USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 43
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WRIGHT COUNTY, MOWA.
largest garage in the town and continued in the garage business for two years. He retired from active business at that time, and now gives a little of his attention to contracting in the cement business. It is said that he placed the best cement sidewalks in the city of Clarion.
In March, 1878, Wilbur H. Tallman was married to Emeline Schlos- ser, a daughter of Samuel Schlosser, and to this union six children have been born. These are Joseph S., John A., Mary E., Wilbur H., Charles C. and Ora A. Joseph S. married Lydia Hamer, and the couple became the parents of Alice and Joseph H. Mary is Mrs. Harry Stephens. Wilbur Il., Jr., married Lottie Sterritt. Charles is the husband of Bessie Beach.
Mr. Tallman is a Republican. He is a member in good standing of the Masonic lodge. True to his early ideals, strenuous and persistent in his work, faithful to every trust imposed upon him, he deserves the place in the community which he now occupies.
FRANK C. PARDUN.
Among the representative farmers and citizens of Wright county, one whose history is worthy of a place in a work of this character. is the man whose name heads this sketch. A citizen who amid his busy affairs has found time to devote his talents to the interests of the community and a man who in public life and as an individual has served and lived well, he is conceded to be one of the leading forces for good in the county.
Frank C. Pardun was born in Washington county, lowa, on April 8, 1875. the son of W. F. and Esther ( Crawford ) Pardun, the former born in Indiana and the latter born in Washington county, lowa. W. F. Pardun received his education in the schools of Indiana and was married in that state to his first wife, and after a short residence there on a farm, he moved to the state of Illinois, where he rented a farm for a time and then went to Washington county, Iowa, where he bought a farm. During the year 1892 he came to Wright county and bought two hundred and forty acres of land in Lake township. He rented out the farm and lived in Clarion. W. F. Pardun was married a second time, and to this union were born five chil- dren. William, Walter, Earl, Nettie and Frank, the subject of this sketch.
Frank C. Pardun received his education at Keota, lowa, where he attended school until his parents moved to Wright county and then he pur- sued his studies at the Clarion high school, until he was eighteen years of
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WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
age, when he took up work on a farm for one year. On September 26, 1894, Frank C. Pardun was married to Emma Soults, who was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, the daughter of W. J. and Sarah Soults. Emma (Soults ) Pardun was educated in the public schools and the high school at Clarion, Iowa. She was one of a family of seven children.
After his marriage Frank C. Pardun rented the two hundred and forty acre farm of his father, where he lived five years and then he rented a farm in Grant township for one year and one in Norway township one year, fol- Jowing which he returned to his father's farm and then bought eighty acres of his father's land in Lake township, all of which he cultivated, as well as improved with two acres of grove, fifty apple trees and fourteen cherry trees. In addition to his father's farm and his own land, Mr. Pardun rents thirty-six acres of land, in order to carry on his extensive farming pursuits. Frank C. Pardun produces chiefly, corn and small grain, his corn averaging fifty bushels to the acre and his small grain averaging about forty bushels to the acre. Mr. Pardun feeds and deals extensively in hogs, sending to market, each year, about two hundred head of Duroc-Jersey hogs.
Frank C. and Emma Pardun are the parents of seven children : Ross, Paul, Homer, Mae, Pearl, Elsie and Walter, all of whom live at home.
Frank C. Pardun, in his useful life, has served his township in the office of school director for two years, and during that time has shown his ability and efficiency in such lines of endeavor. In politics Mr. Pardun is a Republican. Frank C. Pardun and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church at Clarion, Iowa, a congregation in which they take an active and appreciated part in the work.
JOHN W. ULRICH.
In nearly every community are men who because of their unusual ability and force of character are able to succeed and command the respect of their fellow men. By intelligent living and perseverance in their efforts they have been given a high place in the locality and one that is an indication of a life well lived. Of this class is John W. Ulrich, the subject of this sketch.
