USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 41
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LOUIS P. WEYMILLER.
Not only is Louis P. Weymiller one of the most extensive landowners and pros- perous farmers of lowa township but he is also a worthy representative of one of Allamakee county's most honored pioneers, the parents having located in this section of the state in 1854. He was born here two years later, a son of Frederick and Caroline W. Weymiller, natives of Germany, who came to the United States separately in 1846, both settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where their mar- riage occurred and where they afterward resided for six years. The father after- ward spent two years in the California gold fields and then in 1854 came to Iowa, settling in Allamakee county, where he purchased land, continuing to engage in agricultural pursuits for many years and becoming the owner of three large farms. Eventually he retired from active business life and moved to New Albin, where seventeen years later his death occurred on the 12th of May, 1906. llis wife survived him and made her home in this city until her death which occurred on the 28th of June, 1913, when she was ninety years, five months and seven days. In their family were six children : Eleanora, who died in 1885 ; Carrie, the wife of Robert Thompson, of New Albin; Louis P., of this review ; August F., of lowa township; Emma, the wife of Peter Yust, of St. Charles, Minnesota ; and Frank, who resides near New Albin.
Louis P. Weymiller acquired his education in the little log schoolhouse, in which school was held in pioneer times, and when he laid aside his books turned his attention to farming, an occupation to which he had been reared. In 1879 he purchased land six miles beyond New Albin, in lowa township, and upon
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this property he has since resided, having made substantial additions to it in the intervening years. The homestead now comprises six hundred and fifty-six acres and is well managed and well improved in every particular, its neat and attractive appearance evidencing the many years of care and labor which the owner has bestowed upon it. He owns in addition three hundred and twenty acres in North Dakota and two hundred and fifteen acres of island land in Iowa township and he is a director and stockholder in the New Albin Creamery.
In 1881 Mr. Weymiller was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Arndt, a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents when she was nine years of age. They settled in Minnesota, where the father continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1905. His wife survives him. In their family were six children, of whom five are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Weymiller are the parents of eight children. The three sons are: Robert, who is married and lives on the home farm; and Fred and Louis, also residing at home. The daughters are: Lily, at home with her parents; Martha, the wife of Lester Hoover : Carrie, who married Elmer Bailey; and Bertha and Laura, at home. The family are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Weymiller gives his allegiance to the republican party and has recently been elected township trustee, a capacity in which he is now serving with credit and ability. A lifelong resident of Allamakee county, he has become well known here and his is an excellent life record.
NICHOLAS COLSCH.
Nicholas Colsch, who since 1894 has been prominently connected with agri- cultural interests of Allamakee county, lowa, owning today three hundred and fifty-seven acres in Iowa township, is one of the many sturdy, industrious and able men whom Germany has given to America, his birth having occurred in that country in 1861. The father died in Germany, where the mother still makes her home.
Nicholas Colsch acquired his education in the public schools of his native country and there remained until 1883, when he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling at once in Allamakee county, Iowa, where he has since made his home and where he is now numbered among the most substantial and progressive citizens. He spent the first four years after his arrival working as a farm laborer, and then rented land, which he developed and improved for six years, after which he bought a portion of his present farm in Iowa township. He purchased first one hundred and seventy-five acres to which he has since added from time to time, his holdings now comprising three hundred and fifty-seven acres. The land is located five miles southwest of New Albin and one hundred and eighty acres are in a high state of cultivation, excellent harvests annually rewarding Mr. Colsch's careful supervision and practical labors. In addition to cultivating his fields, he is also extensively interested in stock-raising, breeding and fattening fine animals which he sells in the local markets. Besides his fine farm in Iowa township he owns also one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota, and he is connected with business interests of New Albin as a stockholder in the
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Farmers Cooperative Store, the Cooperative Creamery Company and the Farmers Produce Company.
Mr. Colsch married in 1887 Miss Louisa Teff, a native of Allamakee county, born in 1863. She is a daughter of Hillis and Catrina Teff, both of whom reside in Dorchester, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Colsch became the parents of ten children : Leo, who was born in 1889, and who is married and lives in Allamakee county ; George, who was born in 1891; Julia, whose birth occurred in 1895; Nicholas, Jr., born in 1896; Martha, born in 1898; Josephine, whose birth occurred in 1901; Charley, born in 1903; Maggie, born in 1906; and Rosa M. and Mary P., who have passed away.
Fraternally Mr. Colsch is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and politically he gives his allegiance to the republican party. Although not active in politics he is always eager to advance the general interests of the com- munity and is especially interested in educational affairs, having done able work in this cause as a member of the school board. He has made substantial contri- butions to the agricultural development of the section where he makes his home and. moreover, he has by his upright life and honorable business standards won the esteem, confidence and regard of all who are in any way associated with him.
