USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
Mr. Billmeyer was married on April 22, 1883, to Ellen Bopp, who was born in Eden township, this county, August 4, 1855, and is the daughter of Michael and Margaret (Smith) Bopp. Mr. and Mrs. Billmeyer are the parents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are, Mabel L., wife of Felix Pickworth, living in Carthage, Missouri; she was born February 23, 1884: her husband is the son of Felix Pickworth, chap- lain of the Iowa State Reformatory for the past twelve years. Alma Edna was born May 6, 1890; Margaret M. is the wife of Clare Shepard, living at Mason City, Iowa, was born December 4, 1891 : Anna Elizabeth, born Septem- ber 12, 1893; William E., Jr., born August 5, 1898.
GUS GUNDERSON.
Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the indi- vidual or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial develop- ment, it is impossible to clearly determine. Yet the study of a successful life, whatever the field of endeavor, is none the less interesting and profitable by reason of the existence of this same uncertainty. So much in excess of those of successes are the records of failure or semi-failures, that one is constrained to attempt an analysis in either case and to determine the measure of causation in an approximate way. But in studying the life history of the well known resident and popular citizen of Elgin, Fayette county, whose name forms the caption of this article, we find many qualities in his makeup that always gain lone, which has resulted in a life of good to others as well as large success and definite success in any career if properly directed, as his has evidently been a comfortable competence for himself.
Gus Gunderson, president of the Elgin Savings Bank, at Elgin, Iowa,
GUS GUNDERSON.
1053
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
and one of the most substantial and influential business men in the northern part of Fayette county, is a descendant of a Norwegian family, as his name would indicate, though he is a native of the locality which he now honors with his citizenship, having been born in Fayette county on August 31, 1859. He is the son of Eliff and Johanna Gunderson, both born in Norway, where they grew to maturity and were educated and where they were married. They came to America in 1858, and after a long and tedious voyage across the great ocean between these two countries and scarcely less prolix journey across half of our continent, finally landed in Fayette county, Iowa, locating at Clermont, in the northeastern part of the county. There the father became well estab- lished, being a business man of more than ordinary ability, especially able in the management of a farm. He accumulated here between four and five hun- dred acres of valuable land and became a man of influence in his community,. of which he was regarded as one of the leading general farmers for many years, and he was a man whom his neighbors held in the highest respect owing to his life of industry, honesty and sobriety. There were ten children in his family.
Gus Gunderson, of this review, was educated in the common schools of his native community and assisted with the work on the home farm during the crop seasons and he began life as a farmer, but, ascertaining that his true bent lay along business lines, he entered the mercantile field at Elgin, which he followed until 1899 with very gratifying success from the first, having enjoyed a very liberal patronage during that period and establishing a lasting reputa- tion for keen discernment in business, fairness in all his dealings with his fellow men and a desire to see others prosper at the same time he was advancing his own interests. This, of course, inspired the confidence and good will of the people of this community, and when he entered the implement business in the year mentioned above his old customers proved their loyalty and friendship by turning their trade and their influence to him, and he prospered in this line of endeavor, which he followed until 1907. Then, realizing the long existent need of a banking institution in this thriving vicinity, he set about organizing the Elgin Savings Bank and became its president, which responsible position he still worthily retains to the entire satisfaction of his patrons and all con- cerned, having built up one of the most popular and soundest banking institu- tions in the county, which is rapidly growing in prestige and importance.
Having long taken an abiding interest in the upbuilding of the village of Elgin and the general advancement of this community, Mr. Gunderson has aided very materially in all movements calculated to be of general interest and for the uplift of this vicinity, sparing neither means nor time in his efforts to
1054
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
foster movements having for their object the general good. He has held all the offices of the village and is now one of the county supervisors, very faith- fully discharging his duties in all positions of public trust. Politically, he is a Republican and in religious matters is a Lutheran, being a liberal supporter of the local church.
The domestic life of Mr. Gunderson dates from 1892, when he was united in marriage with Lizzie Kittelson, a lady of education and culture and the representative of an excellent family. Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson are popular with the best social circles of the county.
FREDERICK GEORGE BURKHART.
