USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 58
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
In 1889 John Rennolz married Miss Mollie Hoffman, and in 1893 he and his wife located on the Hoffman homestead. He purchased the home place of the estate for $165 per acre, and now farms 308 acres of land. In 1911 he had 100 acres in corn, and from sixteen acres of timothy seed he realized three hundred dollars. He has twelve head of cattle, eighteen head of horses (including colts) and over 100 Duroc Jersey hogs. He is a republican in politics and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is president and his wife is treas- urer of the school board, and she is also secretary and treas- urer of the Ladies' Aid Society of the Christian church.
IGNATZ G. BIRRER
Ignatz G. Birrer is among the most progressive and enter- prising young farmers of Johnson county, and a representa- tive of a family that has been known there for over half a century. He is a son of Martin and Christina (Brockman) Birrer, and was born July 31, 1872. His grandfather, Nicholas Birrer, the first of his ancestors to come to America, was born in 1817, in Alsace, Germany, and there married Mary Mag- dalene Schuffeaecker. Seven children were born to them. This family left the fatherland in 1845, embarked in a sailing vessel, and journeyed to the New World, the voyage consuming thir- ty-two days. Landing at New York City, they took a boat for Albany, and traveled thence down the Erie canal to Buffalo and took another boat to Cleveland, Ohio. They went on to Canton, Ohio, arriving there in June, 1845. In October of that vear they left Canton and went first to Wellsville, Pennsyl- vania, and down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi to Bloomington, now Muscatine, Iowa. They were met at this point by their old friend Gregory Gross, with whom they had previously been in correspondence, and accompanied him across the prairies to Iowa City, in a wagon. Gregory Gross was well known among the early German-American families of Johnson county, as an energetic and prosperous farmer, public-spirited citizen, and representative of the best interests of the community. He was a good friend and helped the new settlers in many ways to make a start in the place they had chosen for a home.
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In the spring of 1846 Nicholas Birrer moved to his preemp- tion claim in Section 33, Liberty township, this farm now being the property of John Deatsch. They subsequently purchased the land from the government, paying therefor $1.25 per acre. They occupied a log house until 1854, then erected a better dwelling, also of logs, and which is now standing on Mr. Deatsch's place. There the parents of this large family lived until called by the angel Death to their heavenly home. They were original members of St. Stanislaus church and did their share in its support. Both parents were buried in the ceme- tery at St. Stanislaus and a monument marks their resting place. Mr. Birrer was a very industrious and ambitious farm- er and improved and developed a fine farm. In company with
RESIDENCE OF I. G. BIRRER
Michael Doll, he made many trips to Muscatine, with oxen, taking a load each way, for they had to take their pay for farm produce in commodities rather than money, as a usual thing. On one occasion Mr. Birrer took a load of grain and returned with candles. He had to break prairie land, split rails for fences, and lived the life of a pioneer, farming with such prim- itive tools as the cradle. His wife spun and wove the cloth for the family, and in all ways proved the good helpmate most of her neighbors were. He served as trustee and road super- visor of Liberty township and also as district school officer. He died while on his way home from a trip, being drowned while fording Old Man's creek, in which the water had risen
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since he had left home. His death occurred March 21, 1870, at the age of fifty-three years, three months and fourteen days, and was a shock to his many friends, as he was in the prime of life and health. His widow passed away December 14, 1888, aged sixty-eight years, four months and twenty-eight days.
To Nicholas Birrer and wife seven children were born, as follows : Martin, familiarly known as "Squire" Birrer, father of the subject of this sketch; Mary Magdalene, wife of Charles Droll, whose son William is given a sketch within these pages ; George. married Josephine Rummelhart, and they live in Kan- sas; Frances M., married Mathias Fischer and they live in Kinross, Iowa; Raymond, lives in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Droll live retired from active life, in Riverside.
