USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 39
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D. J. KELLEY.
Farming and stock-raising interests of Allamakee county find a progressive and worthy representative in D. J. Kelley, who owns a fine property of one hun- dred and sixty-five acres in Iowa township. He is one of Allamakee county's native sons, his birth having occurred in 1869. His parents were Patrick and Bridget Kelley, natives of Ireland, who came at different times to the United States, both settling in New York city, where their marriage occurred. Imme- diately afterward they came west to Iowa and in Iowa township, Allamakee county, rented land, upon which they resided for a time, later purchasing a farm six miles southwest of New Albin, which the father continued to develop and improve until his death, which occurred in 1910, becoming during that time one of the leading and representative agriculturists of this section of the state. His wife survives him and resides upon the homestead, being now eighty years of age. To their union were born five children, four of whom still survive: D. J., of this review ; John F., of New Albin; Annie, who makes her home with her mother ; and Edward, who also lives npon the homestead.
D. J. Kelley grew to manhood upon his father's farm in Iowa township. acquiring his early education in the district schools and later attending a busi- ness college at Waukon. At the age of twenty-five he began his independent carcer, turning his attention to the occupation to which he had been reared, renting land near the old homestead and continuing to develop and improve it for a number of years. In 1908 he bought eighty acres in the same vicinity and to this he has since added. being now the owner of one hundred and sixty-five acres, which he has brought to a well improved and excellent condition. In connection with the tilling of the soil he engages extensively in raising and
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breeding high-grade stock and this forms one of the most important sources of his income. He is also a stockholder in the New Albin Creamery, a director and stockholder in the Farmers Telephone Company and secretary of the New Albin & Irish Hollow Telephone Company and is well known in business circles of the city as a resourceful, able and progressive business man, who always car- ries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
In 1899 Mr. Kelley was united in marriage to Miss Ella Morgan, a daughter of Lawrence Morgan, who passed away, leaving a widow, who resides in New Albin, and six children, as follows: Mary, the wife of Mathew Flynn, of Dor- chester, Iowa ; Ella, the wife of the subject of this review ; Maggie, who married Michael Donovan, of New Albin : Theresa, now Mrs. William Beckwell, of the same city ; Alice, a sister in St. Francis Convent ; and Francis, who makes his home near New Albin. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are devout members of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Kelley is affiliated with the Catholic Order of Forest- ers. Always a stanch supporter of democratic policies and principles, he has done a great deal to promote his party's cause in Allamakee county and in 1912 was elected township assessor, a capacity in which he is still serving. He is a believer in pure and clean politics and never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will advance the moral or material welfare of his city or county.
WILLIAM SADLER.
The death of William Sadler in 1891 deprived agricultural interests of Alla- makee county, and indeed of the state of Iowa, of a most progressive and worthy representative, for he settled on his farm in Union City township in pioneer times and for thirty-six years continued to carry forward the work of improvement, making substantial and tangible contributions to the general expansion and progress of this section of the state.
Mr. Sadler was born in Cambridgeshire, England, on the 27th of May, 1827, and in his native country acquired his education, there remaining until he was twenty-four years of age. In 1851 he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling first in Indiana, where he remained for four years, removing at the end of that time to łowa. He settled in Allamakee county in 1855 and purchased land in Union City township, a property upon which he continued to reside until his death. Throughout the years he steadily carried forward the work of cultivation, facing at first the obstacles and difficulties incident to pioneer existence with con- fidence and courage and gradually developing a fine farm, well improved and highly productive, and worthy of comparison with the best in this state or else- where. From time to time he added to his holdings and at the time of his death was the owner of three fine farms in this township, whereon in addition to culti- vating the fields he engaged extensively in stock-raising, feeding and fattening cattle as well as sheep and hogs. He became known as one of the section's most representative, progressive and substantial agriculturists, leading in all proj- ects or measures for the general advancement and lending the weight of his in- fluence to movements of reform and progress, and thus it was that at his death,
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in 1891, Allamakee county lost not only a practical and successful farmer but also a public-spirited and loyal citizen.
