USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 66
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Mr. Dales was married December 31, 1875, to Jennie E. Worthing, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of Thomas Worthing, a farmer who joined the Union army and was taken prisoner, confined at Andersonville and starved to death in prison.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dales the following children have been born: Mrs. Mary M. Watt, Mrs. Agnes Maud Bond, Mrs. Minnie Pearl Leonard, Mrs. Belva Lockwood Scow, Mrs. Ethel Newland, Bessie Zoe and William Vincent.
JOSIAH B. EVERLY.
But recently the gentleman whose name heads this sketch was a familiar and prominent figure in Newton, where his business relations for many years had been such as to make him known to many people and to gain for him a standing as one of the foremost business men of the county. He had reached an honorable age and lived a life full of usefulness and activity, never giving up to the messenger of disease as long as'it was in human power to resist, and his taking away left a void in the hearts of friends and members of his family which can not be filled, for there can never be another Josiah B. Eyerly.
Josiah B. Eyerly was a native of Ohio, and was born at Lexington, in Richland county, October 28, 1834, and at the time of his death, on March II, 1907, had reached the age of seventy-two years, four months and fifteen days. Eight of his brothers and sisters survived him: Rev. E. S. Eyerly, of Nor- tonville, Kansas; D. H., of Hershey, Nebraska ; Harlan, of. North Loup, Ne-
JOSIAH B. EYERLY
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTIM LENOX TILGEN FOUNDATIONS
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braska; George W., of Winterset, Iowa; Mrs. J. H. LaPella, of Earlham, lowa: Mrs. Alice Ferrin, of Welmore, Kansas; Mrs. Hattie Gamble, of Oklahoma, and Mrs. Mollie Low, of Stuart, Iowa.
The parents of Josiah Eyerly came to Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1845, where they resided on a farm until 1855, when they moved to Monroe, Jasper county, and their son, not then twenty-one, came with them. For a time he served as postmaster at Monroe, during the first year of the war. In 1861, when the third company was organized in Jasper county, he enlisted as a private under Capt. Thomas H. Miller, in Company B, Thirteenth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry. He was soon promoted to sergeant, and in April, 1862, was made sergeant-major of his regiment, on May 28th of the same year being commissioned as first lieutenant of his company. For more than three years he served gallantly in the army, always doing his duty as a soldier and an officer, and taking part in many of the hardest engagements of the war. On Novem- ber 1, 1864, he was mustered out, and he then spent nearly a year in the service of the government in reconstruction work. He then returned to his home.
In 1865 Mr. Eyerly was elected treasurer of Jasper county, on the Re- publican ticket, and served for two terms, with a high record for efficiency. He moved to Newton when his term commenced. On October 1, 1867, he was united in marriage to Charlotte Piper, who died on February 26, 1878, leaving one son, William Eyerly, now living in Newton. On the 27th of August, 1879, he was married to Zerua Townsend, who died on April 24. 1886. On September 24, 1889, he was married to Celia Grandrath, who bore to him four sons, Joe G., Fred S., Frank R. and John B., all living.
After retiring from the county treasurer's office in 1889, Mr. Eyerly remained in Newton, and for a time was engaged in banking, then for a num- ber of years served as city clerk. After retiring from this latter office he engaged in the real estate business. In all his operations he was successful. and was in all his dealings actuated by the highest honesty and uprightness, which gained for him the full confidence of the people. To him the word friend had a sacred meaning, and to any one whom he called by that name he gave the highest devotion and was loyal to him at whatever cost. But admir- able as were the characteristics which this man showed in his more public life, in his home the best qualities of his heart and soul were most manifest, in the tender love and care which he gave to his wife and children, whom he almost idolized and who returned his affection in like degree. Truly they suffered a great loss when this best of husbands and fathers was taken from them, but they hope to meet him hereafter and to renew their old association where parting shall be no more.
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Mr. Eyerly was a loyal Mason, being a member of all the degrees from the blue lodge to the commandery, and in his life he exemplified the noble principles of that order. He was one of Newton's men of influence, and that influence was always exerted on the side of right and justice. Generous to a fault, he always responded freely and bounteously to the appeals of the needy. In his life he left a high example and manly fortitude and virtue to his sons, and even better than the heritage of wealth which he left them is the heritage of the memory of his noble character.
