USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 50
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Mr. Estey was married on August 19, 1903, to Mary E. Scobey, daugh- ter of George P. and Martha B. Scobey, a prominent early family of Fayette, where the father was long a leading merchant and where his death occurred on February 2, 1904. The mother is still living. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Estey, Robert, born July 17, 1907. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal churchi, and politically Mr. Estey is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of West Union Lodge No. 69, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the West Union lodge of the Knights of Pythias.
ROBERT WILLARD HELMS.
The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life history of the sub- ject of this sketch, the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise; yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts which have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life-a life characterized by perseverance, energy, broad charity and well defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the people who have known him long and well.
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Robert W. Helms, merchant and postmaster at Brainard, was born in the state of New York, July 30, 1839, and is a son of William and Hannah ( Robins ) Helms. William Helms was a native of Scotland and at the age of seven years he accompanied his parents on their emigration to America. They located in Essex county, New York, where Mr. Helms spent the remainder of his years, dying at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He followed farming during his active years and was fairly successful in his business affairs. He took a leading and prominent part in local public affairs and held at different times many of the township and county public offices. He was a Republican in politics and in religion was affiliated with the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which he was a class-leader at the time of his death. He married Hannah Robins, a native of Vermont, and they became the parents of thirteen children, six of whom are living, namely: Robert W., who was the first born in the family, Jennie, Martha, Carrie, Addie and Melvin. The mother of these children was sixty-three years old at the time of her death.
Robert W. Helms remained in his native state until he was twenty-four years old. At the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in the First Regiment of United States Sharpshooters and served fourteen months assisting in the suppression of the Southern rebellion. During most of this time he was on detached duty, but he was actively engaged during the three-days battle at Gettysburg, and, with his regiment, took part in several other of the noted engagements of that war, seeing much hard service. At the conclusion of his military service he returned to Essex county, New York, and, as before stated, at the age of twenty-four years he came to Fayette county, Iowa. He soon afterwards went to Wisconsin, where he remained two years and then returned to Fayette county, which has since been his home. He is the owner of some splendid farming land, his home place being located in sections 30 and 36. while he also owns a good farm in section 16. He carries on general farming and also gives considerable attention to livestock, in the handling of which he has been very successful. He is a breeder of registered Hereford cattle, main- taining on his farm a good herd of these cattle, and he also buys and sells much other stock, mostly cattle and hogs. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Helms is doing a successful general merchandise business, being the proprietor of the only store in Brainard, where he carries a large and well-selected stock of such goods as are in demand by the trade. He is postmaster and maintains the office in his store. Courteous and accommodating, he has gained for him- self the good will of all who have dealings with him and is numbered among the leading men of his community.
In 1875 Mr. Helms was married to Artherlinda Mounce, who was born
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in Lynn county, Iowa, in February, 1849, and whose death occurred in 1903, at the age of fifty-four years. To this union were born four children, namely : Clara Louella is the wife of E. O. Randall, of Muscatine, Iowa, and they have two children : Harley W., of Brainard, married Celia Bohanan and they are the parents of three children; Ethel D. is the wife of Martin Hovey, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and they have one child; Judson, who was the first born of these children, died at the age of fourteen months.
The subject is a Republican, but has endeavored to keep clear of political affairs. He was, however, induced to serve as justice of the peace for a num- ber of years, having retired from the office in 1908 because of the press of his other business affairs, which would not permit of a division of his attention and time. He is a firm believer in the uplifting influence of the church and he gives a liberal support to the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches. In many ways Mr. Helms has shown qualities of the highest order and has invariably given his support to every movement having for its object the ad- vancement of the best interests of the community. Genial in disposition. optimistic in temperament and accommodating in his dealings with others-it is not strange that he enjoys a large circle of warm and loyal friends. Such men are desirable elements in any community and are the foundation of its growth and prosperity.
ELIAS HEWITT APPELMAN.
Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of Fayette county within the pages of this work, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests have been identified with its every phase of progress, each contributing in his sphere of action to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is he whose name appears above, peculiar interest attaching to his career from the fact that his entire life has been spent within the borders of this county.
