USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 20
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Muscatine about 1845. In 1846 he became a charter member and was one of the leading founders of Koseiusco lodge No. 6, at lowa City. To his influence, personal efforts, and worthy example this old and popular lodge owes much of its reputa- tion and high standing in the order and in the Grand Lodge of the state. That his worth and services were duly appreciated is evidenced by the fact that he was called successively to fill the position of Noble Grand at home, and of Grand Treasurer and Grand Master of the state body as well as of Grand Rep- resentative in the National or Supreme Grand Lodge of the Order. In April, 1877, by election of the board of curators, he became the secretary of The State Historical Society, holding the office till July, 1881. In this position he rendered valuable services in arranging and caring for the large collections of the society.
August 15, 1862, Senator Hughes was commissioned quar- termaster of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, which rendezvoused at lowa City. Of this regiment William E. Miller, a fellow townsman, was the first colonel. He was succeeded upon his resignation, March, 1863, by John Connell, of Toledo, who led his regiment, as a part of the third division of the army under General Banks, in the famous Red River expedition in the spring of 1864. At the bloody battle of Sabine Cross-roads General Banks was defeated, and Colo- nel Connell was wounded (losing his right arm) and captured. Quartermaster Hughes was captured also and carried by the rebel forces under General Dick Taylor (son of old Zach.) to Tyler, Texas, where he languished fourteen months in the rebel prison. When released in July, 1865, enfeebled by long con- finement and prison hardships, he returned, broken in health if not in spirit, to his Iowa home. The result of exposure on the march and his suffering's in prison caused him the partial loss of an eye, and this was supplemented by two paralytic strokes, from the last of which he never recovered.
The marriage of Senator Hughes to Miss Louisa Catherine Frances King, born in Baltimore in 1823, took place at Du- buque September 15, 1841. Their acquaintance began during Mr. Hughes' residence in Dubuque, in which city Miss King was an assistant to her mother in teaching the first female school of the higher grade in Iowa. When Mr. Hughes had
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
become settled in Bloomington as the publisher of the Herald, he returned to Dubuque and married the lady of his choice, who became the mother of his children and proved a helpmeet indeed in all the qualities of a most estimable and devoted wife. To Senator and Mrs. Hughes were born four children : Delia, wife of Professor James Gow, formerly of the State University, and later a large stock raiser and farmer of Greenfield, Adair county, Iowa; Ellis G., deceased, a promi- nent attorney and leading citizen of Portland, Oregon; Anna G., the prop and stay of her mother in her declining years, re- siding at the old home in Iowa City; Louise E., long time principal of the Iowa City high school, later of the high school of Des Moines.
Senator Hughes died March 11, 1881. Though his last years were filled with the heavy burdens of life, he bore his lot uncomplainingly and bravely battled to provide a compe- tence for those dependent upon him. His faithful companion survived until August 31, 1902, when she followed her husband into the great beyond. Side by side this devoted couple lie in the beautiful cemetery overlooking the Towa River. Who of their numerous friends that survive does not wish for them the joy of a blessed reunion in the life everlasting? Both were devout members of the Presbyterian church, and, while in health, served in religions work with a zeal that knew no abatement.
Miss Annie Hughes, who was the faithful minister to her father and mother in their infirmities, resides at the old home- stead, 122 North Capitol street, Towa City. This historic old home dwells in the memories of many of the first students of the State University of Iowa, who found under its roof a wel- come and good cheer in the years long gone. The faces of the kindly host and hostess will never be effaced from their vision of those "days that are no more."
Ellis G. Hughes was a man amongst men in Portland, Ore- gon, where he accumulated an independent fortune and was foremost in promoting the material welfare of the city of Portland and the great empire of which it is the metropolis. At the time of his death he was actively a factor in publicity work, and his death, which was sudden and unexpected, caused universal regret among the influential citizens of that city, to
JOHN STOCK AND WIFE
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most of whom he ocenpied the place of personal friend. He was an able attorney and enjoyed a very lucrative practice. He took delight in writing pamphlets and articles upon the resources of the Pacific Northwest, and was one of the original board of directors of the Oregon state board of immigration, in the great work of which he was an active factor. His most useful public service probably was in connection with the Port of Portland Commission, of which for many years he was the chairman and executive head.
