USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 70
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Mrs. Schug was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, and is a daughter of Christian and Marie (Katelhohn) Gundlach, who came to America in 1854 and settled at Dayton, Michigan, removing thence to Fay- ette county, Iowa, in the year 1855. Mr. Gundlach purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land in section 31, Putnam township, and his brothers John and Martin, who came with him, also entered land in the same part of the country. Until he could provide a hastily constructed pole cabin for a shelter, Mr. Gundlach's family used the wagon in which they came to their new home for a dwelling, but in due time the little building was com-
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pleted and ready for occupancy. Although of the most primitive type, it served its purpose until a more substantial structure of logs could be built and the latter in turn was replaced after some years by the handsome modern edi- fice which the family long occupied. Mr. Gundlach added to his holdings at intervals until his place contained four hundred and eighty acres of fine land and, as a farmer and stock raiser, he ranked among the most enterprising and successful men in his part of the country. He was a Democrat in politics, a worthy member of the Lutheran church and as a neighbor and citizen en- joyed the esteem and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He died September 30, 1899, his wife having been called to the unseen world on November 30, 1884. Their four children were Christian, who died on ship- board while the family were en route to America; Marie, wife of the subject of this sketch; Dorethea, wife of John McQuay, a retired farmer, living in Aurora, and Anna, who married John Rehmann, a well known resident of Des Moines.
CHAUNCEY JASPER BRIGGS.
Farmer and stock raiser and one of the leading citizens of Scott township. Chauncey J. Briggs is a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred on the 26th day of November, 1839. On the paternal side, he is descended from German ancestry and combines many of the sterling characteristics for which that nationality is distinguished. The first of the Briggs family to come to America were two brothers, Anthony and James Briggs, who settled in a very early day near Tower Hill, New York. Pelig Briggs, son of Anthony, was born near Tower Hill and there married and reared a family, among his children being a son by the name of Jeremiah Briggs, father of the subject of this sketch.
Jeremiah Briggs went to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in an early day, where he married Rosalind Stanton, of Connecticut, and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. Later, in 1849, he sold out and migrated to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he purchased land and improved a farm on which he lived for a period of forty years, removing at the expiration of that time to the town of Oakfield, where he lived in retirement until his death, in 1899. at the age of eighty-seven. His first wife, whose name is given above, died in Pennsylvania and he afterwards married her sister, who preceded him to the grave by about six years. Of the nine children born of his first marriage. the following survive : Chauncey J., of this review; Hannah, who lives on
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the family homestead in Wisconsin; Jeremiah, a farmer of that state; Alva, of Racine, Wisconsin, and for thirty years an engineer on Lake Michigan; Marietta, of Santa Pala, California, and James S., a farmer of Fayette county, Iowa. Mr. Briggs' second wife bore him two children, one of whom, Alice, of Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, is living.
Chauncey Jasper Briggs spent his childhood in his native state and until the age of nine years attended at intervals the schools of Luzerne county. In 1848 his father purchased land in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and the same year the subject and an older brother ivere sent there to clear and improve as much of the land as they could and prepare it for the reception of the rest of the family, who rejoined them the year following. Chauncey attended school for several years after going to Wisconsin and remained with his father until attaining his majority, when he engaged in the pursuit of agri- culture upon his own responsibility. On August 17, 1861, in Wisconsin, he was united in. marriage with Mary E. Walters, who was born in Plattsburg, New York, following which he continued farming in Fond du Lac county until 1869, when he moved to Clermont, Iowa, driving through by wagon and being six days on the road. On arriving at his destination Mr. Briggs entered the employ of ex-Governor Larrabee, for whom he hauled flour from Clermont to Postville, this being before the railroad was completed to either of those towns. After six months of teaming he severed his connection with Mr. Larabee and hired to John Thompson, of Clayton, with whom he remained two years, at the end of which time he moved to Fayette county and rented a farm in Jefferson township, where he continued to reside until buying land of his own in 1875.
