USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 6
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Mr. Ellis was married on the 2d of July, 1901, to Miss Carrie J. Taylor, a native of Lincoln, Nebraska, and a daughter of Harland and Jane ( Bray) Taylor, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Iowa. The father was for many years employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad but is now a resident of Hopkins, Minnesota. His wife has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis became the parents of five children, Lyle, Clifford Keith, Kenneth, Ruby Evelyn and Naomi, all at home.
Mr. Ellis belongs to Brotherly Love Lodge, No. 204, A. F. & A. M., and is identified also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is one of the prominent business men of Postville, identified with its growth and development, and he is well known in Allamakee county as one of its progressive and public- spirited citizens.
EDGAR R. A. BRAINARD.
During his life Edgar R. A. Brainard was widely and favorably known in Allamakee county as one of the foremost agriculturists near Postville, where he owned a valuable farm of two hundred and fifteen acres which he successfully cultivated until death claimed him December 5, 1909. He was one of the first in this section to engage in bee culture and proved that such an enterprise could be profitably prosecuted here. The success that came to him was entirely brought about by his own efforts, for he started out in life at the age of sixteen and unaided made his way in the world to a position which brought him the confi- dence and good-will of all who knew him.
Edgar R. A. Brainard was born in McHenry county, Illinois, near Huntley, May 9, 1851, a son of Isaac and Arvilla ( Austin) Brainard, natives of New York state, both born in Washington county. The date of the father's birth was April 5, 1816, and that of the mother, August 13, 1824. During his active life Isaac Brainard always followed farming and he and his wife came to Iowa on June I, 1855, locating at what was then known as Cleveland, where he bought land, in the
EDGAR R. A. BRAINARD AND FAMILY
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cultivation of which he continued until his death. He passed away September 24, 1880, his wife surviving him until October 11, 1896. In their family were six children, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth.
In the acquirement of an education Edgar R. A. Brainard attended school in Postville township and also a business college at Waukon, having been brought by his parents to this section before he attained school age. He early assisted his father with the work of the farm and when only sixteen years of age began to take charge of its operation, becoming thereby the mainstay of the family. While he devoted the summer months to farming, he taught school for several years during the winter seasons and also worked in the employ of others until his marriage, when he by purchase acquired forty acres of land, still continuing, however, to teach school during the two following winters. He then had the means to build a small house and began keeping bees, being the first in this section to engage in such an enterprise. As his financial means accrued he added to his farm from time to time until he owned two hundred and fifteen acres of land, all of which he cleared and which he developed and brought to a high state of productivity. The buildings upon his farm were substantial and modernly equipped, his residence comfortable, and the latest machinery was provided for labor-saving purposes and in order to increase the yield of the fields. He was considered one of the most substantial agriculturists of his section when death claimed him December 5, 1909. He was closely attached to his farm, having never been away from home with but one exception, when he was called to Dubuque in order to do jury service. Having begun bee culture, he continued along that line, becoming a leader of the industry and being extraordinarily successful therein. As his means increased he invested judiciously in other enterprises and became a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Store and the Cooperative Creamery of Postville. His stock-raising interests were also con- siderable.
On September 22, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brainard and Miss Barbara McWilliams, a native of Scotland, born January 21, 1860. She is a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Yule) McWilliams, also natives of Scot- land, who crossed the ocean in 1867 and after making their way into the interior of the country, located on Henderson prairie in Clayton county, Iowa, where they resided for several years before removing to Post township, where the father rented land and worked for Mr. Hart. He bought his first land in Post town- ship, where they resided for several years before moving upon the farm near where Mrs. Brainard now lives, but later sold out and removed to Postville, where the father died November 7, 1896, the mother surviving him until February 27, 1905. In their family were nine children, of whom Mrs. Brainard is the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Brainard became the parents of eight children: Mary, who was born July 22, 1880, and is now the wife of C. A. Simons, a farmer and dairyman in Marengo, Illinois ; Millie, who was born May 15, 1883, and is the wife of Martin Vickery, engaged in farming in Post township; James E., who was born February 25, 1885, and died October 30, 1897; Arvilla, who was born August 13, 1887, and is at home ; Nellie, born September 28, 1891, also at home ; George, born December 18, 1893: Ralph, born April 6, 1898; and Genevieve, whose natal day was December 18, 1905.
