USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 62
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Brownmiller, was born in Germany in 1833 and died in 1912. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are still living.
Conrad Richter spent his boyhood days on the farm, attending school during the winter months and assisting his father during the summer. He remained with his parents until he was thirty-one years of age and at the death of his father he became the heir to one hundred and sixty acres of fine land. Upon moving on to the farm after the death of his father, he made many improvements upon it and farmed it successfully until 1913, when he retired and moved to Germantown, O'Brien county, lowa, where he is now living. His children are now farming his land in Illinois.
Mr. Richter was married in 1885 to Sophia Stoeckman, who was born in Cook county, Illinois, in 1852 and died in 1910. Conrad Richter and wife were the parents of four children : Otelia. deceased : Mrs. Clara Myers, of O'Brien county, lowa: Arthur, a farmer of Caledonia township. O'Brien county. and Mrs. Agnes Stoever, of O'Brien county. After the death of his first wife in 1910, Mr. Richter married Mrs. Amelia Stoeckman. She was born in 1857 in Germany. The Republican party has always claimed the support of Mr. Richter. He has never held any public offices other than road supervisor of Caledonia township. He and his family have been mem- bers of the German Lutheran church and have contributed generously of their means to its support. Mr. Richter is a man of splendid business qual- ities, which, combined with his courtesy and genial disposition, have com- mended him to the good will and friendship of all who know him.
FRED SCHUKNECHT.
One of the many German citizens of O'Brien county, Iowa, who has at- tained a large measure of prosperity in this county is Fred Schuknecht, the proprietor of a highly productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Caledonia township. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has followed this vocation during all of his years with a success which is in proportion to his efforts. He stands high in the esteem of his fellow men and as a broad- minded, progressive citizen, fully abreast of the times, exercises a whole- some influence in the community. He has succeeded because he possesses to a notable degree those qualities which will secure success in any under- taking, persistency in action, well defined purpose and correct business methods.
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Fred Schuknecht was born in Germany in 1846 and is the son of Joseph and Mary (Demlow) Schuknecht. His parents were born in 18II in Germany, were married in 1840 and came to this country in 1864. They settled first in the state of New York, where Joseph worked as a farm hand for several years. Later they moved to Illinois, where they engaged in farming until the death of the father in 1873. His wife died in Iowa in 1893.
Fred Schuknecht is the only one of the three children born to his par- ents who is now living. He left Germany with his parents when eighteen years of age, having received a good, elementary education in the schools of his native land. He lived with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he started working out as farm laborer in the state of Illinois. A year later he and his father purchased eighty acres of land in Cook county, Illinois, and after his father's death, in 1873, Fred continued to operate this farm until 1884, at which time he sold this tract and moved to O'Brien county, lowa, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in Caledonia township. He set out a grove of eight acres, including a judicious mixture of fruit and forest trees, making a most val- nable addition to his farm, and he has otherwise improved his farm until it is now one of the most highly cultivated, as well as one of the most pro- ductive and valuable farms in the township. He raises a large amount of stock and finds a ready market for his surplus product each year, which adds not a little to his income. In common with most of the farmers of this neighborhood, he owns a share in the Farmers Elevator Company at Paullina.
Mr. Schuknecht was married in 1869, in Cook county, Illinois, to Sophia Lange, who was born in Germany in 1853, and died in O'Brien county, Iowa, in 1909, and to this union were born fourteen children: Mrs. Mary Meyer, who lives in this township; Mrs. Caroline Mildows, who is a resi- dent of Cook county, Illinois; John, a farmer in the state of Minnesota ; William, who also operates a farm in Minnesota; Mrs. Wilhelmina Miller, of Cherokee county, Iowa : Mrs. Louisa Hardise, of the state of Minnesota ; Louis, who is at home; Mrs. Anna Klunder, who lives in Minnesota ; Her- man, a farmer of this county; Frederick, who is at home; Bertha and Ed- ward, who are both deceased; Mrs. Martha Wittrock, who is at home, and Emilie, who is also at home with her parents.
