USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 4
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Although he has won notable success as a merchant Mr. Hale has done equally important work in civil engineering during the years of his residence in Waukon. When the Waukon & Milwaukee Railroad was built into the city by private subscription he had charge of the engineering and construction work and he was also assistant engineer in charge of the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Wisconsin Central. In his early years he delighted to leave his store and go into the open to work on engineering projects and he continued his activity in this line until 1905, when he met with an accident, having been run over by an engine and sustaining the loss of his right arm. He is numbered among the notably successful men of Waukon, owning, besides his business and the property upon which his store is located, a fine modern residence.
In February, 1864 Mr. Hale married Miss Henrietta M. Huestis, a native of Nova Scotia, who came here with her parents when young, and they have three children : Emily H., the wife of E. F. Wedary, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work; and Charles J. and W. H., partners in their father's business. Charles J. Hale is married and has four children, three sons and a daughter. Mrs. John H. Hale has since been called to her final rest.
Mr. Hale has been for many years identified with the republican party and is in sympathy with the progressive wing of the organization. He is a member of the Loyal Legion of Honor. His wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been at all times interested in the welfare of the city and has
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given his active cooperation to many movements for the public good, while his efforts in behalf of general improvement have been effective and far reaching. Living in Waukon for forty-eight years, he is one of the best known citizens in the locality, being widely recognized as a man of tried integrity and worth, of business enterprise and unfaltering diligence. His fellow townsmen honor and respect him and wherever he is known he has an extensive circle of friends. Moreover, he deserves mention in this volume as one of the veterans of the Civil war, to whom the country owes a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.
ARTHUR S. BURDICK.
There is no one more popular or better known in Postville, Iowa, than Arthur S. Burdick, who for the past twelve years has been the faithful and efficient postmaster of that place of which he is a native son, born July 18, 1875. He has been identified throughout his entire life with the interests of that locality, where he attended the public schools as a boy, worked at various occupations and served an apprenticeship in the office of the Postville Review. He also took a course at Valder Business College to round out his education. Shortly after the death of his father, who was then postmaster of Postville, he was appointed to that office, having the unique distinction of being the youngest man ever called upon to fill such a position by presidential appointment. Mr. Burdick was first appointed by President MeKinley, was reappointed by Pres- ident Roosevelt and received his third appointment at the hands of President Taft. Conscientious, capable and painstaking, he is accurate in the performance of his duties and accommodating in his ways with the public. He is intensely loyal to Postville, and has taken an active part in various enterprises which have gained for his city the reputation of a live and progressive community.
Mr. Burdick is a son of William Nelson Burdick, without mention of whom no history of Allamakee county would be complete. One of the pioneer editors of this district, the father was a man of more than local fame, for his influence in politics and journalism was felt throughout the state, especially among news- paper men, and he was readily recognized as one of the strongest and most able editorial writers in Iowa. His command of English, his clear thought and fearless expression marked him as one of the great writers of the country press and it is not too much to say that for many years Postville was largely known throughout the state of Iowa as the home of Burdick, of the Postville Review. Mr. Burdick was born near Buffalo, New York, in 1835, and migrated with his family to Illinois when still a youth, later coming to Iowa and settling near West Union. Later he removed to New Oregon, Howard county, at a time before the railroad had penetrated that section and all supplies were brought by team from McGregor. When the railroad came Mr. Burdick removed with other inhabitants of New Oregon to the new town of Cresco, of which he became the first postmaster and where he began his remarkable career as a publisher, editing the Howard County Times. He later published the Win- neshiek County Register and in 1875 moved to Postville, purchasing the Review
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and there beginning the work which gained him such a reputation among the thinking people of the state.
While in Cresco W. N. Burdick was married to Miss Amy E. Halstead, the loving helpmate who survives him and who was to him such a loyal, helpful and intelligent coworker in all that he undertook. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster of Postville, a position which he filled most acceptably without re- linquishing his editorial work until his death, which occurred in 1899. His memory is still revered and held dear by the people of Postville and hundreds of old-time friends in all parts of the state.
Arthur S. Burdick the subject of this review, was, on May 10, 1899, united in marriage to Miss Lillian Riley and their home has been blessed by a son, Edward, who is now a promising lad of thirteen years. A man of strongly marked character, Mr. Burdick has become a forceful element in the business and public life of his community where his sterling traits of character have won him the high regard and confidence of all who have had social or business relations with him. He is a loyal son of his native city, in the advancement and development of which he has been a serviceable factor and which he has served in an official capacity for so many years with faithfulness and with conspicuous ability.
JAMES BRIAR.
