USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 37
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JOSEPH BLONG.
One of the best known men of Auburn township, Fayette county, is Joseph Blong, who was for some time engaged in farming in Winneshiek county, but is now a merchant and hotel-keeper at St. Lucas, in the interest of which place he has exerted a potent influence for years and is one of the leading citizens of this part of the county. He was born in Belgium, March 17, 1841, and his parents, John and Jennie (Lochrohr) Blong, were natives of the same place, the father born in 1805 and the mother in 1808. They grew to maturity, were educated and married in that country, and in 1855 the family came to the United States, when Joseph, the subject, was fourteen years old. They located at Fort Washington, Wisconsin, where the father spent the rest of his life, dying in 1865, having been survived by his good wife many years, she dying at the same place in 1886. They were the par- ents of four sons and two daughters, of whom, John, the eldest, is married and living in Winneshiek county, Iowa, with his family of seven children and devotes his attention to farming ; Katie is the widow of Theodore Ellenbecker,
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of Milwaukee county, Wisconsin; Joseph, of this review; Ambrose is now living in the Black Hills; John B., whose wife is deceased, lives in Charles City, Iowa; Margaret, who is the widow of Nicholas Ellenbecker, is the youngest of the family and resides in Port Washington, Wisconsin.
Joseph Blong began life by working in the copper mines of Michigan when only a lad. Remaining there for a time, he then worked out as a farm laborer until about 1888, when, with the capital he had saved through those long years of hard work, he came to St. Lucas, Fayette county, and opened a general store, which he has continued to operate in a very successful manner, having enjoyed from the first a very liberal patronage with the surrounding country, for at all seasons he has kept a very carefully selected stock of dry- goods, groceries, provisions, crockery, notions, boots and shoes, etc. He was fortunate in securing a good location and is always busy. In connection with his store he maintains a hotel, which is well patronized by the traveling public and has a reputation for general convenience and where all guests re- ceive the best consideration and courteous treatment.
Mr. Blong was married, in 1867, to Christiana Hovertha, at Belgium, Wisconsin. She was born in France, in 1842, in which country she grew to maturity and was educated, coming to America with her parents, in 1865, locating in Wisconsin, where she lived until her marriage. This union has resulted in the birth of ten children, seven of whom are yet living : Nicholas, the eldest, died in infancy; Mathias, who was born in Wisconsin in 1870, is now in Waucoma, Iowa; Katie, born in 1872, died when fourteen years old ; Margaret, Lizzie, Burdice (died February 22, 1908), Theodore, Barbara and Gertrude (who died in May, 1907.) These children have been carefully edu- cated in the local schools, and have also been taught German at their church. The many friends of this honored family attest to their industry and integrity, and Mr. Blong is recognized as one of the county's substantial and influential citizens.
ERNEST MORTIMER HENDERSON.
Clermont township, Fayette county, Iowa, is characterized by her full share of successful and enterprising farmers, and in this class must be in- cluded the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. Mr. Henderson was born in the township in which he now lives on August 12, 1867, and is a son of Alexander C. and Minervia C. (Teeter) Henderson, the father born in Old Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on November 15, 1835.
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and the mother born in Canada in 1842. The subject's paternal grand- parents were Thomas and Barbara Legg Henderson, both of whom were born in Old Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the former born March 14, 1790, and the latter on April 24, 1793. They emigrated to the United States in . about 1848, making their home at first in the state of Illinois, where they resided until 1852, when they came to Clermont township, Fayette county, Iowa, making their home on what is known as Henderson Prairie, and there they made their future home, the husband dying there on June 16, 1872, and the mother on April 17, 1883. Their son, Alexander C. Henderson, father of the subject of this sketch, was reared as a farmer and followed that occupa- tion after reaching mature years. In 1889 he sold his Fayette county farm and went to Sundance, Wyoming, where he settled on a ranch of four hun- dred and eighty acres, which he devoted to the raising of cattle and horses with considerable success. In politics he has always affiliated with the Re- publican party, but he has never aspired to public office. While living in Fayette county he engaged in threshing with splendid success, being a pioneer in that line in this county. In religion he and his wife are liberal in their views, though in their relations with their fellows they have ever borne high and blameless reputations. They became the parents of seven children, namely: Winifred C., Ernest Mortimer, Carrie A. (deceased), David B ... Annie Lucretia, Barbara Minervia and Alice Gertrude.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm and received his education in the common schools of Clermont township. His first paid em- ployment was as a farm hand for his uncle, George Kerr, after which for several years he was engaged in hauling cream. Subsequently he engaged in the piano business, in which he met with such success that he remained so occupied for twenty-three years, being connected with the W. W. Kimball Company, for whom he established many agencies. In 1907 he engaged in the real estate business, giving his attention mainly to Texas. Mexico and Dakota land, in which he has met with good success. During the past nine years Mr. Henderson has maintained his residence at Oelwein, among the citizens of which thriving town he stands deservedly high in general esteem.
