USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
FRANK LOVETINSKY
It is no mere idle curiosity that prompts men to wish to learn the private as well as the public lives of their fellows. Rather it is true that each desire tends to prove universal brother- hood; and the interest in personality and biography is not con- fined to men of any particular caste or vocation. The list of those to whose lot it falls to play a conspicuous part in the great drama of life is comparatively short; yet communities are made up of individuals and the aggregate of achieve- ments - less than the sum total of human happiness - is made up of the deeds of those men and women whose primary aim, through life, is faithfully to perform the duty that comes near- est to hand. It is not only instructive but should be especially instructive to the young people of today who perhaps are about to begin their life career, to trace the efforts of those who have made the very best use of their opportunities and by industry and right living have achieved success. To a person coming
706
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
from a foreign land and locating among strangers, unfamiliar with the language and ways of a new world, as it seems to them, they are really at a disadvantage, and should be given more credit than those who get their start in their native coun- try and amid their own people.
The subject of this sketch, Frank Lovetinsky, was born Aug- ust 26, 1848, in Moravia, a province between Bohemia and Aus- tria, and was 18 years of age when he left his native land and in company with his parents came in a sailing vessel to Amer- ica. The journey across the Atlantic occupied five weeks, in great contrast to the time of the ocean greyhounds of today
RESIDENCE OF FRANK LOVETINSKY
which make the trip from Liverpool to New York in as many days. Landing in New York, the family came direct to John- son county, arriving there in the spring of 1866. They had been preceded by a brother of our subject, Jacob Lovetinsky, who had located in Iowa City in 1858. He died there a few years later, comparatively a young man.
In the father's family there were six children: Jacob, al- ready mentioned, being the oldest, and next was Josephene, who married Frank Yoworsky, and resides in Iowa City ; Mary, married to James Vosipka, resides in Nebraska. Our subject, Frank, was next in order of birth and next to him was Charles,
707
BIOGRAPHICAL
who was married to M. Dyvorsky, who both died several years ago in Wisconsin; John, married Josephene Vardoa and they reside at Rapid City, South Dakota; Anton, died in Omaha, Nebraska. The parents of these children were John and Kate (Borlan) Lovetinsky, both now deceased. The father and mother were both very worthy and industrious people.
For the first few years after arriving in Iowa City, Frank Lovetinsky found employment in different lines of work but the times were not very prosperous and he was slow in getting ahead. He finally concluded that the soil was really the basis of all wealth and from that source it could be obtained, so he decided to try farming. Very few persons of today would have the courage or think they could start as he did. The only capital he possessed at that time was a pair of brawny hands, a brave heart and five dollars in eash, and having secured forty act's of land from Gilbert R. Irish he commenced the founda- tion of his present fortune. This small farm was located in Section 7 in Scott township and after remaining here for about five years he sold out and immediately bought two pieces of land, one 80 and the other 55 acres, and some time later added to these possessions 80 acres, and he now owns 215 acres which comprise the home place; and besides that he owns 103 acres in Newport township, making 318 acres in all. The farm is well improved and besides a large, comfortable home the large barns and many outbuildings together with every kind of up- to-date implements and machinery all attest the prosperity as well as the progressive spirit of our subject. On November 15, 1877, Mr. Lovetinsky was married to Miss Mary Koudora, daughter of Valentine and Josephene (Stouacek) Koudora, both natives of Poland who came to America in 1863 and set- tled in Johnson county on a farm south of Iowa City, where they resided for a long time. The father died in 1902 at the age of 70 years. The mother died in 1882 aged 60 years. To Mr. and Mrs. Lovetinsky have been born six children, all of whom are now living. In order of birth William is the oldest, who married Frances Koral and resides in Penn township on a farm a short distance from North Liberty. They have one child, Clara. Next in order of birth is Eddie Lovetinsky, sin- gle, and he is on the farm ; Frank, George, Delia, Fred.
Mr. Lovetinsky and his good wife, together with his well
708
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
trained and industrious children, are examples of what can be accomplished by industry and determination. But labor alone unless under the direction of a well balanced mind can never accomplish more than a very moderate success. Mr. Lovetin- sky's surroundings and possessions, all honestly acquired by well-directed efforts, are evidence of a busy life of accomplish- ment.
