USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
On the 3rd of July, 1856, Mr. Hanks married Miss Mary Ann Banister, who was born in Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county, New York, September 15, 1834. She is a daughter of William and Priscilla (Stewart) Banister, natives of Wind- sor county, Vermont, the former born August 12, 1808, and the latter, Septem- ber 12, 1804. They moved across the Green mountains to New York in 1830 and in that state engaged in farming, an occupation which he followed all during his active life. In 1837 he moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and there resided until his death, which occurred November 8, 1890. He had survived his wife since March 29, 1879. Although Mr. and Mrs. Hanks had no children of their own, they adopted a nephew, W. James Hanks, son of the brother of the sub- ject of this review. He was born in Franklin county, Iowa, August 31, 1871, and grew to manhood in this state. He married Miss Agnes Dunn, also a native of Jowa, and they have two sons: George L. and Harry Newell, who reside with their father in Postville. W. James Hanks is engaged in the piano and jewelry business in that city and is one of the progressive and enterprising young busi- ness men of the community.
The death of Mr. Hanks occurred upon his farm January 12, 1891, after a residence of nearly thirty years upon the property. After his demise Mrs. Hanks remained upon the homestead until the following December, when she disposed
70
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
of the property and moved into Postville, where she has since resided, being well known and highly esteemed in the community. Mr. Hanks gave his political alle- giance to the republican party and was progressive and public-spirited in matters of citizenship, cooperating heartily in all measures which he deemed would be of benefit to the county or state. He served for a few years as justice of the peace in Post township and in Postville was a director of the District Fair Asso- ciation. Mr. Hanks was also a great lover of music and quite proficient in that art. He taught it in early times to the great benefit of the young people, never receiving any remuneration for his work, but teaching with a view of bringing something beautiful into their lives.
He was about fifty-seven years of age at the time of his death which caused deep regret among his many friends who had learned to esteem him for his genuine personal worth and his sterling qualities of heart and character. Although he did not seek to figure prominently before the public, he came to be known throughout the community as an exemplary citizen, a faithful husband and a relia- ble and trustworthy business man.
WINFIELD S. WEBSTER.
Energy, application and unremitting industry have been the watchwords of the career of Winfield S. Webster, who for many years has been identified with the insurance business in Postville and who is today numbered among the prom- inent, representative and deservedly successful business men of the community. He was born in Schoharie county, New York, June 15, 1842, and is a son of Daniel D. and Jane ( Malick) Webster, also natives of that part of the Empire state. The father was born in 1806 and in early life turned his attention to merchandising, later abandoning this occupation in favor of farming. He was a brigadier general in the New York State Militia and held the rank until 1851, when he left the state and moved west to Iowa, locating in the old town of Moneek, in Winneshiek county, where he purchased land which he developed and improved until he moved to Ossian. While on his first Iowa farm he had also engaged in the insurance business and he now turned his attention entirely to that line of work, continuing in it until his death, which occurred May 10, 1892. He had long survived his wife, who died September 16, 1876. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this review is the fifth in order of birth.
Winfield S. Webster acquired his education in Moneek and in the grade schools of Waukon and after completing it remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. He began his independent career as salesman for a history of the Civil war which was published at that time but after three months turned his attention to the insurance business, traveling as a special agent through northeastern Iowa, his territory covering a quarter of the entire state. He was thus occupied for two years and at the end of that time came to Postville, engaging in the insurance business for himself, a line of work in which he has been active since that time, building up a large and representative patronage which he has proved very successful in conducting
W.b. Master Ellen . Webster
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
73
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
He is in addition a dealer in real estate; is a stockholder in the Clay Products Company ; the Citizens Bank, which he helped to organize; the local Canning Factory, and he owns valuable city property in Postville and extensive farming lands in the west. A spirit of enterprise and progress actuates him in all that he does and his unremitting industry, his unquestioned integrity and his known reliability have been salient elements in his success.
Mr. Webster married on the Ist of January, 1874, Miss Ellen I. Clark, a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, born September 30, 1847, and a daughter of Andrew and Laura (Bush) Clark. The father, who was a native of Bennington, Vermont, born January 5, 1807, spent his entire active life in farming. He went to Rock county, settling near Johnstown at an early date, and later moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota. From there he came to Castalia, Iowa, and there pur- chased a farm upon which he resided until within a few days previous to his death. His demise occurred January 12, 1890, in Postville, where he had gone to visit his daughter. He was well known in local affairs, having held some important township offices, and he was known as a representative of one of the oldest families in America, his father having been a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. His wife, who was born in Sheridan, New York, August 2, 1812, passed away in May, 1896. They became the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Webster is the eighth in order of birth. Four of their sons served in the Civil war and one was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, dying, however, before he received his commission. Mr. and Mrs. Webster became the parents of three children: Roy Clark, who was born July 7, 1876, and who died December 3, 1885 ; Ruby W., horn December 17, 1877 ; and Arthur C., an electrician, who was born August 12, 1884, and who married on December 26, 1912, Miss Glessner Harris.
