USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume II > Part 33
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one of the wealthiest men of Manson, but in gaining prosperity has never resorted to questionable methods, his integrity and uprightness being unassailable. He is living retired in a measure, enjoying a period of comparative leisure after many years of strenuous and well directed activity in the newspaper field and as a business man.
CAPTAIN JOHN LEBRIGHT REX.
In the death of Captain John Lebright Rex, on the 4th of August, 1905, Calhoun county lost one who had long been numbered among its representative farmers. He was born in Bendersville, Adams county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of May, 1830, a son of William and Mary (Minnieh) Rex. The family is of German lineage, but the father was born in this country and served in the War of 1812. While plow- ing in the eornfield during the progress of the Civil war he passed away.
Captain Rex was provided with liberal educational privileges that prepared him for the practical and responsible duties of life. In his youthful days he learned the trades of carpentering and eabinetmak- ing and in early manhood he alternated sehool-teaching with work at his trade, being identified as a teacher with the schools of Millport, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, for about four years. All business and personal considerations, however, were put aside at the time of the Civil war, for he responded to the country's eall for troops in 1861, enlisting on the 20th of August, of that year, as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He went to the front and proved his valor and his loyalty on many battlefields, ably defending the old flag and the cause it represented.
When his military service was over Captain Rex returned to Mill- port, Pennsylvania, but on the 8th of August, 1865, removed to De Kalb county, Illinois, where he purchased one hundred aeres of land. There he engaged in farming for three and a half years, on the expira- tion of which period he made his way to Lake City, Iowa, and soon afterward invested in eighty acres of land in Jackson township. He was one of the pioneer farmers of the locality and converted raw prairie land into richly eultivated fields, from which he annually gath- ered good erops. He met with many of the hardships and difficulties ineident to frontier life, but with perseverance he carried on his work with the result that in time he became the owner of a valuable farm
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property. He was busily engaged in its further cultivation until 1900, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis, which rendered him unfit for further labor in the fields, and his remaining days were spent in enforeed retirement.
On the 3d of November, 1854, Captain Rex was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary J. MeClure, who was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1836, a daughter of Wilson and Mary McClure. The father died during the girlhood of his daughter. The children of Captain and Mrs. Rex were: Frank, who is living in Canada; E. M., a resident of Lundgren, Iowa; William W., Elizabeth and Ella, all now deceased; Dora, who makes her home in Winterset, Iowa; Blanche, of New Mexico; Mable, of Canada; and Flo.
The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when, on the 4th of August, 1905, Captain Rex passed away, being then seventy-five years old. He had long given his political allegiance to the republican party and he took much interest in polities, stanehly advocating party principles, yet he did not seek nor desire the rewards of office in recognition of party fealty. He was interested in all that pertained to the welfare of the community and served as sehool di- rector. He held membership in the Lutheran church and was identified with Lander Post, G. A. R., thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army comrades, with whom he had met all of the experiences of the tented field. He was ever as true and loyal in matters of citizen- ship as when he followed the flag on the military campaigns through the south, and there were many beside his immediate family who felt deep regret at his death.
JOHN MOHR.
John Mohr, who has lived retired in Pomeroy sinee 1901, was for a number of years actively identified with agricultural pursuits in Calhoun county, owning two hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Butler township. His birth oeeurred in Holstein, Germany, on the 25th of June, 1846, and there he was reared to manhood on a farm. In 1868, when twenty-two years of age, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, landing in New York in the month of August. He at once made his way to Davenport, Iowa, and began working as a farm hand, being thus employed by the month for about three years. On the expiration of that period he was married and rented a traet of land, carrying on both farming and dairying until 1890, when he came to Calhoun eounty and purchased two hundred and forty acres in Butler
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township at from fifteen to seventeen dollars per aere. In the opera- tion of this place he was busily engaged until 1901 and met with a gratifying measure of sueeess in both his farming and dairying inter- ests. Fourteen years ago he left the farm and took up his abode in Pomeroy, where he has sinee lived in honorable retirement, leaving the aetive work of the fields to his sons.
