Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 104

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360

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A LBERT H. CUMMINGS, an attorney at law of Mason City, who is now · serving as Mayor, claims Vermont as the place of his nativity. His birth occurred in Newport, on the 17th of February, 1850, and in a family of seven children he is the sixth in order of birth. His father, Lo- renzo Cummings, was a native of New Hamp- shire and was of English lineage. At the age of nineteen, he left the Granite State and re- moved to Vermont, where he now resides at

the advanced age of eighty-four. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Saraphina Sylvester, was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and was of Scotch lineage. Her death occurred in 1876, at the age of sixty-four years. During his act- ive business career the father carried on farm- ing and stock dealing.

In the public schools of his native State our subject acquired his education and afterward engaged in teaching school, which profession he followed until 1871. In that year he visited the West on a business trip and became im- bued with the progressive and enterprising spirit of this section of the country. When his task was successfully accomplished he re- turned to his home, but having once seen Iowa could no longer content himself with the slow and conservative methods of the East, and in 1873 came to Mason City, where he has since resided. Soon after his arrival he became a law student in the office of Stanbury & Gibson. In order to meet his daily expenses he engaged in teaching school and followed that calling un- til 1879, when he took up the study of law. He also pursued his studies under the direction of L. H. Bisbee, of Vermont, now a leading member of the Chicago bar, and his thorough preparation well fitted him for his chosen pro- fession. He has built up quite an extensive and lucrative patronage, for he is skilled in his work, has a broad and comprehensive knowl- edge of law, and is painstaking and conscien- tious in the care of his clients' interests. He has also dealt to some extent in real estate, and now owns some choice property in Mason City, including several residences which he rents. His own home is a commodious and comfortable modern dwelling, one of the best in the city. He also has 120 acres of land southwest of Mason City, and the rental from his various properties adds materially to his income.

On the 19th of April, 1873, Mr. Cum- mings was united in marriage with Miss Idella Blake, daughter of William Blake, a resident of Derby, Vermont, descended from English ancestry. They now have two children, both

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at home: Juna, born November 12, 1879, was graduated in the high school of Mason City, in 1895; and Albert B., born June 11, 1881, is still in school.

Mr. Cuminings takes quite an active inter- est in political affairs and is a stalwart advo- cate of the principles of the Republican party, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He served for four years as chairman of the county central com- mittee, and was appointed census abstracter by President Harrison. He has filled various offices to which he has been called by his fel- low citizens, who recognize his worth and ability. Since 1879 he has served as Justice of the Peace, has been a member of the School Board for eight consecutive years, and has served as its president since 1891. In 1887 he became City Solicitor and filled that office until 1893, when he was elected Mayor, and so capa- bly did he handle the reins of city government that in 1895 they were again placed in his hands, and when his present term expires he will have filled the office for four years. His family are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Mason City, and is a delegate to the Grand Lodge.

ILLIAM HENRY NOTDORF .- There are in every community a few progressive, wide-awake citi- zens whose abilities make them leaders in business and public affairs and to whom the locality is indebted for its advance- ment and prosperity. To this class belongs our subject, who is engaged in the lumber, brick and grain business in Tripoli, Iowa, and with pleasure we present to our readers the record of his career.

His father, Harry Notdorf, was born near Hanover, Germany, and about 1850 married Marguerite Verseman, also a native of that neighborhood. He engaged in the lumber business in his native land until 1866, when he came with his family to America, Locating in

Will county, Illinois, he then turned his atten- tion to farming. He had a family of six chil- dren, of whom William H. was the third. He was born in the village of Benigen, near Soltau, Germany, November 18, 1856, and began his education in the public schools of his native town. After coming to America he continued his studies in a German school in Washington township, Will county, where he remained for four years, and the only English educational training he acquired was obtained in the pub- lic schools during one winter's attendance. During vacations he aided in the work of the home farm and afterward entered upon his business career as a farm hand near Kankakee. He worked for one man two years and for another man one year, and during that time learned to speak the English language, with which he was not familiar when he left home. Desirous of becoming acquainted with the French tongue, he entered the employ of a Frenchinan in that neighborhood, but after two months spent with him returned to Will county and for two and a half years worked at the carpenter's trade in Crete. On the expira- tion of that period he removed to Beecher, where he also worked at the carpenter's trade and at putting up lightning rods.