Martin Birrer, eldest child of his parents, was born in Al- sace, November 12, 1842, and has been a continuous resident of Johnson county since early childhood. He has been active in public life since attaining maturity, and has taken a useful part in various measures for the general welfare. In 1866 he was elected justice of the peace and served continuously in this office until 1908. During this time none of the cases tried before him was appealed to a higher court. He greatly desired to settle as many of his cases as possible out of court. Mr. Birrer served twenty-six years as clerk of Liberty town- ship, thirty years as school treasurer, and a great many years as road supervisor, being elected to the latter office in a very early day in Johnson county history. He has for many years been president of the Farmers' Insurance Company. Coming to the county when three years old, he has spent sixty-six years there, and is one of the best-known men in the region. He was reared to farm life and early had a desire to earn his own way in the world.
In his twenty-fifth year Martin Birrer married Christina Brockman, the ceremony being performed by Rev. John Fen- driek, in St. Stanislaus church, November 12, 1867. After his marriage Mr. Birrer bought a farm three and a quarter miles southwest of what is now Hills and three and a half miles north of the present site of Riverside. This farm comprised eighty acres of choice land and became very productive. Some three or four times a year he went with his ox team to Mus-
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catine, exchanging his farm produce for other commodities and seldom receiving any money for it. He managed, how- ever, to get enough currency to pay his taxes when they fell que, and was well off without it otherwise. In 1868 he went to live on the old homestead. He purchased land from time to time and became possessed of 200 acres of fine land in Sec- tions 29, 32, and 33, Liberty township, with substantial build- ings thereon. IIe and his wife had the following eleven chil- dren: M. Saraphina; Romania Frances, married Albert Schultz, and they have five children, as mentioned in his sketch. which appears in this work; Ignatz G., whose name heads this sketch; Frank M., married Rose Knebel, lives in Dillon, Montana, and they have one son, Ivo; Magdalene, mar- ried Joseph Mellecker, a sketch of whom is given within these pages ; Palagia, married Cornelius Welch, lives in Washing- ton county, and they have five children, John, Richard, Cath- erine, Martin, and Thomas; Josephine, married George Deatsch, who is given further mention in this work; Mary, married Henry Gringer, of Hills, Iowa, and they have an in- fant daughter; Nicholas, his grandfather's namesake, lives at Dillon, Montana, married Muriel Geary, and they have one son, Joseph; Andrew, lives at Dillon, Montana; Henry, mar- ried Margaret Deatsch and they reside at Hills and have one son, Clarius. This large family of children was reared in the Catholic faith and all are now living, a fine group of men and women and a credit to their parents.
Ignatz G. Pirrer operates the old Joseph Draker farm, on Section 28, Liberty township, and also owns in Sections 28 and 33, ninety-one acres and is one of those men who make the most of their opportunities. He is always planning new improvements and better ways of doing things, and makes his every move count for something. This farm, comprising some seventy-one acres, was purchased by him in 1900. He has some timber and has brought the rest of the place to a high state of cultivation and productiveness, beginning its operation in 1901. The farm contains a fine natural spring, from which he has piped water to supply the house and for the stock. This water is run into three cisterns, each for a dif- ferent purpose, and is a valuable asset. There is also a con- tinuous overflow which supplies two stock tanks. The spring
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is some sixty to eighty rods from these cisterns, and furnishes a constant supply of clear water. His house is supplied with modern conveniences, and both hard and cold water are to be pumped therein. One of the features which adds to the value and attractiveness of his farm is the fine orchard, containing peaches, apples, plums, and grapes. Cement walks surround the modern dwelling, which was constructed by the former owner. In 1910 Mr. Birrer erected a fine barn, with cement floor and fine box stalls for his horses. This is of his own design and shows the practical ideas he brings to bear on his operations. This building is 50 by 56 feet in extent and 25 feet high for the main posts and about 35 feet in the center, with a capacity for 50 tons of hay. The feed boxes and gran- ary are well screened and the gates are convertible, so ad- justed as to take up no unnecessary room when open. The oak used in building this barn was taken from the farm itself.
Mr. Birrer has fine Hereford eattle and Poland China hogs. He also has a high grade of Norman horses. In 1911 his corn . yield averaged 60 bushels to the acre and he also raised some smaller grain. He is very well known in the community, where his entire life has been spent, and is much interested in public affairs. He feels gratified at the part taken by his ancestors in forwarding the development and progress of the region and is himself a representative member of that prominent family, being industrious and ambitious in business affairs, and possessed of the high principles which have been identi- fied with the name of Birrer as far back as anything is known of it.
