USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 19
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North Dakota; Hattie, who married James Maloney, a farmer near Esmond, in the same state ; and Morten C., of this review.
The last named acquired his education in the Evergreen school near his father's farm and his childhood was spent upon the homestead. From an early age he assisted with the farm work, becoming thoroughly familiar with the best and most practical agricultural methods, and at the age of seventeen he began his independent career, working at farm labor in the employ of others for some time. When he was twenty-one years of age he purchased the homestead of two hundred and thirty-four acres, to which he has since added from time to time, his holdings now comprising three hundred and thirty-six acres. Upon this prop- erty he has made substantial improvements, erecting new barns and outbuildings and installing modern labor-saving machinery. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and both branches of his enterprise, being well conducted, are also profitable and important. A progressive and enterprising young man, Mr. Deering keeps in touch with the trend of modern advancement in agricultural methods and ideas and his work has been important as an element in the later farming development of his native section.
On the 11th of October, 1903, Mr. Deering was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Uhl, a native of Franklin township, born October 11, 1881. She is a daughter of John and Ann (Cleverley) Uhl, the former a native of Brooklyn, New York, born March 22, 1854, and the latter born in England, on the 21st of October, 1840. The father acquired his education in the public schools of his native city and after the death of his parents came in 1872 to Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for a short time. Later he purchased property of his own in Post township and also a number of acres across the line in Franklin township and upon this farm he continued to reside for the remainder of his life, his death occurring June 20, 1905. His wife survives him and makes her home with the subject of this review. She had been previously married and by her first union had four children: Adeline, deceased; Fred; Gertie, and George. M. and Mrs. John Uhl had three children: Stella, who married Perry Cook. a farmer in Post township: Bertha, the wife of the subject of this review ; and Jesse, residing on the home farm in Post township. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Deering have been born also three children: Irving Charles, whose birth occurred on the ist of June, 1907; Dorothy Irene, born on the 10th of February, 1909; and Esther Stella, born April 12, 1911. Mr. Deering is a mem- ber of the Modern Brotherhood of America but his fraternal affiliations are not extensive, his attention being centered upon the development of his farm, which is one of the finest and best managed in this vicinity.
PROFESSOR W. L. PECK.
Professor W. 1 .. Peck is now engaged in the fourth term of his able serv- ice as superintendent of schools of Allamakee county and in this connection is giving the benefit of his broad knowledge and unusual ability to his chosen field of labor, winning for himself recognition as one of the foremost representatives of educational interests of Iowa and taking a vital and active part in the pro-
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motion and spread of public education throughout the state. He was born at Ossian, Winneshiek county, August 25, 1872, and is a son of James Peck, whose birth occurred in Oswego county, New York, June 14, 1832. The father grew to manhood in his native locality and there married Miss Lucinda Borst, also a native of the Empire state. They moved west to Iowa in 1862 and located in Winneshiek county, where the father engaged in farming for a number of years. He later moved into Frankville and there lived retired until his death, which occurred April 24, 1902. His wife survives him and makes her home with a son in Frankville.
Professor W. L. Peck was reared in Winneshiek county and acquired his primary education in the public schools. He later attended school in Frankville and spent one year at Lenox College, going from there to the Iowa State Teach- ers College. After two years in that institution he turned his attention to teach- ing, following this occupation first in the country schools, where his ability and success won him promotion to the position of principal of the Frankville schools. He did creditable and progressive work in that capacity for five years and then came to Waukon as assistant principal of the Waukon Business College, spending eight years in that responsible office. Upon the expiration of this period he was elected county superintendent of schools of Allamakee county and he has served continuously by reelection since that time, his return to office evidencing the value of his services and their acceptability to the public at large. A brief glance at the record of his career shows plainly his preeminence in both the administrative and more purely scholastic phases of his chosen work. Under his able man- agement he has succeeded in bringing all the schools of the county up to a higher standard of efficiency. This has been accomplished mainly through systematizing the work and by carrying it forward along practical and progressive lines. Pro- fessor Peck keeps a complete record of every one of the one hundred and sixty- one teachers in the county's employ and of every pupil in every school in the county, these latter records showing not only the standing of the student but the progress he makes from term to term. Professor Peck pays a visit to each school once a year, thus keeping in personal touch with the teachers and pupils, and he has initiated many substantial improvements in the methods of teaching and also in the branches taught. His methods are at all times practical and he inspires the teachers under him with much of his own zeal and enthusiasm.