Three years later Mr. Notdorf brought a carload of horses and farming implements to Tripoli. On arriving here he met an old friend who pursuaded him to take up his resi- dence in this place. He then returned home, secured his carpenter's tools and personal property and soon after made a permanent set- tlement here. For two years he followed car- pentering in the employ of another, and then began contracting on his own account. Sub- sequently he entered the employ of C. D. Ha- ven, of Minneapolis, who owned a lumber- yard in Tripoli, and for eleven months he served as bookkeeper. He then purchased a third interest in the yard, on the 8th of March, 1884, and the firm of Haven & Notdorf con- tinued business for seventeen months, when our subject purchased his partner's interest and has since been alone. He is the leading lumn-

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ber dealer of the town. His success seems re- markable, for he began life without a dollar that he could call his own. He has, however, watched the indications of trade, brought to bear upon his business interests a sound judg- ment, unfaltering determination and great energy and has steadily worked his way up- ward until he has become the owner of a handsome property. He now has his yard, his place of business and his own home all un- encumbered.

On the 24th of May, 1883, Mr. Notdorf was united in marriage with Miss Emma Hilder- brant, a native of Cook county, Illinois, and they have two daughters: Hulda, born Octo- ber 3, 1884; and Viola, born November 26, 1895. In his political views Mr. Notdorf is a Republican, but is non-partisan at local elec- tions. For ten years he has served as treas- urer of the Fremont School Board, and both he and his wife are active members of the United Lutheran Church, in which he has served as Treasurer for four years. In all that appertains to the welfare of the commun- ity he is found as a helpful factor, and is a very popular gentleman, having a host of warm friends who esteem him highly for his sterling worth.

J OHN HENRY MARTIN, a retired farmer now living in Tripoli, was born on the 30th of November, 1839, near Marietta, Ohio. He was the fifth in order of birth of the nine children of John and Mary (Patterson) Martin, both natives of Scot- land. They were married in Argyleshire, where their eldest child was born. The father engaged in merchandising there until 1830, when with his family he crossed the Atlantic to America and took up his residence on the farm where occurred the birth of our subject. In 1843 they removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, settling near Rockford, and there the subject of this review was reared to manhood.

In the spring of 1861 he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and purchased 120 acres of im-

proved land. In the fall he was joined by his parents, who took up their residence upon that farm. In 1866 John Henry Martin purchased 160 acres of land and began farming on his own account. As his financial resources have increased, he has added to his landed pos- sessions from time to time until he now has 560 acres of rich and arable land. All of this is improved, and is valued at $50 per acre. Upon the farm are a fine residence, large and substantial barns, and other necessary out- buildings, and the various improvements and conveniences found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century. He has been systematic in his work, has followed progressive methods, and his unfaltering perseverance, sound judg- ment and enterprise have brought to him a handsome competence. In 1894 Mr. Martin became one of the organizers of the Bank of Tripoli, and is one of its stockholders and di- rectors. For the past fifteen years he has also carried on an extensive stock business, and this proves to him a profitable source of income.

On the 3d of June, 1866, Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Elvira Mulock, who was born in New York but reared in Illinois. Two children grace this union: Edwin Henry, born June 24, 1867, was educated in the pub- lic schools of Tripoli, afterward spent one year in the State Normal School, and pursued a commercial course in Elliott's Business Col- lege, of Burlington, Iowa. After his educa- tion was completed he worked for one year with his father, and then went to the State of Washington, where he engaged as bookkeeper for the firm of Sherman & Zirngibl, lumber- men of Palouse, Washington. Later the busi- ness of that firm passed into the hands of a stock company and he was made manager, serving in that capacity for three years. He then returned to Tripoli on a visit and while here was elected cashier of the Tripoli Savings Bank, in which position he is now serving. He is an ambitious and capable young man and ranks among the leading business men of the city. The daughter of the family, Myra E., was born February 25, 1873, in Tripoli,

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and has completed a three-years course in the State Normal. She now holds a State school certificate.