In 1902 Mr. Birrer was married to Miss Louisa Mellecker, of Johnson county, mentioned elsewhere in this work in con- nection with a sketch of her family, and one son has blessed this union, the pride of the home, little George Henry, born April 9, 1910.
Mr. Birrer now owns 162 acres in Liberty township, Sec- tions 28 and 33. He owns 80 acres of the old Birrer home- stead, which is of great value to the family.
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THOMAS JEFFERSON HARPER (Deceased)
Thomas Jefferson Harper was born January 15, 1828, in Whitestown (now called Whitesboro), Oneida county, New York. He died February 29, 1908, in Oxford, Johnson county, Iowa. He was never married. He came to Oxford in 1854 with two uncles, Samuel and Jonathan N. Church. They set- tled on a farm two miles south of Oxford. For several years he lived with these uncles. After their deaths he lived alone for several years on his farm. About 1895 a brother and his family came from New York and occupied the farm and he lived with them until his death.
His life was an uneventful one. A pioneer in those days had but little variety. The neighbors were few and far apart. He believed the lack in numbers was more than balanced by the good quality. He was always a farmer and his enjoyment consisted in getting a living or a little more, reading books and newspapers.
By his extensive reading he was always ready to express an . opinion on current events. In politics, men and measures in- terested him more than party. Before he was of age he be- came a strong abolitionist and remained so until the slaves were made free. He was conscientiously honest in all business matters. Although he was not a member of any church he tried to follow the precepts of the Bible.
JONATHAN NICHOLS CHURCH (Deceased)
Jonathan Nichols Church was born in Saybrook, Connecti- cut, January 31, 1800, and died in Oxford, Johnson county, Iowa, February 15, 1861. He was a small boy when his pa- rents moved from Saybrook to Trenton, Oneida county, New York. He was brought up a farmer and followed that occupa- tion to the time of his death. In 1853 he came west to see the country, intending if he liked it to make it his home. He was well pleased with what he saw of the country and people. He went back to New York with the determination to return as soon as he could arrange his business and locate in Iowa.
In 1854 he returned with a brother and nephew and settled on a farm about two miles south of Oxford City.
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He was a great reader and was always well informed on public issues. In religion he was a firm Baptist. He was never married. The whig and republican party tickets were usually sure of his support. He was honest and respected by his ac- quaintances and did what he could to improve the new country.
WALTER J. EVANS
The parents of Walter J. Evans were among the honored pioneers of Johnson county and did much to promote early growth and development of the region. Several members of the family fought in the Civil War and in times of peace all have done their duty as private citizens. Walter J. Evans, who has lived in Johnson county since infancy, is one of the most widely and favorably known men within its boun- daries. He was born in Ohio county, Indiana, Jannary 4, 1849, son of Thomas and Nancy A. (McAdams) Evans, the father a native of Delaware and the mother of Ohio county. When a youth of eighteen years, Thomas Evans removed to Indiana, where he remained until some years after his marriage, and in 1849 brought his family to Newport township, Johnson county, his home the remainder of his life. He enlisted, October 19, 1864, as a recruit in Company D, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and at the battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, was mortally wounded, his death occurring in a hospital in Balti- more, in November of the same year. His widow remained in Newport township until her death, November 20, 1871.
Eight sons were born to Thomas Evans and wife: Wesley D., of Humboldt county, Iowa; John H., of Alburnett, Iowa; James M., foreman in a round house of the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy railroad, at Creston, Iowa; Thomas A., a stock buyer, of Oasis ; Larkin H., of Iowa City; Alexander E., in the grocery business at Mt. Vernon; and Walter J., besides one, Alexander A., who died in infancy.
