USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 50
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Wilbur J. Osgood was educated in the schools of this county and from his earliest boyhood has spent all of his spare time upon the farm. In 1907 he was married to Mable Weaver, who was born in Edmund, Wisconsin, May 2, 1884, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Weaver. The Weaver family came to Iowa shortly after the county had been settled. Mr. and Mrs. Osgood have three children. Homer, Lawrence and Dorothy, all of whom are still children.
Mr. Osgood devotes most of his time and attention to stock breeding. making a specialty of Aberdeen Angus cattle. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in Lyon county, adjoining Osceola. He and his father were both Republicans, but never were aspirants for any public office. The
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family have always been Methodists and Clemment Osgood was very active in the work of the church. Mr. Osgood gives character and stability to the body politic. He is a man who has won the admiration and esteem of his neighbors and friends by his clean and upright way of living.
ROBERT J. ROBERTSON.
One of the prosperous business men of Osceola county. Iowa, who has made a pronounced success in his chosen vocation is Robert J. Robertson. He is a member of that class of enterprising, public-spirited citizens who have done a great deal for the development of their county. For this rea- son he is rightly regarded as one of the representative men of his com- munity. He has ever done all in his power for the betterment of the com- mon welfare and as an honest dealing and successful business man his life has been full of interesting and varied experiences.
Robert J. Robertson, a native of Quebec, Canada, was born February 25, 1869, and is the son of Alexander and Isabella Robertson. Alexander Robertson was the son of William Robertson, a sailor who was born in Scot- land, and came to Canada early in life, but followed the sea all of his days. Alexander Robertson was born in Canada and was reared on a farm and lived the life of a farmer until his death, in December, 1911. He and his wife were loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and lived a life in strict accord with the teachings of that denomination. Alexander Robert- son and wife were the parents of eight children: Emily, the wife of Samuel Campbell; Elizabeth, the wife of Harry Lamson; William T .: Maggie, the wife of Henry Brooks: Alexander : Belle: Robert J., whose history is here presented, and Flora, the wife of Henry Nelson. The mother of these chil- dren died November 10, 1913.
Robert J. Robertson was only two years of age when his parents moved to Dickinson county, lowa. After coming to this state he attended school during the winter time and assisted his father on the farm during the sun- mer. He worked on the home farm until 1899 when he opened a real estate office in Harris, Osceola county. For the past fifteen years he has been engaged in the real estate business in that city and has had remarkable suc- cess. He does an extensive business in farm land in this and adjoining states. He has not only sold thousands of acres of land, but is also the owner himself of four hundred and eighty acres of fine land in this county, as well as considerable land in other states. He started in the business without any
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capital whatever, but by good management and keen business ability he has made himself one of the most substantial business men of his county. He is a man of pleasing personality and has commanded the confidence and respect of everyone with whom he has been associated.
Mr. Robertson was married February 26, 1902, to Ina Knepper. the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Knepper, of O'Brien county. William Knepper is an old and prominent settler of O'Brien county and a soldier of the Civil War. He served four years with distinction, being wounded at the battle of Stone's River. William Knepper was the father of nine children : Ina (the wife of Mr. Robertson ), Hurbert, Ash, Edna, Charles, Laura. John. Sadie and Harold
Mr. Robertson is a Republican in politics, but has never cared or sought for a public office of any kind. He has always devoted himself strictly to his own interests and, while taking an interest in the issues of the day, he has never felt inclined to indulge in local politics. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which denomination he is a trustee and has served as superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a man of clean character and wholesome life and has a large number of friends in Harris and the county who admire him for his many good qualities.
CHARLES M. MCDOUGALL.
There is no better agricultural region than that which is to be found within Osceola county, and the agricultural history of the county shows that every man who entered land in the early history of the county and stayed with it eventually became successful. It is true that there were many dis- couragements in the earlier history of the county and many obstacles which thoroughly tried the pioneer farmers, but those who had the courage to stay have never regretted it. Among the present farmers of Osceola county who have been connected with its history for the past quarter of a century, there is no one who has made a more pronounced success than Charles M. Mc- Dougall, of Baker township.
