USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 59
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
In addition to his agricultural interests, Mr. Robertson engaged in the mercantile business in Fayette during the early sixties and he was numbered among the leading merchants of that place. He owned considerable valuable real estate and two additions to the town of Fayette now bear his name.
In religion, Mr. Robertson was an ardent and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his life, though devoid of display or osten- tation, was singularly pure and characterized by an earnestness and zeal which told of his faith better than words could have done. The family altar was ever maintained in his home and the true Christian spirit was always there in evidence. He had a prominent part in the founding of Methodism in Fayette county, his name appearing as a member of the first quarterly con- ference of the Otter Creek mission circuit. Mr. Robertson was a class- leader and his home was for some time the regular preaching place for that point of the circuit. During the long period of fifty-four years Mr. Robert- son was retained as class-leader and the church was honored in his leadership. His position among the early Methodists was recognized, and it is a mat- ter of record that the first Methodist sermon delivered in this county was in his home on January 9, 1850, and at this meeting, Mr. Robertson, his wife, mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law formed the first class which was organ- ized in this valley.
When the Upper Iowa University was founded, Mr. Robertson took a deep interest in its welfare and gave several thousand dollars to the institu- tion, besides doing much in other ways to advance its interests. He was a member of the board of trustees of the university from 1855, the time of its building, until about 1895, when, feeling the weight of years, he withdrew from the board and relinquished his labor to younger hands, though he never withdrew his interest in the institution. During a considerable part of this time Mr. Robertson served efficiently as treasurer of the board of trustees, and he also served as treasurer of the board of trustees of his church. He was a faithful attendant on the church services and gave generously of his means to its support.
On February 9. 1842, Mr. Robertson was married to Elizabeth Jane Alexander, a native of Indiana, and to them were born ten children, six of whom are now living, namely: Mrs. Evalyn Comstock, of Fayette county; Elizabeth Ann Caroline, the deceased wife of Rev. C. W. Burgess; Julia Ann, of Fayette, widow of Wilbur F. Boyce, deceased; Mrs. Florence Hulse, of Colorado; Ellert J., of Monona, Iowa; William Henry, who died at the age of fifty-eight years; Edward S., also deceased; Amos M., of Waterloo, this state : Mary J., deceased; Anna M., of Memphis, Tennessee.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
JOSEPH BRORBY.
A man who has lived but twenty-two years naturally has not so large a number of events in his life for the biographer to record as an older man has. His life is mainly in the future and the major portion of his biography cannot be written until his life is lived. But one thing can be said, that this young man has made a splendid start in life and at his early age has gained a position many older men might envy. Mr. Brorby is descended from the same Norse race as his partner, and seems to have inherited a like share of the racial characteristics which make for success. Active, energetic, intensely interested in his business, Mr. Brorby is doing much in the line of its exten- sion. No young man in his county seems to have a future more promising.
Joseph Brorby was born in Clayton, Clayton county, Iowa, January. 7, 1888, the son of James and Martha (Kjorven) Brorby, both born in Nor- way: James Brorby came to Clayton county in 1853. His wife came to Clermont with her parents in 1869, and they moved to Minnesota later, where her mother died in 1886, and her father died in North Dakota in 1892.
James Brorby was a farmer. He was the father of nine children, of whom Joseph was the youngest and the only son. He died in June, 1898. He was a Republican, and he and his wife were strong supporters of the Lutheran church. He was a man the memory of whom can only serve as a stimulant to his children.
Joseph Brorby grew up on the farm and received his education in the country schools and in the Clermont public schools. He entered active life as a clerk for Tongiun & Hauge, served two years in that capacity, and then became a member of the firm, now known as Hauge & Brorby, in 1909. In the short continuance of this partnership he has demonstrated himself to be an extremely valuable member of the firm. He has cast his political lot with the Republican party, and was brought up in the Lutheran faith, to which he still clings. His achievements and ability give notice to the world that here is a man who will make his life in every way a success.
FRANK PRINGLE.