FRED C. ANDREAS, JR.
The everyday life, with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunities for acquiring experience of the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant scope for effort and improve- ment. This fact was recognized early in life by Fred C. Andreas, Jr., one of the enterprising and esteemed citizens of Sully, Jasper county, who seized the small opportunities which he encountered on the rugged hill that leads to life's lofty summit where lies the ultimate goal of success, never attained by the weak, inactive and ambitionless. Mr. Andreas is carrying on the Bank of Sully with that discretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequence in definite success, and in such a man there is particular satisfaction in offering in his life history justification for the compilation of works of this character.
Mr. Andreas was born in Elk Creek township, Jasper county, on De- cember 20, 1875. He is the son of Fred C., Sr., and Mina ( Castorf) An- dreas. both natives of Germany, the father born on April 1, 1843, and the mother on June 23, 1848. The maternal grandparents of the subject were Charles and Anna (Wass) Castorf, natives of Germany, where they grew up and married and from which country they emigrated to America in 1858, locating in Jasper county. Frederick and Sophia (Rohrdanz) Andreas were the paternal grandparents of our subject.
Fred C. Andreas, Sr., grew up in Germany and there learned the black- smith's trade. In 1857 the family emigrated to Jasper county, Iowa, the grandfather buying a farm in Elk Creek township, where he lived until his death. He gave his son, Fred C., the father of the immediate subject of this sketch, eighty acres of land here, in view of the fact that he, being the eldest son, had helped his father since a small boy. Fred C., senior, kept adding to his farm until he had five hundred and forty acres of valuable land
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at the time of his death, on March 18, 1911, and he was one of the leading farmers of the township and one of its most highly respected citizens. He took an active interest in the affairs of the Democratic party, and served his township very ably as trustee and he was treasurer of the independent school district. He was reared in the German Lutheran church, from which faith he never departed. His widow is still living on the home place. The parents of the subject were married on January 1I, 1868. This union re- sulted in the birth of three sons and seven daughters, namely: Mrs. Emma Rohrdanz, Mrs. W. J. Kling, Mrs. Ella Sherman, Mrs. Martha Schnell, Fred C., William J., Mrs. Cora Talbot, Frank, Mrs. Mary Watts and Stella.
Fred C. Andreas, Jr., grew up in his native community and he attended the district schools in Elk Creek township. When only about twelve years of age he began driving a team on the home farm and assisting with the general work on the same. When twenty-two years old his father gave him one hundred and twenty acres just west of the home place and here the subject resided until March 1, 1912, when he moved to his commodious home in Sully and took active management of the Bank of Sully, of which he has been president since March 1, 1911. He had the farm under ex- cellent improvements and in 1905 built a commodious and pleasant dwelling. In connection with general farming he fed large numbers of hogs and bred and raised Norman horses of such a fine quality that they always found a very ready market.
Mr. Andreas is a Democrat politically and he has served as township clerk for four years and as assessor for two years, giving eminent satis- faction in each. He belongs to the German Lutheran church.
Mr. Andreas was married on January 10, 1900, to Amelia Marie Schnell, who was born in Buena Vista township, this county, on April 5, 1877. She is the daughter of August Schnell and wife, a highly respected family. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Andreas, Percy Lee, who died when six months old.
Mr. Andreas is a man of excellent business qualifications and lie has succeeded in whatever he has turned his attention to, being a man of sound judgment and wise foresight, and he is one of the well known financiers of his township, being president of the Bank of Sully, to which position he succeeded in 1911, upon the death of his father ( who had been president of the bank for four years preceding his death), and the duties of which he has discharged with a fidelity and ability which reflects much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of the bank. Personally, he is a very pleasing gentleman to know, cultured, well informed, genial and honorable in all the relations of life.
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HARRY D. TERPSTRA.
