USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 63
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On April 4, 1889, Mr. Kling was united in marriage to Lena W. Castrof, a native of Jasper county. She is the daughter of Frederick Castrof, of Jasper county, who was born in Pommern, Germany, March 1, 1846, and who died in Jasper county, December 13, 1902. Her mother, Augusta ( Andress) Cas- trof, was a native of the same place. She came to America when about seven years of age and is still living near Killduff, Jasper county, making her home with her two sons, Frederick and Edward Castrof.
Mrs. Kling is one of four living children, namely: William, the first born, first saw the light August 26, 1870: Margaret Snell, wife of J. W. Snell, a farmer residing near Killduff, was born March 1, 1872; Frederick
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Castrof, whose wife was Effie Snell, resides on a farm in Jasper county. He was born July 14, 1876; Edward Castrof, unmarried, residing with his brother, was born July 18, 1878.
When Mrs. Kling's parents came here they could not speak a word of English, but two days after landing at New York began work, and shortly came to Jasper county, Iowa, in the year 1855. Here her grandfather entered land from the government, later purchasing more until he owned four hun- dred acres before he died, this being the farm upon which Mrs. Kling's mother now lives.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Kling are members of the English Lutheran church of Newton. Mr. Kling is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar and Shriner. He is affiliated with the lodge at Newton. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 73, at Newton. Mrs. Kling is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter No. 100, of Newton. She is also a member of the Daughters of Rebekah lodge at Newton and is a woman of exceptional culture and refinement.
Mr. Kling owns three hundred and twenty acres, besides his elegant home in the city of Newton and other interests. Both he and his wife are affable, kindly people, beloved by the great circle so fortunate as to call them friends. In politics Mr. Kling is a Democrat.
JOHN H. HARVEY, SR.
The history of Jasper county reveals the handiwork of many a great and noble soul who wrought heroically and unselfishly. Her smiling fields and splendid homes, her high-grade institutions, her happy, prospering people speak volumes of someone's steadfastness of purpose, of someone's strength of arm, courage of heart, activity of brain-of someone's sacrifice. But time, that grim obliterator, before whose destroying fingers even the stubborn granite must, in the end succumb, is ever at his work of disintegration. Be- neath his blighting touch even memory fails, and too often a life of glorious achievement is forgotten in a day. "Lest we forget," then, this tribute to the elder John H. Harvey is penned. Pioneer, early freighter, a public-spirited, brave, kindly, generous man, it is the desire of the biographer, as it must be of all who know him, that his deeds and his character be recorded for the benefit of those who follow after. By no means rich, as mere worldly possessions are estimated, he is rich in a thousand thronging memories of the rugged days,
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long gone, when hardy men stood shoulder to shoulder and fought to conquer the western wilderness. Hale and strong, although well past eighty, he may be seen, almost daily, moving about the streets of Newton, now a city, but, when first he saw it, a mere cluster of huts, set in the midst of the new prairie. A few there were who preceded him into this virgin country, but they are very few, Mr. Harvey having been numbered among its very first settlers. He freighted the first printing press to be seen in Newton, from Muscatine, and did many other useful things in the course of natural events, always doing whatever he could to encourage the growth of the county.
Mr. Harvey was born in Madison county, New York, January 15, 1828, and he is the son of Nathan and Oriel (Lyman) Harvey, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Connecticut. The paternal grand- father was born in Ireland. Nathan Harvey originally worked as a wool dresser, but, after following this occupation some five years, he began farm- ing, then, when his son, John H., of this review, was about four years old, he sold his farm and began keeping a tavern on the famous old Cherry Valley turnpike. This the father conducted for over sixteen years, the place becoming widely known to the traveling public. Thus the boyhood and young manhood of the son was full of that romance which clung so tenaciously about those early hostelries. Day after day he watched the wagons come and go which were bearing the emigrants from the east westward, and night by night he sat by the roaring fire-place and listened to many a fine old tale of adventure or senti- ment. But though the tavern had a public bar in connection and drinking was very common, he never touched liquor, and this fact, when we consider the easy freedom of those early times, speaks much for his sterling character.