Elias H. Appelman was born on May 7, 1858, in Clermont township, this county, on the farm on which his father settled. The latter, Gustavus Adol- phus Appelman, is mentioned at length elsewhere in this work and the reader is referred to that sketch for further details as to the subject's genealogical record. The subject was reared on the paternal farmstead and secured his education in the public schools, finishing in the high school at Clermont. Up- . on completing his school days he took up the occupation of teaching, but the
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call to the free and wholesome outdoor life of the farm was strong and he has since applied his energies to agriculture. He is a thoroughly practical farmer, keeping in close touch with advanced ideas relating to the science of husbandry and he has met with pronounced success in his labors. He is the owner of three hundred acres of land in the home place in Clermont township, and also owns several hundred acres of land elsewhere. He follows diversified farming. raising all the crops common to this section of the country, and he also gives considerable attention to the raising of livestock, particularly cattle, in which he has met with good results. Mr. Appelman's farm is maintained at a high standard of efficiency and therefore its productiveness is kept at the highest possible point. The attractive residence, commodious and well ar- range barns and outbuildings indicate the owner to be a man of sound ideas and good taste.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Appelman has given due attention to local public affairs and has rendered appreciative service for many years as a mem- ber of the school board, and is now serving acceptably as the assessor of the township. He is liberal in his religious views, giving his support without re- serve to all movements having for their object the betterment of the com- munity in general.
On November 30, 1887, Mr. Appelman married Mabel Stewart, who was born in this county on October 17, 1866, the daughter of John W. and Emma ( Hale) Stewart. the former born in Columbus, New York, on January II, 1836, and the latter born in Chulmleigh, England, on May 4, 1845. To Mr. and Mrs. Appelman have been born six children, namely: Charles Stewart, an infant deceased, Mabel Winifred, Franz Alan, Lucian Hewitt and Ruth Elizabeth.
Mr. Appelman is a man of broad ideas and up-to-date methods and be- cause of his persistent industry, sturdy integrity, good management and genial disposition, he has won and retains to a marked degree the esteem and good will of the entire community in which he lives.
ANDREW THORSON.
Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in following out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible,
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and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qual- ities which have made Mr. Thorson one of the prominent and successful men of Fayette county have also brought him the esteem of his fellow men, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods.
Andrew Thorson is a native son of Fayette county, having been born on the farm where he now lives in Clermont township, on August 7, 1864. He is a son of Thor and Anna Thorson, both of whom were natives of Norway, where the father was born on October 1, 1814. The latter, on coming to the United States, stopped for a few weeks in Wisconsin, but came to Fayette county in 1850. He bought two hundred acres of land, where the subject now lives, and to the cultivation of this land he applied his energies with marked success. He spent his remaining days on this place and his death occurred here on February II, 1905. His widow is still living here, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of three children, though by a former marriage Mr. Thorson had become the father of five others. Mr. Thorson was a Republican in his political views and he and the members of his family were faithful members of the Lutheran church.
Andrew Thorson spent his boyhood days on the paternal farmstead and secured his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. Reared as a farmer boy, he early decided to devote his future energies to the prosecu- tion of this industry and that he has been successful goes without saying, for he has within him the elements which in any calling will inevitably invite suc- cess. Persistent and well directed industry, sound judgment in his business affairs and a love for his work have had results that have been satisfactory to a gratifying degree. Mr. Thorson is now the owner of a splendid farm of two hundred and ninety-five acres, besides which he is interested in about nine thousand acres of land elsewhere. On the home farm he carries on a diversi- fied system of farming, raising all the crops common to this section and also giving considerable attention to the raising of livestock, with good results. Mr. Thorson also has other business interests, being a stockholder in the Elgin Savings Bank and the Clermont State Bank.
In 1888 Mr. Thorson was united in marriage to Hannah Kittleson, a native of Fayette county and a daughter of Hans Kittleson, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. This union has been blessed in the birth of three children, Alphie, Clarence and Lena, the latter being deceased.
Politically, Mr. Thorson renders a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, in the success of which he takes a commendable interest, but he is not
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in any sense a seeker after the honors or emoluments of public office, prefer- ring to devote his time and attention to his numerous business affairs. Re- ligiously, he and the members of his family are affiliated with the Lutheran church, to which they give an earnest and liberal support, being deeply inter- ested in the welfare of the society. In every avenue of life's activities in which he has engaged he has been true to every responsibility and because of his industry, integrity and pleasing personal qualities, he enjoys the unbounded respect and esteem of the entire community. He is numbered among the township's representative citizens, giving his support and co-operation in ad- vancing the best interests of the community.
THEODORE ROLFS.