To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our great country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterizes the foreign element, both those who have come direct from the European nations and their American- born children. All will agree, after so much as a mere cursory glance over our forty-eight states, that they have entered very largely into our popu- lation. By comparison with their "old country" surroundings these people have readily recognized the fact that in the United States lie the greatest op- portunities for the man of ambition and energy. And because of this many have broken the ties of home and native land and have entered earnestly upon the task of gaining in the new world a home and a competence. Among this class may be mentioned the Terpstra family, of whom Harry D., a farmer of Elk Creek township, is a worthy representative; but he, being of the first generation in America, had the good fortune of being born here, thus avoiding many of the trials of his father, who had to master our language, get acquainted with our strange customs and be assimilated, as it were, into our civilization.
Harry D. Terpstra was born in Elk Creek township, Jasper county, September 11, 1873, near Kellogg, and there he spent his boyhood and at- tended the Mckinney district school. He is the son of Dow W. and Rosa (Napjus) Terpstra, both born in Friesland, Holland, the father on June II, 1842, and the mother on September 23. 1848. The latter came to America with her parents, John and Rosa (Plantenga) Napjus, and they established their home near Red Rock, Marion county, Iowa, in 1856 and there became well known. Dow W. Terpstra was the son of Watson and Sietska (Zuidma) Terpstra, both born in Holland. The paternal grand- parents of the subject of this sketch emigrated to the United States in 1850, and located in Lancaster, New York, and there they remained five years engaged in farm work, then the family emigrated west, settling in Marion county, Iowa, when that country was receiving its horde of settlers from the Empire and other Eastern states. Watson Terpstra became the owner of eighty acres of land in Marion county which he developed into a good farm. His eldest son, Dow W., began to work on the place when but a mere lad and there he grew up and married, later, in 1869, moving to Jasper county, this state, and here bought eighty acres near the hamlet of Killduff. Later he traded this for one hundred and twenty acres in Elk
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Creek township. Here he prospered and finally became the owner of four hundred and fifty acres. He farmed on a large scale and was an extensive cattle feeder and stock dealer. Accumulating a competency, he and his faithful life companion moved to the town of Sully in 1905 and retired from active life, living there until his death, on July 11, 1906, after a successful and well spent life, during which he gained the respect of all with whom he came in contact by reason of his model characteristics. Mrs. Terpstra now lives on part of the home place. The father of the subject of this sketch was prominent in the public affairs of his community. He was a Democrat and in religious matters supported the Reform Dutch church.
Dow W. Terpstra and Rosa Napjus were married on February 14, 1867, and to this union eight children were born, named as follows: Watson Valentine, John N., Mrs. Sietsk George, of North Dakota; Harry D., of this sketch; Albert L., Mrs. Rosa Dick, Mrs. Yetta Romans and Martin.
Dow W. Terpstra was a true pioneer, locating here in the days of the wild prairie which he saw transformed into a rich agricultural region, taking a conspicuous part in the same.
Harry D. Terpstra, of this sketch, early in life knew the meaning of hard work, starting to drive a team when only fourteen years of age. When twenty-one he began life for himself, and he remained under his parental roof-tree, working for his father until 1898, then moved to Sully and con- ducted a livery barn there for two years.
On November 22, 1900, he was married, and at that time he moved to Colfax where he opened a restaurant which he ran for six months, then moved on one of the farms owned by his father-in-law in Palo Alto town- ship, which he rented for two years. In 1903 he moved on one of his father's farms in Elk Creek township, where he rented for five years. In 1908 he moved on part of the old farm which he had previously bought. This excellent farm, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres, has been kept under a high state of cultivation and improvement by him and here he has met with encouraging success as a general farmer and stock raiser. He feeds four or five car loads of cattle annually, no small part of his income being derived from this source.
Politically, Mr. Terpstra is a Republican, and while he takes an abiding interest in the affairs of his communty, he is not a seeker after public favors, preferring to devote his attention to his farm and stock.