Mr. Briggs' purchase consisted of eighty acres in section 17, Scott town- ship, which he at once proceeded to improve and which by industry and good management he has since made one of the best farms of its size in the county. Among the various improvements which he has added from time to time are the handsome and commodious modern dwelling, a fine large barn, and other buildings in keeping therewith, his place, known as "Cedar Lawn Farm," being both beautiful and attractive and one of the most desirable country homes in the township. Mr. Briggs is an enterprising, up-to-date farmer, who made a careful study of agricultural science, and never fails to realize abundant returns from the time and labor expended on his fields. In connec- tion with general farming, he devotes considerable attention to livestock, his Holstein cattle and Chester White hogs being among the finest in this part of the state and yielding him no small share of his income.
Mr. Briggs is public spirited in all the term implies, takes an active inter-
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est in whatever tends to the advancement of the community and all enterprises for the benefit of his fellow men find in him a zealous and liberal patron. He has served thirty-one years on the local board, during a large part of which time he was president of the body, and as a Democrat he is a leader of his party in his township and stands high in political circles throughout the county. Personally, he is a companionable gentleman of pleasing presence and address, enjoys great popularity among the people and possesses those rare qualities of mind and heart which win and retain warm friendships. His integrity has ever been above reproach and in all of his mingling and dealing with his fellow men his conduct has been upright and honorable and character- istic of the true neighbor and citizen.
Mrs. Briggs, who was the only child of Aaron and Rosanna ( Averal) Walters, of Plattsburg, New York, bore her husband one child and departed this life on the 25th of September, 1904. She was an excellent woman, a loyal wife and help-meet and all with whom she came in contact spoke in high praise of her beautiful character and many suitable and amiable traits.
Fred Walter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, was born October 11, 1863. He has always lived at home and is now managing the farm, being one of the progressive agriculturists of Scott township as well as an enterprising man of affairs. He has served as president of the school board, keeps in touch with the times on matters of public interest and uses his influence in the further- ance of every laudable means for the general good. He was married, De- cember 5. 1889, to Ann May Lincoln, whose parents, Jonathan and Evaline (Novice) Lincoln, came to Fayette county in 1884 and settled in Scott town- ship.
FRED BOIE.
Among the men of influence of Fayette county, who, though an American by adoption only, have the interests of their community at heart and who have led consistent lives, thereby gaining definite success along their chosen lines, is Fred Boie, who is the owner of vast and valuable landed estates, which he manages with that care and discretion that stamps him as a twentieth-cen- tury agriculturist of the highest order. He was born in Mecklenburg- Schwerin, Germany, February 18, 1869, the son of Joachim and Sophia (Voelker) Boie, both natives of the same locality where their son, Fred Boie, was born. They grew to maturity, were educated and married there, and in the fall of 1873 came to America, locating in DuPage county, Illinois, and in
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March, 1875, came on to Fayette county, Iowa, and began farming one-half mile west and one mile south of Hawkeye, on a rented farm which he man- aged for two years. Then he moved on another rented farm for four years. In February, 1881, he moved to section 16, Bethel township, this county, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of good land and there he made a comfortable home for his family. He had two sons, John, who was born June 9, 1863, and Fred, of this review. They both assisted with the work on the home place where they grew to maturity, and during the winter months attended the German schools for one year, but most of their education was obtained in the public schools. Their father was a man of rare courage and persistency. He worked for some time in Germany at one dollar and twenty- five cents per week as a farm hand, and, by careful habits and strict economy he had saved the sum of nine hundred dollars with which he began life in the New World. When he came to Fayette county, Iowa, he found that hogs and corn were very cheap, and that farmers had a hard life and small profits for their labor. Both his sons are naturalized and both are Democrats. John Boie is now living on a farm in Stearns county, Minnesota.
Fred Boie remained under the parental roof until he reached manhood. He was married on September 8, 1892, to Flora Rachow, daughter of Charles and Frederica (Popenhagen) Rachow, both natives of Germany, the father from Mecklenburg-Schwerin, coming to America about 1864, just too late to enlist in the Federal army for service during the Rebellion. He worked about two years in Calhoun county, Michigan, then went back to Ohio, where he remained four years. While living in Auglaize county, Ohio, in 1871, he married Frederica Popenhagen, who also came from Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, arriving in America about 1870. They returned to Calhoun county, Michigan, where they lived until March, 1888, then settled in Banks township, Fayette county, Iowa, where they bought a farm which they worked for many years, but they are now living retired in Sumner, Iowa.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fred Boie four children have been born, namely : Joseph Carl, Louis Fred, Carl Ernest and Ena Sophia. The father and mother are both living at the old home with Fred.