John W. Ulrich was born in Clayton county, Iowa, on January 22, 1859. the son of John and Catherine Ulrich, both of whom were born in Germany. When ten years of age, John Ulrich, Sr., with his parents, left
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their home in Germany and came to America. After landing at New York they went to the state of Indiana and located in Dearborn county, in which county John, Sr., received his education and afterwards moved to Clayton county, Iowa, where he farmed with his parents until his marriage, a few years after which he went to Hancock county, Iowa. During the year 1895 John Ulrich, Sr., moved to the town of Garner, Iowa, where he retired from active life, giving his attention only to the care of his land holdings throughout the county. Following his retirement Mr. Ulrich lived but ten years, his death occurring during the year of 1905. John Ulrich, Sr., is survived by his wife, Catherine, who now lives in Hancock county. To John and Catherine Ulrich were born five children, four of whom are now living.
John W. Ulrich, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the schools of Clayton county, Iowa, and after completing his studies went to the state of Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, on which he lived for two years and then he returned to Clayton county, Iowa, where he was married to Mary Christina, daughter of Peter and Julia Christina. To John and Mary Ulrich no chil- dren were born.
Following his marriage, John W. Ulrich moved to the state of Kansas, where he lived for two years and then went back to Clayton county, Iowa, and farmed in that county for three years and in 1889 came to Wright county, Iowa, where he purchased two hundred acres of farm land, in Wall Lake township, for which he paid the sum of twenty-two dollars per acre. John Ulrich. on taking possession of his Wright county farm, immediately entered into a course of improvement for his place, repairing and rebuilding such structures as were necessary and adding modern conveniences, which has resulted in his farm today being among the most productive of the community. As a farmer, Mr. Ulrich directed his energies along the line of general agricultural pursuits, together with the feeding of considerable live stock, including one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of hogs mar- keted each year. John W. Ulrich planted the greater part of his land to corn and small grain, from which he gained excellent crops, his corn aver- aging fifty bushels to the acre and his small grain yielding about forty-five bushels to the acre.
During the year of 1911 John W. Ulrich retired from active life and moved to Clarion, Iowa, where he now lives, as one of the valued and esteemed citizens of the town and county. Mr. Ulrich can look upon a good
Local Connoisseur of Violins Got His First Fiddle From A Pioneer Outlaw
We often hear that there is a tale of romance behind every violin and maybe that is why F. W. Um- breit has such an interesting hobby. Since Mr. Umbreit was a boy of ten he has had a violin in his pos- session and after moving to Clarion he has increased this number to seven, each one having some dis- tinguishing quality or value.
Quite a history lies behind the acquisition of his first fiddle. Wall Lake, where the family lived at the time, was known for its hide-outs for outlaws and horse thieves, and one man in particular, a Jim Cad- well, frequented the placee. On his last trip before returning to Min- nesota Cadwell left his violin with one of the families there. The law took its course and Cadwell Wal4 caught, executed and forgotten but Mr. Umbreit remembered the violin ineident and the outlaw's fiddle came into new hands. However, it was In bad condition and could not even be played upon until after it had been repaired in 1915. At the activities.
age of 24 Mr. Umbreit bought his first useable violin at Webster City.
anee of great age and is peculiar for its odd shaped pegs, seldom seen on violins of today. Mr. Umbreit's favorite, bearing the label of manu -; facture 1700, is the most wora of the lot but its tonal quality is ex- cellent.
Had But Few Lessons
In all his life of violin and musle ـكاسته حـ appreciation Mr. Umbreit bas had only a few actual lessons and these were from Mr. Mellecker, who will be remembered as @ remarkable fid- dler. Mr. Umbreit's first publie ap- pearance was made eight years ago at a fiddlers' contest sponsored by an organization here. As an au- thority on violin history, Mr. Um- breit explains in detail the origin . of the first such Instrument. It Is surprising to learn that a bow and
Mr. Umbreit's father came over years ago from Germany in a sail- boat bringing with him several vio- lins, horns and even a bass viol. In this country he played in numer- ons bands, orchestras and for dances but soon after a religious wave struck the country and music became rather outlawed because of its connection with dancing. Dis- regarding Mr. Umbreit's great de-larrow prompted the creation of the sire to learu the art of violin play- ing, the father would not give him much instruction. first violin. The early cave people used twisted hide for a bow string and they found that drawing or hit- An Outlaw's Violin ting the bowstring with the arrow produced a musical sound. The next step was made when these oarly people took a stick three feet long, -stringing this with two strings using another stick for the bow .. Further experimentation gave them the idea of attaching a box-like ar- rangement to give the tones reso- nance and gradually this was per- fected to the graceful result of to- day.