During the course of his identification with the educational interests of Alla- makee county Professor Peck has not confined his attention to the duties which have devolved upon him in his responsible position but has also exerted a potent and helpful influence in promoting general intellectual advancement in this local- ity. In 1910 he organized the Farmers Institute, which holds a session each year, and he also manages the county spelling contest held annually, when each town- ship sends its most proficient scholar to represent it. He has inaugurated town- ship teachers' meetings and in his office keeps a well selected professional library for the benefit of his teachers. He has himself taught summer schools and insti- tutes both in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties for the past fifteen years and conducts personally a teachers' institute in Waukon every year. He never con- siders his own education complete but remains always a close and earnest stu- dent, following out exhaustive courses of study and taking many correspondence courses also. Practically his entire life since attaining his majority has been
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given over to educational work and he has become a recognized leader in this field.
Professor Peck is a Master Mason and holds membership in the blue lodge at Frankville, where he joined the order. He stands preeminent among Iowa edu- cators, for he combines with a broad, exhaustive and comprehensive knowledge the faculty of imparting it readily and clearly to others and an executive ability upon which he has founded his success in the administrative branches of his work. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has never been a politician in the usually accepted sense of the word. He is, however, never neglectful of the duties of citizenship and his influence has been a tangible force for good in this community.
DAVID VINE DUNNING.
Among the most progressive. representative and deservedly successful native sons of Allamakee county is numbered David Vine Dunning, who owns and oper- ates a fine property in Franklin township, constituting the farm upon which he was born on the 17th of January, 1864. His name has long been an honored one in this community, his parents, William H. H. and Emeline (Jemison ) Dun- ning, having come to this part of Iowa in pioneer times. The father was born at Ashtabula, Ohio, on the 25th of October, 1840, and went with his parents to Wisconsin about 1851. A few years later he came to lowa, settling in Allamakee county about the year 1854, and here he grew to manhood, becoming afterward an extensive landowner and a prosperous farmer in Franklin township. He continued active in the development of his property in this vicinity until 1880 and then moved into Clayton county, near Luana, where he continued until 1891, going in that year to Oklahoma. He purchased a farm in that state and con- tinued to reside upon it until 1911, when he retired from active life, moving into Guymon, Oklahoma, where he passed away February 27, 1913. His wife. who was a native of Pennsylvania, born October 20, 1844, now makes her home in Enid, Oklahoma. To their union were born six children, of whom the sub- ject of this review is the eldest in order of birth.
David V. Dunning attended district school No. 4. Franklin township, and afterward took a commercial course in a business college at Fayette. After lay- ing aside his books he remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, acquiring by practical experience upon his father's farm a comprehen- sive knowledge of the best agricultural methods. After he had attained his majority he rented the Oathout farm and developed it for two years, after which he purchased the home place, upon which he has since resided, having added to the property until it now comprises one hundred and twenty acres, practically all under cultivation. Substantial improvements have been made upon it, excel- lent buildings erected and modern machinery installed, and it is today one of the best equipped farms in this part of lowa, Mr. Dunning standing in the front ranks of progressive agriculturists. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Coopera- tive Shipping Company of Luana and also in the Creamery Company there and in
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business circles is known as a resourceful, far-sighted and discriminating busi- ness man.