Mr. Sadler married, in 1855, in Indiana, Miss Mary Bulman, also a native of Cambridgeshire, England. a daughter of James and Elizabeth Bulunan. The father died in England and afterward in 1874 the mother came to America, settling in Union City township, where her death occurred in 1885 when she was eighty-one years of age. In this family were twelve children, four of whom survive : Thomas, of Waukon ; Mary, the widow of the subject of this review ; George, of Allamakee county ; and Ann, the widow of James Goose, of England. Mr. and Mrs. Sadler became the parents of seven children : Eliza, who died when she was twenty-one years of age ; Joseph G., who is farming part of the old homestead; Mary E., the wife of William Beardmore, of Union City township ; William M., who also lives upon the homestead ; John B., who passed away when he was thirty-one years of age : J. Edward, who cultivates a portion of his father's farm; and Ada J .. the wife of John Martin, who is engaged in farming near the Sadler homestead.
J. Edward Sadler is today considered one of the most progressive and de- servedly successful farmers in this part of Allamakee county and in the culti- vation of his portion of the homestead is ably carrying forward the work which his father began in pioneer times. He now owns more than five hundred acres of fine land in Union City township which he has improved and developed along modern lines, winning in its cultivation that success which rewards earnest, well directed and persistent labor. He married in 1895 Miss Rose Wilde and to their union were born five children: Clyde E., who was born in 1898 and who is a graduate of the public schools; Myrtle F., who was born in 1900 and who is at- tending school; Alton B., who died in infancy; Helga M., born in 1905; and Arthur William, born in 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Sadler have also reared an orphan, Elmer W. Bailey, now twenty-three years of age and a resident of Elgin, Iowa.
William Sadler was always a stanch adherent of the republican party and as a progressive and public-spirited citizen supported loyally all movements for the promotion of general progress, advancement and reform. His name stood for reliability in business, fidelity in citizenship and honor and loyalty in all relations of life and his memory will long be cherished by those who knew his genuine per- sonal worth and were fortunate enough to have come within the close circle of his friendship.
FRED N. MEYER.
Fred N. Meyer, who since 1890 has lived upon his present farm in Allamakee county, where he is numbered among the prominent and representative agricul- turists, was born in Germany in 1853. He is a son of Fred and Hanna Meyer, both natives of Germany. where the mother died in 1886. In the following year the father came to America and settled in Allamakee county, Iowa, where the re- mainder of his life was spent, his death occurring in 1908.
At the age of thirty Fred N. Meyer left Germany and crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Allamakec county in 1883, and for two years thereafter he worked as a farm laborer, following this by three years' connection with rail-
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roading. In 1888 he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, working in the employ of others for two years, after which he bought land of his own, the tract which he purchased constituting a portion of his present farm. It was raw and unimproved and he had to clear it of timber before beginning the work of cultivation. This, however, he has steadily carried forward through the years, and adding to his holdings as circumstances justified he owns today two hundred and twenty-two acres of the finest and best improved land in Iowa township. There are excellent buildings upon the property where Mr. Meyer carries on diversified farming, his stock-raising interests being an important source of in- come to him. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of New Albin, the Farmers Produce Cooperative Company and the Farmers Telephone Company, and his business investments have always been made with discrimination and have therefore resulted profitably.
Mr. Meyer married in 1886 Miss Kate Krukenberg, who was born in Ger- many and who came to America in 1883. They have become the parents of seven children, Dora, George, Herman, Emma, Minnie, William and Laura, all at home. The family are members of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Meyer is a republican in his political beliefs and has always taken an active interest in public affairs, serving in various responsible official positions. He was elected township trustee in 1908 and is now in his third term and he is in addition secretary of the township school board. He is a progressive, reliable and enterprising citizen and is well known and favorably regarded in the com- munity, to the agricultural development of which he has made substantial con- tributions in the past twenty-five years.