JAMES F. REGAN.
James F. Regan needs no introduction to the readers of a history of Alla- makee county, for his name has been an honored and respected one in this part of Iowa since pioneer times, his parents having been among the early settlers. He is today a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser, his holdings comprising one hundred and forty acres of the farm in Union City township, upon which he was born in 1870. He is a son of Maurice and Mary Regan, natives of Ireland, who as children came to America with their parents and settled in Con- necticut. At an early date the father came to lowa, settling first in Dubuque and going from there to Allamakee county, where he took up his residence in 1855. Here he purchased land and was quite an extensive owner at the time of his marriage in 1866. From that time on he added to his property as his financial resources permitted, accumulating finally six hundred acres of excellent land. This farm he operated and developed along practical and modern lines, erecting upon it substantial improvements and installing all the necessary equipment, and making it one of the finest and most valuable agricultural properties in this sec- tion of the state. He died in 1910 at the age of seventy-one, and in his passing Allamakee county lost one of its most honored and successful pioneers-a man who for more than half a century had been a leading factor in the promotion of agricultural development and general progress. He was survived by his wife who died upon the homestead, May 24, 1913, having reached the age of sixty- five. In their family were four children: Ella, the wife of Thomas O'Brien, a harness maker in Waukon, Iowa; James F., of this review; Nora, who died in infancy ; and Maurice, who owns and operates two hundred and eighty-five acres of the old homestead.
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James F. Regan was reared upon his father's farm and from his early boy- hood assisted in its cultivation, acquiring in this way a thorough knowledge of the best and most effective agricultural methods. When the homestead was divided he received as his share the one hundred and forty acres which he now owns, and he has since steadily carried forward the work of its improvement and development. It is a well managed and profitable property, substantially im- proved and equipped with the most modern machinery and reflecting everywhere the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner, who is a most able and successful agriculturist.
Mr. Regan married on the 19th of October, 1909, Miss Mary Lyons, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Thomas and Helena M. Lyons, the former born in Iowa and the latter in Wisconsin. They now reside in Hanover township, Alla- makee county. In their family were five children : Nellie, the wife of Wallace McMullen of Chicago, Illinois; Joseph, who died when he was three years of age ; Catherine, the wife of John Schulte of Waterloo; Mary, the wife of the subject of this review ; and Thomas, who lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Regan have two sons : Maurice, who was born in 1910; and James, born in 1912. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
During the years of his active career-years in which success has steadily attended well directed labor, unremitting industry and perseverance-Mr. Regan has proved himself a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, his work being a valuable supplement to that begun by his father a half century ago. He has, moreover, been accorded a high place among progressive and able agriculturists of this vicinity and has commanded and held the regard, esteem and confidence of all who have been in any way associated with him.
STANLEY LARSON.
Members of the Larson family have indeed reason to feel proud of the family history, for representatives of the name have been most loyal to all the principles of honorable manhood and citizenship. Ole Larson, the founder of the family in Allamakee county, had eleven sons and daughters, who spent their childhood in Taylor township. Those who grew to maturity proved in later years their worth in various localities in different walks of life. Of this number was Stener, called Stanley Larson, the third child in his father's family. He was born at Rotnem, Gol, Hallingdal. Norway, December 4, 1842, and was the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Larson, whose emigration to America in 1849 was followed by removal from Wisconsin to Iowa in the spring of 1850.
Upon the old homestead farm on section 17, Taylor township, Stanley Lar- son grew to manhood with the usual experiences that fall to the farm lad, his time being divided between the acquirement of an education in the district schools and the work of the fields. He continued to assist his father until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he turned his attention to the insurance business and in connection therewith removed to the west. In 1879 he became a resident of Saline county, Nebraska, locating at Friend, where he conducted a general merchandise store for several years. At length, however, he tired of the
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business and, having in the meantime saved considerable money, he removed to Tobias, Nebraska, in 1884. and there established the People's Bank. For twenty years he was at the head of that banking institution and in that time became acquainted with and was known to nearly every person in his section of the state. About two years prior to his demise he disposed of his interests in Nebraska and because of his health removed to Boise, Idaho, hoping to be benefited thereby. He held extensive interests in several mining properties in that state and was also financially connected with numerous industries. Still seeking health, he went to Pendleton, Oregon, but the change did not bring the benefit that he desired and on the 7th of June, 1906, he departed this life, his remains being returned to Saline county, Nebraska, for interment in the J. V. Ainsworth lot in the Tobias cemetery.
