USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 9
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
GEORGE ALBERT MCCLINTOCK.
Among the residents of Post township who are numbered among the substantial farmers and representative citizens and who have achieved success and prosperity by their own exertions and persevering efforts, George Albert McClintock occupies a leading place. His industry and enterprise together with good management have enabled him to acquire one hundred and sixty-five acres of excellent land, which he has for many years past kept under cultivation and from which he has derived bountiful harvests.
Mr. McClintock is numbered among Allamakee county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Ludlow township, February 18, 1872. He is a son of William and Ann (Cleverley) McClintock, the former a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the latter of New York state. The father, who spent his entire active life engaged in farming, came to Allamakee county at an early date and purchased land which he continued to develop and improve until he removed to Winneshiek county, where he passed away in September, 1871. His widow disposed of the farm in the following February and purchased land in Allamakee county, but this she has also sold and now makes her home with her daughter Bertha, the wife of Mortimer Deering of Post township. She is the mother of four children, of whom the subject of this review is the youngest. By a former marriage William McClintock had one son, Joseph, who resides at Northwood. Worth county, Iowa.
George Albert Mcclintock acquired his education in White schoolhouse No. 8, Post township, and in Evergreen school, which he attended for one winter. He began his independent career at the age of fourteen, working as a farm laborer and receiving at first only seven dollars a month for his services. When he was twenty-one he turned his attention to other pursuits, driving the stage between Waukon and Postville for a period of three years and a half thereafter. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with his brother and together they rented a farm near Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek county, which developed and improved for two years. George Albert McClintock then removed into Post township and here purchased one hundred and sixty-five acres of land about a mile and a quarter beyond Postville, a property which he has since operated. He engages in general farnring and gives particular attention to stock-raising, breeding high-grade shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. His farm is capably and carefully managed for he is a practical agriculturist. following always the most modern methods and reaping his reward in the neat and attractive appearance of his place and the profitable income he derives
80
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
therefrom. He is a stockholder in the Postville Canning Factory and is well known to the business men of that city.
Mr. McClintock has been twice married. On the 13th of February, 1898, he wedded Miss Mary B. Swenson, who was born in Post township, in April, 1872. She was a daughter of Jerdon and Mary (Gilbertson) Swenson, natives of Norway. The father crossed the Atlantic in early manhood and settled in Iowa, where at first he worked at farming in the employ of others, later becoming a pros- perous landowner. He now resides retired at Clermont, Fayette county. Mr. McClintock's first wife died February 18, 1910, leaving one child, Fernie, who was born in January, 1899. Mr. McClintock was married on the 28th of August, 1912, to Mrs. Effie (Belcher) Banks, a daughter of John Belcher, who was born in Illinois and came from that state to Story county, Iowa, where he is still engaged in farming. In February, 1898, Mrs. McClintock had wedded James Banks, a native of Iowa, and by their union were born three children : Homer, Ross and Charles, who make their home with their mother and stepfather.
Mr. McClintock gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is affiliated with the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is a fine type of the self-made man and, always evidencing a willingness to work and ambition to succeed, he has, step by step, made his way upward in the world until he has risen to a position where he is numbered among Allamakee county's substantial farmers and most highly respected citizens.
HON. DANIEL HAMPTON BOWEN.
One of the most powerful and virile forces in republican politics in the state of Iowa, one of the most able and successful physicians and surgeons in Allamakee county and one of the biggest, most broad-minded and most generally beloved men of Waukon is, beyond all question, Dr. Daniel Hampton Bowen, who for more than a third of a century has give of his best energies, powers and talents towards the promotion of state and municipal development along professional, political, social and fraternal lines. His success and prominence are only the natural reward of his many years of earnest and well directed labor.
