USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume II > Part 7
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In 1885 occurred the marriage of Mr. Foley and Miss Mary Clark. a daughter of H. G. Clark, of Canada, and to this union have been born seven children: Will, who is associated with his father in business; May, a high-school teacher; Kate, who is teaching in the high school at Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Annie, who is attending school at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin: Matt, who is in college at Ames, Iowa: and Joe and Hugh, who are both in high school. The family are communicants of the Catholic church and Mr. Foley holds mem- bership with the Knights of Columbus. He is a democrat in his political affiliations, and yet he often votes independently. He is a public-spirited eitizen and has served on the city council.
Mr. Foley may truly be termed a self-made man, one who through the inherent force of his nature and the utilization of opportunities has passed from the unknown into prominence, advancing in the business world from a elerkship to a position of distinetion in the comunereial cireles of Manson, where for the past three decades he has made his home.
HENRY JOHN RIEMAN.
Henry John Rieman, a well known and enterprising young citi- zen of Yetter, has had charge of road work in Elm Grove township since the spring of 1915, and is demonstrating his ability in this eon- neetion. His birth oeeurred in that township on the 6th of July, 1882, his parents being John and Mary ( Render) Rieman, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, who passed away in 1900, was for more than two decades actively identified with general agri- cultural pursuits in this county and widely recognized as a substantial and respected citizen.
Henry J. Rieman pursued his education in the publie schools and spent the first twenty-five years of his life on the home farm in Elm Grove township. In 1907 he embarked in business as a contracting painter of Yetter and was thus actively engaged for seven years. In the spring of 1915 he was made road superintendent of Elm Grove
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township and has since had charge of road work here, discharging his duties in this connection with ability and dispatch.
On the 2d of December, 1908, Mr. Rieman was united in mar- riage to Miss Grace Sharp, who was born in Carrollton, Carroll county, lowa, in September, 1890, her parents being William O. and Amy (Jenkins) Sharp. The father's birth occurred in Poweshiek county, lowa. March 24, 1860, while the mother was born in Sann- ders county, Nebraska, September 10, 1872. Their marriage was celebrated on the 6th of January, 1888. William O. Sharp is a black- smith by trade and is now engaged in ditching. Mr. and Mrs. Rie- man have two children, namely: Helen Grace, whose natal day was November 29, 1909; and Elma Lois, born January 15, 1911.
Politically Mr. Rieman is a stalwart democrat, while his religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church. His father-in-law is a stanch prohibitionist and a devoted member of the United Brethren church. in which he is an elder and also serves as Sunday school super- intendent. Fraternally the latter is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Rieman has lived in Calhoun county from his birth to the present time and has won many friends within its borders, enjoying an enviable reputa- tion as a young man of promise and worth.
HENRY YOUNG, M. D.
Dr. Henry Young, of Manson, is recognized as a leader in the medical fraternity in Calhoun county and is also a man of influence in political circles and in public affairs. He has represented his district in the Iowa house of representatives and in the state senate and as a legislator proved public spirited and farsighted.
His hirth occurred in Ogle county, Illinois, on the 16th of June, 1846, and his parents were William and Nancy (Long) Young. His maternal grandfather, Daniel Long, was a native of Washington county, Maryland, and was a farmer by occupation. Both William and Nancy ( Long) Young were also born in Washington county, Maryland, the former in 1804 and the latter in 1820. They were married in their native state and in 1840 drove across the country to Ogle county, Illinois, where they continued to reside until called by death. The father passed away in 1887 and the mother died in 1870. Ile was successful as an agriculturist. His political belief was that of the republican party, and both he and his wife were Dunkards in
DR. HENRY YOUNG
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religious faith. To them were born nine children, five of whom sur- vive: George and D. W., both retired farmers living at Mount Morris, Illinois: Henry; Benjamin F., a druggist of Manson, Iowa; and Amanda, the widow of Henry Muma and a resident of Mount Morris, Illinois.
Henry Young attended the Mount Morris Seminary and after leaving that institution entered the Northwestern University at Evanston, where he completed his sophomore year. He was then for one year a student in the Medical College of the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, after which he matriculated in the Chi- cago College of Medicine, from which he was graduated in 1872. He practiced his profession for six months at Oregon, Illinois, but in the fall of 1872 located in Manson, Iowa, where he has since resided. He was the first physician to locate here and throughout the years has enjoyed a large and lucrative practice and the confidence of the gen- eral public. He also has the respect and regard of his professional colleagues. Although he had but one hundred and fifty dollars when he came to Manson he is now well-to-do, owns some excellent farms, also holds title to valuable city real estate and is president of the Calhoun County State Bank.