Fred Boie is a Democrat and he is interested in the welfare of his com- munity. He was school director in Bethel township in 1898 and continued as such for about eight years, since which time he has been secretary of the board, resigning as a member of the board in order to become secretary. He was township trustee of Bethel township for three years, having been elected on November 2, 1903, and at the end of three years he was elected township clerk, which position he still holds. He was road supervisor for three years.
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He was twice elected constable, but once refused to qualify for office. There are only two township offices that he has not held. This is certainly proof · of his high standing in the township and of the absolute confidence which his fellow citizens repose in him. His is probably the only instance in the history of Bethel township of an individual holding at the same time the office of secretary of the school board and also that of township clerk. Mr. Boie has been a frequent delegate to county conventions and was once selected as a delegate to the state convention, but sickness prevented his attendance. He has been committeeman for seven years, and he probably knows the politics of each man in the township better than anyone else. His advice is fre- quently sought by party leaders and he wields a wide influence in local political affairs. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Boie is an active worker, having been treasurer for two years and he is now secretary of the local congregation.
Mr. Boie has been a very successful farmer and business man, and is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, to which he added eighty acres in 1900. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres from his father in 1894. He also bought a half section of land in Edwards county, South Dakota, in 1909, which he still owns. He has been a good manager and has been for- tunate in his transactions. Personally, he is a good mixer, pleasant to know, congenial and hospitable, all who visit his pleasant and attractive home being made to feel a genuine welcome, consequently he and his wife are popular throughout the community where they reside.
DANIEL DAVIS.
In the death of the honored subject of this sketch, which occurred at his home in Fayette, Iowa, on January 28, 1897, the community lost one of its most estimable and high minded men and the county of Fayette a public spirited citizen, whose place it was difficult to fill. A devoted husband and loving, indulgent father, a keen and sagacious man of affairs, he acted well his part in life, wielded a strong influence for good, and in his removal there passed from earth one who in a large measure had dignified his manhood and honored the race.
Daniel Davis was born in Randolph, Vermont, on May 25, 1826, and he inherited the sturdy qualities of his New England ancestors. He was reared on the paternal homestead and secured a good, practical common school educa-
Daniel Davis ·
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tion. Soon after attaining his majority he determined to seek his fortune in the new Eldorado of the West and from 1850 to 1853 he resided in California. Like many others who did likewise, he returned to his native state, where he remained until 1867, when he came to Iowa, locating at Masonville. In 1874 he came to Fayette and engaged in the banking business, in which line he con- tinued, with uniform success, for a number of years. He was a man of un- usual penetration and discernment in business affairs. He enjoyed the con- fidence of his business associates to -a marked degree and his counsel and ad- vice were often sought in business affairs. During his residence in Fayette he was numbered among the leading and representative citizens of the com- munity and he was always a prominent and influential factor in advancing its best interests, and at his death it was felt that the community had suffered a distinct and irreparable loss.
No better testimonial could be offered as showing the estimation in which Mr. Davis was held by his fellow citizens, than the following extract from resolutions passed by Pleiades Lodge No. 248, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which the deceased was a faithful and appreciated member :
"Daniel Davis was a man of extensive reading and of wide and varied information, which, coupled with ability of apt expression and a social dis- position, made him a most instructive and entertaining companion. He was possessed of excellent business qualifications and was a man of unusually sound judgment in every respect. He had a thorough acquaintance with all questions of the day and had given much thought and study to many subjects to which the majority of people give but little attention or none whatever. The opinions reached by him on all questions were the results of his own inde- pendent thought and judgment after study and investigation and not the echo of the conclusions of others; as he was independent in forming his own con- clusions, so he was firm and fearless in the expression of them. Though never seeking controversy, he was at all times abundantly able to defend his views with strong and cogent reasoning. He was no time server; he never trimmed his sails to catch any breeze of popular approval. He was a man of kind heart and generous impulses, which traits were frequently shown in most practical and efficient ways. He aided many people in the best way by help- ing them to help themselves, and many a discouraged man has been inspired with hope and many a humble home has been cheered and gladdened by his substantial aid and encouragement. He was a good citizen, a kind neighbor, a man whose integrity never was questioned, one whose word was as good as his bond."
