USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 37
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Mr. May is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is connected with the Yeoman and the Masonic lodge. Although he is a suc- cessful, reliable and discriminating business man, he has not by any means confined his attention to this one field, but has extended the scope of his activi- ties to include participation in public affairs, his influence being at all times on the side of right, reform and progress. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has held various important positions of trust and responsi- bility, being at the present time secretary of the school board and city clerk of New Albin. His interests are largely identified with those of this section of the state, where he has resided since his birth, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit the section or advance its development.
C. P. NIERLING.
A native of Allamakee county, C. P. Nierling was born on December 16, 1867, upon the farm of two hundred and ten acres on sections 27, 28 and 33, French Creek township, which he now owns. He is one of the substantial agri- culturists of his locality, and what he has achieved is largely due to his pro- gressive methods and the industry and energy which he has expended in the development of the property. His father was Anton Nierling, a native of Ger- many, who with his parents emigrated to America as a young man, after having served three years in the Germany army. He was born on the river Rhine in 1826, and after his arrival in America, in about the year 1849, located in Lansing. where he lived for three years, after which he settled on Lansing Ridge, going two years later to French Creek ownship. He was a miller by trade and fol- lowed that occupation in the fatherland for several years, but upon coming to lowa took up agricultural labors. Acquiring title to a tract of wild land of two hundred and sixty acres, he settled thereon, devoting his energies to clearing the land, breaking the soil and placing his acres under cultivation. He erected substantial buildings upon his land and continued in his pursuits with ever increasing success until his death, which occurred upon his farm in 1888, at the age of sixty-two years. He married in Lansing, Iowa, Miss Mary Anna Buck, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, who survived him for a number of years, passing away in Waukon in 1902, at the age of sixty-eight years. In their family were ten children: J. J., of Jamestown, North Dakota; Mrs. M. Tillmony, of Ledyard, Iowa; Mrs. L. T. Tillmony, of Wells, Minnesota ; Carrie M., of Ledyard, Iowa; Mrs. W. H. Kerndt, of Allamakee county ; Herman. who died at the age of seven years ; C. P., our subject ; H. G., of Jamestown, North
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Dakota; A. T., a prominent banker and business man of Waukon, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work; and W. F., of Algona, Iowa.
C. P. Nierling was reared under the parental roof, and in the acquirement of his education attended the schools of the neighborhood. He early began to assist his father in the work of the home farm, acquiring thorough methods of operation, and ten years after the father's death acquired the interests of the other heirs and now owns two hundred and ten acres of well improved land. The buildings are modern and up-to-date and perfectly suited for their purpose, while he has installed the most modern machinery in order to facilitate labor and improve the yield of his crops. As the years have passed Mr. Nierling has become recognized as one of the most substantial agriculturists of his district, and his success is well merited, as it is the outcome of close application, aug- mented by progressive methods.
Mr. Nierling was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Keffler, a native of Allamakee county, by whom he had two children, Irene and Meta. After the death of his first wife he married Miss Melinda Smith, and of this union were born seven children: Anton, Myrtle, Viola, Carlton, George, Leona and Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. Nierling are members of the Catholic church, to which they give their helpful support, and in his political faith he is a democrat. He has served for four years as township assessor and for one year as trustee, discharging his duties in a most satisfactory manner. Highly respected and esteemed, Mr. Nierling enjoys the good-will and confidence of his friends and neighbors for what he has accomplished and also on account of those qualities of mind and character which have made possible his success.
WILHELM WIEMERSLAGE.
During his entire active career Wilhelm Wiemerslage has been engaged in farming in Allamakee county, and each year has brought him increased success in his chosen field of labor, so that he is today one of the leading representatives of agricultural interests in Iowa township, where he makes his home. He is one of the many sturdy, industrious and enterprising citizens whom Germany has given to America, his birth having occurred in the fatherland in 1868. When he was a young man he came with his parents to America, settling in Union City township, Allamakee county, Iowa, where the father purchased land and engaged in farming until his death, in 1886, the mother passing away some years later. To their union were born eight children, six of whom survive: Henry, who resides in Germany; Gerhardt, of Union City township; Wilhelm, of this review ; and August, Frederick and George, all of whom reside in Union City township.
