USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume II > Part 24
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On the 21st of June, 1866, while still a resident of Ohio, Mr. Hutchison was imited in marriage to Miss Sue M. Cowgill, who was born in Belmont eounty, Ohio, July 24, 1840. They began their domestie life in their native state but after a year removed to Lake City, where their remaining days were passed. In 1872 they took up their abode in part of the house which eontinned to be their resi- dence until they were called to their final rest. They became the par- ents of two daughters and a son: Anna, who died in January, 1887;
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Nettie, now the wife of L. E. Nokes, assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank of Lake City; and Ralph. In 1887 Mrs. Hutchison became a member of the Presbyterian church and took active and helpful inter- est in the work of various departments of the church until failing health forced her to desist. Even then her interest did not wane, although she was compelled to eease her church activities. Hers was a beautiful Christian life and her pastor bore testimony to her faith- fulness in Christian service when he was called upon to preach the funeral sermon following her demise, on the 25th of April, 1907. Mr. Hutchison survived his wife for five years, passing away on the 15th of April, 1912.
Throughout all his life Mr. Hutchison was progressive and loyal in citizenship and at the time of the Civil war he served with the rank of first lieutenant in the Ohio militia, which resisted the Morgan raid into Ohio. He was honored with positions of trust and dignity in muneipal affairs and his keen insight into questions relating to the public good led him to take firm stand on the side of right and prog- ress. He believed, too, in that conservatism which rebuked all policies that are not in harmony with economy and business principles in the handling of publie moneys. He voted with the demoeratie party and . held firmly to the old Jeffersonian principles. In 1868 he was made a Mason, being raised in Jeptha Lodge, No. 201, F. & A. M. at Grant City, lowa. He was one of the last surviving charter members of Zerubbabel Lodge, No. 240, of Lake City, and in the work of the organization he took a deep and helpful interest. The funeral serv- iees were in charge of his Masonie brethren and were most beautiful and impressive. On the roll of Calhoun county's leading citizens there appears the names of no couple more deserving of respeet than were Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison. Their lives were upright, their purposes and principles high and they fulfilled the biblieal injunetion to do anto others as they would have others do unto them. The memory of such lives may well be cherished by their descendants and be sacredly held by the friends whom they left behind.
SEYMOUR CLAYTON GARTRELL, D. O.
Seymour Clayton Gartrell is successfully engaged in the practice of osteopathy at Lake City. He was born upon a farm near Bedford, Taylor county, Iowa, on the 7th of December, 1876, his parents being John Thomas and Elizabeth Mahala (Hieks) Gartrell. The ma-
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ternal grandfather served as a soldier in the Civil war, while the great- grandfather in the paternal line defended American interests by active military service in the War of 1812.
In his boyhood days Seymour C. Gartrell accompanied his parents on their removal to western Kansas and there he pursued his education in the public schools. He afterward took up the profession of teach- ing. which he followed for eight years in the rural schools of Kansas, but at the end of that time he determined upon the practice of osteop- athy as a life work and entered the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, from which he was graduated with the class of 1914. After practicing for a year and a half at Aekley, Iowa, he removed to Lake City, where he opened an office and has already won a liberal patronage. He thoroughly understands anatomy and the component parts of the human body, recognizes the onslaughts made upon it by disease and in his treatment displays comprehensive knowl- edge of the scientific methods of healing followed by the osteopathic school. His efforts have been attended with good results, as is indi- cated by his increasing patronage.
On the 4th of September, 1912, Dr. Gartrell was united in mar- riage to Miss Blanche Henrietta Williams, a daughter of Benjamin and Jennie Williams, of Gravity, Iowa. They now have a daughter, Pauline W. Politically the Doetor may be termed an independent republican, while his religions faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he also belongs to the Stillonian Club. The interests of his life are varied, making a well rounded character, and in his chosen life work he has gained for himself a creditable name and place.
