USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 12
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Aware of the strength of co-operative influ- ence, various societies have been organized in connection with the church. The men of the parish have instituted a benevolent society and erected a hall on the church grounds where en- tertainments are furnished from time to time, the proceeds being used for charity. The young ladies of the church belong to the So- dality of the Blessed Virgin, a society in which special instruction is imparted for their sta- tion of life. A Christian Mothers' Society has been organized, to which married ladies may belong. At the meetings of this society special
instructions are given relating to the duties of married people.
The pastor's residence is a modern two story building situated near the church and was built at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. Cement sidewalks and beautiful shade trees add to the attractive appearance of the lawn. The entire grounds and buildings belonging to St. Boni- face church organization may be valued at thir- ty thousand dollars.
Rev. Il. J. Schleier is the present pastor. He was appointed to succeed the former pastor, Rev. J. Gerleman, on the 5th of October, 1902. Father Schleier came to Sioux City from New York, where he had been occupied with clerical duties for some time. Ile is a native of Cass- ville, Wisconsin, and when nine years of age he left the place of his nativity, locating at Earling, Iowa, where he attended the public and parochial schools. At the age of sixteen he entered St. Benedict College at Atchison, Kansas, where he pursued classical studies for five years. He then entered St. John's Univer- sity at Collegeville, Minnesota, where he was graduated in the commercial, philosophical and theological studies on the 21st of June, 1898. Shortly after his ordination by Bishop Tro- beek, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, he was appointed enrate at St. Peter's and St. Paul's church at Carroll, Iowa, a position which he held for two years. Desirous of further perfecting himself in his saered calling he entered the Catholic University at Washington, D. C., as a special student in psychology and sociology. After two years study at that institution he was ap- pointed to succeed Rev. J. A. Gerleman at Sioux City. During Father Schleier's pastor- ate at St. Boniface church a steady growth of the parish has been noted. Under his judicial and conservative management a debt of twenty- eight hundred dollars has been liquidated and improvements made to the amount of one thou- sand dollars. In the near future St. Boni- face congregation contemplates the erection of a new brick church to replace the present frame
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structure. Under the further leadership of Rev. Schleier St. Boniface parish will certainly prosper and grow to great dimensions. The church at this writing is free from debt and has a bank account of seven hundred dollars.
FREDERICK CLARK HILLS.
Frederick Clark Hills, who made for himself an honored name and enviable record in busi- ness life and who was a veteran of the Civil war, was born in county Kent, England, Jan- ary 22, 1842, and died in Sioux City. In the year of his birth he was brought to the United States by his parents, who settled in Vernon, New York, where they spent their remaining days. There Frederick C. Hills was reared and his early educational privileges were sup- plemented by a course of study in Vernon Academy. When not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom his time and attention were devoted to the work of the farm, which he fol- lowed energetically, but when fifteen years of age he began learning the carriage-trimmer's trade, serving a regular apprenticeship. He afterward worked at his trade in Rome, New York, and at the same time further prepared himself for life's practical duties by pursuing a business course of study in the Rome Com- mercial College. He continued to follow his trade until 1862, when he put aside all busi- ness and personal considerations, for the toesin of war had sounded and men from all walks of life were flocking to the standard of their coun- try. He responded to the first call for three hundred thousand troops and became a member of Company E, One Hundred and Seventeenth New York Infantry. He had previously been identified with a military organization known as the Gansevoort Light Guards of Rome. This company decided to volunteer and with the command of Mr. Hills went to the front under Colonel William R. Pease. He was appointed second sergeant of the company. The regiment
was at once sent to Washington, but at the end of three months Mr. Hills was discharged at Fort Alexander because of physical disability.