On the 25th of June, 1871, Mr. Mohr was married. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Walze, is also a native of Holstein, Germany, and they had long been acquainted. She came to this country in May, 1871, and by her marriage beeame the mother of six children, three of whom died in infaney, the others being: William, who passed away at the age of twenty years; and August and Charles, who operate the home farm in Butler township and are widely recog- nized as enterprising agrieulturists and worthy citizens of the eon- munity.
Mr. Mohr is a democrat in politics, but has never sought nor de- sired office as a reward for his party fealty. His religious faith is indieated by his membership in the German Evangelical Lutheran church of Pomeroy. He has never had occasion to regret his determi- nation to seek a home in the new world, for here he found the oppor- tunities which he sought and in their wise utilization won the prosperity that now enables him to spend the evening of life in ease and comfort. His career has ever been upright and honorable and he enjoys the esteem and regard of a host of friends.
CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON OWENS.
Farm work elaims the time and attention of Christopher Wash- ington Owens, who is one of the large landowners of Calhoun county, having five hundred and ninety-eight acres on sections 20, 31 and 32, Calhoun township. He was born in Marshall county, Illinois, March 2, 1859, his parents being William and Sarah M. (Sehofield) Owens, both of whom were natives of England. When twelve years of age the father came to the new world with his parents, the family settling near St. Louis. Sarah M. Schofield was a little maiden of eight sum- mers when she accompanied her parents to Illinois and in early womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to William Owens. Unto them were born three sons and a daughter. It was in the year 1886 that the family removed to Carroll county, Iowa, but Christopher W. Owens and his eldest brother, W. R. Owens, did not accompany the
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others of the household but came four years later, settling on the father's farm near Rockwell City in Center township.
Christopher W. Owens assisted his father until he attained his majority, and then started out in business life on his own account. He had been equipped for this step by a common school education and by the training which he had received under his father's direction. In the fall of 1890 he came to his present location, securing one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Calhoun township. To this he has added from time to time as his financial resources have increased and he now has a valuable farm which is highly cultivated and splendidly improved. He has enhanced the productiveness of his land by a well- ordered system of tiling and upon his place he has all the modern machinery. He raises fine cattle and hogs and he annually harvests good crops as a reward for the labor which he has bestowed upon his fields. The appearance of his place and his well known enterprise class him as one of the most progressive citizens of the county.
In February, 1890, Mr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Dale, a daughter of Thomas Dale, one of the early settlers of DeKalb county, Illinois, and who at a pioneer period in the develop- ment of that state conducted a store in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Owens have become parents of three children, Clifford, Grace and William, all now at home. In his political views Mr. Owens is a republican but has never sought nor desired office. He belongs to the Christian church at Lake City, but is identified with no lodges or clubs, being a strictly home man. It is said of him that he never talks upon a subject unless he is sure of himself, and therefore his opinions count as of marked worth. The business of his life is farming, and he studies it just as carefully and thoroughly as a mechanic does his trade, and at all points keeps in touch with the most progressive methods, his labors therefore resulting in the attainment of most gratifying success.
FREMONT RISELEY.
Fremont Riseley is an esteemed citizen of Rockwell City, where he is now residing after having been for many years an energetic and successful farmer and stock-raiser of this county. He was born on the 10th of January, 1857, in Buchanan county, Iowa, a son of Albert and Margaret (Broadstreet) Riseley. The paternal grand- father, William Riseley, was born in the state of New York and served in the war of 1812 with the rank of colonel. The father, like-
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wise a native of the Empire state, eame west in 1854 with his fam- ily, and after developing a farm in Buchanan county, Iowa, came to Calhoun county in 1882. He died in 1910 at the age of eighty- seven years. Ilis wife, who was born in New York in 1820, died in this county in 1899, at the age of seventy-nine years. To their union were born nine children, namely: Abigail; Joseph; Jacob, deceased; Polly; Hannah, deceased; Fremont; Abraham; Albert; and John, who is deeeased.
