the parents of six children : Mrs. Johanna Yager, living in Ottumwa ; Mrs. Ostdiek; Mrs. Rose Stoy, of Chicago; Theodore, of Clyde, Missouri; Mrs. Anna Thometz, of Chicago; and John W., of
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Gotebo, Oklahoma. On coming to Iowa Mr. Derks walked with his wife from Eddyville to Ottumwa, a distance of fifteen miles, as there was no railroad. He was a great skater, display- ing marked skill on the ice, and he would often skate on the river from Eddyville to Ottumwa to attend mass, thus making the round trip of thirty-four miles.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ostdiek have been born six children: Mary Katherine, at home; Rose, the wife of C. Y. Shurtz, of Oskaloosa; Gerhard P., who is with his father in the brick busi- ness; Ferdinand T., also with his father; Laurence J., at home; and Joseph H., who is attending Creighton University in Omaha.
In his political views Mr. Ostdiek is a democrat and has sup- ported the men and measures of that party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is now a member of St. Mary's church, of which his family are also communicants. His long connection with the industrial interests of Ottumwa has made him well known in its business circles, and the success which he has won is the merited reward of his earnest, persistent and honorable effort.
CHARLES HALLBERG.
Various corporate interests have felt the stimulus of the cooperation of Charles Hallberg, an enterprising business man, who, watchful of his opportunities, has advanced steadily to the goal of success. He is now identified with a number of important business interests of Ottumwa. His birth occurred at Falken- berg, Sweden, February 16, 1868. His ancestors were promi- nent men, holding government positions, to which only men of college educations were eligible. Some of the family were cus- tom officers, while his great-grandfather, Tobias Hallberg, served as judge of Halmstad and his grandfather was postmas- ter at Falkenberg. His paternal grandmother's ancestors were ministers in the Lutheran church for three hundred years with- out a break. I. P. Hallberg, father of our subject, was born in Falkenberg, May 19, 1838, and for almost a half century he engaged in merchandising and banking, continuing in business to the time of his death, which occurred in 1903. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Amelia Hedenbergh, is also deceased. In their family were ten children, nine of whom are yet living : Algoth, Harry and Gustaf, all of whom are residents
CHARLES HALLBERG
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
of Sweden; Charles, of this review; Robert, Hannah and Hilda, in Sweden; Henry, a resident of New York; and Anders, who also makes his home in Sweden.
Charles Hallberg was educated at Gothenburg and Halm- stad, Sweden, where he attended the Latin grammar school. After putting aside his text-books he came to the new world in 1884, being at that time a youth of sixteen years. For a month he remained in Chicago and then came to Ottumwa. He se- cured a position with the Globe Tea Company and in that con- nection steadily worked his way upward, winning promotion by reason of his unflagging industry, his ready adaptability and his thorough trustworthiness. He carefully saved his earnings and when twenty-one years of age was able to purchase a third interest in the business. When twenty-five years of age he was half owner and at the age of thirty held three-fourths of the stock. He is now secretary, treasurer and manager of the Globe Tea Company, in which connection he bends his energies to administrative direc- tion and executive control. Largely shaping the policy of the house, he has made it one of the important commercial interests of Ottumwa, its ramifying trade connections now covering a wide territory. In fact it has long been the largest concern of the kind in this state. This does not indicate, however, the scope of Mr. Hallberg's business activities, for in addition to the management of the Globe Tea Company he is one of the directors and treas- urer of the wholesale grocery firm of J. G. Hutchison Company and is a director of the Iowa Savings Bank. Colleagues and con- temporaries regard him as a man of sound business judgment and unfaltering enterprise, and his life record is the indication of his ability, which has as its component elements not any un- usual qualities, but such cultivable traits as diligence, determi- nation and integrity.
On the 4th of June, 1894, Mr. Hallberg was united in mar- riage to Miss Catherine Hoglund, who was born in Ottumwa, a daughter of ex-Alderman E. Hoglund and Martha (Wick- strom) Hoglund, who are still residents of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Hallberg have a family of four children : Hildur, who is a student in the State University at Iowa City; Marion, attending high school; Melvin, who is also in school, and Wilma. Mrs. Hallberg has been very active in religious, club and social circles. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hallberg hold membership in the Swedish Lutheran church, in which he has been deacon or trustee for twenty years and a delegate to state conferences and synods a
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number of times. His wife takes a helpful interest in various branches of church work and has been a member of the board of the Young Women's Christian Association. She is now presi- dent of the Home Culture Club.
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