USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 47
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SCOTT MARTIN.
From far-off Pennsylvania has come to us one of our enterprising and worthy citizens, Scott Martin, of Sheldon, Iowa, who, since casting his lot with the people of O'Brien county, has benefited alike himself and the com- munity in general, for his record shows him to be an honorable, upright man, industrious, temperate, economical and in every way exemplary in his daily life and conduct. . As a factor of the body politic he has performed well his every duty and no one questions his standing in this favored locality of the commonwealth of Iowa.
Scott Martin, the present city clerk of Sheldon, was born October 27, 1871, in Mercer county. Pennsylvania, and is the son of Robert and Mary B. ( Allison ) Martin, both of whom also were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1879 the Martin family settled in the southern part of Iowa and in the spring of 1881 came to O'Brien county, where Robert Martin bought a farm in Floyd township. In 1889 he moved to Sheldon and engaged in the imple- ment business until his death, in 1905. His widow is still living with her son in Sheldon. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin had one child, Scott, who was given a good education in the common and high schools of Sheldon, graduat- ing from the high school in 1891.
Mr. Martin has been largely identified with the official life of this county and city since his graduation from the high school, and in the spring of 1892 he was appointed deputy clerk of the O'Brien county court, and served in that capacity until 1896. He was then elected as county clerk, and served until 1901 in that capacity. As county clerk he rendered faithful and efficient
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service to the citizens of the county, not only those who had voted for him, but other citizens irrespective of party. In 1901 Mr. Martin returned to Sheldon from Primghar and engaged in the plumbing business, which he fol- lowed for the next ten years. In 1911 Mr. Martin was elected city clerk of Sheldon, and is now also superintendent of public improvements and super- visor of the paving of streets. As an official of the city of Sheldon. he is per- forming efficient service and showing that the confidence which is imposed in him is well founded.
Mr. Martin was married in 1895 to Bertha Holt, the daughter of Dr. E. T. Holt and wife, of Primghar. His wife died in September, 1901, leaving two children, Irving W. and Martha A. Mr. Martin is a member of the Republican party and takes an intelligent interest in the various political issues of the day. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons. Mr. Martin has been a useful man in the community life of his county and has never failed to do the right as he saw and understood it. with the result that he is rightly regarded as one of the representative men of this county.
FRANK W. TIERNEY.
Among the farmers of O'Brien county, Iowa, who have lived within its limits for the past thirty years, there is no one who has made a greater suc- cess of agriculture than has Frank W. Tierney, who is now living a retired life in Sutherland, in this county. Coming to this county when a young man, with no assets but a strong heart and willing hands, he has risen to a position where he is classed among the most substantial men of his township and community. This has not come by easy stages, but by consecutive effort. directed along the proper lines. While nature is really the best aid the farmer has, yet nature herself cannot do it all.
Frank W. Tierney, county commissioner of O'Brien county, was born in Chickasaw county, Iowa. in 1862, and is the son of Matthew and Bridget (Noon) Tierney. Matthew Tierney was born in Ireland in 1830, and when a young man settled in Massachusetts, where he followed farming for awhile. He then moved on west and settled in Illinois for a short time, and his last change of location took him to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he farmed until 1901, when he retired from active farm labor and moved to New Hamp- ton, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1910. Matthew Tierney and Bridget
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Noon were married in 1857 and to their union there were born nine children : Patrick, a farmer of Osceola county; Thomas, living in this state; John, who is a resident of Montana; Cornelius, who lives in the state of Washington ; Mrs. Mary Doyle, of New Hampton, Iowa: Mrs. Anna Hoffman, also of New Hampton ; George, living in Minnesota ; Charles, a practicing physician in Granger, Minnesota, and Frank W., whose life history is here briefly presented.