Charles M. McDougall, the son of Melvin and Anna ( Ricky) Mc- Dougall, was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, in 1860. His father was born in New York state in 1836, and when a young man moved to Wiscon- sin, where he was living at the opening of the Civil War. In 1862 he en- listed in the Union army at Avoca, Wisconsin, as a member of the Thirty-
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third Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He fought in many of the hardest fought battles of the Rebellion and was finally discharged in Tennes- see in 1865. In 1866 Melvin McDougall came to Palo Alto county, Iowa, and homesteaded on a farm. However, he only stayed two years in Iowa and then returned to Wisconsin, where he remained for the next two years. He again returned to Iowa and settled at Victor, where he died in 191I. The wife, Anna Ricky, was born in Henry county, Illinois, in 1840 and died in 1882. To their union three children were born, two of whom are now living.
Charles M. McDougall was only two years of age when his father en- listed in the Civil War, and was old enough to distinctly remember his return from it in 1865. He received his education in Wisconsin and Iowa and when eighteen years of age started to learn the harness-maker's trade at Victor, Iowa. After putting three years in at this occupation he became interested in the drilling of tubular wells, and followed this for the next ten years. In 1888 he came to Osceola county and purchased two hundred and eighty acres in Baker township, on which he has placed ten thousand dollars' worth of improvements since acquiring it. While he raises all the crops of this local- ity. he has made a specialty of the breeding of Percheron horses and Duroc Jersey hogs. He has disposed of some of his land and now owns one hun- dred and sixty acres, which constitutes one of the most attractive farms in the township. He owns a share of stock in the creamery and Farmers Ele- vator Company of Melvin, Iowa.
Mr. McDougall was married in 1885 to Sadie McBride, who was born at Victor, Iowa, in 1866. To this union was born one son, Roland, who is now the manager of an automobile garage at Beaver Creek, Minnesota. In 1911 Mr. McDougall was married to Mrs. Ella Guthrie, who was born in Wisconsin in 1865.
Politically, Mr. McDougall is a Republican, with Progressive tendencies. He has always been a prominent factor in the civic life of his community and has had the honor of filling several offices in Baker township, where he has made his home since coming to this county. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Sibley and gives it her earnest support at all times. Mr. McDougall is a man of energy and ambition who has never been afraid to work, and his optimistic nature has always enabled him to look upon the bright side of life. In all the relations of life he has com- manded the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought into contact, and for this reason he is popular throughout the community where he lives.
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GEORGE L. READER.
There are not many native sons of England in O'Brien county, Iowa, but the few who have made this county their home have risen to positions of influence in their respective communities. Among the citizens of English descent who have made this county their residence is George L. Reader, a prosperous farmer and stock man of Center township, who was born in Dorsetshire, England, in 1857. and is the son of Barnard and Ellen (Cox) Reader. Barnard Reader was born in Dorsetshire in 1832, and followed the trade of a shoemaker. Later he became an official in the English govern- ment and filled that position until a few years ago, when he retired and is now living in Dorsetshire. His wife, Ellen Cox, is also a native of England, her birth having occurred there in 1833.
George L. Reader was one of eight children, seven of whom are still living. He left his native land in 1868, when about twelve years old and came to America, where he lived with his uncle in Macoupin county, Illinois, with whom he remained for six years, during which time he spent the winters attending school. He then began working for himself. doing whatever he could find to do which turned him an honest dollar for his labor .. He found employment in a flour mill for a short time and from there went to Joplin, Missouri, where he secured employment as a clerk in a clothing store. At the age of twenty-five he came to O'Brien county, Iowa, and worked for a few years on a farm, after which he moved to Cherokee county, Iowa, where he worked for a time on a transfer and draying line in the city of Cherokee. From this place he moved to Stevens county. Kansas, and homesteaded on a farm for a short time, afterwards selling the tract, and came back to Cherokee county, where he engaged in the grain business for nine years, buying and selling grain of all kinds, in which line he was very successful. In 1900 he moved to O'Brien county and took charge of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Center township, on which he is still living. He raises a large amount of live stock and finds a ready market at a good price for his sur- plus product. He owns a share in the Farmers Elevator Company at Primghar.
