USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 47
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J. N. JOHNSON.
It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affairs who determines the real history of a community. ITis influence as a potential factor in a com- munity is difficult to estimate. The examples which progressive, wide- awake men furnish of patience, purpose and steadfast integrity illustrate strongly what every man may accomplish. There is always a measure of satisfaction in referring even in a casual way to their achievements in pro- moting the development of a community and in giving strength and solidity to the institutions which determine the prosperity of a community. Such a man is J. N. Johnson, a prominent grain dealer of Wright county, Iowa,
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who lives at Belmond. Mr. Johnson is one of the most prominent business men, financiers and citizens of Wright county. Born on November 18. 1859, in New York City, J. N. Johnson is the son of Nicholas and Han- norah ( Finn) Johnson, who were natives of Norway and of Ireland, respectively. Nicholas Johnson emigrated to America from Christiana, Nor- way, and his wife, Hannorah Finn, from County Cork, Ireland.
The late Nicholas Johnson emigrated to America when he was still a lad. His father, Nicholas Johnson, Sr., having died when he was a small boy. Nicholas Johnson, Jr., was a sailor for twenty years, having begun as a cabin boy and worked up to the position of captain and still later owner of a vessel. During the Civil War, he was appointed by the Federal authori- ties to take charge of all government supplies and ammunition in New York City, and hekl this position until some time after the close of the war. He then became a stevedore and worked at this trade until 1870, when he emi- grated to Wright county, Iowa, purchasing land in Pleasant township, where he lived until a few years before his death, when he moved to Bel- mond and retired. He was a Republican in politics, but took no active part in political affairs.
Seven children were born to Nicholas, Jr., and Hannorah ( Fin) Johnson, as follow : Thomas A., Mrs. Carrie Jones, Mrs. Nora Undercop- per, Mrs. O. G. Tracy, Mrs. Cora Needmeyer, Mrs. Anna Kenefick and J. N., the subject of this sketch, who was the eldest child. The mother of these children, Hannorah (Finn) Johnson, had come to America with her parents, John and Hannorah Finn, who spent their entire life along the Atlantic coast. They died in New York City and there their remains are buried.
J. N. Johnson lived at home with his parents until reaching his major- ity. He received a good common-school education, and after he had grown to manhood he operated a steamboat on the Missouri river from Sioux City to Bismarck, North Dakota. After two years he engaged in the cattle business, west and north of Pierce, South Dakota, and one year later. in 1805. he returned to Wright county and associated himself with William Finch in the grain business. While engaged in the cattle business in South Dakota, he had been associated with Colonel Bullard. Since coming to Wright county, in 1885, Mr. Johnson has been continuously engaged in the grain business. After Mr. Finch's death, W. I. Rosecrans, Mr. Finch's son- in-law, assumed Mr. Finch's share of the business. The firm is now known as Johnson & Rosecrans Grain Company.
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Mr. Johnson has also purchased and sold many farms. He is a director in the First National Bank of Belmond and was one of the organizers of that institution. Ile is at present a heavy stockholder in the bank.
Mr. Johnson's wife, before her marriage, was Mary E. Clark, a native of Woodstock, Mellenry county, Illinois, and the daughter of John and Mary ( Leonard ) Clark, who were born natives of Ireland. They settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and spent the remainder of their lives in that county.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had four children who survive and one child who is deceased. Frank J., a graduate of the Belmond high school and for some time a student at Ames College, lives at home; Genevieve is a graduate of the Belmond high school and the wife of Ray W. Hill, of Clar- ion; Marie, a graduate of the Belmond high school, is at present a student at the State Normal School, at Cedar Falls, lowa; Marguerite is a student in the Belmond high school.
Mir. and Mrs. J. N. Johnson and family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias, and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was a charter member in the Foresters lodge. Mr. John- son is a Democrat, but has held only minor offices. Few men living in Bel- mend have contributed more to religious work in this community than J. N. Johnson. He had a prominent part in the building of both the old and the new church at Belmond.
NICHOLAS REESE.
In the commercial life of Belmond township, Wright county, lowa, the name of Nicholas Reese occupies a conspicuous place, since he is one of the representative business men of Belmond and Pleasant townships. Progres- sive, enterprising and persevering-such qualities always bring success sooner or later, and to Mr. Reese they have brought a large reward for his well-directed and careful efforts. While he has prospered in the hardware business at Belmond he has also benefited the community where he lives in a material way and has been an influential factor in the moral, educational and social progress of the community.
