USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 54
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Newton since 1905. He is a Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church. His family consisted of six children, an equal number of sons and daughters, namely : Henry, deceased; John W., of Richland township; Ada, deceased; Mrs. Ella Sharp; Louis C., of this review; Mrs. Emma McDon- ough and Mrs. Mary Sparks.
The subject attended the public schools in Richland township and grew to maturity on the home farm which he helped develop, in fact, he worked on the home place until he was twenty-six years of age, and he rented three hundred and twenty acres of his father when the latter retired and moved from the old homestead. In 1908 he bought eighty acres of the home place and there he still lives, operating the three hundred and twenty acres. He has kept the place under excellent improvements and well tilled, carrying on gen- eral farming in a successful manner. He is also the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in South Dakota.
Mr. Schnell was married on January 27, 1904, to Myrtle B. Rohdanz, a native of Jasper county and the daughter of Robert Rohdanz, who was one of the early settlers in Jasper county, having emigrated to this country from Germany, where he was born. Three children, sons, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schnell, Raymond, Wilber and Claire.
Mr. Schnell is a Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church. Through good management he has prospered and has all the modern con- veniences and comforts of life.
HESS D. PARSONS.
In all that constitutes true manhood and good citizenship Hess D. Parsons, one of the best known and most substantial of Jasper county farmers, is a notable example and none stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community honored by his citizenship. His career has been character- ized by duty faithfully done and by industry, thrift and wisely directed efforts he has acquired a liberal share of this world's goods, besides earning a reputa- tion which has never been clouded by the commission of a single unworthy act. He is a man of good judgment and pronounced views and while keeping himself well informed upon current events and taking a lively interest in all public affairs of his township and county he has never had the faintest desire to exchange the quiet and contented life of the cozy farm for the distractions and cares which usually come to the man who fills official stations. He has
HESS D. PARSONS
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worked hard for that which he now possesses, and knows how to appreciate the true dignity of labor and to place a correct estimate upon the value of money. Nevertheless he is liberal in his benefactions and stands ever ready to support with his influence and means all measures for the material and moral welfare of his community. He is one of our esteemed pioneer citizens, hav- ing cast his lot with the people of this locality when the wild prairie sod was mostly unused to the plowshare and neighbors were few, and here he has played most excellently his part in the drama of civilization.
Hess D. Parsons, well known proprietor of "Malaka Stock Farm," one of the "show" places of this section of the county, was born in Randolph county, West Virginia, April 17, 1843. He is the son of George and Susannah (Harper) Parsons, both natives of Virginia, the father born in 1802 and the mother in 1804. They grew up, were educated and married in the Old Dominion, finally emigrating to Jasper county, Iowa, where they became well established on a farm in Malaka township, and became prominent in the affairs of the same, and here they both spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1856 and the mother in 1902. Their family consisted of thirteen children, named as follows: Mrs. Almarine Holland, Marion, Mrs. Emeline Goslee are all deceased; Harper J. lives in California; the next two children died in infancy ; Mrs. Geraldine Mendenhall, and Mrs. Tamaranda Bank are both deceased; Hess D., of this review ; Susan Margaret is deceased ; George W. lives in Newton; Louise is deceased. These children were all born in West Virginia, except the youngest, whose birth occurred in Jasper county, and they were all practically reared here.
Hess D. Parsons came with his parents to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1853; the long journey being made in an old-fashioned "prairie schooner," and re- quired six weeks, many interesting incidents of this trip being recalled by the subject. There were no railroads in Iowa at that time and the country was wild and sparsely settled. The father entered land from the government in Malaka township, the subject now residing on the same. being in possession of the old homestead. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of as fine land as the county affords and this he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improvement and he has a commodious and attractive home and large, convenient barns and up-to-date farming machinery, in fact, everything about the place indicates thrift, prosperity and good management. He has been a careful student of soils, grains, rotation of crops, in fact, all phases of modern agriculture and he has been repaid by abundant crops annually. In connection with general farming, which he carries on extensively, he finds time to devote
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much attention to live stock. He has one of the finest herds of registered short-horn cattle in the state, and they are universally admired and find a very ready market at fancy prices at his annual sales which he has conducted at his farm for years. He is also a raiser of Poland-China hogs, but not the reg- istered class. He is regarded as one of the best judges of live stock in the county.