On the 17th of February, 1886, Mr. Dunning was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Lytle, who was born in Clayton county, a few miles southeast of Luana, on the 16th of September, 1866. She is a daughter of Mathew S. and Josephine (Oathout) Lytle, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. The father, who during his entire active life engaged in farm- ing, came west when a young man and became an extensive landowner in Clayton county, continuing active in the management of his holdings until his death, which occurred in 1904. His wife survives him and resides upon the Lytle homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Dunning became the parents of two children: Roy Lytle, who was born January 29, 1891, and who is assisting his father with the work of the homestead ; and Jessie Vine, who was born September 12, 1896, and who is now attending school in Waukon.
Mr. Dunning is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as township trus- tee and school director, doing able and constructive work in both capacities. He never, however, aspires to public office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon the development of his excellent farm. He is highly esteemed and respected in his native township and in the course of years has made many sub- stantial contributions to its agricultural development.
ANDREW LEPPERT.
Among the large landowners of Allamakee county is Andrew Leppert, who owns a valuable farm of seven hundred and forty acres on section 14, French Creek township. His handsome residence and substantial farm buildings are evidences of his prosperity and proof of his incessant labors and the progressive methods which he follows. He was born upon this property on September 19, 1858, and is a son of Andrew Leppert, a native of Bavaria, Germany, whence he accompanied his parents to the new world when fourteen years of age. The family settled at first in Utica, New York, and there the father grew to manhood and married. In the early '50s he came to Galena, Illinois, where he lived for two years, at the end of which period he settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in French Creek township, among the pioneers, the farm being left to his wife by her brother. The land was but slightly improved and he cleared and developed it, transforming it into a highly productive agricultural enterprise. As his means increased he added thereto and at the time of his death, which occurred at the age of fifty-six, he owned seven hundred acres. He was one of the foremost agriculturists of his day, was a member of the German Metho- dist church and prominent in public affairs, having held every office in his town- ship. He gave his allegiance to the republican party. In New York state Andrew Leppert married Miss Johanna Henry, a native of Saxony, Germany, who passed away in French Creek township at the age of thirty-six years and four months. The father subsequently married again and his widow now resides
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at Church, lowa. Of the children born to his first union three are living, those beside our subject being Mrs. Jacob Hirth and Mrs. Jacob Ebner.
Andrew Leppert was reared under the parental roof on the home farm and early trained to agricultural pursuits under the able guidance of his father. In the acquirement of his education he attended the neighboring schools. When twenty-two years of age he and his brother Charles purchased the old home- stead and for several years farmed it in partnership. At the death of his brother hie acquired the widow's interest and has since conducted its operations alone. He has made many improvements upon the property and his farm is considered today one of the model enterprises of its kind in the county. His land is largely under cultivation and planted in the most suitable grains and he also gives atten- tion to stock-raising. His residence is comfortable and commodious and the whole appearance of the property bespeaks the prosperity of its owner.
Mr. Leppert was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Bulman, a native of Union City township, Allamakee county, and a daughter of G. W. Bulman, who resides in that township and is a member of one of the early families who settled in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Leppert have ten children, all of whom are living : James H., Ralph H., Emma A., Jesse A., Oscar S., George Dewey, Lydia J., Cora A., Willard A., and Gilbert Taft. Mr. and Mrs. Leppert are members of the Presbyterian church, taking a deep interest in the organization. His political faith is that of the republican party and he has served as school director of his district, giving evidence of his interest in the cause of education. He enjoys the high respect and esteem of his neighbors, to which he is fully entitled, as he has not only attained an individual position of prominence but has been a factor in promoting general advancement and development. Although he has never cared to publicly participate in government affairs, he is ever ready to give his support to worthy enterprises of a public character and is glad to bear his share of time and money in bringing about growth along material, intellectual or moral lines.
ELBA B. LAMBORN.