Mr. Reader was married in 1891 to Jennie Whitham, who was born in 1871 in the state of Wisconsin, and to this union there have been born two children, Carrie and Wesley, both of whom are still living with their parents. Mr. Reader belongs to that class of men who avail themselves of the oppor- tunity to vote for the best men at election time, irrespective of party lines,
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feeling that in so doing he is serving the best interests of his county and state. Political office has never held any attractions for Mr. Reader, although he has been a school director in his township. He and his family are earnest and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in all the activities of that denomination. He enjoys a large acquaintance among whom are many warm and loyal friends, and throughout the com- munity with which he has identified himself for the last fifteen years, he enjoys that standing which can be gained only by those possessing qualities of a high order.
WILLIAM GRAVES.
The individual enterprise which is justly the boast of the American peo- ple is strikingly existing in the career of William Graves, who is a fine type of the self-made man. Although young in years, he has already made a place for himself in the business circles of this county and is now engaged in the automobile business in Melvin, where he has demonstrated those keen business qualities which mark the successful man. Descended from Ger- man parentage, he displays those characteristics which have made the Ger- man residents of this county among its most substantial citizens.
William Graves, the son of Hans and Minnie ( Rohde ) Graves, was born in 1887 in Baker township. Osceola county. His parents were both born in Germany, the father being born in 1848 and the mother in 1863. Early in life Hans Graves came to this country and settled in Osceola county, where he lived the life of a simple farmer until his death, in 1898. His widow was married to Emil Berandt, a retired farmer now living at Melvin. Iowa. To her first marriage were born eight children. Her second marriage was to Barney Imhoff, now deceased.
William Graves received a very meager common school education and at the tender age of fourteen started out to make his own way. He was a youth of remarkable energy and resource, a fact which is shown by his being a ditch contractor by the time he was nineteen years of age. He then disposed of his interests in the contracting business and purchased a restaur- ant in Melvin, which he managed until 1912. He and his brother then en- gaged in the automobile business and have one of the largest garages in Osceola county today. They are the agents for the Regal automobile and have a repair shop in connection with the garage, which is well equipped with all the latest machinery for the repairing of automobiles. They also
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manufacture a mud chain for automobiles, which has proven to be very successful. They are also manufacturers of a vulcanizer, for which they find a ready sale at a good price. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Graves owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Osceola county, as well as a handsome home in the city of Melvin.
Mr. Graves was married in 1910 to Nellie Jones, who was born in Osceola county in 1889. To this union have been born two children, who are still living with their parents, Kenneth and Beulah. Politically, Mr. Graves is a stanch Democrat, but his entire time and attention has been devoted to his own interests, so that he has had no time to engage in the political game. He and his family are earnest members of the German Lutheran church, to which they contribute of their worldly goods. Mr. Graves has always been honest and upright in all his business relations, and the result is that he holds no insignificant place in the esteem of the com- munity where he resides, and the future will undoubtedly find him included among the most substantial and influential men of his county.
JACOB BRANDT, JR.
Probably the youngest farmer of Osceola county today is Jacob Brandt. Jr., who is now farming three hundred and eighty acres of fine land in Baker township. Reared to the life of a farmer, he is thoroughly acquainted with all the details that must be acquired before the farmer is successful in man- aging his farm. Since taking charge of this he has been persistent in his efforts to bring it into better condition so that it would yield larger returns. He was born in 1892 on the farm where he is now living and is the son of Jacob and Phoebe (Burmeister) Brandt.
