USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 55
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 55
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J. R. Laughlin, farmer, P. O. Postville, son of John and Jane Laughlin, who were born in Scotland and emigrated to the U. S. in 1835, locating first near Schenectady, N. Y., remaining there till in 1839, when they came to St. Joseph Co., Mich., where they lived till in 1842, they again moved to Wells Co., Ind., and in 1849 came to Allamakee county, Io., they being among the first settlers in Post tp. Mr. John Laughlin was among the leading and prominent men of the county, serving as Sheriff, also as Jus- tice of the Peace in his tp., several years. He was also one of the proprietors of the first platting of the town of Waukon. He died in September, 1862. The children living are John H., Elizabeth, Robert, Mary J., Ella and James R., the latter the sub- ject of this sketch, who was born in this county in 1852. He now carries on the home farm, consisting of 144 acres. He was mar- ried to Miss Jane Harris, daughter of Elisha Harris, in 1872. Mr. L. is a member of the U. B. church.
Henry Lenz, P. O. Lansing, farmer; son of Fred and Barbara Lenz, was born on his father's farm, where he still resides, Aug. 22, 1855. His parents came from Germany to this country in 1850, and located upon this farm, which contains 120 acres well improved. His father also owns a farm of 160 acres, southwest of this a couple of miles. The subject of this sketch was edu- cated in the common schools and at Grinnell College. He was married to Miss Mary Gramelich, March 28, 1876. She was also born in this county. They have three children, Emma, Willie and Nettie. Mr. L. carries on his father's farm and is a member of the M. E. church.
Frank Leithold, farmer, sec. 3, P. O. Waukon; born in 1832 in Switzerland and emigrated to the U. S. in 1855, locating on 40 acres of his present farm, which by his economy and industry he has added to till he now has 200 acres with first-class improve-
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ments. He married Miss Anna Vile in 1860. She was born in England. They have six children, Catharine, Julia, Henry, Mar- garet, Albert and George, and have lost one infant.
C. A. Leithold, sheriff, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1850; came to America in 1856 with his parents, and settled in Clayton Co., Iowa. In 1872 he removed to Postville and engaged in merchandising until 1878, when he changed to that of agricultural implements. In 1881 he was elected to his present office.
Jeremiah Leas, Linton tp., was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1831, and was raised a farmer. In 1856 he came to Iowa and set- tled on his present farm of 320 acres, which is one of the best in his tp. He married Susanna Henderson, of Ohio, by whom he has nine children.
J. B. Minert, son of John and Elizabeth Minert, was born in Post tp., Allamakee Co., March 4, 1853. In 1865 the family re- moved to Franklin tp. His father purchased a flouring mill, which he ran until 1867, when he was murdered. The subject of this sketch was married to Margaret J. Arkley, and in 1877 settled at Waukon, since which time he has been dealing in live stock. Their children are Louisa, Ella and James.
M. A. McDonell, blacksmith, is a native of Canada West, and was born in 1839. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and in 1863 came to the U. S., and first lived in Wis., from which State he came to Iowa, stopping at Lansing until 1876, at which date he came to Waukon, and has since been in the employ of Simmonsen & Peterson. In 1865 he was married to Ellen Foley. They have five children.
J. B. Mattoon, M. D., is one of the pioneer physicians, and now the oldest resident physician in the two counties comprising this work. He is a native of Hamphire Co., Mass., born in 1814, and was a resident of the State till 18 years of age. He then re- moved to Paynesville, Ohio, entered the Willoughby College (now Cleveland Medical College), where he graduated in 1840. The next 14 years he practiced medicine in Crawford Co., Penn., when he concluded that he would seek his fortune in what was then called the "far west," and accordingly came to Iowa and settled at Freeport,. Winneshiek Co., then a place of nearly 500 inhabitants, with the expectation of becoming the county seat. Here he fol- lowed his profession until 1867, since which time he has been lo- cated at Waukon. Dr. Mattoon was married in 1842 to Miss D. E. Heath, then of Crawford Co., Penn., but a native of N. Y. The children are Caroline, now Mrs. Levi Plank, of Nebraska City, Nebraska; Frank W., of Blue Springs, Neb .; Jacob B., of Sibley, Neb., and Eva D. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for forty years, and is also a member of the A. F. & A. M.