Mr. Parsons was married on February 16, 1869, to Mary Widell, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on February 3. 1845, and there she spent her girlhood and received her education, coming with her parents to Jasper county, lowa, in 1867 and here she has since resided continuously. She is the daughter of George and Mary (Milburn) Widell, both natives of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, the father born on November 20, 1816, and the mother on May 3. 1823 : there they grew up, received their education in the common schools and were married and spent most of their lives. They emi- grated to Jasper county, Iowa, upon the date mentioned above and here spent the remainder of their lives, the father living but a short time, dying in 1868, the mother surviving over thirty years, her death having occurred here in 1901.
There were six children in the Widell family, named as follows: Mrs. Sarah Ramsey and Amanda are deceased ; Mary, wife of Mr. Parsons of this review : Mrs. George Woods is living in Newton: Mrs. Ella Clark lives in North Yakima, Washington ; William K. lives in Newton. These children were all born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania.
To Mr. and Mrs. Parsons three daughters have been born, two of whom are living, namely : Lulu Jasper, born April 7, 1870, lives in Newton; Hattie. born April 20, 1874, died on December 22d of the same year ; Pearl Marie, born September 8. 1880, lives with her parents on the home farm, where she and the other children were born. In addition to a good common school educa- tion, these two daughters have received excellent musical training, each being talented in this, the highest of the fine arts; the youngest attended the State University of Iowa.
Mr. Parsons is a Republican in politics. He has ably served his com- munity as township trustee and as a member of the board of education for many years. Mrs. Parsons is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Newton.
Mr. Parsons met with the misfortune of losing his left arm in early man- hood while threshing; but this seemingly untoward circumstance did not thwart him in his life work, and nothing daunted he pushed forward with re- newed determination and has succeeded beyong the average farmer and stock man, having accumulated a splendid property and a competency through his
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individual enterprise. The Parsons home has long been noted for its hos- pitality and genial atmosphere and the family is prominent in the social life of the community.
JACOB VAN KAMPEN, JR.
Notwithstanding the fact that the kingdom of Holland is one of the smallest countries of the world, it has sent a large number of settlers to the United States. They began coming in the colonial days and while they have been content to remain along the Atlantic seaboard for the most part, they have branched out into almost all sections of the Union, to which they have been ever loyal, supporting our institutions and reverencing our flag ; in fact. they have shown a perfect willingness to follow it on the battlefields of every war from the Revolution to the Spanish-American, and since the independence which they helped to secure they have done their share in the upbuilding of their communities, for, appreciating the blessings of liberty, they have never been slow to recognize the possibilities that opened out in splendid perspective before all emigrants who should locate in this country. Accordingly large numbers of Hollanders have emigrated and now constitute some of our best and most moral communities. Of this thrifty and freedom-loving people came the subject of this sketch.
Jacob Van Kampen, Jr., one of the younger generation of farmers of Richland township, Jasper county, was born in Holland, on May 19, 1880. the son of Jacob and Nellie (Van Holland) Van Kampen, both born in Holland, the father in 1842 and the mother in 1837, and there they grew to maturity and were married and began life for themselves on the farm, also carried on dairying, and in 1892 they emigrated with their family to the United States and located at Pella, Iowa, where they lived a year and farmed. then moved to Jasper county and rented land for six years, during which time they got a good start and then the elder Van Kampen bought one hun- dred and sixty acres in Richland township, which he farmed successfully and in the summer of 1911 he retired from the farm and moved to Sully. a village in Lynn Grove township, where he is now spending his declining years in quiet. He and his good wife, after long years of hard toil, now find them- selves very comfortably established, owning a pleasant residence as well as their farm, the management of which they have turned over to their sons : Jacob, Jr., of this review, and Averd, each operating eighty acres. This ar- rangement had been made back in 1901, but the parents still lived on the
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place until this year, the old folks living with the subject the meanwhile, but the father did little active work. Besides these sons, there is a daughter, Mrs. Fannie Bruxfeert. Averd married, in 1901, Nellie Rykhoek and they have two sons, Jacob and Benjamin.