After his arrival in America Wilhelm Wiemerslage spent four years assist- ing in the work of the homestead, and in 1893 purchased land of his own in Union City township, where he developed a profitable and well improved farm upon which he resided until 1906, when he moved into Iowa township, where he has since made his home. Here he purchased two hundred and seventy- four acres of land two and one-half miles west of New Albin, and he has one
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hundred and thirty-five acres under cultivation, substantial harvests annually rewarding the practical care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. He has made excellent improvements upon the property which is today a profitable and productive one, and by many years of practical work and straightforward business dealings has made secure for himself a place among Allamakee county's representative and prosperous agriculturists.
Mr. Wiemerslage married in 1893 Miss Emma Stehr, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Katherina ( Scheitel) Stehr, natives of Ger- many. The parents came to America in 1868 and subsequently settled in Union City township, where the father passed away in 1910. the mother still making her home upon the farm. In this family were six children, five of whom sur- vive : William and Dora, who reside in Union City township; Emma, the wife of our subject ; and Herman and Lena, also residing in Union City township. The deceased member of the family is August. Mr. and Mrs. Wiemerslage are the parents of five children: George, who is now residing in Nebraska; and John, Albert, Ella and Leo, all of whom reside at home. The family are members of the Lutheran Evangelical church.
Fraternally Mr. Wiemerslage is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and he is a democrat in his political beliefs, taking an active interest in public affairs, although never seeking public office. In the county where he has resided for a quarter of a century he is well and favorably known, his upright and honorable life and his high standards of business and personal integrity having gained for him the high respect, esteem and confidence of all who are associated with him.
JAMES GREGG.
Since 1893 James Gregg has conducted a profitable business in building material in Postville and by his energy, close application and unremitting industry has gained for himself a high place in business circles of the city. He was born at Monona, Clayton county, lowa, August 23, 1859, and is a son of John and Janet (Ferguson) Gregg, both of whom were born near Strathroy, Canada, the father's birth occurring December 28, 1817. The parents were married in Canada and in 1846 came to Iowa, locating on a farm at Monona, among the very earliest settlers in that section. The father continued to improve and develop his homestead until his death, which occurred in 1882, he having sur- vived his wife since 1864. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this review was the youngest.
In the acquirement of an education James Gregg attended public school at Walnut Grove and at Monona and after laying aside his books remained upon the farm until he was twenty years of age. At that time he went to work on a railroad but after a few months hired out as a farm laborer, working on neighboring properties for about eight years. When he was twenty-eight he formed a partnership with his brother and for four years thereafter engaged in the lumber business at Monona, at the end of that time selling out his interests to his brother. He continued, however, to reside in the city until 1893, when he
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JAMES GREGG
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came to Postville, buying out the business belonging to J. H. Sanders, which he has since continued to conduct. He deals in all kinds of building material, cement, plaster and lime, and as a result of twenty years of honorable business dealing and unquestioned integrity now controls an important and profitable trade. He is a stockholder in the Citizens State Bank and in the Postville brick yard and his business interests, always carefully and capably managed, have brought him a gratifying measure of success.
On October 3, 1883, Mr. Gregg married Miss Lydia Siglin, who was born near Scranton, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1862, a daughter of Daniel and Elmira (Englert) Siglin, both natives of the Keystone state. They came to Monona in 1867 and there the father engaged in farming, continuing to reside upon his property until his death, which occurred August 21, 1902. He was survived by his wife until March, 1904. In their family were six children: Frederick, deceased; John, who is a farmer near Alta, Iowa; Nelson, a mechanic and con- tractor at Aurelia; Lydia, wife of the subject of this review; Phineas Page, a druggist in Rexburg, Idaho; and Allan, a farmer near that city. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg are the parents of two children. John Loren, who was born August 17, 1884, is now in the dray and transfer business in Postville. He married Miss Bertha Miller, a native of Post township, and they have one son, Keith Miller, born October 18, 1912. Guy Page, who was born January 13, 1888, is pitcher in the Three I Baseball League and when not thus engaged assists his father.