When about twenty-five years of age, Mr. Harvey came to Jasper county and three years later his father came. In December, 1857, he built the house where he now resides in Newton. For a year his parents lived with him. He then moved to himself and later to Harrison county, Iowa, where his father and mother both died.
John H. Harvey was married when about twenty years old while living in New York, to Percy Ann Roberts, who died two years later, leaving three children, namely : Charles, who is now living in Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Mrs. R. N. Stewart, of Severs, Iowa; and Mrs. Eva Bodley, of Jasper county. When Mr. Harvey came west he left the children with his father and mother.
Mr. Harvey was again married, his second wife being Harriet Fenton, who died about eighteen years ago; to this union five children were born, all of whom are living, namely : Edward, William, John H., Jr., and Carrie L., all of Newton ; and George, who lives at Laramie, Wyoming.
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John H. Harvey, Jr., was born on September 7, 1871, in Newton, and he has spent his life in Jasper county. He is a painter by trade and since he was sixteen years of age he has successfully followed this occupation. During the last ten years he has been employed in the works of the Maytag Manufac- turning Company, the last nine years of this period performing very acceptably the duties of foreman of the painting department. He has charge of the painting of all the manufactured output of the factory. On April 10, 1895, he was united in marriage with Louise Miller, a native of Wisconsin and the daughter of Conrad Miller, both her parents being natives of Germany. They emigrated to America in an early day and settled in Wisconsin, later came to Jasper county, Iowa, and they are now living on a farm near Baxter, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. John H. Harvey, Jr., have been born two children, Harlan J., born April 17. 1898, and Edwena, a daughter, born September 7, 1903, her father's birthday.
Mrs. Harvey is a member of the German Reform church, and she and Mr. Harvey belong to the Pythian Sisters. The latter is very prominent in lodge circles. He is a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Newton, of which he is senior deacon, also Delta Lodge No. 53, Knights of Pythias, of Newton. He has passed all the chairs in this lodge and is at present one of the trustees of the grand lodge of Iowa. He is also a member of the Yeomen.
Young Mr. Harvey has been active in political affairs for some time, and in 1904 lie was nominated as Democratic candidate for auditor of Jasper county, but was defeated, though he made an exceptionally strong race, run- ning ahead of his ticket. At the spring election, 1909, he was elected to the city council of Newton, and, having made a most creditable record, he was re- elected in the spring of 1911. He has served his party organization in many ways and is a clean, energetic and capable young business man, having the trust and respect of all who know him. His sister, Carrie, is a popular news- paper woman, of exceptional ability and intelligence ; she is connected with the Newton Daily Journal, one of the leading papers of this section of the state.
Since coming to Jasper county, May 21, 1854, John H. Harvey. Sr., has spent nearly all of his time in the county. As a freighter he was once an im- portant factor in the early affairs of the county. For a number of years he hauled all kinds of goods from Muscatine to Newton. then, in 1859. he began freighting westward to Denver. In 1864 he turned his attention to farming. which he continued successfully up to sixteen years ago, since which time he has led a retired life, and, at peace with all the world. he is now enjoying that consideration and good will which a life well spent has earned for him. While
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never considering himself a politician, he has always taken the keenest interest in politics and in those great movements which make for the advancement and betterment of his fellow men. He has served the city of Newton as supervisor of roads and was for nine years constable, his duties taking him all over the country. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist. and politically, while he voted for Abraham Lincoln, he is now a Democrat.
The subject is one of seven children, but four of whom are living; they are : Miles, the eldest, died în New Tacoma, California; John H., of this review, was second in order of birth; Addison died in Harrison county, Iowa; O. B. lives in Ashland, Colorado; Emmet lives in St. Charles, Iowa; Mrs. Theodora Gee, widow of George W. Gee, lives in Oakland, California; Mary died in Harrison county, Iowa.
REV. JOSEPH ARNOLD.