(88)
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On June 16, 1856, at Randolph, Vermont, Mr. Davis was married to Charlotte O. Bruce, a native of that state, and they became the parents of seven children, namely : Mrs. J. W. Neff, of West Union; George Albert, of Fayette : Franklin James, William Jacob, Mrs. C. H. Addington, Emma Gay Davis and Lotta Bruce Davis. Fraternally, Mr. Davis took a keen interest in the work of the Masonic fraternity, of which he had been a member for many years, and by his brethren he was held in the highest regard.
LAFAYETTE SMITH.
The subject of this sketch, a prominent stock farmer and a worthy repre- sentative of one of the old and respected families of Fayette county, was born on the farm in Eden township where he now lives January 9, 1858. The old home in which he first saw the light of day is still standing and in a fair state of preservation, considering that it was erected ten years previous to his birth. Whitman Smith, the subject's father, was born June 16, 1804, in Steuben county, New York, there married, when a young man, Phebe Ann Niles, who was also a native of that state. Shortly after their marriage, in 1855, Whitman Smith and wife came direct to Fayette county, Iowa, locating temporarily on a rented farm in Eden township, the land which Mr. Smith had purchased in the meantime not being in a condition to cultivate. The year following Mr. Smith erected the house referred to above and, moving into the same, addressed himself to the task of improving his farm. The land was largely covered with timber and a dense undergrowth and it re- quired a great deal of hard work to clear and grub it, but by perseverance the soil was finally reduced to a state of tillage and in the course of a few years the Smith farm was one of the best improved and among the most productive in the township.
Mr. Smith came to this state, a poor man, but by his energy, industry and capable management, succeeded in carving out a good home and acquiring a comfortable competency. His early experience as a canal hand in his native state and later as captain on a boat peculiarly fitted him for the hardships and rough usages of pioneer life and for a number of years after settling in Fayette county he appeared to succeed where others failed. His original farm, consisting of a quarter section of land on Crane creek, south of the village of Eden, was brought to a high state of cultivation by his labors and in after years he discontinued active work and turned the place over to the
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care of his sons. He lived a long and useful life, dying on July 18, 1885, at the age of eighty-one years, one month and two days, his widow, who was twenty years his junior, departing this life in December, 1907, aged eighty- three.
Of the nine children born to Whitman and Phebe Ann Smith, all but one grew to maturity, their names being as follows: Eugene, a farmer in Fayette county and a member of Captain Rogers' company during the Civil war, died some years ago at the age of fifty-seven. Eli, also a farmer and stock raiser, lives in Cushing. Oklahoma ; Alice is the wife of E. O. Felts, and makes her home in Sacramento, California; Ellen married M. Sweet and lives in Evans- ton, Illinois: Emmar, the wife of H. N. Roberts, lives in Eden township; Lafayette, of this review, being the next in order of birth; Seward lives in California : Henry Dorr, the youngest, is a citizen of Rockport, Illinois ; Dora, the eighth in number, died in childhood.
Lafayette Smith, or "Lafe" as he is more familiarly known, grew to manhood on the family homestead and received his educational training in the district schools. His older brothers and sisters marrying and leaving the home circle, the care of the farm fell to him and right loyally did he discharge his duty toward his aged parents. To reimburse him for supporting them during their declining years, the farm was deeded to him and he has since lived on the same and prospered, adding to the original area, until he now owns three hundred and seventy-four acres of excellent and highly improved land, practically all of which is devoted to stock raising. Mr. Smith finds livestock much more profitable than agriculture, being, as already indicated, one of the leading stock farmers of the county as well as an enterprising and public spirited man of affairs. He raises only the highest grade of stock. keeping upon an average of two hundred head of fine cattle, which he fattens and ships by the car load, his sales in 1908 amounting to two hundred and ten head, for which he received the highest market price. He makes a specialty of buying young animals, which he pastures until ready for sale, and in addition to cattle also breeds and raises a fine grade of swine, besides keep- ing on his farm at all times quite a number of excellent horses for draft and road purposes.