The popular and well known village marshal and street commissioner of Hawkeye, Frederick G. Burkhart, is a native of Kendall county, Illinois, born in the town of Oswego, on the 29th day of March, 1850. His parents. Leonard and Margaretta (Brunemeyer) Burkhart, were born in Bavaria, Germany, but came to America when young and were married in Oswego, Illinois, near which place they resided for a number of years. Frederick G. Burkhart spent his childhood and youth on a farm near the above town and remained there until his twenty-third year, in the meantime attending the public schools as opportunities afforded and after attaining his majority. looking after his own interests as well as those of his parents. In 1873. when twenty-three years of age, he was united in marriage to Mary A. Rhuta- sel. of Aurora, Illinois, born July 3. 1854, and five years later they came to Fayette county, Iowa, and purchased a tract of prairie land in Banks town- ship, which in due time he reduced to cultivation and converted into a very valuable farm.' After living fourteen years on the place and bringing it to a high state of tillage, he sold it, and in 1892 moved to Hawkeye, where, in partnership with Chris Burkhart and T. L. Hinz, he helped incorporate the Burkhart & Hinz Mercantile Company, subsequently succeeding Mr. Hinz and continuing with the enterprise until the failure of the company, about one year later.
About 1869 Mr. Burkhart engaged in the threshing of grain upon quite an extensive scale and for forty years devoted considerable attention to that line of work, operating at times as many as nine machines, which did a very large and successful business, although there were always more demands for his services each year than he could possibly meet. He earned a wide repu-
1055
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
tation as a thresher in northeastern Iowa and other parts of the state, his machinery being of the latest and most approved kinds and his services were always eminently satisfactory. In 1894 he was elected marshal of Hawkeye, which office he held two years and filled the office again at different times until 1910, when he was succeeded by another. He also discharged the duties of street commissioner, filling both positions with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people of the town. His long service as marshal speaks well for his high standing with the public and it is worthy of note that while he looked after the peace of the town the laws were more strictly enforced than ever before, offenders and criminals giving the place a wide berth. Mr. Burkhart made his name a terror to evil-doers and under his careful sur- veillance Hawkeye became one of the most quiet and law respecting cities of its size in the state. He discharged his duties fearlessly and impartially, not only as a peace officer but also in the matter of the streets, which have been greatly improved since he became street commissioner. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow, holding membership with Relief Lodge No. 138, at Hawkeye, of which he is secretary, and is otherwise interested in social and benevolent affairs, being ever ready to help a fellow man in need and never turning a deaf ear to the cry of suffering or distress.
Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart have four sons and one daughter, viz: Ed G., a farmer of Banks township; Arthur C., a graduate of the School of Phar- macy at Des Moines and for some time past engaged in the drug business in Hawkeye; Roy, an expert electrician, graduating from the State Agricultural College in 1909 and now holding the position of electrical engineer at Waukon, this state; Elmer Henry, who was graduated from the Hawkeye high school in 1909, is still with his parents; the daughter, Nora E., who is also a high school graduate, is the wife of Ralph Hecht, D. D. S., of Hawk- eye. Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart are surrounded by their children and live a happy and contented life. He lives retired and enjoys life, being a very pleas- ant gentleman to meet. He has a beautiful home, over which his wife, one of Fayette county's best ladies, presides and make all welcome who call.
EPHRAIM B. SHAW.
Prominent in banking circles and, in fact, all relations of life in Fayette county for many years, Ephraim B. Shaw, now gone to his reward, is deserv- ing of specific mention in this connection, for he was formerly the popular
1056
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
cashier of the Fayette County National Bank, and treasurer of the Fayette County Savings Bank, of West Union, and was a leader in financial affairs in this community. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, November 24, 1842, and was the son of Nathan and Eleanor ( Bell) Shaw, the father a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, his birth occurring on September 13, 1820; he was of German descent by several generations remote. The mother was born in Hartford county, Maryland, February 14, 1820.