JOHN STOCK
Among the retired farmers whose aggregate presence and wealth have served to make Lone Tree, Iowa, one of the most prosperous and progressive of the villages of Johnson county, none stands higher in the esteem of his old neighbors and friends than John Stock, the subject of this biographical sketch. His home, which is one of the coziest among the many comfortable homes of Lone Tree, is headquarters for good cheer and genuine neighborliness, and therein, in the peace and quietness of the sunset side of life, our subject and his lovable helpmate are enjoying the proper restfulness which is the due of a couple that have faithfully borne the burdens and responsibilities of a busy life.
The parents of our subject were John and Sarah (Samp- son) Stock, residents of Bedfordshire, England, in which coun- ty our subject was born in the year 1833. At the age of twen- ty-one, young John came to America, landing at New York City. He spent one year in the Empire state, and then re- moved to Ohio, where he resided two years. His next move was to Johnson county, Iowa, and his first residence in the Hawkeye state was at Iowa City. About the close of the Civil War he bought a farm of 160 acres in Lincoln township, settling upon it one year later. This farm, which now con- tains 200 acres, was the family home until 1907, in which year Mr. Stock retired from active agricultural work and removed to Lone Tree. In addition to his old homestead in Lincoln township, Mr. Stock owns the southeast one-half of the north- east one-fourth of section nine, containing 130 acres, a part of which is within the corporate limits of Lone Tree; also the
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
northwest quarter of section seventeen in Fremont township, containing 160 acres.
Mr. Stock's wife was formerly Miss Emma Reynolds, born in Nottinghamshire, England, April 17, 1843. Her parents came to America when she was a baby and settled in Living- ston county, New York, where they resided until 1856, when they removed to Johnson county, Iowa, where they remained until their death. The marriage of Jolm Stock and Emma Reynolds took place in Johnson county in 1862. They have been blessed with nine children, six of whom have grown to manhood and womanhood. Their names in the order of birth
RESIDENCE OF JOHN STOCK
are : Anna Mary, born October 17, 1863, now Mrs. John P. Burr, residing in Lincoln township; William Franklin, born March 25, 1865, died January 27. 1871; David Henry, born July 8, 1868, died January 15, 1871 ; George A., born January 7, 1871, living on farm in Fremont township ; William F., born December 15, 1873, living near Lone Tree in Fremont town- ship; John Tilden, born June 23, 1876, died October 27, 1883: Walter Howard, born March 26, 1879, living at home; Elmer Lee, born September 19, 1881, living in Lincoln township on the old homestead ; Alfred, born March 9, 1883, living at home.
Mr. Stock is a democrat. He was assessor of Lincoln town- ship for a good many years, and has held other important local offices. He and his wife are members of the Reformed church at Lone Tree.
WILLIAM SWEET
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WILLIAM THOMAS SWEET
It required six months for William Thomas Sweet to make the journey overland from Johnson county to the California gold fields in 1852. Hle made the return trip in six days in 1869. The difference in time represents the ratio of the ox to the locomotive. Mr. Sweet was a youth of twenty when he started westward. When he returned he was a bronzed, ma- ture man. The vicissitudes of the miner's life had whetted his appetite for the homely farm life of his youth, and he at once took up agrienlture, a pursuit he has continued to this day.
William Thomas Sweet is a son of David Sweet and Lydia Russell, and was born in Champaign county, Ohio, March 29,
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM THOMAS SWEET
1832. He came with his parents to JJohnson county in 1838. (For further details of David and Lydia Sweet and their chil- dren, see biography of Zephaniah Stout Cray, in this volume. -Ed.) The family settled on the farm in Fremont township, and there our subject worked with his parents until 1852.
In 1875 Mr. Sweet was married to Miss Mary E. Hillhouse, a native of Illinois, who came to Iowa with her parents in the '60s. The couple have been blessed with six children : David ; William C., married to Miss Floy Parkins, father of three children, Genevieve, Lucille, and William Thomas; Louisa Ann, now Mrs. J. H. Williams, living in the state of Washing- ton ; Joshua Franklin, living at home ; Florella May, now Mrs.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
W. L. Edwards, residing in Louisa county, mother of three children, Paul, Aleda, and Lyle; Caleb Benjamin, living in the west.
Mr. Sweet is a pronounced republican, and takes an active interest as a citizen in political matters. The family are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM ARN
William Arn, well known for many years as the proprietor of the dray line in Iowa City, succeeded to the same at the death of his father in 1880. Michael and Christina Arn, our subject's parents, were natives of Germany. They came to
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM ARN
America in the early fifties and settled in JJohnson county. William Arn was born in Iowa City September 9, 1854. So also was his brother Charles, who was two and one-half years younger. He is at present living at Richmond, California.