Jacob Brandt, Sr., was born in Germany in 1844, and when a young man of seventeen came to this country and settled in the state of Illinois. He received a good education in his native land and left there for the reason that he felt this country offered better opportunities for advancement. After settling in Illinois he worked as a laborer until 1888. During this period he acquired a good knowledge of the English language, and also acquired a thorough knowledge of the American methods of farming. With true Ger- man thrift and energy he saved his money with the intention of purchasing a farm of his own. In 1888 he came to Osceola county, Iowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres. Here he has been living up to the present
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time. He made extensive improvements upon the farm in the way of erecting buildings, fencing and installing drainage, so that the farm is today worth many times what it was when he purchased it. As he prospered he continued to add to his land holdings until at the present time he owns three hundred and eighty acres, which is farmed by his son, Jacob, Jr. The wife of Jacob Brandt, Sr., was born in Germany in 1854, and to their union have been born seven children.
Jacob Brandt, Jr., the youngest child of the family, was given a good common school education in the schools of Baker township and has remained with his parents all his life. He has made a specialty of stock raising, pay- ing particular attention to the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs and Shorthorn cattle. Politically, Mr. Brandt is a Democrat and since he is only one year past his majority he has never yet got mixed up in politics. Religiously, he is a member of the German Lutheran church, as are all the other members of the family, and to it he gives his earnest support at all times. He is still a young man and has a long period of usefulness before him. He has lived a clean and wholesome life, which has commended itself to his friends and neighbors with the result that he is held in high esteem by everyone with whom he has been associated.
JOHN KUNDEL.
It is with pleasure that we present a review of the life of John Kundel, a prominent farmer of Liberty township, for he is the living exemplification of the broad-minded, liberal policies of the modern farmer-energetic and aggressive and combining keen business acumen with the ability to labor steadily and hard.
Mr. Kundel was born on January 15, 1859, in Germany, the son of Claus Kundel, whose birth occurred in the year 1819. The father spent his childhood and youth in his native country and was married in 1849 to Kath- erine Miller, a lady nine years his junior, having been born in 1828. Three children were born of this union, one of whom, Lizzie, is now deceased. Emma, now Mrs. Haas, is a resident of Nebraska, and the son, John, in whom we are interested, is an honored citizen of this county.
This gentleman was born in Germany, but in his childhood was brought by his parents to this country. His first business venture occurred when he
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سعيدة. جد السنوسى -جابر
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was a child, carrying papers in Davenport, Iowa. He remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty years, when he set out to enter business life for himself. He entered the pursuit of agriculture, and has since found it his pleasure as well as his profit.
Three years later Mr. Kundel was united in marriage to Dora Rohwer, who also was a native of Germany, her birth occurring on January 6. 1862.
Continuing his agricultural pursuits, Mr. Kundel located in the years that followed in three different counties of the state of lowa, but in the year 1894 he journeyed to O'Brien county, and here he found the opportunity for future competence which he had been seeking. The fact that he has since remained in this beautiful portion of the state after having lived in the various other localities speaks highly for the advantages which this county has to offer to those who make it their abiding place. Here he was enabled to purchase a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he imme- diately set about to improve. Four acres of grove were set out. comfortable buildings were erected, bountiful harvests sprang from the ground and a beautiful homestead supplanted the barren tract which he had purchased. Mr. Kundel has been particularly active in the breeding of graded live stock of various kinds, finding this one of the most profitable departments of his establishment. He has labored diligently and intelligently and success has abundantly crowned his efforts. He is now the owner of a quarter section of land in South Dakota, a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Sutherland, and is also interested in the Co-operative store of that place.
Seven children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kundel, as fol- lows : Alma (Mrs. Eichner ), now a resident of Minnesota: Elizabeth (Schierholz). residing in South Dakota: Lulu, an efficient clerk in the Bank of Sutherland; Lillie, now Mrs. Mugge. residing in South Dakota: John C., his father's able assistant upon the homestead farm: and Olive and Roy, who also enjoy the protection of the parental rooftree.