Elba B. Lamborn, a prominent and progressive farmer of Franklin town- ship, owning and operating two hundred and forty acres of fine land, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on the 28th of May, 1850, and is a son of Nathan and Laura ( Burnham) Lamborn. The father was born in Chadds Ford, Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1824, and the mother in Champaign county, Ohio, March 2, 1823. The father was eleven years of age when he removed with his parents to Ohio and in that state he grew to manhood. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to a carpenter and worked for three years for his board and clothing, after which he followed his trade in Champaign county until 1855. In that year he came to Iowa and in the spring purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He returned to Champaign county and brought his family to Iowa, settling first in Hardin, where he engaged in the grocery business for two years. In 1863 he took up his residence upon his farm and continued its develop- ment and improvement until his death, which occurred May 10, 1907. He was prominent and well known in local public affairs, serving for a number of years
ELBA B. LAMBORN
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as township trustee and as township clerk, and in his passing this section lost one of its earliest pioneers and one of its most valued and representative citizens. He and his wife became the parents of two children, the elder of whom died in Ohio at the age of three years.
Elba B. Lamborn was still a child when his parents came to Iowa and in the public schools of Hardin and Waukon he acquired his education, attending school during the winter of 1868-9 with E. M. Hancock. Later Mr. Lamborn attended a business college in Milwaukee, conducted by R. C. Spencer, and after laying aside his books he remained upon the homestead, assisting his father with its operation until 1871. In that year he removed to Luana, where for a time he clerked in a store but later engaged in various occupations until 1881, when he opened a mercantile enterprise of his own in that city, continuing active in its conduct for four years thereafter. In 1885 he sold out and after residing on the farm for a short time went to Chicago, where in 1888 and 1889 he was employed by the American Express Company in their transfer department. He returned to Iowa at his father's request, the latter's health being in an impaired condition, and took charge of the homestead, continuing to develop and improve it along modern, practical lines until November, 1908, when he purchased the property upon which he now resides, his youngest son taking charge of the orig- inal farm. Mr. Lamborn owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land in Franklin township and he has improved this with substantial barns and out- buildings, a comfortable residence and all the equipment necessary to facilitate the work of the fields. He and his son operate the two farms together, carry- ing on general agricultural pursuits and giving a great deal of attention to the breeding and raising of high-grade stock.
Mr. Lamborn has been twice married. On the 17th; of December, 1872, he wedded Miss Mary J. Van Kirk, who was born in Danville, Illinois, November II, 1852, a daughter of Enos M. and Catherine (Carithers) Van Kirk, natives of Vermilion county, Illinois. They removed to Kankakee county, the same state, and there the father engaged in farming until his death. Mrs. Lamborn passed away on the 14th of July, 1890, leaving three children. Belle was born on the 7th of September, 1875, and married Charles H. Simonds, engaged in the ice and coal business in Momence, Illinois. Harry V., born June 7, 1878, is now foreman in the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company's works in Minneapolis. He married Miss IIelen E. Jacobson. The youngest son, Don E., was born March 9, 1890, and is now cultivating the family homestead. He married Miss Libbie M. Clark on the 27th of January, 1913. Mr. Lamborn's second marriage occurred on the 4th of June, 1894, when he wedded Miss Gertrude Eliza Mcclintock, born in Winneshiek county, near Frankville, on the 26th of April, 1869. She is a daughter of William and Ann (Cleverley) McClintock, the former born in Penn- sylvania, near Philadelphia, and the latter in London, England, about the year 1840. Her father has passed away, his death having occurred in 1871, when he was seventy-one years of age. By his second marriage Mr. Lamborn has one daughter, Imo A., who was born on the 27th of July, 1902. She is attending district school No. 4 at North Grove, two miles distant from her father's farm, and has not missed a day or been tardy once in nineteen weeks.
Mr. Lamborn is a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. For eight years he did excel- Vol. II-10
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lent work as township clerk but has never aspired to public office, although he is progressive and loyal in matters of citizenship. In this section where a great deal of his life has been passed he is well known and highly respected, his genuine personal worth and sterling qualities of character having gained for him the esteem and regard of all who are associated with him.
THEODORE B. STOCK.