Dr. Bowen was born on a farm near Decatur, Green county, Wisconsin, Sep- tember 6, 1850, and is a son of Jared Ingersoll and Lacy Ann ( Fleek) Bowen, the former of Welsh and Scotch-Irish descent and the latter of Dutch ancestry. The paternal branch of this family has been in America for many generations, its representatives having crossed the Atlantic long before the Revolutionary war. The father was born in Pennsylvania just across the Virginia line and in his youth learned the carpenter's trade which, however, he followed only a short time, most of his life having been spent in farming. He came west in 1844, settling in that year in Wisconsin where the remainder of his life was passed. His wife, still active and hearty at the age of eighty-nine, makes her home at Brodhead in that state.
* The sketch of Dr. Bowen was prepared by a friend.
DR. DANIEL H BOWEN
83
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
Dr. Bowen spent his childhood on his father's Wisconsin farm and his youth was passed amid such conditions as usually fall to the lot of the farmer's boy. In the winters he attended district school and in the summer months assisted with the work of the homestead, alternating in this way until he grew to manhood. He was ten years of age at the outbreak of the Civil war but was not too young to have some understanding of the important issues involved, which formed his political belief, in future life. After completing the course in the public schools he turned his attention to teaching, following this occupation for several terms. At the end of that time he took up the study of medicine under the tutorage of Dr. R. Broughton, to whose able teaching he owes much of his professional success. Three years in the physician's office were followed by a course at Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1876 with the degree of M. D. Coming west in search of a suitable professional opening he settled at Rossville, Allamakee county. From the beginning he met with a gratifying degree of success, building up a large and lucrative practice and becoming well known as an able physician and surgeon. He remained in Ross- ville until 1880 when he moved to Waukon where through many honorable and worthy years, filled with useful achievements along professional and public lines, he has since made his home. In the beginning he practiced in partnership with Dr. Mattoon but since their association was discontinued has been alone. He is numbered among the pioneer physicians of Allamakee county, having taken up his residence here long before the railroad reached Waukon and in his practice has had the varied experience which commonly falls to the lot of the country practitioner. Dr. Bowen has been honored by his professional brethren in many ways. He served as president of the Alumni Association of Rush Medical College and also was president of the Allamakee County Medical Society. He is at present a trustee of the Iowa State Medical Society and an alternate delegate to the American Medical Association from the state society. The Doctor was honored by appointment of Governor Shaw to represent Iowa at the international congress of tuberculosis held at London, England, in 1901.
Although he has attained such distinction in professional circles it is not alone along this line that Dr. Bowen has done good work for Allamakee county and for Iowa, for since taking up his residence he has been one of the greatest indi- vidual forces in local republican politics, his activities touching and affecting the political growth of the state. In Waukon he has held many offices of trust and honor, having served as alderman and mayor of the city and as a member of the school board, holding the latter position for twenty years. In 1878 he served as county coroner, doing able and efficient work for two terms. His brilliant legislative career began with his election to the twenty-sixth general assembly and he served with credit through this session and during the special session held for the purpose of revising the code of Iowa. At this time he was chairman of the committee on public health and as such was responsible for the amending and codifying of that portion of the laws of the state dealing with ques- tions of health and safety. So well did he accomplish this important work that but few changes, and those minor ones, have been made since that time. In recognition of the importance of his services and their effectiveness in promoting the best interests of the state, Dr. Bowen was reelected to the legislature at the end of his first term and in the twenty-seventh assembly was again made chair- Vol. II-5
84
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
man of the committee on public health, displaying in the discharge of his duties an integrity, political ability and high conscientiousness which constantly deep- ened his popularity and gained him a place in the ranks of Iowa's statesmen. Upon his reelection to the twenty-eighth general assembly he was one of the republican candidates for the office of speaker of the house, his opponents being such distinguished Iowans as Hon. M. L. Temple, Colonel W. G. Dows, Hon. Mahlon Head and Senator W. L. Eaton. A spirited contest ended with the member from Allamakee county the winner and it is said of him that no more broad-minded, just and liberal man ever held the gavel in the lowa house of representatives. Always a stanch and loyal republican and popular with the rank and file of the party, Dr. Bowen became a candidate for the office of alternate at large to the national convention of 1904 and was elected. He was elected in 1908 presidential elector from the fourth district by a majority of twenty-five although the opposing faction carried the district by a majority of four thousand. Thus it will be seen that during the years he has made his home in Iowa Dr. Bowen has been prominent in the councils of his party and has become a well known figure at state and district conventions-a man held in high honor by reason of his personal integrity, his public standards, his am- bitions and ideals and by reason also of the usefulness and benefit of his public service.