Jacob Van Kampen was twelve years of age when he came with the family to America. He attended school in Pella, Iowa, and in Richland township, this county. He was married in 1909 to Myrtle Bayls, who was born in Iowa. This union has been without issue.
Young Jacob Van Kampen has devoted his attention to farming since he was a boy, began renting when twenty-one years of age, and he has kept the home place well improved and well tilled. He is thoroughly American in his methods and is an intelligent and industrious young man, bearing, like all of his family, an untarnished reputation.
JUDSON S. BOOTH.
Jasper county can boast of no more progressive class of citizens than the large number of New Yorkers who have found homes within her borders. Many of them came here without any influential friends to assist them in get- ting a start and they were limited in financial resources, but, imbued with a sturdy independence and a laudable ambition to succeed, they have taken advantage of the wonderful possibilities afforded by this favored country. Gradually, step by step, they have risen to places of prominence in various lines of activity. Of these there can be none mentioned who deserves more favorable mention than Judson S. Booth, one of the substantial citizens of Baxter, who has lived to see and take a conspicuous growth in the develop- ment of the county, having had its interests at heart from the first. He is known to be a man of progressive ideas and an advocate of right living and is therefore eminently deserving of the high esteem and confidence in which he is universally held.
Mr. Booth was born at Napoli, Cattaraugus county, New York, June 17, 1848, and he spent his early boyhood there and in Illinois, but the major part of his life has been spent in Iowa. He is the son of Lyman and Alice (Pushel) Booth, both natives of the state of New York, where they grew up and married, the mother dying in 1851, when the subject was three years of age. The father emigrated west in an early day and his death occurred at Plainview, Nebraska, December 30, 1910, at an advanced age. Their family
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consisted of seven children, five sons and two daughters, namely: Albert, de- ceased; Mrs. Lucy Rose, of Saginaw, Michigan; Judson S., of this review ; Elmer, deceased; Elton lives in Texas; Ellsworth lives in Audubon; Alice is deceased.
Judson S. Booth was brought to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1853 and remained there until 1867, then came to Jasper county, Iowa, locating in Independence township and has been a resident of this locality ever since. In 1882 he removed to Rhodes and engaged in the lumber business and was also interested in the same line in Baxter, building the first business in the latter and he remained at the former place ten years. When he came to Baxter he found a prairie country, undeveloped. He came to the county empty- handed, but by industry and good management has accumulated a compe- tency. He bought live stock all over northern Jasper county and southern Marshall county. He is the owner of two of the best business places in Bax- ter, and until recently he owned one of the best farms in this vicinity, con- sisting of two hundred acres in Clear Creek township. He has been successful in whatever line he has directed his efforts and now as old age approaches he is taking life easy, being deserving of the respite and should enjoy the fruits of his former years of activity.
Judson S. Booth was married on June II, 1871, to Charlotte A. Con- well, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, August 24, 1853. She is the daughter of Clark D. and Rebecca (Toppin) Conwell, both natives of Ohio. where they grew up, were educated and married, emigrating to Independence township, Jasper county, Iowa, in the early days and here they spent the balance of their lives, the father dying in July, 1887, and the mother on November 10, 1910, at an advanced age. In the Conwell family were the following children: Robert, Ed, Charlotte A., wife of Mr. Booth, of this sketch; Henry, Carlos, Clark, Mrs. Sarah Guthrie and Mrs. Webb. For a complete history of the Conwell family the reader is directed to the sketch of Carlos Conwell, which appears in another part of this work.
To Mr. and Mrs. Booth have been born two daughters and one son. namely : Mrs. Carrie Downs, born in Baxter, May 5. 1873, is the wife of Horace B. Downs, the leading druggist of Baxter ; Mrs. Lulu M. Lane, born September 29, 1879, is living at Bigelow, Minnesota: Ed, born at Rhodes, Iowa, November 16, 1886, is living at Baxter. These children were reared in Jasper county, and attended the public schools at Rhodes and Baxter, receiv- ing good common school educations.
