USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 46
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For about eighteen years, Frank Talcott was with F. B. Fargo & Com- pany, of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, and other firms handling creamery supplies He has installed more creameries than any other man in the state. In 1903 he built the present Farmers' Co-operative Creamery at Maynard, Iowa, and he is at present one of the stockholders and directors. He is also a stock- holder in the Maynard Savings Bank. He has been very successful in all his enterprises, being a man of keen discernment and cautious and honorable in his dealings with his fellow men.
Fraternally, Mr. Talcott is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Blue Lodge No. 510 of Maynard, and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star, of which Mrs. Talcott is worthy matron and a delegate to the meeting at Sioux City, Iowa, in 1909.
Mr. Talcott has long taken considerable interest in local politics and in 1905 he was mayor of Maynard and he has held other local offices, always with credit and satisfaction. He votes independently, always for the man whom he deems best qualified for the position sought. He has long been regarded as one of the leading citizens of Maynard and he has done a great deal for the town, being deeply interested in whatever tends to its development. He is very well known throughout the county and he has hosts of friends in all the communities where he has lived.
JOSEPH S. BISBING.
The family of this name were long settled in Pennsylvania and the earlier members were identified with the development of the Keystone state in the days when savage warfare was common on the border. They were laboring men or small farmers and tradesmen, but wherever found the Bisbings bore a good name and were regarded as good citizens. Jacob Bisbing, paternal grandfather of the subject of sketch, was an important man in his day, and during his residence of many years in Pennsylvania was regarded as a man of strong character. He left a son named Peter, who also was a man among men, who led an industrious, hardworking life, made many friends and always did his part when anything was to be done for the benefit of the community. The later generation of Bisbings could tell interesting stories descended from their ancestors of the settlement of eastern Pennsylvania and the stirring in-
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cidents which accompanied the movement. The older ancestors went as far back as "Braddock's Defeat" and could remember "Logan, the Mingo chief," whose pathetic speech to the white men has always been regarded as an un- equaled specimen of Indian oratory. Peter S. Bisbing married Mary Magda- line Barry, one of his Pennsylvania neighbors, and reared nine children, six sons and three daughters. One of his sons enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war and died of typhoid fever during his service. Peter was a farmer in a small way, but he always managed to make the ends meet and he trained his children to habits of industry. He passed away long ago, after a worthy and unobtrusive life, which left a good example to his children.
Joseph S. Bisbing, one of the nine children above mentioned, was born in northeastern Pennsylvania, January 5, 1856. Such education as he got was obtained in the neighborhood school in his native state, which he attended only for brief seasons in winter, as it was necessary for him to help with the farm work during the summers. He grew up a strong boy, well acquainted with work, and when the time came for him to branch out for himself he was equal to the emergency. As a young man, being without a trade, he turned his attention to various kinds of jobs, such as he could get to do in his neighborhood. He was active, industrious, a willing worker and found no difficulty in keeping employed. In March, 1879, he determined to seek better opportunities in the growing West and directed his route to the great state of Iowa, which offered special inducements to farmers. Going directly to Fayette county, he located in Dover township, where he remained two years. Hearing much of North Dakota, he determined to test that field, but after spending one summer there decided to return to Iowa, as a state bet- ter suited to his purposes. On January 1, 1883, he removed to Clermont township and has ever since been a resident of that community. He engaged in farming, met with success and at the present time owns two hundred and forty acres of productive land. He has greatly improved his place by the erection of suitable buildings and adding other features calculated to afford beauty and comfort. It is at present one of the model farms of Clermont township and managed in such a way as to bring the highest degree of profit. All his life Mr. Bisbing has been a lover of fine stock and it was his desire to possess some of the choice animals which he saw roaming over the fine farms of Iowa. It has been his good fortune to see this ambition realized and any one who visits his place will find a lot of thoroughbreds of the best quality. There are Shorthorn cattle of the choicest pedigreed stock, which are kept sleek and fat by Mr. Bisbing's skillful feeding. A fine herd of Poland-China hogs are also to be seen constantly in the meadow and pens and from this valu-
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able swine comes much of the farm revenue. In horses Mr. Bisbing rather leans to the Percherons and keeps a number of these on hand all the time.