Examples that impress force of character on all who study them are worthy of record, and the mission of a great soul in this world is one that is calculated to inspire a multitude of others to better and grander things; so its subsequent influence cannot be measured in metes and bounds, for it affects the lives of those with whom it comes into contact, broadening and enriching them for all time to come. By a few general observations may be conveyed some idea of the noble career of the late Rev. Joseph Arnold, for many years one of the best known ministers and attorneys of Jasper county, united in whose composition were so many elements of a solid, practical and altruistic nature as to bring him into prominent notice, who, not content to hide his talents amid life's sequestered ways, by the force of will and a laudable ambi- tion forged to the front. His life was one of hard study and unselfish indus- try, whose laborious professional duties in the various relations in which he was placed, led to a high position in the esteem of the public, which gave evi- dence that the qualities which he possessed afforded the means of distinction under a system of government in which places of honor and usefulness are open to all who may be found worthy of them. He passed over the troubled sea of life like a galleon through the phosphorescent Spanish main, leaving in its wake a pathway of illuminating radiance.
Joseph Arnold, son of Jesse and Mary (Pucket) Arnold, was born at Arba, Wayne county, Indiana, April 1, 1832, and there he spent his early boy- hood, removing to Henry county, Iowa, where the town of Salem now stands,
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in the year 1839, later moving to Jefferson county, and in 1843 located in Mahaska county where his father took a homestead on the first day that lands were thrown open to settlers, two miles east of the present city of Oskaloosa. his stock of farming utensils consisting only of an axe and an old-fashioned flint-lock gun; but he was a brave, hardy, persevering pioneer, who, in due course of time, established a good home in the wilds. In 1851 as a carpenter Joseph migrated to the Lynn Grove settlement in Jasper county to carve out his fortune. In the year 1853 he received from Franklin Pierce, then Presi- dent of the United States, his appointment as postmaster of Lynnville, and in the same year was married to Tacy Smith, of Palmyra. Warren county, Iowa. To this union were born six children, two of whom are deceased.
Up to the year 1861 the active business life of Joseph Arnold was one of marked success, at which time he received an injury to the spine, by being thrown from a wagon, from which he never wholly recovered. Being thus deprived of physical strength, but having a strong mind, he turned his attention from business matters to the ministry, and in 1864, after having prepared him- self for this new work during a time of great physical distress, he was ordained as a minister of the gospel in the Society of Friends, of which church he was a birthright member. He continued taking treatment of the best physicians of the country, but with little improvement, and he finally moved with the family to Oskaloosa in 1867 for the purpose of being continually under the care of a specialist. His wife died while living there in the year 1869, and he was subsequently married to Sarah E. Hawkins, of Oskaloosa, to whom three children were born. In 1852 he had purchased an interest with his father in the flour and saw mills at Lynnville, which interest he retained, and in 1872, having somewhat improved in health, the family returned to Lynnville and Joseph Arnold was the miller there for some time until he traded his interest for the property which was known as the Iowa House. The hum- drum life of a landlord in a small town was not to his liking, however, so, while looking after the wants of his guests, serving the town as mayor and the township as justice of the peace, he studied law, devoting himself so assidu- ously to the same that in eleven months after he began to read Blackstone he successfully passed the required examination and was admitted to the Jasper county bar. besides performing his duties as minister of the gospel. He was very successful from the first and soon enjoyed a satisfactory clientage, being known throughout the country as "the Quaker lawyer-preacher," and in his law practice the policy of Mr. Arnold was largely governed by the principle of arbitration, even to the frequent sacrifice of justly earned regular attorney fees. He was an earnest. persevering, cautious and unbiased advocate. thor-
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oughly grounded in the principles of jurisprudence and as a speaker, whether at the bar or in the pulpit, he was forceful, persuasive and not infrequently truly eloquent. Something of his popularity in his home community and the confidence in which he was held by the public may be gained from the fact that he was for fourteen successive years chosen mayor of Lynnville and he served a subsequent term of two years. During his long administration he did much for the upbuilding and permanent good of the town. He was not a politician in the usual acceptation of the term, but when an emergency arose he was always ready with his influence and personal efforts, indorsing all movements calculated to be of general good to the community and county.