Edward McGough, P. O. Waukon; farmer, sec. 29; son of Barney and Catharine McGough; was born in Canada in 1839. His parents moved to Winnebago County, Illinois, when he was a
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small boy, and in 1855 they came to Paint Creek tp., this Co., where his father still lives, his mother having died in 1868. Mr. M. was married to Miss Julia Hinchon, in 1864. She was born in Ireland. They resided in Paint Creek tp. till 1876, when he moved to his present farm of 280 acres, which is well improved and among the best farms of the township. Their children are Birnet, James E., Thomas, John, Ella, Katie and Julia. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
A. McMichael, dealer in grain, was born in Scotland in 1830. He came to America in 1844, and his first location was in Canada, near Toronto, where he was engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1860 he removed to La Cresent, Minnesota, and established busi- ness, dealing in grain and general merchandise; thence in 1861 to Brownsville, Minnesota, and continued in the same business. He removed to Lansing in 1876, where he still . resides, and deals largely in grain, owning and running about fifteen warehouses and elevators. He was married to Margaret De Lorienier, and they have two children, Alexander and Bertha.
Patrick McNaney, P. O. Waukon; farmer, sec. 26; owns 200 acres of land valued at $40 per acre; was born in 1830 in County Monahan, Ireland, from which place he emigrated in 1847 to the U. S., stopping in Herkimer Co., N. Y., where he engaged to a farmer by the name of Elias Pullman, for whom he worked eight years. He then started for the west and stopped in this county, engaging at farming. and purchased his present farm in 1862. He was married to Miss Johanna Cadiga in 1858. She was born in County Cork, Ireland. They have eight children, Dennis, Thomas, John, Joseph, James, Mary, Anna and Catharine; and have lost a son, David. Mr. M. is a member of the Catholic Church.
George W. Miller, P. O. Waukon; farmer, sec. 25; owns 309 acres of land valued at $20 per acre; son of David J. and Mary Miller; was born in Stark County, Ohio. In 1844 he came with his grandfather to Stephenson Co., Ills., his father and the family following in 1845, and to Clayton Co., Io., in 1848, and from there to this county in 1850. In 1860 he made a tour through Kansas, returned home, and in 1862 enlisted in Co. F, 6th Io. Cav .. serv- in the northwest against the Indians. He was in several battles, among which were Whetstone Hills, Terres-Terres, Kill Deer Mountain, and was discharged in 1865; came to his present farm in 1870. He was married to Miss Cynthia Ogg in 1855; she was born in Maryland. They have seven children, Marquis C., Du- rand H, Hiram G., Dora G., Leonard L, Myrtie E. and Mary A .; and have lost one son, Bird.
Sanford W. Miller, P. O. Waukon; farmer, sec. 26; son of David J. and Mary Miller; was born in Stephenson Co., Ills., in 1847. His parents moving to Clayton County, Iowa, in 1848, and to this county in 1850. In 1867 Mr. M. started for southwest
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Kansas, Texas and Indian Territory, where he remained in the employ of the government till 1870, when he returned home and purchased his present farm of 100 acres, valued at $30 per acre. He was married to Miss Nettie Cook in 1873; she was born in St. Joseph Co., Michigan. They have three children, Percy W., Pearl C. and Ray O. They are members of the M. E. Church.
John McGee, P. O. Hardin, farmer, sec. 25, owns 280 acres of land valued at $35 per acre. He was born in Ross Co., Ohio, in 1810, his parents moved into Seneca Co. in 1822, and to Hancock Co. in 1824 where he remained till in 1854, when he emigrated to this Co., locating on the land he still owns. Is one of the 'pioneers of the Co. He married Miss Elizabeth McKennis in 1831. She was also a native of Ross Co., Ohio. They have seven children, Robert, Saralı, Mary A., Nancy, William, Meredith and Nelson, and have lost one daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. McGee is a member of the United Brethern church.
James Mathers, farmer, sec. 26, owns 360 acres of land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in Union Co., Penn., in 1818, re- maining there till 1849, when he came to Ohio, stopping one year; then to Wis., where he remained but one year, then came to this Co. in 1851, entering his home farm from the Government. He was among the earliest pioneers. He was married to Miss Margaret Gray, of Penn., in 1849. They have two children, John W. and Emma J., and lost one son, George. He is a member of the M. E. church.
Rudolph A. T. Meyer, of the firm of Ward & Meyer, dealers in general merchandise, Postville; was born in Germany in 1852. He was about one year old when his parents emigrated to the U. S., locating in Clayton Co., Iowa, where his early training was upon the farm, when not attending school. In Oct., 1875, he came to Postville, and in company with Mr. Ward engaged in his present business. He married Miss Bertha Bender, also a native of Ger- many, in 1876; her parents having come to the U. S. in 1865 and located in Allamakee Co. They have two children, Amanda B. and Rudolph T. A. Mr. Meyer is a member of the Lutheran church, also of the I. L. of H.