Mr. Gregg gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been a member of the school board and is now serving ably and conscientiously on the city council. He is connected with the Masonic lodge in Postville and has taken the thirty-second degree in Masonry at Cedar Rapids. He is connected also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He takes a great interest in the welfare and growth of the community and is recognized as a loyal, public- spirited and progressive citizen. In business life he is well known for his alert and enterprising spirit, and his salient characteristics are such as always win a gratifying success.
THEODORE ROERKOHL.
Although more than a decade has passed since Theodore Roerkohl has departed this life there are many who remember him as one of the prosperous, progressive and representative agriculturists of Waterloo township. He was a native of Germany, where he was born in 1829, and in 1866 came to America. locating first in Ohio, where he resided for two years. At the end of that time he came to Iowa and five years later established his home in Allamakee county. where he bought land and subsequently married. Throughout his entire life he followed agricultural pursuits, but for a period of six years he also operated a brewery in connection with his farming. He was energetic, industrious and thrifty, possessing in large measure those sturdy characteristics of the German race, and as the years passed his incessant labor and well directed efforts were fruitful of good results, returning to him a most gratifying measure of success. At the time of his death he was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of
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highly improved land in Waterloo township, three miles west of Dorchester upon which his widow still resides at the age of fifty-eight years.
In 1877, in Allamakee county, Mr. Roerkohl was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wensing, who was born in Germany and came to America when a little maiden of one year, with her parents, who established their home in Racine county, Wisconsin. Shortly afterward, however, they removed to lowa, where the father died. The mother and her children then went to Dakota and there the mother's death occurred. In their family were eight children, of whom four survive, Mrs. Roerkohl being the youngest of the living children. She received her education in the schools of Wisconsin and Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Roerkohl became the parents of eight children, all yet living, namely: Joseph, of Cale- donia, Minnesota, who married Tillie Schulte and has two children, Herold and Mary ; Theodore, also of Caledonia, who married Therese Hill and has two children, Lionel and Howard; Bernard, who operates a portion of the home- stead farm and who married, in 1907, Miss Anna Schulte, who by her mar- riage became the mother of one daughter, Bernadine; Henry, residing in Cale- donia, Minnesota; Elizabeth, who married John Schiltz, of Houston county, Minnesota, and they have two daughters, Marcella and Helen ; Mary, the wife of Ben Schulte, of Dorchester, Iowa, by whom she has two daughters, Veronica and Mary; Margaret, at home; and William, operating. the homestead farm. All of these children received their education in the schools of Allamiakee county. The family are communicants of the Catholic church, in the faith of which Mr. Roerkohl passed away in 1902, his remains being interred in St. Mary's cemetery in Waterloo township.
In politics Mr. Roerkohl gave stalwart support to the democratic party, although the emoluments and honors of office held no attraction for him. All projects, having for their object the welfare of the community, however, found in him a ready champion and he was public-spirited in large degree. He had passed the Psalmist's allotted span of threescore years and ten ere departing this life, and with his demise Waterloo township lost one of its honored, repre- sentative and highly respected citizens.
THEODORE ROUSTER.
Prominent among the industrious, enterprising and successful farmers of Iowa township is numbered Theodore Rouster, the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land upon which he has resided since 1903. His birth occurred in Luxemburg, Germany, in 1860, and his parents both died there. In their family were four children: Theodore, of this review; Michael, whose death occurred in Germany; John, who is engaged in farming in lowa township; and Nicholas, a farmer in Jefferson township.