Throughout a period of residence of fifty-eight years in Allamakee county James Briar has gained the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, being numbered today among the section's most honored pioneers. He has been one of the greatest forces in agricultural development for more than half a century, making substantial contributions to the county's resources by opening up and developing two fine farms. He is, moreover, entitled to representation in this volume through his worthy and loyal service on southern battlefields during the Civil war.
Mr. Briar is a native of New York and was born in Albany, October 28, 1838. When he was only five years of age he moved with his parents to Oswego county, where they located upon a farm and where he grew to manhood. He acquired his education in the district schools, attending during the winter months and spending his summers aiding in the operation of the homestead. He gained in this way a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the details of farming and this early experience has been invaluable to him in the course of his later career. In 1855 he came west as a young man and located in Allamakee county, where for several years he worked out on a farm, his principal duties consisting of breaking the prairie land with ox teams. He continued at this occupation until August 13, 1862, when he joined the Union army, enlisting in Company A, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Soon after his company was sent to Dubuque, where its organization was completed and where it drilled for some time, afterward being sent north to Minneapolis as a guard to the paymaster, who brought money to the Indians. The company was afterward sent to Memphis, Tennessee, where it spent the winter, and in the following year it
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participated in the siege of Vicksburg and under General Sherman went to Jackson, Mississippi. Returning to Memphis, it was made a member of Banks' expedition up the Red river and it took part in a two days' battle and in numerous skirmishes and minor engagements before it was again sent to Memphis and thence to Tupelo, where it was in the thick of battle. Mr. Briar afterward went with his regiment to St. Louis and was in the raid through Missouri after Price's army, driving that general out of the state. He then returned to St. Louis and from there went down the river to New Orleans and thence to Mobile and Spanish Fort. He aided in the capture of Fort Blakely and was afterward sent to Montgomery, Alabama, where his regiment remained until the close of the war. After Lee's surrender it was sent north to Clinton, Iowa, and there mustered out, Mr. Briar receiving his honorable discharge.
After the close of the war Mr. Briar returned home and for three years engaged in farming, cultivating the old home place. At the end of that time he moved to Waukon, where for five years he engaged in teaming, later again turning his attention to general farming. He purchased a tract of land three miles south of the city, which he farmed and improved for some time, exchang- ing it finally for a larger place. To this he made substantial additions from time to time, owning finally two hundred acres of productive land. This he fenced into six fields surrounded by barbed wire fences, erected a large residence. a substantial barn and a number of outbuildings, making it one of the best equipped and most valuable farming properties in this vicinity. He continued to reside thereon until 1894, when he moved to Waukon, where he has since made his home. He later sold his farm and retired from active life, having earned leisure and rest by many years of honorable and worthy labor.
In the fall of 1865 Mr. Briar married Miss Sarah A. Gates, a daughter of Samuel Gates and a sister of Mrs. Hugh McCabe, of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Briar was born in Decatur county, Indiana, but came to Allamakee county when she was thirteen years of age. She and her husband became the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are still living: William H., who is in the real-estate business in Mason City : Samuel D., who resides in Sawyer, South Dakota ; Joseph H., who is in business in Winona ; Julia, the wife of A. P. Denning, of Heyburn, Idaho; James Elmer. who served as bugler in a Waukon company during the Spanish-American war and who is now engaged in farming in Buford. North Dakota; Charles C .. of Berthold, North Dakota; Adelia May, the wife of E. R. Pierce, of Idaho; Asa L., who is associated with his brother, Joseph H., in the marble business in Winona ; Arthur L., a commercial traveler with headquarters in Minneapolis : and A. J., a farmer in Buford, North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Briar lost a daughter, Elizabeth, who died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Briar is affiliated with the republican party and has always taken an active part in public affairs. While still upon his farm he was elected township trustee and road supervisor and for many years has been identified with school matters, serving as one of the school directors. Ile has been a delegate to numerous county conventions and has done able work on the grand and petit juries. Fraternally he is connected with John J. Stillman Post, G. A. R., and is now senior vice commander. His wife is a member of the Women's Relief Corps and has been on the official board for a number of years. Mr.
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Briar has resided in Allamakee county for nearly sixty years and his interests are thoroughly identified with those of this section. He has witnessed a great deal of the growth and development of the county and in all work of progress has borne his full share both by his individual labors and his active cooperation in progressive public measures. No man in Waukon is more widely and favor- ably known than he, whose good citizenship displayed on southern battlefields has survived unabated for over half a century.
JOHN HARNACK.
