USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 27
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Jacob Haas, engaged in the brewing business, removed to the "old building" in 1869 and subsequently erected a large new brick brewery building at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars, the whole cost of the plant, including malt house, ice house, power house, underground vaults and residence. being about forty thousand dollars. In 1886. when the prohibition law was enforced, the brewery was closed and it stood idle until 1903, when the whole property was sold for one thousand dollars, so that his two children received but one thousand dol- lars from the father's estate-an example of how a law generally beneficial worked a great hardship upon one who legitimately followed an honest calling.
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In 1820, when nineteen years of age, the father, Johann August Kerndt, inherited a small tannery in Germany which he operated for a few years, at the end of which time he branched out into contracting and building. This venture, however, by a peculiar accident, proved most lamentable for the fam- ily. A small village in the fatherland, including church and schoolhouse, had burned to the ground when he made a contract to rebuild, and all went well until the work was nearly finished, when, on a dark night, coming home on horseback, his pony stumbled and he fell. They brought him to his home and for five days he lay unconscious, passing away without recognizing a member of the family after the accident happened. As the work was then not finished and had to be completed by others, his death also resulted in the loss of his fortune to the family, it taking seven years for two guardians, who were ap- pointed, to settle the estate, and after the intricate law problems were worked out there was left not much beside the little tannery which was given him by his father. Johann August Kerndt was a broad-minded man, a man far above ordi- nary intelligence in his time and a man with a wonderful memory-not one who had gained his knowledge in books but a man of the world who had learned in the university of life and was gifted with mother wit and natural abilities. To gain a living for the large family the mother carried on the tannery in order to educate her children, who attended school to the age of fourteen, when they were turned out to make their way in the world. Herman embarked in the same business as his father-that of building. Gustav apprenticed himself to learn the grocery business and had to stay for six years under contract. William learned the tanner's trade and so did Moritz. Julius, who had an advantage in regard to educational opportunities, became an architect. The two oldest daugh- ters also had to work out in order to be self-supporting and contribute to the family exchequer.
In 1849, when twenty-four years of age, Gustav Kerndt decided to emigrate to America to test out the stories which he had heard of the advantageous con- ditions prevailing in this country and to gain, if such were within the reach of possibility, a position of substance. He had not enough money to engage in business in the fatherland and saw no road ahead of him which would lead to independence. Therefore taking a step in an unknown and uncertain future, he came to Schenectady, New York, where he soon found work in a broom factory, being so engaged for two years. He then learned to make cigars and afterward kept a little cigar stand. Industriously applying himself to the task in hand and thriftily laying dollar upon dollar, he became encouraged with the outlook and in 1852 wrote to the family in Germany that it would be well for them to emigrate. In the spring of 1853 he became more insistent and advised them to sell out as quickly as possible and that Moritz should come at once to find a place where the family could settle. Encouraged by these reports, Moritz started out immediately and landed in New York in October, 1853, staying there until early in spring, when he left for the west, going by railroad to Cincinnati and thence by the steamer Franklin on the Ohio river to Cairo and St. Louis, where he made a sojourn of a couple of days. He then went to Fort Madison and, in order to become acquainted with land conditions, there hired out to an American farmer for six dollars a month or about twenty cents a day. this munificent remuneration giving an idea how hard it was in those times to lay a
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foundation for independence. The farmers at that early time could really af- ford to pay no more for help. as eggs in those days were sold at the rate of three cents a dozen and dressed pork at the price of one and one-half cents a pound. For two and a half months he so worked, benefiting by learning the English language, which he was forced to speak, as there was no one near him who could speak his mother tongue. This experience he always considered one of the best parts of his American education, as it helped him not only to learn the native tongue but also to become acquainted with American methods of agri- culture. While near Fort Madison he heard of Dubuque and that railroad con- struction was going on there, a road being built from Chicago. When he came there the railroad had been built about twenty-five miles east of the river and Dubuque was but a small place. The outlook seemed discouraging, as work was not easily to be had and money was scarce even for those days. Moritz Kerndt. however, made up his mind to succeed at whatever cost and after a week of assiduous hunting for work he found a place of employment at Harmony Hall, the remuneration being