In his political views Mr. Martin is an un- faltering Republican, having stanchly supported that party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He was elected the first Mayor of Tripoli, and is now serving his second term in that office. He has the best interests of the town at heart, has labored earnestly for its advancement and upbuilding, and is one of its most public-spirited citizens. He is one of the first three directors of the graded schools and for six years has been a inember of the School Board. He has also served as Township Trustee and Clerk of Fre- mont township for several years. He is quite active in the local councils of his party, is deeply interested in its growth and success, and has frequently been sent as a delegate to the State conventions. Mr. Martin owns a store building and his residence in Tripoli, the latter being one of the best and most comfort- able in the town. He is a man of domestic tastes, devoted to the welfare and happiness of his family. He has made three trips to the Pacific coast, mostly for pleasure, and takes considerable delight in travel. The most pronounced traits of his character perhaps are his absolute honesty and uprightness, and in all the relations of life his career has been above reproach, and he has gained the confi- dence and highest regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

BEL WOOD HOLLOWAY .- There are indeed few names that are more familiar to the people of Dallas county, Iowa, than the one which graces this sketch. He has for many years been a minister of the gospel, is now Mayor of Linden, and is recognized as a man of wealth as well as one of the most influential in the county.

Mr. Holloway was born in Highland county,

Ohio, June 26, 1824, fourth in order of the ten children of Isaac and Nancy Agnes (Cherry) Holloway, the former a native of Virginia, born near Wheeling; the latter of Pennsyl- vania. Both the Cherry and the Holloway families moved to Ohio at a very early day, and it was in Highland county, about 1814, that the parents of our subject were married. In Highland county the father secured 100 acres of military land, which, a few years after the birth of Abel, he lost by an older right dispossessing him, and, by litigation trying to save it, was left in very straitened circum- stances. He had just $20 left, and this amount he paid to a man to move his family to Ran- dolph county, Indiana, where Mr. Holloway secured employment and where, when he had saved $50, he entered forty acres of land, upon which he managed to make somewhat more than a living. He cleared and improved it, and a few years later sold out at a profit and bought 120 acres in the same county. Although very young at the time, the subject of our sketch distinctly remembers many of the privations and trials through which he passed in those days, and he remembers, too, the first pair of pants which he ever wore. They were made from the sleeves of a dress his mother had dis- carded. He was four years old at that time, and his twin brother also had a pair made from the same kind of material. When he was nine- teen Mr. Holloway left home and went to Illi- nois, where he worked about nine months, then went to Missouri, and after six months spent in the latter State returned to his home in Indiana and remained under the parental roof until he attained his twenty-third year. Again he started out, this time going to live with an uncle in Ohio, with whom he remained one year, working on his uncle's farm part of the time and attending school in the intervals. Then until 1849 he was at his father's home in Indiana, and since 1864 has maintained his residence in Iowa. On his arrival here he

purchased 240 acres near Linden. He now owns 131 acres, in two different farms, has fourteen acres in town lots in Linden, and be-

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sides owns one of the prettiest and most com- fortable residences in the town.

When a young man Mr. Holloway united with the Christian Church, with which he was identified up to 1883, when he severed his con- nection with it and joined the Friends' Church, with which he is now connected. For thirty- seven years of this time he has been actively engaged in the work of the ministry, and has only recently, in 1894, retired from the pulpit, on account of afflictions. He still loves Jesus, and rejoices in his love every day. During his ministerial career he has married 513 couples.