Mrs. Lydia Martin, P. O. Waterville, whose maiden name was Shearer, was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1828. Her mother died when she was quite young, after which she lived with an uncle and aunt, who removed to DeKalb Co., Ind., in 1842. While there she was married to Mr. David Martin, March 9, 1845. He was born in Penn. in 1813: In 1854 they emigrated to this Co., and located upon the farm where she now resides. Mr. Martin died July 28, 1878. Their children are Harriet, Minerva, Hiram H., Mary, Emily, Jolın, Phoebe and Effie; they lost two, Ellen and Lydia. There are 60 acres of land that belongs to the estate, val- ued at $20 per acre, which is yet undivided, but is superintended
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by her son Hiram H., who was born Sept. 23, 1850, in DeKalb Co., Ind., and was married to Miss Mary Thomas, of this Co., May 2, 1874. His children are David and Ella J.
Peter Miller, proprietor of bakery and restaurant, Postville, was born on the Rhine, in Prussia, in 1856, and while there learned the bakery and confectionery business. In 1873 he emi- grated to the United States, stopping at Danville, Ky., where he was engaged in baking for ten months; then went to Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in the same business for eighteen months, after which he went to Cincinnati and New Orleans, and back to Baton Rouge, where he stopped four months; then went to Chi- cago, Ill., where he remained till the spring of 1878, when he came to Postville and established his present business. He mar- ried Miss Albertine Carmin in the fall of 1879. She was born in Germany in 1859. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
Oliver Mackey, P. O. Postville, farmer; was born in Donegal, Ireland, in 1839; his parents emigrating to the U. S. in 1852, lo- cating in Philadelphia, Penn., where they still reside. In 1853, when but a boy, he came to Houston Co., Minn., where he re- mained two years, then came to Allamakee county, soon after purchasing the farm he still owns, of 167 acres, which is now worth $50 per acre. He married Miss Mary Laub in 1866. She was a native of Indiana and died in 1873. He was again married in 1875 to Ellen Mitchell, a native of Canada, and has one son by his first marriage, John, and by his second marriage three daugh- ters Mabel, Edna and Alta.
W. A. Manger was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1832. He came to America in 1854, and his first location was in Galveston, Texas, where he worked at his trade. From there he went to St. Louis, Missouri. He subsequently changed his location several times, and in 1862 came to Lansing and established the furniture business. He has an extensive steam factory and employs from six to ten men in the manufacture of furniture. He has also a large and commodious building on the main business street of the city for the retail trade. He married Albine Bauer, a native of Germany. They have three sons, Otto, Richard and Albert.
M. McCormack is a native of Scotland, born in 1843; came to the U. S. in 1862 and engaged in the grocery business in Orange County, New York. In 1868 he came to Iowa, in 1873 settled at Lansing, and has since been managing partner of the firm of M. McCormack & Co. He was married in 1872 to Miss Lucy Mor- rison; they have four children living.
H. B. Miner, county surveyor for Allamakee county, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1840. When he was sixteen years of age he began teaching, which occupation he followed for some years. He came to Iowa in 1856, and in 1864 he married Hattie E. Byater, and they have three children, Frank, Cora. and Addie.
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John May (deceased), was born in Penn., in 1799. He came to Iowa in:'52 and settled in this county where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 23, 1862. He married Julia A. De Haven, of Ohio; their daughter, Mary J. Still, lives on the old homestead.
Alonzo M. May, editor, Waukon, was born at Scio, Alleghany County, New York, March 20, 1838. Moved with his parents to Will County, Ill., in 1843, to Rock County, Wis .. in 1845, and to Green Lake County, Wis., in 1851.ª Was brought up on a farm till 18 years of age. Prepared for college at Ripon, Wis., and graduated at Beloit College, Wis., in regular course in 1864. En- listed in a Wisconsin regiment in 1861, and again in 1864, serving several months under each enlistment. Went to New York City, completing a three years course in Union Theological Seminary in 1867, coming to Waukon the same fall as rector of St. Paul's Church, continuing in such capacity several years. He was prin- cipal of the Waukon High School for the years 1868-9. April 9, 1868, he bought the Waukon Standard, with which he has since been connected. A history of the paper will be found in another place. He was admitted to the bar in 1871, but has never ac- tively engaged in the profession. For ten years succeeding 1871 he held the position of official court reporter in the District Court of the Tenth Judicial District of Iowa. July 26. 1865, he married Miss Augusta M. Hayward, at Beloit. Wis .; their children are: Frank Hayward. Anna Laura, Jessie Ella, Robert Bruce, Winnie, Paul Martin, Richard Langford and Marian-four boys and four girls.