On the 19th of March, 1864, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hills and Miss Lucy C. Rip- pey, of Spafford, New York. The same spring he came to Sioux City, Iowa, driving from Marshalltown with a yoke of cattle. Not long afterward he went to Yankton and to Bon- homme, South Dakota. He returned to Marshalltown, however, in July, and there en- tered the employ of the Chicago & Northwest- ern Railroad Company, his task being to put wood in the woodsheds of the road. Not long afterward, however, he accepted a clerkship in the office of the company. Removing to Nevada in August, 1864, he was there ap- pointed cashier by D. C. Dodge, vice-president of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Com- pany, and when the road was opened to Boone, Iowa, he removed to that place, arriving there on the 15th of July, 1865. Mr. Hills was sent to Missouri Valley Junction to open the station there for business, in December, 1866, and after serving as pioneer agent for one month was transferred to Dennison, Iowa, where he was made agent. All the freight for Sioux City was then hauled by wagon from Dennison. When the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad was completed, March 7, 1868, Mr. Hills was ap- pointed station agent, thus serving until Sep- tember, 1870, when he was promoted to the position of general freight agent and in June, 1871, he was made general ticket agent. Sub- sequently he became superintendent and after- ward was made general traffic manager. His connection with the railroad was thus marked by steady progression from one position of re- sponsibility to another, until he occupied a very important place in connection with the management and business of the road. He con- tinued to serve as general traffic manager until Angust 31, 1881, when on account of ill health he resigned. Mr. Hills then established a hardware store in Sioux City, conducting the
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enterprise until 1888, when he sold out in or- der to accept a position with the new railroad in the interests of Sioux City.
In community affairs Mr. Hills took an active and helpful interest and his labors were so directed that all acknowledged his worth in citizenship. He, however, did not seek public office and filled few positions of political pre- ferment. He was for three years a member of the school board and for one year a member of the city council. In fraternal cireles he was quite prominent, belonging to the Grand Army of the Republic and to the Masonic organiza- tion. He served as master of his lodge, as high priest of the chapter and eminent commander of the commandery, and he became a thirty- third degree Mason in the Scottish rite. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party. He was a man true to his honest con- vietions, fearless in advocacy of what he he- lieved to be right, and in all matters of eitizen- ship he displayed the same loyalty that prompted his enlistment in the Union Army and his service in the south at the time of the Civil war.
BENTON HATHAWAY.
Benton Hathaway, an enterprising agricul- turist living on section 9, Rutland township, is numbered among Iowa's early settlers, having resided within her borders since 1865, while twenty-two years have passed since he came to Woodbury county, and during this period great changes have occurred marking the on- ward progress of civilization. In the work of pioneer improvement he has been deeply in- terested and in many ways has performed his full share in the advancement and development of the county.
Mr. Hathaway was born in Darke connty, Ohio, June 21, 1856. His father, David W. Hathaway, was also a native of the Buckeye state and was reared and married there, Miss
Mary Armstrong becoming his wife. He car- ried on agricultural pursuits in Darke county for a number of years and five of his children were born there. In 1865, however, he sought a home west of the Mississippi and located in Madison county, Iowa, where he engaged in the development of a farm and continued to carry ou agricultural pursuits for a number of years. Subsequently he took up his abode in Woodbury county, joining his son, Benton Hathaway here, and in this county he and his wife spent their remaining days.
Benton Hathaway was reared to manhood in Madison county, Iowa, and largely assisted in the work of developing and improving the home farm, gaining an intimate knowledge of prac- tical agricultural methods. The occupation to which he was reared he has since made his life work. After his marriage he removed to Guthrie county, Iowa, where he carried on general farming for three years and in 1882 he eame to Woodbury county, while in 1884 he located on the land which he has since owned and cultivated. He secured a homestead elaim of one hundred and sixty acres and this he placed under the plow and fenced. Some years later he erected a large and attractive two-story residence. In the rear of this stand substantial and commodious barns and other convenient outbuildings. He has planted a grove of for- est trees and there is an orchard and much small fruit upon the place; in fact, its equip- ments are all in keeping with modern agricul- tural ideas and up-to-date methods of farming. He also bought more land adjoining the orig- inal purchase and his farm now comprises two hundred and forty acres. In addition to the cultivation of the fields he is likewise engaged in the raising of a good grade of stock and is accounted one of the successful agriculturists and stock-raisers of Woodbury county.