Mr. Holloway was married February 8, 1849, to Miss Louisa Jane Clevenger, a native of Highland county, Ohio, her parents having moved from there to Randolph county, Indi- ana, when she was four years old. It was in Randolph county that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holloway was consummated. They are the parents of a large family of children, brief record of whom is as follows: Edward Rounds, born December 15, 1849, is married, has four children, and is living on one of his father's farms; Louis C., born July 6, 1851, is married and has eight children, and resides in Guthrie county, Iowa; Madison C., born June 4, 1853, was killed by a wild bull, May 7, 1875; Finley E., born May 28, 1855, is married, has five children, and lives in Guth- rie county; William C., born September 24, 1857, died November 18, 1878; Isaac, born October 28, 1859, is married, has two chil- dren, and resides in Linden; Henry M., born December 1, 1861, resides near Linden, is married and has one child; Margaret E., born December 25, 1863, is married and resides in Chicago; Ida B., born June 1I, 1866, is mar- ried and the mother of two children, her home being in Linden; Herschel, born July 4, 1872, died August 1, 1879; and Von F., born July 6, 1875, is a resident of Linden, Iowa.

Early in life Mr. Holloway voted the Free- soil ticket, from the organization of the Re- publican party up to 1893 was one of its stanch adherents, and since 1893 has given his support to the Prohibition party. He has

served many years in various official positions. He was a Justice of the Peace four terms, a member of the School Board sixteen years, thirteen years of that time its President, Town- ship Trustee two terms, and Road Supervisor for about fifteen years. At this writing, as already stated, he is Mayor of the town of Linden. During the Civil war he offered his services to the Government, in 1861, but was not accepted on account of his being afflicted with rheumatism: however, he did yeoman service by taking care of the widows and orphans. It is said that he did as much for them as any other one man in the State in which he lived.

EWIS CASS OBERDORF, now serving as Superintendent of the Schools of Bremer county, has long been connected with the educational interests of this section of the State, and few men have done more for the advancement and improvement of the schools than he. He is now giving to his work careful study, planning and executing methods that will bring to still greater perfection the schools that are now under his jurisdiction.

Mr. Oberdorf was born on a farm in North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, November II, 1847, and is the second in order of birth of ten children whose parents were Philip and Massey (Dawson) Oberdorf. His father and grandfather were both natives of Northumber- land county, but the great-grandfather was born in Germany, and crossing the Atlantic became the founder of the family in America. The mother of our subject was also born in Northumberland county, whither her parents removed from New Jersey. They were of German and English extraction. Philip Ober- dorf was a farmer, and in the spring of 1855 he removed with his family to Iowa, and ar- rived in Waverly, Bremer county, on the 28th of April. Our subject was at that time seven years of age. He now resumed his studies which he had begun in the public schools of

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the Keystone State, and completed his literary training in Waverly at the age of nineteen years. He had thoroughly reviewed his studies and at the age noted began teaching, ac- cepting the charge of a school in Jeffer- son township. He has taught all together twenty-six terms of school, having charge of one school for thirteen consecutive terms. No higher testimonial of his ability could be given than this statement. In 1860 his father, who was engaged in the lumber busi- ness, failed and removed to a farm. Lewis at once went to his father's assistance. He was at the time still in school and anxious to keep up with his studies; so while working in the fields he would carry his book with him and learn his lessons while following the plow. The school-house was three miles from his home, and it was therefore frequently impos- sible for him to attend; but the old saying that "where there's a will there's a way" was demonstrated in his case. Though many dif- ficulties arose in his "path of knowledge, " he overcame these by determined effort, and ex- tensive reading and study in later years have made.him one of the well informed men in Bre- mer county. Even after he began teaching he continued to aid his father until the latter had again secured a start in life.

