USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 22
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WILLIAM JINKINSON.
There are certain qualities which every man must possess who wishes to make a success of any profession. Among these are honesty and determina- tion. The career of William Jinkinson, a gardener and commission mer- chant of Sheldon, Iowa, has been strongly marked by these two characteris- tics and he today enjoys a degree of success which is commensurate with his efforts. He has never known what it was to lay aside the cares of life and retire to ease, having been a hard working man all of his life. Because of his honest endeavor to lay aside a comfortable competency for his declining years and because he has spent such a life as to win the commendation of his fellow men he is eminently worthy of representation in this biographical volume.
William Jinkinson was born in 1860 in Woodford county, Illinois, and is the son of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Willie) Jinkinson. Benjamin Jinkin- son was born in Yorkshire, England, and after coming to this country set- tled in Lincoln, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. He lived in that county until his death, in 1889. Benjamin Jinkinson and Mary Ann Willie were married in 1856 and to this union were born ten children, five of whom are living: Alfred. of Gifford, Illinois; Mrs. Lillian Headquest, of Minne- sota ; Benjamin, of Sheldon, Iowa ; Mrs. Anna Monk, of Sioux county, Iowa. and William, whose life history is here portrayed.
After receiving his common school education in his home county in Illi- nois. William continued to live with his parents until he came to O'Brien county after his marriage in 1890. The first five years he engaged in the
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retail meat business and also bought and sold cattle and hogs in Sheldon and has always lived here since coming to the state. In 1906 he sold out his business and since that time has been in the vegetable produce business in Sheldon. He not only raises considerable of his own produce, but also buys and sells on commission in the city. He owns one hundred and forty acres in Floyd township and three hundred and twenty acres in Lyons county. Iowa. In addition he has one acre of ground and a fine residence in Shel- don, where he makes his home.
Mr. Jinkinson was married in 1890, in LeMars, Iowa, to Minnie Wolf, and to this union have been born six children, all of whom are at home. Ethel. Reuben, William, Rhoda, Earl and Donald.
Politically, Mr. Jinkinson is a Republican and has always been inter- ested in the success of his party. He has been an alderman in Sheldon, Iowa. for four years and rendered efficient service to the city. He and his family are attendants of the Congregational church and to this they contribute of their means. Fraternally, Mr. Jinkinson is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America. He is well known throughout Sheklon and O'Brien county. In the circles in which he moves he is held in the highest esteem because of his upright life and his wholesome manner of living.
NICK BLOES.
Prominent in the affairs of Floyd township. O'Brien county, Iowa, and distinguished as a citizen whose influence has reached beyond the limits of his immediate community, is Nick Bloes, who is a native of Germany and a successful farmer of the locality where he is living. Coming to this country at the age of twenty-two, he has built up his fortune solely through his own efforts and his achievements represent the results which can be gained by a poor man who directs his efforts along those lines where mature judgment and discrimination lead the way.
Nick Bloes, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Floyd township, this county, was born in 1859. in Luxemburg, Germany, the son of Martin and Elizabeth ( Hemmer ) Bloes, who never left the land of their birth. Martin Bloes was born in 1837 and lived the life of a farmer all his days, passing away in 1888. His wife was born on June 24, 1837, was married to Martin Bloes in 1858, and died January 29, 1912. They were the parents of nine children : Mrs. Susan Weber, who is a resident of Black Hawk county, Iowa ;
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Joseph, a farmer of Osceola county, this state : Eugene, a farmer of Mitchell county, lowa: Peter, a hotel man of Luxemburg, Germany: Mrs. Lena Smith, who lives in Minnesota ; Frank, a farmer of Montana: Nick, the sub- ject of this brief review, and two who died in infancy.