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Mr. Brainard was a devout member of the United Brethren church, in the work of which he was actively and helpfully interested, having been class leader and trustee of the church, and teacher and superintendent in the Sunday school for many years. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he gave evidence of his public spirit by serving as school director and treas- urer as well as township assessor for two terms. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Brotherhood of America. The death of Mr. Brainard was the cause of widespread regret among his many friends who sincerely mourned his loss and still cherish his memory as one whose manly qualities demand respect and esteem. Mrs. Brainard still resides upon the homestead and continues its operation in the same able manner as it had been conducted during her husband's life. In February, 1912, mis- fortune befell her when the family residence burned down but, undaunted, she erected a new and modern residence more comfortable and convenient than that which had been taken by the elements. She enjoys the highest esteem and good-will of all her neighbors and has many friends in Postville who admire her for her excellent womanly qualities as well as for her business ability in suc- cessfully continuing an extensive agricultural enterprise.
JOHN C. BEEDE.
John C. Beede, who is living retired in Waukon after more than fifty years of prominent identification with farming interests in the vicinity, is numbered among the pioneers in Allamakee county, his residence here dating from 1857. He has been one of the greatest individual forces in the agricultural development of this section, has always been interested in its expansion along other lines and for more than half a century has been recognized as a public-spirited and progressive citizen as well as a prosperous and successful business man.
Mr. Beede was born near Augusta, Maine, November 23, 1835, and spent his early childhood in that city. He had no school advantages in his early life and is entirely self-educated, his knowledge coming from his private study and wide reading in mature years. When he was fourteen years of age he went to sea, joining a fishing crew and engaging in cod and mackerel fishing off the New- foundland coast during the summers and in the winters working in a store. After he was twenty-one he followed a sea-faring life for some time and advanced rapidly, becoming first mate of his vessel. During some period in his early life he had learned the shoemaking trade and this he followed for a few seasons in Maine after coming ashore. He married in that state in 1857 and soon after- ward moved to lowa, where he joined his brother-in-law, Chester Caton, in Allamakee county, where he has since resided. They farmed together for two years and at the end of that time Mr. Beede purchased an eighty acre tract of raw land in Union Prairie township which he proceeded to break, fence and improve. Upon it he built an attractive residence, a good barn and sub- stantial outbuildings and did everything in his power to make it a valuable and productive property. Here for over half a century he carried on general agricultural pursuits, each year with increasing success, becoming at length one
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of the prosperous and successful farmers of the community. By well directed labor and practical methods and strict adherence to high standards of business integrity he accumulated a comfortable fortune which enabled him to retire from active life. Accordingly, in 1910 he sold his farm and moved to Waukon, where he purchased an attractive home in which he now resides.
Mr. Beede has been twice married. His first union occurred in Maine in 1857 and to it were born eight children: Arthur S., now a resident of Oregon ; LeRoy J., of South Dakota : Edgar L., also of Oregon; Angie M., the wife of E. A. Heath, of Alaska; Mrs. Cora L. Campbell, of North Dakota: Nellie, the wife of Professor L. W. Abbott, for fourteen years superintendent of schools in Nobles county, Minnesota ; Albert W., who lives at home; and Fred, who resides in Williston, North Dakota. The mother of these children passed away on January 15, 1876, and on the 26th of May, 1877, Mr. Beede wedded Miss Mary T. Ryan, a native of Massachusetts, who was reared in Union Prairie town- ship, Allamakee county, and is a daughter of Thomas Ryan, who was one of the pioneers in this part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Beede have three children : John C., a business man in Waukon; Minnie, the wife of W. J. Raymond, also of Waukon, and Myrtle Irene, who married Ernest Raymond, of Nora Springs, Iowa. One son born to Mr. and Mrs. Beede, William H., grew to maturity and died in 1910, at the age of twenty-nine. They also lost a daughter, Lizzie, who passed away in 1898, when she was twenty years of age.