John Harnack, one of the most wealthy and prominent citizens of Postville, where he lives retired, was born in Clayton county, Iowa, October 29, 1857, and is a son of Christ and Dora (Sasz) Harnack, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, the former born July 21, 1817, and the latter November 11, 1822. Both crossed the Atlantic in the same vessel but did not meet until they reached Clayton county, Iowa, the mother having made the journey with her uncle, who settled in Guten- berg. The father also became a resident of that community and there worked at cutting cord wood during the winters and spending his summers as a laborer in a stone quarry, receiving for this work fifty cents per day. After his marriage he worked for several years in the employ of others but eventually was obliged on account of his failing health to turn his attention to farming. He rented land near Garnavillo, in Clayton county, and remained upon it for a few years, later purchasing an eighty acre tract of land near Elkader. This was entirely unim- proved, but with characteristic energy Mr. Harnack set himself to the task of developing it. With a yoke of oxen he made trips to McGregor and there purchased lumber, with which he built the first house upon the homestead, in which he lived five years. There he carried on the cultivation of his farm, facing with confidence and courage the hardships and difficulties incident to pioneer existence. During the first years he was obliged to keep his seed corn under his bed in order to save it from the depredations of the many squirrels which fed upon it if it were left uncovered. Eventually he replaced his first house by a two- room cabin of hewed logs and a few years later he sold the farm for two thousand dollars, having in the meantime cleared and improved it to a remarkable extent. He afterward purchased a one hundred acre farm in the same vicinity and upon it he resided for three years, at the end of which time he sold the property, buying one hundred and sixty acres in the same township near Clayton Center. This he improved and developed until 1878, when he disposed of the land and pur- chased two hundred and seven and three quarters acres in Grand Meadow town- ship, Clayton county, upon which he resided until 1886, when he rented the farm and moved into Postville, where he has since lived retired. For some time he owned another farm in Fayette county, just across the county line, but this he sold to his son in 1885. He and his wife still make their home in Postville, where they are numbered among the prominent and representative citizens. In their family were seven children: Bernhardt, who died in infancy; John, of this review; Sophia, the wife of August Dahl, a retired farmer living in Postville; Ida, who married John Krambeer, who lives upon his farm in Post township; Anna, the
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wife of Joseph Schultz, a farmer of Winneshiek county; Emma, who married Louis Meier, engaged in farming in Post township; and Mary, who after the death of her first husband, Henry Brandt, wedded John Schroder, a retired farmer living in Postville.
John Harnack spent his childhood upon his father's farm, dividing his time in his youth between his studies at the Garnavillo district school and work in the oper- ation of the homestead. He afterward spent two winters in the German school at Clayton Center and was still later a student in the district school near Clayton. He remained at home until after his marriage, which occurred in 1885, and he then purchased from his father eighty acres of land in Fayette county. After one year, however, he returned home and rented his father's homestead, oper- ating both farms for some time and finally selling his own eighty acre tract. He afterward purchased a farm one mile west of Postville, his two hundred acres lying partly in Winneshiek and partly in Allamakee county. Upon this property he carried on general agricultural pursuits for eight years, his industry and practical methods winning for him a gratifying degree of success, and gaining him a place among the representative and substantial agriculturists of the region. At the end of that time, however, he rented out the property and moved into Postville, where he became connected with business interests as an employe of Henry Eckert in the latter's implement concern. He made good use of his time and opportunities, and his industry, diligence and energy resulted in his acquiring a comfortable competence, which enabled him to lay aside the cares of active business life. He now makes his home in one of the most modern and attractive residences in the city and he gives most of his time to the management and supervision of his extensive real-estate interests, which include not only his two hundred acre farm but also his residence and a number of valuable lots in Postville.
On the 14th of April, 1885, Mr. Harnack married Miss Maggie Thoma, who was born in Reed township, Clayton county, June 17, 1864. She is a daughter of Fred and Katherina ( Pesch ) Thoma, both natives of the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, who in early life crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Clayton county on a farm. This property the father operated until about the year 1887, when he moved to Postville, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred in 1893. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1878. Mrs. Harnack was one of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are: George, a farmer in Post township ; Anna, the widow of Charles Schultz, formerly a retired farmer living in Postville; Conrad, a resident of Chicago ; Savina, the wife of Louis Saulsgaber, a resident of Minnesota ; Fred, who makes his home in Omaha, Nebraska ; and John, also a resident of Omaha. After the death of his first wife the father was again married, and to this union was born one child, Paulina, who married Bruce Klingman, steward of the Elks Club at Clinton, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Harnack became the parents of four children: Sadie K. E., who was born June 8, 1887, and who died November 26, 1894; Libbie, whose birth occurred on the 4th of November, 1888, and who died November 22. 1894: Fred, who was born February 11, 1892, and died Novem- ber 22, 1894; and Hulda, who was born January 3, 1896, and who is now attending the Postville high school, from which she was graduated in June, 1913.