Nick Bloes came to the United States when he was twenty-two years of age after having received an elementary education in his native land. He first settled in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a year later went to Black Hawk county, lowa, where he worked out as a farm hand. In the meantime he married and in 1886 he rented one hundred and twenty-six acres of land, and about a year later decided to come to O'Brien county. AAccordingly he rented four hundred and eighty acres of land in this county and within a short time was able to purchase a quarter section of his own. He set out seven acres of orchard and grove trees and has made ten thousand dollars worth of im- provements on his farm. He has an interest in the Ritter Elevator Com- pany, of which company he is now a director. He is an extensive breeder of Hereford cattle and keeps from eighty to one hundred and twenty head of these cattle on his farm at all times. He also specializes in Poland China hogs, and is known as one of the best growers of potatoes in the county In 1910 he won the first prize on potatoes at the Sheldon fair.
Mr. Bloes was married in Black Hawk county, Iowa, in 1883, to Susan Nie, and to this union have been born twelve children : Mrs. Maggie Krogh- man, who is a resident of Osceola county: John, of the same county ; AAgnes, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she is a teacher in the schools ; Mrs. Lizzie Dillon, who lives in LeMars, lowa: Susan, of Osage, Iowa: Martin, who is farm- ing the home place: Victorine, who is at home: Joseph, who is attending the Catholic College at Ashton, lowa : as are Cecelia and Gregor.
Politically. Mr. Bloes adheres to the Republican party, and has always been interested in the affairs of his party. He has been road overseer for two years and is now director of the school board of his township. Relig- iously, he and all the members of his family are earnest and devoted mem- bers of the Catholic church at Ashton, and contribute freely of their means to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society. Mr. Bloes is a good example of the man who comes to our land from foreign shores without capital and without a knowledge of the English language, and yet, by his own determination and will power, rears a family to lives of usefulness and lays aside a sufficient competence for his declining years. He has been a faithful citizen of his adopted country and has measured up to the full standard of the good American citizen.
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REV. JAMES McCORMACK.
O'Brien county has been the home and the scene of labor of many men who have not only led lives which should serve as a lesson and an inspiration to those who follow them onto the stage of life's activities, but who have also been of important service through important avenues of usefulness in various lines. The honored and highly esteemed subject of this sketch is a man of well rounded character, sincere, devoted and loyal, so that there are many salient points which render consonant a tribute to him in this compilation. Standing as he does today as the head of one of the most important churches in O'Brien county, his labors have long been directed for the amelioration of the people of this community and rewarded with gratifying results.
Rev. James McCormack, pastor of St. Patrick's church, Sheldon, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born August 4. 1856, in county Langford, Ire- land. His parents were John and Anna (Brennan) McCormack, who lived all their lives in the land of their birth.
Father McCormack was educated in St. Mell's College, in his home county in Ireland, taking work in view of entering the foreign missionary field. He was a student at St. Patrick's College, county Carlow, Ireland. and upon his graduation from that college was ordained November 30, 1885.
Father McCormack at once came to Dubuque, Iowa, from Ireland and became the assistant at Ackley, in this state. Fifteen months later he was transferred to the cathedral at Dubuque, a position which he filled for the following two years. He then became the first resident pastor of the Ashton, Osceola county, church and had charge of the missions of Ashton and Sib- ley, in that county, as well as those at Rock Rapids and Largewood, in Lyon county. He first came to O'Brien county in 1890 and was pastor at Sheldon, but four years later was transferred to the mission at Alvord, in Lyon county. After four years' work at Alvord he was transferred to Sanborn, in O'Brien county, with the missions of Primghar and Hartley under his charge. Then, in April, 1910, he came to Sheldon, where he is still in charge. Since coming to Sheldon. he has erected a fine, large church, at a cost of forty thousand dollars, an edifice which compares favorably with any in the northwestern part of the state. He now has one hundred and twenty families under his charge at Sheldon.
Father McCormack has been an indefatigable worker since coming to this state, and has been of invaluable aid to the young missions of his
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church in this section of the state. He built the parsonage and first paro- chia? school in AAshton and taught there with three sisters of the Order of St. Francis from Dubuque. He purchased the land for the Catholic ceme- tery at Alvord during his administration in that town. He erected the first Catholic church in Primghar and remodeled the church and its property in Sanborn at a cost of thirty-eight hundred dollars. During his first ministry at Sanborn in the early part of the nineties, he raised money to liquidate a four-thousand-dollar debt which was bearing heavily upon the mission at Sheldon. He not only has the hearty support and affection of the members of his own church, but is held in high esteem by men of every denomination. because of his interest in the welfare of the various communities in which he has lived and worked.
