USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 36
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Mr. Fuhrmann has always been deeply religious in his con- victions and practice. Raised by good and pious parents, who instilled in him at an early date an ardent faith in their moth- er church, the Catholic, he endeavored always to be a faithful member, and, wherever located, took an active part in the affairs of his congregation. He is at present a member of St.
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Mary's church of Iowa City; belongs to the Gentlemen's So- dality and also to St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, of which latter body he has been president for five years.
On January 19, 1875, he married Catherine E. Strabala, daughter of Balthasar and Josepha Strabala, of Richmond, Towa. Miss Strabala was born May 24, 1851, in Columbiana county, Ohio, and came to Washington county, Iowa, with her parents, seven brothers and six sisters, in April, 1864. Of this union eleven children, three boys and eight girls, were born, as follows: Mary Caecilia, born July 3. 1876; Rosa C., born September 28, 1877 ; Agnes C., born July 30, 1879; Aloy- sius J., born April 5, 1881 ; Stanislaus K., born July 23, 1883; Angela R., born in 1885; Vietor B., born March 2, 1887 ; Mary E., born August 15, 1888: Oliva C., born September 17, 1891 ; Celesta M., born September 26, 1894: Zita A., born July 26, 1899.
Mary Caecilia went to the Convent of the Franciscan Sis- ters of P. A., at La Crosse, Wisconsin, July 8, 1895, and is known as Sister M. Celeste F. S. P. A. She is a competent member of their teaching force. Rosa C. also went to the same convent July 12, 1896, and was known as Sister M. Clarett F. S. P. A. She was mostly employed in the various hospitals, and died March 7, 1908. The rest of the children are all living at home.
WESLEY NOVOTNY
Wesley Novotny is one of the native sons of Johnson county who have had so large a share in its development during the last quarter century. He is a wide-awake business man and an intelligent, enterprising citizen. He was born in Jefferson township, November 23, 1869, son of Joseph and Anna No- votny, the latter of whom is deceased, but the father survives and lives in Jefferson township, at the home of his daughter Anna, Mrs. Verhotsky, being now eighty-three years old. Jo- seph Novotny was born in Bohemia and came to America in 1858, soon afterward selecting Jefferson township as his future home. He and his wife had six sons and one daughter.
In boyhood Wesley Novotny attended the country schools
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and was reared like many another farmer's son of the region, taking part in the work of the home farm at a tender age. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming on his own ac- count and in 1891 moved just across the river into Madison township and located at his present place. He engaged in the butcher business for two years, driving a wagon through the country. In 1893 he retruned to Jefferson township, where he continued farming until 1898, when he moved back to his for- mer location and opened a store, which he has conducted ever since. The little village where he is in bsuiness is known as Curtis, formerly a post-office, but since rural delivery was installed in the county the office has been discontinued. For
RESIDENCE OF WESLEY NOVOTNY
ten years Mr. Novotny served as postmaster. His store, which is 30 x 20 feet, is well known in the vicinity. He carries a high class general line of goods. He has a good trade, not- withstanding the discontinuance of the postoffice at Curtis, and has a good standing with all who have had business or social dealings with him. In 1906 he purchased the Roberts farm, comprising about seventy-three acres, in Section 27. Madison township, a portion of it government land. Mr. No- votny takes a commendable interest in local affairs and has served as constable in both Jefferson and Madison townships. He is a member of the M. B. A., of Swisher, and of the M. W. A., at Shneyville.
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On August 8, 1891, Mr. Novotny was united in marriage, by Mayor Reno of Iowa City, with Fannie Machovets, daughter of Frank and Christina Machovets, the latter of whom died February 2, 1905, having had nine children, all of whom now survive save one. Mr. Machovets, who was an old resident of Jefferson township, passed away at the home of Mrs. Novotny, on December 14, 1911, and was buried from the United Breth- ren church, interment being made in the Shueyville cemetery. He was seventy years of age, and his death was caused by heart failure. He was survived by the following children : Mrs. Wesley Novotny, of Curtis; Mrs. John Lorack, of Iowa City; Mrs. Anthony Novotny, of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Antone Notolicky, of Mt. Vernon; Frank, of Cedar Rapids; Adolph, of Roswell, South Dakota; Antone, of Pocahontas, Iowa; Joseph, of Roswell, South Dakota ; Blanche, now Mrs. Koss, of Ely, lowa. To Wesley Novotny and wife one son was born, William Lester, November 25, 1895, now in his second year in the high school at Shneyville, a promising youth, who is a source of pride to his parents.
