USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 30
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John Blahauvietz was born in Michigan in 1869 and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Blahauvietz. His father was born in Germany in 1804 and settled in Michigan, where he lived until his death. Jacob Blahauvietz and wife were the parents of six children: Vence, who is in the employ of a brick yard in Michigan; Joseph, a machinist of Michigan; Frank; Albert ; Charles, and John, with whom this narrative deals.
John Blahauvietz has made his own way since he was twelve years of age, starting in at that early age as a horse driver in a brick yard at Detroit. Michigan. He worked for five years. At the age of nineteen he left home and came to O'Brien county, where he worked for six years as a farm la- borer. He then rented land in Benton county and farmed for four years, after which he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Carroll county, Iowa. He improved this land and in three years sold it out at a good profit and invested his money in one hundred and sixty acres of land in O'Brien county. Since purchasing his farm in O'Brien county. in 1904, he has made seven thousand dollars worth of improvements upon it. While raising all of
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the crops which are common to this locality, he has made a specialty of the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs. He owns a share in the Farmers Elevator Company at Sanborn.
Mr. Blahauvietz was married in 1898 to Mary Reisser, and to this union have been born two children, William and Margaret, both of whom are now attending the high school at Sanborn. Politically, Mr. Blahauvietz is a Re- publican and has been active in civic and public affairs of his township and is now serving as a school director in Franklin township. He has always taken an interest in public affairs and gives his support to such movements as he feels will benefit his community. He and his family are loyal members of the Presbyterian church and render it their support at all times. Fraternally. he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
ALBERT H. WEINKE.
America is known the world over as the land of opportunity, and this fact accounts for the millions of people who come to our shores each year seeking new homes. They come from practically every quarter of the globe and while all of them do not make good citizens, yet within the course of a few years the majority of them become imbued with the true Ameri- can spirit and settle down to lives of usefulness. There is one country in Europe, however, whose citizens are always acceptable in any con- munity, and O'Brien county, Iowa, is proud of her numerous German citi- zens, all of whom have been important factors in the upbuilding of this county.
Albert H. Weinke, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Franklin township, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in Germany in 1859. His father was born in 1819 and his mother in 1831, and both of them lived all of their days in the land of their birth. William and Katherine ( Pankie) Wienke, the parents of Albert H. Weinke, had a family of thirteen chil- dren, only six of whom are living, and of the six children living, Albert is the only one who has made his home in America. The other five chil- dren. William, Augustus, Julius, Herman and Mrs. Alvira Frederick, live in their native land of Germany.
Albert H. Weinke received 'a good common school education in the schools of his native land and when twenty-two years of age decided to come to America to seek his fortune. He first settled in Wisconsin and for
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six years worked on a farm in that state. In 1881 he came to O'Brien county and worked out as a farm laborer for six years, after which he rented land for a period of seven years. after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Franklin township, where he now lives, and has put extensive improvements upon this tract so that its value has greatly increased. He keeps his farm to the highest standard of agri- cultural excellence and by its general appearance of neatness and prosperity makes a favorable impression on the passerby. In addition to carrying on a general system of diversified farming he also engages extensively in the breeding of live stock, which he finds a profitable source of income.
Mr. Weinke was married in 1888 to Antonie Mell and to this union have been born six children, William. Henry, Hetty, AAnna, Elsie and Edwin William is living in Dakota and the other five children are still living with their parents on the farm. Mr. Weinke is an earnest advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, but has never felt inclined to take an active part in political affairs. He and the members of his family are zealous and faithful members of the German Lutheran church, to which they give a liberal support. Personally, Mr. Weinke enjoys a wide popularity for he has taken an intelligent interest in the welfare of his community and has at all times given his earnest support to everything tending to advance the welfare of his fellow men. Courteous and kind to all, broad-minded in his views of men and events, it is a compliment worthily bestowed to speak of him as one of the representative citizens of his locality, and he enjoys, to a marked degree. the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
JOHN PROTEXTOR.