Fraternally Mr. Beede is connected with the Odd Fellows, which he joined in 1870, and he has passed through all the chairs in the subordinate lodge and is now past grand. He and his wife are members of the Rebekah lodge and Mrs. Beede has served in all of the chairs of the order, being at present past vice grand. W. J. Raymond, Mr. Beede's son-in-law, is now noble grand of the Waukon lodge and his wife is noble grand of the Rebekalıs.
Mr. Beede cast his first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856 and since the forma- tion of the republican party has voted for every republican nominee for the presidency. He takes an active interest in local affairs, especially in school matters, and while on the farm was elected in 1858 a member of the school board, serving continuously for fifty-two years. He is numbered among the real builders of Allamakee county, for he has borne an active and honorable part in the work of its development and for more than half a century has con- sistently supported all progressive public movements. He commands the con- fidence and respect of his neighbors and well deserves the retirement which he now enjoys, for it is the fruit of long years of honest and successful labor.
MOSES AYERS BOLLMAN.
For more than half a century Moses Ayers Bollman was a resident of Winneshiek county and during the greater part of that period was identified with the farming interests. Although he never sought to figure prominently in public life, he proved his loyalty to his country in the time of her greatest need in the dark days of the Civil war and he was classed with those citizens whose sterling worth, earnest purpose and fidelity to the duties which come day
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by day make them valued residents of the community. He was born in Mus- kingum county, Ohio, January 16. 1837, and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Hardin) Bollman, the former a native of the same section. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to Iowa about the year 1853 and located just northwest of Postville, where he purchased land upon which he continued to reside until his death in 1873. His wife survived him several years, dying in 1879.
Moses Ayers Bollman was one of a family of nine children. He grew up on his father's farm, acquiring his knowledge of the best agricultural methods by practical experience, and at the usual age entered the district schools of Post township where he gained an excellent education. He began his independent career at the age of sixteen when he began working as a farm hand, continuing thus until 1861. when, his patrotie spirit being aroused, he volunteered for service in the Union army, joining Company K, First Regular Iowa Cavalry. He saw a great deal of active service, remaining at the front until after the close of hostilities when he was mustered out with honorable discharge, returning to Iowa with a creditable military record. He bought land six miles northwest of Postville in Winneshiek county, whereon he continued to reside until his death, his practical methods, his energy and close application bringing him as the years passed a gratifying measure of success, and his high integrity and honor and his sterling personal worth winning for him the respect, confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact.
Mr. Bollman was twice married. He first wedded Miss Nancy Harris, a sister of William Harris, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. Bollman's first wife passed away in 1871, leaving three children : Rena Belle. the wife of Amos MeMartin, a farmer in Ellendale, North Dakota ; Willard Ellery, engaged in farming in Bruce, South Dakota ; and Maggie Ellen, who married Edward Green, a farmer residing seven miles northwest of Post- ville.
On the 24th of March, 1874, Mr. Bollman was again married, his second wife being Miss Carrie Brown, who was born in Laporte, Indiana, July 3, 1852. She is a daughter of Luther and Mary (Walrath) Brown, both natives of that section, the father born November 1, 1823, and the mother, October 11, 1830. They came to Iowa in 1854 and in that year located on a farm five miles north- west of Postville, whereon they continued to reside until January 5, 1862, when the father died. Mrs. Brown and her children moved into Castalia, where she passed away, October 11, 1865. Their daughter, Mrs. Bollman, is one of a family of four children. She grew up on her father's farm near Postville and attended what was then known as the old red school house, located one mile from her father's home. This school, now called the Oak Ridge school, is attended by her own children. By this second marriage Mr. Bollman had eight children : Fenton, who is engaged in farming near Caldwell, Idaho; Parker, a farmer re- siding at Basin. Wyoming: Stella, the wife of Hayes Hougland, a farmer and rancher near Republic, Washington; Talcott, who makes his home with his mother ; Farrell, a farmer near Cottonwood, South Dakota; Vera, the wife of B. Post, a farmer in the vicinity of Caldwell, Idaho; Vives, a photographer re- siding in Postville : and Oberton, who is studying butter making at the State Agricultural College at Ames. After the death of her husband Mrs. Bollman sold
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the farm and came to Postville where she purchased a comfortable and attractive residence in which she expects to spend the remainder of her life. She is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is affiliated with the Ladies Aid Society, in which she has accomplished much useful and beneficial work.