Enters Many Contests
Mr. Umbreit has been an entrant in the Old Fiddlers' contests helt at the state fair for several years. The passing years haven't made much difference with Mr. Umbrelt's He does considerable work about his home, maintains a ; large garden and every day finds
Perhaps the most valued Que ! time to devote to his violins. "Yes," among the seven violins is the one he confesses, "I do know a little i about violins, but there's too much
that has been in the family since 1820 and Is regarded as a real helr-Ito learn about them in one life- 'oom. This vloltn has an uppear-| the."
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life well used in the unselfish interests of others, as well as a life in which he has been able to accomplish much for his own material welfare. John W. Ulrich, though retired from the more active duties of life, is yet most active in his duties as a good citizen and as a worker for progress and advancement of the local interests. As a public man he has served his county and his township as a trustee and also as justice of the peace, offices which he filled and which he served with honor and with dignity. In politics, John W. Ulrich is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Clarion, a congregation in which they take an important and appreciated part.
FREDERICK WILLIAM UMBREIT.
A representative farmer and stock raiser is Frederick William Umbreit. In his life-long application to his calling he has become one of the leading farmers of this section of the state. By ambition, foresight and hard work he has acquired a large estate. Frederick William Umbreit was born in Germany. April 19, 1851, and is the son of John and Rosena (Wagner) Umbreit, both natives of Germany.
The father was somewhat versatile in his tastes for he was both an expert shoemaker and a violinist, following his trade until his removal to America when he located in Columbia county, Wisconsin, on a farm of his own. Being a man of unusual industry and business ability, he was able to retire in the year 1870, and to live in comparative ease in the old home- stead until his death in 1898, his wife having passed away ten years pre- viously. Of the ten children born to them, six are now living, the subject of this review being the only one residing in this state.
Frederick W. Umbreit was educated in Wisconsin, and after his schooling assisted his father on the farm until he reached his majority. He then rented a farm which he operated for two years, when he removed to Franklin county and farmed for one year. It was 1875 when he came to Wall Lake township, Wright county, and purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres at five dollars an acre. The place at the time of his arrival was wild and unimproved, and it was necessary for him to haul the lumber with which he built his first home, the lumber being obtained in Blairsburg, Iowa. Continuing to increase his holdings, he finally accumulated four hun- (red and eighty acres of land upon which he carried on successfully the
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industries of farming and stock raising. He fed out about two carloads of hogs a year and raised about one hundred acres of corn annually. Ilis property in this county now amounts to three hundred and twenty acres, upon which he has put about five thousand dollars worth of improvements.
Frederick W. Umbreit was married in 1872 to Mary Kaufman, daugh- ter of August and Christena (Butzer) Kaufman and to this union seven children were born, Lydia, Lucy, Benjamin, Fred, Rosa, Cecil and Walter, the latter being deceased. Lydia became the wife of Robert Hanson and to them one child, Arline, was born. The rest of the children have never married. Mrs. Umbreit was a native of Wisconsin, but her parents were both born in Germany. They came to America in the early fifties and located in Canada. Remaining there a year, they moved to Columbia county, Wisconsin, where they pursued farming until 1885. They then moved to Kansas, where they lived until the father died. The widow took her chil- dren to California, where she lived until her death in 1912. The wife of Mr. Umibreit passed away on April 6, 1912.
Mr. Umbreit and his family are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Umbreit was justice of the peace in Wall Lake township, for nine years. He is a prominent Mason and Democrat. In preparing for life, Mr. Umbreit has not forgotten to live. He is optimistic in his views, strong in character, helpful in his attitude towards his fellow men and altogether an inspiring personality.
CHARLES M. SPANGLER.
Among the prominent agriculturists and self-made men of Wright county, Iowa, Charles M. Spangler is held in high esteem by his political constituents, business associates and friends. Unassuming and sincere, yet keen in commercial foresight, he has risen from a life of toil to one of affluence, and his power for good in his community has been a decided benefit to town and people. His habit of honest fellowship has caused him to be known as "Mads" Spangler and his warm hospitality has made for him a host of friends.