Ephraim B. Shaw was educated in the high school of Hanover, Ohio, and when twenty years of age he proved his patriotism by enlisting in the Union army, October 2, 1862, becoming a member of Company G, Twenty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until September 1, 1863. He took part in the great battle of Stone River and other minor engage- ments. Upon returning from the army, he attended school awhile, then began teaching, which he followed two terms. Later he was employed as clerk in a dry goods store in Hanover. Following the tide of emigration westward in 1867, he located in West Union, Iowa, where he secured a posi- tion as salesman with Thomas & McMaster, general merchants, and in Janu- ary, 1871, was employed by S. B. Zeigler as cashier of the Fayette County Bank, which position he filled until that institution was merged into the Fayette County National Bank, in August, 1872, when he became teller of the new bank. In 1878 he was promoted to be assistant cashier, and on April 15. 1886, succeeded to the position of cashier, which he continued to fill until chosen to the position of United States bank examiner in 1906, which im- portant post he filled with credit to himself and with satisfaction to all con- cerned.
On October 14, 1872, Mr. Shaw was united in marriage with Sarah E. Dickey, in West Union. She was born in Venango, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1854, and is a daughter of the Rev. J. W. Dickey. of Minneapolis. Two children were born to this union: Claude H., born February 5, 1874, died September 2, 1881; E. Blanche was born February 15. 1876, and is now the wife of Carl Evans, a merchant in West Union.
Religiously, Mr. Shaw was a member of the Presbyterian church, and politically he was a Republican, though he was not an office-seeker and took little interest in politics. He was prominent in Masonic circles, with the rank of Knight Templar, belonging to West Union Lodge No. 69, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Ansel Humphreys Chapter No. 62, Royal Arch Masons, and Langridge Commandery No. 47. Knights Templar. He was a member of Abernathy Post No. 48, Grand Army of the Republic, and in addi- tion to these he was a member of all the mutual insurance companies repre- sented in West Union.
1057
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Mr. Shaw was known as an active, enterprising business man, competent and faithful in the responsible positions which he filled, and as a neighbor and friend, genial, kind, reliable and trustworthy. He was summoned to his reward when away from home on business in connection with his duties as bank examiner, at Carrollton, Iowa, November 12, 1908. His widow and a daughter, Mrs. Evans, reside at the old home in West Union, where they enjoy the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances.
LEANDER L. ADAMS.
Among the highly honored and well remembered citizens of Fayette county of a past generation who are now sleeping the sleep of the just, hav- ing left behind them an inheritance of which their descendants and friends might well be proud, was Leander L. Adams, a man whose reputation was above reproach and who always did what he could in furthering the interests of others. He was born in Mansfield, Cattaraugus county, New York, Janu- ary 18, 1834, and he was the son of Albygence and Diana (Latin) Adams, the father born in Otsego county, New York, in 1801, of English parentage ; the mother was born in 1799, in New Haven, Connecticut, of Scotch parent- age. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter, Leander L. being the fourth child in order of birth. When a young man he left his na- tive state and went to Wisconsin, and from there to California in 1856, re- turning to Iowa in 1858, and the following year took up his residence in Illinois. On August 15, 1862, he proved his loyalty to his country by enlist- ing in Company B, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was as- signed to duty in the Army of Tennessee, participating in the battle of Perry- ville, Kentucky, and then went with the regiment to Nashville, Tennessee. He then enlisted under the provisions of general orders from the war depart- ment which authorized recruiting for the marine service for volunteers, and he became a member of the First Mississippi Marine Brigade. He was as- signed to duty on the United States steamer "Baldic," on which he served with much credit from March 11, 1863, to January 24, 1865. under command of Commodore Porter, with the squadrons above Vicksburg doing patrol duty. The first engagement in which he participated as a marine was at Duck creek, on the Tennessee river, then at Goodrich Landing, Greensville, Mississippi ; Richmond, Arkansas; the siege of Vicksburg and Fort De Russa on the Red River expedition under General Banks. Returning to the Mississippi river,
(67)
1058
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
they went down to New Orleans and had a fight at Bayou Sara, followed by a full day's engagement at Old River Lake, in Arkansas, and the battles of Grand Gulf and Haines' Bluff. Upon receiving his discharge from the service. Mr. Adams returned to Illinois, and for two seasons following he was employed on the Mississippi river from Stillwater, Minnesota, to St. Louis.
On January 1, 1867, Mr. Adams came to Maynard, Fayette county, Iowa, and here made his home until his death. In June, 1855, he had entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land, and after 1867 devoted his time to its cultivation, becoming well established as a general farmer.