Frank W. Tierney received a good, common school education in the schools of Chickasaw county, and at the age of nineteen years started out to make his own way in the world. For the first three years he worked on a farm, after which he felt able to rent a farm of his own and accordingly he rented sixty acres in Tama county, Iowa. Within a few years he decided to move to O'Brien county and in 1885 he settled in Grant township on a rented farm, but a year later purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in this township. He has improved this farm in every way by the erection of good buildings, putting out a fine orchard, constructing fences and follow- ing a scientific system of drainage. So successful has he been that he has been able to add another one hundred and sixty acres to his original farm in this county, as well as purchase one hundred and sixty acres in Murray county, Minnesota. In the year 1910 Mr. Tierney exhibited corn at the corn show at Sutherland which received first prize. He is a shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Sutherland and is now a director of that co- operative concern. For the past three years he has been living in Sutherland, having turned over the active management of his farm to one of his sons.
Mr. Tierney was married in 1888 to Melva Staines, and to this union have been born four children : Mrs. Pearl Minard, whose husband is operat- ing the old home farm; Mrs. Rosalie J. Salser, who lives in this county; Agnes, who is still at home with her parents, and Mary, deceased.
The Democratic party has always received the support of Mr. Tierney and, although he takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, he has never been a candidate for any public office. He and his family are loyal and faithful members of the Catholic church and give to it their earnest and zeal- ous support at all times. Fraternally, he is a member of the Yeoman. Mr. Tierney has always taken an interest in all public affairs, yet he has never been an office seeker. He took the position of county commissioner at the earnest solicitation of his many friends and not because of any desire of his own to hold such office. However, he administers the affairs of the position to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the county, and because of his high
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personal character and success in life he is popular throughout the community, being numbered among O'Brien county's most enterprising and progressive citizens.
JOHN J. SMITH.
Among the well known and representative farmers of Baker township, Osceola county, Iowa, is John J. Smith, who has lived here for the past twenty years. In studying the career of this successful farmer it is plain that success with him lies in the manner in which he has performed his work and the skill with which he has grasped his opportunities as they have been presented to him. He has been singularly free from those faults which might bring down upon him the censure of his neighbors, and by reason of his genial manner he ranks with the popular citizens of the township where he has so long maintained his residence.
John J. Smith, ex-trustee of Baker township, Osceola county, and a prosperous farmer and stock raiser, was born in Decatur county, Indiana, son of John and Sybil ( Renner) Smith, his father having been a native of Germany, born in that country in 1832, while his mother was born in Frank- lin county, Indiana, in 1836. John Smith, Sr., left his native country when a young man and settled in Indiana, where he married and lived until his death in 1864. After his death his widow was married in 1866 to Crist Clements, who died in 1911, while Mrs. Clements died in 1892.
John J. Smith was one of a family of three children born to his parents and at the age of sixteen years started to work upon a farmi at eight dollars a month. While still a young man, he went to Henry county, Iowa, and for ten years worked at different kinds of work, spending most of his time on the farm. He rented land in Henry county, Iowa, after his marriage and fol- lowed farming there until 1893, in which year he came to Osceola county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Baker township, where he has since resided. In accordance with the custom of most farmers in this section of the state, he set out a grove of forest and fruit trees. He devotes considerable attention to the breeding of cattle and has made a specialty of Hereford stock. He has improved his farm to a great extent since acquiring it and it is now one of the most attractive farms in his township.
Mr. Smith was married in 1887 to Rachel A. Price, who was born at Olds. in Henry county, Iowa, in 1864, and to this union have been born seven children : Mrs. Maud Tate, whose husband is a farmer in South Dakota ;
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Mrs. Gladys Stanley, whose husband is a farmer in Osceola county : Jessie. deceased : Earl. Ruth. Hazel and Helen, the four last named children being at home with their parents.
Politically. Mr. Smith has always been identified with the Democratic party and has taken a great deal of interest in local political affairs. His party recognized his ability and nominated him several years ago for the office of township trustee. to which he was subsequently elected. and he dis- charged the important duties of this office in such a manner as to win the commendation of every good citizen of the township, whether he was of his political faith or not. He has also served as constable of Baker township and performed his services in this office in a conscientious manner. Mr. Smith is known as a man who has always been interested in every movement or enterprise which promised to better his community. He has many friends and is a pleasant social companion and for this reason is very popular throughout the township where he lives.