For a town of its size, Clermont has exceptional facilities in the line of restaurants, for the men who own and operate its restaurants are above the average of restaurant keepers, men whose skill and wisdom applied to their
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business have shown them how to please the people and to make money. Mr. Pringle has, by careful attention to his business, by making it his first and most important care, established his restaurant as second to none in his part of the state. In this, as in every other business, trade or profession, it takes brains and perseverance to win, and that they do win, Mr. Pringle has demonstrated.
Frank Pringle was born in Clermont, Fayette county, Iowa, on Febru- ary 20, 1871, the son of George Pringle and Jane (Lumberner) Pringle, who came to Clermont and settled in the village. His father was a wagon and carriagemaker, and also a carpenter by trade. While at Clermont he was known as an exceptionally good workman. He was a faithful Republican, one of those rank and file workers who does not aspire to office. Mrs. Pringle, who was a member of the Methodist church and a very pious woman, died at Clermont in 1908. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom survived their mother. Mr. Pringle is now living in San Francisco.
Frank Pringle grew up in Clermont, attended its common and high schools, and was engaged in various occupations, including three years of farming, before opening up a restaurant in 1903, in which he has prospered so much that he wishes he had gone into the business sooner. He is a Re- publican, was constable for six years, and is a member of the present coun- cil, on which he has served for six years.
On December 17, 1892, Mr. Pringle led to the matrimonial altar Anna Hendershott, a daughter of John Hendershott, mentioned in this work. Since they have lived happily and have had five children to enter their home, all bright, healthy and promising young people.
The biographer is always pleased when it falls to him to record the history of an enterprising business man like the present subject, for on men like him the prosperity of our country depends.
FRED C. HENDERSHOTT.
A member of that worthy guild of tavern-keepers, whose occupation began when men began to travel, and has ever since been a responsible occu- pation, giving employment to many, and, we are sorry to say, one in which not all purveyors of food have learned the lesson which accounts for this man's success, that of serving good and wholesome food in a neat and cleanly manner amid comfortable surroundings. Such are the ideal conditions of
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the restaurant business, but are met with far too rarely. Let some of the restaurant men who are unable to make their business prosper come to Clermont and take note of Mr. Hendershott's methods.
Fred C. Hendershott was born in Fayette county, Iowa, April 18, 1884, the son of William M. and Flora (Shaffer) Hendershott, both natives of the county. His paternal grandparents were John and Eliza Hendershott, who came to Fayette county in about 1851, and lived here until their death. Wil- liam M. Hendershott was a hotel man for many years and now lives at La- vina, Montana. He was the father of thirteen children, all living. In politics he is a Democrat, and was a member of the school board and town council of Clermont. It was in his well-ordered hotel that his son acquired the prin- ciples of the business in which he has been so prosperous. Mrs. Hender- shott was a very faithful member of the Methodist church.
Fred Hendershott grew up in Clermont and attended the public and high schools there. In 1907 he engaged in the restaurant business, believing that in that there was a good opening and a bright future, and his belief has been so far realized. In March, 1906, he entered into matrimony with Harriet Garrison, who was born in Fayette county, the daughter of the Rev. J. and Sarah Garrison, of Fayette, where her father died and her mother is still living. Mr. Garrison was a man who did a great deal of good during the course of his ministry, and who was much loved for his Christian character. Mr. and Mrs. Hendershott are the parents of two children, Sarah and Cath- erine, as bright and lovable children as any one would wish to see.
Mr. Hendershott is a Democrat, and he and his wife are both reckoned among the supporters of the Methodist church. Young as he is, he has al- ready made a strong start in life, and is justly popular in the community on account of his many good qualities.
CHARLES FOX.
The subject of this sketch is another man who has shown what industry and indefatigable effort will accomplish, for they have raised him from a position where he had nothing to that of owner of one of the largest and most prosperous farms in his county and made him one of its leading citizens. His career shows also that the farmer's occupation is not unprofitable, and that diligence in its pursuit brings a degree of success which may well be envied by those who have followed other professions.