Charles M. Spangler was born on October 19, 1852, in the town of Decatur, Green county, Wisconsin, and is the son of Elias and Frances (Smith) Spangler. both natives of Center county, Pennsylvania. Elias Spangler was educated and grew to manhood in his native county and was also married there. He was engaged in the pursuit of agriculture in Center
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES M. SPANGLER.
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WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
county, until 1852, removing, during the year, to Green county, Wisconsin, where the birth of Charles M. occurred. With his wife, Elias Spangler traveled overland with horses and wagon and was more than a month mak- ing the trip. Each stream and river had to be forded and many other incon- veniences endured, making the journey a true pioneer experience. Arriving in Wisconsin, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, at a place called "Burrock Opening," on the banks of the Sugar river. He immediately set about clearing the farm of timber and preparing it for cultivation. A log cabin was erected and in this they lived until the Civil War.
Patriotic as well as industrious, Elias Spangler enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Forty-sixth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served his country nobly and well until near the close of the conflict. Returning to his home physically broken, his death occurred four days later from an illness contracted during service. Among the many interesting experiences of his life was one which occurred at Freeport, Illinois, when he had the privilege of hearing Abraham Lincoln deliver his famous address at that place. Frances ( Smith ) Spangler, his wife, lived the remainder of her life at Broadhead, Wisconsin, her death occurring in 1891. They were the par- ents of eight children : William A., Bery F., Joseph I., Charles M., Martha, Susan, Abraham Lincoln and Eli.
Charles M. Spangler attended school for six months in the county schools of Green county, his father's untimely death forcing him to assist his mother with the farm work until seventeen years of age. The responsi- bility thus thrust upon him was instrumental in the shaping of his destiny. The only class of employment open to uneducated men in those days, was that of agriculture, and compelled to earn his living he accepted a position as farm hand, first in Illinois and then in Iowa. In 1874 his location was shifted to Wright county, Iowa, where he labored as a farm hand for two years, receiving his pay by the month. He then rented a farm which he cultivated until 1889, purchasing, in the meantime, eighty acres of land. From time to time, other farms were added to his original holdings until . the entire acreage amounted to six hundred and thirty-five acres of well- improved farms.
Charles M. Spangler has made more than twenty thousand dollars worth of improvements on the home place. The yearly acreage planted to corn is one hundred and twenty-five acres, with eighty acres planted to small grain. One carload of cattle was fed out each year and from one
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hundred and fifty to two hundred head of hogs. The breeding and raising of Poland China hogs was a specialty on this farm. At present Charles M. Spangler is county supervisor and is serving the second term in that office. Retired from the active duties of farming he now lives in a beauti! ful, modern home, located in the town of Eagle Grove, Iowa.
On December 9. 1876, Charles M. Spangler was united in marriage to Emma Stryker, daughter of William and Roxena ( Wilcox) Stryker, and they are the parents of four children : William Homer, Alfred Elias, Nora Frances and Arthur Marion. William Homer married Julia Larson and they have two children, Bernice and Emery. Alfred Elias married Martha Larson and they have two children, Marvin and Bernard. Nora Frances became the wife of Oscar Olson and they are the parents of two children, Malvern and Leona.
Emma (Stryker ) Spangler was born in Bureau county, Illinois, but her parents were natives of New York and Pennsylvania. William Stryker was the son of John and Fanny ( Eastlick ) Stryker, who were also natives of New York state. John Stryker served for seven years in the War of the Revolution. When William Stryker was a lad of eight years, his parents, John and Fanny Stryker, removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. His father was a shoemaker but he decided to become a farmer and at twenty-one years of age removed to Lagrange county, Indi- ana, where he married Roxena Wilcox, daughter of Job and Mary (Gage) Wilcox. For five years he followed farming and then removed to Bureau county, Illinois, where he continued in the agricultural line until 1854. At that time he traveled overland with an ox team to Wright county, lowa, arriving on July 4, 1854, and was the first permanent settler of that county. They were six weeks making the trip. Webster City had only a few houses and the first log home was built by William Stryker, and the first money that he earned, after coming to the county, was from the making of shingles by hand. Through trial and honest effort he became one of the most prom- inent men in the county. William Stryker and his wife were the parents of seven children: John, Levina, Jeremiah, Emma W., Effie, Lillian May and Marietta. William Stryker was county supervisor and justice of the peace for several years. He was a devout member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
Charles M. Spangler is a member of the blue lodge and council of the Masonic Order. He is a Republican and stands pat for the old party principles. His unblemished integrity and courageous loyalty to his con- victions have won him friendships that are lasting.