JESSE J. TOOP.
Jesse J. Toop has made his home in Calhoun county since the year 1882 and he is therefore familiar with the progress and development that has here been made in the past thirty years or more. He has watched with interest this development, partienlarly along agricultural lines, and he has not only been a witness but has been an active partiei- pant along lines that have brought Calhoun county to the front rank among the best sections of this great state of Iowa. Mr. Toop was born in De Kalb county, Illinois, April 27. 1871, a son of William Toop, who was born in Winfrith, England, in 1836. At the age of
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twenty years the latter emigrated to the new world, and located in De Kalb county, where he began life without a dollar and he was also in debt. He secured employment at farm labor and in due course of time engaged in business on his own account by renting land. Event- ually his labors brought to him the capital that enabled him to purchase land and he became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres con- tignous to the city of DeKalb. After a time he added to his holdings by an additional purchase which made him the possessor of one hun- dred and eighty acres, which he improved and cultivated, making it one of the valuable properties of that section of the state. It was while still a resident of De Kalb county that William Toop was mar- ried to Miss Sarah A. Whiteman, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of John Whiteman, one of the pioneers of De Kalb county. In 1881 Mr. Toop decided to come to Iowa and after disposing of his property in Illinois he removed with his family to Calhoun county in 1882, where he purchased a half section of land on sections 31 and 32, Jack- son township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies for several years. However, for some years prior to his death he was an invalid and the farm was managed by his two sons, William I. and Jesse J., the former of whom now owns the home- stead but makes his home on a farm in Sac county. The father de- parted this life December 3, 1893, at the age of about fifty-seven years. Subsequently his widow made her home with their daughter, Mrs. Florence Behrend, of Auburn, Iowa, but has now departed this life, her death occurring December 24, 1911.
Jesse J. Toop was a young lad when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Calhoun county and his education, which had been begun in the schools of De Kalb county, was continued in the schools of Calhoun county. Subsequently he attended the Western Normal School at Shenandoah, Iowa, from which institution he was graduated. IIe then returned to the home farm in Jackson township and assisted in its cultivation and management until the time of his father's demise, after which he operated rented land for two years. He then pur- chased the farm which has since been his home and the scene of his activities. this land lying on section 33, Jackson township. IIe has here two hundred and forty acres, in the midst of which stand good and substantial farm buildings. In addition to his agricultural pur- suits Mr. Toop has always given much attention to stock-raising, his specialty being Shropshire sheep and Percheron horses. He has met with success in his undertakings for he has ever followed modern methods in all his work. In addition to his other interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Auburn, having
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become identified therewith upon its organization in 1903, while for the past eight years he has served on the board of directors.
On the 25th of February, 1892, in Carroll county, Iowa, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Toop and Miss Sophia Koppelman, who was born in Lockport, Will county, Illinois, a daughter of Frederiek Koppelman, a native of Germany, but who became an early settler of Will county, whence he removed to Carroll county, this state, in 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Toop have been born a son and daughter. The for- mer, Elmer, wedded Miss Lottie Desart and has one son, Harold R. They reside with Mr. Toop and the son assists his father with the work of the farm. The daughter, Myrtle, is the wife of Gale Sherman and they make their home in Lake City, Iowa. Mrs. Toop is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Toop gives his political support to the democratic party but aside from serving as a school director he has never held publie office. He displays excellent business ability in the management of his affairs and the high regard in which he is uniformly held is the just reward of honesty and true worth.
HUBBARD BRAYTON.