On the 2d of February, 1879, in Madison county, Iowa, Mr. Hathaway was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Murphy, a native of Illinois, who was born near Princeton, Bureau
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county. Her father, Hamlin Murphy, was an izenship and his interest in community affairs early settler and an enterprising farmer of that has taken tangible form in his zealous labors for the improvements instituted through alder- manie measures and at the present time he is serving as a member of the city council. county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway have been born six children: George I., who assists in the operation of the home farm ; E. D., R. H. and G. H., who are also at home ; Edith M., the wife of James Mitchell, a resident farmer of Rutland township; and Eva M., who completes the family.
In his political views Mr. Hathaway has al- ways been a Democrat, giving earnest support to the men and measures of the party, and is recognized as an active and efficient worker in local political circles. He has been a delegate to numerous county and state conventions and has been a member of the central committee of Rutland township. He was elected and served as township assessor, was township school treasurer and has held other positions of pub- lie honor and trust. He belongs to Pierson lodge of Odd Fellows, and also to the Modern Woodmen Camp. He has helped to improve and make Woodbury county what it is to-day and during the quarter of a century of his resi- dence here has been closely identified with its agricultural development, also contributing in substantial measures to progress in other lines. He and his wife have a large cirele of warm friends and are well entitled to representation in this volume.
ISAAC NEWTON STONE.
Isaac Newton Stone is with one exception the oldest representative of the nursery busi- ness in Sioux City and he has attained success through the inherent foree of his character, the exercise of his native talent and the utilization of surrounding opportunities. His connection with the public interests of the city has also been far reaching and beneficial, for he has aided in shaping the municipal poliey, in pro- moting its material development and in ad- vancing its moral progress. His patriotic eit-
Mr. Stone was born in Madison county, New York, July 20, 1839. His father, Anson P. Stone, also a native of the Empire state and a farmer by occupation, removed from New York to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, in 1844, and in that locality he opened up a farm of two hun- dred acres now included within the suburbs of the city. There were not a dozen families there at the time of his arrival and with the pioneer development and progress of his com- munity he was closely identified. His death occurred there in 1852, when he was but thirty- seven years of age. He held membership with the Methodist Episcopal church and was one of the organizers of the congregation of that denomination at Fort Atkinson. He was then chosen one of the church officers and took a very active and helpful part in its upbuilding. His political support was given to the Whig party and he was a man universally respected because of his fidelity to his honest convictions and by reason of the honorable purposes which permeated his life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Cornelia Adams, was a daugh- ter of Isaac and Eunice (Webster) Adams. Iler maternal ancestors were of the same fam- ily as Noah Webster, the compiler of the dic- tionary, the grandmother of our subject being his niece. Mrs. Stone was born in Madison county, New York, and, long surviving her husband, passed away in 1882 at the age of . seventy years. She was also a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In their family were five children : Emery W., who was a teacher in the public schools and afterward a physician at Fort At- kinson, Wisconsin, where his death occurred; Isaac N., of this review; Marcena P., who is a dealer in wood at Santa Clara county, Cali- fornia: Speneer I., a dentist of Alaska; and
IdStone
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Mary C., who is the wife of Professor II. W. Eaton, who for a number of years was a teacher in the Chicago Manual Training school, but is now living retired at Santa Barbara, Califor- nia.
Isaac N. Stone acquired his education in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and in Albion Acad- emy, and in early manhood he devoted much of his time to the profession of teaching for ten years. Hle afterward had charge of a gen- eral farming and nursery business for a few years and finally devoted his entire attention to the development of his nursery. In the fall of 1884 he came to Sioux City, locating at Morningside, where he purchased thirty aeres of land, which he planted to small fruits and supplied with nursery stock. He has since continued in the business with excellent sue- cess and with one exception is the oldest nur- seryman of this place. Recently he has come into possession of another, tract of land which is pleasantly and conveniently located two and a half miles northwest of the courthouse of Sioux City. This is all planted to fruit which is of superior quality and grade and thus finds a ready market. He has made for himself a most excellent reputation and because of this has secured a patronage which makes his busi- ness profitable. Within recent years he has platted a thirty-acre tract of land at Morning- side and has already sold about half of it. He does considerable real estate business and in connection with E. C. Peters he is the old- est resident of Morningside.