In March, 1877, Dr. Young married Miss Jean Glover, a daugh- ter of John Glover, of the state of New York. She passed away in 1886, in the faith of the Congregational church, leaving three chil- dren: John William, a window decorator residing at Winona, Min- nesota; Albert Leslie, now a student at the State College at Ames, who was for four years in the United States Navy and for several years later was head of the department of wireless telegraphy at the Norfolk navy yard; and Edna, the wife of Homer Howell, manager of a general store in Manson. Dr. Young was again married in 1894, Miss Etta Leavenworth becoming his wife. She was born in Montrose, Iowa. To this union has been born a son, Henry Leaven- worth, who is now a student at Grinnell College.
Dr. Young is a republican in politics and has held many eleetive offices. He was a member of the school board for some time, has served as mayor of Manson, has been health officer and eounty physi- cian and during the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth assemblies repre- sented his distriet in the lower house, while in the thirtieth, thirty-first and thirty-second assemblies he was a member of the state senate. For three years he was president of the State Drainage Association, and his work in that capacity has already proven of inestimable value throughout the state, especially in the northwestern portion. He has at all times discharged his official duties with ability and conscien- Vol. 11-5
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tiousness, and his record of public service is one of which he may well be proud. He has also gained an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon and is likewise known as a successful business man. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county and during the many years which he had resided in Manson he has done mueh along many lines to promote the advancement of his community.
CYRUS A. WHITTLESEY.
Cyrus A. Whittlesey is meeting with gratifying sueeess as a real- estate dealer and is recognized as one of the able business men of Manson. His birth occurred on the 18th of September, 1850, in Winnebago county, Illinois, and he is a son of Eliphaley and Lydia (Hitcheoek) Whittlesey. His paternal grandfather, Solomon Whit- tlesey, resided in Ohio for many years and there passed away, while his maternal grandfather, Ebenezer Hiteheock, was a lifelong resi- dent of the state of New York. Eliphaley Whittlesey was born in Vermont and in 1837 removed to Illinois, where he entered one hun- dred and sixty acres of land from the government, which he operated for many years, but in 1869 eame to Calhoun county, Iowa, and pur- chased a section of land. He continued to follow agricultural pur- suits for some time but eventually retired from aetive life and removed to Manson, where he was living at the time of his demise. He was very successful and took justifiable pride in the faet that his pros- perity was due solely to his own efforts, as he began his independent career without capital. He was a republican in politics and gave his religious allegiance to the Congregational church. His brother. E. Whittlesey, served in the Civil war with William MeKinley, later president of the United States. Mrs. Lydia Whittlesey was born in New York but was living in Illinois at the time of her marriage. To that union were born three children, two of whom survive: Cyrus A .; and Charles E., who is engaged in the real-estate business in southeastern Kansas.
Cyrus A. Whittlesey was edueated in the common schools of Illi- nois and later took a commercial eourse in a business college at Roek- ford, that state. During his minority he assisted his father with the work of the farm, thus gaining knowledge that his sinee heen of great valne to him. In 1876 he came to Calhoun county, Iowa, and for some time engaged in farming and in dealing in live stoek. He raised hogs and cattle, owning a number of head of pure blooded cattle, and
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was very successful as a stock-raiser. While living in Illinois he also dealt in horses for some time. In the spring of 1881 he retired from farming and removed to Manson, where he has sinee engaged in the real-estate business. IIe beeame a partner of R. A. Horton, that con- nection being maintained with mutual pleasure and profit for thirty- two years, but he is now in partnership with F. R. Shrader. They do a general real-estate business, buying and selling land in Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri, and negotiating many important realty transfers annually. Mr. Whittlesey personally owns mueh farm land and also owns bank stoek and stoek in the Griswold Land Com- pany.