He was spoken of in terms of highest praise and warm regard by all who knew him, and it is said that he never turned a deaf ear to the appeal of the needy and that no one ever left his door hungry. He was a member of the Presbyterian church but displayed no narrow denominational spirit. No good work done in the name of charity or religion sought his aid in vain. He was always among the foremost in the support of any good cause and he gave most liberally of his means to any worthy project tending to the moral develop- ment of the community. He was for several years. prominently connected with Sunday school work and did much to further that branch of Christian activity. Thus he left behind him a good name which is rather to be chosen than great riches. He was also a most earnest advocate of the temperance cause and at one time was prohibition candidate for secretary of state in Nebraska. It seemed that no one need ever question his position, it was a foregone conclusion that he was to be found on the side of right, truth and justice.
GEORGE A. LEAS.
A well tilled tract of four hundred and twenty acres on section 4, Linton township, has yielded most gratifying returns for the labor expended on it by its owner, George A. Leas, who during the entire period of his active career has engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born on the farm which he now occupies, November 17, 1859, and is a son of Jeremiah and Susanna ( Henderson) Leas, the former of whom was born near Cleveland, Ohio, January 20, 1830, and the latter, November 8, 1831. In early life the father learned the tailor's trade but not liking it, turned his attention to farming, an occupation in which he engaged during the remainder of his active life. In the early '5os he came as a pioneer to Iowa, where he had bought land previously, and, taking up his residence upon his holdings, broke the raw soil and developed there a productive farm. At the time of his arrival pioneer conditions prevailed everywhere. the county was practically a wilderness and Indians were frequent visitors to the sparse settlements. With characteristic energy Jeremiah Leas carried forward the work of clearing and improving his property and continued to reside thereon until November, 1902, when he moved to another farm in Linton township. After one year he retired from active life and moved to Rossville, where he has
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Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Leas
Mr. and Mrs. William Thias
Standing :
Mrs, John Melcher and daughter Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Leas Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Melcher Mr. John Melcher and son
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since resided. For two terms he served as supervisor of his township and has been at all times a public-spirited and progressive citizen, interested in every- thing that pertains to community development. He and his wife became the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this review is the third in order of birth.
In the district schools of Linton township George A. Leas acquired his edu- cation and at the age of sixteen he laid aside his books, continuing, however, to reside at home until he was twenty-five years of age. He had learned the best and most practical agricultural methods by personal experience upon his father's farm and this training stood him in good stead when he began his independent career. He purchased forty acres of land in Linton township and turned his attention to its cultivation. For a number of years thereafter he operated this property and for twenty-eight seasons ran a threshing machine in connection with it, becoming well known as a progressive farmer and an able business man. He added to his original forty acres and at one time controlled extensive hold- ings which, however, he later disposed of and returned to the old homestead. To this also he has made extensive additions, his holdings now comprising four hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. He operates this as a general stock farm, keeping high-grade cattle, horses and hogs, and his business interests, being all carefully and capably conducted, have brought him a gratifying measure of success. He is a stockholder and director in the Waterville Creamery Company and in the Farmers Shipping Association of Monona, and in business circles is regarded as a far-sighted, able and discriminating man.
On the 22d of January, 1884, Mr. Leas was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Thias, who was born near Sixteen, in this township, March 12, 1864. She is a daughter of William F. and Barbara Ann (Gast) Thias, the former of whom was born in Germany, September 9, 1839, and the latter in Quebec, Canada. on the 17th of November. 1847. When he was two years of age the father was brought to America and he grew to manhood in Indiana, later removing to Iowa. After attaining his majority he took up land near the village of Sixteen, in Linton township, and kept "bachelor's hall" with his brother until his marriage. He cleared and improved a tract of land which he had entered from the govern- ment and made this a valuable property. Disposing of it in 1870, he moved to Nora Springs, this state. and there remained for four years, after which he ex- changed his farm for that belonging to his brother-in-law and returned to Linton township, where he was active in agricultural pursuits until three years before his death. He then divided his property among his children and retired from active life, dying in January, 1910. His wife survives him and makes her home in Linton township. Mr. and Mrs. Leas have become the parents of eight chil- dren : William Wesley, who was born December 12, 1884. and who married Miss Hazel Kringle, their home being at Cottonwood, Minnesota : Effie, who was born July 27, 1886, and who is the wife of John Melcher ; E. J., born November 4. 1888; Harry O., April 13, 1891 ; Ray Addison, February 13, 1893; Arthur Floyd, July 22, 1895 : Iva Estella, August 18, 1899; and Hazel Marie, December 22, 1904.