thirteen dollars per month. He then wrote to Gustav, who was still in New York, that they all should come from Germany. They had sold out their little interests in the meantime and in July, 1854, the family arrived by sailing vessel, after a long, tedious, even perilous journey of six weeks, in New York. Gustav had also sold out his cigar stand and the family arrived in Dubuque in August by the old Walker stage coaches, the emigrant company consisting of about thirty people. The family included the mother, Herman with his father and mother-in-law and five children, Gustav, William, Julius and the three daughters. The party also included the Ruprecht family and the Ritter family. Herman Kerndt and Mr. Ruprecht began at once to look for a suitable farm property on which to settle and in search of the new home they came to Allamakee county, where Herman bought land at Lycurgus. Mr. Ruprecht also stayed at a farm near there but subsequently moved to Lansing, where he entered in the hotel business. Herman came to Dubuque after his family had settled there in September, 1854, and Gustav then rented a store building, where he and his brother William made cigars. Moritz stayed on his place until 1856, and Julius, in the spring of that year, also went to Lansing to build a store and broom shop. This was finished by October and the whole family then settled in Lansing in 1856, Messrs. Rieth and Boeckh, the two sons-in-law, coming from Dubuque in 1857. Gustav and William manufactured cigars and made brooms, the material for which came from Herman's farm, and Moritz attended to the selling end of the busi- ness by conducting the store. To begin with Moritz had a very small stock which some friends in Dubuque had let him have and, though all worked hard, the returns were but small. The winter from 1856 to 1857 was severe in the extreme, with much snow, many deer being destroyed by the extreme weather and many starving to death. In 1857 the farmers, on account of the severe weather, had little to sell and even for what there was no price could be ob- tained, oats and corn selling for ten and twelve cents a bushel and wheat at the price of thirty-five cents. In 1858 the neighborhood became settled more quickly and there was plenty of grain, prices rose and the goods in the store could be moved. However, the broom business was not a financial success and money was yet scarce, so that often the Kerndts turned back in thought to their little
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comfortable home in the fatherland and discouragement well nigh overtook them. Another incident which added to the sorrows of the family was the death of the beloved mother, who died in November, 1856, when they came to Lansing. In the fall of 1858 a gentleman from Galena. William Ryan, came into the store and inquired after business conditions. Moritz told him that goods could be sold then if he had them, but that they as yet had not the means to acquire a large stock. Mr. Ryan, being convinced of the honesty of purpose of these sturdy sons from the German soil, said: "I will give you the goods ;" and sold a big bill of various merchandise on long credit. This was the beginning of the firm of G. Kerndt & Brothers, the personnel of the con- cern consisting of Gustav, William and Moritz. In 1859 they bought a lot on the levee and built a warehouse, branching out into the grain business, and in 1861 they built a substantial brick store, twenty-five by eighty, three stories in height, quite an improvement over the little broom stand where Moritz had at first attended to an occasional customer. In 1866 an addition was built cover- . ing the same amount of space as the original store and making in all a building fifty by eighty feet. In 1868 they removed the frame warehouse where grain was stored and constructed a brick elevator. Already in 1862 they had added to their line of groceries dry goods and crockery, and after 1865 the Kerndt broth- ers conducted a regular department store, as good as could be found in the county. During war times business was good and farmers came to Lansing with grain twenty or even thirty miles away. Although there were fourteen warehouses, farmers had often to wait in line to unload. As the years went by the business grew in volume, in financial stability and in the variety of goods carried, having become one of the foremost enterprises of its kind in this part of the county. In 1885 William Kerndt was enabled to retire from the firm and gave his interest to his son, G. W. The firm was incorporated with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, the stock being divided between Moritz, his sons and G. W. In 1900 G. W. Kerndt sold out and the business was then carried on under the name of G. Kerndt & Brothers by Gustav, Wil- liam and Moritz, Jr., sons of Moritz, the same names under which it was started in 1856. In 1908 the Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank was founded by M. Kerndt and his four sons with a capital of thirty thousand dollars, its offi- cers being : Gustav Kerndt, president ; Charles Kerndt, cashier ; Moritz, Jr., vice president ; and Moritz Kerndt, Sr., and William M. Kerndt, directors. The bank has wonderfully prospered ever since its foundation and as the name of Kerndt has had for sixty years the highest reputation in the county, is well entitled to the confidence it is given by its patrons. All members of the fam- ily connected with the bank are capable, earnest and conscientious, ever observ- ant of the smallest detail that might contribute to the prestige of the institut- tion, careful in the investments of the resources of the bank and ever ready to extend credit to a worthy applicant.