Fremont Riseley became a resident of this county in 1882 and engaged in farming. In 1890 he purchased the old home place of his father. He raised considerable grain, but specialized in stock- raising, breeding shorthorn cattle and Poland-China and Duroc-Jer- sey hogs, besides a number of good grade horses for farm use. He met with gratifying success and year by year his resources inereased, due to the wise management of his affairs. On the 15th of March, 1913, he retired from farming and took up his residence in Rock- well City, where he now resides.
In 1885 Mr. Riseley was united in marriage to Miss Lonie Ste- venson, who was born at Orion, Ill., the only child of Samuel and Mary Stevenson. Her father is still living at Bonaparte, Iowa, but her mother died when she was but three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Riseley have two children: Nellie, who is the wife of Bert Chappel and lives at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Gladys, who married Fred Willoughby and lives upon a farm in this county.
Mr. Riseley is a republican and has held a number of minor pub- lic offices, such as road supervisor for five years, treasurer of the school board for eight years, township trustee for twenty years and in 1914 was chosen street commissioner of Rockwell City. His has been an active life. He has been industrious and temperate in his habits, and these qualities have brought to him a measure of success above the average. He is still known as one of the business men in the community.
H. F. STEIN.
H. F. Stein is a resident farmer of Elm Grove township, where he has one hundred and sixty aeres of land on seetion 19, which he has brought to a high state of development, the well kept appearance of the place indieating his enterprise and determination. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, February 8. 1872, his parents being Herman and Johanna (Popp) Stein. The father was of German birth, and
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after leaving his native land became a resident of Chicago. In his family of three children H. F. Stein was the eldest, the others being: William, who is now a resident of Sac county, Iowa; and a sister, Mrs. William Kreft, also living in Sac county. After living in Chicago for a time the father purchased a farm at Arlington Heights, where the family resided until they removed in 1898 to their present location in Calhoun county, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at thirty dollars per acre. The mother passed away in 1900 and the father died in 1913.
In early life H. F. Stein became familiar with all departments of farm work through the practical training which he received under the direction of his father. His educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools, and he has devoted his life to farm work. To the age of twenty-five years he assisted his father on the farm near Chicago and today he is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, of which one hundred and ten acres is in a high state of cultivation. Upon his place he erected a large modern residence in 1913-a tasteful and attractive home that is one of the pleasing features of the landscape. There are also good building's upon his farm for the shelter of grain and stock and in his stock-raising ventures he makes a specialty of Duroc-Jersey hogs and shorthorn cattle.
On the 29th of April, 1905, Mr. Stein was united in marriage to Miss Martha Schwartz, a daughter of Joseph Schwartz, one of the old- time residents of Sac county, but now living in South Dakota. M.r. and Mrs. Stein hold membership in the German Lutheran church, and their influence is always on the side of advancement, progress, truth and justice. In his political views he is a democrat, but has never held nor desired office, preferring always to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and in addition to his farming interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers Grain Company of Yetter. He is well known and well liked, for his salient traits of character are those which win high regard and command for him the respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
ROBERT MICHAEL REID.
Robert Michael Reid, who since 1913 has concentrated his energy upon his duties as postmaster of Lake City, was previous to that year engaged in the operation of his farm ad joining the city. His birth occurred on a farm in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 8th of January, 1867, and he is a son of Nelson and Caroline (Weaver)
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Reid. The father was also born in Pickaway county on the 16th of November, 1838, and received his education in the public schools of that period. His father died when he was but three months old and it was necessary for Nelson Reid to assist in the operation of the farm as soon as he was strong enough. He became a resident of Illinois and followed agricultural pursuits there until he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a number of engagements and at all times proved a brave and loyal soldier, making a military record of which he had just cause to be proud. When peaee was restored he returned to his old home in Ohio, where he remained until 1868, when he removed with his family to Piatt county, Illinois, and located upon the farm where they still reside. He has met with gratifying sueeess as an agriculturist and is highly esteemed in his community.