CHARLES G. HELMING.
Charles G. Helming is one of the most prosperous and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Allamakee county and the Pleasant Grove Stock Farm comprises one hundred and eighty acres of fine land on section 1, Ludlow town- ship, a visible evidence of his life of industry and thrift. He is a native son of this county and was born on a farm adjoining the one he now owns on the 27th of January, 1864. His father, Frederick W. Helming, was born in Germany in 1823 and grew to manhood in his native country, marrying there Miss Char- lotte Kruckenberg. After the birth of their two oldest children they crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1854. In Ludlow township Mr. Helming bought an eighty-acre tract of land and continued its development for a number of years, later purchasing property adjoining this place and becoming eventually the owner of one hundred and sixty acres. Upon this he built a fine residence, a good barn and convenient outbuildings and here he spent the remaning years of his life, dying on the property January 24, 1875. His wife survived him many years, passing away in 1900. They were the par- ents of five children : William, who grew to maturity and passed away in Alla- makee county at the age of thirty-six; Emma, who died at the age of eleven ; Minnie, the wife of Rev. H. Sill, a minister of the Reformed church and now located in South Dakota ; Charles G., of this review ; and Otto A.
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CHARLES G. HELMING
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Charles G. Helming was reared upon the home farm and there remained until some years after the death of his father, he and his brothers operating the property and becoming well known as breeders of Aberdeen Angus cattle, Percheron horses and Chester White hogs. Their partnership continued until 1903, when it was dissolved, Mr. Helming moving upon a property which he had purchased in the previous year and upon which he still resides. With char- acteristic energy he turned his attention to its improvement, remodeling the house, erecting a fine barn and installing the necessary equipment. He now has two well equipped barns upon the premises and in 1912 erected a silo with a one hundred ton capacity. The Pleasant Grove Stock Farm reflects everywhere in its neat and attractive appearance his careful supervision and competent man- agement and is altogether one of the finest and most profitable agricultural properties in the section. Mr. Helming engages in general farming but is also extensively interested in stock-raising, keeping fine herds of Aberdeen Angus cattle and breeding also Percheron horses and Chester White hogs.
In 1891, at Newton, Jasper county, Iowa, Mr. Helming was united in mar- riage to Miss Charlotte Silwold, who was born and reared in this state. She passed away in 1905, leaving three children : Harry Fred, a student in the Iowa State University at Iowa City ; Marguerite ; and Carl. In 1907 Mr. Helming was again married, his second wife being Mrs. L. Walter, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Henry Winter, now a resident of Independence, Iowa. She was reared in her native state and at Independence married her first hus- band, by whom she has two children, Lawrence and Lois.
Politically Mr. Helming is identified with the republican party and has served for nineteen consecutive years as township clerk. He has also held various other positions of trust and honor and is recognized as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. He is known in business circles as the secretary and treasurer of the German Farmers Insurance Company and was one of the pro- moters and is now a stockholder and director of the Peoples National Bank of Waukon. He aided in the organization of the Cooperative Creamery Associa- tion of Ludlow and is at present a director in that institution. He and his wife are members of the Ludlow Presbyterian church. Mr. Helming served as chair- man and treasurer of the building committee during the construction of the present church edifice and has always been an active religious worker. In the township where he has always resided he is widely and favorably known, his upright and honorable life having won for him the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.
JAMES GORDON.
Twenty-seven years have been added to the cycle of the centuries since James Gordon passed away and yet there are many who remember with pleasure his sterling integrity, his many fine qualities of mind and character as well as the in- dustry and enterprise which made him one of the valued and respected farmers of Allamakee county, where for twenty-one years he made his home. He was born in Ireland in 1840 and was brought to America by his parents when he was
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still a child. They settled in New York state, where they resided for a number of years, later returning to the Emerald iste, where both passed away. To their union were born three children, all of whom are now deceased.