In March, 1880, Mr. Bisbing married Ida A., daughter of P. L. Rowland, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, and who are members of one of the oldest and best known families in the county. They have three children, Jennie E., Ilarry L. and Victor H. Mr. Bisbing is a Republican, a member of the board of trustees and with his family is affiliated with the Evangelical church.
COL. GEORGE F. BROCKWAY.
The gentleman whose name appears above is too well known to the citizens of Fayette county to need a formal introduction, but this compendium of biography would be incomplete without a record of his career, a matter in which his neighbors and fellow citizens feel a deep interest. George F. Brockway inherits the sterling qualities of the Irish-Dutch ancestry on his father's side, and the no less sturdy French-Scotch blood of his mother's people, these different nationalities forming a combination which, center- ing in a single individual, accounts for intelligence and manly qualities and for a character which will ever stand for rectitude and a high sense of honor. Colonel Brockway was born near Quincy, Illinois, April 28, 1841. and is a son of Isaac and Susan (Bushaw) Brockway, the former of Irish lineage on the father's side and Dutch on the mother's side, the latter in the same manner of French and Scotch descent. Isaac Brockway was a native of New York, but when a young man went to Illinois to enter an institution near the city of Quincy with the object in view of fitting himself for mission work among the negroes in Canada, and spent ten years in this preparation, during which time hie acquired superior educational training. He was active in as- sisting runaway slaves on their way to Canada by means of the "Underground Railroad," in which, for several years, he took a zealous interest. In the meantime his father, Samuel Brockway, had moved to Kosciusko county, In- diana, and, being blind, called upon Isaac to come and care for him, this being about the year 1849. Prompted by filial duty, the latter obeyed and from that time until their respective deaths he remained with his parents and ministered to their necessities and comforts, and continued to live there until his wife's death. About 1860 or 1861 he exchanged land in Indiana for real estate in Fayette county, Iowa, the latter being on Crane creek, Bethel township, to which he removed the latter year, bringing with him a sorghum
george Fe Brockway
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mill which he set up and operated for some years thereafter. . In 1870 he disposed of his interests in the above named township and transferred his residence to Chickasaw county, where he lived during the four years ensuing, then moved to Illinois, where he spent two years, removing at the expiration of that time to Chanute, Kansas, where his death subsequently occurred at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. By his first marriage Isaac Brockway had six children, and his second marriage resulted in the birth of five chil- dren : Minnie, Isaac Brockway, Jr. (who now lives at West Union, this state), Milo, Luela and Orra.
George F. Brockway spent his early life at the parental home, and while a mere youth learned by practical experience the true meaning of honest toil. While in Indiana he decided to sever home ties and make his own way in the world, accordingly, in company with the hired hand, he stole quietly away without his father's knowledge and went to Michigan, being about sixteen years old at the time. After spending a few months in that state, he made his way to Walworth, Wayne county, New York, where his mother's sister was then living, and with his aunt. he made his home during the next few years. working for neighbors by the month. At the expiration of the period indi- cated he engaged with the Quakers at Farmington, Ontario county, for whom he started work at a monthly wage of six dollars, invariably receiving an increase in wages with each new contract, and remaining in that locality until the national sky became overcast with ominous clouds of civil war, when he severed his connection with his employers and tendered his services to the government, enlisting on October 15, 1861, in the First New York Battery, under Capt. T. J. Kennedy, with Auburn as headquarters. This was the "banner" company of the Empire state at that time and shortly after the or- ganization was completed it reported to Secretary Seward at Washington, D. C., and was given a very flattering reception at the White House by Presi- dent Lincoln, who, in a brief, but felicitous speech, congratulated the men as follows: "Soldiers, I am glad to see you, and presume that you are glad to see me. If you do your duty in accordance with your appearance we will have nothing to fear; God bless you."