Politically, Mr. Henderson is a stanch Republican and takes an active and commendable interest in the success of his party. Fraternally. he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Oelwein.
On June 26, 1890, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage with Anna Cevilla Brown, a native of Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa, of which locality the parents were early and well known settlers. To Mr. and Mrs.
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Henderson have been born three children, Horace Brown, Helen Minervia and Ernest Mortimer, Jr. In all of life's relations Mr. Henderson has exhibited those qualities which have commended him to the regard and admiration of the community. He has at all times given his support to those measures which have promised to be of the greatest benefit to the community and he is numbered among the stalwart and influential men of the township in which he lives.
ALVIN DELOSS PITTS.
The family of this name in Fayette county came originally from New York, but have been identified with the West for seventy-five years. Benja- min Pitts left New York with the Mormon exodus, though he was not a Mormon or connected with that organization in any way. He accompanied them as far as Illinois, but settled away from them in another part of the state. In 1856 he migrated to Iowa and found a location in Fayette county, being one of the early settlers of Bethel township. He took up government land in the southeast part of section I and lived there until ad- vancing years prevented him from doing hard work. He gave up farming and started to Kansas, accompanied by his son James, but died on the way. His wife had died previous to his departure. Benjamin Franklin Pitts, the son above alluded to, married Sarah Louise, daughter of Reuben Henry and Elvira Richmond. After this he lived about a year in Wisconsin, but in 1856 removed to Iowa, located in Fayette county and found a home in Bethel town- ship. This location was in the northeast quarter of section 12, where he resided for some twenty years and then moved to the west side of section 1. which was his home for five years. He then lived on a farm at Alpha for two years, from which place he went to Sanborn, Iowa, where he has charge of a store. He had two children, Alvin D. and Clarence, the latter of whom is a resident of Sanborn.
Alvin Deloss Pitts was born in Bethel township, Fayette county, Iowa, in 1869. He grew up on the farm in section 12, meantime attending the Pitt school, which was the district school of his neighborhood. After reach- ing young manhood he worked out four years for John T. Gager. In 1895 he married Millie, daughter of Rudolph and Emiline (Moon) Foreman. Her parents were both of German descent and came from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Pitts was born in Richland county, Wisconsin, and came with her parents to Auburn township when a child. Both of her parents have been dead for
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some years. They were highly esteemed people, true to their duties in life and made good citizens, good neighbors and good friends. Mr. and Mrs. Alvin D. Pitts have five children, Harold, Grace, Vern, Lois and Ralph.
Before his marriage Mr. Pitts had bought a farm in the northeast quarter of section I and to this he removed and there he has ever since made his home. As a man, Mr. Pitts ranks high among his fellows, because of his integrity of character, his scrupulous regard of all his obligations and his general ful- fillment of all the duties of citizenship. As a farmer he has made good in his methods of carrying on business. He attempts no fancy farming, pre- ferring to follow the well settled paths and to pursue the courses which thou- sands of predecessors have shown to be the best. He raises the cereal crops adapted to Fayette county, besides a little livestock, keeps his farm in good condition, looks after the improvements and in every way seeks to be a model farmer. He has been successful in a moderate way and has nothing to be ashamed of in his years of operations as a practical agriculturist. He takes the interest of a good citizen in clean politics and may always be found on the side that gives the best promise of good government. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and pays proper attention to his duties in connection with the lodge.
T. N. CARNALL.
No occupation at the present day furnishes more examples of successful men than that of railroading, and perhaps none have risen more noticeably than those who began at the operator's desk. For there are developed qual- ities which are of highest importance. No man who is not alert and attentive can ever make a trustworthy operator, nor can any man be an operator with- out learning to bear responsibility. His position often seems minor in im- portance, but if he blunders only once, the consequences may be appalling. So it is that we find that many of the men occupying important places in railroad activities have risen from the operator's chair.