JOHN J. O'DONNELL.
Among the most thrifty settlers who have come to this county with no other asset than willing hands and a strong heart, there have been none who have attained greater success than the descendants of the Emerald Isle. With these assets they have literally carved a fortune for themselves out of the black prairie land of O'Brien county. While John J. O'Donnell was not a native of Ireland, yet he had those sterling qualities which marked his father's career.
John J. O'Donnell was born in 1857 in Virginia and is the son of Thomas and Mary (Kennedy) O'Donnell. Thomas O'Donnell was born in 1831 in Ireland and came to America when a young man and worked as a railroad laborer. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate army a short time and made an excellent record as a soldier. After the war he re- turned to Massachusetts where he and his wife reared a family of seven children : Patrick, deceased: James, a retired farmer of California; Mary. deceased: Bridget, deceased : two who died in infancy, and John J., whose history is here presented.
John J. O'Donnell received his common school education in Virginia and Massachusetts and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time his parents were living in Massachusetts and John was working in a basket factory. In 1878 he left his home in Massa- chusetts and settled in Minnesota and worked on a railroad. In 1883 he came to O'Brien county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. He set out four acres of trees and since then has done five thousand dollars
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worth of improvements. He has been a successful farmer from the start and now has his place in a high state of cultivation. He raises good crops and in addition keeps a good grade of live stock.
Mr. O'Donnell was married in 1891 to Sarah Carroll, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Carroll, of O'Brien county. To this union have been born five children, Bernard, Emmet, Mary, Hubert and Margaret, all of whom are living at home with their parents.
In politics, Mr. O'Donnell is affiliated with the Republican party and has taken a deep interest in political affairs in his township and county. He has been a school director for twelve years and at one time served as justice of the peace. In these various official capacities he has served his people effi- ciently and faithfully. All of the family are loyal members of the Catholic church, to which they give their earnest support at all times. Two of his sons, Bernard and Emmet, are members of the Knights of Columbus and Mr. O'Donnell is a member of the Yeomen. Mr. O'Donnell is a fine example of a self-made man-a man who came to this county with nothing but a will- ingness to work, yet has succeeded in the course of thirty years in accumulat- ing a very comfortable competency for himself. He is a man who has worked hard for his family and has the gratification of knowing that in all of his career in this county he has never done anything which would bring upon him the censure of his neighbors.
SAM LINQUIST.
A descendant of one of the old families of Sweden and a worthy repre- sentative of that excellent country is Sam Linquist, a prosperous farmer of Carroll township. O'Brien county, Iowa. While he was born in this coun- try, yet his father was a native of Sweden. Sam has inherited all of those sterling qualities which have made the people of his land famous the world over for their thrift. He was born in Illinois in 1866 and is the son of Andrew and Sophia ( Longreen ) Linquist.
Andrew Linquist was born in Sweden in 1837 and was reared to the life of a farmer. In 1862 he came to Cook county, Illinois, where he worked on a farm and spent the remainder of his days. To Andrew Linquist and wife were born three children: Alfred, deceased; Katherine, who lives in Michigan, and Sam, with whom this narrative deals.
Sam Linquist received a good common school education in Cook county.
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Illinois, and then worked on his father's farm and on the farms of his neighbors until he was twenty-five years of age. He then rented lands and farmed for three years in O'Brien county. In 1895 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Carroll township and later bought one hundred and six acres in Grant township. O'Brien county. Since buying the land he has put four thousand dollars worth of improvements on it and thereby greatly enhanced its value. In addition to raising all of the crops which are grown in this part of the state, he also raises graded stock and makes a handsome addition to his annual income in this way. He is a director of the Farmers Elevator Company at Archer, Iowa, and is also treasurer of the Grand Trunk Telephone Company, of Carroll township.