Dr. Bowen married in Albany, Wisconsin, in February, 1877, Miss Hettie E. Burns, who has proven a worthy helpmate to him on his journey through life, sharing in all his successes, joys and sorrows. They have two children. The eldest, a son, Albert Sidney Bowen was born in Rossville, July 28, 1879, and after completing the course in the public schools of Waukon attended the State University at Iowa City. He afterward studied medicine at Northwestern Uni- versity, Chicago, and then spent three years as a partner with his father in the practice of his profession. He then took the civil service examination, passing with great credit, and was assigned to hospital service at Colon, Panama. After two years in this service he took examination for entrance into the regular army as a surgeon and was sent by the government to Washington, D. C., where he entered the army medical school, later receiving his appointment as army surgeon. He has served at Fort Snelling, at Fort Sam Houston and is now in the foreign service in the Philippines with the rank of captain.
The other child born to Dr. and Mrs. Bowen is a daughter, Mary Charlotte, and she has had a no less successful career than has her brother. She was born in Waukon, August 14, 1885, and acquired her education in the city schools, later teaching for a time in the public schools of Worth county. She afterward attended the State University where her splendid work won for her not only the degree of B. A. but also a scholarship providing for a year's post-graduate work at the end of which she received her Master of Arts degree. A special course in normal training completed her preparation and she is now employed as a teacher of German and English in the State Normal School at Bellingham, Wash- ington. In his children Dr. Bowen renews his youth, which indeed he has never lost, and he rejoices in their success more than in his own.
Dr. Bowen has also taken an active part in the work of two great fraternities, the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, in which he has held the highest offices within the gift of the local lodges, representing them with credit and ability in
85
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
their state conventions. He is widely known and very popular in the sections where he is known and most of all where he is best known. Many friends who love and honor him have grown to depend upon his wisdom and kindly counsel, and their opinion combines with that of the state at large that he is one of the most substantial and loyal-hearted men that Allamakee county has ever known.
AUGUST H. MEYER.
August H. Meyer, who for many years has been influentially associated with farming and stock-raising interests in the vicinity of Postville, owning today a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-six acres, is a native of Iowa, born in Clayton county, September 2, 1860. He is a son of Henry and Dora ( Kluss) Meyer, both of whom were born in Mecklenburg, Germany, the former Febru- ary 14, 1824, and the latter January 16 of the same year. The father worked as a farm laborer in early years, crossing the Atlantic about the year 1854. He located in Clayton county, Iowa, and purchased land near Guttenberg, which, however, he later sold, removing to Post township, Allamakee county. He after- ward made his home in Grand Meadow township, Clayton county, where he resided upon rented land until his death in February, 1886. His wife survives him and makes her home in Post township. To them were born two children : Lena, who married Charles Thies, of Clayton county ; and August H., of this review.
In the acquirement of an education August H. Meyer attended district school in Clayton county and the public schools of Guttenberg and from his childhood aided in the operation of the homestead, becoming familiar with the best agricultural methods. When he was twenty-one he hired out as a farm hand, continuing thus for four years, after which he rented land in Clayton county, one mile south of Postville. Afterward, however, he removed to Alla- makee county, buying the farm he now owns, and since that time he has given practically all of his attention to its improvement and cultivation until it is now one of the finest agricultural properties in the locality. It comprises two hundred and twenty-six acres of land, under a high state of cultivation, equipped with an excellent barn and substantial outbuildings and with modern labor-saving machinery. Mr. Meyer engages in general farming and is also extensively interested in stock-raising, keeping over one hundred head of sheep and also cattle, hogs and horses. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Shipping Company and in the Postville Canning Company.