FRANK W. HULSER.
The best history of a county or state is that which deals most with the lives and activities of its people. especially of those who, by their own endeavor and indomitable energy. have forged to the front and placed them- selves where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review will be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active plodders on the highway of life and achieved a career surpassed by few of his con- temporaries. a career of marked success in agricultural affairs and a name which all men who know him delight to honor, owing to his upright life and habits of thrift and industry.
Frank W. Hulser. ex-trustee of Waterman township. O'Brien county, lowa. and a prosperous farmer and stockman. was born in New York. in Oswego county, in 1853. His parents were Divan and Margaret ( Dygert) Hulser, his father being born in 1817 in Frankfort, New York, and his mother's birth occurred in the same place in 1823. Divan Hulser was a sailor on the Great Lakes and canals of the east and followed that pro- fession until he came to Illinois, in 1869, with his family. From here he went to Buena Vista county, Iowa, where he followed the vocation of a farmer until his death, which occurred in 1880. His wife, to whom he was married in 1844, is now living in Minnesota with her son. Fred. Divan
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Hulser and wife were the parents of four children, three of whom are liv. ing : Fred, a farmer of Minnesota; Mrs. Ida Sill, who was a resident of New York. where she died, and Frank W., whose history is briefly re- viewed in this connection.
Frank W. Hulser was sixteen years of age when his parents moved from New York to Illinois, consequently he received his education in the schools of Oswego county, New York, and Illinois. He worked on his father's farm in Illinois and continued to assist his father on his farm after the family removed to Iowa. Upon his marriage, in 1880, he came to Buena Vista, where he lived two years, and then, in 1882, came to O'Brien county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in Water- man township, and this tract he has improved in various ways, placing about eight thousand dollars worth of improvements on the place in the way of buildings, fencing, drainage, etc., and has succeeded in bringing it to its present high standard of excellence. As a farmer he has adopted the latest methods of agriculture and finds that he secures the best results in this way. He makes it a point to feed his grain to home stock and makes a specialty of breeding Berkshire hogs and Red Polled cattle. As a breeder of hogs, he takes first rank in his county, having won first prizes on different occa- sions at the county fair at Sutherland. He has added to his original acreage until he now has two hundred and twenty-five acres of fine farming land. all of which he keeps under a high state of cultivation. He is interested in the telephone company in his township and has a share of stock in that prosperous company.
Mr. Hulser was married in 1880 to Elizabeth Kelty, who is a native of Ohio and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Kelty, and to this marriage have been born five children: Jesse D., who is a farmer in Minnesota : Mrs. Flora Gilbert, now living in Sutherland, who was a former school teacher and photographer ; Margaret; Mabel, the wife of J. E. Gleason, who is a farmer of Arkansas, and to them was born a child June 28, 1914, which makes grandparents out of our subject and wife, and Otis, who is now at- tending the high school at Sutherland.
The Republican party has always claimed the stanch support of Mr. Hulser and as a member of that party he has been nominated to various township offices. He has served as trustee of his township for two terms, has served as township clerk and for the past twenty-six years has been secretary of the school board of Waterman township. In these several offi- cial positions he has rendered faithful and efficient service, not only to those
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who elected him, but to all the citizens of the township, irrespective of their politics. He and his family are earnest and zealous members of the Chris- tian church and give liberally of their means to the support of their favored denomination. Mr. Hulser is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen. He and his family were members during their active life of the Independent Order of Good Templars, a temperance so- ciety which was prominent in promoting temperance in this part of the state for many years. He is a man of public spirit and enterprise and he has been instrumental in promoting the prosperity of his community in no small degree, and for this reason is rightfully regarded as one of its representative citizens.
ALBERT H. SCHULTZ.
