USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 40
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Mr. Knittel is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and in poli- ties he is stanch Republican. A factor in the business circles of the city from 1876 until 1895, he aided in advancing its mercantile interests, and in his own establishments kept pace with the progressive spirit of the times, and with the growth of the city as it emerged from villagehood and took on cosmopolitan character and proportions. His prosperity is attributable to his own ef- forts and his life history is illustrative of the fact that the building of a successful career and the winning of an honorable name may be accomplished simultaneously.
JOHN N. BORAH.
John N. Borah, living on section 16, Union township, near Correctionville, is a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Grant county on the 13th of May, 1859. He is a son of James N. Borah, who was born at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and in 1849 became a resi- dent of Wisconsin. He was one of the first settlers of Grant county and took an active part in the pioneer development of that portion of the state. He married Miss Mary Salmon, a
MR. AND MRS. J. N. BORAH.
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native of Indiana, and upon the home farm which he there opened up and developed he reared his family. He was widely recognized as one of the substantial, reliable and respected farmers of the community and he died there at the advanced age of seventy-two years. His wife survives him and is now enjoying good health at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. In their family were seven children who reached mature years and are all yet living.
John N. Borah, whose name introduces this record, spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm in Grant county, Wisconsin. The children of his father's household are Mary, who is living with her mother in Wis- consin ; Elizabeth, the wife of W. J. Dyer, of Laneaster, Wisconsin; Esther, who married Rufus Jones, of Fennimore, Wisconsin; Wil- liam E., a farmer of Grant county, Wisconsin ; John N .; Charles E., who is living in Lan- caster, Wisconsin ; and Cutler J., who resides on the old homestead.
John N. Borah, like the other members of the family, enjoyed the educational privileges af- forded by the common schools. He, too, worked upon the home farm assisting in the labors of the fields from the time of early spring plant- ing until erops were gathered in the late antumn. He remained with his father until he attained his majority and not long after- ward he sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being united in marriage in Grant county on the 30th of December, 1880, to Miss Emma Gould, who was born in that county and was reared in the same neighbor- hood as her husband. Her father, Chauneey Gonld, was a native of Vermont and became a pioneer resident of Grant county, Wisconsin, where he reared his family, numbering two children, the brother of Mrs. Borah being George B. Gould, who is a retired farmer now living in Schaller, Iowa.
After his marriage Mr. Borah engaged in the cultivation of the Gould farm for a time and then located on the Borah farm, which he
continued to improve for five years. In 1887 he removed to Iowa, locating in Sac county, where he again engaged in the tilling of the soil for five years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Schaller, where he car- ried on business for a year and in 1894 he ar- rived in Woodbury county, settling in Union township, where he now resides. He has two hundred and forty acres. Here he rebuilt and remodeled the house, also built outbuildings and, in fact, has improved the farm in so many ways that it is now one of the valuable prop- erties of this portion of the state. Neatness and thrift characterize the entire place and the good erops harvested are the just reward for the care and cultivation which Mr. Borah bestows upon his land.
Politieally he is a stanch Republican, always voting a straight tieket, for he believes firmly in the principles of the party and thinks that its platform contains the best elements of good government. He has been elected and is now serving for the third term as township clerk, covering nearly six years. He has held a num- ber of school positions and the cause of educa- tion has found in him a warm friend. He was also the promoter of and seeured the rural tele- phone extending from Correctionville to Pier- son. He is a very publie-spirited citizen, do- ing all in his power to promote the welfare of his community and to stimulate its substantial advancement through his earnest co-operation. Socially he is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America. His integrity and worth have stood the test of time and in Woodbury county he is known as an industrious farmer, reliable and respected.
HAROLD L. HEIDELBERG.