On February 7, 1869, Mr. Adams was married to Rebecca Cline, who was born in Washington county, Ohio. February 22, 1848, and was the daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Gray) Cline, the former born at Bank's Station, Virginia, April 1, 1815, and the latter in Washington county, Ohio, November 11, 1822. They were married on December 5, 1839, and in 1850 moved to Delaware county, Iowa, and to Fayette county in 1856. They be- came the parents of twelve children, Mrs. Rebecca Adams being the third child in order of birth. Her mother died April 11, 1888, and the father joined her in the silent land four days later. April 15th.
The mother of Leander L. Adams died in Wisconsin in 1845 and about 1859 the father, Albygence Adams, returned to his old home in Otsego county, New York, where he died in 1867 and was buried in the family bury- ing-ground at Hartwick, New York, where several generations of the Adams family are buried.
Mr. Adams traveled a great deal, seeing much of the world, both as a soldier and as a civilian, and he was a keen observer. He was a well in- formed man and a good conversationalist. At the presidential election of 1860 Mr. Adams voted the Republican ticket, and then supported the Demo- cratic party until 1872 when he again became a Republican and remained one of the party's stanchest advocates. In religion he and Mrs. Adams were both liberal in their views; they always lived honest, honorable, upright lives, believed that religion consisted chiefly in one's everyday acts of kindness, etc., to their neighbors. Mr. Adams was a man who, by his genial disposition and gentlemanly deportment through life, won the confidence and good will of all with whom he came into contact. He was an influential member of Rey- nolds Post No. 47, Grand Army of the Republic. He, like his forefathers. was a very patriotic man. His grandfather was a captain in the patriot army in the Revolutionary war. The death of Leander L. Adams occurred July 22, 1905, honored and respected by all. Mrs. Adams, who enjoys the esteem of a host of friends, is living at the old home in Maynard.
1059
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Mr. and Mrs. Adams became the parents of four children, namely : Ida A., widow of Irving Miner, of Harlan township, was born January 13, 1870, and now lives in Fayette; she has two children living, Paul and Ruth Miner, aged eleven and eight, respectively. Nettie L. Adams married F. Kiel, of Smithfield township, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. Estella C. is the wife of Louis Talcott, and lives at Marcus, Cherokee county, Iowa, where Mr. Talcott has held a position of bookkeeper in a bank for the past six years. Mrs. Talcott was born July 15, 1872. Henry L. Adams, well known as state senator, was born November 28, 1875.
REV. FRANK BOEDING.
The story of the work of Catholic priests in the opening settlement and upbuilding of the west has often been told. In fact, it is a main feature of the history of the period. To tell of "The Winning of the West," with the priests left out, would be like omitting the most vital chapters. They were especially conspicuous in missionary work, for which they have a natural aptitude and training. Give a priest a little shanty somewhere, with two or three members to listen to him, and in a few years that neighborhood re- ports a flourishing church, with a live membership, good school, necessary buildings to accommodate the workers and all the other adjuncts of a pros- perous religious community. There will be Sunday school classes of course, and most likely a flourishing parochial school. In addition to all this, the priest, who is always a busy man, will find time to establish missions in other localities and do much mission work. This story, in brief, has been repeated in thousands of communities throughout the Northwest, where the priests and their congregations are always regarded as valuable additions to the life of the place. With this brief preface we will now proceed to give a few notes of the life and work of Rev. Frank Boeding, the popular priest of St. Lucas in Fayette county. He was born in Neuenkirchen, province of West- phalia, Germany, September 4, 1853. His parents were Conrad and Mary (Freise) Boeding, also natives of Westphalia, and people of humble circum- stances so far as this world's goods are concerned. In early childhood Frank attended school near his home, but in 1865 entered a classical school in Rit- berg, where he spent six years. The two years, 1871-3, he spent at Paderborn, followed by a course of two years at the University of Muenster. In 1875 Mr. Boeding left his native land for the United States, where he completed his
1060
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
studies at various institutions in Milwaukee, Dubuque and Montreal. At the latter he was ordained a priest, December 22, 1877, and his first appoint- ment was to the Catholic church in Guttenberg, Clayton county, Iowa. This charge he left on the 22nd of September, 1882, for St. Lucas, with which place he has since been identified. His duties required him to attend the Catholic mission at Fort Atkinson and for fifteen years in similar work at Ciesco. There are now resident priests at both of these places. Following is a summary of Father Boeding's work during his pastorate: In 1883 an addition was built to the church; in 1891 a new residence was erected; in 1894 two school rooms were added; in 1905 an addition of a chapel and of two school rooms and an addition to the boarding house were the much needed improvements. Over one hundred families left the parish for the west, but one hundred and thirty-four families still remain despite the heavy drain. The members consist of eight hundred and fifty-six souls, one hun- dred and thirty-three men, one hundred and forty-three women, three hun- dred and three boys and two hundred and seventy-seven girls. It will be seen that Father Boeding's life has been a busy one and that he has done much for the uplifting of the community, morally, socially and in every way that leads to good citizenship.