For our subject rural life has always had a special charm, and the desire of his heart has always been to become the possessor of a fine farm. To this end he saved his earnings as a teacher and made judicious investments in realty, so that to-day he is the owner of a very desirable property comprising 180 acres of rich land valued at $10,000. It is under a high state of cultivation and is stocked with fine grades of horses and cattle. He gave up his position as teacher at the close of the school year of 1884, and turned his attention to his farm, making a specialty of stock-raising and dairy farming. He raised most of his own feed, and his corn crops often yielded seventy- five bushels to the acre. He possesses the in- domitable courage and determination that carry forward to successful completion whatever he

undertakes, and it is a common saying among his neighbors and friends that he can make two blades of grass grow where others grow but one. His success has by no means been the result of chance. He has made a close study of farming, as he has of everything else to which he has directed his attention. His work was directed by a sound judgment, and the careful attention which he gave to his business enabled him to win prosperity therein.

On the 9th of October, 1872, Mr. Ober- dorf married Miss Sarah M. Bills, who was born in New York, but was living in Bremer county at the time of her marriage. Her father was of English and her mother of German extrac- tion. They are the parents of three children: Bert E., born September 15, 1873; Estella Fay, born December 17, 1881; and Madge, born February 24, 1885.

Mr. Oberdorf has much faith in the safety of real-estate investments and has purchased considerable land in Iowa. In politics he has always been a Democrat and is a recognized leader in the ranks of his party. He is not bitterly partisan, however, and never argues a point; but when asked for his opinion he gives it freely, though concisely, and his words are always to the point. He was first nominated for office in 1873 and made the race for County Auditor. The county then was overwhelm- ingly Republican, but though he was defeated he ran 150 ahead of his ticket. In 1879, only fifteen days before the election, the Demo- cratic ticket was made up and he was the nomi- nee for County Superintendent of Schools, and succeeded in reducing the usual Republican majority of 900 to 300, thus nearly doubling his party vote. In 1891 he was elected sec- retary of the Bremer County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and continued in that position until 1893, when he was elected County Superintendent of Schools of Bremer county, by a majority of nearly 500, running ahead of his ticket. He is a man of great per- sonal popularity, and his genuine worth and fitness for office are widely recognized. In 1895 he was re-elected and is now serving his

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second term, giving general satisfaction. Un- doubtedly the secret of his success lies largely in his deep-felt interest in the young and his un- tiring efforts for their advancement.

He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church and are highly esteemed people. He is a man of much force of charac- ter and tenacity of purpose, and has the power of concentrating his mind and energies on one thing alone to a remarkable degree. He justly ranks among the able educators of the State, and is deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all.

HEODORE PACKELS, the popular and capable County Clerk of Bremer county, now residing in Waverly, was born on the 13th of October, 1864, on a farm near the center of the county, and is the second of a family of five sons. His father, Gus Von Packels, was born in Chems- ford, England, seven miles from London, and was reared in Brunswick, Germany. On at- - taining his majority he resolved to seek a home and fortune in America, and crossing the At- lantic made his way to Bremer county, Iowa, in 1857. Here he began dealing in real es- tate. In 1870 he removed to Waverly, where he died in September, 1889, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife bore the maiden name of Dora Kasemeir, and was a native of Ger- many, whence she came with her family to the United States in her girlhood, locating in Cook county, Illinois, in 1858. The marriage of the parents was celebrated in Bremer county, Iowa, in 1861. Two of their sons died in in- fancy, and our subject is the eldest of the sur- viving three. The others are Gus, an optician of Waverly, who graduated from a New York college, and Will, a graduate of the Waverly high school, now employed in the post-office.

Our subject spent the first five years of his life on the farm where his birth occurred, and then his parents removed with the family to Waverly. He acquired a good English educa- tion in the public schools, which he attended

until sixteen years of age, when he entered the Old Bank of Waverly, now the First National Bank, for the purpose of gaining a practical knowledge of bookkeeping. One year later he entered a grocery store, where he was employed four years, and on severing his connection with that house he entered a hardware establish- ment, where he remained for four years. Re- turning then to the grocery store, he was con- nected with it during the following year.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 104

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1360

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360