Robert M. Reid was educated in the common schools of Piatt county, Illinois, and received valuable training in agriculture through assisting his father with the work of the home farm. In 1890 he began his independent business career and followed agricultural pur- suits in various parts of his native state until 1906. when he eame to Calhoun county. Iowa, purchasing one hundred and ten aeres adjoin- ing Lake City and three aeres within the limits of the city. He gave his attention to operating his farm until 1913, when he was appointed postmaster and has sinee that time concentrated his energies upon the duties of that office. While living in Piatt county, Illinois, he served as tax collector for two years and as assessor for one year. IIe is committeeman from the First ward of Lake City in the local demoeratie organization and is an efficient worker for the suceess of his party.
Mr. Reid was married on the 3d of April. 1890, to Miss Cora Belle Leathers, of Shelby county, Illinois, and they have one son, James Byron, who is at home. Mr. Reid is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and has many friends both within and without that organization. As a farmer he gained sueeess and as postmaster he is discharging his duties with ability and eonseien- tiousness, proving an excellent official. All who have been brought in eontaet with him have for him sineere respect and the utmost eon- fidenee in his integrity.
BEAUMONT E. STONEBRAKER.
Beantnont E. Stonebraker, son of Austin F. and Maggie E. (Jaek) Stonebraker, was born January 11th, 1869, on a farm near
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Le Claire, Scott county, lowa. In the spring of 1883 he came with his parents to Roekwell City, Iowa.
Mr. Stonebraker obtained his education in the common sehools and at the Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. During 1887 he was a compositor on the Rockwell City Leader, a democratie news- paper then published at Rockwell City. The following four years he was employed in the offices of the county auditor and treasurer. In 1891 he purchased a half interest in his father's furniture busi- ness. The partnership continued until his father's death in 1901. He started a branch store at Lake City in 1898, which he conducted for four years. The business in Roekwell City was continued until 1906 and then sold.
On June Ist, 1892, he was married to Elma J. Gregg, daughter of J. H. and Mary Gregg of Roekwell City. To them one ehild, Mary M,, was born August 7th, 1893. She married Ray E. Gunn, an abstractor of Napa, California, where they now reside. Mrs. Stonebraker died August 4th, 1902. August 23rd, 1905, Mr. Stone- barker was united in marriage to Mira Mae Roberts, daughter of A. B. and Susan May Roberts of Lake Creek township in this county. To this union three children were born, namely: Maurine R., on Oeto- ber 14th, 1896, and Robert L. and Charles E., twin boys, on Febru- ary 21st, 1912. Charles E. died of pneumonia on February 3rd, 1915.
Several minor publie offiees have been held by Mr. Stonebraker, including county auditor for seven years. He served also on a spe- cial state tax commission, created by the aets of the Thirty-fourth General Assembly, receiving his appointment from Governor Carroll. He is the present secretary of the Commercial Club of Rockwell City.
ALEXANDER WILSON.
Alexander Wilson was formerly identified with farming interests in Calhoun county and at one time filled the office of postmaster of Farnhamville, but is now living retired. Ile is of Scotch birth and ancestry, the place of his nativity being the parish of Alford, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, while his natal day was May 9, 1843. He was a lad of only ten years when he came across the water and set- tled with his father in Cook county, Illinois. He remained at home until 1864, when at the age of twenty years he enlisted in the one- hundred-day service and went to the front as one of the boys in blue
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of Company H, One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois Infantry. During most of the time he was on guard duty at Columbus, Ken- tucky. In 1865, however, he reenlisted and became a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war.
After the war Mr. Wilson returned to Cook county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming and also took up the work of veterinary surgery. In 1872 he removed to Champaign county, Illinois, which was then a sparsely settled region, exhibiting the conditions of fron- tier life. He took an active part in its early development and progress and assisted greatly in the advancement of eivic affairs. The year 1890 witnessed his arrival in Calhoun county, at which time he pur- chased land near Farnhamville and began its cultivation. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits and also practiced veterinary surgery until 1897, when he retired from the farm and took up his abode in Farnhamville, where he continued as an active practitioner. He is still the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of productive land and while upon the farm he always raised high-grade stoek, keeping all that his farm would support.