CHARLES W. GOSSE.
Prominent among the enterprising farmers and public spirited citizens of Fayette county is Charles W. Gosse, a native of Wisconsin, but since the year 1889 a worthy resident of Jefferson township and a man whom to know is to esteem and honor. His father, who also bore the name of Charles Gosse, was born in Germany, but came to the United States when a young man and settled in Wisconsin, where he subsequently married Miss Luloff, who bore him seven children, namely: Bertha, wife of William Metzmeier, of Inde- pendence, Iowa ; Fred, for twenty-eight years a trusted employe of the Chicago Street Railroad Company; Anna, now Mrs. Moses Reynolds, also a resident of that city ; Louise, wife of Charles Krapa, of Nora Springs, Iowa; Charles WV., whose name introduces this sketch, and Frank, a teacher in the public schools of Toledo, Ohio. The mother of these children dying in 1873, Mr. Gosse afterwards married Augusta Draeger, by whom he had the following children : August, a farmer of Harlan township, Fayette county; Martha, who lives in Michigan; William, a resident of Buchanan county, a farmer by
CHARLES W. GOSSE.
106I
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
occupation ; Henry, who is engaged in the livery business at Oelwein ; Emiel, of Buchanan county, and Minnie, wife of Philo Rogers, of St. Joseph, Mis- souri.
In 1868 Mr. Gosse, senior, moved his family to Iowa and, settling ten miles southwest of Independence, purchased land and engaged in farming and stock raising. He was a reputable citizen, a worthy member of the Lutheran church and departed this life in 1879; his widow, who survived him, is still living near Independence on the place which he originally purchased and im- proved.
Charles W. Gosse, the subject of this review, was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, April II, 1868, and when quite young was brought to Iowa by his parents. He spent his early life in Black Hawk county and at the age of eleven years was practically left an orphan, from which time on he was obliged to rely upon his own resources for a livelihood. He first found employment as a farm laborer in the above county and continued in that capac- ity until 1889, when he came to Fayette county, where he was similarly en- gaged during the two and a half years ensuing. On November 1, 1891, he was united in the bonds of wedlock with Minnie Schwartz, daughter of Frederick Schwartz, a pioneer settler of this county, and immediately there- after set up his domestic establishment on a farm, which for a period of four years he cultivated as a renter. In the meantime, by industry and excellent management, he succeeded in saving sufficient means to purchase land of his own, which he did in 1905, investing in an eighty-acre tract in section 12, Jefferson township, which he at once began to improve and to which he sub- sequently added sixty-four acres in section 3, the two tracts making a farm which in point of fertility and productiveness is unsurpassed by any like area in the township.
Mr. Gosse has made many valuable improvements on his place and as a tiller of the soil is progressive and enterprising, being up to date in all mat- ters relating to agriculture and as a stock-raiser he keeps abreast of the time, devoting considerable attention to cattle, hogs and horses, besides adding very materially to his income by conducting a first-class dairy business. In all of his undertakings his success has been most gratifying and he occupies today a prominent place among the enterprising citizens and agriculturists of the community, wielding a strong influence on the right side of every moral issue and giving his support and encouragement to all measures having for their object the advancement of the community and the benefit of his fellow men. Mr. Gosse votes with the Democratic party and in religion belongs with his family to the Lutheran church. His home is in many respects a model
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.