USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 42
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cattle and hogs, and was thus busily employed for a number of years. Dur- ing this time he acquired the competency that now enables him to live retired, although he still retains his home on the farm but leases the land.
Mr. Barrows' family numbers three children: Edward II., a resident of Storm Lake; Meda, the wife of L. G. Wagner, a railroad man of lowa Falls. Iowa; and May, the wife of Cliff Beall. a merchant, who makes his home in the state of Washington. Three children have departed this life.
Mr. Barrows cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln and has supported each candidate of the party since that time. . While he takes a deep interest in political questions he has never sought nor desired office for him- self. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Storm Lake. The year 1879 witnessed his arrival in lowa and since that time he has seen Buena Vista county develop into a rich agricultural region, its well kept farms and attractive country homes making it one of the desirable places of abode in the northern part of the state. Mr. Barrows has led an active, busy and useful life and now at the age of seventy-two years is enjoying in retirement the accumulation of a profitable, successful and honorable career.
GEORGE HERBERT FRACKER, D.D.
Prominently identified with educational interests of Storm Lake, being now vice president of the Buena Vista College and dean of that institution. Dr. George Herbert Fracker was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1853. His father, Dudley S. Fracker, was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and was a son of George Fracker, a sailor. For a time Dudley S. Fracker was a resi- dent of Brockport, New York, and then removed to Zanesville, Ohio, while later he became a resident of Berea. Ohio, there spending his last days. He married Margaret A. Skinner, who was born in Washington, Guernsey county. Ohio, and died when her son George was only a year okl. Her father, William Skinner, removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, from the vicinity of Culpeper, Virginia, in 1818. He worked at his trade of a saddler and was actively associated with the business interests and public life of the community in an early day. at one time serving as associate judge on the county bench. His daughter, Mrs. Fracker, was a member of the Presbyterian church. As stated, she passed away in 1854. while her husband survived until 1870 and died when about fifty years of age.
George Herbert Fracker was an only chikl. Ile was a student in the common schools of Washington. Ohio, and received more advanced intel- lectual training in the University of Wooster, from which he was graduated in 1878. He afterward engaged in teaching in a private academy at Dellroy, Ohio, where he remained for one year and then entered the Western Theologi- cal Seminary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. The succeeding winter was spent in South Kentucky College, at Hopkinsville. Kentucky, as professor of natural science, and the following year was passed in the Union Theological Seminary of New York in further preparation for the ministry. In 1885 he was grad-
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nated from the Princeton Theological Seminary, and going to the Indian Territory he taught the Choctaw Indians at Nelson Academy for one year. In 1886 Mr. Fracker arrived in Iowa, was ordained as an evangelist and accepted the pastorate of the two churches of Ashton and Inwood, continuing in that charge for five years. He was afterward pastor for one year of the church at Vail, lowa. and while thus engaged was called to take charge of Greek and Latin in Buena Vista College in 1891. Ile has since been connected with the institution in various capacities and is now professor of German and French. He has acted as vice president of the college since its organization and is now dean of that institution. His contagious enthusiasm in behalf of the school has been one of the elements of its success. He is also known as a capable instructor, as well as a man of broad scholarly attainments, and he received recognition of the excellent work which he has done in educational eireles when Wooster University, his alma mater, conferred upon him the hon- orary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1903.
In September, 1885, Dr. Fracker was married to Miss Jeannette Black, who was born in Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1853, and is of Scoteh-Irish ances- try. They became the parents of three children: Julius Herbert, who died in childhood; Stanley Black, who is a junior in Buena Vista College and is acting as local editor of the Storm Lake Vidette; and Annie Margaret, who is a sophomore in Buena Vista College. In his political views Dr. Fracker is a republican and is a close student of the great political, sociologieal and economie questions of the day, at all times keeping pace with the best thinking men. The position which he occupies today in educational and church circles represents the utilization of the talents which are his. When he completed his common-school course he learned telegraphy and went into the oil regions of Pennsylvania, where he served for eighteen months as operator on one of the pipe lines and six months as engineer. He embraced every opportunity that offered in order to promote his own education through college training and provided entirely for the expenses of his course. It would be superfluous in this connection to enter into any series of statements as showing him to be a man of broad mind and scholarly acquirements, for this has been shadowed forth between the lines of this review. He is earnest and energetic, and in all of his work for intellectual and moral development he manifests an abiding sympathy for those who come under his teaching that is evidenced by a most helpful and encouraging spirit.