Walter J. Evans has carried on farming in Newport town- ship since old enough to engage in active work on his own ac- count, and is in possession of a valuable and well-kept farm. He was married, November 20, 1871, to Miss Minnie Tippen- hauer, who was born in Scott township, Johnson county, Janu-
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ary 24, 1850, daughter of Conrad Tippenhauer. Mr. Tippen- hauer, a native of Germany, came to America as a young man, locating first in Pennsylvania, where he met and married Miss Sarah Grenawalt. They were among the early settlers of Johnson county. There the father died February 19, 1881, at the age of seventy-four years, one month, and five days, and the mother died at her home in Iowa City, October 13, 1899, at the age of eighty-five years, eleven months, and twenty-seven days. They took a prominent part in the life of the community and made many warm friends among the early settlers. They had nine children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Eliza ; Margaret; Charles, who enlisted in Company F, Twenty-second Iowa Infantry, was killed at the siege of Vicks- burg, dying June 13, 1863, at the age of twenty-seven years; Katherine; George; Mary; Mrs. Evans; and George, who died October 22, 1864, at the age of ten years.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans: Charles T., died August 15, 1878, at the age of five years ; Harlan A., purchasing agent of the State University of Nebraska, located near Lincoln; Manley J., professor in the commercial depart- ment of Wesley University, about three miles from Lincoln, Nebraska; Alda B., wife of Henry Fuhrmeister, of Iowa City. Mr. Evans has a grandson, Robley, son of Manley J. Evans.
Delbert Franklin Sponey, son of Frank G. and Alda Fuhr- meister, grandson of Mrs. Evans, resides with her on the old homestead.
Mr. Evans is a devout and useful member of the United Brethren church and a republican in politics. He is interested in all that pertains to the general welfare and prosperity, and is a worthy representative of the family that has meant so much in the history of the county. He has given his children good educations and all have become useful members of so- ciety and occupy desirable places in the field of their activities.
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JAMES CAVANAGH (Deceased)
James Cavanagh was born at Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, November, 1806, and when he was ten or twelve years old he removed with his father's family to northern Ohio, and from thence to southwestern Michigan when he was a young man. He was married in 1830, to Miss Amy K. Towns- end and opened and improved a small farm on MeKinney's prairie, near Cassapolis, in Cass county, where he resided until the spring of 1839 when he sold his little farm and came to Iowa with his wife and five children-all boys-and settled on the Cedar river in the northeastern corner of Johnson county, five miles east of where Solon now stands. Here he opened and improved quite a large farm, and he and his de- voted wife labored and struggled to support their young and growing family and to educate them as best they could under the privations and vicissitudes incident to pioneer life in that early day in Iowa. Their family had now increased to eight children - all boys - and it can be readily understood that it required no ordinary efforts and devotion to care for, clothe, and supply the necessary food for this large and de- pendent family ; but so well was all done by this devoted pair that all their children grew to man's estate in perfect health and physical development and with as much education as was possible in that early time for they all acquired the rudi- ments of an education.
Mr. Cavanagh, n addition to taking care of his farm and had had limited opportunities for schooling, but gave their children the benefit of the limited education they themselves possessed, until schools were established
Mr. Cavanagh, in addition to taking care of his farm and stock raising and providing for his family, took a deep in- terest in affairs that pertained to the public welfare and he served the public in several official positions, as county com- missioner, county assessor, justice of the peace, member of the house of the 7th General Assembly, county judge, and auditor. He was also one of the three commissioners who selected and located a very large land grant of the gen- eral government to the State of Iowa, for internal improve-
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ments, but which was subsequently diverted to the common schools.
Mr. Cavanagh sold his farm on the Cedar in 1888 and moved to Iowa City, where for a short time he was engaged in mercantile business, but found that he was not adapted to that business, and so sold out, after which he was not en- gaged in any business, except in some of the official positions before alluded to. He continued to reside at the home he ac- quired on coming to Iowa City, until his death, February 14, 1880, at the age of seventy-three. His wife, with whom he had lived a half century, survived until September, 1902, when she passed away at the advanced age of ninety-six years.