In March, 1873, Mr. Whittlesey was united in marriage to Miss Olivia Griffin, who was born in Canada. Her father, Terry Griffin, was a blacksmith and beeame a pioneer of Illinois, whenee he removed to lowa, where he was living at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey have had three children: Gertrude, deceased; Clarence, a mail earrier ; and Daisy, the wife of F. J. Easter, a real-estate dealer of Seattle, Washington.
Mr. Whittlesey is a republican in polities and is loyal in his sup- port of the candidates of that party but has never had time to take an active part in politieal affairs, as his business interests require his undivided time and attention.
JOHN C. FRICK.
John C. Friek, who is successfully engaged in the insurance busi- ness in Roekwell City, is a native of this state, born in Dallas eounty, on the 13th of February, 1857. He is a son of John A. and Eliza (Work) Friek, who are mentioned further in connection with the sketch of Maxwell W. Friek, on another page of this work.
John C. Frick was reared on a farm in Dallas county and there early aequired habits of thrift and industry that stood him in good stead in later life. At the usual age he entered the common schools near his father's home and completed the high-school course in Adel. After putting aside his textbooks he remained on the home farm until he had reached years of maturity, having in the meantime given his father the benefit of his services. He continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until some two decades ago, or about 1895, when he located in Rockwell City and opened a real-estate office, meeting with a fair measure of snecess in that undertaking. In 1898
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he took up the insurance business and has sinee handled insurance in its various departments. He has studied every phase of the business, so that he is able to present his cause in an intelligent manner. He annually does a large volume of business, representing a number of companies, and he is ever found just in his treatment of those with whom he has business transactions. In addition to his insurance business he has considerable farming interests, owns bank stoek and stoek in the eanning factory at Rockwell City, while he is also inter- ested in the abstract business with George L. Brower. It will thus be seen that he is not confining his time and attention to any one line and yet he gives the major part of his attention to insurance.
In November, 1882, Mr. Frick was united in marriage to Miss Anna C. White, a resident of Dallas Center, Iowa, and a daughter of John White, a pioneer farmer of that seetion of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Friek have been born five children: Sumner, who is a mechanie and is residing in St. Louis; Clara, the wife of Chester Roekafellow. a farmer of South Dakota: Bertha, attending eollege in Grinnell, Iowa: Arthur, who is a mechanic and resides at home; and Evelyn, in school.
Mrs. Friek is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Frick is a Mason and a past master of his lodge, while in politics he is a republiean and has been chairman of the republican county central committee. He has also filled the office of justice of the peace. He is a most enthusiastic worker for any movement that will tend to advanee the welfare of his community and has exerted an immeasur- able influence in the city where he makes his home. He is public spirited in an eminent degree and his devotion to the general good, as well as his comprehensive understanding of many of the questions affecting state and national welfare, is marked. He has ever dis- charged his duties of citizenship in a commendable manner and as a business man, too, he merits the confidence of those who know him.
HENRY B. BEHRENS.
Henry B. Behrens, who for the past twelve years has been suc- cessfully engaged in the hardware business in Pomeroy, as a partner of August Breiholz, is also the owner of extensive farm lands in the state. owning four hundred acres in Pocahontas county. He is a native of Germany, born in Inhausersiel, Jeverland, April 20, 1858, a son of Hillert and Marie (Hedden) Behrens, who were likewise
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natives of the same provinee. The father there engaged in merehan- dising and in the lumber business but on the 1st of May, 1870, landed in Baltimore, Maryland. He at onee made his way to the middle west and spent a month in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He then went to Pocahontas county and bought one hundred and sixty aeres of school land for six dollars an aere, this land being located in Bellville town- ship. He had brought some eapital with him from the old world and immediately set about to improve and develop his land, preparatory to making his home thereon. He took up his abode there in the fol- lowing fall and throughout a long period was identified with the agri- cultural interests of that section of the state. The mother passed away on the old homestead, in the faith of the Evangelical church. Subsequently the father disposed of his land to his son Henry B., with whom he then made his home until he, too, departed this life. His religious faith was also indieated by his membership in the Evan- gelical church, while in polities he was a demoerat. In his later years he served as township trustee. He had but two sons, the brother of our subject being Frederick William, who is a farmer of Woodbury county, Iowa.