One of the prosperous young business men of Sutherland, O'Brien county, Iowa, is Albert H. Schultz, who is descended from those thrifty peo- ple of Germanic ancestry. Although still a young man, he has shown that marked business ability which characterized his father before him. He was born in Tama county, lowa, in 1882 and is the son of Gustave Karl and Anna ( Seeman) Schultz.
Gustave Karl Schultz was born in Schleswig, Germany, December 9, 1853, and came with his parents, Henry J. and Magdalena Margareta ( Peter- son ) Schultz, to America when he was fourteen years of age, making the trip to this country in a sailing vessel, which took forty-five days. Henry J. Schultz and Magdalena M. Peterson were married March 4, 1852, and to their union were born three children, one of whom died in infancy; Mrs. John Frahm, of Gaza, Iowa, and Gustave Karl, the father of Albert H., whose history is here delineated. Henry J. Schultz and wife came to this country with their two children in 1867 and settled at Sabula, Iowa. Four years later they moved to Tama county and located on a farm twelve miles north of Toledo. Here they lived until 1898, when they moved to Suther- land in order to be near their children. Henry J. Schultz died in Sutherland in 1901 and his wife died December 28, 1907.
Gustave Karl Schultz received some education in Germany and com- pleted it after reaching Iowa. He was married October 25, 1877, to Anna Seeman and settled in Tama county after his marriage. Anna Seeman was born in Clinton county, Iowa, May 30, 1858. At the age of ten her parents moved to Jackson county and she lived here until the time of her marriage. She was a woman of noble and beautiful character who spent much of her
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time carefully and thoughtfully planning for the comfort of her family. She took a great deal of interest in the Eastern Star, in which organization she and her husband were both active members. She passed away May 7, 1899. The parents of Anna Seeman Schultz were Detlef and Elizabeth C. Seeman, both of whom were born in Germany. Her father was born in 1832 and her mother in 1837, marrying after coming to this country. Mr. Seeman died in Jackson county, Iowa, in 1900 and his wife passed away at Harleyville, Oklahoma, January 24, 1908.
In 1900 Gustave K. Schultz returned to his native land to visit his rela- tives and also to seek relief for rheumatism which had been troubling hini for many years. He returned to this country and married, on July 18, 1901, Margareta Dehmke. Mr. Shultz was a loyal citizen to his adopted country and was always working for the best interests of the town in which he lived. He served three terms on the Sutherland school board and for sixteen years served as a member of the town council. Of the twenty-six years he lived in Sutherland he took an active part in the business life of the city for twenty- three years, and then quit only on account of poor health. During his last year in business he built the fine business block which his son Albert now occupies. He is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 347: Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 202; the Brotherhood of America Yeoman Lodge No. 31.
Albert H. Schultz received a good comman school education and early in life began to be interested in business affairs. In 1905 he purchased his father's store and has since conducted the business. He carries ten thousand dollars worth of stock at all times and by his sound business methods and efforts to please his patrons, he has a full share of the local patronage. He carries a large and complete line of such goods as are found in a general mercantile establishment in towns of this size, and has built up a large trade throughout this part of the county.
Mr. Shultz was married in 1908 to Alta M. Briggs, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Briggs, and to this union have been born three children, Rachel, Phillip and Marion, all of whom are still living with their parents. Politically, Mr. Schultz adheres to that large class of men who are not tied down by any particular party, but prefer to vote for the best man, irrespective of politics. Mr. Schultz has always taken an active interest in political affairs and in the city of Sutherland has served for a number of years as city clerk. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and render it their earnest support at all times. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America.
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HENRY WOLF.
To write the personal record of men who have raised themselves from humble circumstances to positions of responsibility and trust in a community is no ordinary pleasure. Self-made men, men who have achieved success by reason of their personal qualities and left the impress of their individuality upon the business and growth of their place of residence and affect for good such institutions as are embraced in the sphere of their usefulness, unwittingly. perhaps. built monuments more enduring than marble obelisk or granite shaft. Of such we have the unquestionable right to say belongs the name of the gentleman whose name appears above.