Theodore B. Stock, prominently identified with financial interests in Waukon as president of the Peoples National Bank and with business affairs as president of T. B. Stock & Company, dealers in hardware, is one of the best known men in the city, his varied interests connecting him with practically every phase of community life. He was born in Jefferson township, this county, December 31, 1871, and is a son of William Stock, a native of Germany, where he remained until after he had reached maturity. As a young man he crossed the Atlantic and came directly to Allamakee county, where he purchased a farm in Jefferson township. Here he afterward married Frederica Dravis, also a native of Germany. Mr. Stock, father of the subject of this review, continued to develop his fine property, adding to it from time to time until he owned two hundred and sixty- five acres of land. Upon the homestead he raised his family and there spent the last years of his life, dying about 1900. His wife survived him for some time, passing away in 1911. In their family were nine children: William, of Howard, South Dakota; Minnie, who married Fred W. Steffin, of Diller, Nebraska ; Henry, who resides in Howard, South Dakota ; Charles and August, farmers in Allamakee county ; Sophia, who makes her home in Waukon ; Theo- dore B., of this review ; Louis, who is engaged in farming in this county ; and Edward, who resides in Oakes, North Dakota.
Theodore B. Stock was reared upon his father's farm in Jefferson township and acquired his education in the public schools. When he was a young man he came to Waukon and began his independent career as a clerk in the employ of H. F. Opfer & Brother, with whom he remained for six years, receiving a thorough and practical business training which has been invaluable to him in his later career. When he resigned his first position he formed a partnership with P. A. Anderson and for eight years engaged in the boot and shoe business, selling out his interests at the end of that time in order to organize the T. B. Stock & Company, who for over twelve years have been prominently identified with hardware interests here, controlling an important and growing trade along this line. They have a large storeroom filled with a well selected line of stoves, shelf and heavy hardware and building material and they do also a large plumbing business. Much of the credit for the continued growth of the concern is due to Mr. Stock's ability and business foresight and to the excellent way in which his business affairs are managed. In addition to this he is connected with the Peoples National Bank and as its president is a central figure in financial circles here. He was one of the promoters of the institution, which has a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars and is one of the safest and most conservative banks in the county. The officers are: T. B. Stock, president ; L. T. Hermanson,
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vice president ; and P. E. O'Donnell, cashier, and the bank occupies a modern and commodious building, finished in 1912. A general banking business is trans- acted and a progressive policy maintained, tempered, however, by a safe con- servatism and a constant regard for the best interests of the depositors. Mr. Stock devotes his entire time to the affairs of the institution and in his position as president his organizing and executive ability have been called forth and he has labored earnestly and intelligently to make the concern one of the substantial moneyed institutions of the community.
Mr. Stock married, in Waukon, on June 1I, 1896, Miss Katherine Bieber, a daughter of Peter Bieber, a pioneer in Allamakee county. Mrs. Stock was born and reared in Waukon and here acquired her education. She and her hus- band have one daughter, Dorothea, who is now a student in the Waukon public schools.
Politically Mr. Stock is identified with. the democratic party and has served as a member of the city council for a number of years. He was mayor of Waukon and by giving to the people a straightforward, constructive and efficient admin- istration did much to promote the advancement and growth of the city. He is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership in the Knights of Pythias, in which he has been through all the chairs and is past chancellor. He repre- sented his lodge in the grand lodge of Iowa. Always an active religious worker, Mr. Stock has done a great deal for the advancement of the German Reformed church in this county and as secretary and treasurer of the building committee was one of the leaders in securing the new church building, which is one of the finest of its kind in Waukon. He has also been a liberal contributor to the building funds of the other Waukon churches and his life has been upright and worthy in all respects. A successful business man, a far-sighted financier, a public-spirited citizen, he has for many years labored earnestly and intelligently in the best interests of the city and has today reached a position of prominence and achieved a degree of success which places him among the men of substantial worth and marked ability.
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