In 1888 Theodore Rouster left Germany and crossed the Atlantic to America, coming immediately to Iowa township, Allamakee county, and turning his atten- tion to farming. He rented a tract of land located five miles west of New Albin and upon this he continued to reside for fifteen years, becoming during that time thoroughly familiar with the best agricultural methods and taking his place
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among the progressive and able farmers of this vicinity. In 1908 he purchased land of his own, buying two hundred and forty acres in the same township, and he has resided thereon continuously since that time. Upon the property he has made substantial improvements, erecting fine barns and outbuildings, and he makes a specialty of dairying and stock-raising, giving also a great deal of attention to raising chickens. Being a practical agriculturist, his labors are at all times intelligently directed and therefore productive of excellent results, all branches of his activities being important and profitable. He is a stockholder in the New Albin Creamery and in the Farmers Store of New Albin, and in busi- ness affairs is always progressive, able and discriminating, qualities which form the basis of all his success.
In 1888 Mr. Rouster married Aliss Catherine Boltz, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1885, and after a short period of residence in Wiscon- sin, where she made her home with her brother, went to Minnesota, removing from that state to Iowa. Her marriage occurred in Minnesota. She is a daugh- ter of Michael and Mary Boltz, both of whom died in Germany. In their family were twelve children, four of whom came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Rouster became the parents of ten children : John, who was born in 1889, and who is at home; Celia, who has passed away ; Nicholas, who was born in 1892, and who is yet at home ; Peter, who was born in 1896, and who also resides with his parents ; a child who died in infancy; Jacob, who was born in 1898; Charley, who died in infancy; Mary, born in 1902; Joseph, born in 1904; and Elizabeth, born in 1911. The family are devout members of the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Rouster gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is active and progressive in matters of citizenship, although he neither seeks nor desires public office. He has resided in Allamakee county for twenty-five years and is well known as a progressive and able agriculturist and a reliable and straightforward business man, fully meriting the confidence and good-will which are extended to him by his fellow-citizens.
THOMAS E. BYRNES.
Thomas E. Byrnes owns a fine farm of three hundred and seventy acres on sections 11 and 14, Hanover township, and in its cultivation is meeting with that success which rewards earnest, intelligent and persistent, labor. He is one of Allamakee county's most progressive and successful native sons, and the farm which he now owns constitutes the homestead upon which he was born in 1875. He is a son of Thomas and Catherine Byrnes, natives of Ireland, who previous to their marriage came to lowa. They settled first in Winneshiek county, where the father purchased land, and they afterward moved to Alla- makee county, where they continued to reside until their deaths. The father purchased a farm in Hanover township and was successful in its operation, dying upon his holdings in 1895. His wife survived him for many years, passing away in 1909. To their union were born nine children: Eugene, who resides in North Dakota; Annie, the wife of Thomas Collins, of Allamakee county ; Cath- erine, the wife of Michael Bresingham, of Allamakee county; Lawrence, who is
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operating part of the old homestead; Thomas E., of this review; Mary. the deceased wife of William Gavel, of Allamakee county ; Stacia, who married Pat Delaney ; Ellen, who became the wife of Michael Burke, also of Allamakee county ; and Margaret, who resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Thomas E. Byrnes was reared under the parental roof and acquired his education in the district schools, learning farming by practical experience upon his father's property. He has never left the homestead, in the operation of which he continued to assist until his father's death, when he succeeded to the property, which he has since improved and developed. The farm is located on sections 11 and 14, Hanover township, and two hundred and twenty-five acres are in a high state of cultivation, the entire property, reflecting the owner's per- sonal supervision and careful management. Mr. Byrnes engages in general farming and stock-raising and in addition operates a threshing outfit, all branches of his activity being profitable and important.