JOHN ANTON GOETZ
The proverbial bent of the German character towards thrift, honesty and persistent industry is nowhere more strongly em- phasized than among the numerous Teutonic households and their posterity who compose a considerable part of the popula- tion of eastern Iowa. Hundreds of splendidly improved farms, with prosperous herds, fruitful fields, great barns and beautiful residences, attest the intelligence and the frugality of their German owners. It has passed into a proverb that the "Germany man makes a high-class American citizen." The operations of the children of the Fatherland are not confined to the farm alone: in the cities and villages their progressive spirit is manifest to a marked degree also. We find them in the ranks of manufacture, of merchandise and of finance; and with very rare exceptions we can invariably write the word Success over their doorways. This is a record which should awaken pride in the German breast. It is the open sesame of the Teutonic race to the confidence and the esteem of mankind, and gives them position in the front ranks of the citizenship of the Great Republic. Johnson county boasts a numerous rep- resentation of these people, and it is freely admitted by all can- did men that their operations have contributed largely to the acknowledged position of the county in the vanguard of agri- cultural and industrial success.
Among the names that rank high in the German-American
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population of the county is that of Goetz. Our subject, John Anton Goetz, occupies a leading and important place in the ag- ricultural and business world of Iowa City as well as of Lone Tree and vicinity. He is the owner of 800 acres of land in Pleasant Valley township, which is in a high state of cultiva- tion. He is president of the Farmers & Merchants bank at Lone Tree and the Hills Savings bank at Hills, and was former- ly president of the Lone Tree Savings bank, his connection with these institutions covering a period of twenty years. He is also president of the Hummer Mercantile company of Iowa City. Always his name and his policy have stood for the best principles and methods in banking and other business. His financial administration has always inspired and received the confidence of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Goetz was born at Wallenstein, Bavaria, Germany, Aug- ust 7, 1847. His parents were John Goetz and Mary Rosalie Grafennaur, natives of Germany. Our subject was seven years of age when his parents removed to America, and distinctly re- members the long ocean voyage of fifty-four days and the joy of landing at the American port of New York. The family first located at Cincinnati, Ohio, but were discouraged by their ex- perience there on account of a bank failure which swept away a goodly portion of the father's savings. The elder Goetz thereupon determined to invest his remaining capital in land, and with this object in view came overland from Ohio to John- son county, Iowa, in 1854, and settled in Iowa City, where the family resided for fifteen years. There John Goetz engaged in the general merchandise business, in which he prospered. From his savings he bought a farm in Lincoln township and the family moved thereon. The mercantile habit, however, was fastened upon him, and after two years' residence on the farm he went to West Liberty and again launched into general merchandise. He remained there two years, when he sold out and returned to Iowa City. There he engaged in the ice busi- ness, which he continued until his retirement from active work. He died March 16, 1885. His wife died January 4, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. John Goetz were the parents of seven children : Mar- garet, born June 7, 1846, died in infancy ; our subject, John A., born Angust 7, 1847 ; John E., born February 16, 1849, died in February, 1901, in California; Mary R., born March 2, 1854,
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died in infancy; Frances, born February 2, 1855, married to Charles Epnother, died in Kansas in 1887; Joseph, born Aug- ust 4, 1857, lives in Lincoln township; William, born August 19, 1861, died December 28, 1881. Our subject and his brother Joseph are therefore the only surviving members of the orig- inal family.
Our subject attended primary school one and one-half years in Germany, and completed his education in Iowa City. In his younger days he was associated with his father in the general merchandise business. At the age of twenty-one he took up the business of farming in Lincoln township, continuing in that township for ten years, when he removed to Pleasant Valley township. In the latter township he has been a farmer for thirty-four years. His present home, originally containing 160 acres, was the first farm he bought in 1875. He has added eighty acres thereto. His farm of 480 acres is situated one mile north of the old home farm.
In 1871 Mr. Goetz was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Clear, who was born in New York state July 16, 1851, and came with her parents to Iowa City in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Goetz have been blessed with ten children, eight of whom are living, as fol- lows : Mary. R., married, residing in Oregon; Annie, now Mrs. John P. Unrath, living in Iowa City ; Antonette, librarian at the University, Urbana, Illinois; Anthony L., farmer, living at home; Louise, living at home; Otto P., Carl, and Margaret, all living at home.
Politically Mr. Goetz is a democrat and has held many im- portant local offices. He is a member of the Catholic church, and also one of the Knights of Columbus of Iowa City. Broad- minded, public-spirited, progressive, he occupies a strong posi- tion among the citizenship of southern Johnson county. His name and character stand for all that is best in American progress.
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