Hubbard Brayton, a farmer and stockman residing on section 24, Logan township, has made his home in Calhoun county since 1900. He was born in Ashkum township, Iroquois county, Illinois, on the 26th of January, 1875, and is a son of John II. and Mary ( Waters) Brayton. The father was a native of Vermont and when a young man he was employed by his father in a saw and grist mill in Franklin county, New York. In 1855 he removed westward to Illinois, settling in LaSalle county, but the following year he went to Iroquois county, where he engaged in farming. The journey westward had been made by boat and he found in Illinois all the conditions of pioneer life. There were many kinds of wild animals and mueh wild game was to be secured. In public affairs of the early days he took an active and helpful interest and he gave to the public the land on which the Brayton distriet school now stands. He had three hundred and twenty acres in his home property, constituting one of the foremost farms of the neighborhood, and the residence which he erected thereon was most attractive. He served as school director for many years and there was no progressive movement instituted for the benefit of the community in which he was not deeply interested. He was long an active member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Ashkum, Illinois, and at
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all times he was loyal to the teachings and purposes of that organiza- tion. He died in Watseka in 1894 at the age of sixty years, while his wife there passed away in 1892 when fifty-two years of age.
Hubbard Brayton pursued his education in what was known as the Brayton distriet school and in his boyhood days had the usual experiences of the farm lad, his vacation periods being devoted to the work of the fields. At twenty-one years of age he purchased eighty aeres of land which his father had owned and until 1900 continued to engage in farming in Illinois. In that year, however, he came to Iowa, making his way to Muddy in Cedar township, where he purchased three hundred and twenty aeres of swamp land, residing thereon for several years, during which time he made many improvements upon the place. He then sold out and purchased his present farm, con- sisting of one hundred and sixty aeres in Logan township. This is one of the splendidly developed properties of the community. Upon it stands a beautiful and commodious residence, built in attractive style of architecture, and there are also large barns, good silos and ample shed room for the shelter of farm machinery. He feeds a eon- siderable amount of stock each year and makes that feature of his business an extensive and important one. He is likewise a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Rinard and Rands. also in the Farmers Grain & Lumber Company and in the Cedar Telephone Company. IIe is recognized as a man of sound business judgment, so that his co-operation is eagerly sought, being regarded as a valu- able asset in connection with any enterprise.
On the 27th of February, 1902, occurred the marriage of Mr. Brayton and Miss Jennie Larson, a native of Watseka, Illinois, and a daughter of Peter C. and Hannah Larson, who were natives of Den- mark. After serving in the Danish army, according to the laws of the land. Mr. Larson came to the United States, making Clifton, Illi- nois, his destination. For a short time he worked on the railroad there and then began farming in Iroquois county, Illinois, where he still owns one hundred and sixty aeres. For a considerable period he carefully tilled the fields, but he and his wife are now living retired in Watseka. He has always been active in politieal eireles as a staneh supporter of the republican party, and in his township has worked untiringly to seeure success for his party. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Brayton have been born two children, Bernice and Eldred. Fraternally Mr. Brayton is con- neeted with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also with the Modern Woodmen of America at Somers. Politieally he is independ-
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ent, voting according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. He belongs to the Rinard Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as steward and trustee, and in the work of the ehureh he is actively concerned, doing all in his power to make it a strong force in the moral development of the community. In faet, he is one of the progressive citizens of the county, standing at all times for advancement along material, intellectual, social and moral lines and holding ever to high standards for the individual and for society at large.
ANDREW T. NESS.
Andrew T. Ness. who earries on farming on seetion 26, Green- field township, was born near Bergen, Norway, January 14, 1857. Mention of his parents is made in connection with the sketch of his brother, John R. Ness, on another page of this work. His youthful days were spent in the usual manner of farm lads. IIe worked at home. in the fields and at herding eattle and was about twelve years of age when he came to the United States with the family, who made their way direct to De Kalb county. Illinois. He remained at home upon the farm and attended the publie schools, after which he eon- tinned his residenee in Illinois until 1890, when he eame to Calhoun county and purchased his present place of one hundred and sixty aeres of prairie land. The purchase price was twelve dollars and a half per aere and his capital was sufficient to enable him to make a payment of only four hundred dollars. He at onee began to develop and improve the property, however, and as fast as possible he discharged his indebt- edness. In 1912 he purchased one hundred and sixty aeres adjoining, for which he paid one hundred and twenty-five dollars per aere. This is an indication of the success which he had achieved in the meantime and which came to him as the merited reward of earnest, persistent labor. Year after year he took his place in the fields from the time of early spring planting and continued the work of cultivating the land until crops were harvested in the late autumn. His farm is now well improved. He has tiled the land, thus adding to its produetiveness, has erected good buildings and has seeured all of the modern equip- ments and facilities found upon the model farm of the twentieth cen- tury.