Mr. Linquist was married in 1891, in O'Brien county, Iowa, to Matilda Tanner, and to this marriage have been born eight children: Alta, who graduated from the Sheldon high school and is now teaching in this county : Williard. Flossie, Nellie, Elmer. Charlie, Gladys and Marion.
In politics. Mr. Linquist is an independent, reserving the right to cast his vote at all times for the best man, irrespective of party affiliations. While advancing his material interests, Mr. Linquist has not neglected his duty to the body politic and has taken his part in the public affairs of his township. He served one term as township trustee of Carroll township, a position which he filled to the entire satisfaction of all the citizens. Quiet and unassuming in demeanor, Mr. Linquist has ever attended to his own affairs and because of this is highly regarded by everyone with whom he associates.
CLARENCE C. SCHAAP.
It is proper to judge of the success and status of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in his church, at his devotions, hear his views on public questions, observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization and thus be- come competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of such daily observation it would be out of the question for his neigh- bors not to know his worth, because, as has been said, "Actions speak louder than words." In this county there is nothing heard concerning the subject of this sketch but good words. He has passed so many years here that his
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worth is well known, but it will be of interest to run over the busy events of his life in these pages.
Clarence C. Schaap, a clothing merchant of Sheldon, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in 1875 in Ackley, Iowa. He is the son of Cornelius C. and Nellie ( Kuyper) Schaap. Cornelius Schaap was born in Holland in 1836 and was a seaman acting as shipmate on the sailing vessels on the high seas. In 1865 he settled in Freeport. Illinois, and engaged in farming and in 1867 he located near Ackley, lowa, and again engaged in farming. At the same time he began to buy and sell land, making a nice profit on his various transactions. He finally sold out all of his land in Grundy and Butler coun- ties and bought land in Sioux county, Iowa. He continued in the real estate business, buying and selling farins and city property, until he retired in 1900, dying in 1904. His wife, Nellie Kuyper, was born in Holland in 1837. To Cornelius Schaap and wife were born nine children: Cornelia, who died in Holland ; Emma, deceased ; Mrs. Mary Bos, of Hull, lowa : Mrs. Emma Bos, of South Dakota: Mrs. Cornelia Overkamp, of New Jersey ; Rev. John C., and Clarence C., with whom this narrative deals. Rev. John C. Schaap is a graduate of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a minister in charge of the First Reformed church of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Clarence C. Schaap remained with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, receiving a good elementary education. At the age of sixteen he began to work in a dry goods store at Ackley, Iowa, as a clerk and remained there for a number of years. He then went to Orange, Iowa, where he acted as an agent for the selling of sewing machines, pianos and organs. Three years later he sold out his stock and went to LeMars, Iowa, and clerked in a dry goods store. In 1905 he came to Sheldon and clerked in a department store for six years, and in 1911 bought an interest in a clothing firm which is now known as Hospers & Schaap. They carry from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars worth of stock all the time and has a large and increasing trade in Sheldon and the surrounding country. His store is equipped with up-to-date conveniences and presents a very attractive appearance. Mr. Schaap has an attractive home in Sheldon, where he lives.
Mr. Schaap was married in 1902, at Orange City, Iowa, to Katherine Vos and to this marriage has been born one son. Clare, who is now in the public schools. .
In politics, Mr. Schaap is a Republican and has always taken an inter- est in political affairs. At the present time he is a member of the board of education of Sheldon and takes an active part in the educational affairs of his city. He and his wife adhere to the Methodist Episcopal church and give
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their earnest support to it at all times. Mr. Schaap has been a hard working man and deserves the success which he has attained, which has been wholly through his own efforts. He is recognized as a public-spirited man who is always willing to lend his assistance to such measures as will improve the con- dit ons of his community. For this reason he is justly regarded as a repre- sentative man of his city.
WILLIAM A. SIMS.
It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legiti- mate and well applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance in a course of action when once decided upon. She is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and she never courts the loafer, only the men who have diligently sought her favor being crowned with the blessings. In trac- ing the history of the influential commission merchant. creamery man and representative citizen of Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa, whose name forms the caption of this review, it is plainly seen that the prosperity which he en- joys has been won by commendable qualities and it is also his personal worth that has gained for him the high esteem of those who know him.