As indicated in the first part of this sketch, many members of the Kerndt family have taken active part in the public life of the county and this section and have ever been conspicuous for their public spirit and their liberality in contributing to a public cause. That tenacious, fighting spirit peculiar to the German race has stood them in good stead and brought them to the fore among the most influential citizens of the county. What they have achieved personally
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is worthy of the highest commendation and worthy of their efforts, yet their real importance lies in the pioneer work they have done and the role they have played in advancing the interests of Allamakee county, having been not only witnesses of the wonderful transformation that has occurred here but helpful and cooperant factors in the general advancement along material, moral and in- tellectual lines.
FRANK E. TEEPLE.
The Spring Valley Stock Farm, a fine property of two hundred and seven- teen acres lying on section II, Ludlow township, is the property of Frank E. Teeple, one of the most prominent farmers and stock-raisers and most progressive citizens of Allamakee county. He is a native of Iowa, born in Winneshiek county, October 8, 1854, and is a son of George Teeple, a native of New York, who in his childhood went to Canada with his parents, where he remained until he was twenty years of age. The father came to the states when a young man and spent some time in Michigan and Illinois, arriving in Iowa in September, 1852. He located in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, and there purchased land and opened up a farm, afterward buying and disposing of several agricultural properties in that vicinity. In 1864 he moved to Allamakee county and bought the Spring Val- ley Stock Farm which he improved and developed with the other lands he held until his death, which occurred in 1877. He had married in Winneshiek county on the 22d of October, 1853, Miss Annette Penfield, who was born in Pennsylvania, where she was reared and educated. She later came to Iowa and was the first teacher in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county. She passed away in 1875, two years before the death of her husband.
Frank E. Teeple is the oldest in a family of five sons. He was ten years of age when he came with his parents to Allamakee county and the greater part of his life has been spent on the Spring Valley Stock Farm. He assisted his father with its operation until the latter's death and then purchased the interests of the other heirs and succeeded to the management of the homestead, whereon he has continued to reside to the present time. There is an excellent residence upon the property, fine barns and outbuildings and labor-saving machinery, while three good springs furnish an abundance of water for stock and domestic purposes. Mr. Tceple is a stock-raiser on an extensive scale, keeping high-grade milch cows for dairy purposes, one hundred head of Durham cattle, Poland China hogs and Norman and Belgian horses. In addition to this farm he owns another fine prop- erty of one hundred and sixty acres in Franklin township, this being a well improved and well managed stock farm. He was one of the promoters of the Ludlow Cooperative Creamery and has served as a director, vice president and president of this association, to which he sold more cream than any other mem- ber. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Hog & Produce Company, of which he has been auditor for several years, and in business circles his resourcefulness, energy and ability are recognized and respected.