Wmn. MeLaughlin, farmer, P. O. Dorchester; owns 420 acres of land in Hanover township, on section 4, which is valued at $20 per acre. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland. Sept. 12, 1823; came to the U. S. in 1S4S, settling in Syracuse, N. Y. In 1851 he went to Chautauqua County, and engaged in railroading, and in 1856 came to this county. He married Hannah Garvin in 1848, who died in 1864, leaving three children, Patrick, Mary and Agnes. In 1869 he was married to Margaret Danaher. They have seven children, William, John, Thomas, Margaret, Catha- rine, Johanna and Silicia.
Wm. Nibloek, P. O. Waukon, farmer. sec. 27; son of Robert and Isabel Niblock; was born in County Monahan, Ireland, in 1827, emigrated to U. S. in 1846, locating in Messer Co., Penn., till in 1847, he come to Rock Co., Wis., remaining but a short time, when he went to Green Co., remaining till in June, 1849, he came into Jefferson tp., of this Co., he being the second settler in the tp., Patrick Keenan being the first. Upon the call of his adopted country for help to sustain the Government during the great re- bellion, he enlisted in Co. A of the 27th Iowa Infantry in Aug., 1862. Participated in all the battles in which his company wa engaged. till the close of the war in 1865. when he returned home
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to enjoy peace and the society of loved ones. He married Miss Margaret McKee April 14, 1846. in Ireland. They have four children, David, Scott, Emma and Elizabeth; and have lost one, Isabel. Mr. N. is one of the pioneers of the county, and is a member of the Old Settlers' Association; owns 200 acres of land valued at $37 per acre.
Patrick Norton, P. O. Waukon, farmer, owns 180 acres of land valued at $40 per acre. He was born in 1811 in County Roscom- mon, Ireland. In 1836 he emigrated to the U. S., locating near St. Albans, Vt., working at farming and in a tannery some two years, then went to N. Y .. near Schenectady, and engaged at work on the Erie Canal till 1840, when he went to Canada, remaining two or three years; thence to Rouse's Point, N. Y., where he was engaged in working on Goverment fortifications. In 1853 came to Allamakee Co, Iowa, and located on his present farm. it then being raw land, which by hard labor, economy and perseverance 'he has made it a well improved farm; but he had the misfortune to lose his eye sight a few years ago. Thus in his declining years he is compelled to travel life's journey in the dark, but with the kind assistance of many friends. He was married to Miss Bridget Rhodes in N. Y. in 1839. She was a native of County Mayo, Ireland; their children are Catharine, John, Mary, Maggie, William and Isabella; having lost two, Ellen 'and Anna. William. who carries on the farm, was born in 1852 at Rouse's Point, N. Y., and was married to Miss Mary A. Peck, a native of Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1879. They have two children, Francis and William.
Hon. H. Nielander, senior member of the old and reliable firm of Nielander & Brockhausen, was born in Detmold, Princedom Lippe, Germany, in 1833. In 1851 he came to the U. S., and first located at Waupun, Wis. The next year he went to Galena, Ill., and served as clerk in a general store. In 1854 he associated Theo. Brockhausen and Charles Shierholz as partners, came to Lansing and in the month of September established a general mer- chandise and grain business under the firm name of Nielander, Schierholz & Co. This firm continued with marked success until 1869, when Mr. Schierholz withdrew, and the firm became Nie- lander & Brockhausen. In 1872-3-4 the business of this firm amounted to one million ($1,000,000) annually. Mr. Nielander in politics first belonged to the Free-soil party, next he joined the Republican ranks, and remained there all through the war and until 1872. He then supported Horace Greeley, again returned to the fold as a liberal Republican. He has held numerous local offices at different intervals and in 1879 was elected State Senator of the Forty-first District, and is now serving in that capacity as the first Republican that ever represented the district.
Mr. Nielander is a member of the A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F and the Deutscher Verein. He was a stockholder in the First National Bank during its entire career, also served as its vice
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president, and is at present a partner in the bank of Lansing, firm J. W. Thomas & Co. Mr. Nielander was also president of the Allamakee County Savings Bank, from 1873 until it went in- to voluntary liquidation. Thus it can be seen that Mr. Nielander is a man of extraordinary business ability. During his entire ca- reer he has always been careful to meet all obligations promptly, and he therefore has the highest confidence and esteem of his fel- lowmen. He was united in marriage in 1864 with Miss Augusta Schierholz, and they now have four children living, Augusta, Martha, Harry, and Herman.