Henry Wolf, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Carroll township, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in 1862, in Woodford county, Illinois, the son of Christopher and Elizabeth ( Sengspiel) Wolf. Christopher Wolf was born in Germany in 1821 and came to this country early in life and settled in Ohio, where he worked in the city of Cleveland as a day laborer. Shortly afterwards he moved to Illinois, where he engaged in farming for a few years, after which he came to O'Brien county. Iowa, where he pur- chased three hundred and twenty acres of land in 1894. Mr. Wolf made extensive improvements on his farin and died the following year and is buried at Sheldon. His wife was born in Germany in 1830 and her death occurred in 1902. Christopher Wolf and wife were the parents of ten chil- dren, seven of whom are living: Mrs. Diana Funk, who is a resident of this county : Mrs. Elizabeth Goodsell, who lives in Nebraska; Fred, who is a farmer of Sioux county, this state: Mrs. Minnie Jinkinson. of Sheldon. O'Brien county; Mrs. Anna Pond, whose husband is a farmer in Nebraska : Joseph, of Sioux county. this state, and Henry, with whom this narrative deals.
Henry Wolf received his elementary education in the schools of Illinois and remained with his parents on their farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He then left his father's home and went to Plymouth county, Iowa. where he rented land for five years. In 1893 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Carroll county, O'Brien county, and later purchased another quarter section so that he is now the owner of a half section of land in Carroll township, all under a high state of cultivation. He has three acres in orchard and grove and has placed ten thousand dollars worth of improve- ments on his farm since coming here. He is a heavy stock breeder and sells
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MR. AND MRS. HENRY WOLF
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annually quite a large amount of stock, which adds not a little to his annual income.
Mr. Wolf was married in 1899 to Louisa Harbst, and to this union there have been born five children, Mrs. Elvie Snyder, of this county, Joseph, Clara. Selma and Verna, the last four named being still with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Wolf is a Republican, but has never had the time nor the inclination to take an active part in the deliberations of his party, the only public office which he ever held being that of school director, and while in the capacity he rendered efficient service to his fellow citizens. He and his family are all members of the German Lutheran church and give it their earnest support at all times. Mr. Wolf has won his success by the exercise of his good judgment and characteristic determination to win in spite of any obstacles. Life has not always been a pathway of roses and yet he has succeeded in a way which stamps him as a man of more than ordinary ability.
TOM B. BARK.
The business man of the twentieth century demands certain character- istics if he expects to make a success in life. Among these are integrity, scrupulous honesty and singleness of purpose. The life history of Tom B. Bark, the cashier of the Sutherland State Bank, exemplifies what is possible of accomplishment on the part of one who establishes a definite aim in life and is willing to apply his energies and abilities to the attainment of the same. He has not only gained for himself marked prosperity in temporal affairs, but he has so ordered his course in the various relations of life as to gain and retain the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come into contact.
Tom B. Bark was born in Grant county, Wisconsin. in 1863, and is the son of James R. and Sarah M. (Newman) Bark. James R. Bark was born in Worcestershire. England, in 1821, while his wife was born in the same shire five years later. James R. Bark is a son of George Bark, who was born in England in 1791. and he was a coal merchant and married Mary Rowe and lived and died in the land of his birth. George Bark and wife were the par- ents of six children : William, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Corfield. deceased ; Jane. deceased : Mrs. Matilda Newman. of Wisconsin, deceased ; Alfred Bark, deceased : and Mrs. Linnie Milner, who lives in Salt Lake. Utah. The son of Mrs. Milner is the promoter of the Twin Falls Irrigation project of Mil- ner. Montana, the town being named for him.
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James R. Bark was married in 1848, in Harrow, England, to Sarah M. Newman, and to this union were born four children: Mrs. Sarah Cilley, who is a resident of Peterson, Iowa; Mrs. Esta Boyce, who lives in Dubuque,. lowa: Mrs. Dora Lee, of Nebraska, and Tom B., whose history is here presented.
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