In Ludlow, on the 29th of April, 1879, Mr. Teeple was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Fuller, who was born, reared and educated in Winneshiek county
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and who previous to her marriage taught in the public schools. She passed away November 17, 1901, leaving four daughters: Angie, who is her father's house- keeper : Cora, the wife of J. E. McCabe, a prominent farmer of Jefferson town- ship: Ida, who married J. E. Wittenberger, station agent at East Dubuque for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad: and Bessie, a graduate of Fayette College. Mr. Teeple's four daughters are all well educated and cultured women, having completed full college courses. They and their father are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs. Teeple also belonged. Fra- ternally Mr. Teeple is connected with the Masonic lodge and chapter. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has held various important positions of public trust and honor. He is one of the well known and sub- stantial farmers and stock-raisers of Allamakee county and is besides a public- spirited and progressive citizen, cooperating heartily in all movements for the growth, advancement and development of the section in which he has so long resided.
SETH N. STAFFORD.
Seth N. Stafford has been a resident of Allamakee county since pioneer times and is today accounted one of the successful agriculturists of Franklin township. He owns three hundred and forty-six acres of valuable land on section 23 and success has rewarded his well directed efforts in its cultivation, so that it is now a valuable and productive property. Mr. Stafford was born in Virginia, on the Monongahela river, near Morgantown, on the Ist of June, 1848, and is a son of James Harrison and Christina (Trisler) Stafford, also of the same state and locality. In early life the father was a boatbuilder and a river man in the Old Dominion, but in 1852 came to Iowa, making the journey by boat up the Mis- sissippi river and thence overland to Allamakee county. He located next in Linton township and entered government land, which he cleared of timber and continued to operate for a few years. Eventually he bought a saw and grist mill at Smithfield and was active in its conduct for some time, although he still gave a great deal of attention to the development of his farm. About the year 1859 he sold his mill and went to Pikes Peak in Colorado, where he remained until the spring of 1860. He then returned to Iowa but in the following year went again to Colorado, this time taking his son, Seth N., with him. They returned to Allamakee county on the 10th of June, 1862, and soon afterward the father bought a carding mill, which was located on what is now a portion of his son's homestead. This he operated for two or three years thereafter but at the end of that time left this neighborhood, his death occurring some time afterward. His wife died in 1887.
In the acquirement of an education Seth N. Stafford attended public school in Smithfield and has spent practically his entire life in Allamakee county with the exception of the one year which he passed with his father in Colorado. At the age of nineteen he assumed charge of the homestead and continued to develop it for a number of years, residing thereon until his marriage. During this time and for a long period thereafter he also operated a threshing outfit and made this
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a profitable source of income to him. When he left the homestead he purchased eight acres of land in Franklin township and this still forms a portion of his pres- ent farm. To it he added from time to time until he acquired a tract of over four hundred acres, one of the finest farms in this vicinity. Eighty acres of this has been given to his son and eighty acres he has sold, his holdings now comprising three hundred and forty-six acres. This he operates with the aid of his sons, carrying on general farming and also engaging extensively in stock- raising, keeping at times as many as one hundred head of cattle. Success has rewarded his well directed efforts and his farm is today a valuable property, evidencing everywhere his constant and careful supervision.
Mr. Stafford has been twice married. He wedded on the 25th of February, 1873, Miss Mary White, who was born in Franklin township in 1850, a daugh- ter of John and Mary Ann White, natives of Ireland. They came as very carly settlers to Allamakee county and the father became an extensive landowner, engaging the remainder of his life in farming. Mrs. Stafford passed away in 1876, leaving two children: Edna May, the wife of Peter Hefner, a farmer in Linton township ; and David E., who is residing on the home farm. On the Ist of January, 1879, Mr. Stafford was again married, his second wife being Miss Betty C. Entwisle, born in this township in 1858, a daughter of William and Martha ( Hancock) Entwisle, the former a native of England and the latter of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford have been the parents of seven children : Ethel, the wife of Roy Palmer, of this township; Roy, a resident of Waukon ; Jessie, the wife of Clarence Henderson, engaged in farming in Franklin town- ship: Bert, who resides with his father and who married Miss Henderson ; Cath- erine, who died in childhood; Ollie, the wife of William Nebaugh, who resides near Monona, Clayton county : and Ernest Hampton, who makes his home with his parents.