Thomas Nicholson Carnall was born two miles west of Arlington Janu- ary 23, 1864, the son of James and Caroline (Nicholson) Carnall, both born in England, the mother being a native of London. They came to Canada in 1851, and located two miles from St. Thomas, buying two hundred acres of land and farming there until 1861, when they came to Fayette county, Iowa, and bought two hundred acres in Fairfield township, where they have since
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lived excepting for one year at Harper, Kansas, and twenty years at Arling- ton. Mr. Carnall retired from farming for twenty years, but is now living on the farm again. He has carried on general farming, however, making a specialty of hogs, for he believes that the best market for the farmer's grain is in the living form and that such a practice will not only put more money in his pocket, but also will constantly improve his land. He has been a Repub- lican except during the existence of the Greenback party ; he has never cared to seek office, but has always been quite active in politics. He is liberal in his religious views and was baptized in the Church of England. He has reared a family of eight children.
T. N. Carnall was educated at the country schools of the county and at the Arlington high school, then took a commercial course at Upper Iowa University. He then entered the depot at Arlington as a student, in which capacity he remained one year, served as operator one year, and then went to Waucoma as operator one year. There he met Alice Duffy, and was married to her on June 25, 1889. He next went to New Hall, Iowa, remaining there as agent of the Milwaukee road for three years, then came to Hawkeye in 1892, and has since been agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul here. He has one interesting daughter, Mildred. Mrs. Carnall is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Carnall is a Republican and was formerly a Knight of Pythias. He is the vice-president of the Hawkeye State Bank. He is known as a man of good business abilities and a good companion. He is in every way a leading citizen of his town, and one of whom she is justly proud, as any town would be.
CARL MEISGEIER.
The agricultural interests of Fayette county are well represented by Carl Meisgeier, who is one of the most practical and enterprising farmers of Fairfield township. Like many other successful self-made men in this county. he is an American by adoption only, being a native of Germany, whence come so many who form the bone and sinew of this great western republic. Wherever known, the German type is noted for its thrift and enterprise, and the gentleman whose life record is briefly reviewed here is no exception to this rule.
Carl Meisgeier was born in Germany on November 7. 1841. His parents. Andrew and Johanna Meisgeier, emigrated from Germany in 1852. A great calamity overtook the family almost immediately, for the father died
Eng by E. G. Williams & Bro NY
Carl Meisquier
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shortly after their arrival in this country, at the age of fifty-two years. The mother survived her husband, however, and lived to be eighty years of age before she passed away. Mrs. Meisgeier took her three children to the home of her sister, who lived at Cleveland, Ohio, and remained there for two years. Her indomitable courage led her, however, at the expira- tion of that period, in the year 1855, to make a home for herself and her family, and she took her children to Iowa, purchasing eighty acres of land in Fayette county, and on this farm she passed the remainder of her life. Her children were Herman, Mrs. Hugo Nus, and the subject of this sketch.
Carl Meisgeier was reared to days of industry on the farm where he lived with his mother, and alternated work on the farm with schooling in the common school. On November 10, 1864, he was united in marriage with Catherine Huepsch, of Clayton county, Iowa, who was also German born, having come to America in 1854, her parents coming to America from Germany and locating in Clayton county in that year. Mr. and Mrs. Meis- geier began their married life on the farm on which Mr. Meisgeier lived continuously for fifty-four years. On December 19, 1908, Mrs. Meisgeier departed this life, and was buried in the cemetery at Taylorsville. On April 23, 1910, Mr. Meisgeier married Mrs. Louise Hetzel.
When Mr. Meisgeier began farming he had twenty acres of land to cultivate. He added to this, however, with astonishing ability and thrift until he possessed five hundred acres of land, with excellent improvements, the entire acreage being in fine condition and highly cultivated and with every modern equipment. This valuable farm he recently sold to his youngest daughter, Mrs. Krumpel, who now occupies the homestead. Mr. Meisgeier has built a tasteful and substantial residence, with a splendid barn adjacent, on an eighty-acre farm in section 15, near his farm home, and on this new place he expectes to live for the remainder of his days. He handles quite a great deal of stock of various kinds and no small amount of his income is derived from this source. He has been especially successful in breeding Hereford cattle, and has kept the best of stock.