Politically, Mr. Booth is a Democrat and he has been more or less active in local affairs for some time. He has been a member of the board
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of education and the town council, both in Rhodes and Baxter. He was formerly a member of the township board of trustees for Independence township. Fraternally, he belongs to Unit Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Baxter, also Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, at Baxter; Mrs. Booth belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star at Baxter. They have a modern and neatly furnished home in Baxter, and have all the modern conveniences, including an automobile. They are great readers and, keeping their home well supplied with the world's best literature, are well posted on current topics, and, being genial and hospitable, they number their friends only by the limit of their acquaintance.
BERT HILL.
"Bert" Hill, the name by which he is familiarly known by everyone, whose initials are M. G., is a son of J. B. and Elizabeth (Stanley) Hill, than which no better nor finer family ever lived in Jasper county,. Iowa. Natives of the Hoosier state, they early came to Iowa and settled in Buena Vista township. Mr. Hill was a successful farmer and a good business man, owning at one time in the neighborhood of six hundred acres of land in parts of sections 2, 3, 10 and II in Buena Vista township, and at the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1900, at the age of sixty-two, he possessed four hundred and eighty acres. He was a man of great public spirit and one of the substantial men of his community. He left to mourn his loss a wife and eight children, as follows: W. E. married Emma Alum, and now lives in Idaho; Charles E. married Beulah Gibbs, and resides on a farm in Kellogg township; Mary, wife of E. M. Eubank, resides in Max- well, Iowa; Dora, wife of James Balmer, lives in Kellogg township; Bert, the subject of this review ; Howard married Clara Bobzin, and lives in Buena Vista township; Anna, the wife of Scott Smith, resides in Buena Vista town- ship ; Leslie is living in Kellogg, Iowa, with his mother.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hill, the mother, still retains possession of the old Hill homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, although residing in Kellogg. Most of the land owned by Mr. Hill, Sr., which descended to the children, has been sold and the family have invested in other ventures or lands in other places.
At this time "Bert" Hill is the owner of but twenty acres of land in Buena Vista township, but he owns a quarter section of good land in Faulk
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county, South Dakota ; he is also a part owner with his brother-in-law, Scott Smith, of a threshing machine outfit, and now owns two automobiles. He is a genial, good natured fellow-a "prince of good fellows." In 1898 he was united in marriage with Nellie Vance, and to this union has been born one child, a son, who answers to the name of Carroll, now in his eleventh year.
Living with Mr. Hill, and also farming, is his brother, Howard, born December 15, 1882, who, in 1904, married Clara Bobzin, daughter of Fred and Caroline (Bootmeyer) Bobzin, who reside in 'Kellogg, Iowa. Mrs. Howard Hill has two brothers, Henry and William, who live at home with their parents. Howard Hill began working for himself as a farmer, but afterward learned the barber trade, and in 1901 he sold his farm and moved to the city of Kellogg, where he worked at his trade until the spring of 1910, when he moved back to the farm, where he now lives with his brother, Bert. They have no children.
JACOB AUSTIN BRANTNER.
To Jacob Austin Brantner, one of Kellogg township's most enterpris- ing farmers, has come the reward that is always vouchsafed to honest and persistent industry, as is shown by his present confortable circumstances in life.
Mr. Brantner was born in Ogle county, Illinois, August 9, 1858, and he is the son of Michael and Mary (Philips) Brantner, the father born in Maryland, in September, 1802, and in that state the mother was also born in August, 1812. They spent their lives on a farm and became very well situated later in life. The father's death occurred in November, 1906, and the mother's death occurred . some years before, in December, 1899. They spent their last days in Jasper county.
Jacob A. Brantner, of this review, grew to maturity in Ogle county, Illinois, and received his education there and worked on a farm until he was eighteen years of age. In August, 1876, he came to Melbourne, Marshall county, Iowa, and there engaged in farming until 1878, when he went to Kansas, and remained there one year, then returned to Marshall county and lived there until 1881, in which year he came to Jasper county, where he remained fourteen years, working on the Summer Gales farm in Newton township. Then he moved to the Wayne farm in Marshall county, then back
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to Jasper county in 1902, having worked on the farm all these years. Mov- ing to the old Joe Dodge farm in 1904, he remained there two years. He also worked on the Wilson and Peterson place, remaining there three years, then located on his present place, known as the old Dammeier farm. He has improved the place and has a very neat home. The place consists of one hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Brantner was united in the bonds of marriage to Maggie States, who was born in Orin, Illinois, September 2, 1868, the daughter of David and Mandy ( Pierce) States, the father born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Orin, Illinois.