Mr. Webster gives his political allegiance to the republican party hut has never sought nor desired public office although he has served ably on the town council. He is well known in the Masonic order, having attained the thirty- second degree in that organization. He has resided for many years in Postville and he expects to spend the remainder of his days in the community, where he is honored as a man who has worked his way upward to success by upright and worthy means and who uses his prosperity not alone for his own benefit but for the best interests of the city at large.
CASSIUS P. SMITH.
A spirit of enterprise and progress actuates Cassius P. Smith in all that he does. He has worked diligently and persistently to develop and improve his farm, which is today an excellent property, lying partly in Allamakee and partly in Clayton counties. He was born in Clayton county, near National, on the 14th of January, 1866, and is a son of Benjamin and Abigail (Wilkins) Smith, natives of Essex county, New York. The father came to Iowa in the early '50s and set- tled in Clayton county, where he entered government land, upon which he con- tinued to reside for a number of years. His marriage occurred here and he and
74
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
his family afterward removed to Post township, Allamakee county, where his death occurred in 1887. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1907.
The public schools of Clayton county and the Postville high school afforded Cassius P. Smith his educational opportunities and when he was not occupied with his books he aided his father with the work of the homestead. After he had attained his majority he rented land in l'ost township and two years later purchased the farm upon which he now resides. His holdings comprise sixty acres in Post township, Allamakee county, and seventy-seven acres just across the line in Clayton county. However, his son operates the Clayton county farm in connection with his own property. Mr. Smith has made substantial improve- ments upon his land and engages in general farming and stock-raising, keeping cattle, hogs and horses. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Store and the canning factory in Postville, and his business interests are carefully con- trolled, so that he has now reached a plane of affluence, being numbered among the substantial citizens of this community.
On the 17th of January. 1888, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Lucy A. Webb, who was born in Post township, a daughter of Henry Webb, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children. The eldest, Leighton, was born in 1889 and is now engaged in farming in Clayton county. His wife was, in her maidenhood, Miss Carrie Swenson. Esther was born in 1895 and is now attending school.
Fraternally Mr. Smith is a member of Brotherly Love Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Postville, and is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is independent in his political views. voting always in favor of progressive and constructive public measures. His entire life has been characterized by devotion to manly purposes and honorable principles and in business dealings he is straightforward and reliable, enjoying to the fullest extent the confidence and good-will of those who know him.
WILLIAM H. EBENDORF.
William H. Ebendorf, who for the past sixteen years has been one of the leading tailors in Waukon, is a native of Iowa, born in Clayton county, June II, 1873. He was reared and educated in his native section and after laying aside his books learned the tailor's trade at Elkader, later attending a cutting school in Chicago, where he finished the course, becoming a skilled and expert workman in this line. Upon his graduation he returned to Iowa, settling in Elkader in 1896. He established himself in business there, but remained only one year, coming at the end of that time to Waukon, where he has since remained. His patronage increased rapidly as his fine workmanship and reasonable prices became more widely known and in 1907 Mr. Ebendorf was obliged to purchase his own busi- ness house, in which he today conducts a large and growing tailoring concern. In connection with this he does French dry cleaning and has secured a liberal patronage.
Mr. Ebendorf married, January 25. 1898. Miss Anna Beer, a native of Elkader, and they have three children, Lura May, Harry and Herbert. Mr.
75
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
Ebendorf is a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the lodge and chapter, and he has held various important official positions in the organization. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and is serving as chancellor commander. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and in that organization served as national delegate to the convention held in Buffalo, New York, in June, 1911, and to the Chicago convention held in January, 1912. He is prominent in local republican politics, being now in the third term of his able service as township trustee, his official life being distinguished by the same qualities of energy, enterprise and sterling integrity which form the basis of his successful business career.
HENRY C. MEYER.
One of the most active, progressive and successful farmers in the vicinity of Postville is Henry C. Meyer, who since 1901 has owned and operated a fine property of one hundred and thirty-eight acres, eighty rods beyond the corpora- tion limits. The land lies partly in Clayton and partly in Allamakee counties and is a well improved and valuable property, reflecting in its neat and attractive appearance the careful supervision and careful methods of the owner.