Politically, Mr. Schuknecht is allied with the Democratic party, but has never had the time to take a very active part in political affairs. How- ever, he has been very much interested in the educational affairs of his town- ship, and at one time served as school director. He and all of his family
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are earnest and faithful members of the German Lutheran church and give freely of their means to the support of their denomination. Mr. Schuknecht is a man of impressive personality, broad intelligence and has all those char- acteristics which beget esteein, confidence and friendship. His integrity is of the unswerving type, and no shadow rests upon his career as an active business man and sterling citizen. Because of his splendid record since moving to this county, he is genuinely entitled to representation in this his- tory of his county.
HERMAN WASSMAN.
One of the prosperous and substantial farmers of Horton township, Osceola county, lowa, is Herman Wassman, who has been a resident of this county for the past twenty-five years. Early in life he decided that he would follow the vocation of the farmer, feeling that it offered an independence and a guarantee of success which is afforded by no other vocation. In this decision he showed good judgment, for he has been to a gratifying degree successful in his agricultural efforts since coming to this county, and has become the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent farming land.
Herman Wassman, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wassman, was born in Lake county, Indiana, in 1870. His father was born in Germany in 1820 and is now living in the state of Indiana. He was twice married and has been the father of eight children.
Herman Wassman was given a good education in the schools of Lake county, Indiana, and when nineteen years of age he decided to go west to seek his fortune. He arrived in Osceola county, lowa. in 1889, and found employment as a farm hand for the first two years. He then began farming for himself and has had success from the beginning. Starting out with practically nothing, he has, by his own efforts and those of his family, ac- quired a fine farm on which he has placed ten thousand dollars worth of improvements. He carries on a general line of farming and also gives con- siderable attention to the breeding and raising of live stock. His farm is well improved in every respect and in all his career in the county he has so conducted his business affairs as to win the approval of his fellow citizens. He has never hesitated to adopt the latest methods in agriculture, where their superiority has been demonstrated, with the result that he has attained a maximum of result with a minimum of effort.
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Mr. Wassman has been twice married, the first marriage occurring in 1894 to Minnie Dorman, who was born in Lawton, Iowa, in 1874 and died two years after her marriage, leaving one son, Harry, who is now living at Hartley, Iowa. In 1897, Mr. Wassman was married to Katie Behrens, who was born in Illinois in 1871. To this second marriage have been born six children, Mollie, Elsie, Hilda, Arthur. Olga and Carl, all of whom are still living with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Wassman is allied with the Democratic party and has always been active in the affairs of his party locally. His worth as a citizen is shown by the fact that his party nominated him for trustee of his town- ship. His subsequent election to that important office better demonstrated his popularity in his home township, while his efficient administration of the duties of the office showed that the confidence of his fellow citizens was not misplaced. He and his family are loyal members of the German Lutheran church and have always contributed generously to its support. Mr. Wass- man has a clean and enviable reputation during his life of a quarter of a cen- tury in this county, and because his efforts have always been directed towards the advancement of his community he is held in high esteem by everyone who knows him.
. REV. M. J. HEATHERINGTON.
Not too often can be repeated the life history of one who has lived so honorable and useful a life as has the Rev. M. J. Heatherington, the pastor of St. Andrew's Catholic church in Sibley, Iowa. His character has been one of exaltation and purity of purpose, and since coming to Sibley he has served his congregation in a way which bespeaks for him a high quality. Well disciplined in mind, guided and guarded by those invaluable principles of integrity, honesty, justice and purity, he could not prove other than a source of good in this community.
Rev. M. J. Heatherington was born in county Langford, Ireland, No- vember 15, 1867. His parents, Arthur and Bridget (McKirnan) Heather- ington, are still living in the land of their birth. They were the parents of fifteen children, twelve of whom are yet living, three of them being in America. Father Heatherington has a brother who has charge of one of the Catholic churches in Dubuque, Iowa.