William A. Sims was born in Delaware county, Iowa, in 1874. He is the son of Charles and Flora ( Eahard) Sims. Charles Sims was born in Clayton county, Iowa, in 1850, and is the son of Albert and Sarah (Joslin ) Sims. Albert Sims was born in 1830 in Pennsylvania.
Albert Sims, the grandfather of William A., whose history is here pre- sented, had nine children: Mrs. Harriet A. Park, deceased; William, who was killed during the Civil War; Hiram, who died in the Civil War; Mrs. Mary Horn, deceased ; Thomas, of Dakota: Samuel, deceased; Beatrice, deceased : Mrs. Phoebe Harth, and Charles, the father of William A.
Charles Sims remained with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age and then rented land in Delaware county and farmed for himself. He gave up farming and moved to Earlville. Iowa, where he engaged in the produce business in the spring of 1888. He then sold out and settled in Sheldon, Iowa, and followed the same business there for about six months. He then came to Hartley, Iowa, and engaged in the produce and commission business until he retired in 1905. He now owns a fine residence in Hartley. Charles Sims was married in 1873 to Flora Eahard and to this union have been born four children: Clara, deceased; Phoebe, deceased ; Arthur, de- ceased, and William A., whose history is here briefly set forth. Charles Sims
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has been a life-long Republican, but has never taken an active interest in politics. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity.
William A. Sims remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age and then engaged in the commission business at Emmetsburg. Iowa, for a short time, after which he went to Sibley, in this state, and en- gaged in the same business. He sold out his business at Sibley and came to Hartley in 1905. where he has since remained. In addition to his regular commission business, he is vice-president of the Hartley Creamery Company and handles all of the output of that firm. He is an enterprising business man, with keen business ability and a man who is absolutely honest in all of his dealings. Mr. Sims is a conscientious and hard working member of the city council.
Mr. Sims was married in 1901 to Nina Kroft. In his politics he is a Republican, but has been so busy with his interests that he has not had the time to engage in the game of politics. He and his wife are earnest men- bers of the Presbyterian church and render it their zealous support at all times. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. While he has been only a comparatively short time in business here, yet he has won the esteem of all he has been associated with by his frank manner and his sincerity of purpose.
WILLIAM LEMKE.
It can not be other than interesting to note in the series of personal sketches appearing in this work the varying conditions that have compassed those whose careers are outlined, and the effort has been made in each case to throw well focused light onto the individuality and to bring into proper per- spective the scheme of each respective career. Each man who strives to ful- fill his part in connection with human life and human activities is deserving of recognition, whatever may be his field of endeavor, and it is the function of works of this nature to perpetuate for future generations an authentic record concerning those represented in its pages. The value of such pub- lications is certain to be cumulative for all time to come, showing forth the individual and specific accomplishments of which generic history is ever engendered.
William Lemke, a merchant of Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa, was
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boru in O'Brien county in 1883 and is the son of Fred and Fredricka ( West- fall ) Lemke. Fred Lemke was born in Germany in 1843 and came to this country after his marriage and settled in Illinois, where he became a success- ful farmer and stock raiser. Later he came to Beuna Vista county, Iowa. and purchased eighty acres of unimproved land. In 1881 he moved to O'Brien county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land. which he just got improved when the tornado of 1882 destroyed every build- ing which he had erected. After this terrible disaster, he again erected build- ings and in a few years had recouped his losses. He died October 10, 1891. leaving a comfortable estate to his widow and children. His wife, Fredricka Westfall, was also born in Germany and died in O'Brien county, October 10. 1904, at the age of fifty-six. They were married in 1869 and to their union were born seven children: Rudolph, a farmer of Grant township: Anna. deceased : Albert, deceased : Mrs. Mollie Brush, of O'Brien county : Robert of O'Brien county : Mrs. Martha Eddington, of O'Brien county, and William, with whom this narrative deals.
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