Mr. Stone has done much for the improve- ment and promotion of that section of the city, putting forth strong and effective effort not only for its material advancement but also for its progress along educational, social and moral lines. He was largely instrumental in estab- lishing Morningside College and in 1886 he organized the first Sunday-school of the Metho- dist Episcopal church at Morningside, Its services were held in a little frame schoolhouse. Rev. Glass visited the neighborhood, awakened
the interest of the people of the community in the work and a few weeks later a Sunday-school was organized by Mr. Stone, of which he was chosen the superintendent. He holds member- ship in the First Baptist church of Sioux City, is one of its trustees and takes a very active interest in church work. He was superinten- deut of the Sunday-school of the Fort Atkin- son Methodist Episcopal elmurch for eleven years and has also been superintendent of several mission schools in connection with his work in the Baptist church at Sioux City. For fifty years he has been an active church member, untiring in his efforts to promote the canse of Christianity and extend its influence. He gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and regards it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to uphold the ideas which he deems will best advance gov- ernmental interests. While at Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, he was elected and served for four successive terms as supervisor of Jefferson coun- ty, Wisconsin. He has been alderman of the seventh ward for over three terms and is now a member of the city eonneil, to which he has been elected withont opposition. He has served as chairman of the police committee and was chairman of the claims committee under Mayor Quick and also under Mayor Burton. Hle is now chairman of street committee and is an influential member of other committees.
In 1862 occurred the marriage of Mr. Stone and Miss Susan L. Dye, a daughter of Enoch P. and Lovina Dye, both natives of Madison county, New York, and both settlers of Jeffer- son county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Stone was born in Madison county, New York, December 20, 1840, and like her Imsband is widely and favor- ably known in Morningside and in other ser- tions of Sioux City. For many years he has been connected with the upbuilding of the connty and he has just reason to be proud of the fact that to his efforts can be traced many a substantial enterprise or achievement contrib- uting greatly to the beauty and prosperity of
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Morningside. In every sense of the word he township and cultivated it successfully for two is the representative citizen devoted to the wel- fare of his chosen city and state and loyal to the best interests of good government.
THOMAS HERBERT AUST, M. D.
Dr. Thomas Herbert Aust, one of the younger and yet successful medical practitioners of Sioux City, was born February 14, 1874, in Bristol, England, where his ancestors had lived for four or five generations. His parents were Thomas Richard and Mary (Davies) Aust. The father was proprietor of a brass foundry in which he employed on an average of forty men throughout the year. He died in 1891, at the age of fifty-two years, and the mother is still living in Bristol, England. In the family were six children, of whom three are yet living.
Dr. Aust, the fifth member of the family, attended Redland Grove College, in Bristol, until ten years of age, at which time he gained a free scholarship, an honor won by but two boys out of the two hundred and fifty in the Bristol Cathedral College. He spent the next four years in college and was graduated with honors at the age of fourteen years. He also passed examinations similar to that given in post-graduate courses from the College of Pre- ceptors. After his graduation he entered the brokerage firm of Robjent & Board, with whom he remained for three years, leaving there at the age of seventeen years, upon the death of his father. He then became his father's suc- cessor in business in association with his broth- ers. He remained in the brass foundry busi- ness for two years, when at the age of nineteen he withdrew and entered the service of Att- wood, Catherine street, Strand, London, a pri- vate detective agency, with which he remained for two years. In 1895, when twenty-one years of age, he came to the United States, making his way direct to Woodbury county, Iowa. Fie purchased an eighty-aere farm in Woodbury
years, when in 1898 he rented the farm and taught instrumental music on the piano and organ. He also led the Holly Springs Band. Later he came to Sioux City through the solici- tation of his friend, Dr. Glann, of Holly Springs, and began the study of medicine at the Sioux City College of Medicine, from which he was graduated on the 30th of April, 1903. He at once entered upon practice in Sioux City, meeting with very good success, and now has a desirable and growing patronage.