ERNEST FREDERICK WILLIAM PORATH.
Ernest Frederick William Porath is one of the self-made men of Buena Vista county, where he has resided continuously since 1871. He has been a resident of America since 1868, and as the years have passed he has achieved a measure of success that now makes him owner of four Indred and eighty aeres of valable farming land. His home is situated on section 15, Newell township, and his place is a productive one, indicating in its well improved
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WILLIAM PORATH AND FAMILY
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appearance the untiring eare and cultivation of the owner. Mr. Porath was born in Pomen Province, in the Kingdom of Prussia, February 18, 1837. His parents were Michael and Charlotte (Kell) Porath, both of whom are natives of Germany, where the father died about 1863 at the age of fifty-six years. His wife survived him until 1872 and passed away at the age of sixty-two years. Both were Lutherans in religious faith, and the father served for three years in the regular army. The mother was a daughter of Michael Kell, who lived to an advanced age. He married a Miss Born, who died in middle age. They had a large family, including Charlotte, Caroline, Minnie, Fredericka and several others. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Porath were nine in number, four sons and five daughters, of whom six are now living: Ernest Frederiek William; August, who is living in Varina, Iowa; Charley, whose home is in Newell township; Minnie, who is the widow of Charley Schumann and resides with her brother August ; Carrie Frederieka, the wife of Christopher Nitzke, of Storm Lake: and Hannah, the widow of William Degner, of Coon township.
Mr. Porath, whose name introduces this record, was reared in Prussia and acquired a common school edneation. Ile there worked at day's labor, but thinking to find better business advantages in the new world, he sailed for America in 1868, landing at New York eity in April. From that point he went to Milwaukee, where he had some relatives living. He worked on the railroads for two years, and in 1871 came to Buena Vista county, seeuring employment in the Stephens' Hotel in Newell, where he continued for four and a half years. Carefully saving his earnings, his industry and economy at length enabled him to purchase eighty acres in Newell township. eonstitut- ing a part of his present farm, but sinee that time he has extended the boundaries of his home place until it now comprises four hundred and eighty aeres of finely improved land. For the first eighty acres he paid six dollars and seventy-five eents per aere and for the last eighty acres he gave twelve dollars and seventy-five cents per aere. This land he would not sell today for less than one hundred dollars per acre. He has carefully tilled the fields, made the land rich and productive and he annually gathers therefrom good harvests, so that his yearly ineome is a gratifying one.
On the 18th of January. 1880. Mr. Porath was married to Gustave Johnson, daughter of Ole and Mary (Olson) Johnson. Mrs. Porath was born in Sweden, February 18, 1854. Her parents were likewise natives of that country. Coming to America in 1867 they settled near Fort Dodge. The father died in 1885, at the age of seventy years, while the mother survived him until 1905, passing away at the age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom five are now living: Mary; Sophia, the wife of Olaf Ovren, of Marathon, lowa: Gustana, now Mrs. Porath ; Charles, who is located in Albert City, lowa ; and Martin, also in Albert City.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Porath have been born eleven children: William F .. Ella, Edwar. Charles, Emil. John, Alexander, Anna, Amelia, Harry and Frederick. The parents are Lutherans in religious faith, and Mr. Porath gives his politieal support to the republican party. IIe certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he came to America empty-
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handed and without knowledge of the language of the country. He soon adapted himself to the manners and customs of the American people, showed that he was diligent and determined, and as the years have gone by, through the care and perseverance which he has manifested in his business affairs, he has gained a place among the substantial residents of this community.