Illustrative of Mr. Arnold's early tenacity for freedom and the rights of man, reference is made to his active part for the abolition of slavery for he was one of the first "stockholders, directors and conductors on the underground railway," which made it possible for the transportation of many slaves toward Canada and freedom. Again, when the campaign was on for the prohibition amendment he left his business and went out to stump the southeastern part of Jasper county for the cause of the home and right. His utterances on the peace question were so clear and well defined that he was made secretary of the American Peace Society and frequently represented the state of Iowa in the great peace conferences of the several states and thus he enjoyed a wide acquaintance throughout a vast amount of territory. He was regarded as one of the prominent ministers of the society in the United States and his services were often in demand in settling legal questions in which the churches were interested.
From the year 1851 until he was summoned to take up his work in a higher sphere of action, on September 7, 1904, Mr. Arnold was closely identi- fied with the public history of the county. In January, 1881, he drew up the organization papers for the Old Settlers Association of Central Iowa, and con- tinued as its secretary and most active member until his last illness in 1902. He was very proud of this organization for it was the first of its kind in this part of the state, and by far the largest. In all his business career he never allowed anything to interfere with his attendance at the mid-week service at the church, but would lock his office and attend divine worship.
Mrs. Joseph Arnold, a woman of beautiful Christian character and praise- worthy attributes, is still living at Lynnville, having attained the age of sixty- eight years. The children of this family were named as follows: Jesse died when three years old; Mrs. Abbie A. Ratcliff died in 1896 at the age of thirty-seven years; Mrs. Mary E. Styles lives at Brentford, South Dakota ; Mrs. Emma A. Dryden is a resident of New Sharon. Iowa; Raford L., of
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Newton, Iowa; Mrs. Ardilla Cattell lives in Pasadena. California; Mrs. Flora Gregory lives in Chicago; Mrs. Maud Gause makes her home at Lynnville ; and J. W. Arnold is a resident of Hoisington, Kansas.
Throughout his entire career Joseph Arnold was animated by lofty mo- tives and he made every personal consideration subordinate to the higher claims of duty. Broad and liberal in his views, with the greatest good of his fellow men ever before him, his conduct was that of the lover of his kind and the true and loyal citizen, withal a man of the people, who stood among the leaders of thought and molders of opinion and whose career was fraught with great good to the people of Jasper county and the world.
EMMOR E. IRWIN.
Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely necessary to success in life, and there are good reasons for the entertainment of such be- lief. The modest man very rarely gets what is due him. The selfish, aggres- sive man elbows his way to the front, takes all that is in sight and it some- times seems that modesty is a.sin with self-denial the penalty. There are. however, exceptions to all rules and it is a matter greatly to be regretted that the exceptions to the conditions referred to are not more numerous. One notable exception is the case of Emmor E. Irwin, well known business man of Colfax, Jasper county, who seems to possess just a sufficient amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the business world and at the same time not appear over bold; and as a result of these well and happily blended qualities, Mr. Irwin has won a host of friends throughout the locality of which this history deals, being well known to all classes as a man of influence, integrity and business ability.
Mr. Irwin was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, January 13, 1859, and he is the son of Robert and Mary ( Bales) Irwin, both born in Belmont county, Ohio, where they were reared and married. The father was a clerk in Ohio, but upon coming to Des Moines county, Iowa, in 1855 or 1856, he turned his attention to farming, having located on one hundred and sixty acres, twelve miles west of Burlington. He soon had a good farm, and there he continued to reside until 1865, when he moved to Tama, and that was his home until his death, about 1901, his wife having preceded him to the grave two or three years previously. They were an excellent old couple and could claim hosts of friends wherever they were known. There were six children in their family.