When Michael Arn first started in the dray business in Iowa City there was no railroad, and the greater part of the mer- chandise had to be hauled from Muscatine by team. Mr. Arn did a great deal of this kind of work, and he was a familiar figure in those pioneer days, well known to every old citizen and newcomer as well. He developed a fondness for the busi-
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ness and continued therein actively until his death. Mrs. Arn survived her husband five years, dying in September, 1885.
After completing his schooling in the public schools of Iowa City, William Arn commenced work for his father in the dray business, succeeding, as stated above, on the death of the elder Arn in 1880. He continued the business until a few years ago, when he retired.
Mr. Arn was married in May, 1877, to Miss Elizabeth Kroenline, who was born in Iowa county, Iowa. Her parents were natives of Germany. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Arn: Amelia, now Mrs. Jerry Miller, living in Iowa City; William, Jr., married and living in Iowa City; Mary, who died two years ago; John, married and living in Iowa City. Mr. Arn is a democrat politically. The family reside at 718 South Dubuque street.
JOHN DOERRES
An honored name in the annals of Fremont township is that of John Doerres, who was born in Edgington, Illinois, January 16, 1847, and died on his farm in Fremont township June 2, 1905. His parents were John K. and Mary (Walkale) Doerres, natives of Bavaria, who came to America several years prior to the birth of our subject. There were three children in the family : Christina, Henry, and John. Parents and children are now all deceased.
John Doerres came to Johnson county from Illinois when he was a small boy, and as soon as old enough began work on a farm. This occupation he followed all his life. At the time of his death he was the owner of 280 acres of choice, cultivated land. In 1875 he was married to Miss Louisa Miller, a native of Rock Island, Illinois. Miss Miller's parents were Carl Mueller and Elizabeth Traessle. The names of their children are : Henry, John, Chris, Katherine, Margaret, Mary, Louisa, Barbara, Lena, and Elizabeth.
Mr. and Mrs. Doerres had six children : Caroline, now Mrs. Charles Green, living in San Francisco, California; Carl, mar- ried to Miss Amelia Rymers, of Moline, Illinois, living on the old homestead; William, a carpenter, living at Lone Tree:
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
John, in stock, feed, and poultry business at Lone Tree; Al- bert, residing at Lone Tree: Enid, living with her mother at Lone Tree.
In politics Mr. Doerres was a life-long democrat. He was
Hituri
RESIDENCE OF MRS. JOHN DOERRES
called to the position of township trustee for a number of years, and held the position of county supervisor for six years. The record which he left behind was that of a thoroughly hon- est man and a good neighbor. Ilis widow survives him, and lives in comfort at her residence in Lone Tree.
DR. HORATIO U. BAKER
The parents of Dr. Horatio U. Baker, of Lone Tree, were natives of Iowa. Marion Baker, his father, was born in Cedar county and Ellen Harding, his mother, in Keokuk coun- ty. The marriage of his parents took place in the latter coun- ty. Our subject was born in Cedar county September 20, 1868. After their marriage Marion Baker and wife lived for a number of years in Cedar county. The family removed to Johnson county in 1878, and the father engaged in the general merchandise business at Lone Tree. He continued in this line until 1901, when he sold out and moved to Wichita, Kan- sas, where he took up the special line of agricultural imple- ments. He is now retired from active business, having sur-
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vived his wife, who died in the spring of 1886. Seven children were born to Ellen Harding Baker, namely: Horatio U., our subject; Carrie R., now Mrs. H. B. Hill, residing at West Liberty, Iowa; Proctor T., a resident of Davenport, Iowa, in the employ of the International Harvester Company; Preda Margaret, living at West Liberty, Iowa; Cecil H .. a resident of Wichita, Kansas; Marion De Witt, also a resident of Wich- ita ; Ellen D., died in infancy.
Dr. Baker secured his early educational training in the schools of Iowa City, and thereafter for a time was in the em- ploy of his father in the general merchandise business. Fol-
RESIDENCE OF DR. HORATIO U. BAKER
lowing this he was engaged with the International Harvester Company for two years. He then decided to take up the study of osteopathy, and in pursuit of this purpose attended Dr. Still's College of Osteopathy and the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, where he completed his course. In January, 1906, he returned to Lone Tree and took up the practice of his profession, and has been engaged there- in ever since.