After protesting at remaining longer at Washington, the battery was as- signed to the Army of the Potomac under General McClellan, from which time until the cessation of hostilities it took part in some of the most noted campaigns of the war, its record of thirty-two important battles, to say noth- ing of skirmishes and minor engagements, equaled by few such organizations and exceeded by none. Captain Kennedy resigning after the battle of
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Williamsburg, the command afterwards fell to Lieut. Andrew Cowan, who proved a brave and faithful officer until mustered out after Lee's surrender. A special bronze panel has been placed on their monument at Gettysburg, on which Mr. Brockway is shown as number six, in the act of fixing ammu- nition. He was the only available man on his gun when the battery was or- dered to change position. The First New York Battery consisted of six guns, with six horses, three drivers and six cannoneers to each, besides the officers, and regardless of loss this quota was maintained in full throughout the war. Possessing mechanical skill of a high order, Mr. Brockway was made artificer, and in this capacity, by untiring energy, methodical measures and courteous treatment, he was, by acclaim, given the title of "Colonel." The greatest loss sustained in any one engagement was at Cedar Creek, where. within a comparatively short time, twenty-one brave men gave up their lives for their country, besides the loss of one gun, but the latter was re-taken by a volunteer squad just previous to the capture of twelve thousand Confed- erates by the Union forces. Not infrequently were the men on duty the en- tire night. Although Mr. Brockway was not in the battle of Cedar Creek. being on detached duty, he worked all the following night remounting the gun that had been disabled during the day's fighting. He was the first one to re- enlist in the battery. The real service of this splendid battery will never be adequately known and only approximately estimated. At the expiration of the time for which it entered the service the entire command was kept intact until the close of the war, though few of the original members were with it when the Confederacy collapsed and the Grand Review at the national capi- tal took place. The battery was assigned an important place in that never-to- be-forgotten parade, and attracted the enthusiastic attention of the throngs which it passed, because of the splendid appearance of the officers, men and guns. Mr. Brockway was rendered totally deaf in the right ear during his service. Receiving his discharge shortly after the review, Mr. Brockway returned to New York, where he remained until 1866, in February of which year he came to Iowa, where his father was then living and whom he had not seen since leaving home when a youth of sixteen. By diligence and economy the meanwhile he had succeeded in accumulating eighteen hundred dollars. With this neat little sum he purchased a mill-site at a point of Crane creek known as Port Washington, investing the greater part of his means in the venture. In due time he began to develop the water power at the above place, but, losing his wife about that time and experiencing other reverses, he finally after considerable financial loss abandoned the enterprise and pur- chased seventy acres of land adjoining a part of his present farm, and began
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work of its improvement. The land was covered with scrub and small tim- ber and much labor was required to reduce it to cultivation, but in due time the owner's efforts resulted in the making of a comfortable home and the placing of himself in comparatively easy circumstances.
By judicious management Colonel Brockway has been enabled to add to his possessions from time to time until he owns a half section of as fine land as Eden township can boast, nearly all under cultivation and improved with good buildings, fences, etc, the farm being especially adapted to stock, in the breeding and rising of which he has been more than ordinarily suc- cessful. In connection with his agricultural and live stock interests he has a large plant for the manufacture of sorghum, and also operates a threshing machine during certain seasons, for which a gasoline engine furnished the mo- tive power.
As stated in a preceding paragraph, Colonel Brockway has a natural apti- tude for mechanical work and all kinds of machinery, and on his place are various contrivances and devices which during a year save him no little time and money. He has been successful in nearly all of his undertakings and is today not only among the leading farmers and stockmen of his part of the country, but also occupies a prominent place among the county's financially strong and public spirited citizens. Prior to and after the breaking out of the great Civil war he was an ardent admirer and stanch supporter of President Lincoln and he continued with the Republican party until 1896, when he cast his vote for William Jennings Bryan. Since then he has been practically in- dependent in politics, advocating principles and measures which he considers to be for the best interests of the people and voting for the best qualified candi- dates irrespective of party.