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WRIGHIT COUNTY, IOWA.
H. H. OBERTON.
Considering the farm the great recruiting ground for the population of cities, there is a sense in which civilization is dependent upon the rural district. . As one writer puts it: "If it were not for the fresh and healthy blood, muscle and brain from the farms, our large cities would degenerate." In this sense, he who contributes to the healthy, wholesome life of the country, helps to develop the conditions upon which the cities may draw for their best type of citizens, H. H. Oberton belongs to that army of men who, by useful living, contribute something to the general good. The gen- tleman above mentioned, a prominent farmer and merchant of Clarion, was born in Lewis county, New York, on June 25, 1840, his parents being Alex- ander and Catherine ( Adams) Oberton, both of Canada.
The father of Mr. Oberton was a shoemaker by trade, and after his marriage in Canada, removed to the state of New York, in 1835, and located in Lowsville, Lewis county, where he followed his trade until 1850. He then retired, and taking his family to Dainsville, New York, lived there the remainder of his life. The date of his birth was January 9, 1812, and he died on January 16, 1879. His wife who was born in 1808, passed away on November 1, 1848. Of their seven children, five are now living.
H. H. Oberton attended the schools of Lowsville, New York, and at the close of his school course he was employed on a farm at four dollars a month, where he worked until his seventeenth year. Removing to Cook county, Illinois, he engaged in the same kind of labor for four years, and gave up his work to answer the call of his country at the opening of the Civil War. Enlisting on August 9, 1862, in Company C, One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he served seven and one- half months, when he was mustered out and returned home because of illness.
In 1866 Mr. Oberton located in Blaine township, Wright county, Iowa, on a farm of eighty acres which he bought for one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, purchasing it from the government. To this he added other land until he had acquired two hundred and forty acres. Ile engaged in general farming until the year 1890, when he moved to Dows, Iowa, where for fourteen years he was engaged in the furniture and undertaking busi- ness. This he sold out and retired from business for the period of one year when he moved to Clarion, which has been his home ever since.
Mrs. Oberton was formerly Elizabeth Nobles, of Cook county, Illinois, and the wedding ceremony was performed on November 4, 1860. The
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WRIGHT COUNTY, FOW.1.
seven children born in this home were Harriet, Everette, Mortimer, Byron, William, Catherine and Lester. Harriet is the wife of William Mitchell. Mortimer, of Waterloo, lowa. Everette is the wife of Arthur Loucock. Byron is living at Clarion. William is a resident of Mechanicsville, Iowa. Catherine, Mrs. Edward Shreves, of Clarion. Lester is living in Waterloo, Iowa.
H. 11. Oberton is a member of the Christian church in which he has held many important offices. Mrs. Oberton is a member of the Presbyterian church. As an evidence of his standing in the community it is of interest to note that Mr. Oberton has held the offices of school director, constable, and road supervisor of Blaine township. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican party. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Dows, Iowa. Both in agricultural and in mercan- tile circles, Mr. Oberton has made his intluence felt as a business man of high standards, and as a man of exemplary character. He, therefore, has earned the regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
ROBERT R. DUFFY.
Robert R. Duffy, former postmaster of Rowan, has, with the assistance of his wife, played a large part in the religious and social life of the town to which they came when theirs was the first house on Main street. Mr. Duffy's life and accomplishments have been characterized by a zeal and ability which prove strength of purpose, as well as power of concentration and an interest in local affairs which is not limited to the present generation. Mr. Duffy claims as his birthplace, Thompsonville, Connecticut, where he was born on May 1, 1851, his parents being Robert and Nancy ( Rowen) Duffy, natives of Ireland and Scotland, respectively. The father left his home at the age of eighteen and emigrated to Canada. After a brief resi- dence there he moved to Connecticut. He did not have any particular trade or profession. His wife came to the United States with her parents.
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