MRS. LOUISA LAWRENCE
Mrs. Louisa Lawrence, widow of Samuel H. Lawrence, de- ceased, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, August 13, 1870. Her parents were George and Christian (Schnialing) Meisky, both natives of Pennsylvania. The parents were married in Penn- sylvania, and all their children, with the exception of oneub- ject, were born there. The family came direct from Pennsyl- vania to Iowa and settled first in Cedar county, where they re-
₹
RESIDENCE OF MRS. LOUISA LAWRENCE
sided one year, after which they removed to Johnson county. They continued to live here until the death of Mrs. Meisky, when the father made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Law- rence, residing there until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Meisky had eleven children, three of whom died in infancy. Those who grew to maturity were : Emma, married to William Fliss, died in February, 1909; Joseph, living in Nichols, Iowa;
709
BIOGRAPHICAL
George, living in South Dakota ; Jacob, living in Louisa county ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Uriah Carl, living at Weredfield, Nebras- ka ; Katherine, married, and living at Lone Tree; Andrew, re- siding with our subject ; Louisa, our subject.
Samuel H. Lawrence, the husband of our subject, was a na- tive of Iowa, his parents being Henry and Emma (Lunnon) Lawernce. His father died when Samuel was very small, and he was adopted by his paternal grandparents, Samuel and Harriett Lawrence, and raised by them. He really regarded them as his parents. His first business was that of farming, which he undertook for himself about twenty-two years on the farm where his widow now resides. Farming was always his occupation, and the place referred to was his only field of op- eration. There his grandparents died, and there he himself died January 17, 1898.
Three children were born to Samuel H. and Louisa Law- rence, all now living at home: Harriet, Gertrude May and Ethel. Mr. Lawrence was a democrat and held numerous local offices. Mrs. Lawrence belongs to the Church of the Brethren.
ALBERT L. WESCOTT
Albert L. Wescott has the pleasure of living upon the farm which was purchased through his own earnings, it being at the same time the old homestead of his father, a fact which makes delightful the sentimental side of existence. The unpoetical may sneer and minimize as they may, but the fact remains that there are delights undescribed in the old scenes where our for- bears wrought; in the touch of the tools of their toil, and the view of the gables they raised, and the shade of the trees they planted. Samuel Woodworth found it so when the hint of a fellow toper sent his memory speeding backward to the scenes of his Massachusetss childhood and the "Old Oaken Bucket" of his father's well. And so, doubtless, Albert Wescott, sit- ting amid the surroundings hallowed by the memories of the long-flown years, heaves a comfortable sigh as he thinks "of the days that are no more." Such emotions are human, and they are noble.
Albert Wescott and Mary Parrott are the parents of our
710
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
subject, and they are both still living at a good old age. The former is a native of New York state, and resided in Ohio one year prior to 1850, when he removed to Johnson county. Mary Parrott's parents, John and Savannah Parrott, settled in Johnson county in 1839. They were natives of Indiana, and farmers by occupation. On reaching Iowa, Mr. Parrott took up land from the government, and on that claim he labored and lived until his death. One of the landmarks of Scott township is the little briek chapel which his hands helped to build, and in the "brief God's acre" adjoining the bodies of himself and wife are buried.
Albert Wescott, senior, on arrival in Iowa City, entered the
RESIDENCE A. L. WESCOTT
drug business, and this he conducted with profit for several years. Then he purchased the farm in Scott township, where our subject resides. He lived thereon until 1884, when he re- turned to Iowa City and engaged in the grocery business ; but the farm had attractions, and he returned to it in 1899, remain- ing until 1902, when he sold it to his son, Albert L., and re- moved to Wisconsin, where he and his wife now reside.
Six children made glad the home of Albert Wescott and Mary Parrott. Their names are as follows: Adda, married to T. J. Stevenson, a lawyer, of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Mary, wife of E. A. Patterson, manager of the Puritan Manufactur-
711
BIOGRAPHICAL
ing Company, of Iowa City; Catherine, now Mrs. William At- kinson, of Oldham, South Dakota; Albert L., our subject; Wal- lace B., agent for the Duluth & Rainy Lake Railroad Company, at Virginia, Minnesota, who married Caroline Benson; Eliza- beth, living with her parents.