In 1906 Mr. Byrnes was united in marriage to Miss Bridget McKenna, a native of Allamakee county and a daughter of Patrick and Margaret McKenna, the former born in Ireland and the latter in lowa. For many years they resided in Allamakee county on a farm, and upon this property the father's death oc- curred in 1802. His wife survives him and makes her home in Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. McKenna were born six children : Mary, the wife of John Blake, of Allamakee county; Margaret, who married Dennis O'Malley, also of Alla- makee county ; Bridget, the wife of the subject of this review ; Elizabeth, who is now Mrs. James Delaney, of Allamakee county ; Martin, deceased; and Patrick, a farmer in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Byrnes have three children: Cyril P., born in 1907; Margaret, born in 1909; and Catherine M., born in 1912.
Mr. Byrnes belongs to the Roman Catholic church and politically affiliates with the democratic party. He is, however, not active in public affairs, as he prefers to devote his entire attention to his farming interests, which are capably managed. bringing him a creditable position among Allamakee county's repre- sentative and substantial agriculturists.
GEORGE W. HARRIS.
The agricultural development of Allamakee county has been greatly stimu- lated by the activities of George W. Harris, who owns a valuable farm of two hundred and thirty acres in Postville township, on which he still lives, although he has now retired from active labor, leaving the most arduous duties of oper- ating his land to his son-in-law. As evidence of his success, it may be cited that he is also president of the Farmers Cooperative Company of Postville and of the Cooperative Creamery Company of this city. Moreover, he has other inter- ests and is a stockholder in numerous prosperous enterprises.
George W. Harris was born in McConnelsville, Morgan county, Ohio, Decem- ber 22, 1851, and is a son of Elisha and Margaret ( Patterson) Harris, both natives of the same county. The father, who always followed agricultural pur- suits, came in 1854 to lowa, locating at Lybrand, Post township, where he con- tinued successful in the operation of his farm until his demise in 1898. The
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mother had passed away about five years previous to that time. In their family were fourteen children.
George W. Harris was brought by his parents to Iowa when but a child and received his educational advantages in the district schools of Post township, the first school which he attended being conducted in an old-fashioned log schoolhouse located near what is now known as the Minert cemetery, so named for Mrs. Minert, who was the first to be buried there. Mr. Harris early began to assist his father with the work of the farm and acquired detailed information regarding agricultural operations. After laying aside his text-books he remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he was married, continuing, how- ever, after that event, to operate his father's land for one year, at the end of which time he purchased part of the farm he now owns. When he acquired title to this property it was but a wilderness improved with a little log house and a small thatched stable. Courageous and persevering, however, he set to work breaking acre by acre until his land brought him gratifying returns. He began with eighty acres and. as his financial resources increased gradually, added thereto until he now owns a farm of two hundred and thirty acres highly improved and well under cultivation. His barns, outbuildings and sheds are modern and suit- ably equipped, his residence is comfortable and all modern conveniences can be found therein, while he has installed the latest type of farm machinery in order to facilitate the labor and improve the productivity of the soil. Although Mr. Harris has retired from the more strenuous duties of the farm, leaving that part of the work to his son-in-law, he still supervises in a general way his farm- ing interests. The land is largely devoted to mixed farming, raising the grain suitable to soil and climate, but his live-stock interests are also important, he having given a number of years to the improvement of his strain of high bred Poland China hogs. As is but natural for a man of the business ability, enter- prise and alertness such as Mr. Harris possesses, he has become connected with allied and other interests and at present serves as president of the Farmers Coop- erative Company of Postville and in the same position in the Postville Cream- ery Company, being not only a large stockholder in these institutions, but also having done valuable work as an executive officer in promoting their growth and effective operation. Mr. Harris is also a stockholder in the Clay Products Company, the canning factory of Postville, and is interested in the Plano Inter- national Machinery Company of Plano, Illinois. It is a cooperative concern formed by farmers in order to furnish them with machinery of the best grade at the lowest cost. Moreover, Mr. Harris is a factor in financial cireles of Postville, being a stockholder in the Citizens Bank.
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