On November 22, 1900, Mr. Terpstra was united in marriage with Augusta L. Brodersen, who was born on February 26, 1874, in Palo Alto township, Jasper county, Iowa, and here she grew to womanhood and was
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educated in the common schools. She is the daughter of Peter and Caroline (Wulf) Brodersen, the father born on February 20, 1842, in Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, which province was formerly a part of Denmark. The mother was born on March 11, 1848, at Ratzwig, Germany. Mr. Brodersen spent his boyhood in his native land and in 1865 he emigrated to Davenport, Iowa, and three years later he came to Jasper county, locating in Palo Alto township. Mrs. Brodersen came to Newton, Iowa, in 1868 and she and Mr. Broderson were married on December 17, 1869. They are now living in sec- tion 34, Palo Alto township, where they have a pleasant home. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harry D. Terpstra: Leslie Dow, born December 27, 1901 ; Leah Irene, born November 1I, 1903.
Mr. Terpstra is one of the best informed men and one of the most pro- gressive citizens of his locality, keeping well abreast of the times and keep- ing his home well supplied with good current literature. He believes in adopting the most modern methods of agriculture, farms on the "intensive" plan and therefore gets the largest returns for the least outlay of labor. He is an excellent example of the thrifty second generation of Hollanders in the United States, and he has the confidence and esteem of all who know him, being a man who believes in following as far as possible, in his daily life, the Golden Rule.
BERT A. ROMANS.
One of the most active, enterprising and thoroughgoing young farmers of Elk Creek township, Jasper county, is the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch. Bert A. Romans comes of a family that settled on the wild Iowa plains when the Indians still roamed at will and the howl of the wolf and scream of the wild fowl were still heard. Members of both sides of the house were adventurous and enterprising and cared little for hardships, at least they did not permit obstacles to thwart them in their efforts at establishing new homes in new countries. Thus persevering, they succeeded where the less courageous failed and became well established and useful citizens. Many of their praiseworthy traits seem to have been inherited by the subject, for he has met with success in material things and has at the same time won a reputation for fair dealing and straightforward, honest relations with all the world.
Mr. Romans was born in Elk Creek township, this county, on January 16, 1878. He is the son of Asbury D. and Mary A. (Wood) Romans, the
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father born in Illinois on December 30, 1839, and the mother in Kosciusko county, Indiana, on February 2, 1841. The maternal grandparents of the subject were Eli and Elizabeth (Carr) Wood, both natives of Ohio, where they grew up and were married, and from that state they moved to Indiana, soon after their marriage, locating in Kosciusko county, where Mr. Wood became owner of a farm. It was in 1856 that the mother of the subject and her parents drove overland from Indiana to Jasper county, Iowa, with horses and wagons, arriving here in June of that year, their trip having been much pleasanter than those of other eastern pioneers to this country. There were several families in the party and a number of young people. The weather was most propitious and they all enjoyed the camping out. Grandfather Wood bought one hundred and sixty acres in Fairview township, this county, and there he lived until his death, having developed a good farm. He and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, the mother of the subject of this sketch having been the tenth in order of birth. She attended school in Indiana and grew to girlhood there. Her mother being in poor health, Mary A. took charge of the household work when but a child, her older sisters having left home upon their marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Asbury D. Romans were married on February 5, 1865, and they moved on the farm where the mother of the subject now lives in Elk Creek township, in 1869. Eight children were born to them, Bert A., of this sketch, being the sixth in order of birth, the others being named as follows: Mrs. Mehala Carney; Wallace lives in Mitchellville, Iowa; Frank, who was next in order ; Mrs. Jessie Butin, living in South Dakota ; Mrs. Laura Efnor lives in Newton, Iowa; Mrs. Edna Whiteman lives in South Dakota; Ora is deceased.
Bert A. Romans grew up on the home farm and when but a small lad assisted with the work during the crop seasons, attending school in the Pleasant View district. When twenty-one years old he began renting farms in Elk Creek township, thereby getting a start. In 1907 he rented land of Morris Cating in this township, and this he still operates, in connection with ' eighty acres which he owns near by, just north of Galesburg. He is an extensive hog feeder. Politically, he is a Republican and he belongs to the blue lodge of Masons.