Mr. Leas gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and served for two terms as township trustee. Although he is not active as an office seeker he never neglects the duties of citizenship and gives hearty and helpful cooperation to all measures which he deems for the best interests of the community. He is
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connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America and is a member of the Presbyterian church, Mrs. Leas belonging to the Ladies' Aid Society of that organization. A man of good business ability which has won him substan- tial success and actuated in all of his dealings by the most honorable and upright principles, he possesses, moreover, those personal characteristics which command the confidence and good-will of his fellowmen and place him among the highly respected and valued residents of Linton township.
HON. A. M. FELLOWS.
A spirit of enterprise, aggressiveness and initiative, guided and directed by sound judgment and discrimination, has actuated A. M. Fellows in all the activi- ties of his career, bringing him through successive stages of progress and advance- ment to a place of prominence in business circles of Lansing, his native city, and to a position of power in the political life of the state of Iowa. As president of the People's State Bank of Lansing, and as proprietor of one of the largest lumber concerns in the county, he is connected in an important way with business interests, while as a member of the state senate his work is proving able, con- structive and public-spirited-well worthy of a place in local political history.
Mr. Fellows was born in the city where he now resides, March 1, 1864, and is a son of Judge L. E. Fellows, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Our subject was reared in Lansing, acquiring his education in the public schools of the city and in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. After completing his studies he entered the offices of a large lumber company in Lan- sing and, commencing at the bottom, learned the business in principle and detail, winning promotion as his knowledge increased and his ability developed and rising finally to be proprietor of the business, which he now conducts, controlling an important trade in lumber and building materials. He aided in the organiza- tion of the People's State Bank, which was opened for business in October, 1911, with Mr. Fellows as president and R. G. Miller, cashier. The bank has a capital stock of forty thousand dollars and has some ninety stockholders, all prominent business men or prosperous farmers of this community. A general banking business is carried on and this has since the beginning steadily increased in volume and is of extensive proportions at the present time
Mr. Fellows married in Cresco, Howard county, Iowa, on the 4th of Sep- tember, 1899, Miss Elsie Smith, who was born and reared in that city. She is a daughter of L. E. Smith, editor of the Howard County Times, and one of the prominent and able men in that section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have six children : Minerva, now in the junior class at Grinnell College, where she is president of the Glee Club; L. E., a student in the Michigan State Uni- versity at Ann Arbor; A. M., Jr .; Donald S., a student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison; and John and Kenneth, at home.
Although Mr. Fellows is so closely connected with the financial and general business life of Lansing, and although his activities along these lines have been so fruitful of good to the community, they by no means mark the limit of his interests, for following in his father's footsteps, he has always borne his full
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share in the political advancement of his city and state. He has held various important positions of trust and honor, serving on the school board for twenty years and as a member of the city council for eight years, in addition to being for four years mayor of Lansing. In November, 1912, he was elected to the state senate and is a member of the present assembly, serving on a number of important committees and acting as chairman of the committee on commerce and trade. He is a practical, progressive and able politician, giving his vote and influence only to projects of reform and advancement and adhering closely to high standards of political and public morality. He has served the state ably and well in important ways, and his name is honored by his constituents and political opponents alike as that of a man whose sagacity is far-reaching and whose integrity is beyond all question.
Mr. Fellows is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge at Lansing, in which he has served through all the chairs and is now past master. He and his wife are affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star and Mrs. Fel- lows has served through all the chairs of this organization. She is past worthy matron and has represented the Lansing lodge in the grand lodge of the state of Iowa. Mr. Fellows belongs also to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen. Few, if any, men of Lansing are better known throughout the state than he, for his activities have influenced a great many important phases of state development, his success and the standards which influenced it being counted today among valuable political and business assets.
OLEN O. LARSON.
A pioneer family in Allamakee county, the Larsons have long been widely and prominently known and members of the family well deserve mention in its history, being respected, worthy citizens of Allamakee county during the period of their residence there and also of other sections in which they have lived. Many friends cherish the memory of representatives of the family who have passed away, which number includes Ole, called Olen O. Larson, a son of Ole and Anne Larson and a brother of Louis O. Larson. He was born February 27, 1852, at the family home on section 17, Taylor township, Allamakee county, where his parents had taken up their abode in 1850. His youthful days were spent in farm work and in attendance at the district schools, while for a long time he also studied under the tutorship of Professor Thomas J. Healy, of Lansing. On attaining his majority he started to the west and after reaching Colorado began operating in the mines. He was well known in Antonito, Ouray, Silverton, Salida and Animas Forks, owning some valuable claims in those mining districts. He also engaged in merchandizing in partnership with his brother Stanley and with T. V. Ainsworth in Friend, Nebraska, and for a time he edited the Rio Grande Sentinel in Del Norte, Colorado. His position in business circles is indicated by the following excerpt from a Salida (Colo.) paper, written some time prior to his death :
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