On May 25, 1891, Dr. Baker was married to Miss Lynda Margaret Robinson, born in Muscatine, Iowa, January 26, 1869. The names of their children are: Robert R., Don-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ald D., Eva E., Marion M., Ellen D., Merle, and Walter P. The three last are deceased.
Dr. Baker is a democrat, and a member of the German Re- formed church.
JACOB CHESTER LOEHR
The founder of the Loehr family in the United States was Johan Heinrich Loehr, born September 24, 1753, in Wallahal- ben, or Wallahausen, a town of Prussian Saxony, on the Helme, in the Principality of Leiningen, who came to America in 1774 and settled in Bedminster township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Later he removed to Northampton county, Plainfield township, and located on a farm southwest of Argyl. He died December 25, 1834, and was buried at Plain- field church cemetery. His occupation was that of school teaching, and he was a good musician and singer. For many years he led the singing in his local school house and church. His wife was Margaret Elizabeth Young, born in Germany, December 31, 1760. After her husband's death, Mother Loehr removed, with her son Jacob and his family and her oldest daughter Elizabeth, to Ohio, where she died July 20, 1844. Her remains are buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery, four miles southwest of Van Buren, Ohio.
Johan Heinrich Loehr and Margaret Elizabeth Young were the parents of six children, and all lived to a good old age. Some of the children and grandchildren dropped the "o" from the name and they now spell it Lehr.
John Loehr, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a son of Johan Heinrich and Margaret Elizabeth Loehr. He was born in Bedminster township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1778. He married Elizabeth Bar- tholomew in 1812, who was born April 22, 1792. They had seven children, all born at Plainfield church, where he taught school and led the choir for nineteen years. The family then removed to Moorstown church, where he taught school and led the choir for ten years. John Loehr died November 11, 1877, and his wife October 28, 1877. Both are buried at Naza- reth, Pennsylvania.
One of the seven children of John and Elizabeth Loehr was
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Jacob H., the father of our subject, who was born October 20, 1819. He married Lovina Hoch, and kept store in Plainfield, Pennsylvania, for some time after his marriage. In 1853, with his family, he removed (by horses and wagon) to a point near Van Buren, Ohio, on a farm. His wife died March 24, 1886, and he followed her May 29, 1899, both being buried in the cemetery near the old home. The birthplace of Lovina Hoch was Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and the year of her birth 1824. Her parents were Jacob and Catherine Hoch.
Seven children were born to Jacob H. and Lovina Loehr. Of this number Jacob Chester, the subject of this sketch, was born September 15, 1843, in Plainfield township, Northamp-
RESIDENCE OF JACOB CHESTER LOEHR
ton county, Pennsylvania, not far from the Blue Ridge moun- tains and about ten miles from Easton, Pennsylvania. In re- counting his boyhood days, Jacob C. states that he has not much recollection of Pennsylvania - only remembers seeing the mountains and being in Easton with his father. He was about nine years of age when the family removed to Ohio. His early life was spent on the farm near Van Buren. Desir- ing to give his children a good education, Jacob H. Loehr sup- plemented the common school education of his son Jacob C. by entering him in Heildelberg college, at Tiffin, Ohio. The date of his entrance was in 1860, the year in which Lincoln, Dong- las, and Breckenridge made their memorable campaigns for
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the presidency of the United States. Onr subject says he re- members seeing the "little giant," as Stephen A. Donglas was called, in the fall of 1860 in Tiffin, where he made a speech at the fair grounds. The incidents of the campaign are, of course, indelibly impressed upon his mind, he being then a lad of seventeen. In reviewing the matter, he states that he recalls the peculiarities of the marching organizations and symbols of the leading parties. "The republicans," he says, "had an organization called the 'Wideawakes,' who marched at night with tin lamps on poles about six feet long. Linn poles repre- sented the republicans, and hickory poles the democrats. The northern democrats were almost unanimous for Douglas, and in politics the students of Heidelberg were about evenly di- vided. I remember, at the breaking out of the war, how we students went to the timber and ent a pole and raised it with a. flag on top of the college building. Many of the students en- listed and went to the front."