Politically, Mr. Brantner is a Republican. His family consists of two sons and three daughters, namely : Delbert B., born May 15, 1889; Della M., born August 25, 1890, married John Hann; Delsa Pearl was born May 13, 1893; Addie was born September 7, 1894 ; Marion W. J. was born December 3, 1908; they are all living.
The subject is one of a family of six children, the others being Harris, Samuel, John, Joseph M., Charles B. and Albin.
THOMAS SWALWELL.
Year has been added to year and decade to decade until nearly a half cen- tury has been numbered with the past since Thomas Swalwell, one of the lead- ing agriculturists and stock men of Jasper county and one of Clear Creek township's most worthy and substantial citizens, took up his permanent resi- dence here. Upon his arrival this section of the comparatively new Hawkeye state was largely an undeveloped region, awaiting the awakening touch of the sturdy pioneers to transform its wild lands into rich farms and beautiful homes, to found cities and towns, to establish churches and schools, and in many other ways to reclaim the country for the use of man. As a representa- tive of one of the early families that led the van of civilization into this favored region, Mr. Swalwell is eminently deserving of mention with the leading citi- zens of the locality, whose interests he has ever had at heart and sought to promote whenever occasion presented itself, and it is with pleasure that a re- view of his long, busy and useful life is herewith presented.
Mr. Swalwell is an American by adoption only, being a Britisher by birth, though most of his life has been spent among us, and we are always glad to claim kinship with those who speak our mother tongue. We claim him as our
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS SWALWELL
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own for this and other reasons, not the least of which is the fact that, while cherishing the Union Jack, he is nevertheless loyal to the Stars and Stripes.
Mr. Swalwell was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, March 19, 1844, and he is the son of Thomas and Harriet Swalwell, both natives of England, where they grew up, were educated, married and, in fact, spent their lives. The only members of their family living besides the subject are William and Mrs. Belle Drake.
Thomas Swalwell grew up in his native land and was educated there. Having had his youthful imagination fired by the stories of prosperity and opportunity in the great western republic, he emigrated to our shores upon reaching manhood, arriving in the state of Illinois on May 1, 1867, but re- mained there only a year, then came on to Jasper county, Iowa, where he has been identified with the agricultural interests from that time to the present, having been successful far above the average farmer. He went to work with a will, foreseeing a great future in these rich prairies, and by economy, per- sistence, good management and honest dealings he progressed from year to year, until he now owns two hundred acres in his home place in Clear Creek township, three hundred and twenty acres in Emmet county and one hun- dred and sixty acres in New Albany township, Story county. These farms are all well improved. well kept, fertile and desirably located. His home is commodious, well furnished, modernly equipped and in the midst of pleasant surroundings, in fact, his family enjoys every convenience that can be secured to make life worth the living.
Mr. Swalwell was first married to Jane Richardson, whose death occurred in 1871. only a few years after he came to this locality. To this union one child. Thomas Vernon Swalwell, was born. The subject's second marriage was in 1872, when he led Harriet Kimberley to the altar. She was born in Herkimer county, New York. June 1, 1852. For a history of her family the reader is directed to the sketch of Isaiah Kimberley.
To this second union thirteen children have been born, all but the eldest. Lot, still living, he having died when two years old. The others are, Mrs. Harriet Frances Oswald, born September 20, 1874, resides in Emmet county, Iowa; Mrs. Nellie Oswald, born November 23, 1876. lives in Story county ; Mrs. Ruth Vilas, born August 30, 1878. lives in Madrid, Iowa : James Weaver. born October 13. 1880; Jay B., born March 8, 1883 : Belva. born November 21, 1884, attended Baxter high school for one year and Drake University at Des Moines for a year, and is at present teaching school at Ogden. Iowa : Iva, born November 20, 1886, is teaching in the rural schools of Jasper county : Eva, born September 4. 1888, is also teaching in rural schools: Charles. born July
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