Mr. Meyer is a native of Iowa, born in Fayette county, November 5, 1878, a son of William and Louisa ( Meyer) Meyer, natives of Hanover, Germany. As a young man the father crossed the Atlantic to America and, coming immediately to Iowa, located at Guttenberg, Clayton county, where he worked at farming in the employ of others for some time, later removing to Garnavillo in the same county and then to National. He there married, and afterward farmed as a renter for a number of years, removing eventually to Fayette county and purchasing land. Upon that farm he still resides and is active in its cultivation, being the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, substantially improved and well equipped. He and his wife had nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are : Minnie, who married Fred H. Brandt, a farmer in Clayton county : William A., a farmer near Castalia : Caroline, the wife of John C. Weike, who is engaged in farming in Grand Meadows township, Clayton county ; Henry C., of this review ; Anna, who married Fred Kuhse, a farmer in Grand Meadows township, Clayton county ; Charley, who resides with his parents; and Bertha, who married Charles H. Schroeder, a resident of Fayette county.
In the acquirement of an education Henry C. Meyer attended the old Hender- son Prairie school, named in honor of David B. Henderson, who was a pupil there, and he supplemented this by four months in the German Lutheran school. Until he was twenty-two years of age he remained upon the homestead, assisting his father in its operation, but, March 21, 1901, he purchased land of his own, upon which he has resided since that time. He bought one hundred and thirty- eight acres, eighty rods beyond the corporation limits of Postville, the land lying in Clayton and Allamakee counties, and upon this he has steadily carried forward the work of improvement, erecting modern buildings and installing fine farm machinery. Success has attended his well directed efforts in the cultivation of his land, for his methods are always practical and modern and, therefore, productive
76
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
of excellent results. The farm is today one of the finest in this part of the state and its owner is counted among Allamakee county's progressive and substantial agriculturists. He is a stockholder in the Postville Canning Company and in the Cooperative Creamery Company and his business interests are carefully managed and always profitable.
On the 21st of March, 1901, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Krambeer, who was born in Reed township, Clayton county, December 6, 1881, a daughter of John and Ida ( Harnack) Krambeer. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer became the parents of four children: Ethel, who was born January 12, 1902, and who, on the 7th of January, 1910, was killed by a train on the railroad cross- ing near her home; Lawrence, born March 16, 1903; Hilda, born February 17, 1905 ; and Amy, whose birth occurred on the 21st of November, 1909.
Mr. Meyer is a member of the German Lutheran church and, politically, gives a general allegiance to the democratic party, voting independently, however. when he deems the best interests of the community require such action. He is not active as an office seeker, but is interested in school affairs and is at present acting as secretary of his school district. He is progressive and public-spirited, never withholding his ready and hearty cooperation from movements to promote the general advancement and development and, by his industrious and upright life, has made his name honored and respected in the community where he makes his home.
AUGUST SCHULTZ.
A life of hard and unremitting labor, guided at all times by a great deter- mination and persistency of purpose, has brought August Schultz to a position of prominence among the men who, for the past twenty years, have made sub- stantial contributions to the agricultural development and progress of Allamakee county. At eight years of age he was a hired laborer in his native country- Germany -- and his childhood was filled with hardships and privations, while later, his life was filled with hard work and industrious striving after the success which he enjoys today. Ile owns two hundred acres of land near Postville, which by his practical and modern methods of development he has made a valua- ble and productive property worthy of comparison with the finest farms in this section of the state.
Mr. Schultz was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, on the 28th of August, 1867, a son of Deitrich Schultz, who for many years was employed on a trading vessel on the river Elbe. He served his term of enlistment in the German army and never left his native country.
At the early age of eight years August Schultz was hired out as a farm laborer, spending his summers at this work and attending school during the winter months. This continued until 1884 and, during that period, he became a practical and able farmer, learning the best agricultural methods and all the details of farm operation. In July, 1884, he left Germany and came to America, settling imme- diately in the vicinity of Postville, Iowa, where he secured employment as a farm hand, and being ignorant of the English language, he spent two winters in school
77
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
in order to acquire it. During all of this time he saved money and by frugality and economy, accumulated enough to buy land. He purchased ninety acres in Post township, to which he later added forty acres, carrying forward its cultiva- tion along modern and progressive lines until it was one of the finest farms in that locality. He sold that property in 1911 and bought his present farm of two hundred acres, a mile north of Postville, and this he has also substantially improved, erecting new buildings and installing the necessary farm equipment. Mr. Schultz is a practical farmer, having learned the details of farm operation through many years of hard work in the fields and the results are evident in the excellent condition of his property today. He is a large shareholder in the Cooperative Creamery Company and the Cooperative Mercantile Association of Postville and is known in the town and the vicinity as a reliable, resourceful and far-sighted business man.