Henry B. Behrens, the younger son, was a lad of twelve years at the time the family emigrated to the new world and the voyage was of the keenest interest to him. His education was practically acquired in the schools of his native country, for after coming to Iowa he attended school but two months. He remained with his father and assisted him in the work of the home farm until his thir- tieth year, at which period he was married and then rented the home place for three years. He then purchased the farm and continued to operate it until 1903, when he rented his land and eame to Pomeroy. He formed a partnership with August Breiholz for the conduet of a hardware business, in which he has continued to the present time. This is one of the successfully conducted enterprises of the eity and Mr. Behrens has contributed not a little to the success of the under- taking. He still owns four hundred aeres of farm land in Pocahontas county.
On the 16th of May, 1888, Mr. Behrens was united in marriage to Miss Annie Albright, a native of Elmhurst, Illinois, where she was reared. This union has been blessed with five children: Minnie, who is engaged in teaching in the Pomeroy schools; Marie, who is studying to be a nurse; and Elizabeth, William Henry and Ellen, all at home.
Mr. Behrens is a demoerat but is liberal in his views, often voting independently. While still a resident of Pocahontas county he served
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for eighteen years as township trustee and sinee making his home in Pomeroy he has served on the city eouneil nine years. He and his wife are members of the Evangelieal ehureh, in the work of which they are most helpfully interested. The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual and this truth is abun- dantly verified in the life of Mr. Behrens, who has steadily pursued his way undeterred by obstacles and difficulties and is achieving a prosperity of which he has every reason to be proud.
CHARLES WESLEY BECKWITH.
Charles W. Beckwith, ex-county treasurer, now residing in Roek- well City, was born in Marion county, Iowa. August 23, 1867, a son of Roswell J. and Lydia (Speneer) Beekwith. His paternal grand- father. William R. Beekwith, was a native of one of the New Eng- land states and in his early manhood drove an ox team from Massa- chusetts to Ohio. In 1847, with the same sort of a conveyance, he made the trip from Ohio to Iowa. He first settled in Lake Prairie township, Marion county, but a year or two later removed to Pleas- ant Grove township in the same county. When the gold mines were discovered in California in 1849, he set out with his ox team for the journey across the plains, and he was probably the only man who ever made the journey aeross the continent by this "slow but sure" method. After a short residence in California he returned to his Iowa farm and there spent the remainder of his life. ITis death oeeurred in 1891, at the age of eighty-two years.
Roswell J. Beekwith was born in Ohio, February 25, 1847, and was therefore but a few months old when his parents removed to Iowa and settled in Marion county, about six months after the Indians had left the state for their new reservations beyond the Missouri river. While he had all the experiences of life on the frontier. he also had the pleasure of watching the growth and development of Iowa from a wilderness into a great state. He followed farming all his life and met with gratifying snecess in his chosen oeeupation. In polities he affiliated with the republican party. He was a member of the Christian church, and as a firm believer in temperanee he belonged to the Good Templars. At Pleasantville, Iowa, he was married to Miss Lydia Spencer. a native of Iowa, and to this union were born six children, five of whom are still living. William J. is living retired at Pleasantville, Marion county; Charles W. is the
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immediate subject of this review; James A. is manager of a grain and farm implement business at Gowrie, Webster county; Thomas E. is a farmer in South Dakota; and Myron S. is a farmer in Marion county, Iowa.
Charles W. Beckwith received his edueation in the common schools and after putting aside his textbooks was engaged in agricultural pursuits until he was about twenty-five years of age. After that he was engaged in various lines of business for a number of years, ineluding five years in driving a dray in Roekwell City and five and a half years in the hotel business at Lohrville. In 1908 he was elected treasurer of Calhoun county and was twice reeleeted, holding that office of trust and responsibility for six years.
Mr. Beckwith is a republican in his political views and takes a commendable interest in public affairs, national, state and local. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and was the first senior warden of Nekoda Lodge, No. 597, F. & A. M., at Lohrville after that lodge received its charter. He is also identified with the Mystic Workers. His religions affiliations are with the Christian church.
In March, 1891, Mr. Beckwith and Miss Bertha I. Collins were united in marriage. Mrs. Beckwith is a daughter of Daniel Collins, one of the early settlers of Calhoun county, who continued to reside here until his demise. To this marriage has been born one son, Floyd B .. who is now the cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank of Lavinia, Iowa. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith are widely known in Calhoun county and they have a host of friends.
ROYAL BAKER DIXON.