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Charles Fox was born in Northamptonshire, England, October 6, 1846, the son of John and Mary (Walden) Fox, both born in England, where he died in 1872, and his widow, with a family of five children, came to Fayette county, Iowa, and lived there until her death in West Union, July 2, 1893. John Fox was a farmer and overseer of a farm and worked for the same man for forty years, giving constant satisfaction and faithful service. He was the father of twelve children, of whom six are now living. Charles was reared on the farm and worked in the oil mills from the age of twelve to . seventeen years. In 1864 he came to New York, and in 1866 to Fayette county, Iowa, and for thirty-four years has lived on the farm which he now owns in Clermont township.
In 1870 Mr. Fox married Nora N. Mercer, who was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, January 8, 1848, the daughter of James F. and Mary (Sweet) Mercer. Her father was born in Ohio, her mother in Missouri. They mar- ried in Missouri, and came to Van Buren county, where his wife died in 1851. Mr. Mercer was the father of six children by his first wife, of whom Mrs. Fox is the only one living. He married again and was the father of six children by his second wife, all of whom died in infancy. He enlisted in the army, was a reliable soldier, and lost his life at Pea Ridge. Mr. and Mrs. Fox are the parents of seven children: John James, Mary Bell, Charles Reuben, Delbert William, Benjamin Franklin, Lottie Luella and Grover Cleveland. Mr. Fox has followed general farming and has found it extremely profitable. When he landed in New York he had a shilling, twenty-five cents in our money, and no more. Now he is the owner of three hundred acres of land in this highly productive region of Iowa, all of which is in a good state of cultivation and is well-improved. In politics he is a Democrat and was elected by that party to the office of township trustee, in which position he gave great satisfaction. No man in the township stands higher in the regard of his neighbors, and his farm is pointed out as one of the best around.
JOHN R. COOK.
Energy, sound judgment and persistency of effort, properly applied, will always win the goal sought in the sphere of human endeavor, no matter what the environment may be or what obstacles are met with, for they who are endowed with such characteristics make of their adversities stepping stones to higher things. These reflections are suggested by the career of
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John R. Cook, who has forged his way to the front ranks and stands today among the representative men of Fayette county.
Mr. Cook was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1843, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Surran) Cook, both natives of Dayton, Ohio, of which city the paternal grandparents of John R. Cook were pioneers. Daniel Cook was born February 27, 1818, and his death occurred October 10, 1854; his wife was born December II, 1817, and died February 28, 1895. The father was a pioneer farmer in Wisconsin. On October I, 1852, he came to West Union, Iowa, first locating on the Hoyer farm, which he purchased for four hundred dollars and a yoke of oxen, the place consisting of two hundred and forty acres, where he lived a few months. He erected or bought a build- ing where the Stam building now stands. It was a one-story, rude affair. The season prior to that the ground where the court house now stands was in corn. In the above mentioned building he established a grocery business in 1853 and in the following year branched into a general merchandise business, being the first merchant in West Union, and in a short time he worked up an ex- tensive trade, customers coming as far as one hundred miles west to patron- ize him, for his reputation as an honest and conscientious merchant, who handled a large stock of goods at all seasons, had spread abroad. Mr. Cook, Sr., was a Whig politically and he and his wife were the parents of the fol- lowing children : Rhoda R., John R. (of this review), David and Peter L.
John R. Cook was educated in the common schools of West Union and when a young man devoted his attention to farming, which he followed until August II, 1862, when he decided to cast his lot with the Union army in the field and do what he could toward saving the national honor, so he became a member of Company F, Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served very gallantly as a private for a period of three years. At the siege of Vicksburg he was transferred to the First Missouri Battery. After the capitulation of that stronghold, he returned to his original company and regi- ment. He took part in the fight at Beakley, just outside of Mobile, Alabama, also fought at Union City, Tennessee. After the war he returned to West Union and for some time followed farming. He then formed a partnership with John Owens and they dealt in grain and livestock for a period of twenty- six years, during which time they built up a very extensive and lucrative busi- ness. Mr. Cook also did a commission business for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. In 1902 Mr. Cook became special excursion agent for that road in the state of Iowa and he still holds this position, giving the company entire satisfaction and a high grade service, for he seems to be well adapted for this line of work.