B. A. COLBY.
B. A. Colby. who has done more perhaps than any one man to promote musical taste and culture in northwestern Iowa, is now engaged in dealing in musical instruments and musical merchandise in Alta, where he has conducted his store for a quarter of a century. Almost thirty-six years have passed since he came to the county and throughout this period his labors and influence have been a factor in promoting a love of music among the people of this section of the state.
His birth occurred in Plainfield, Washington county, Vermont. September 7. 1849, and he was there reared to the age of nineteen years, pursuing his education in the public schools. In 1868 he made his way westward to Chi- cago, where he engaged in teaching vocal and instrumental music, having much natural talent in musical lines, which had been developed through study in New England. IIe afterward removed to Dixon, Illinois, where he again engaged in teaching both vocal and instrumental music, and in 1873 he became a resident of Storm Lake, Iowa. Subsequently he took up his abode in Maple Valley township, where he opened up a new farm, breaking the sod, cultivat- ing the prairie and erecting thereon the necessary buildings for the shelter of his family and his stock.
After three years devoted to agricultural pursuits Mr. Colby became a resident of AAlta. devoting his time to instruction of both vocal and instrumen- tal music, while Jater he began to handle musical instruments. In the fall of 1883, he established his music store and he now sells pianos, organs and other musical instruments and musical merchandise throughout Buena Vista and Cherokee counties. He continued to teach vocal music for a member of years and has been a prominent figure in musical cireles in this part of the state since his arrival here, more than a third of a century ago. In addition to the rondneting of his store he makes a specialty of tuning and repairing musical instruments and rebuilding organs. Mr. Colby is the inventor of several tools used by musicians and tuner and also other musical appliances, including a folding trunk organ with transportation keyboard, and the tunette-an instru- ment for setting temperaments on pianos. None of his inventions. however. have been patented.
On the 18th of April, 1871, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. he was married to Miss Imeretia Brace, a native of Illinois, who died October 13, 1905, leaving two daughters: Josie, now the wife of I. E. Nelson, of Spokane, Washington, by whom she has two children, Dorothy and Helen Nelson; and Bessie, the
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wife of Buren Burt, also of Spokane, and the mother of two children, Mildred and Marion.
On the 10th of April. 1908, in Cherokee, lowa. Mr. Colby was again mar- ried, his second union being with Emma Chesley, who was born and reared in Story county, this state. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Colby is serving as chorister and has been identified with the church music for a number of years. He has held various musical eon- ventions and has been largely connected with the development of musical interests in this part of the state. His political allegiance is given the prohi- bition party. Ilis wife is an active worker in church and Sunday school and their influence is always found on the side of justice, truth and right. Mr. Colby belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also the Ancient Order of the United Workmen. lle is one of the best known men in this part of the county and one of the most popular. for while his mmusical talent has called him into prominence in musical circles his social qualities have made him a favorite throughout the entire community.
JOHN RODDA.
There is a goodly portion of Newell's citizenship that is made up of men who in former years were active factors in the agricultural development of this part of the state, and who through their energy, perseverance and careful management became possessors of a competence that now enables them to live retired. To this class belongs Mr. Rodda. ITe was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, January 22, 1852, and represents an old family of that country. His grandparents spent their entire lives there and were farming people.