Our subject attended the public schools of Iowa City. On the completion of his school work, he began work on his father's farm, and has labored faithfully through the years. In 1902 he bought the old place, and, as stated previously, resides thereon at present. He was married March 28, 1900, to Miss Elizabetlı Robertson, a native of Johnson county. Her father was born in New York state and her mother in Ohio. The mother died in Angust, 1910, but the father survives at West Branch, Iowa, where he resides. Four children have been born to Albert L. Wescott and wife: Albert R., born Septem- ber : 1903; Mary A. ; Florence, born March, 1908; and Melvin.
Politically Mr. Wescott is a republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is associated with the fol- lowing fraternal orders: Red Men, Homesteaders, Yeomen, and the Fraternal Bankers of Cedar Rapids. He is a sterling, likable man, respected by a large number of personal friends. Being yet a young man, he has the prospect of many years of usefulness.
ALVA HENRY HINKLEY
New York state was the home-nest of the Hinkley family of Johnson county, lowa. The progenitors of this numerous and respected people were pioneers of the Empire Commonwealth. As stated in the biography of Luther Henry Hinkley, published elsewhere in this volume, Wiot Hinkley, the founder of the family, emigrated to Madison county, New York, in 1806, from Connectient. Those were the days when traveling was a hard- ship and home-building east on primitive lines. What is now one of the most thickly-settled and best-improved sections of the nation's foremost state was then almost a forest primeval. Ox teams were the dynamos of locomotion and log houses were the palaces of the gentility. Out of such conditions, however, the student of American history knows that there was devel- oped the brain and the brawn of a civilization which has com-
712
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
pelled the respect and admiration of the world. The children of the "New York Yankees" have compassed the continent and written their personality on the sisterhood of states. Iowa has been enriched and blessed by a liberal interjection of this virile stock, as well as by the strains of other commonwealths and nations, and as a consequence is today unique among the American states in its citizenship and development. The Hinkley family, in their day and place, have played an im- portant part in the making of the Hawkeye commonwealth.
Alva Henry Hinkley is a native of Utica, Oneida county, New York. The date of his birth was January 2, 1861. Those were the troublons days of the American Union, and Louis
RESIDENCE OF A. H. HINKLEY
Hinkley, his father, being a native New Yorker and inbred with the principles of universal individual liberty, became an active factor in the Northern canse. Louis Hinkley and his wife, Harriet Bemister, a native of England, removed, in 1861, to Johnson county, lowa, and settled upon a farm in Fremont township. He had made but a simple beginning in agriculture in his new home, when he heard the bugle call of his country, and, commending his young wife and family to the care of the Almighty Arbiter of Nations, hastened to the front in response to the first call of Abraham Lincoln. His first enlistment was for six months in the 6th Iowa Cavalry; and at the expiration of his voluntary conscription he reenlisted for three years.
713
BIOGRAPHICAL
He served the full term of his enlistment and was honorably discharged, returning to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture on his farm in Johnson county, where he died at a ripe old age. His wife is still living, being at present a resident of Lone Tree.
Alva Henry, of course, came to manhood on the farm of his soldier-father. His education was obtained in the district schools of Johnson county. His first business venture was in 1882, when he bought a threshing machine, which he operated the following year. Success crowned his efforts and he has continuously engaged in the threshing business, in connection with his work as a farmer, from that time to the present.
On March 23, 1886, he married Lizzie Raynor, daughter of Joseph and Jemima Raynor. Joseph Raynor was a native of England and his wife a native of Pennsylvania. Following his marriage, he rented eighty acres of land from Caleb Sweet for the term of five years. The agreed rental for this was one- half'of the corn in the field and two-fifths of the oats at the machine annually. In 1890 he bought the forty-acre farm on which he now lives from Jane Clark, and to this, in 1901, he added the eighty acres which he formerly rented from Caleb Sweet. He has cultivated both places ever since.