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Mr. Cook is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he has not missed attending a national reunion of this organization for twen- ty-four years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Cook was married to Virginia McClintock, a native of Chambers- burg, Pennsylvania, where her family was long prominent. This union re- sulted in the birth of one child, Belle, now the wife of E. E. Brewer, living in Chicago.
Personally, Mr. Cook is a good mixer, genial, jolly, always ready to do some one a kindness, and therefore he is popular with all classes.
JOHN JAMISON.
It is not an easy task to describe adequately a man who has led an emi- nently active and useful life and who has attained a position of relative dis- tinction in the community with which his interests are allied. It is with a full appreciation of all that is demanded, and yet with a feeling of satisfac- tion, that the writer essays the task of touching briefly upon the details of such a record as has been that of the honored subject whose life now comes under review, John Jamison, one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Oelwein, Fayette county.
Mr. Jamison was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1844, and is a son of James and Jane (Boale) Jamison. Both of these par- ents were natives of county Down, Ireland, and both were of Scotch de- -scent. James Jamison was born in 1806 and at an early age he was left to make his own way in the world. While quite young he learned the carpen- ter's trade and before he attained manhood he came to the United States, settling in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. He was an expert mechanic and among other works in which he was engaged was the erection of one of the best bridges crossing the Allegheny river, of which work he was the superintendent. He was married April 18, 1843, and in 1846 he gave up his trade and for a time followed farming in Mercer county. His wife, Jane, was a daughter of John and Grace (McWha) Boale, and came from county Down, Ireland, with her parents in 1839. They located on a farm in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, but in May, 1852, they came to Fayette county, Iowa, and settled two and one-half miles northwest of West Union. James Jamison brought his family to this county at the same time and located at Auburn, where he and his wife's brother, James Boale, engaged in mer-
JOHN JAMISON.
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chandising. Two years later Mr. Jamison sold out his interests in the store and bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres near West Union, on which he made his home during the remainder of his life, his death oc- curring March 3, 1881. After his death his wife moved from the farm into West Union, where she resided until her death, September 17, 1903. These parents had six children, of whom John, the immediate subject of this sketch, is the eldest. Grace M. became the wife of William Colby and lives at West Union. Sarah is the wife of J. Q. Adams, also of West Union. George W. is a banker at Oelwein. Thomas, now deceased, was a hardware merchant at Oelwein. Samuel B. is engaged in farming in southern Minne- sota.
John Jamison was reared on the farm from the time he was ten years old and he received his preliminary education in the public schools of West Union. Subsequently he was a student at the Upper Iowa University, of the board of trustees of which institution he has been a member for the past twenty years, having been chosen first in 1889. His first business exper- ience was in the mercantile business at Auburn, in partnership with Hull Hoagland. In July, 1875, they removed their stock of goods to Oelwein, where they continued as partners until 1881, when Mr. Hoagland was suc- ceeded by Samuel Jamison. In the summer of 1875, Messrs. Jamison and Hoagland established the Bank of Oelwein, the first and for many years the only banking house of that city. They also associated with them John Irvine and together they dealt extensively in livestock, realizing handsome profits from their transactions. Soon after coming to Oelwein, and without interruption to his other business interests, the subject and his brother, Thomas, formed a partnership in the hardware business, which they con- tinued about two years. In 1884 Mr. Jamison assisted in the organization of the State Bank of West Union, of which he has been the president con- tinuously since its inception. In 1886 Hull Hoagland severed his connection with the Bank of Oelwein, and the subject's brother, George, succeeded him, the firm becoming Jamison Brothers & Company. Besides their inter- ests in Oelwein, the Jamison brothers both own extensive farming interests.