James Gordon spent his childhood in the Empire state and after his marriage came west to Iowa. settling in 1865 in Allamakee county, where he purchased land in lowa township, which he developed and improved for twenty-one years. By constantly following the most progressive methods and directing his labors along practical lines he made his farm productive and profitable and important as an element in the community resources. His long residence in this part of the state, dating from 1865 until the time of his death, made him very widely known and his sterling qualities gained him the good will and confidence of all with whom he was associated in business or social relations. He left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name and to posterity an example that is well worthy of emulation. He passed away in 1886. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally was connected with the V. A. S. He gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and took an active and intelligent interest in community affairs, supporting with his vote and in- fluence any project which he believed would promote general progress and advancement.
Mr. Gordon married, in New York state, in 1863, Miss Mary A. Ferris, a daughter of Alvah and Phoebe Ferris, natives of that community. They emi- grated to Fowa in the early '6os and settled in Allamakee county, where the father engaged in farming until his death in 1889. He had survived his wife for a num- ber of years, her death having occurred in 1867. Of the eight children born to their union three still survive : Mary A., the widow of the subject of this review ; Anna. the wife of Daniel McDonald, of New Albin ; and Sylvester S., of Spencer. Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon became the parents of four children : William J., who was born in 1867 and who now follows farming in Lansing township ; Ida, who has passed away : Edward, whose birth occurred in 1871 and who now lives upon the homestead ; and Jennie, the widow of John Jarvis. Mrs. Gordon sur- vives her husband and is the proprietor of the homestead, consisting of one hun- dred and twenty acres of highly improved land, located two miles beyond New Albin. She has proved very capable in the management of her important affairs and is well known throughout this section of the state, where her circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of her acquaintances.
SAM EISENLA.
Sam Eisenla, whose farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Waterloo town- ship is one of the finest and best improved agricultural properties in Allamakee county, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1855, a son of Bal- thazar and Catherine Eisenla, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania. In that state they lived for several years after their marriage and then spent two years in New York, after which they were for one summer in Ohio. From there they came in 1866 to Allamakee county, settling in Dorchester, remaining there for two years. At the end of that time the father bought a por-
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tion of the farm now owned and operated by the subject of this review, pur- chasing first eighty acres and adding to his holdings from time to time until at the time of his death, in 1896, he owned one hundred and twenty acres. His wife has also passed away, her death having occurred in 1893. To their union were born two children: Louisa, the widow of John Peeper, of Dorchester, Iowa; and Sam, of this review.
Sam Eisenla acquired his education in the public schools of Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio, and studied for a time also in Iowa. He became familiar with all the details of farm operation through practical experience in assisting his father and when he was twenty-six years of age rented the homestead, upon which he has resided during practically all his life. In 1897 he bought the prop- erty, which then consisted of one hundred and twenty acres lying on section 12, Waterloo township. To this he has since added and owns today one hundred and thirty acres, ninety of which are in a high state of cultivation. Upon the property Mr. Eisenla has made substantial improvements. erecting modern build- ings and installing the necessary equipment, making it a very desirable property. He raises and feeds stock and has made this an important branch of his business, his animals commanding high prices and a ready sale upon the market.
In 1881 Mr. Eisenla was united in marriage to Miss Hilda Martin, who was born in Norway in 1864 and who came to America with her parents when she was nine years of age. They settled first in Winneshiek county and came from there to Allamakee county, whence in 1882 the parents moved to South Dakota, where the father died in 1902, having survived his wife for some time. To their union were born four children: Mrs. W. D. Gillett, of Pennsylvania ; Hilda, the wife of the subject of this review; Martin A., of Spring Grove, Minnesota ; and Carl, who resides in Portland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Eisenla have become the parents of six children: Bessie, whose birth occurred in 1882; Mabel, born in 1884; Belle, 1890; Frankie, 1894 ; Kathleen, 1898; and Minnie, who was born in 1902.