Mr. Romans was married on September 21, 1906, to Yetta Terpstra, who was born and reared in this county. She is the daughter of Dow W. and Rosa (Napjus) Terpstra, both natives of Friesland, Holland, the father born on June II, 1842, and the latter on September 23, 1848, and when
-
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eight years of age the latter emigrated to the United States with her parents, John and Rosa (Plantenga) Napjus, who located in Marion county, Iowa, where the mother of Mrs. Romans grew up and went to school, and in 1869 she and Mr. Terpstra were married. Dow W. Terpstra was the son of Watson and Sietska (Zuidma) Terpstra, natives of Holland, from which country they emigrated to the state of New York in 1850, where they lived five years, then came to Marion county, Iowa, obtained raw land and on this Dow W. grew. up and worked hard. After his marriage he came to Jasper county and bought eighty acres, which he later traded for one hundred and twenty acres in Elk Creek township and here became a substantial, well known citizen, owning four hundred and fifty acres, and for years he was one of the largest cattle feeders on the county. Retiring from active life in 1905, he moved to Sully, this county, and there his death occurred on July II, 1906. His widow is now living on a part of the old homestead.
Mrs. Romans is one of a family of eight children, the others being, Wat- son Valentine: Mrs. Sietska George, of North Dakota: Harry D., of Elk Creek township: Albert L., Mrs. Rose Dick and Martin.
GEORGE HENDRICKS.
It makes a wonderful difference in a man's life whether he earns his property by severe toil or by easy methods, or has it bequeathed to him by some industrious kinsman, for our personal habits are determined in no small measure by the manner in which we become the possessor of material things. People of all occupations should be thrifty enough to take care of what they have, no matter how they obtained it, for they have others to consider -children who have the right to demand of their parents that they save the property left to them by ancestors. Such is a family inheritance, which no member has the right to dissipate. One of the thrifty families of Jasper county who have been careful both as to how they secured their property and its retention is the Hendrickses, of whom George, of Elk Creek township, is a worthy representative.
Mr. Hendricks is a native of the community in which he still resides, having been born here on November 25, 1874. Here he grew to manhood and obtained his education in the Brown district schools, and he spent his summers engaged in farm work for his father, making a regular hand in the fields when only twelve years of age, and the early discipline he received has
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been of great benefit to him in his subsequent career. He remained at home until his marriage, on October 23, 1901, then the father deeded to the subject eighty-seven acres of the homestead and there young Hendricks established himself, improving the place generally and remodeled the house. He has prospered through close application to his work and has since added eighty acres in section 23, Elk Creek township. In connection with general farming he pays special attention to raising live stock and breeds Hereford cattle. He has a good farm which he takes a deep interest in and which yields abundant harvests under his management.
Politically, Mr. Hendricks is a Democrat in principle. He has been justice of the peace and treasurer of Independence school district. Re- ligiously he belongs to the Lutheran church.
Mr. Hendricks was married to Hattie Castorf on the date mentioned above. She was born in Lynn Grove township, Jasper county, Iowa, May 8, 1881, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Clifford, who died September 17, 1904, was born on November 9, 1903; Willie Frederick, born January 14, 1906; Freeman Charles, born February 2, 1908; Bernice, born November 22, 19II.
For a complete record of the subject's parents, Fred and Margaret (Kling) Hendricks, the reader is directed to their sketch appearing elsewhere in this volume.
FRED HENDRICKS.
From forty to sixty years ago it must have been the rule and not the exception to see farms in Jasper county in all directions in various stages of improvement, some in which the log cabin stood on the bare prairie or in the little clearing of half an acre, some with a tract of from five to twenty acres, newly broken and with a hewed or rough bark house, perhaps a double one; some with still more acres upturned to the genial skies and basking in the life-giving sunshine. On nearly all farms were to be seen for years after the first work had been done spots which the farmer thought it necessary to avoid on account of thick, heavy stumps, and low wet places, needing drain- age ditches. Today a great difference is noted. On all these old fields something is growing, the soil having long ago been reclaimed from the wild. Fred Hendricks, one of our prosperous and most progressive farmers, passed through just such hardships and trying experiences, lived through the
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