The domestic life of Colonel Brockway dates from May I, 1867, when he was united in marriage with Almira Rogers, daughter of James Rogers (see sketch), the ceremony taking place at West Union. Mrs. Brockway died in 1875, leaving no issue, and two years later the subject married Sarah Leese, of Bremer county, this state, the union being blessed with five children : Major A., who farms a part of the home place and whose wife was formerly Cora Young, of Fayette county; Mary, the second in order of birth, has been a teacher for a number of years in Michigan and now holds an important posi- tion in the high school of Hawkeye, this county; Barry, who is a farmer and stock raiser of Eden township, married Minnie Houser and lives on a part of the homestead; Myra is still with her parents and has the reputation of being an expert cook and housekeeper; Katie, the youngest of the family, died in infancy.
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EDWARD R. CLARK.
Among the strong and influential citizens of Fayette county, the record of whose lives have become an essential part of this section, the gentleman whose name appears above occupies a prominent place and for years he has exerted a beneficial influence in the community where he resides. His chief characteristics seem to be keenness of perception, a tireless energy, honesty of purpose and motive and every-day common sense, which have enabled him not only to advance his own interests, but also largely contributed to the moral and material advancement of the county.
Edward R. Clark, the popular and efficient sheriff of Fayette county. Iowa, was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, November 21, 1857, and is the son of Edward R. and Ellen E. (Sill) Clark. The father, Edward R. Clark, Sr .. was born in Christian county, Kentucky, coming in his early youth with his father's family and other friends from the same locality to McLean county, Illinois, where they settled in and around Bloomington, and became identified with the early history and interests of that city. Southern born and bred, his brothers and friends for the most part adhered to their early teachings. He, on the contrary, early imbibed the spirit and principles of his adopted state. He was a young man of high ideals of duty and honor and unblemished character. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he hastened to join the defenders of the Union, and enlisted in the Eighty-sixth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. He died in the first year of his term of service at Nashville, Tennessee, in the year 1863, leaving his wife to care for and train their two children, Helen M., who died in her young womanhood, and Edward R., the subject of this sketch, who at the time of his father's death was five years old. The mother still lives, a member of her son's household in West Union. Iowa.
Mr. Clark was educated in his native state. He came to Fayette county. Iowa, in 1887 and engaged in the stock business, continuing successfully in that line of endeavor until his election, in November, 1908, as sheriff of Fayette county. He was located at Hawkeye the greater portion of the time, although he was in Chicago ten years. He is regarded as one of the best judges of live stock in the county and he has a world of experience in buying, raising and shipping all varieties and qualities, his efforts having been crowned with abundant success.
Mr. Clark is a loyal Republican and was nominated and elected by this party, and so far he has discharged the duties of the important office to which he has been called with rare ability, foresight and discretion, to the en-
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tire satisfaction of his constituents and, in fact, all concerned, thus proving the wisdom of his selection as sheriff. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 69, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at West Union, Iowa, and his daily life among his fellow men would indicate that he lives up to its sublime pre- cepts.
Mr. Clark was married in September, 1891, to Cora F. Henderson, daughter of M. V. and Clara (Hall) Henderson, early settlers of Fayette county and a highly respected family. Mrs. Clark was educated in the pub- lic schools of Auburn, her birthplace, and for sometime prior to her marriage she was a very successful teacher in Clayton and Fayette counties.
JOSEPH L. SCALLAN.
It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has won a definite goal in life, whose career has been such as to com- mand the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such, in brief, is the rec- ord of Joseph L. Scallan, the popular and efficient auditor of Fayette county, where he has long maintained his home and where he has labored not only for his own advancement and that of his immediate family, but also for the improvement of the entire community whose interests he has ever had at heart, thereby is deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all classes.