Rev. M. J. Heatherington was educated in All Hallows College, Dublin, Ireland, completing his course in June, 1891, and was ordained for the
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priesthood on June 21st of the same year. In September, 1891, he came to America and was first located at Harper's Ferry, Iowa, and placed in charge of a country mission. Here he worked faithfully and well for seven years and in 1898 was given charge of two missions, St. Theresis and LaMath, both German and Irish missions. Here he stayed three years. In Septem- ber. 1901, he was transferred to the church at Varina, Iowa, where he labored faithfully for the next two years. His next five years were spent at Spencer, lowa, with charges also at Avery and Milford, Iowa. In Septem- ber, 1908, he took charge of the church at Sibley and has also had charge of the mission at Lake Park, Dickinson county. Father Heatherington is familiar with the German language and frequently preaches in German. He has also a knowledge of French and Latin. St. Andrew's in Sibley has a membership of two hundred and forty, including forty families. The church is in a very prosperous condition, due to the excellent administration of its worthy pastor.
SCOTT LOGAN.
A review of the life of the honored subject of this biographical sketch miist of necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of the career of Mr. Logan, touching the earnest and persistent efforts of his earlier years and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. He has filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and has been an im- portant factor in the growth and development of Sheldon's industrial and commercial interests. He is a representative of that sterling type of the world's workers who have furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and added to the stability of our country and its institutions. And yet, in spite of the multitudinous activities of his life, he never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature, but has preserved his faculties and the warmth of his heart for the broadening and helpful influence of human life, being a kindly, genial friend and gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.
Scott Logan, the president of the Scott Logan Milling Company of Sheldon, was born in 1852 in Burlington county, New Jersey, on a farm. His parents were Thomas S. Logan and wife, his father dying in New Jersey in 1912, at the age of ninety-nine, being possessed of all his faculties. He was the son of Anthony Logan, a blacksmith who bequeathed to his
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ancestry sturdy strength and endurance which has given to his descendants remarkably long lives. Thomas S. Logan married Mary Foot, who was of English ancestry, and to this union were born two children, Scott, whose history is here presented, and a sister who is the wife of Judge Gaskell, of the Burlington county bar of New Jersey.
Scott Logan was reared on his father's farm in New Jersey and re- ceived a good education in the schools of his home neighborhood. In 1880 Mr. Logan came west to seek his fortune and O'Brien county was fortunate enough to become his home. He settled on a farm in Floyd township, which he rented from the Elsens. The Elsens had a grist mill which was dependent entirely on wind power, but they had never made a success of it. Mr. Logan, in his enthusiasm, started in with genuine Yankee vim to carve his fortune out of the virgin soil which he found here. He also operated the mill, al- though not very extensively. However, by perseverance and strict applica- tion to business, he eventually succeeded in making the farm and mill both pay him a comfortable income. In addition to farming the tract he had rented, he grazed cattle for four years on the range, but owing to the fact that the incoming settlers were rapidly entering the land he was forced to discontinue this profitable business. In 1886 he purchased a half interest in the Prairie Queen Flouring Mill and four years later bought out his partner's interest. For the last twenty-four years he has had continually increasing success in the milling business, until now he has one of the largest flouring mills in this part of the state. After taking charge of the mill, he practically rebuilt it, and in 1907 he again installed new machinery. Upon first taking charge of the mill in 1886, he changed the entire burr outfit for the roller process. He considers this change the starting point to his real success in the business. The capacity of the Prairie Queen and Big Four mills, the latter being purchased by Mr. Logan in 1905, amounts to seven hundred barrels daily. Upon purchasing the Big Four mills in 1905, Mr. Logan remodeled them at an expense of thirty thousand dollars and increased the capacity from one hundred to three hundred barrels. Since 1907 the busi- ness has been operated under the firm name of the Scott Logan Milling Company, with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The mills have a storage capacity of one hundred thousand bushels of grain. The two brands, "Prairie Queen" and "Big Four," have become famous over the Middle West.