Mr. Eisenla is a stanch democrat and is interested in community affairs, espe- cially in the cause of education, which he did much to promote during his term of service on the school board. Throughout his life he has been guided by high and worthy aims and he receives his reward in the esteem in which he is held by the entire community, of which he has so long been an honored resident.
JOHN P. MORSTAD.
John P. Morstad, who since 1886 has resided upon the farm which he now occupies in Waterloo township, is one of the most successful and able farmers in this vicinity, each year of his residence here having witnessed his increasing prosperity and prominence. He was born in Norway in 1857 and his parents lived and died in that country. He there acquired his education and in 1878 crossed the Atlantic and came to America, settling immediately in Allamakee county, lowa, where for a time he worked at various occupations. Eventually, however, he turned his attention to farming, buying in 1886 the property whereon he has since resided. He owns ninety-three and a half acres in Waterloo town-
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ship and has here a well improved farm, with forty acres in a high state of cultivation, yielding him a gratifying annual income.
In 1887 Mr. Morstad married Miss Martha Eide, a native of Allamakee county and a daughter of Elling Eide, who was born in Norway, and who came among the early settlers to this section of the state. He and his wife died upon the farm which the subject of this review now owns. He was one of the most extensive landowners and prosperous farmers of this vicinity, owning two hun- dred and eighty acres, upon which he carried on general farming and stock- raising. Mr. and Mrs. Morstad became the parents of five children. Ella, born in 1888 who was a trained nurse, married Alfred Rognlien, of Aneta, North Dakota. Edgar, whose birth occurred in 1889, is residing in Waukon, where he is district clerk. Leonard, who was born in 1891, is a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Nellie, the next member of the family, was born in 1893. James was born in 1896 and is attending school. The family are all members of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Morstad gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is public-spirited and progressive in matters of citizenship, taking an active interest in movements for community growth and advancement. He has served as town- ship trustee and as a member of the school board for many years, his duties in both connections being discharged in a capable and far-sighted way. Throughout his entire life he has been actuated by worthy aims and high standards and he receives his reward in the esteem in which he is held by the entire community, of which he has been long an honored resident.
WILLIAM ROBINSON.
Although forty-one years have elapsed since the death of William Robinson upon his farm in Waterloo township his personality was too strongly impressed upon the community, where he had resided for many years, to be readily for- gotten. A man of rare ability and force of personality, he left the impress of his work upon the history of the agricultural development of this section of the state and was perhaps as well known as a citizen who was always ready to contribute to the promotion of any movement for the general good of the community. Mr. Robinson was of Scotch descent but was born in Ireland in 1827. As a child he came to America with his parents and with them settled in New York, where his father passed away. The mother afterward removed with her children to Wis- consin and in 1851 came to Allamakee county, Iowa, where she continued to re- side until her death. in 1893. In this family were six children, of whom Mr. Robinson, of this review, was the eldest, and of whom three yet survive.
William Robinson was still a child when he was brought by his parents to America. He acquired his education in the public schools of Wisconsin and from there came in 1851 to Allamakee county, lowa, where from that time until his death he remained an honored and deservedly respected citizen. For a time he clerked in stores but eventually purchased a tract of school land located on sec- tion 12, Waterloo township, and comprising one hundred and seventy acres. He turned his attention to the development and improvement of this property, the
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years bringing him success, honor and a substantial fortune. His farm became one of the best improved and most productive properties in this section of the state and upon it in addition to general farming and stock-raising he operated a sawmill for a number of years. By following the most progressive and prac- tical methods in the conduct of his interests he became successful and his success brought him prominence and a high standing among his fellow citizens, so that his death, which occurred in 1872, when he was forty-five years of age, cut off in its prime a busy life and useful carcer.
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