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Mr. Harnack gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and, although he has never aspired to public office, he served for four years as a member of the city council. Fraternally he is connected with the Turner Society at Postville and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Lutheran church. He stands high in the regard of the people of this community and his progressive spirit, his high standards of honor and integrity and his many sterling qualities of mind and character have won him the respect and esteem of all who are in any way associated with him.
GEORGE WATERS.
One of the most able, active and progressive of Allamakee county's native sons is George Waters, who now owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres in Post township and who in partnership with his brother has other extensive holdings in this locality. No one is better known as a successful breeder and shipper of registered cattle and high-grade horses and the business affairs which claim his attention are all well managed and systematically con- ducted, bringing to him a prosperity which places him among the men of worth and affluence in this section of the state.
Mr. Waters was born in Ludlow township, this county, on the 21st of August, 1858, and is a son of George and Sophia (Hill) Waters, natives of County Wicklow, Ireland, the former born October 23, 1824, and the latter July 29, 1832. In early life the father was a member of the police force in County Wicklow but in 1854 crossed the Atlantic to America, settling first in Pennsylvania, where for four years he worked in the coal mines. In 1858 he came west to Iowa and purchased a small farm of thirty acres in Ludlow town- ship, Allamakee county, which he improved and cultivated for a number of years. In the spring of 1870 he disposed of that property and removed one mile north in the same township, engaging in farming there until his death, which occurred January 4, 1887. His wife survived him some time, dying October 3, 1910. In their family were eleven children, of whom the subject of this review is the third in the order of birth.
George Waters acquired his education in the district schools of Ludlow township and from an early age was a practical and able agriculturist, having aided in the operation of the homestead and afterward working at farm labor in the employ of others. When he was about twenty-four years of age he operated a threshing machine throughout his locality and afterward purchased eighty acres of land, which he cultivated and improved for two years. At the end of that time he sold his property and rented his present farm, afterward purchasing this tract of land, upon which he has resided continuously since that time. This comprises one hundred and forty acres and in addition Mr. Waters is a partner with his brother Edward in the ownership of the Willow Lawn Stock Farm, a highly improved property of three hundred and forty-nine acres. The brothers are extensively engaged in the cattle and horse business here, breeding registered Hereford cattle, which they ship to all parts of the United States, their principal markets being the central states. They are also large
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buyers and shippers of all kinds of horses and both are reliable, enterprising and successful business men, managing capably the important concerns with which they are connected. In addition to his work as a stock-raiser and agriculturist Mr. Waters is also a professional auctioneer and has attained a wide reputation in this field, being frequently called to other states. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Company at Postville and in the Citizens State Bank of that city and his activities, extending to many fields, are important as elements in the general advancement.
On the 13th of December, 1882, Mr. Waters married Miss Eliza Eaton, who was born in Post township on the 13th of December, 1861. She is the daughter of Wells and Mary (Wood) Eaton, natives of Nova Scotia, Canada, the former born March 2, 1822, and the latter April 14. 1825. The father in early life worked at calking vessels in Nova Scotia but in 1845 came to the United States, locating in Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming. He was also a pioneer in Iowa, coming to this state in 1853 and locating upon a farm in Post township, Allamakee county. whereon he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 6th of May, 1881. He was one of the leading promoters and organizers of Bethel church, was elected a member of its first board of trustees and served in that position until his death. His wife afterward removed to Postville, where her death occurred May 14. 1904. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the wife of our subject is the eighth in the order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Waters have two children: Cloy E., who was born April 27, 1894 : and Eaton A., born July 29, 1902.
Mr. Waters is a member of the American Hereford Cattle Breeders Asso- ciation of Kansas City, Missouri, but beyond this has no fraternal or club affiliations. He is a man of exemplary character and genuine personal worth and his long residence in this part of Iowa has brought him success in business and the respect, confidence and regard of all who are associated with him.
JAMES MCEWEN.
On October 31, 1912, occurred the death of James McEwen and thereby was removed from the life of the city of Postville a man greatly beloved and greatly trusted. As financial adviser and friend he stood in the same relation to the people as does a family physician or spiritual adviser. They gave him their entire confidence and he never betrayed a trust or failed a friend, for the keynote of his character was scrupulous and conscientious honesty. He was quiet, kindly, liberal in his views, conservative in action and stanch in the support of what he believed to be right.
The story of his life is an interesting one. It began in Canada, at River Rouge, in the province of Quebec. July 25. 1830, his parents being William and Catherine (McClaren) McEwen, both of Scotch descent. The parents were of the plain people but they bequeathed to their son those good old traits of Scotch character-thrift, industry, hardiness, honesty and enterprise.
James McEwen worked with his father in his early youth, taking advantage of the public-school courses offered in the vicinity and at the early age of sixteen
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