Among the substantial men of Franklin township, O'Brien county, Iowa, whose labor and influence have given an impetus to the agricultural interests and general material welfare of the county, there is no one who occupies a higher place in the esteem of his community than John Protextor, a prosper- ous farmer and stock raiser of Franklin township. Connected as he has been with the history of his county for the past thirty-three years, he has been a forceful factor in agricultural circles and a leading citizen in all that con- cerns the public good.
John Protextor was born in Bremer county, Iowa, in 1867 and is the son of George and Charlotte (Ehrke) Protextor. George Protextor was
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born in Germany in 1834 and when a young man settled in Illinois and was employed as a brakeman on the railroad in that state. He enlisted in Com- pany B, Twelfth Régiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Davis, Illinois, 011 September 29, 1864, and served until he was discharged at Washington, D. C., on June 3, 1865. On coming back to Illinois after the war he con- tintied to follow the occupation of a brakeman for several years, when he re- signed and went to Bremer county, Iowa. After farming in this county for three years he bought land in Grundy county, Iowa, and farmed it for ten years. In 1881 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of prairie land in Franklin township, O'Brien county, but five years later sold it at a good profit and moved to Sheldon, where he worked for the Springfield Land Company and operated a hotel for the next twelve years, and is now living a retired life at Sibley, Iowa. George Protextor was married in 1858 to Charlotte Ehrke and to this union have been born twelve children : Charles, deceased; Frank, deceased ; Louise, deceased; George W., a land agent of Sibley, Iowa; Mrs. Ella Julian, of Rock Rapids, Iowa; William, a farmer of Lake Wilson, Min- nesota ; Henry, of Little Rock, Iowa: Mrs. Flora Johnson, of Noble county, Minnesota; Walter, of Little Rock, Iowa: Daniel, of Minnesota; Christ, de- ceased, and John, whose history forms the theme of this narrative.
Jolin Protextor received a good common school education in the schools of Iowa and remained with his parents until eighteen years of age. He then worked as a farm hand for three years, after which he rented land and lived upon it for three years. He then purchased eight acres of land in Lyons county, in this state, which he sold two years later and at once invested in Franklin township, O'Brien county, buying one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land for seventeen dollars an acre and has made about eight thousand dollars worth of improvements on the land since acquiring it. He has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser since coming to this county and has added to his farm from time to time until he now owns three hundred and sixty acres of land in Franklin township. He is an extensive raiser of live stock and makes a specialty of good cattle and horses and Duroc Jersey hogs. He owns a share in the Farmers Elevator at Sanborn and was the manager of the elevator for two years.
Mr. Protextor was married in 1887 to Anna Getting and to this union have been born three children: Mrs. Clara Dingel, a graduate of the San- born high school: Earl, a graduate of the Sanborn high school and now as- sisting his father on the farm, and Emmett, in school. Politically, Mr. Pro- textor has always been a Republican, but his heavy agricultural interests have prevented him from taking an active part in political affairs. He and
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his family are attendants of the Presbyterian church and render it their hearty support at all times. Mr. Protextor is not only an excellent man. personally and in business affairs, but in the civic life of his community he has taken a large interest and gives his support to every movement which is for the advancement of the educational, moral and social welfare of his citizens.
ALBERT V. BRADY.
Among the younger agriculturists of O'Brien county, Iowa, who are rapidly forging to the front as successful farmers, there is no one who is more deserving of mention in this volume than .Albert Verne Brady, a farmer and live-stock man of Sanborn. He was born September 9. 1885, in San- horn, and is the son of Ezra M. and Clara .A. ( Roberts) Brady.