Any person who will investigate the facts in the case will be surprised to learn of the proportion of people of Germanic descent now living in the United States. Unquestionably the greatest number of emigrants reaching the shores of the New World comes from that nation, and statistics show that there is more Germanic blood in the United States than any other. This being the fact, it is easy to account for the prosperity and morality of this country. Germany is famous the world over for the industry, patience, in- telligence, morality and sturdiness of its citizens. These qualities have been brought to this country by the emigrants and are now part and parcel of our wonderful nation-its progress in domestic economy, its advancement in every branch of material improvement, and its love of country and home.
The subject of this sketch is descended from German ancestry, his father, Hans Rolfs, having been born in Germany on September 10, 1837, while his mother, whose maiden name was Charlotte Laumann and who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 14, 1844, was a daughter of Chris- tian and Margaret (Borgelt) Latimann, natives of Germany. Her parents left the fatherland for America and eventually made their home at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1847, where their deaths occurred. Hans Rolfs, on arriving in this county, located in Davenport, Iowa, and on March 12, 1883. he came to Fayette county where he became the owner of one hundred and seventy-six acres of land, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his attention. His death occurred here on February 20, 1904. In politics he was a stanch Republican, while in religion he and his family were adherents of the German Lutheran church. To him and his wife were born seven children, namely : Louis, John, Theodore, Alvina, Minnie, Herman and Anna.
MR. AND MRS. HANS ROLFS.
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Theodore Rolfs was born in Scott county, Iowa, on October 21, 1873. He was reared by his parents and secured a good practical education in the public schools of his home neighborhood. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has always devoted himself to this industry. He is thoroughly practical in his methods and has achieved a distinctive success as a husband- man. His home place is near Clermont and comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land, which is owned jointly by him and two brothers. The place is well improved in every respect and is numbered among the best farms in the township.
Politically, Mr. Rolfs is aligned with the Republican party, to which he gives a stanch support, and in the welfare of the community he takes a com- mendable interest, giving a hearty support to all movements which promise to be of benefit to his fellow citizens. Religiously he is a member of the Lutheran church, to which he gives an earnest and liberal support. He is a gentleman of fine personal qualities and among his large list of acquaintances he numbers many warm and personal friends, who esteem him because of his high personal qualities and genuine worth.
WILLIAM LOFTUS.
The subject of this sketch is one of the active and useful citizens of West Union, Fayette county, Iowa. Unlike the average citizen of today, he has always exerted his strength and energies in the furtherance of manual labor, and no man in Fayette county has been a more zealous worker than William Loftus. For many years he was engaged in the operation of a large farm in Union township, leaving it and moving to town in order to give his children better educational advantages than they enjoyed in the country schools. Here he has been employed in various ways, but latterly as street commissioner of the city. In this capacity Mr. Loftus has given universal satisfaction, his work being directed in such a manner as to be entirely devoid of the charge of favoritism or partiality, but every portion of his large district has received the consideration which the condition of the roads and streets would seem to demand.
William Loftus was born in the state of New York, on the 25th day of January, 1857, his parents having located in that state for a few years on their arrival from the Emerald Isle, the country of their nativity. These parents, Daniel and Bridget (O'Donnell) Loftus, came to Fayette county,
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Iowa, about the beginning of the Civil war, and the father purchased a farm, principally unimproved, in what is now Union township, but then designated as West Union township. William is the eldest of the five children born to these parents, the others being briefly mentioned as follows: John, the second born, who also was a native of New York state, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in December, 1907, leaving a widow, but no children ; Daniel, who is conducting a restaurant and provision store in West Union, married Eliza McCarthy, and they have two children, Aileen and Francis; the former is a graduate of the West Union high school and a young lady of bright promise ; Thomas is the fourth in order of birth and he and his sister Florence have maintained the home in West Union since the death of their mother.
Thomas Loftus has achieved more than the average man in his circum- stances. At the age of ten years he was placed in the family of John Owens and remained a member of that family for some fifteen years. He was reared amid the environments of mercantile life and soon became thoroughly familiar with all business details. For many years he was the "head and center" of the extensive business enterprises then conducted by Mr. Owens. He was com- missioned postmaster of West Union in 1893, and served four years in that capacity to the entire satisfaction of the government and the patrons of the office. He was in mercantile business eight years in partnership with Charles E. Owens, a son of his former employer, and in January, 1907, he was chosen deputy county treasurer under the administration of Albert B. Blunt. Thomas Loftus wields a potent influence in the councils of Democracy and has been, and still is, a useful and prominent citizen in the community. Mem- bers of the Loftus family have performed an active and important part in the history of the locality in which they have lived, and no family in the com- munity sustains a more honorable record within their sphere of existence.