Five children were born to Alva Hinkley and Lizzie Raynor : Ellis James, born July 20, 1887, was drowned when eighteen years old, on August 5, 1905; Earl Frederic, born December 9, 1890, resides at home on the farm; Grace Albina, born Decem- ber 14, 1894, died November 5, 1895 ; Ernest Vernon, born Feb- ruary 19, 1900, died March 17, 1900; Edith Viola, born Feb- ruary 19, 1900, resides at home, and has to her credit a record of attendance at public school of five years without missing a day or receiving a tardy mark.
Mr. Hinkley is a stanch republican. In 1889 he was elected constable of Fremont township, an office which he held, with the exception of two years, until 1904. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at River June- tion, and take a prominent part in the services and manage- ment of the church.
714
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
JOHN KNEBEL
One of the most popular and successful farmers of Liberty township, Johnson county, is John Knebel, who has spent most of his life in the vicinity. He belongs to one of the earlier families of the county and was born on a farm in Sharon town- ship, in 1862, a son of Rochus and Elizabeth (Wombacher) Knebel. The father and mother were both born in Germany, and they came to Jolmson county about 1840. John was the fifth of their thirteen children and was reared on the home farm, attending the local schools and being reared to farm work, which he followed on his own account after reaching ma- turity.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN KNEBEL
After leaving school Mr. Knebel spent fifteen years in vari- ous occupations, making his home wherever he found employ- ment, but then returned to his native locality, and in 1893 en- gaged in farming operations on his own account, in Liberty township, where he has since remained. He is well acquainted with conditions and needs of the land in his native environ- ment, and in his chosen field of work has won a gratifying suc- cess. He has been identified with public affairs since return- ing to Johnson county, and has served in various local offices. He has been secretary of the school board; for eight years (un- til 1906) was township clerk, and then was elected a member of the county board of supervisors, which he has served as
715
BIOGRAPHICAL
chairman. He is recognized as a citizen of enterprise and pub- lic spirit and uses his influence to secure the best possible ad- ministration of the affairs of the township and county. He has won the confidence and esteem of his fellows, and stands high in the estimation of all. It is such men as he who have helped bring about the prosperity and progressive condition of the region.
Mr. Knebel was married February 19, 1884, to Miss Flora Rummelhart, daughter of F. X. Rummelhart, a well-known cit- izen of Liberty township, now over eighty-four years of age. Children as follows have been born to this union : Genevieve, is the wife of Jerome Droll and they have three children - Evelyn, Verna and Iva; Walter J., M. D., a graduate of the Iowa State University, is a prominent physician of Struble, where he has a good practice ; Catherine Pauline, Lnella, Ln- vernA, Elmer, and Panl. All except Dr. Walter J. attend the Catholic church at Riverside, of which the parents are mem- bers. Mr. Knebel has been active in church matters and was a member of the building committee at the time the new church and parish house were erected at Riverside. The family are well known in church and social circles and have many friends.
MICHAEL WILLIAM MCDONOUGHI
Michael William MeDonough, of Oxford, Johnson county, was born in Sheffield, Illinois, in 1857. He is a son of Michael and Catherine (Burk) MeDonough, the former deceased but the latter still surviving. . Michael McDonough was born in County Galway, Ireland, and died in Oxford, Iowa, April 9, 1880. He is buried in Mt. Calvary cemetery and was one of the first persons to be interred there. He and his wife left Killarney port and, after a voyage of three months in a sailing vessel, landed in America. The captain imbibed too freely of fiery liquor during the trip and lost his way so that the boat merely drifted for a long time and the sickness on board is indescribable. The MeDonough family finally left the boat at a port other than their proposed landing place and set sail a second time. They finally reached Buffalo, New York, and there took a steamer for Chicago. They decided to locate at
716
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the town of Sheffield, La Salle county, Illinois. They arrived in this country in 1852 and the father began life in railroad work, as a laborer. He eventually left Illinois and went first to Davenport and then Iowa City. He spent a number of years in the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road Company, and became a section foreman for them. Upon leaving railroad work he purchased the farm in Johnson conn- ty where his widow now resides. He grubbed, cleared, and improved this place, redeeming 160 acres of land from the wilderness. For some time the family lived in a log dwelling
RESIDENCE OF M. W. MC DONOUGH
but had a better home as their fortunes improved. The good frame house he erected is now ocenpied by his widow and son. The latter, Frank J. MeDonough, carried on the farm. He is a widower, his wife, Julia (Mullinea) MeDonough having borne him two children, Catherine and Francis. Her brother, Rev. Mullinea, was a well known Catholic priest, and for some years was chaplain in St. Joseph's Academy, at Des Moines.