Mr. Stafford is a stockholder in the Monona Creamery and the Farmers Shipping Association. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and he is progressive and public-spirited in matters of citizenship without being active as an office seeker. His long residence in this township has made him widely and favorably known throughout the community.
G. B. OLSON.
G. B. Olson, who devotes his attention to general agricultural pursuits, is the owner of a well improved tract of land comprising one hundred and sixty acres on section 35, Center township. It was on this farm that his birth occurred, his natal day being July 2, 1867. His father, Peter S. Olson, was born at Gol, Hallingdal, Norway, and when a lad of ten years accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States, the family home being established in Min- nesota, where he grew to manhood. In the early '5os he came to Allamakee county, Iowa, and was here married to Miss Betsey Larson, a sister of L. O. Lar- son, of Taylor township. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, erected thereon a log house and here made his home for many years. Sub- sequently he removed to Mower county, Minnesota, and six years later went to
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Nebraska, where he preempted a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Keep- ing this tract, he later homesteaded another one hundred and sixty acres near Alliance, Nebraska, and there spent the remainder of his life. Unto him and his wife were born fourteen children, as follows: Mary Ann, who is the wife of August Jahnke and resides in Canada ; Oscar, who is deceased; Oliver, living in Nebraska ; Josephine Matilda, who is the widow of John Peterson and resides in Fargo, North Dakota : G. B., of this review ; Ida, the wife of Peter Rensvald, of Alliance, Nebraska ; Louis, who when last heard from was in Alaska ; Eliza- beth, the wife of Albert Rensvald, of Alliance, Nebraska ; Emma, who died in childhood; Rosa, living in Salt Lake City; Addie, who is the wife of John J. Zwingle and resides in Canada : Sophia, the wife of Henry Rabbit, of Alliance, Nebraska ; Stanley Washington, who was killed by a horse in Wyoming when twenty-eight years of age; and Isabel, who passed away at the age of eighteen years.
G. B. Olson spent the first eleven years of his life on the home farm in Center township, this county, and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Minnesota, while later the family home was established in Nebraska. Twenty years ago he returned to the old homestead in Center township, this county, pur- chasing the property from his father. The place comprises one hundred and sixty acres and he has made all of the improvements thereon, erecting a sub- stantial frame residence and barns. Success has attended his efforts as an agriculturist, the well tilled fields annually yielding bounteous harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them. He and his son, William, each have a cream route, hauling cream to the Waterville and Calhoun creameries respectively.
At Alliance, Nebraska, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Inger Kaasa, a native of Winneshiek county, Iowa, and a daughter of Tosten Kaasa, who was an early settler of that county. They have seven children, namely : William, at home : Tilda, who is the wife of Walter Huffy ; and Gunda, Jhalmer, Inga, Evelyn and Clara, all of whom are still under the parental roof. The family belong to the Synod church. In politics Mr. Olson is a democrat, stanchly supporting the men and measures of that party. He is widely and favorably known throughout the community and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the substantial agriculturists and respected citizens of his native county.
JOHN FREDERICK MILLER.
John Frederick Miller is one of the most extensive landowners in Franklin township, his holdings comprising several fine farms, all in a high state of cul- tivation. Upon his home property of one hundred and twenty acres he carries on general farming and stock-raising and, being influenced at all times by a spirit of enterprise and initiative, has achieved a gratifying measure of success. He has lived in this part of Iowa since he was six years of age, but was born at Frankville, Winneshiek county, February 15, 1858, a son of John Casper and Catherine Barbara ( Merkel) Miller, natives of Baden, Germany, the former born January 2, 1821, and the latter November 29, 1836. The father acquired his education in the public schools of Germany and at the age of fourteen began
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN F. MILLER
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