The following children were born to Mr. Meisgeier: John H., born December 22, 1865; Mary C., now Mrs. G. Martin, born October 13, 1867; Fred L., born December 5, 1869 ; Emma M., now Mrs. George Eckhart, born October 15, 1871; Caroline M., now Mrs. C. Andrea, born July 25, 1873 ; Alma M., now Mrs. Fred Robbins, born April 17, 1877; Johanna G., now Mrs. H. Kreumpel, born in 1886. His grandchildren are: Dora, Paul, Her- bert, Freda, Carl, Rupert. Donald and Ameldo Meisgeier; Laura, Elnove, Florentine and Emma Martin; Carol, Gertrude and Harvy Eckhart; Oscar, Walter and Emma Andrea; Roland, Beatrice, Johanna and Morris Robbins.
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In spite of the energy and time that has been necessary to make a suc- cess such as Mr. Meisgeier's, he has found opportunity to look to public duties and has served as school trustee for his township for several years. He is also interested in commercial life, and is a director and stockholder in the German-American Bank, recently organized in Arlington, Iowa. He is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican, although he has never desired any political offices or honors.
CHARLES F. AUER.
While yet a young man, Charles F. Auer has succeeded in gaining a good foothold in the business world of his own community, being a native of Jefferson township, Fayette county, where he was born May 15, 1881, the son of Frederick and A- --- (Oelwein) Auer, the father a native of Hessen- Darmstadt and the mother of Saxony, Weimer, Germany. They came to America in their youth, he with his father, Carl Auer, who settled in Carroll county. Iowa, where he purchased eighty acres of land, where the senior Auer lived until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Auer met in this country and were married here. He finally went to Independence, Iowa, where he followed his trade of mason and contractor. He was one of the first settlers in Oelwein, Iowa, in which city he was married .. His wife first married August Schmidt, a native of Saxony, Germany, who came to America and lived on a farm in Jefferson township, Fayette county, until his death. The following children were born to August Schmidt and wife: Otto, a farmer on the old home place in Jefferson township, this county; Oscar and Lena, twins, the former now deceased; Lena married Albert Sherman, who is liv- ing in Los Angeles, California, his wife being deceased.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Auer, named as follows: Anna, wife of Fred Sachtleven, of Oelwein, Iowa; Charles F., of this review: Emma, the wife of Warren Gremmels, of Oelwein, Iowa. The father of these children lived in Jefferson township until 1894, when he moved to Oran township, Fayette county, and bought one hundred and forty acres of land in section 2. It was all wild, but he made extensive improvements on the same, placing it under a high state of cultivation and erecting a good dwell- ing and other buildings. His death occurred December 26, 1906, having been preceded to the grave by his wife on March 15, 1902. They were members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Auer was a Democrat but never an office seeker, preferring to lead a quiet, honorable life.
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Charles F. Auer attended the home schools and the school at Westgate, Iowa, and he remained under his parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age. He had his youthful imagination fired by tales of the far west and he took a trip to California, traveling throughout the state and remaining there one year, spending considerable time at Los Angeles. He also remained for some time in Colorado in the fruit belt.
On January 14, 1906, Mr. Auer married Malinda Crandall, of Volga, Clayton county, Iowa. She is the daughter of Wallace and Mary (Jennings) Crandall, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Clayton county, Iowa. Mr. Crandall is a successful farmer and stock man.
One son, Cyril Warren, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Auer. Ever since his marriage Mr. Auer has lived in Oran township, Fayette county, on a valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and eighty-three acres in sections I and 2. He carries on general farming and stock raising in a very satisfactory manner, and in connection with his other work he maintains a dairy of twenty milch cows. He handles a good grade of shorthorn cattle, draft and driving horses, Chester White hogs, Rhode Island Red and Ply- mouth Rock chickens. He is a fine judge of all kinds of livestock and poultry, and he is regarded as one of the leading young farmers of Oran town- ship, keeping well advised not only regarding agricultural and livestock sub- jects, but also on general topics of the day. He takes much interest in the general progress of his community and he has served as school director. He is a Republican and a member of the Lutheran church, and bears an unblem- ished reputation throughout the county or wherever he is known.