Mr. Bollman gave his political allegiance to the republican party and was never neglectful of the duties of citizenship, cooperating readily and willingly in all movements and projects for the general welfare. For a number of years he served on the school board and was for some time road supervisor, dis- charging his public duties in a capable, far-sighted and conscientious way. He was a member of the United Brethren church and his life was ever upright and honorable, commanding the confidence and good-will of all who knew him. He lived to witness a remarkable change in Allamakee and Winneshick counties dur- ing the long period of his residence in this part of Iowa and throughout the entire period his influence was always on the side of progress, truth, justice and right.
JOHN M. COLLINS.
John M. Collins, a well known grocery and real-estate dealer of Waukon and one of the early settlers in Allamakec county, was born in Lewis county, New York. July 19, 1843. His parents later moved to Kentucky and resided in Mason county, that state, until 1856, when they moved to Iowa, making a permanent location in Taylor township, Allamakee county. Here the father owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, broke the soil, fenced his property and began the work of development, which he carried on along progressive lines for many years, dying upon his homestead at an advanced age.
John M. Collins was a boy of thirteen when he came with his parents to Allamakee county and his childhood was spent amid pioneer conditions. He aided in the opening up of the new farm and afterward in its improvement and development, spending all of his time when not engaged with his books in agricultural pursuits. He acquired his primary education in the public schools and supplemented this by outside study and reading, fitting himself for teaching, an occupation which he followed for twelve consecutive terms, becoming well known in educational circles of the state. He afterward entered public life, accepting in 1880 the position of deputy county auditor and serving in that capacity for four years. In 1884 he was elected auditor and at the end of his first term reelected, afterward serving for nine consecutive years in the office. He was later again deputy auditor and in all served as deputy and county auditor for seventeen years, his public service being at all times loyal, efficient and dis- interested. During his long term in office people from all parts of the county came to Waukon to consult him and to lay before him matters which needed his attention and he was never known to neglect any phase of his public duty. In this way he acquired an extensive circle of friends, all of whom hold him today in the highest honor and esteem. In 1898 Mr. Collins went to Minneapolis and there engaged in the mercantile business, at the same time purchasing a half
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interest in a dry-goods store at Prairie du Chien. He gave his attention to the conduct of both concerns for one year and then sold out his interests and opened a grocery store in Waukon which in the course of fourteen years he has made one of the largest and most important institutions of its kind in the city. He carries a complete and well selected line of goods and has secured an enviable reputation as a careful and discriminating man of business whose success is the direct result of the energy, honesty and straightforward dealing by which it was attained. Mr. Collins is also well known as a real-estate dealer in Waukon, for he specializes in the buying and selling of improved Iowa, Minne- sota, North Dakota, Montana and Missouri farming lands. He has made some very judicious private investments and is now the owner of fourteen hundred acres, part of which is improved land. In 1883 he purchased a residence in Waukon and has made it his home continuously since that time with the excep- tion of a year and a half during which time he lived in Prairie du Chien.