On the 14th of March, 1894, Mr. Ness was united in marriage to Miss Lena Oen, who was born in the northern part of Norway on the
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26th of August, 1872, a daughter of Soren and Lena (Opdeal) Oen, who were natives of that place. The father was a carpenter and in AAugust. 1891, came to the United States, making his way to Calhoun county, where he rented land. Two years later, however, he pur- chased property in Webster county, where he continued to reside until his life's labors were ended in death when he was seventy-eight years of age. Ilis widow is still living at the age of sixty-eight years. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ness are six children: Olive Irene, Lillie Marie, Gertrude Amanda, Mabel Agnes, Robert Thomas and Viola Luella.
Mr. and Mrs. Ness are members of the United Lutheran church and in his political belief he is a republiean, supporting the candidates of the party but never seeking offiee as a reward for party fealty. His entire life has been devoted to farm work and the result of his labors is seen in the excellent farm which now pays him annual tribute.
PERRY C. HOLDOEGEL.
Perry C. Holdoegel is a prominent representative of telephone interests in Iowa, being now secretary and manager of the Central Mutual Telephone Company of Rockwell City. A native of this state, his birth occurred in Harrison county, on the 7th of September, 1869. His parents were Hugo and Miriam ( Mendenhall) Holdoegel, the former born in Germany in 1834, while the mother's birth occurred in the same year in South Carolina. She was a representative of the Mendenhall family, whose name figures prominently in the history of Methodism. Two of her brothers were presiding elders of that church and another brother was an ordained minister of the same faith. In 1834 Ingo Holdoegel drove through Iowa on his way to Salt Lake City. In 1856, however, he became a resident of Harrison county, Iowa. where he remained until the opening year of the Civil war, when he enlisted at Woodbine for service in the Union army, becoming a member of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. He served for four years, or throughout the war, as a private and was honorably discharged in 1865. After returning from the front he purchased a farm in Harri- son county and the following year was married, there beginning his domestic life. From 1876 until 1880 he engaged in merchandising and then resumed agricultural pursuits, which he followed until a few years prior to his demise. He passed away in 1910 and his wife died
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in 1908 in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party until W. J. Bryan became its candidate for president, when he became a supporter of the republican party and its sound money platform. For two terms he filled the office of deputy county sheriff. His religious belief was that of the Lutheran church and he also held membership with the Grand Army of the Republie, thus keeping in touch with his former military comrades. He was a well edneated man and exercised considerable influence in his community. To him and his wife were born two chil- dren: Perry C .; and Lena D., now the wife of Jacob Peters, of Dunlap. Iowa.
Perry C. Hokoegel acquired his edneation in the common schools and in the normal school at Woodbine, from which he was graduated in 1890. He had learned the brick mason's trade and likewise the printing trade and after being employed for some time along those lines beeame a clerk in a store. He also kept books and thus sneeeeded in paying his own way through normal school. For fourteen years he followed the profession of teaching, during which time he taught for two terms in the country schools and in the Dunlap schools for three years. He was also superintendent of the schools of Roekwell City for seven years and during five years of that time he had joint charge of the Calhoun County Normal School and was superintendent at Manson for three years. After a number of years he turned his attention to the telephone business, having installed the first inde- pendent telephone line in operation in the state of Iowa, this line extending from Logan to Missouri Valley, the work being done in 1893. Subsequently he established other lines and organized the Cen- tral Mutual Telephone Company of Rockwell City in 1895. He has continued as secretary and manager of the company since its organiza- tion and has direeted its affairs wisely. There are now eighteen sta- . tions which the company operates in Calhoun county, with lines extending into all adjoining counties, and the coneern owns a large modern office building. The secret of its rapid growth is found in the fact that it gives excellent service. Mr. Holdoegel was president of the International Independent Telephone Association for one year, for one year was president of the national organization and for three years held a similar position in the state association. He has many interests aside from his connection with the telephone company. IIe owns land in Iowa, is interested in timber lands in Minnesota and Wisconsin, has a ranch in Alberta, Canada, and was formerly engaged in stock-raising on a large seale in Wyoming. He is a self-made man, his suceess being due to his own efforts.