Mr. Scallan was born on a farm in Eden township, Fayette county, Iowa, March 15, 1862, and he is the son of Joseph and Ann (Murray) Scallan, both natives of Ireland, the father born in county Wexford and the mother in county Antrim. They came to America when young and were married in Rochester, New York, and they came to Eden township, this county, probably as early as 1853. They located on a farm which they cleared and developed and which has since been the home of the Scallans. The mother died Septem- ber 20, 1907, and the father died March 7, 1910, at the advanced age of ninety years. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters, three sons and one daughter still living. The oldest is Thomas, who is in the wholesale paper business in Cincinnati, Ohio; Mary A., who married Miles McGovern, died in Winneshiek county, Iowa, when twenty-six years of age, leaving two daughters; Elizabeth is at home with her father; James E. is also on the parental farm ; he married Anna Lynch, a neighbor's daughter.
Joseph L. Scallan, of this review, was educated in the public schools of
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Eden township and the Waucoma high school, also in the Decorah Business College. He began his independent business career as a farmer in the sum- mer months, teaching school the remainder of the year. He was appointed deputy county auditor under Ed. A. Kreamer, December 1, 1890, and con- tinued in the office as a deputy, with the exception of 1896, which year he spent in Cincinnati, Ohio, until his election as county auditor, taking charge of the same on January 1, 1901. He discharged the duties of the same so faithfully that he has been elected to the same office six times and is now serving his tenth year as principal. He was elected as a Republican, having long been a loyal supporter of this party. His record in office has been with- out a shadow of suspicion, being regarded as a painstaking, conscientious, courteous servant of the people, and his conduct has won and retained the respect, confidence and admiration of all.
Mr. Scallan was married on June 22, 1897, by Rev. Father O'Reilly, of Waucoma, Iowa, to Alice McMahon, a daughter of Peter and Bridget Mc- Mahon, an early established family in Eden township, her parents both being natives of Ireland.
Mr. and Mrs. Scallan have two daughters, Madonna and Kathryn. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church, as were all their ancestors. Fraternally, Mr. Scallan is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Columbus. He has been a member of the county central committee and a member of the legislative committee in the county auditors' organization of the fourth congressional district.
FREDERICK MIEHE.
In a history purporting to be a complete chronicle of the important events of Fayette county, and to contain a resume of the careers of her most worthy and influential citizens, the name of Frederick Miehe would necessarily have to be included, in view of the fact that he has long labored for his own and the county's advancement, as we shall see. He was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, June 2, 1837, and began his education in the home land ; in fact, he spent only twenty-five days in school in this country, and that in Dubuque county, Iowa. He is the son of Conrad and Dorothea Miehe, both natives of the province of Hanover. Germany, and from which country they came to America in 1848, locating in Dubuque county, Iowa, having landed at the port of New Orleans, from which city they ascended the Mississippi
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FREDERICK MIEHE.
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river on a steamboat. They bought a farm of eighty acres and spent the re- mainder of their lives on the same, the father having been killed by a horse, in July, 1865, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife died about May, 1865, at the age of seventy years. They were the parents of three sons, name- ly : Harmon, who remained single, died in Harlan township, Fayette county, when sixty-seven years old; Frederick, of this review; William lives in Du- buque county, Iowa.
Frederick Miehe, being the business man of the family, lived with his parents until he was twenty years old, when he purchased a farm of his own, containing one hundred and twenty-acres, prairie land in Dubuque county, and he lived there until 1873, when he moved to Fayette county, purchasing three hundred and twenty acres in section 28, Harlan township, where he still lives. At that time he also owned a section of land in that township which he had purchased before moving to this county. At one time he owned over one thousand acres in Harlan township. He also owned a section of land in Kossuth county, Iowa. To each son, as he became of age, he gave eighty acres in Harlan township and a quarter section in Kossuth county. In 1903 he made a final settlement, deeding all his possessions among his children. For some time he has been making his home on the original place with his son. He is an excellent business man and has had remarkable success in his operations, being a good manager and a keen observer, having made few mistakes in his calculations, and he has at the same time borne an unblemished reputation among his fellow men, and he is one of the well known and in- fluential men of Harlan township. For a number of years he was a director of the Maynard Bank.
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