On the Ist day of February, 1874, Mr. Collins married Miss B. T. Brazell, a native of Canada, who came to the United States in 1860. They have three sons and two daughters, as follows: John B., who is married and who assists his father in the grocery store; Michael L., a farmer in North Dakota; William J., who is also employed in his father's store; Mrs. Mary Regan, a widow. who makes her home in Minneapolis; and Nellie, who assists in the conduct of the grocery. Mr. and Mrs. Collins had one other son, Albert, who died in 1900 at the age of fifteen years. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church, and Mr. Collins is a member of the Knights of Columbus. For over half a century he has been a resident of Allamakee county and his labors have been a cooperant factor in the development and advancement of the section. Ile is numbered among the public-spirited and progressive men of Waukon, giving largely of his time, means and influence in the promotion of projects for the general good. Ile occupies a prominent position in business, social and political circles and has always shown an interest and ability which have made him a valued member of the community.
RONNEBURGER & HOESLY.
Among the foremost newspaper enterprises in Allamakee county and, in fact one which has a large influence in four counties and throughout the state, is the Jowa Volksblatt, a weekly journal printed in the German language at Postville. This paper is a great favorite with the sons of the fatherland located in this section and the citizens of German descent and is housed in a finely equipped office, having a wide circulation, including a large number of readers in Germany. The Volksblatt was established in 1892, by the Rev. John Gass, and later was edited by Dietsch & Brechler, Mr. Dietsch becoming the sole proprietor in 1895. In 1908 it was purchased by the present owners, Paul Ronneburger and Samuel Hoesly, under whose management the paper has enjoyed a history of uninter- rupted success and prosperity. Although an important factor in promoting public progress and advancing the interests of the section in which it circulates, it
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is independent in politics and devotes its attention largely to the news of Postville and the four counties in which its readers are located.
The senior member of the firm, Paul Ronneburger, is a German born and bred, having first seen the light of day in the capital of the empire, Berlin. He enjoyed the splendid and thorough educational advantages of the German public schools, attended the printers' trade school and became an expert in the printers' art in the fatherland. The year 1892 marks his advent in America, where he worked at his trade in Milwaukee, being for a time employed in the office of the Vorwaerts, the well known paper edited by ex-Congressman Victor Berger. After seven years in Milwaukee, Mr. Ronneburger worked for one year with the Bellville (Texas) Wochenblatt and then became connected with the Banner at Mayville, Wisconsin, and subsequently with the Green County Herold of Monroe, that state. It was here that he met his future partner, Samuel Hoesly, and the two young men then decided to strike out for themselves, purchasing the Iowa Volksblatt.
In 1903 Mr. Ronneburger paid a visit to the old country and on October 26, 1910, he was married to Miss Margarete Wersinger, of Berlin, Germany. Mr. Ronneburger is an ideal newspaper man-a forceful writer, an excellent busi- ness man and a strong factor in his community.
Samuel Hoesly, the junior partner in the concern, is of Swiss descent, his father having come to America in 1848, and via New Orleans and up the Mississippi, went to New Glarus, Wisconsin, where he made his home. It was in Clarno, Wisconsin, on December 4. 1876, that Samuel Hoesly was born. He received an excellent public-school education and at the age of fifteen entered the office of the Green County Herold of Monroe, Wisconsin, where he learned every branch of the printer's art, remaining with the one office from 1892 to 1908 with the exception of the time he served with the First Wisconsin Volunteers during the Spanish-American war. At that time he was stationed at Jacksonville, Flor- ida, under the command of General Lee, and in all he served eight years with the Wisconsin National Guard.
Mr. Hoesly was married March 9, 1912, to Miss Edna Brouillet, a young lady of French parentage. Mr. Hoesly is highly accomplished in printer's work and has a decided talent for the artistic, the elements in the characters of both partners and their accomplishments giving promise of a most successful future for the firm.
HENRY ORIN DAYTON.
Henry Orin Dayton was born at Hadley, Saratoga county, New York, November 10, 1834, and died at his home in Waukon, Iowa, January 24, 1901, of typhoid fever. His boyhood days and early manhood were spent in his native village. He received his education at Greenwich, New York, and at the semi- nary at Charlotteville, that state.
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