Mr. Reese is a native of Schenectady county, New York, born on September 12, 1841. Ile is the son of Jacob and Eliza ( Cantley ) Reese, who are also natives of New York state. They had nine children, of whom Nicholas was the fourth.
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Mr Reese lived at home on the farm until he had attained his major- ity, receiving in the meantime a common-school education. When about sixteen years old, the family removed to Dekalb county, Illinois, where Nicholas lived until 1865, when he emigrated to Hardin county, Iowa. There he obtained work as a farm hand, but later purchased land in Frank- lin county and improved it. The farm was located on the county line between Hardin and Franklin counties. He lived in Franklin county until the fall of 1881. when he sokl the farm and removed to Belmond, Wright county, where he has lived ever since.
In the fall of 1881, upon his arrival at Belmond, Mr. Reese engaged in the hardware business with J. C. Butterfield as a partner. The firm was known as Butterfield & Reese for three years and then Mr. Reese purchased Mr. Butterfiekl's interests in the store and operated it himself until 1908, when he turned the store over to his son, Charles N., who now operates the business
On October 9. 1860, Nicholas Reese was married in Franklin county, Iowa, to Edwina C. Butterfield, a native of Cook county, Illinois, whose parents were very early settlers in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Reese have had four children, namely: Charles N. married Frances Wiggins, and they have one child, Edna ; Ella married Charles Townsend, and they have two children. Clarence and Ted: Carrie married George Pabst, and they have one daughter, Eleanor: Frank married Bessie Boyd. and they have one child. Frank. Jr. Mrs. Reese died in March, 1907, leaving a husband, four chil- dren and several grandchildren to mourn her loss.
In addition to his hardware business, Mr. Reese is also a heavy real- estate owner, owning considerable land in Wright county, Iowa, and in North Dakota. When he first established the hardware store in Belmond the stock was valued at about two thousand dollars and was housed in a room twenty-two by twenty-eight feet. The present stock is valued at six or eight thousand dollars and is honsed in two rooms, each twenty-two by sixty-eight feet. The shops are located back of the store-room proper.
All of the members of the Reese family are identified with the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mrs. Reese was an active member of the church during her entire life. Mr. Reese is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Reese was also a member of the Eastern Star. Nicholas Reese is prominent in the Republican councils of Wright county and has been called upon frequently to fill public office. He has served as mayor, member of the town council and as school director.
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CHARLES SCHIPULL.
Charles Schipull, the subject of this sketch, shows a type of man who reaching a strange land without capital and unaccustomed to its ways and customs, has, regardless of these things, risen to a rank of one of the fore- most citizens of this county, as well as a successful farmer and stock raiser.
Charles Schipull was born in Germany, March 22, 1866, being the son of Carl and Willhelmena ( Lehnert ) Schipull, both of whom were natives of that country. His father was a day laborer on a farm and came to this country in 1884 with his family. After landing at New York, the elder Schipull went directly to Davenport, Iowa, where he worked in a grain house for three years, after which he rented a farm in Scott county for two years, and then went to Humboldt county, where he rented another farm for five years. Later he purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres and lived on that land for a number of years, when he retired to Luverne, Iowa, living there until his death, in 1909. Carl and Willhelmena Schipull were the parents of six children, Willhelmena, Charles, August, Godfred, Ferdinand and Bertha.
Charles Schipull received his education in Germany, leaving school at the age of fifteen years to work on a farm, where he was employed for more than a year and then, at the age of sixteen, came to the United States, and reached Davenport. Jowa, with about two dollars in his pocket. From New York he went to Chicago and from there to Davenport, where he worked on a farm for five and one-half years. In the year 1888 he came to Wright county and worked on a farm for three years and then bought two hundred and forty acres, in Norway township. Having married, about this time, Mir. Schipull moved on a farm, where he lived for ten years, selling his land to the end of that time and buying two hundred and ninety-six acres in Liberty township, in section 8. For this land he paid thirty-eight dollars per acre, and nine years later purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoin- ing, for which he paid ninety dollars per acre. On his farm Mr. Schipull has placed several thousand dollars in improvements, the place being well tiled, a half -acre orchard having been set out, sixteen acres set in timber land and the remainder under cultivation. \ modern home, with electric light and with a hot-water heating plant, adorns the farm, together with an electric-lighted barn and many well-painted, nicely-cared-for outbuildings.