On the 28th of September, 1886, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Krambeer, who was born in Germany on the 6th of April, 1863, a sister of John Krambeer, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have become the parents of five children: Amanda, who was born in 1887, and is now the wife of Henry Kruse, of Monona township. Clayton county ; Gustav, a farmer in South Dakota, who was born in 1888, and married Miss Elsie Fisher ; Bennie, who was born October 26, 1891 ; Ervin, born February 21, 1893; and Walter, January 26, 1897.
86
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
Mr. Meyer is a member of the Lutheran church at Luana and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is interested in the growth of the community, especially in the cause of education, which he has aided in pro- moting through his two terms of service as a director of the school board. His life has been such as to give him high standing in the eyes of the com- munity and he is generally recognized as a man whose long years of active labor in Post township have not only contributed to his own prosperity but have also been of great value to the community at large.
OTTO P. MARTIN.
Otto P. Martin, well known in business circles of Waukon as a member of the firm of Martin & Sons, proprietors of a well appointed furniture and under- taking establishment, is a native son of the city, born July 20, 1878. His grand- father, Walter Martin, was born in Prussia and in that country grew to man- hood and married. With his family, including his son, Henry Martin, father of the subject of this review, he came to America in 1855 and located in She- boygan, Wisconsin, where his death occurred. Henry Martin was born in Prussia in 1850 and was only five years of age when he accompanied his parents across the Atlantic. He remained in Wisconsin until he was sixteen years of age and then came to lowa, spending a number of years thereafter upon a farm. Returning to Wisconsin he learned the carpentering trade and worked for two years as a journeyman carpenter, coming at the end of that time to Iowa and locating in Harpers Ferry, where he established himself in the furniture business. After a few years he disposed of his interests there and moved to Waukon, where he rented a business house and established a furniture concern. His business prospered exceedingly and he was soon able to purchase land and build his own substantial and commodious store, two stories of which are occupied by a well selected stock carried by Martin & Sons. In 1873 Henry Martin married Miss Sophia Bieber, a native of Germany, who passed away leaving two children : Otto P., of this review ; and Hulda, the wife of, Paul Dannenburg, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. After the death of his first wife Mr. Martin married Miss Barbara Sandry, a native of Germany, and to their union were born three children: Marguerita, who lives at home; and Wayne H. and J. Willard, both of whom are associated with their father in the conduct of the store.
Otto P. Martin was reared in Waukon and acquired his education in the city schools. He practically grew up in his father's store and mastered the business in principle and detail. Since he was eighteen years of age he has shared the responsibility of the conduct of the establishment and in 1899 was made a partner with his father. Wishing to establish an undertaking depart- ment in connection with the furniture concern, he went to Chicago, where he attended a course of lectures, later going to Des Moines to further pursue his studies. He was a member of the first class in embalming in the state of Iowa and in 1900 passed his examination and received a license as an undertaker and funeral director. He has now been engaged in this line of work for twelve years and has proved himself thoroughly qualified for the business. Martin &
87
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
Sons keep a well selected line of funeral goods and their parlors are well equipped in every particular. They have two hearses and carry a fine line of caskets and funeral supplies, a liberal patronage having been accorded them in recogni- tion of their reasonable prices and straighforward business dealings.
On January 20, 1904, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Helen Hausmeier, a native of Waukon, and they have two children, Ralph H. and Howard F. Mr. Martin is a member of the Knights of Pythias and both he and his wife belong to the German Reformed church and are held in high regard by all who know them.
SANDER O. SWENSON.