G. B. DARNELL.
This young man is a representative of the younger generation of farmers who are doing so much to give Fayette county high standing in the agricul- tural world. Few men of his years have led a more industrious life as a soil tiller, stock raiser and dairyman. He has "made good" in all depart- ments of his work and has something to show for his years of labor. Still in the prime of life, there are many more years of usefulness before Mr. Darnell. He is enterprising, industrious, full of ambition and it would be strange if such a man did not succeed. The family is of Illinois origin and was long identified with the agricultural interests of that state. G. B. Dar- nell was born in Illinois March 2, 1877, and came with his parents the same
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year to the old farm, his parents being J. C. and Mary M. (Rogers) Darnell, both natives of DeKalb county, Illinois. The son received a good education, having the benefit of both the common schools and a university training. When he entered the Upper Iowa University, he decided that as his life was to be that of a farmer he needed a more practical education than is usually obtained at the college. There was an excellent commercial department at- tached to the university and this he entered with a determination to get its full benefits. He studied book-keeping and other branches of the knowledge that is needed on the farm every day, and when he was graduated, June 1, 1896, he felt that he was much better equipped for the work to which he intended to devote his life. Immediately after leaving college he took up farming on the home place near Randalia. The farm consisted of three hundred and twenty acres and for five years he conducted it on the shares with his parents and did well with the business. His mother died March 28, 1902, and this untoward event caused a complete alteration in his plans. Soon after he bought the farm and engaged in the dairy business, and kept this up until August 31, 1910, when he disposed of his interests by sale.
On January 19, 1898, Mr. Darnell married Carrie M., daughter of George and Lucy Whiteley, residents of Fayette county for many years. The Whiteleys were early settlers of the county and always regarded as among the most substantial residents. Mr. and Mrs. Darnell have two children : Zella, born November 14, 1898, and Donald, born August 23, 1900.
CHARLES H. ROBERTS.
In the course of an honorable career Charles H. Roberts, of Windsor township, Fayette county, has been successful in the manifold lines to which his efforts have been directed and he is enjoying distinctive prestige among the representative men of the county of which he is a native. He was born in the extreme southwest corner of Bethel township, October 2, 1860, the son of E. M. and Polly (Tambling) Roberts, both natives of the state of New York, having spent their youth in their home community. in St. Law- rence county, Polly Tambling having been the second wife of E. M. Roberts. (See sketch of Lucian O. Roberts, elsewhere in this work, he being an elder half brother of Charles H. Roberts.) Polly Roberts was born on June I. 1829, and her death occurred February 8, 1882, on the old home place, at the age of fifty-three years.
MRS. ROSE ROBERTS.
CHARLES H. ROBERTS.
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Charles H. Roberts, the eldest son of the family, was reared by his uncle, Charles H. Roberts, in whose house he was born. He was inured to much hardship in early life, during the hardest years known to pioneers. He roughed it during the hard times resulting from the failure of the main crop, that of wheat, which for several years failed to mature, the prices re- maining about the same for a long time. He was in this part of Fayette county when it was wild and undeveloped, and he recalls seeing the first train come into West Union. When a lad he herded cattle and horses, many hundreds of the former at a time. He himself broke the first eighty-acre tract of wild prairie land here, outside of the old Roberts homestead, his uncle having given him the place because he was named for him. After breaking it, however, it was sold to other parties and he never tilled it. He remained at the home of his uncle until he was more than of legal age. Later he bought the old farm known as the "Evergreen Farm," of his father, who had started a nursery. The pines on the place grew to be huge trees and since that time fifteen thousand feet of pine lumber has been cut from it and there is still a fine grove of pine on the place. Mr. Roberts purchased this place in 1886 and in March, 1899, he sold it and purchased his present farm, two and one-half miles east of Hawkeye, known as the George W. Schrock farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres, for which he paid upwards of thirty-five dollars per acre. A large barn built of huge hewn timbers is to be found on the place. It is forty-four by sixty-six feet and was built by Mr. Schrock. A large and well equipped dairy is also on this farm, Mr. Roberts keeping from sixteen to twenty milk cows all the time, his cattle be- ing thoroughbred. £ Although his stock business takes considerable time, he devotes his attention principally to his general farming pursuits and in both lines he is one of the most successful of the enterprising men of this favored section of the Hawkeye state. He had been in the creamery busi- ness before coming here and he assisted in establishing the present flourishing creamery at Hawkeye, of which he became one of the first directors, having served in that capacity for several years, assisting to make it the best creamery in Fayette county. He has been very successful in all his business dealings and is now quite well established.
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