Success does not depend upon condition or environment, but upon the strong purpose and laudable ambition and the unfaltering energy of the individual, and it has been these qual- ities which have made Harold L. Heidelberg
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a leading business man of Woodbury county. He has been actively identified with business affairs in Anthon for fourteen years, having located there in 1890. He was born in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg, on the 5th of February, 1854. His father, G. A. Heidelberg, was a native of Germany and was there reared. He was married, however, in Pennsylvania, the lady of his choice be- ing Miss Agnes Morrison, a native of that state. Mr. Heidelberg engaged in business in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for a number of years and afterward removed to West Virginia, where he carried on farming and merchandis- ing from 1858 until 1870. He then removed to Halifax county, Virginia, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits, spending his last years there. His death occurred Novem- ber 6, 1886, and his wife survived until Janu- ary 14, 1890.
Harold L. Heidelberg of this review was reared to manhood in Halifax county, Vir- ginia, and received only common-school advan- tages. However, since arriving at years of ma- turity he has added largely to his knowledge through experience, reading and observation. He came west in 1887, making his way to Omaha, Nebraska, where he engaged in clerk- ing for three years, thus obtaining a good busi- ness training. In 1890 he removed to Anthon, where he accepted a clerkship, and on the 11th of December, 1893, he began business on his own account, opening a general store. He in- creased the stock from year to year and in 1899 he built a large, two-story business house, the first brick business block of the town. This he filled with a well selected line of general merchandise and he has developed an excellent trade, having now a patronage which makes him one of the prosperous merchants of the county. IIe has also built a good residence in Anthon and he purchased the one in which he now resides.
On the 6th of September, 1893, in this place, Mr. Heidelberg was united in marriage to Miss
Lida Bradley, a native of New York and a daughter of James and Agnes Bradley, who were formerly from the Empire state. Mr. and Mrs. Heidelberg have one daughter, Lucile. He is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Anthon and to Haggai Chapter, No. 120, R. A. M., at Kingsley, Iowa. He is now serving for the second term as master of the lodge. He is likewise identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, of which he is a past chancellor. Politically he is an earnest Democrat. In matters of citizenship he is public-spirited and progressive and has con- tributed in large measure toward the upbuild- ing and improvement of the town. He built the first brick business house here and has done much to extend further improvement along other lines. His commercial career has been char- acterized by strong purpose and honorable deal- ing and his trade has expanded in keeping with modern business ideas and methods. He well deserves his prosperity and is looked upon by his fellow men as a representative and highly respected citizen.
EDWIN E. LEONARD.
The prosperity of any community, town or city, depends on its commercial activity and trade relations, therefore the real upbuilders of a town are those who stand at the head of its leading businesses. As such Edwin E. Leonard well deserves mention when writing a history of Correctionville. Mr. Leonard was born in Columbus, Ohio, May 14, 1854, but in childhood removed to Woodbury county with his father and here grew to manhood. His father located on a fine quarter section of land in Union township and here the young lad, battling with the adverse elements of frontier life, developed those qualities of integrity and industry that have proved his worth to the community in his maturer years.
His education was obtained in the country schools and in Correctionville, after which he
EDWIN E. LEONARD.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WOODBURY COUNTY
accepted a clerkship with the mercantile estab- lishment of A. J. Davis in Correctionville. Two years later he entered the employ of George Edmunds & Company and after four years with them he entered the firm of O. A. Cate & Company, with whom he was associated as clerk, manager and partner for the next six- teen years. In 1898 in partnership with Earl Edmunds he organized the exclusive men's fur- nishing house now so well known as "The Re- liable."
Mr. Leonard was married in Woodbury coun- ty in 1883 to Miss Mary E. Ruch, who was born near Naperville, Illinois, and educated there. Her father removed to Iowa, locating near Pierson in Rutland township, this conn- ty. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have three children, Bessie, Merle and Evalyn. Mr. and Mrs. Leon- ard are public-spirited and contribute gener- ously to all causes that tend to make man bet- ter. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active part in its work and that of other organizations of a similar nature.
Mr. Leonard's life has been one of continu- ons activity and open to all his neighbors. He has full sympathy with all forms of honest la- bor. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of northwestern Iowa, and he has ever been ready to co-operate in developing its great resources. He has proven himself a good citizen and neighbor in the full sense of the word, and many of his tried customers and friends would take his word as quickly as they would a government bond.