One of the substantial, prosperous and deservedly successful farmers of Post township is Sander O. Swenson, who owns and operates a fine property of two hundred and sixty acres of land, upon a portion of which he was born March 25, 1875. He is a son of John and Oline Swenson, natives of Norway, both born in the vicinity of Christiania, the former on the 13th of February, 1845, and the latter on the 23d of July, 1844. Their marriage occurred in Norway in 1868 and they afterward came to America, settling first in Franklin town- slip, Allamakee county. They later removed to Post township and here the father purchased land, buying one hundred and eighteen acres, upon which he carried forward the work of improvement and development until his death, which occurred on the Ist of December, 1891.
Sander O. Swenson acquired his education in the Highland district school, which he attended until he was thirteen years of age. He was still very young when his father died but he afterward assumed the entire management of the farm, which he has continued to further improve and develop since that time. He has added to the improvements made by his father, erecting a number of modern buildings, installing a windmill and equipping the property with all the necessary labor-saving machinery. In addition to the work of the fields he en- gages extensively in stock-raising and this has come to be one of the most import- ant sources of his income. He is a practical, modern and able farmer, and his labors through the years have been crowned by success, his farm being today one of the finest agricultural properties in this part of lowa.
On the 18th of October, 1898, Mr. Swenson was united in marriage to Miss Cora A. McGhee, who was born in Franklin township, near Hardin, November 10, 1876, a daughter of Lucius and Ruth ( Eaton) McGhee, the former a native of Ohio, born July 17, 1852, and the latter of lowa, born February 17, 1849. Throughout his entire active life the father engaged in farming, becoming one of the largest landowners in Franklin township and continuing to manage his property there until his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson have four children : Lloyd Lucius, whose birth occurred on the 12th of March, 1900; Harlin Willard, born July 26, 1903 ; Ruth May, born November 9, 1904; and Alice Lenora, born March 28, 1908.
Mr. Swenson is a member of the United Brethren church and fraternally is connected with the Yeomen. He gives his political allegiance to the republican
88
PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
party but has never sought office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon the conduct of his farm. He is one of the most successful and capable business men and substantial farmers of the locality and is a native son of whom Post township has every reason to be proud.
' THURE T. ERICSON.
Thure T. Ericson, who is now in the tenth year of his able service as justice of the peace in Waukon, was born in Sweden, April 2, 1862. He is a son of C. J. Ericson, also a native of Sweden, who grew to manhood there and married, his wife having been in her maidenhood Miss Wilhelmina Charlotte Mattsson. They came to America in 1867 and in June of the same year settled in Center township, Allamakee county, where the father purchased a small farm and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. From time to time he bought more land and added it to his original holdings until he owned five hundred acres well improved and developed. Upon that property he raised his family and there died July 3, 1908. His wife survives him.
Thure T. Ericson was reared upon his father's farm and in his childhood aided in its operation. He acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of the section and supplemented this by a course in a commercial school and one term under Professor Loughran. After laying aside his books he carried on general agricultural pursuits upon the homestead for some time, afterward going to LaCrosse, where he secured employment in the lumber mills. While on the farm he gave a great deal of his time to the manufacture of sorghum and during one fall made over four thousand gallons. He spent only two sum- mers in the lumber mills and was afterward for ten years manager of a farm belonging to Dr. W. C. Earle. This property comprised two hundred acres and was conducted as a dairy farm, being equipped with all modern, sanitary and labor-saving machinery. There was a cream separator and a large churn. The output was from one hundred to two hundred pints of cream into butter each week. He made an exhibit of his dairy products at the county fair and took first premium on butter.
Mr. Ericson moved into Waukon in 1902 and at first turned his attention to the real-estate business, buying and selling town property and Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota lands. In the fall of the same year, however, he was elected justice of the peace and has been reelected each succeeding term for ten years, discharging his duties in an able, conscientious and far-sighted way. He still deals to some extent in real estate and owns his own residence on Pleasant street which is comfortable and attractive in every particular.
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.