Royal Baker Dixon, who in 1914 was elected to the office of county auditor of Calhoun county, has sinee most capably served the public in that capacity. He is a native of Iowa, born in Jasper county. June 8, 1874, a son of S. and Lucinda (Farley) Dixon. The father was born in Ohio in 1841, while the mother was a native of Allamakee county, Iowa. They were married in Jasper county, this state, about 1866 or 1867, and traveled the journey of life together for many years but were finally separated by the death of the wife and mother. She died in the faith of the Methodist Episco- pal church. The father, however, still survives, at the age of seventy- four years, and is now living in well earned retirement in Rockwell City. He was for many years identified with the business interests
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of the city, having engaged in the hardware and implement business here throughout a long period, and he was also a traveling salesman for twenty-two years. He is a republican in his political affiliation and is a Knight Templar Mason. In his family were six children, but one is deceased. Those surviving are: C. O., who was born February 7, 1868, and served as county auditor for six years; Dayse, the wife of Ross Vontrees, a farmer of Calhoun county; Royal B., of this review; Catherine, the widow of Charles Gregg; and Marga- ret, the wife of M. J. Lec, of Los Angeles, California.
Royal Baker Dixon acquired his education in the schools of Jasper county, completing the high-school course. He began life in the busi- ness world as a clerk in a hardware establishment. He was subse- quently for five years engaged in the plumbing business in Rockwell City and in 1909 he made his initial step in an official capacity, having been appointed deputy county auditor of Calhoun county. In 1914 he was elected to the office of auditor and is now demonstrating to the people of Calhoun county that he is fully qualified to fill the office to their satisfaction as well as with credit to himself. His record in public service has ever been one of unremitting and tireless toil.
Mr. Dixon was married in 1901 to Miss Matilda Krager, of Sac county, this state, and they now have a little son, Dale. Mrs. Dixon is a member of the Christian church. In politics Mr. Dixon is a stal- wart republican and in this connection as in his business life there has been a progression. His entire political service has been in the interest of the people and this is the best recommendation any man can have for future claims.
MICHAEL MACK.
Michael Mack, a prominent and prosperous agriculturist residing on section 30, Butler township, is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land comprising one of the best farms in Calhoun county. He has devoted his attention to the work of the fields here for more than a third of a century and his is the record of a self-made man whose unfaltering perseverance has triumphed over obstacles and difficulties. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in December, 1842. and remained under the parental roof until fourteen years of age. being afterward engaged in railroad work until nineteen years old. During the next two years he was employed in a factory and subsequently served for four years in the German army and for two
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years in the hospital corps. He then attended college'in Nassau and in 1870 emigrated to the United States, landing in New York on the Ist or 2d of December of that year. On the 6th of December he reached St. Louis, Missouri, and there entered the Concordia Theo- logical Seminary but at the end of two years' study beeame ill and was obliged to abandon his preparation for the ministry, going to Nebraska, where he was siek for about fifteen months. On recover- ing his health he made his way to Boone, Boone county, Iowa, where he was employed as clerk in a dry goods and clothing store for three or four years, on the expiration of which period he was married. With his bride he went to Des Moines and there worked as elerk in a grocery store for about a year, while subsequently he beeame an assistant preacher but at the end of about a year was obliged to dis- continue this work because of impaired health and next condueted a private school in Polk, Iowa, for two years. In 1880 he came to Calhoun county, where lived his wife's people, cultivating a rented farm in Sherman township for about a year. During the following two years he operated another rented farm in the same township and then rented still another tract, which he cultivated until 1888. In that year he acquired one hundred and sixty acres of his present place at ten dollars an aere, the tract being wild prairie and slough land. He made an initial payment of fifty dollars, went in debt for the remainder and resolutely set himself to the task of improving and developing his property. In 1890 he purchased an adjoining quarter section for eighteen dollars an acre and in 1901 bought a tract of one hundred and sixty aeres across the road for forty-six dollars an acre, so that his holdings now embrace four hun- dred and eighty aeres. As the years have gone by he has brought the place under a high state of cultivation and improvement and it is now conceded to be one of the best farms in the county, boasting well tiled fields and also a large, substantial barn and elevator. A most grati- fying measure of success has rewarded his well directed labors as an agriculturist and he has long been numbered among the substantial and representative citizens of Butler township and Calhoun county.
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