Politically, Mr. Kundel casts his ballot for the nominees of the Demo- cratic party and, religiously, he is a faithful member of the German Luth- eran church. He is also affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. among whom he has a wide acquaintance and is highly respected. Although he has labored assiduously since his youth, he has nevertheless found time to keep abreast of the times. showing a progressive spirit in his undertakings and being deeply interested in all public questions and movements for the betterment of the community at large. Well informed, aggressive and broad minded, his life has been a
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well rounded and proportioned one, making for the best elements of true success. Genial in manner, kindly and hospitable, he and his wife are be- loved by their many acquaintances, particularly among the young people of the vicinity.
DANIEL CLARENCE STEELSMITH, M. D.
Among those who stand as distinguished types of the world's workers is Dr. Daniel Clarence Steelsmith, one of the able physicians and surgeons of Melvin, Iowa. He is a man of fine intellectual and professional at- tainments, of most gracious personality, of strong and noble character, and who has labored with zeal, devotion and success in the alleviation of human suffering. As one of those who have lent dignity and honor to the medi- cal profession in Iowa and who brought to his chosen vocation the strength and devotion of a great soul and a broad mind. it is most consonant that in this publication be entered and perpetuated a tribute to his worth. He is charitable and benevolent and those in need or distress of body or mind seek not his aid in vain. These and many other commendable qualities have won for him the good will and esteem of the people of Osceola county. It is no very rare thing for a boy in our country to become prosperous and occupy a commanding position in the world's affairs, but many who have fought their way to a place of influence in the various relations of life re- tain some marks and scars of the conflict. Doctor Steelsmith, however, is an instance of a man who has achieved success without paying the price at which it is so often bought: for his success has not removed him away from his fellow men, but has brought him into nearer and closer relations with them. He has through the years been a potential factor for the up- building of the community and the advancement of the highest and best interests of the people with whom he has mingled and been associated. As a member of the Legislature from his county, he is now serving his fellow citizens in a distinguished manner.
Dr. Daniel C. Steelsmith, the son of Michael Henry and Nancy Jane (Jordon) Steelsmith, was born in June, 1877, in Grundy county, Iowa. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively.
Michael H. Steelsmith was the son of John Steelsmith, a native of Germany. The name Steelsmith is derived from stiehl-schmidt, a name sig- nifying a worker in steel. On his way to this country from his native land, John decided to adopt the English spelling of the German name and conse-
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quently, while he started from his native land as John Stiehl-Schmidt, he landed in this country as plain John Steelsmith. He first settled in Penn- sylvania and later moved to Ohio, where Michael H. was reared to man- hood. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Michael Steelsmith enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served for four years in some of the worst battles of the Re- bellion. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission- ary Ridge, Resaca, Dallas and many others. Immediately after the close of the war he returned to Ohio and in 1866 came to Grundy county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm. In 1883 he returned to Ohio to care for his father, John, and lived there until the fall of 1890, when he returned to Grundy county, where he is still living at the age of seventy-nine. His wife is still living at the advanced age of seventy-four. They spend their winters in Portland, Oregon, and their summers in Iowa with their children. They reared a family of six children: Charles, of Portland, Oregon; Mar- garet, who died in Ohio; George, of Portland, Oregon; Bruce, of Montana ; Dr. Daniel C., with whom this narrative deals, and Mrs. Nellie Graves, of Osceola county.
Doctor Steelsmith was educated in the schools of Grundy county, Iowa. and after graduating from the Conrad high school in that county entered the medical department of the University of Iowa, from which he graduated in 1902. In the spring of 1902 he located in Melvin, where he has since con- tinued to reside. He has built up an excellent practice and is regarded as one of the successful practitioners of this section of the state. He keeps fully abreast of the advance made in his chosen profession and keeps in close touch with all associations dealing with medical science. He is a member of the Osceola County, Iowa State and American medical asso- ciations.
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