Mr. Smith is enterprising in the most liberal meaning of the term, has always stood for public improvements and endeavors to realize within himself his high ideals of manhood and citizenship. Ready at all times to assist in furthering laudable movements and measures, he has done much to promote the material interests of his township and county and every means for the social, intellectual and moral welfare of the community finds in him a zealous
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advocate and liberal patron. Politically. he gives his allegiance to the Re- publican party, but aside from serving as assessor of Eden township he has held no public office, although by nature and training well qualified to fill with credit positions of honor and trust. Mr. Smith has been twice married. the first time, at the age of twenty-nine, to Mrs. Nancy Parker, who died ten years later, leaving a daughter, Ertel, who is now the wife of Herbert Mumby, of Eden township. The second marriage was solemnized with Mrs. Floretta Alton, widow of the late Reno Alton, whose father, George Alton, was one of the first settlers of Eden township and a man of high standing in the com- munity. Mrs. Smith, who is a daughter of Thomas Blanchard, of Waucoma, was born in Wisconsin and came to Fayette county in early life, later becom- ing a teacher in the public schools, which profession she followed for several years with marked success. By her previous marriage she had two daughters, Edna Belle and Eva Viola, Alton, both teachers in the county, and her union with the subject has been blessed with one son, Gilbert Lafayette Smith, seven years old.
Mr. Smith erected his present handsome and modern residence in the year 1900 and now has one of the finest and most attractive country homes in Fayette county. Believing that wealth should be used to further the laud- able enterprises and make life as desirable as possible, he has been liberal in the expenditure of his means on his home, thus adding to its beauty and at- tractiveness, and doing all within his power to make it, to the inmates, the one happy and ideal spot, which they may enjoy now and which in after years they may remember as the spot where all the wealth of the heart and affections center.
ALBERT W. HYMAN.
The family of this name in Fayette county is of German origin. In 1848 William and Catherine (Smith) Hyman came from Germany and settled in Illinois, where the father died July 18, 1881, his wife surviving him until February 25, 1906. They had four children, Albert W., Charles, Carrie and William. Carrie married Chris Burkhardt, of Hawkeye. Charles G. was born at Sandwich, Illinois, in 1857, lived at Dwight about six years and at Gardner for three years. He then returned to the farm near Gardner for one year and spent the winter of 1868-69 in Wilmington, Illi- nois. In the spring of 1869 he removed to Fayette county. William, the youngest of the four children, resides at Shannon City, Iowa. About 1858 the family removed to a farm in Livingston county, Illinois, near Dwight.
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They came from there to Fayette county in 1869, when the father bought a farm in section II, Banks township, consisting of two hundred acres. On this place the children grew up, meantime attending the district and Lutheran schools.
On February 21, 1878, Albert W. Hyman married Sophia, daughter of Conrad and Dora (Menschunges) Niedert. Both of her parents came from Germany in 1848 in a sailing vessel, which took three months to cross the ocean. They settled in Cook county, Illinois. Before his marriage Mr. Hyman bought eighty acres in section 24, Bethel township, where he has since made his home. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen and, though he attends church, does not belong to any denomination. Mr. and Mrs. Wyman have six children : Carrie, Tillie, Minnie, William, Mary and Ida. Carrie married Atal, son of Perry Nelson, and lives at Starkweather, North Da- kota, and has one daughter named Anna. Tillie married William Schorn- horst and is a resident of Hawkeye, with one daughter named Mildred. Minnie married John Wier and resides four miles from Campbell, Minne- sota. William married Lizzie Jarchew and lives three miles north and three miles west of Sumner. Mary married Frank Schott and is a resident of Bethel township, west side.
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