In the banking business of Fayette county Mr. Jamison is believed to have been engaged continuously longer than any man now living, having been so engaged since the summer of 1875. He has at all times enjoyed the un- bounded confidence of the public and has been influential in many ways in advancing the interests of the community at large. Unpretentious in style, direct in manner, concise in speech, approachable, kind and generous, Mr. Jamison has the happy faculty of easily winning friends and he enjoys a large acquaintance throughout the county.
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In politics Mr. Jamison has been a life long Democrat, and for a num- ber of years took an active interest in political matters, though not an as- pirant for public office. However, in 1883, he was nominated by his party for the office of treasurer of Fayette county. The county had a normal Republican majority of about four hundred, and his election to the office was a marked testimonial of his popularity and the confidence of his fellow citizens in his integrity and ability. Fraternally, Mr. Jamison belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, to which they give an earnest and generous support.
September 8, 1875, Mr. Jamison was married to Florence Hoagland. a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hull Hoagland, she being a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Four children have been born to this union, namely : Two who died in early youth; Ray B., cashier in the Bank of Oelwein; and Fred H., who is bookkeeper in the same institution. The latter was mar- ried, June 26, 1907, to Blanche Flannegan, the daughter of H. W. Flannegan, of Oelwein, and they have a son, Harry. Ray B. was married November 17. 1910, to Letha Bonner, of Des Moines, Iowa.
HANS KEISER.
Hans Keiser, who, like many of the enterprising citizens of this locality, is an American by adoption only, was born in Gelterkinden, Switzerland, June 16, 1868, the son of Jacob and Mary (Luescher) Keiser. The father was a well known educator, having taught in the public schools for a period of fifty-four years, he being well educated and by nature qualified for this special line of work. He received his education at the Peach Seminary, Beug- gen, Germany. He and his wife were the parents of seven children.
Hans Keiser was educated in Schiers College, Switzerland. Owing to ill health he left that institution and came to America in 1887, coming direct to a farm in Fayette county, Iowa, on which he worked for one year, then worked in a furniture store and the postoffice in Elgin, Pleasant Valley town- ship, the postoffice being kept at that time in a grocery store. Mr. Keiser worked at this for about four years, then he entered the insurance business in connection with music teaching, having received his musical education in Switzerland and being naturally gifted he made a success of this line of work. His services were in demand and he followed that until 1898, when
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he was appointed postmaster and has since held the office to his credit and the entire satisfaction of the department at Washington and all concerned. He is obliging, courteous and prompt in his duties and is popular with all classes here. He also still continues to do a good business in insurance and music teaching, thus being kept very busy, but he never slights any part of his many duties.
Mr. Keiser was married in 1894 to Mary Falb, a native of Switzerland and the daughter of John and Katherine (Waelti) Falb, who came to Amer- ica, direct to Fayette county, Iowa, the father being a miller by trade and he operated a mill about two miles from Elgin.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keiser: Edith, Katherine, Harry, Jacob and Julius, the last named dying when thirteen months old.
Mr. Keiser is a member of the German Baptist church and politically he is a Republican. He is a member of the school board and also teaches the choir of the Baptist church. He takes considerable interest in party affairs and is always ready to do his part in furthering any movement that is cal- culated to improve the condition of Fayette county. He is well liked in all circles, and he numbers his friends only by the limits of his acquaintance.
JOHN W. FROST.
The subject of this sketch, a former prominent citizen of Fayette county, Iowa, but for some years an honored resident of Eureka, Montana, is a native of Illinois, and the third child and oldest son of William and Prudence (Seward) Frost, natives respectively of England and the state of New York. William Frost was born January 1, 1816, at Longbuckby, near Rugby, in Northamptonshire, came to the United States in 1827 and later took up his residence in Warren county, Illinois, where he made his home until his re- moval to Iowa, in 1851. The year prior to that date he made a tour of observation through various parts of this state and, being pleased with the appearance of Fayette county, purchased a tract of government land in sec- tion 24, in what is now Illyria township, to which he brought his family the following year and which in due time he cleared and converted into a fine farm. Subsequently he purchased other lands in Clayton county, to which he changed his residence about 1864, but after spending a few years there he returned to Fayette county, locating on a farm in Westfield township, where
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