Young Loehr spent nearly six terms at Heidelberg, when, on the 8th of May, 1862, he took sick with brain fever or spinal meningitis, and lost his hearing. He thinks the cause of this affliction was an injury to the back part of his head resulting from two bad falls. The loss of his hearing, of course, changed his plans entirely, and he returned home to his parents, re- maining with them mostly thereafter until the spring of 1868, when he came to Johnson county, lowa, for the purpose of assisting his brother-in-law, N. B. Richey, on a new farm of 240 acres. He worked on this farm, in the employ of Mr. Richey, until 1874, when he ventured to buy 160 acres of wild land for himself. By steady work and economy, in due time he paid for the land and added considerably to his holdings.
On October 24, 1877, our subject was married to Miss Emma Faulkner, at Bucklin, Missouri. Miss Faulkner's family have an interesting history. Her parents were Hugh White Faulkner and Filena Reynolds, and her father's occupation was that of farmer and carpenter. Mr. Faulkner's Civil War record was most honorable. Hle enlisted in the 144th New York regiment in August, 1864, but was rejected. November 11th of the same year, however, he was drafted into the 67th Pennsylvania, Company C, Third Brigade Second Division of the Sixth Army Corps. He served under General Wright,
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General Rickets being corps commander and Hiram Stark his captain. He was in the picket line at Petersburg and in the battle to the left of Petersburg on April 2, 1865; then followed General Lee to the battle of Sailor's Run on Thursday, and continued on Friday to follow him to the Farms River, where Phil. Sheridan cut off his supply train. Next day Lee sent a white flag and surrendered. Mr. Faulkner was honorably dis- charged August 17, 1865. All four of the brothers of Mrs. Faulkner's mother served in the war, one being a minister. Her mother was an orphan when she married Mr. Reynolds, but was a woman of great vigor of character. The Reynolds family were intensely musical and were prominent in Chris- tian work in the Baptist church.
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Jacob C. Loehr is the father of seven children. In the order of their birth they are as follows :
Lena May, born February 17, 1879; educated at high school ; married, November 16, 1898, to Frederick C. Jahnke, a pro- dnce dealer; resided for a time at Lone Tree, but now resides at Muscatine; is the mother of four children : Lovell Freder- ick, born November 20, 1899; Helen Winnifred, born April 3, 1902; Willis Ernest, born September 28, 1905; and Minnie Myrtle, born August 4, 1910.
Second child, a son, died at birth, September 1, 1880.
Frank Elmer, born November 13, 1881 ; railway mail clerk; residence Albert Lea, Minnesota ; married November 25, 1903, to Maud Furniss Siverley; is the father of three children: Lauren Dale, born October 24, 1905; Rodney Clement, born November 16, 1907 ; and Ardeth Maude, born May 31, 1909.
Mertie Ellen, born August 6, 1883; high school graduate and school teacher; married September 26, 1905, to Rev. Blan- chard Allen Black ; residence for a time, Lone Tree ; removed to Louisville, Ohio, in 1908; is the mother of three children : Margaret Ellen, born July 12, 1906; Frances Marian, born June 21, 1907 ; and Florence Emma, born June 20, 1910.
Clement Leslie, born October 7, 1885; bachelor of arts of the State University of Iowa, 1909; studying for the ministry in the Reformed Church Theological Seminary at Lancaster, Pennsylvania ; married December 20, 1910, to Grace Margaret Davidson, an alumnus of S. U. I., at Stanwood, Iowa.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Katherine Lavina, born March 19, 1887 ; high school gradu- ate and school teacher; married September 22, 1908, to Gny C. Black, D. D. S., who practiced three years at Delta, Iowa, and then removed to Mason City, Iowa ; mother of one child : Alice Laurine, born April 19, 1910.
Emma Alice, born January 12, 1891 ; high school graduate ; married March 19, 1911, to William H. Yakish, Rock Island R. R. station agent at Lone Tree.
The residence of Mr. Loehr is at Lone Tree, Iowa, where the family is universally respected and beloved.
AUGUST KRANZ
The sons of Germany have found in lowa congenial condi- tions for the exercise of the thrift and industry inbred from time immemorial in the "Faderland." Scores of rich, well- tilled farms throughout the state attest the enterprise and staying qualities of their German owners. It has passed into a proverb that where a German gets a foothold, "there he sticks." Conspicuous examples of this truism may be found in Johnson county, where in every township in great abun- dance names whose orthography attest their Teutonic origin are written across prosperous farms in the county maps and plats.
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