S. J. Nichols (deceased), was one of the pioneers who settled in Allamakee County in 1854, and followed farming in the town of Makee up to the time of his death, which took place in December, 1869. Mr. Nichols was known by all as a pure minded, honest and upright man, who always believed in doing unto others as he wished to be done by. He left a wife and four children to mourn his loss.
S. J. Nichols, Jr., was born in the State of New York in 1850, came west with his parents, and now has charge of the estate of his father. He was married in 1881 to Miss Libbie Robertson.
Chas. Nees, proprietor of hotel and store, P. O. Lycurgus; a native of Germany; born in 1816, and was bred to the mercantile life. He emigrated to the United States in 1854, and for ten years was engaged in business at Dubuque, Iowa. He then came to Allamakee County and followed farming until 1870, when he engaged in his present business. Has been postmaster at Lycur- gus since 1872. He was married in 1859 to Wilhimeni S- -, a native of Germany. They have six children.
T. Nachtwey, dealer in drugs and medicines, Lansing; born in Hanover, Germany, in 1833; came to the United States in 1859; was educated to his profession previous to coming to America. Was married on the day. of his emigration to the United States, in 1859, to Miss Louisa Erp-Brockhausen. They have one daugh- ter, Elsa. Mr. N. has been mayor and county superintendent two terms each.
H. F. Opfer, dealer in hardware, farming implements and ma- chinery. This enterprising young merchant is a son of Simon and Christena Opfer, and was born in Sheboygan County, Wis., in 1853. In 1865 he came with his parents to Iowa and settled in Allamakee County. Here he helped till the soil until 1870, at which time he entered the store of W. C. Earle, where he served as clerk for over six years. He now concluded to engage in busi- ness for himself, and in April, 1877, opened a hardware store. The year following he removed to his present location, and is meeting with marked success, carrying a stock of about $5,000. He also does an extensive business in farming implements and machinery. Mr. Opfer was married in 1879 to Miss Mary Hager, and now has two children, Elmer G. and Leonard J.
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Simon Opfer, farmer, sec. 22, Ludlow tp .; P. O. Waukon; a native of Germany, born in 1822. In the fall of 1849 he was married to Christina Stuckman, and in 1851 emigrated to the U. S., and first settled in Sheboygan County, Wis. In 1865 he re- moved to Iowa and located in Allamakee County. Mr. Opfer has been quite successful in the accumulation of this world's goods, as he now owns 532 acres of land, a house and lot in Waukon, and the store now occupied by his son. The children are Simon and Henry F.
James Orr, Postville, farmer; owns 280 acres of land valued at $50 per acre. He was born in Ireland in 1829, his parents emi- grating to the United States in 1834, locating in Schuyler county, N. Y. He received his education in the common schools and at the Plattsburg and Starkey semiraries; followed teaching several winters in New York and six terms since coming to Iowa. In 1855 he came to Allamakee County, Iowa. He married Miss M. A. Ellison, January 1st, 1856. She is a native of New York; they have seven children, Ellison J., Darius S., Frank M., Mary E., Jennie B., Carrie and Ollie. Mr. O. has served in several im- portant positions in his tp., and is a prominent and influential citizen.
A. G. Olson, P. O. Lansing; farmer, sec. 21; son of Andrew and Bertha Olson; born December 19, 1830, in Sweden: emi- grated to the United States in 1853, stopping in Rock Island County, Ill., till in 1854, when his parents also came from the old country, and they all came on to Allamakee County in a steamboat up the Mississippi River to Lansing. The cholera prevailed to a considerable extent on the vessel, from the effects of which his mother died soon after reaching here. Located in Center town- ship, there then being few families in the township. He was married to Miss Anna C. Lindburg, January 6, 1855; their chil- dren are Mary A., Albert G. and Ada E. Mr. O. now owns near- ly 200 acres of land, mostly on the Village Creek bottom, which is considered far superior to the high lands. He is one of the en- terprising men of his township, having served his township in so me official capacity, most of the time since living in it, and is at present one of the trustees.
J. L. Orre, dealer in hardware; was born in Norway in 1852. In 1854 the family emigrated to the U. S. and settled in Allamakee County. Here J. L. received a common school education and helped till the soil until 1873, at which time he entered the store of L. Olson, Lansing, for whom he clerked one year, then dealt in agricultural implements and machinery until July, 1879, when he removed to Waukon and established his present business; carries a stock of from $4,000 to $5,000. He was married in 1876 to Mary Ann Hansen, and has two children, Herman and Tinka.
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