Edward Rodda, his father, also a native of England, followed the occupa- tion of farming as a life work, and in November, 1869, came to the United States, settling in Newell township, Buena Vista county, where he secured a homestead claim of eighty acres. He became a factor in the financial develop- ment of this part of the state and about 1877 returned to England. His death oceurred soon afterward in Cornwall, when he was about seventy years of age. Ilis widow, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Jewell, was also born in England. as were her parents. Her father was a physician of that country, where he died at the age of eighty years. Ilis family numbered a son and five daughters: Charles, Sarah, Kate, Harriet, Fannie and Nannie.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rodda were George Edward, now deceased ; Samuel Tewell, who is living in Hamburg, lowa; John; Thomas, who has passed away; Charley Henry, a resident of Sac City, lowa; and Frederick William, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In taking up the personal history of John Rodda we present to our readers one who is widely and favorably known in this part of the county. He was educated in the common schools of England and at the age of seven- teen years came to America with his parents. Ilis youth was passed on the home farm and upon the father's death he and three of his brothers came into
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possession of the old homestead in Buena Vista county, at which time John Rodda purchased the interests of the other heirs and gave his time and atten- tion to the further development and improvement of the property for a few years. He then sold his place and bought a farm of sixty-six aeres and another of eighty acres. From time to time. as his financial resources increased, he kept adding to his property until he had eight hundred and seven acres, making him one of the extensive landholders of this part of the state. Of this one hundred and sixty acres were in Sac county, but he recently sold that property, still retaining possession, however, of six hundred and forty- seven aeres in Buena Vista county. Ilis land is well improved and valuable and returns to him a gratifying annual income. In 1901 he ceased to per- sonally engage in farm work and removed to Newell, where he now resides, still giving his supervision to the work there carried on in the development of his fields.
On the 16th of May, 1875, Mr. Rodda was married to Eliza Hunter, daughter of Horace and Laura (Dell) Hunter. Mrs. Rodda was born in Indiana and by her marriage has become the mother of four children : May, the wife of Frank Hines, of Newell township, by whom she has three children, Merle, Esther and Neva; Merton, who occupies one of his father's farms. married Amelia Block and they have two children, Viola and Lloyd; Frank, who likewise follows agricultural pursuits, wedded Etta Coates, and they have two children, Blanche and Leon; and John, who completes the family, is at home. Mr. Rodda belongs to the church of England and Mrs. Rodda is a member of the Christian Advent church. Ilis political views are those of the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but has no desire for public office. His entire life has been devoted to his farming pursuits, and his carefully directed labors have brought to him a measure of success, which has gained him classification with prosperous farmers and landowners of the state.
W. D. FOSTER.
W. D. Foster. a prosperous and progressive farmer and stock-raiser resid- ing on section 26. Washington township, was born in Avoca township, Livingston county, Illinois, November 14, 1856, a son of Russell B. and Mary Jane (Bodley) Foster, both natives of Fountain county, Indiana. The father's natal day was March 8, 1831, and he was reared in the state of his nativity. In 1855 he removed to Livingston county, Illinois, where he cleared a farm and was successfully engaged in its cultivation until called to his final rest on the 31st of May, 1908. His wife, whose birth occurred August 21, 1831, passed away February 24, 1908. W. D. Foster, of this review, has two broth- ers and four sisters, namely : I. O., a resident of Pocahontas county, Iowa; W. K., of Calhoun county, lowa; Mrs. J. K. Ostrander, who makes her home in MeDowell, Illinois; Mrs. Walter Tucker, also living in MeDowell, Illinois;
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Mrs. A. M. Wagoner, of Champaign. Illinois; and Mrs. R. P. Bentley, who resides in Pontiac, Illinois.
W. D. Foster was reared on the home farm and was afforded excellent educational advantages, attending Wesleyan University for five years. Subse- quently he taught school for ten consecutive years, imparting elearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He afterward estab- lished himself in business at Ancona but after eight years' connection with the mercantile interests of that town he sold out and removed to Pocahontas county, Iowa, in 1896. During the following ten years he was there engaged in the operation of rented land and then bought a farm which he leased. In the spring of 1906 he purchased his present place of one hundred acres on see- tion 26, Washington township, taking up his abode thereon in the spring of 1907. He devotes his time and attention to general l'arming and stock-raising and is well known and highly esteemed as one of the successful and enterpris- ing agriculturists of the community. Ilis farm, which is situated within two miles of Storm Lake, is well improved and indicates in its neat and thrifty appearance the supervision of a practical and progressive owner.