The principal crops of this farm are corn and small grain. About one hundred and fifty acres of corn in planted each year, averaging about fifty
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bushels to the acre, and one hundred and twenty acres of oats, bringing nearly forty bushels per acre. All grain of the farm is fed to stock, about one carload of cattle and two carloads of hogs being fed each year. A con- venient trading point is found at Renwicke, a town three and one-half miles distance.
Charles Schipull was married in 1890 to Sadie Kelling, daughter of John and Mary ( Tank ) Kelling, who were old settlers of Wright county, having come to America in the fifties, and settled along the Boone river, in Liberty township. John and Mary Kelling were natives of Germany.
Mrs Charles Schipull was born in Liberty township and received her education in the country schools of the district. At the age of fifteen years she left school and lived at home until she was twenty-four years of age. when she was married to Charles Schipull. To this union were born eight children, five boys and three girls: Rudolph, Carl, John, Albert, Elina, Walter, Clara and Olga, all of whom live with their parents at the home farnı.
Mr. Schipull has taken his place in the affairs of Liberty township and Wright county.
JESSE C. MIDDLETON.
Among the prominent farmers and stockmen of Troy township, Wright county, lowa, is Jesse C. Middleton, who was born on September 3, 1863. the son of Elmore and Lucinda ( Lee ) Middleton, natives of Ohio.
Jesse C. Middleton received his early education in the public schools of his native county, after which he attended the Webster City high school and then he became a student at the Iowa State Agricultural College, at Ames, lowa. Following his school days, Mr. Middleton became a school teacher, and while thus engaged, he also worked part of the home farm. Subse- quently he became the owner of the Middleton homestead which has been his home since the day of his birth. To this he has added land until now Jesse C. Middleton is the owner of four hundred acres of the choicest land in the county.
On his farm Mr. Middleton has about thirty-five miles of tile, and has two sets of buildings, one occupied by a son, who cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of the home place. As a farmer, Jesse C. Middleton raises about one hundred and fifty acres of corn, one hundred and fifty acres of smiall grain and about eighteen acres of alfalfa. Mr. Middleton makes a
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specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, feeding. annually, one hundred head of hogs and about one carload of cattle for the market.
On November 18, 1885, Jesse C. Middleton was married to Frances Allen, the daughter of Eugene Allen and wife, and to this marriage have been born the following children: Bessie, who married Glynn MeVicker and to whom have been born two children, Helen and Clifford; Florence, who married Roy MeVicker; Guy, who married Hettie Warmes and to whom has been born one child, David; and Homer, Paul, Lee, Francis and Lysle, who are unmarried. Jesse C. Middleton and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, a congregation which Mr. Middleton has served as a class leader for twenty-five years, as a trustee for many years and now as Sunday school superintendent.
Jesse C. Middleton has served his township as assessor for twelve years, has been township trustee for twelve years and has been secretary of the school board for fifteen years. Mr. Middleton has been president of the Troy Township Agricultural Improvement Society, since the organization of the association and in Masonry he has attained the Royal Arch degrees. In politics he is a Republican.
HENRY H. FRITZE.
That heredity plays an important part in the molding of character and of destinies, is an acknowledged fact, and to the man or woman blessed with parents whose sterling qualities raised them to a place of distinctive position, have much to be thankful for. Henry H. Fritze, of Norway township, Wright county, was blessed with parentage of high order and has responded. with appreciation, to those qualities bestowed upon him, by a good father and a faithful, devoted mother.
Henry 11. Fritze is the son of Bernard J. and Hermina ( Anderson) Fritze, both natives of Germany. Bernard J. Fritze, son of a mother who was widowed when he was a small boy, found himself, at fourteen years of age, the arbiter of his own destiny and wisely chose America as the most likely field for future operations. He emigrated to Chicago, where he fol- lowed the joiner's trade. He enlisted in the Union army at the beginning of the Civil War and served his adopted country with such zeal that he was promoted from private soldier to an officer before the close of service. . At the close of the great struggle he joined his brother, who had preceded him
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to America by a year or two, in the grain and live stock business, which he followed until his death. Hermina (Anderson ) Fritze emigrated to America with his parents from Weiner, Germany, when a small child.