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Emmor E. Irwin, of this sketch, who was named after his maternal grandfather, Emmor Bales, a native of Ohio, received his education in the pub- lic schools of Tama county, which he attended during the winter months, working on the home farm in the summer-time, but he seemed to have a natural bent toward the business world, so he started in the mercantile busi- ness at Adel, Iowa, and in 1887 he moved to Oswalt, Jasper county, where he continued to run a store for four years with his usual success; then, in 1891, he came to Colfax and established a meat business which he conducted for five years, enjoying an extensive patronage. His next venture was in the livery business, which he carried on for three years. Then in 1907 he was elected county recorder, which office he filled two years, discharging the duties of the same in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Returning from the county seat to Col- fax when his term of office had expired, he became manager of the Colfax Lumber Company, which position he still holds, his business ability and straightforward dealings with the company's numerous customers having done much to further the prestige of the same.
Mr. Irwin, in his fraternal relations, is a member of Riverside Lodge No. 389, blue lodge of Masons ; Gebal Chapter No. 87, and the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Irwin was married on July 1, 1887, to Anna Bohlander, a native of Illinois and the daughter of Peter Bohlander and wife, old settlers here and a splendid family. To the subject and wife one child has been born, Clarence E., a graduate of the Colfax high school and now a teacher in the public schools of this city.
HOTEL COLFAX.
To her mineral springs Colfax owes much of her present prosperity, and to these primarily the building of the Hotel Colfax is due. James P. Donahue, its proprietor and builder, has been actuated in the building of the hotel by two motives : one, the care of the sick in a way to afford them all the advantages of modern science and the benefits of the curative waters of the mineral springs ; the other, to provide in the midst of beautiful natural surroundings a hotel with all the most modern and exclusive features, where the well may enjoy recreation, and by rest and correct living build up a stronger state of health. For the Colfax is an ideal place in which to spend a month in relaxation from business or social cares.
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The Hotel Colfax is situated to the east of the village of Colfax, one mile from the railroad station, and just twenty-three miles from Des Moines, the metropolis of Iowa. Access to the hotel may be had by the trains of the Rock Island, the hourly interurbans, and the hotel has its own electric line to convey guests who come in this way to its doors, or by automobile, for the hotel is only an easy hour's run over good roads from Des Moines. The visitor who reaches the hotel finds upon alighting from the trolley or automobile that he is at the summit of the highest hill in Iowa. Surrounded by natural forests, the wide lawns, traversed by shaded drives, slope gently away from the hotel, and the vast extent and heroic dimensions of the buildings create a feeling of restfulness and quiet. One in the mood of solitude may find it here, even though there are a thousand guests about the parks and piazzas.
The air, the scenery, the wonderful surroundings alone, without the min- eral springs, make the Colfax one of the most satisfactorily situated hotels of which man can conceive. From the Italian terrace you can see, on a clear day, eighteen miles over the shimmering river, the luxuriant forest, and the verdant fields. Walks passing through the hotel grounds in every direction enter and wind away through the forest which encloses the buildings. Among the many pleasant spots in the vicinity is Lover's Leap, overlooking a great precipice. On returning from a stroll in the woods the hotel greets the eye of the wanderer like a fairy castle of the olden days of enchantment.
The hotel is so complete in itself, with its garage and ice and cold storage plants, its electric power house, pumping system and laundry, so independent of the outside world, as aptly to be called a miniature city. The building is of Moorish design, a style of architecture so perfectly adapted to the beautiful surroundings as to seem to have been originated for them alone, and is abso- lutely fireproof in construction, and inside and out a color scheme is worked into every detail of wall, furniture, hangings and shades, as well as of towers and minarets, and the whole gives an impression of unity and completeness of decoration. The appointments of the hotel are equal to those of the most ex- clusive of this country or Europe, and the perfect service guarantees freedom from all petty annoyances of hotel life. In fact, the hotel is built on the plan of the most exclusive California hostelries, and run on the plan of an English country mansion.
To all the comfort of the hotel and the charm of its natural surroundings is added the curative and preventive properties of the waters of the Colfax mineral springs, which are the full equal of those sold from the famous Old World springs. The bath rooms of the hotel are unexcelled in equipment. the services of a medical adviser are provided for the use of the patrons, and every
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