On the 11th of August, 1886, in Livingston county, Illinois, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Pierson, a native of Avoca township, that county. She was there reared and, like her husband, attended Wesleyan University and also taught school for several years. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children: Oma L., who is a sophomore in the college at Storm Lake; and Harry, a student in the Storm Lake high school.
In his political views Mr. Foster is a stalwart republican and while resid- ing in Livingston county served as township clerk, school treasurer, etc., but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. Both he and his wife are devoted and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Storm Lake and the latter is a Sunday school teacher and an active worker in the church. Ile is past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Storm Lake, having joined the fraternity in Illinois and served through all the chairs. Ile and his wife are likewise identified with the Modern Wood- men of America. Though their residence in this county has been of compara- tively brief duration, they have already gained an extensive circle of friends here, the hospitality of the best homes being cordially extended them.
WILLIAM ALINTHOLZ.
William Abntholz is a successful agriculturist, who owns a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated in Coon township, Buena Vista county. He was born near Ninborg, Germany, April 12, 1876, a son of Charles and Sophia (Limply) Ahntholz, who were likewise born near Ninborg and came to America in 1890. The father died in Buena Vista county at the age of sixty-seven years, but the mother still survives at that age and is making her home with her son Fred. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ahntholz are : Margaret, the wife of Henry Stinbick, who resides in Oklahoma; Fred, a farmer
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of Coon township; Dick, who follows blacksmithing; William, of this review; and Henry, who also follows farming.
William Ahntholz spent his early boyhood and youth in his native land and attended school there to the age of fourteen years. At that age he emigrated with his brother Fred to America and locating in Buena Vista county, was here employed at farm labor for ten years. During this time he carefully saved his earnings, which he invested in one hundred and twenty acres of land. He then established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Anna Nitzke, who was born in Buena Vista county, a daughter of C. H. Nitzke, and a sister of Edward J., Lonis and Samuel L. Nitzke, all of whom are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Ahntholz eventually sold his original farm and invested in his present place of one hundred and sixty acres, situated in Coon township. He has improved the farm with good buildings, has placed the land under a high state of cultivation and altogether has made it a valuable property.
Mr. Ahntholz gives his politieal support to the republican party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Methodist church. He belongs to that class of representative young men who rapidly diseern opportunities of improvement and who are rapidly forging to the front, and at the same time he is regarded as a citizen of worth in the community in which he lives.
JULIUS ROBAR.
Julius Robar is numbered among the progressive and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of Buena Vista county, owning eighty acres of land on sec- tion 6, Nokomis township, and also eighty acres in Elk township. Hle is a native of Clinton county, New York, born December 23, 1847, a son of Julius, Sr. and Julia (Tromblee) Robar, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, and the latter of French ancestry. The father was a blacksmith by trade.
Julius Robar, whose name introduces this review, was reared in Keese- ville, New York, where he acquired his education in the common schools. At the age of fourteen years he entered a factory, where he learned to manufac- ture nails. Ile was thus employed until 1865, when, believing that the west offered better opportunities, he made his way to Chicago, Illinois, and was there employed in a nail factory for fifteen years. In 1878 he invested his money in forty acres of land in Wisconsin, not far from Chicago. He improved this traet and erected a house thereon. During the summer seasons he cultivated his land and in the winter returned to Chicago and worked at his trade. In ISSI, however, he took up his abode in Buena Vista county, pur- chasing eighty aeres of raw land on section 6, Nokomis township. He eleared the land and prepared it for the plow, also laid tile and built fences. He erected a house, barns and outbuildings, set out fruit and shade trees and made it a model farm property. He later purchased eighty aeres in Elk township and also owns two hundred and eighty aeres in Lake county, South Dakota.
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