ROBERT J. ANDREWS.
Robert J. Andrews, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Sioux City, is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred at New Providence in 1860. His parents were William E. and Mary E. (Par- isho) Andrews. The father was born in Din-
widdie county, Virginia, and was a mechanic and farmer. He gave his political support to the Republican party for many years and in his later life supported the Prohibition princi- ples. Ilis death occurred in 1900, when he was eighty-three years of age. His wife, who was born in North Carolina, died in 1884 at the age of sixty years. They were the parents of five children, all of whom are yet living.
Robert J. Andrews, having acquired his education in the public schools, engaged in teaching for one year. He began business on his own account in Chamberlain, South Da- kota, operating in real estate there until 1887. During his residence in that state he also served as treasurer of Brule county for five years, hav- ing first been appointed to the office to fill a vacancy and then elected. In 1888 he removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where he began dealing in real estate, insurance and fidelity bonds. He has offiees in the Metropolitan building and has secured a good clientage along the line of his chosen pursuit. He has thoroughly informed himself concerning property values in this part of the state and has negotiated many important realty transfers, which have contributed to the business development of the community. He belongs to the real estate board and he also does a fair business in insurance.
In 1886 ocenrred the marriage of Mr. An- drews and Miss Lulu W. Skerry, a daughter of E. W. and Lucy J. Skerry. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and they have three chil- dren, Guy Ward, Helen Lincoln and Robert Skerry. Both Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are mem- bers of the Unitarian church and he belongs to the Commercial Club of Sioux City and to the Masonic fraternity. He votes with the Republican party, believing firmly in its prin- ciples and for four and a half years has served as a member of the city council. In all mat- ters pertaining to general progress and im- provement he is deeply interested and has put forth his best efforts for the welfare of his adopted county. In business relations he is
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notably prompt and reliable and in his life record has displayed the traits of character which in every land and clime command re- spect and confidence.
HENRY BRUNE.
Henry Brune, who for twenty-one years has been a resident of Wodbury county and is now a representative farmer of Union township, liv- ing on section 21, was born in Waldeck, Ger- many, October 17, 1863. His parents were Carl and Wilhelmina (Rest) Brune, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a farmer by occupation, reared his family in Germany and spent his entire life there, passing away in 1883. His widow still sur- vives him and resides at the old home there. In the family were five children, three of whom are yet living: Henry, of this review ; Wilhel- mina, the wife of William Degerhardt, of Ger- many, and Albert, who is now engaged in farm- ing in Idaho.
Henry Brune remained a resident of the fatherland until eighteen years of age and dur- ing that time became familiar with farm labor, while in the public schools he acquired his edu- cation. His knowledge of the English tongue has been largely acquired since he came to Iowa and after crossing the Atlantic he had to acquaint himself with the manners and customs of the people in many respects different from the Teutonic race. It was in 1882 that he came to the United States, sailing from Hamburg to New York. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast, however, but made his way at once into the interior of the country, joining some cous- ins who were then living in Pottawattamie county, Iowa. There he worked for a year as a farm hand and in 1883 he came to Wood- bury county, where he was employed by the month as a farm hand during three years. On the expiration of that period he operated rented land for three years and in 1889 he bought his
present farm and began cultivating and im- proving it. His labors in this direction have since been continuons. He broke the prairies, fenced the place, built a good house and barns and eribs, has planted an orchard which is in good bearing condition and has continued the work of improvement until his property is now one of the excellent farms of Union township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres on section 21.