Being the eldest of the family, much of the labor of improving and de- veloping the homestead farm devolved upon William Loftus, the immedi- ate subject of this review, and he then learned something of the duties of the active and self-reliant life which has been a leading characteristic in his later career. The farm home later became a part of the extensive land holdings of John Owens, whose history is so inseparably connected with that of West Union and vicinity.
Mr. Loftus was happily married on the 17th of March, 1876, to Kate Nugent, a most exemplary wife and mother, who bore with him the trials and vicissitudes of life until the meridian was passed. They reared an interesting family of eleven children, namely: Mae, Florence, Laura, Charles, Clarence. John, Lucile, William, Fred, Robert and Herbert. Mrs. Loftus operated a
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millinery business in West Union, known as the Loftus Millinery Store, from March, 1899, until her death, which occurred August 27, 1907, since which time Miss Florence has conducted the business. Mrs. Loftus was consigned to rest in the Catholic cemetery connected with the church which is the religious home of the entire family. They are active and zealous church people and represent a class of citizens who are welcome in any community and whose lives are an inspiration to the rising generations.
Of the children enumerated above, it may be briefly noted that Clarence is a successful attorney in Des Moines, this state; William, who was employed in a patent office at Des Moines, is at present in the law college of Drake University, Des Moines ; Charles is engaged in the wholesale grocery business in the same city; John is employed in a wholesale shoe store in Kansas City; Laura is bookkeeper for Doctor Darnell, at West Union; Lucile is at home and the other children are students in the public schools.
ANDREW A. NORDHUS.
In the daily laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career on the part of a business man or farmer there is little to attract the casual reader in search of a sensational chapter: but to a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence there are noble and imperishable lessons in the career of an individual who without other means than a clear head, strong arm and true heart, directed and controlled by cor- rect principles and unerring judgment, conquers adversity and, toiling on, finally wins, not only pecuniary independence, but, what is far greater and higher, the deserved respect and confidence of those with whom his active years have been spent.
Andrew A. Nordhus was born in Norway on August 24, 1864, and is a son of Andrew O. and Annie A. (Larson) Nordhus, both also natives of Nor- way. They came to America in 1872, when the subject of this sketch was a lad of but eight years, and they landed in Winneshiek county, Iowa, that year on the anniversary day of our national independence. In 1879 they came to Fayette county and settled on a farm of seventy-one acres, where they spent the rest of their years and died, the father's death occurring in 1903, his wife having passed to the silent land the year previous. Mr. Nordhus was a stanch supporter of the Republican party in political matters and was influential in his advocacy of temperance measures. He and his wife, as well as the other
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members of the family, affiliated with the Lutheran church, to which they rendered an earnest support. They became the parents of eleven children, of which number eight are living at the present time.
Andrew A. Nordhus, who was reared under the parental roof, attended the public schools and received a good practical education. He has always (levoted himself assiduously to the agricultural industry and because of his persistent efforts and good management he has met with well deserved suc- cess in this line. He is now the owner of two hundred and ten acres of as good land as Clermont township presents and here he carries on general farm- ing and stock raising. The place is well improved and its general appear- ance indicates the owner to be a man of excellent taste and wise discrimination. He raises all the crops common to this section of the country and his efforts have been characterized by a spirit of progressiveness and enterprise that have insured him maximum results in return for his labors.
Politically, Mr. Nordhus is affiliated with the Republican party, in the success of which he is deeply interested, while his religious membership is with the Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs.
On April 1, 1891, Mr. Nordhus was married to Julia Brager, who was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Knudt and Carrie Brager, natives of Norway. Mrs. Brager died in Polk county, Minnesota, in 1892, and Mr. Brager passed away on October 9, 1909, while visiting his daughter in Fayette county. To the subject and his wife have been born five children, namely : Cora, Arthur, Aven, Agnes and Annie. The members of the family move in the best social circles in the community and among their friends and acquaintances they are held in high esteem. Mr. Nordhus is numbered among the influential citizens of Clermont township and withholds his support from no movement calculated to confer benefit on the community in any way.
REV. PATRICK S. O'CONNOR.
A continuous pastorate of two decades, during which an upright. con- sistent life. devoted to the good of the community and the spiritual welfare of his parishoners, has won the sincere regard and high esteem of every one in the community, regardless of religious creed, has earned for Rev. Patrick S. O'Connor, of Oelwein, a widespread reputation as one of the most suc- cessful Catholic priests in northeastern Iowa. Coming to this point when the local church was in its infancy, he went to work with enthusiasm and his faith-
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