ENOCH H. HOPE
Enoch II. Hope is one of the most enterprising and success- ful farmers of Graham township, Johnson county, of which township he is a native. He is of English descent, his father, Thomas Hope, having been born in Yorkshire, England, May 19, 1819, and his mother in IFull, Yorkshire, England, May 12, 1832. Thomas Hope came to the United States in 1852 on a sailing vessel, the voyage lasting eleven weeks. He landed in New York, went on to Detroit, Michigan, and thence to La Salle, Illinois, whence he continued his journey by wagon to Johnson county. He settled on a farm northeast of Morse, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away Febru- ary 12, 1875. At the time of his demise he was the owner of a quarter section of land. Upon coming to the newly opened country he purchased eighty acres of land from the govern- ment, paying therefor seventy-five cents per acre. For some years the nearest trading point was Muscatine, then known by the name of Bloomington, and the trip to market with grain
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or other produce was made with oxen. He and his wife were compelled to undergo all the hardships and trials of frontier life and worked very hard to get their start in the new home, but became owners of a valuable farm. Mrs. Hope's maiden name was Annie Harrison. She died June 8, 1895, at the age of sixty-three years. There were four children born in this family: John, died in infancy ; Mary, died at the age of thir- teen years; Enoch, of this sketch; and John Sherman, who is a mute. The two last-named live together.
The subject of this sketch was born on his father's farm, about two miles from Morse, in 1862, was reared on the place, and received his early education in this district school. Later
RESIDENCE OF ENOCH H. HOPE
he attended Iowa City Academy. As he grew up he became the mainstay of his parents, remaining with his mother until 1889, when he bought the Westenhaver farm, also in Graham township. This place consisted of a half section of land on Section 13, and two years after coming to live on it Mr. Hope added eighty acres more. This is one of the best farms in his part of the county and he has brought it to a high state of productiveness and attractiveness. There were only log buildings on the place at first, and he has replaced these from time to time with modern ones. He has erected two barns, 70 by 56 feet in size, one for cattle and one for horses, and has room for one hundred tons of hay. In 1911 he had a yield of 60 bushels to the acre from seventy acres of corn, and he also
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had forty acres of land in small grain, which yielded well. He has a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle, and about ninety head of pure bred Poland China hogs. In 1910 he shipped a number of yearling cattle, averaging 1,300 pounds per animal. He raises a quantity of fine timothy seed each year, having a yield of between two and three hundred bushels in 1911, and has raised as much as 650 bushels in one year. He has his farm well fenced, most of it hog-tight, and all that requires it is well drained. Mr. Hope carries on his opera- tions in accordance with modern methods and ideas and dis- plays excellent judgment in his work. He takes an active in- terest in local affairs and has served some time as school director of Grant school No. 6. Besides his farm he owns some city property on Washington street, near Dubuque, Iowa City, that is occupied by the popular millinery emporium owned by Adams Sisters. Mr. Hope is influential in the coun- cils of the republican party and in religious faith is affiliated with the Christian church, as is his wife. In October, 1889, in Chicago, Mr. Hope was united in marriage with Miss Cath- erine Adams, by Rev. J. W. Allen of the West Side Christian church, whose sisters are successfully engaged in the millinery business in Iowa City, as above mentioned. She is a daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Edwards) Adams, the former a descendant of Enock Adams, a tanner by trade, who was born in Massachusetts and participated in the Revolutionary War. The latter was descended from an old New England family, the progenitor having come to America in the Mayflower. Members of the family moved from Massachusetts to Maine in an early day, and became farmers and pioneers. Frank Adams was born September 18, 1819, and died in Johnson county February 25, 1883. His wife, a native of England, born in England November 4, 1834, died in Chicago June 30, 1897. The father of Frank Adams, John E. Adams, was a pioneer of Ohio. He came thence to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1837, and returned to Obio, but in 1861 came again to John- son county, where he settled permanently and where his chil- dren were reared. Mrs. Hope is one of six children born to Frank Adams and wife, namely: Francis M., Fred, Matilda, Catherine, William, and Catherine. The first two were twins and both died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hope have no children.