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Mr. Holdoegel was married on the 21st of August, 1895, to Miss Mattie Forrest, of Dunlap, lowa, a daughter of William Forrest, a native of England, who was decorated by Queen Victoria for his gal- lant service in the engagement at Sebastopol and other battles of the Crimean war. After emigrating to the United States he engaged in merchandising in Dunlap, Iowa, and gained a creditable measure of success. To Mr. and Mrs. Holdoegel have been born two children, Donald and Dorothy, both of whom are in school.
Mr. Holdoegel is a leader in local republican circles and is now serving as chairman of the county central committee and as a member of the congressional district committee. For a term he served as a member of the school board and he has been on the building commit- tees of many of the important structures erected in the town, such as the forty thousand dollar school building, the Methodist Episcopal church and others. Fraternally he is identified with the York Rite bodies of Masonry, including the Knights Templar commandery, and he is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of Veterans and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The handsome pipe organ lately installed in the church was largely secured through the efforts of Mr. Holdocgel, who was active in securing the gift from Andrew Carnegie that made it possible for the church to obtain the instrument and he himself gave liberally to the organ fund. In every- thing that he undertakes Mr. Holdoegel works on persistently and energetically and such is his determination and perseverance that he seldom falls short of successful accomplishment.
HENRY F. JACOBS.
Henry F. Jacobs, deceased, was one of the worthy citizens of Calhoun county and it was said of him: "Those who knew him best loved him most, and those who knew him least loved him much." The death of such a man is always the occasion of deep and widespread regret and the community feels that one has been called whom it could ill afford to lose. Mr. Jacobs was a native of Maryland, his birth having occurred near Baltimore on the 8th of October, 1833. In his childhood days he went with his parents on their removal to Gambier, Ohio, where he remained through the period of his youth and early manhood.
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Mr. Jacobs was twenty-five years of age when on the 6th of Sep- tember, 1858, he was united in mariage to Miss Margaret H. Law- rence. Two years afterward they removed to Fairbury, Illinois, where they resided for five years, and in May, 1865, Mr. Jacobs arrived in Calhoun county, settling on a farm near Lake City, where he made his home for a third of a century. Within that period he carefully tilled his fields and developed his farm, making it a productive tract of land from which he annually gathered good harvests. The sue- eess which attended his efforts in cultivating the fields at length en- abled him to put aside further business cares and he removed to Lake City, where his remaining days were passed. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs were born three children: Mrs. Ella Cook, John W. and Walter L.
The family cirele was broken by the hand of death when on the 17th of June, 1906, Mr. Jacobs passed away. He was everywhere recognized as a man of the highest respectability. The community accounted him a citizen of worth and his judgment in business matters was considered of great vahe by those who frequently sought it. He enjoyed in full measure the confidence and respeet of his fellowmen and he ever fully merited this confidenee. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was most loyal to the teachings and spirit of the craft. He always had a hearty greeting for those who knew him and he held friendship inviolable, but his chief interest centered at his own fire- side. He had the deepest love for his family and always cherished their interest at heart. His life record covered more than seventy- two years and was ever an influence for good among those who were his associates and companions.
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