Mr. Logan is a member of the board of park commissioners and takes a keen and active interest in the improvements of his city. He exercises a personal care of the beautiful park in Sheldon and never lets an opportunity
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pass by to enhance its beauty. In addition to his milling interests, he has ten sections of fine Saskatchewan land in Canada, which he is improving, fenc- ing and cultivating. This land is rapidly increasing in value and promises to become worth many times the price he originally paid for it. Mr. Logan has a beautiful home near the city park where he and his wife and family now live.
MARTIN JONES.
This enterprising farmer and public-spirited citizen has spent his whole life in this county and is a representative of one of the oldest and best known families of his township. In fact, Martin Jones was born and reared on the farm which his father homesteaded in Ocheyedan township in the early history of Osceola county. He has been fortunate in many ways and par- ticularly in view of the fact that he is now living on the farm where his boyhood days were spent and where the happiest memories of his life will always be. The old farm has associated with it hallowed memories which no other place can ever claim, and as the poet says, "The roof that heard our earliest cry" has a tender fascination for us which never fades with the vicissitudes of later years. He could have selected no better county than his own in which to grow to maturity and there is no better county in which to live today than our own fair county, Osceola, the pride of our hearts.
Martin Jones, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Ocheyedan town- ship, was born in 1880 upon the farm where he is now living. His parents, David J. and Mary Jones, were natives of the little country of Wales in England and were among the early settlers of the state of Wisconsin. From there they came to Osceola county, Iowa, and homesteaded on section 6 in Ocheyedan township. They improved the land until it became one of the most valuable farms of the county. One of the striking features of the farm was the fine grove of ten acres which Mr. Jones had the foresight to set out shortly after acquiring the land. David Jones was born in 1843 and died in 1891 in Ocheyedan township. His wife was born in 1850 and is still living in Wisconsin.
David Jones and wife were the parents of five children, three of whom are still living. Martin Jones was given a good education in the schools of his county and in 1908 began farming the old home farm of two hun- dred and twenty-three acres, to which he had fallen heir. He has adopted all of the latest improvements in agriculture and is classed among the most
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progressive farmers of his county. He keeps a high grade of live stock of various kinds and makes a specialty of the raising and selling of live stock.
Mr. Jones was married in 1907 to Mae Grover, who was born in Illi- nois in 1890. To this marriage has been born one daughter. Lorna. Politi- cally, Mr. Jones is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in political affairs. His extensive farming interests have demanded the most of his attention, with the result that he has not felt he had time to indulge in the game of politics. He and his wife attend the Methodist church and con- tribute liberally of their means to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Jones is a man of ability and industry and has gained a reputation as one of the most influential farmers in his township. However he does not allow his interests upon the farm to take all of his time, but takes his full share of the various questions which affect the life of his community. He is interested in all measures which promise to advance the moral, social, intellectual and civic development of his county and for this reason he has won the commendation of his fellow citizens.
JOSEPH ROTH.
It is gratifying to find that an increasing number of our young men are returning to the farm after their school days are past. The cry has gone up all over the land that our young men are turning from the farm and going to the city, but within the past few years there is a decided tendency in the other direction. Farming today presents a far more attractive opportunity to the young men than it formerly did and with the advent of new machinery, work on the farm is very materially lightened. Good roads, automobiles, telephone and the rural mail delivery have brought the farmer in close touch with open life, and the farmer of the twentieth century enjoys as many con- veniences as the city dweller did fifty years ago.