On the 31st day of May, 1893, in Pottawatta- mie county, Iowa, Mr. Brune was united in marriage to Miss Albertina Puttmann, a native of Davenport, Iowa, who was reared, however, in Pottawattamie county. They have four children, Anna, Elmer, Minnie and Laura. The parents were reared in the Lutheran church. Mr. Brune is identified with the Ma- sonic fraternity, belonging to Correctionville lodge. He votes with the Democratic party, is interested in community affairs and for four years he served as a director of the schools and is now president of the board. He is particu- larly progressive in his ideas concerning educa- tional advancement and he gives hearty co- operation to many other movements for the public good. He has deep affection for the land of his adoption, for in America he has worked his way upward from humble position to snecess. He is a truly self-made man, who by hard labor, keen business ability and en- ergy has conquered all difficulties in his path and become the possessor of valuable farming property.
EARL EDMUNDS.
Earl Edmunds, of Correctionville, Iowa, was born near Burr Oak, Winneshiek county, Iowa, January 26, 1860, and has lived within the state practically all his life, with the excep- tion of about one year's residence in Minnesota. Mr. Edmunds' father, George Rollin Edmunds, was born in the state of New York, in April,
HENRY BRUNE AND FAMILY.
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1826, and is still living. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church for a number of years and later a minister in the Freewill Baptist church. In 1859 George Rollin Ed- munds was married to Emily Adelia Tubbs, the mother of Earl Edmunds. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Edmunds was Leonard Tubbs, who for a number of years conducted a hotel in Burr Oak, Iowa, and the grand- mother was a Miss Me Allister, who was mar- ried to Leonard Tubbs in New York, and to them were born one son and one daughter. The son, William Tubbs, was killed by the Indians near New Uhn, Minnesota, while making an overland trip to California about the year 1855. Leonard Tubbs was a veteran of the Civil war and died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, about 1877. Mr. Edmunds' mother died in Novem- ber, 1893, at Bandon, Oregon.
Earl Edmunds lived with his parents in various places in the eastern part of the state until the year 1871, when the family located at Spirit. Lake, Iowa. Mr. Edmunds started out in life for himself in the year 1879 and came to Correctionville, where he remained about six months. He then started a store at Washta, Iowa, his store being the first at that place and the only store between Cherokee and Correctionville at that time. Here he was mar- ried to Miss Mary Catherine Whisman, on July 18, 1880. Mrs. Edmunds is a daughter of Andrew Jackson Whisman and Emeline Whisman, nee Pindell, and she was born March 1, 1860, at Pontiac, Illinois. Her father's people came from Virginia and on her grandmother's side were slaveholders before the Civil war.
In the year 1880 Mr. Edmunds returned to Correctionville, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for about one year, when he started another store at Washta. This time a much larger and better stock of goods was carried and the business was a success from the start. In 1887 Mr. Edmunds returned to Correctionville and engaged in the real-estate
and loan business until the fall of 1889, at which time he had commenced the study of law. He was graduated from the Iowa College of Law at Des Moines and was admitted to the bar in May, 1890. Sinee that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Correctionville. His practice has been a suc- cess and has extended to all the various courts of the state. In polities Mr. Edmunds is a Republican, has always taken a lively interest in the welfare of the party, has for a number of years been a member of the county central committee, and while not asking for anything for himself has always worked hard for his friends and thinks himself well repaid for his efforts when he succeeds in assisting good men to official positions. Mr. Edmunds has been twice elected mayor of Correctionville and for a number of years has been a member of the board of education. He has been actively en- gaged in business since he was nineteen years of age and it is a source of pleasure to him to always be found at his post of duty. He has a large acquaintance over the state and has many friends among the lawyers and others who have met him in business and social rela- tions. He has great pride in his profession and thinks it is enough honor to any man to be known as a good lawyer.
Mr. and Mrs. Edmunds have three daughters living: Grace Lenora, who was married to N. B. Abbott, January 5, 1904, and now living at St. Paul, Minnesota; Edna, a student at Iowa College, at Grinnell, Iowa; and Lucile, a student in the public schools of Correction- ville. Mrs. Abbott is a musician of consider- able merit, having obtained her musical edu- cation at Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, Ohio. Edna is a graduate of the high school at Cor- rectionville and is now in her junior year at Grinnell. One child, Luella M., died in in- fancy. Mr. Edmunds is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge and is a past grand. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Pythias lodges. Mr. and Mrs.