Henry E. Fritze was born on September 23, 1870, in Forreston, Ogle county, Illinois, at which place his father married and settled. He is the eldest of four children born to his parents and received his education in the public schools of Forreston, graduating from the high school at that place. Shortly after graduating he accepted a clerical position in a stock buyer's office, which position he filled for three years. A partnership with A. M. Wilson was then formed for the selling of grain, the partnership being dis- solved at the close of three successful years.
In 1891, at the age of twenty-one years, this young man removed to lowa with the intention of re-engaging in the grain business, but later decided to operate five hundred and sixty acres of land, unimproved, which his father had purchased in 1881, located in sections 33 and 34, in Norway township. On this virgin soil Henry H. Fritze began making improvements and eventually erected several houses, with the necessary outbuildings for each, one division of the land, with its accompanying buildings, being reserved for himself, and the rest for tenants. In 1908 new buildings com- plete, with house, barn, granaries and silo, were erected on the home place.
On March 3, 1897, Henry H. Fritze was married to Minnie S. Lucas, daughter of Robert and Mary (Kelso) Lucas. She was born in Bremer county, Iowa, but her parents were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. They emigrated to America at different times and were married at Jacksonville, Illinois, on February 2, 1875. Robert Lucas was a farmer and removed to Wright county about 1880, where he purchased land in section 15, of Nor- way township. The family resided on this place until 1901, when they removed to Kanawha, Iowa. Robert Lucas and his wife were the parents of seven children. two sons and five daughters. The father of this family was a man of excellent character and held the office of township trustee and was secretary of the school board for many years.
Henry H. Fritze and Minnie S. ( Lucas) Fritze are the parents of three children: Geneva, born on January 4. 1808; Winefred, December 26, 1800; and Hazel, June 25. 1902. Winnefred and Hazel are high school students at Clarion, Iowa, while Geneva is a student in the Jowa State School for the Deaf, at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Henry H. Fritze is a Republican, lending aid to the party at such times as his influence is needed. He is also township clerk of Norway township.
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Beside clearing and operating his father's farm, he has invested in much land for himself, being the owner of farms in Wright and Hancock coun- ties, Iowa. The raising and breeding of pure-blood Aberdeen -. Angus cattle has been a specialty on this farm, which is known as "Glennwild Stock Farm." Mr. Fritze is a member of the Aberdeen-Angus Breeder's Associa- tion, and the results of scientific breeding and management are very evident on his large, well-improved farm.
While not members of any church, the family of Henry H. Fritze are attendants of both the Methodist Episcopal and the Friends churches. Henry H. Fritze is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
WILLIAM L. KENT.
Few citizens of Belmond, Wright county, Iowa, have had a larger part in the development of this splendid county than William L. Kent, a retired citizen of Belmond.
William L. Kent is a native of Illinois, having been born near Peoria on March 1, 1851. He is the son of Joel and Mary A. ( Pierce ) Kent, who were natives of Virginia, removing from the Old Dominion state first to Ohio and later to Illinois. Joel Kent was a cooper by trade and worked at his trade continuously until his removal to Iowa, in 1852. The family first located in Cedar county, Iowa, where they lived until April, 1862, when they removed to Wright county. After purchasing land in Iowa township, they lived on the farm until their deaths. Joel Kent was a member of the county board of supervisors for several years. He personally supervised the planting of the maple trees now standing in the court house yard at Clarion. By his marriage to Mary A. Pierce, there were born seven chil- dren, as follow : Mrs. Emily Blue, James, Joseph, John, William L., the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Flora Yoeman and Mrs. Laura Thom, of Colo- rado. The last two named are twins.