Joseph Roth, a prosperous young farmer and stock raiser of Baker township, O'Brien county, lowa, was born in Benton county, Indiana, in 1891. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Schroeder) Roth. Joseph Roth was born in Germany in 1859 and when a young man came to Indiana and engaged in farming until 1910. He moved to O'Brien county, lowa, pur- chased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Baker township and farmed it until his death, three years later. His wife, Mary Schroeder, was born in Illinois in 1857 and died in 1895. Joseph Roth and wife were the parents
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of three children: Mrs. Anna Schweback, of South Dakota; one who died in infancy, and Joseph, whose history is here briefly sketched.
At the death of his father, in 1913, Joseph Roth became the sole owner of the three hundred and twenty acres of land which his father had bought three years previous. He has made several improvements upon the farm to increase its efficiency since coming into possession of it. He takes an active interest in the affairs of the county and lends his influence to every move- ment which he feels will benefit the community. Politically, he is a Demo- crat, but has not taken a very active part in politics. He is an earnest mem- ber of the Catholic church and gives his support to it at all times. He has been a school director for a short term and while in that capacity has done everything he could for the advancement of education in his township. Mr. Roth is still a very young man and has a long and prosperous career before him, and in the years to come his name will be enrolled with the representa- tive men of his county.
JAMES F. SWEENEY.
The Mississippi valley is called the garden spot of the world and there is no more beautiful farming country than the rolling prairies of Franklin township, O'Brien county, lowa, and through the summer months they present a rare picture with the cattle grazing in the verdant pastures, with the fields of corn and oats waving in the gentle breezes. Not only do they gratify the eye, but they as well richly reward the men who possess then and are the owners of the abundant crops which they produce. Among the many handsome farms and excellent farmers of this township, there is no one who is more deserving of mention in this volume than James F. Sweeney, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Franklin township.
James F. Sweeney was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1859, and is the son of Miles and Mary (McGlenn) Sweeney. Miles Sweeney and his wife were natives of Ireland and he was a farmer in that. country be- fore coming to America. Miles Sweeney and wife were the parents of a large family of children: Miles, Jr., a retired farmer living in .Sheldon, this county; Mrs. Katherine Hyland, who is a resident of Wisconsin: Charles, a real estate man living in Wisconsin : Mrs. Mary Phifer, of South Dakota; Hugh, a tobacco buyer of Wisconsin; Daniel, a contractor living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: John, a farmer of Wisconsin, and . James F., whose history is here outlined.
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James F. Sweeney received a good, common school education in the schools of his native state, and continued to reside at home with his parents until seventeen years of age. He then found employment on the river boats on the Missouri, but later returned to Wisconsin and engaged in the raising of tobacco for a number of years. He then went to teaming on railroad construction work and after finishing his work with this company he again engaged in the growing of tobacco. In 1892 he came to O'Brien county, lowa, and rented land in Franklin township, and shortly afterwards pur- chased the one hundred and sixty acres of land which he is now farming. Since coming to this county and acquiring this farm he has made eight thousand dollars' worth of improvements on the farm. He has engaged extensively in the breeding of cattle, including Shorthorn and other breeds. He also raises Poland China hogs for the markets. Mr. Sweeney is also interested in the Sanborn Elevator Company and was a promoter of the Franklin Telephone Company, and is the president of the company at the present time. In addition to his land holdings in this county, Mr. Sweeney is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of cottonwood land in Minne- sota. As a farmer he is thoroughly up-to-date in his ideas as the cultivation of the soil and the raising of crops and keeps in close touch with twentieth century theories and practice in agriculture.
Mr. Sweeney was married in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1885, to Maggie Murphy, who was born in 1866, and to this union have been born seven children : Miles L., a graduate of the Capital City Commercial Col- lege at Des Moines, Iowa, and now living in Saskatchewan, Canada ; James L., who is assisting his father on the home farm: John R., a graduate of Ames College, and now managing the home farm; Daniel M., deceased : Mary, deceased ; Irene, who has graduated from a musical college, and Anna, who is still under the parental roof. Mr. Sweeney has given his children the best of educational advantages and is justly proud of the talent shown by his children.
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