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WILLIAM ANDREWS
William Andrews is a representative business man of Morse, Johnson county, and has been residing in the vicinity the past forty years. He came to Graham township with his parents in 1860, just prior to the Civil War, and since reaching man- hood has been actively interested in the general progress and prosperity of the region. He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1849, son of Joseph and Joanna (Gar- rett) Andrews, the former a native of Allegheny county and the latter of Chester county, he born March 4, 1820, and she January 10, 1817. The mother died in Graham township An- gust 1, 1889, and the father June 3, 1911.
The Andrews family came to Johnson county in 1860, locat- ing in Graham township, William Andrews being then in his eleventh year, and he finished his education in the common branches in the local schools. Later he attended the State University of Iowa a year and a half, preparing for the pro- fession of teaching. He spent two years in Madison county, being engaged in teaching one year, but aside from this, has lived in Johnson county since first coming here. At the time the Rock Island railroad was built to Morse, he came to the town, where he has since been a leading business man. In the early seventies, when a railroad was completed between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, he entered the employ of a Bur- lington firm, buying and shipping grain, with headquarters at Morse, and at the expiration of his contract yith this company formed a partnership with E. K. Morse, a prominent pioneer. He spent two years in the stock and lumber business, and at the time of dissolving partnership with Mr. Morse, he con- tinued alone a short time, but on May 7, 1876 (Centennial Year), took Alfred R. Ohl as a partner, the style of the firm being Andrews & Ohl until September 1, 1880. Later the firm became known as Andrews, Ohl & Company, when Samuel H. Hempsted became a partner. Mr. Hempsted was the father of Mrs. Ed Graham, and a sketch of his career may be found in these pages. The concern dealt in stock, grain, lumber, seeds, wagons, farm implements, buggies, harness, coal, and rock salt. They won a wide reputation in eastern Iowa for the fairness of their dealings and for the strict integrity of
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the men interested in the enterprise. They built up a sub- stantial business.
For some years past Mr. Andrews has carried on a limber business on his own account, also dealing in other building material, coal, salt, and other commodities and devotes much of his attention to his business at Morse. He has other in- terests. however, and is a man of large affairs, farming on quite an extensive scale. His farms are stocked with a fine grade of Polled Hereford cattle. His herd has taken a state premium and he takes great pride in the reputation he has in this line. In the year 1911 his corn yield varied from 85 to 90 bushels per acre, one of the best records in his part of the state. His land is well tiled and fenced "hog-tight," and
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM ANDREWS
he has the most modern and substantial buildings possible. In 1911 he erected a concrete foundation to his barn, and his splendid farm residence, located just outside of the town of Morse, stands on a most pleasant eminence, so that it over- looks the surrounding country and is most desirably situated. The house is surrounded by cement walks and is fitted with everything possible to add to the comfort and pleasure of the inmates. Mr. Andrews gives employment to several men on his place, which is kept in fine condition.
On May 25, 1876, Mr. Andrews was united in marriage with Charlotte L. Morse, daughter of a pioneer, E. K. Morse, and a native of Graham township, where their union took place.
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Seven children have blessed this union, of whom three died in early childhood, the others being: Alfred, Lewis, Frank, and Ruth. Mrs. Andrews is prominent in church, social and liter- ary circles, and influential in various movements in Graham township. They were among the founders of the Christian church at Morse and have always been active in its support. Mr. Andrews is a member of the A. F. & A. M. He is one of the most public-spirited citizens of Johnson county, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in distress or need, who deserve his consideration, and helping forward every worthy cause. He is pleasant and genial, but modest and unostenta- tious, and greatly enjoys the society of his friends, of whom he has a large number. He is an advocate of temperance and at the time of the incorporation of the village voted to keep out intoxicants, believing it to be for the best interests of the community to ward off the evils which would be likely to fol- low the advent of a saloon. His action in this regard has been appreciated by the best element in the township and identifies him with the best interests of all.