Ezra M. Brady was born March 29. 1845. in Hamden. Geauga county, Ohio, and was one of the early pioneers of O'Brien county. Iowa, coming to this county in an early day. He was the son of Barney Brady, whose father was a native of Ireland. Ezra M. Brady came to Iowa in the sixties and settled in Waterman township. O'Brien county. He was a member of the board of county supervisors early in the history of the county and later kept a mercantile establishment at Primghar. He was one of the very few business men who did not go into bankruptcy during the famous "grass- hopper" years. He rose to a prominent place in his county and even in the councils of his state. He was one of the leaders of his party and served two terms in the General Assembly of Iowa, and was a leader in Republican poli- tics for many years. He removed from Primghar to Sanborn, where he con- ducted a general store for several years. In addition to his mercantile inter- ests, he was a live stock breeder and shipper. He had large holdings of land. on which he wouldl place sheep. which he bought in the West. He was the owner of four hundred and thirty-seven acres in O'Brien county and five hundred acres in the state of Minnesota at the time of his death. Clara A. Roberts, the wife of Ezra M. Brady, was born in Filmore county, Minnesota, June 27. 1859, and was married to Mr. Brady on April 28, 1881, and to this union there were born five children: Ralph Ray, who died in infancy: Eva Myrtle, a teacher in the Fort Dodge schools; Albert Verne, whose history is here presented; Ezra McKlimm, who was born January 1, 1888, and is now living in Mason City, Iowa, and Lawrence William, who was born June I. 1897, and is now attending school at Fort Dodge.
EZRA M. BRADY
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Albert Verne Brady was educated in the schools of Sanborn and gradu- ated from the high school at that place. He then studied at the business college at Spencer. Iowa, and later attended the State University of Iowa. His college education was interrupted by the death of his father on August 26, 1906, when he was called home to take charge of his father's large estate. He continued in the same general line of farming which his father had found profitable, the buying and feeding of live stock, and he is a large feeder of live stock, particularly of sheep, annually feeding from one thousand five hundred to two thousand head for the markets. He is the owner of two hundred acres of land, besides having general charge of the extensive inter- ests of his father.
Mr. Brady was married January 1, 1910, to Margaret King, of San- born, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. King, the former being one of the oldest railroad men in Sanborn, and to this marriage there has been born one child, Verne, Jr., born June 2, 1913.
Politically, Mr. Brady is a Democrat, but has never held any public position other than that of being a member of the Sanborn school board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has attained to the thirty-second degree and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine at Sioux City. He and his wife are attendants of the Presbyterian church, and contribute liberally of their substance and time to its support.
JOHN J. DELAN.
Far-away Norway has furnished but few residents for O'Brien county. Iowa. Those who have made this county their home have prospered to an unusual degree. The same spirit still animates the people of that country which induced them to cross the unknown Atlantic in the year 1000 to the bleak coast of northern North America. During the Middle ages the people of Norway and Sweden were great sea rovers and from the time of the Saxon invasion in the sixth century the people of Norway have been important fac- tors in the history of Europe. No more prosperous people are found in Ett- rope today than are the people of Norway, and the same holds true of those who have made their homes in O'Brien county.
John J. Delan was born in Norway in 1859 and is the son of John and Julia Delan. John Delan was born in that country in 1827, married in the land of his birth and lived there on a farm for several years after his mar-
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riage. In 1869, hoping to better his condition, he brought his family to America and immediately came overland to Benton county, Iowa, where he began to homestead a farm. For ten years he followed the vocation of a farmer in Benton county, and then retired from active life and moved to O'Brien county, where he lived with his children, Julia and Jobn, until his death. John Delan and wife were the parents of three children : Mrs. Julia Axtel, whose husband is a farmer in this county; Ole, deceased, and John J., whose life history forms the theme of this narrative.