Dr. Anst was married, January 1, 1903, at Sioux City, to Miss Catharena Feldner, and they have one child, Carolyn, born March 3, 1904. They are well known socially in Sioux City and are popular with many friends.
HENRY KURTZ.
Henry Kurtz, in his business interests, has manifested excellent ability, executive force and keen discrimination and is to-day classed among the substantial farmers and stock breed- ers and dealers of Woodbury county. His farm comprises one hundred and seventy acres of highly developed land and upon this he has a fine herd of pure blooded Hereford cattle. All of his possessions have been acquired through his untiring efforts and persistency of purpose, and his success shows what can be accomplished when one has the will to dare and do.
Mr. Kurtz is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in Prussia, on the 12th of June, 1840. He remained in the fatherland until nineteen years of age and enjoyed good school privileges, being instructed in the Latin as well as the German tongue. His youth was passed upon the home farm and then when a young man he emigrated to America in 1860, hoping that he might have better business op- portunities than were afforded in the old world. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but con- tinned his journey into the interior of the
DR. T. H. AUST.
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country, joining some friends at Muscatine, cess, breeding and raising pure-blooded Here- Iowa. Soon afterward he secured employment ford cattle. as a farm hand in Muscatine county and was On the 29th of November, 1866, Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Miss Florenza Dall- mann, who was born and reared in Germany. They became the parents of the following chil- dren: John, a merchant of Cushing; William and Edward, who follow farming in Woodbury county ; Albert and Harry, at home; Lena, the wife of Dave Gilgerson; Tillie, the wife of James Shaddock; Ella, the deceased wife of Will Stoltz, her death occurring in 1900; Ida, at home; Lizzie, the wife of Frank Croeksel; Emma, Lucy, Elsie and Mabel, all of whom are under the parental roof. thus engaged until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when his patriotie spirit was aroused in behalf of his adopted country and he en- listed, in August, 1862, as a member of the Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry. He joined Com- pany C and went to the south under General A. J. Smith. He participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, in the battle of Nash- ville, in the Red River expedition, and at Pleas- ant Hill. Louisiana, he was shot through the leg. At Tupelo, Mississippi, he was wounded in the finger, but he served until the close of the war and was honorably discharged in Au- gust, 1865.
After recuperating he began work upon the home farm and throughout his entire life has carried on agricultural pursuits. Following his marriage he located on a tract of land of eighty aeres in Muscatine county. This he afterward traded for a farm of one hundred and forty-three aeres, on which he continued to make his home until 1881, when he sold that property and came to Woodbury county. Here he purchased one hundred and forty acres of raw land on section 1, Rock township, continu- ing the cultivation of that land for fifteen years, when he again sold and purchased his present farm on section 2, Rock township. It com- prises one hundred and seventy aeres of land, on which but slight improvements had been made when it came into his possession. This property is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry. Upon the farm he has erected a neat residence, built two large barns and other outbuildings and has continued the work of improvement in accordance with mod- ern ideas of agriculture. He has planted fruit, shade and ornamental trees and his farm is now most pleasing in appearance. The fields yield to him golden tribute in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them and as a stoekdealer he has met with very desirable sne-
In his political allegiance Mr. Kurtz is a stanel Republican, but the honors and emolu- ments of office have had no attraction for him. Both he and his wife were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church and are now members of that denomination. Mr. Kurtz belongs to the Grand Army Post, at Correctionville, and thus maintains business relations with his old com- rades who wore the blue uniform upon the bat- tle-fields of the south. The hope that led him to come to America has been more than real- ized. He was a young man, possessing courage and determination but no eapital, and placing his dependence upon the substantial qualities of labor and perseverance he has steadily worked his way upward and has not only gained a comfortable competenee but has also won the respect and good will of all with whom he has come in contaet.
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