ED C. GRAHAM
The Graham family was one of importance as connected with the early history of Johnson county, and for them Graham township received its name. This family was foremost in all measures for public advancement and was representative of the highest interests of the community. It has several worthy representatives in the region today, prominent among whom is Ed. C. Graham, living on Section 25 of Graham' township, who was born on the farm he now occupies, January 3, 1865, just prior to the close of the Civil War. He is a son of Alex- ander and Mary E. (Dyarmett) Graham, the father born at Zanesville, Ohio, March 7, 1834, and died in Chicago, Illinois. The father of Alexander was the noble pioneer, Andrew Graham, who died January 19, 1870, at an advanced age, and who was a native of the Emerald Isle. He first arrived in Johnson county in 1849 and located land from the govern- ment, but did not settle there permanently until 1854. It was for this emigrant ancestor of the family that the township re-
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ceived its name. He was foremost in the affairs of his com- munity and held many positions of public trust. He was a useful factor in the Methodist church and the local society, organized in 1864, was known as the Graham church, of which he was trustee. Ilis wife died three years prior to his own demise. She was a native of Maryland.
Alexander Graham received a good education in the schools of Zanesville, where he grew to manhood, and in 1850 came to Johnson county with his father, and the two purchased some 900 acres of land from the government, at a price of $1.25 per acre. He returned to Zanesville and there married, April 16, 1854, Mary E. Dyarmett, a native of that place. Soon after
RESIDENCE OF E. C. GRAHAM
marriage the young couple took up their permanent home in Iowa, on the place where the subject of this sketch now resides. He had made several trips to Iowa to look after his land in- terests and became highly successful in his operations. Seven children were born to him and his wife, of whom the following four now survive: Hattie, the wife of E. C. Shankland, a member of the Subway Commission, of Chicago; Andrew D., of Chicago; Cora I., and Eddie C. Andrew and Cora are graduates of Cornell college, Mount Vernon, Iowa. Three children died in infancy. The parents of these children were active in the Methodist church at Oasis and the father, who was a republican in politics, held many township offices and served one term as deputy sheriff. He was interested in
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various financial enterprises and was one of the founders and served as president of West Branch State Bank. He was ac- tive in securing the services of the best teachers in the local schools. His fine farm of 400 acres spoke volumes for his thrift, good management, and energy, and his beautiful home, which is modern throughout, is a lasting monument to his pride in his home. The lumber was all milled on the place, material being hauled from Iowa City. He was popular in fraternal circles, being a loyal member of the Masonic order. The good work which is so ably begun has been continued through the efforts of his son Ed, who has the advantage of many late inventions and methods.
Ed. C. Graham received his early education in the district school, and later attended Iowa City Academy and Commer- cial college. With the exception of eighteen months, which he spent in railroad work, he has made this place his home during his entire life, and takes peculiar pride in his estate. IIe has made general farming his occupation, but has paid especial attention to cattle feeding, and also has 200 hogs on his place. He has many land interests aside from his home farm, having an interest in three horse ranches in Sully coun- ty, South Dakota, a quarter section of wheat land in Brown county, in the same state, and a quarter section in O'Brien county, Iowa. In 1911 his corn crop averaged 65 bushels to the acre on forty-eight acres, and he has ever been successful in other lines. He ships from three to six car loads of cattle annually. He purchased the old homestead of 400 acres in 1906, but has since disposed of part of the land. He has made a number of notable improvements, having erected barns and an auto garage. He has a very fine concrete cave, which he constructed himself, which he uses as a vegetable and fruit cellar, and in case of a cyclone he thinks it would be a con- venient refuge. In his concrete wash-house he has installed a machine that is run by a gasoline engine. He has procured every convenience possible for his home. Ile is a natural mechanic, and underneath the ice houses he has constructed a meat room, with a refrigerator which will hold a large amount, and which has been found most useful and convenient.
Mr. Graham was united in marriage with Miss Lillian ITem- sted, of Graham township, daughter of Samuel II. and Mary
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J. (Haddock) Hemsted, the latter of whom died in the spring of 1879. The grandparents of Mrs. Graham, Frederick and Elizabeth (Akers) Hemsted, came to Johnson county from Ohio in 1844. Mrs. Graham presides over her modern home gracefully and efficiently, and she and her husband gladly welcome their many friends there. She is the mother of four children: Helen and Carl, students in the Iowa City high school : Archer, attending school; Harriet. Mr. Graham is a republican in politics and has been a delegate to the county convention. IIe is president of the West Branch Telephone Company and his business ability and sagacity are well recog- nized. Fraternally he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., being a Shriner of Davenport Consistory, and also is affiliated with Camp No. 5059, M. W. A., of Oasis.