On the 25th of December, 1895. Mr. Schultz was united in marriage to Miss Dora Schultz, who, although she bore the same name, is no relative. She was born in Grand Meadows township, Clayton county, near Postville, August 14. 1877, and is a daughter of William and Rieke (Moll) Schultz, natives of Ger- many. The parents came to America in 1870, locating first in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, where the father engaged in railroad work. They moved later to Alabama and then to Iowa, settling in this state about the year 1873. After several years of railroad work, William Schultz purchased a small farm in Clay- ton county, and from that time to the present has engaged in agricultural pur- suits, success steadily attending his well directed labors. He and his wife became the parents of seven children, of whom the wife of subject of this review is the second in the order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. August Schultz have nine children : Velma, who was born March 13, 1897; Bertha, April 8, 1898; Lawrence, Sep- tember 2, 1900: Roy, May I, 1902; Milda, April 14, 1903; Elmer, December I, 1905 : Harry, July 2, 1908: Kenneth, July 1, 1910; and Gertrude, February 28, 1912.
Mr. Schultz is a member of the Lutheran church and fraternally is con- nected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. A resident of this locality for more than a quarter of a century, his many sterling qualities of mind and character have become widely known here and his honorable and upright life has commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he has had business or social relations.
PHILIP H. LETOURNEAU, M. D.
Dr. Philip H. Letourneau, practicing in Waukon along modern and scientific lines, is recognized as an able exponent of his profession and the liberal patronage accorded him is proof of the confidence reposed in him by the general public. He is a native of Illinois, born in Bourbonnais Grove, Kankakee county, April 20, 1860, and is a son of Hon. George R. Letourneau, born in Canada, of French ancestry. George R. Letourneau came to the United States and settled in Illinois, where he was one of the pioneers in Kankakee county. In 1849 he crossed the plains by wagon train going to California, but at Fort Laramie was
78
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
seized with typhoid fever and was obliged to remain there for six weeks, his partner and friend nursing him through his illness. Upon his recovery they journeyed on horseback to the gold mines of California and for some time engaged in freighting from Sacramento to the gold fields, a distance of two hundred miles. Mr. Letourneau later turned his attention to mining and after three years returned to Illinois with about five thousand dollars in gold, which he invested in land near Kankakee. He purchased two hundred and forty acres and opened up a new farm, clearing and fencing the property and improving it with a fine residence, a barn and substantial outbuildings. Hle farmed there for a number of years, eventually selling his property at two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. During this time he also engaged in the grain business in Kankakee, building a large elevator, which he afterward sold. He was one of the prominent men of affairs in Kankakee county and left the impress of his work and personality upon its political history. He served for a number of years as supervisor and was afterward for two terms in the state senate during Governor Altgeld's administration. He made an honorable record in this and other official positions of trust and honor and was county treasurer of Kankakee county at the time of his death. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Elodie Langlois, passed away in 1896, and was survived by her husband until December, 1907. In their family were twelve children, six sons and six daugh- ters, of whom nine grew to maturity.
Dr. Philip H. Letourneau was reared in Kankakee, Illinois, and acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of that section. After completing the high-school course he studied medicine in Northwestern University, grad- uating from the medical department with the class of 1881, when he was twenty-one years of age. He returned home and spent the following summer in Kankakee county, moving in the fall of that year to Chippewa Falls, where he opened an office and began the practice of his profession. He remained there for twelve years and secured a gratifying and lucrative patronage in recognition of his ability and the excellent results which attended his labors. For the last seven years of that time he was connected with St. Joseph's Hospital and for two years served as county coroner. When he left Chippewa Falls Dr. Letourneau moved to Dubuque, where he practiced his profession for one year, going at the end of that time to Lowden, lowa, where for one year he managed the practice of one of the old physicians there. From Lowden he came to Waukon and in 1896 opened an office here, where he has since been an honored member of the medical fraternity. From the beginning he was accorded a liberal patronage, which has increased yearly, being now of gratifying proportions. Dr. Letourneau is an earnest and scientific student of the underlying principles of medicine and never considers his professional education complete, keeping in touch with the most advanced medical thought by taking post- graduate courses from time to time. IIe is an exhaustive reader along pro- fessional lines and in his practice his labors have been attended with excellent results viewed from both a financial and professional standpoint. He owns a good home in Wankon and valuable farming property near San Antonio, Texas, upon which Bermuda onions are extensively grown.
Dr. Letourneau married, in 1897, Miss Angelia Dodge, who was born and reared in Wisconsin. Mrs. Letourneau is a member of the Waukon Methodist
79
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
Episcopal church and well known in religious and social circles. The Doctor is interested in community affairs and is a public-spirited citizen, who has done effective work for the welfare of the community. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. A student of the signs of the times, he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought concerning matters of general interest as well as of professional advancement and has made a creditable record as a member of the medical fraternity.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.