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Edmunds and their family are affiliated with and members of the First Congregational church of Correctionville.
MRS. SUSAN R. LIBBY.
Mrs. Susan R. Libby, who is the owner of farming interests on section 4, Big Sioux town- ship, Union county, South Dakota, just across the boundary line from Iowa, was born in Mansfield, Ohio, April 20, 1838, a daughter of Christopher and Sarah (Coleman) Everts, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Maryland. Her father died in Ohio, May 12, 1839, and her mother passed away at the home of Mrs. Libby on the 9th of August, 1880, having for about forty-one years survived her husband.
Mrs. Libby pursued her education in the schools of Mansfield, Ohio, and in 1854 when sixteen years of age went to Illinois, becoming a resident of Buda. There in 1857 she became the wife of Richard H. Libby, a son of John and Mercy (Robinson ) Libby, who were natives of Maine, but both are now deceased. For six years Mr. and Mrs. Libby continued to reside in Illinois and then sought a home in Sionx City, Iowa, where they arrived in June, 1863, They located where she now lives, securing a claim which Mr. Libby entered from the gov- ernment. They worked on together year after year, Mr. Libby successfully managing the agri- cultural pursuits while his wife took equally good care of the home and faithfully performed the labors of the household. He transformed the wild prairie tract into richly cultivated fields, and annually harvested good crops. He also made many improvements upon his land, erected good buildings, secured modern machin- ery and continued his farm work with enter- prise and success until his life's labors were ended in death on the 16th of December, 1889. He had been a prominent and influential citi- zen respected for his genuine worth as well
as for his business activity and his fellow townsmen manifested their confidence in him by electing him to the office of justice of the peace, in which capacity he served for twenty- six years. He was also school treasurer and director and held most of the other township positions, the duties of which he discharged with dispatch and capability. His political support was given to the Republican party.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Libby has rented a part of the farm, while her son oper- ates the remainder of it. She has about three hundred acres of very fine land in Bix Sioux township, Union county, South Dakota, and the income from this property supplies her with all of the comforts and many of the lux- uries of life. Mr. and Mrs. Libby never had any children of their own, but adopted two sons and a daughter: George, who is married and living in Minnesota; Perey, who married Miss Ida Miller, a daughter of George W. Miller, postmaster of McCook, South Dakota. by whom he has one child, Doris; and Hilda, the wife of Frank Hopkins, a resident farmer of Big Sioux township. Mrs. Libby is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and is well known throughout this portion of the country in which she has made her home for almost a half century. She has, therefore, seen many changes since she arrived, as ad- vancement and progress have been made through the carnest efforts of the enterprising settlers.
FRANK H. SEIDEL.
Frank H. Seidel, whose activity in business has not only contributed to his individual sue- cess, but has also been an active factor in the development of his town, is now accounted one of the leading and representative merchants of Anthon, where he is engaged in dealing in lum- ber and coal. He has conducted this enterprise for fourteen years and has won the success
RICHARD H. LIBBY.
MRS. SUSAN R. LIBBY.
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which comes through persistent effort guided by sound judgment and prompted by laudable ambition. Ile is numbered among the pioneer residents of Iowa, having settled in Winthrop, Buchanan county, about 1866.
Mr. Seidel is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in Saxony in 1839. He came to America in his childhood days and spent his youth in Rochester, Monroe county, New York. His educational privileges were limited, but, desirous for mental advancement, he has made good use of his opportunity and through expe- rience and observation as well as by reading in later life he has added largely to the sum total of his knowledge. When a young man he went to Ohio, where he worked in a printing office up to the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he joined the boys in blue, becoming a member of Battery B, of the First Ohio Light Artillery. He went south, served in the Army of the Cum- berland, veteranized and continued as a de- fender of the Union for four years or until after the close of hostilities, when he received an honorable discharge at Cleveland, Ohio, in July, 1865.
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