THOMAS A. EVANS
The Evans family is one of the oldest in Johnson county and its members have been prominently identified with the progress and growth of the region. Thomas A. Evans is well known as a successful farmer, the son of a pioneer, and a veteran of the Civil War. He is a native of Johnson county, born December 24, 1858, son of Thomas Albert and Nancy A. (McAdams) Evans, who came to Iowa in 1842. The father was born December 4, 18-, and was a farmer by occupation. He brought his family to Iowa in the year previously men- tioned and they located permanently in Newport township, Johnson county. He had been educated in the district schools of Delaware and as a young man moved to Indiana, where he was married and spent the first years of his married life. Nancy A. MeAdams was born, reared, and educated in In- diana. By this union there were eight sons, as follows: Walter J., of Newport, Iowa; Wesley D., of Humboldt, Iowa ; John H., of Alburnett; James H., of Creston; Larkin H., of Iowa City; Alexander Isaac died in infancy: Alexander Isaac the second, who is in grocery business at Mount Vernon, Iowa; Thomas Albert is the immediate subject of this sketch. This large family of boys received as good an education as their parents were able to give them and were given valuable home
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training, which influenced their subsequent lives. They early learned the lessons of industry and self-reliance and learned the details of farming with their father.
Thomas Albert Evans, Jr., attended school in the neighbor- hood of his father's home, as did his brothers, and at the age of fourteen began doing a man's work in the harvest field. The first land he purchased on his own account was eighty acres in Newport township, having previously worked out by the month until he was able to save eight hundred dollars, then made a trip to Colorado. However, upon returning home, he was more than satisfied that in his native county and state were better opportunities for a young farmer. Later he pur- chased land in the vicinity of West Branch, Cedar county, and Oasis, Johnson county, and now owns eighty acres in Section 26, Graham township, in the latter county. About 1883 he moved to East Lucas township, where he lived twelve years, and then purchased 150 acres of land in Newport township. Two years later he moved to his present home on Section 26, Graham township, and has since lived in the vicinity of Oasis. He also owns some city property. He has owned land in various parts of Johnson county and has been successful in his operations there, but has lately given much attention to buying and selling stock, which he ships from Oasis.
Having spent practically his entire life in the county, Mr. Evans is one of the best known men within its limits, and has been able to build up a large stock business. He has the en- tire confidence and good will of his customers and looks well to their interests. While living in Newport township he filled several local offices, such as trustee, member of the school board and road supervisor. His father has a good war rec- ord, although not quite sixteen years of age at the time he en- listed, in 1864, in the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Lucas, and served in the battle of Cedar Creek. (His record may be further found in the sketch of Captain S. D. Pryce, which appears in this work.)
On December 10, 1899, in Iowa City, Mr. Evans was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Sponey, born July 26, 1862, daughter of Frederick and Theresa (Durin) Sponey, both of whom are deceased. All eight children in this family survive. By this union three children were born: Harry B., now in
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Minnesota, born June 5, 1881; Frederick, born February 2, 1883, married Miss Flossa Crawford, daughter of Rev. Jolin Crawford, a minister of the gospel, and they have two sons, Engene Donald, and Robert Thomas, the only grandsons in the family of the father; Miss Grace, born February 2, 1887, a graduate of West Branch and Iowa City high schools, is a popular educator of Johnson county and now has charge of St. James League of the M. E. church, in Chicago, where she is doing fine work. Mr. Evans has a comfortable residence and other substantial buildings on the home farm and has it well furnished with good fences. He is a prominent member of M. W. A. Camp No. 5059, of Oasis, which he served as bank- er two years. and now holds the office of advisor in the organi- zation. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows, being affiliated with lodge No. 508, of Morse, in which he has passed through the chairs. He is much interested in the good work of these orders and does his share to forward their welfare. Ile is interested in general affairs in the community and upholds various worthy public movements.
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