John J. Delan received his elementary education in the schools of his native land of Norway and although he was only ten years of age when his parents came to this country he had but little opportunity for schooling in the region where his parents settled in Iowa. At the age of twelve he began to work out by the day and continued to work in Benton county, Iowa, at farm labor until 1887, when he came to O'Brien county and invested his savings in two hundred acres of prairie land. Two years later he married and from that time his prosperity has been assured. He has put eight thou- sand dollars worth of improvements on his farm since acquiring it and has made it one of the most productive farms in the township. He is an exten- sive breeder of graded stock, including Shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Norman horses, and, in common with most of the farmers of this locality. owns a share in the Elevator Company at Sanborn.
Mr. Delan was married in 1889 to Julia Ellingson, and to this union have been born four children: Elmer, who is assisting his father on the home farm : Ida, who is a teacher in the schools of Lincoln township. O'Brien county ; John and Clarence, who are still under the parental roof. Mr. Delan is independent in his politics, believing that the citizen who serves his coun- try best votes for the best man, irrespective of their politics. He has always taken a prominent part in all public affairs in his township and county and for six years was trustee of Franklin township. During his incumbency he gave eminent satisfaction in the conduct of his office and thereby won the commendation of all the citizens of his township. He and the members of his family are zealous adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church and render to it earnest and faithful support at all times. Mr. Delan has estab- lished a reputation for honorable dealing and just treatment of his fellow citizens and has never violated the confidence which they have reposed in him. Quiet and unassuming, he has never been a seeker for public office and only served in the office of township trustee at the earnest solicitation of his many friends.
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OTTO KIRCHHOF.
There are some men who win in life's battle by sheer force of per- sonality and determination and have to make their own way, unaided, from the bottom of the ladder. On the other hand there are many good men who must inherit half of this world's goods in order to make them inde- pendent from the beginning of their career. To the former class of citi- zens belongs Otto Kirchhof, of Sutherland, Iowa, and who has shown his ability and integrity in everything which he has undertaken. Thirty years of his life have been spent in this city and he has never failed to lend his aid in defending principles affecting the public good. He has ably and conscientiously served his city as mayor, and in every phase of civic life he has so ordered his course that he has earned the unqualified endorse- ment and support of his fellow citizens.
Otto Kirchhof was born in Germany in 1841 and is the son of Henry and Fredrica ( Peterson) Kirchhof. The father was born in Germany in 1797 and lived the life of a druggist there, dying in 1876. His wife, Fred- rica Peterson, was born in 1815 and died in the land of her birth in 1907. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kirchhof: Otto, whose history is here given, the only one to leave his native land for this country ; the other three children are still living in Germany, Mrs. Maud Schichting, Mrs. Louise Peterson and Antone.
Otto Kirchhof received a good common school education in his native country and at the age of twenty-two decided that he wanted to come to America. He had heared about the fortunes which were made in this country and felt that here was an opportunity which should be investigated. Ac- cordingly he came to this country and at once settled in Davenport, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for three years. He then managed a stone quarry in Clinton county, Iowa, for a year, after which he went to Grundy county and farmed for eight years. In 1884 he came to Sutherland and for the next twenty-one years operated a retail meat market in this city. In 1905 he disposed of his interest in the meat market and retired from active life. He now owns a beautiful home in Sutherland and until recently owned one hundred and forty acres of land in O'Brien county. He is one of the stockholders of the Farmers Elevator Company of Sutherland.
Mr. Kirchhof was married in 1883 to Bertha Homfeldt and to this union have been born two children, Frieda, a clerk in the postoffice at Suther- land, and Antonia, clerking in one of the stores at Sutherland.
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Mr. Kirchhof has been a stanch Democrat since becoming a naturalized citizen in this country and has always taken an active interest in political affairs. He was mayor of the city of Sutherland for six years and took a prominent part in bringing the city to its present state of prosperity and all public improvements were given his hearty support at all times. He and the members of his family are earnest adherents of the German Lutheran church and subscribe liberally to the support of that denomination. Fraternally. he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Kirchhof has so ordered his life as to command the confidence, respect and esteem of the citizens of his community and, being a man of honorable business methods and advocating whatever tends to promote the public welfare. he has justly earned the title of a representative man in his community.