In early manhood Mr. Wilson was joined in wedloek to Miss Mary D. Carrington, a native of Connecticut and a daughter of Starr Carrington, who was born in New York. In an early day the father made his way westward to Illinois, settling in Cook county, where he spent the remainder of his life on a farm and took an active part in civic, political and church affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became the parents of the following children: Laura, the wife of Charles Beacham, a sketch of whom is given on another page of this work: John, who died in infancy; Mabel, who died leaving two chil- dreu and who was the wife of A. B. Carlson, a member of the general mercantile firm of P. C. Carlson & Son; Myrtle, who died in infaney ; Starr, who was a very active and popular citizen of Calhoun county until 1914, when he removed to Sae county and has since been engaged in the banking business as president of the Farmers Bank of Odebolt; and Minnie, at home.
There were less than one hundred inhabitants in Farnhamville at the time of Mr. Wilson's arrival, and on coming to the county he found it in a primitive pioneer condition. In the work of general im- provement and development he has ever borne his part and has stanehly advocated many progressive publie measures. His politieal allegiance has always been given to the republican party and for four and one-half years he was postmster of Farnhamville. Since the incorporation of the town he has served as a member of the city
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council and he has exercised his official prerogatives in support of various publie measures which have been of the greatest worth and value to the community in advancing public interests. His religious belief is evidenced in his membership in the Congregational church, of which he is serving as one of the trustees. He has many of the sterling traits of his Seotch ancestry, combined with the spirit of enterprise and progress which has been the dominant element in the upbuilding of the middle west. While he has greatly advaneed his own fortunes, he has at the same time cooperated in measures for the general good, and his name in Calhoun county is synonymous with progressive citizenship.
WILLIAM WINKELMAN.
William Winkelman is engaged in general farming on section 15, Union township. He was born August 28, 1867, in Greene county, Iowa, his parents being Jacob and Nancy ( Rhoades) Winkelman. The mother was born in Champaign, Illinois, in 1840, and was a deseendant of Colonel Nicholas Rhoades, a Revolutionary soldier. The father was born in Berne, Switzerland, in 1838, and when six- teen years of age came to the United States. He worked at carrying rock at ten cents per day in order to earn the money which would enable him to secure passage to the new world, and, the voyage over, he landed at New York with a eash capital of five dollars. Making his way westward, he remained in Illinois for a time and then went to Greene county, Iowa, purchasing land near Jefferson. There he continuously engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1896, when he took up his abode in the town of Jefferson, where he remained until called to his final rest, his death occurring in February, 1901. He was a successful farmer and highly esteemed citizen.
William Winkelman acquired a common-school education, pur- sning his studies in that manner until he reached the age of eighteen years, while later he spent one year as a student in an academy at Jefferson. When twenty-two years of age he entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad Company and devoted a year to that work. He afterward spent a year in Greene county and on the expiration of that period removed to Calhoun county, where in the fall of 1890 be purchased two hundred and forty aeres of land at twenty-five dollars per acre, situated two miles south of Lohrville,
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upon which he engaged in general farming for ten years. He spent the succeeding three and a half years in the town, where he engaged in the real-estate and transfer business, and on the expiration of that pe- riod he traded his south of town interests for his present farm, compris- ing three hundred and fifty-three acres of rich and productive land on section 15, Union township. He gave aere for acre and paid one hundred dollars per acre for the balanee. Later he purchased one hundred and twenty aeres at the edge of town. He has feneed the place and has divided it into fields of convenient size. He has en- hanced its produetiveness by a system of tiling and he introduces all modern improvements which add to the value and worth of the farm. He raises cattle, sheep and hogs for the market and has been a men- ber of the Hereford Association for fifteen years. For nine years he handled Belgian horses with an imported Belgian at the head of the stud. He owns an automobile and he has everything about his place in excellent condition. The land which he is now cultivating was originally purchased at twelve and one-half dollars per acre, and afterward sold at thirty dollars. Mr. Winkelman paid one hundred dollars per acre for the property and people laughed at him, but today the land is worth more than two hundred dollars per acre. He has twenty head of working horses and the very latest farm machinery and there is no equipment or accessory of the model farm that is lacking.
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