William L. Kent received a good common-school education, having attended school until he was about twenty years old. He made his home with his father until about thirty years of age, cultivating his father's farm after all the other children had left home. In the meantime he had pur- chased a farm in the north edge of Iowa township while living at home, and after leaving the home farm moved to his own farm. In a year or two his father died and he returned to the home place and lived with his mother
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for five years. Mr. Kent then bought another farm in the northeast corner of Iowa township, where he lived for ten or twelve years. In 1886 he removed to Belmond, purchasing the furniture store owned by Clark & Slight. After a year and one-half he took a partner into the business, a Mr. E S. Hubbard, who remained with him until 1900, when Mr. Kent sold out his interests to H. J. Klemme, who now owns the store. Mr. Kent retired from business at that time, having in the meantime built a large home on River street, in Belmond. Later he sold this home and purchased his pres- ent property.
On December 31, 1875, William I. Kent was married, in Belmond, to Jeanette M. Loomis, who was born on May 11, 1850, in Okisco, Ionia county, Michigan, and who is the daughter of Luther A. and Sarah A. (Morse) Loomis, natives of New York state, who removed to Wright county in 1857. They drove overland from Michigan and settled in Hick- ory Grove, Belmond township, arriving there on April 11, 1857. After farming in Belmond township for one summer, the family removed to Bel- mond, where Mrs. Kent's father purchased the only store. He owned this store for a short time and then sold out and purchased the Kern hotel, which he owned for about two years. He then sold the hotel and purchased sixty acres of land about one mile south of the hotel, where he and his wife lived until their deaths. Mrs. Kent's father died in 1891, and her mother on July 18, 1907, at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. Kent's father passed away on March 10, 1877, at the age of sixty-seven years, but his mother lived to be ninety-three years old, passing away on December 22, 1909.
Shortly after 1868 Mrs. Kent's father carried the mail from Belmond to Aklen, Garner and Webster, in fact, he carried the mail until the railroad was extended to Clarion and Dows. Mrs. Kent attended school in Chicago, Illinois, from 1869 to 1871. In the latter year she returned to Wright county and thereafter taught school for ten terms.
Mr. and Mrs. Kent have had five children, four of whom are living: Sarah A., born on August 5, 1878, married Clint Younker, and they live at Indianola, Jowa. They have three children, Roberta L., Harold and Grace. Guy R., born on October 17, 1881, married Bena Johnson, and they reside in Tripp county, South Dakota. They have no children. Addie M., who was born on April 5, 1883, married Peter J. Lieuwen. They live in Bel- mond, and have two children, June and Kendall. Inez L., born on May 6, 1887, lives at home with her parents.
In 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Kent spent a few months in Denver, Colorado, and in September, 1902, they returned to Colorado and spent a short time
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there. Altogether they have spent about three years in the state of Colo- rado. Although not members of any church, Mr. and Mrs. Kent believe thoroughly in the Christian religion and support all churches. Mrs. Kent is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Kent is a Democrat in politics and has served as a member of the town council of Belmond for several years. He also served as trustee of Iowa township and has held other important offices in Wright county.
JACOB W. BAKER.
While commerce and industry occupy a large share of the world's thought even they are built upon the products of the soil which form in reality the foundations of our national life. For this reason, every man or woman who follows this worthy vocation is a benefactor of society, whether or not he realizes the fact. Jacob Baker belongs to the type of men who do their work well, whether the task be seen of men or performed in obscur- ity. Mr. Baker, a retired farmer and well-known man in Dayton town- ship, this county, was born of German parentage in the Rhine province, Germany, they being John and Opolona Baker. The date was November I, 1835. The father of Mr. Baker, a farmer, crossed the ocean in 1842, and securing eighty acres of land from the government in Stevenson county, Illinois, devoted his attention to agriculture until he retired and moved to Freeport, Illinois, where he afterwards died. His wife passed away in 1853. Only two of their six children are living, these being John and Jacob.
Jacob Baker was educated in the common schools of Stevenson county, Illinois, and followed the occupation of his father as an employee of other farmers until his twenty-third year, when he married and lived on a rented farm in Illinois until 1867. He then moved to Black Hawk county, Iowa, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of farm land at fifteen dollars an acre. At the time of the purchase the only object which made this farm appear any different from the surrounding woods was the existence of a log cabin. But the owner spent both time and money in improvements which he immediately set about to make. In 1894 he left this place to take up his residence in Wright county, where he bought two hundred and fifty-six acres in Dayton township at thirty-five dollars an aere. Adding three thou- sand dollars' worth of improvements to those already there, he "tiled out"
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