SLICK & MCFARLAND.
Among the various business enterprises of the city of Sutherland. O'Brien county, Iowa, which have been effective in raising the standard of refinement and education throughout the community, none perhaps are more deserving of special mention than the firm of printers and publishers whose name forms the caption to this article. Of John N. Slick, the senior mem- ber of the firm, improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of his character, and he is one of the best known and most influen- tial citizens of the community. He has not only been interested in advanc- ing his individual affairs, but his influence has been exerted for the like benefit of those about him. He has been an industrious man all his life. striving ever to keep abreast of the times in every respect and, as a result. every mile post of the years he has passed has found him further advanced toward the goal of his desires. Associated with him in the business enter- prise in question is his son-in-law, Elmer McFarland, a young men of sterling principles and great force of character who gives promise of becoming even a greater power for good in the community as the years pass by.
John N. Slick is a native of the state of Illinois, born in Carroll county in 1855, the son of Jerry and Elizabeth (Ledy) Slick, the former of whom was born in Maryland in 1821, engaged in farming in Illinois in 1847 and there remained until his death in 1910. The mother of the subject was born in 1822 and in 1901 met instant death in the railroad yards at Lanark. Illinois. They were the parents of five children, two of whom, George C.
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and Jerome R., have passed into the great beyond. Besides the sub- ject, there are .still living Jerry L. and David A., both located in Illinois. John N. Slick attended the district schools of Carroll county, Illinois, where his elementary education was received, and when seventeen years of age he entered a general merchandise store as clerk, where he remained for eleven years. After these years of faithful service he saw greater oppor- tunities for himself elsewhere and severed his connection with his old em- ployer, coming to Sutherland in 1882. Here he engaged in the mercantile business, which enterprise claimed his time and attention for thirty-one years. Comparatively recently he disposed of his old established business and purchased the printing establishment, which now bears his name as above. In addition to this business Mr. Slick is also interested in a tract of two hundred and forty acres of land in O'Brien county, on which gen- eral farming and stock raising is carried on.
In 1881 Mr. Slick was united in marriage with Charlotte Lowell, and to their union have been born three daughters: Grace, the eldest. is Mrs. Hurless, the wife of a farmer of O'Brien county; Maye is Mrs. Elmer Mc- Farland, wife of her father's business associate, and Mabel, the youngest daughter, is attending college at Chicago, Illinois. The family is consider- ed one of the best of the county, being prominent in the various social, re- ligious and educational circles, shedding a kindly influence upon all with whom they come in contact. In politics, Mr. Slick is aligned with the con- servative Republican faction and brings considerable influence to bear upon his party's affairs. His religious affiliation is with the Christian church. and to the local organization he gives generously of time and means to further the cause. His fraternal affiliation is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the workings of the local society he takes more than a passing interest. M. Slick is a man whose genial good nature and sterling qualities have won for him many friends, for he is esteemed as one of the township's solid and substantial citizens, a man who has been successful in the formation of a strong character and one whose judgment is much re- spected. He is well known throughout the county and enjoys the good will and confidence of a large circle of friends.
Elmer McFarland, editor and publisher, junior member of the firm in question, was born in 1885 at Lee Summit, Missouri. He came to Sutherland when quite a young man and became identified in the mercantile store owned by Mr. Slick, since when their business interests have been closely allied. He received his early education in the schools of his native locality, later attending Drake University, from which he was graduated. In 1910 he
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was united in matrimony with Maye Slick, daughter of John N. Slick, and to their union has been born a daughter, Charlotte. Mr. McFarland is but a young man in years, but he has already established a reputation as a man earnestly desiring the best things of life for himself and the community as well, and it is safe to predict that as the years pass over his head, bring- ing with them still greater opportunities, he will take his place as one of the strongest and best citizens the county can boast.
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