Michael McDonough married Catherine Burke, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, Angust 15, 1829, daughter of Rich- ard and Catherine (McDonald) Burke, and came to America when she was twenty-three years of age. She is the only sur-
717
BIOGRAPHICAL
vivor of the seven children of her parents. Her two brothers, Michael and Thomas, are buried in Mt. Calvary cemetery, Ox- ford. Mr. and Mrs. McDonough became original members of St. Mary's Catholic church, a history of which is given in Vol- ume I of this work. They became parents of children as fol- lows: Mary, unmarried, lives with her mother; Michael W .; John, married Mary Organ; Thomas, who received a good edu- cation, became principal of a business college at St. Louis, was noted as a fine penman, married Margaret Lilly, and both are deceased; Catherine, who was born in the log house on the old home farm, married James Mooney, a farmer of Oxford township. So far back as is known the family is of Irish an- cestry. The parents of the children mentioned above were de- vout and earnest Catholics and reared their children in the same faith. They won the respect and friendship of all with whon they associated and had at heart the best interests of the community.
Michael William McDonough was educated in Oxford public schools and made the most of his opportunities in this respect. He has always kept well informed on the questions of the day and has been snecessful in his business career. He was reared to farm work and in 1880 became partner of W. E. Marvin in grain and stock business, which arrangement continued for some time. He continued this line of work until 1896, when he also established a feed mill, where he keeps a stock of every- thing to be found in a first-class flour and feed depot. He is well known throughout the county as an enterprising man of affairs. He buys stock and fattens it for the market and finds this enterprise profitable in a large degree. W. B. Jones is associated with him in the latter business. He owns a nice home in Oxford and has various interests in the community besides those mentioned. In 1882 he was elected assessor of the township and held this office until moving to Oxford, a period of twelve years, and since which time he has served abont six years on the town council. He is now clerk of Ox- ford township, having previously filled an unexpired term in this office. He was elected by a large majority, having a host of friends who believe in his good faith and his fitness for of- fice. He is an ardent democrat and has served as delegate to the county convention of the party. He is a charter member
718
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
of St. Mary's church, in which he was confirmed, made his first communion, and was married. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Catholic Order of Foresters.
On April 29, 1891, Mr. MeDonough was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Powers, Father McManus officiating at this function. His brother, Frank, acted as groomsman and Miss Katie Powers, sister of the bride, as bridesmaid. The charming bride was beautifully and appropriately attired and the groom made a creditable appearance. It was a most pleas- ant occasion and long to be remembered by those who attended, being a most happy union. The following children have been born of this nnion, all baptized at St. Mary's church: Ella, is the wife of Thomas Thompson, a prominent farmer of Hard- in township; Miss Margaret, a graduate of Oxford schools; Winnifred, now attending school; Anna, also attending Phool ; Beatrice, Mary, William, and Edwin. The four eldest have been confirmed at St. Mary's church.
Mrs. McDonough is a daughter of Edmund D. and Anastasia (Flynn) Powers, both deceased. Edmund D. Powers was born in Ireland September 11, 1826, and emigrated to America in 1847, arriving in New York in May of that year, after a long and tiresome trip of nine weeks in a sailing vessel. He worked at railroading in early life and came to Iowa in 1852. At that time Davenport was the terminal city of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific road, and in the year 1856 Mr. Powers acted as superintendent in the construction of the road as far west as Malcolm, lowa. He was foreman on the Rock Island Rail- road, at a point known as Copi to the old settlers, this place being one mile west of Tiffin station. He remained there some twelve years and in 1868 began farming in Harding township, Johnson county, having previously purchased 160 acres of partly improved land, containing a small house which he re- modelled. He also added on to the house and made further im- provements on the land, living there twenty-two years. In 1890 his son, Ed. C. Powers, took charge of the farm and Mr. Powers retired and moved to Oxford. He purchased part of St. Mary's church and moved it west of the present priest's residence. This place, which is now occupied by Ed. Lally, faces the house of his daughter, Mrs. McDonough. After be-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.