USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 42
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WILLIAM CHAFFEE.
William Chaffee is a typical young business man of the west, alert, enterprising and am- bitions. It is upon such a foundation that fortunes have been made in the Mississippi valley and already Mr. Chaffee has won suecess that many an older man might well envy. IIe is now manager of several of the best office buildings of the city and in controlling these has made them profitable investments.
Mr. Chaffee was born in Lee, Massachusetts, in 1870. His father, George L. Chaffee, is a native of Becket, Massachusetts, and is now living in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was for long periods actively engaged in the manu- facture of paper, but is now living retired. In community affairs he has been active and in- fluential, holding a number of town offiees, to which positions he has been elected on the Re- publiean ticket. He belongs to the Congrega- tional elmreh, as does his wife. She bore the maiden name of Constance Henderson and was born in Nashville, Tennessee. They became
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the parents of seven children, of whom six are in America. His father, John Tennis, removed yet living.
William Chaffee acquired his early educa- tion in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, attending the public schools. He afterward became a student in the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology in Boston and entered upon his business career as an employe in the office of The Boston Investment Company, of Boston, where he re- mained for four years. The opportunities of the west, however, attracted bim and in 1893 he came to Sioux City, Iowa, to take charge of the western office of the Northern Investment Company. Mr. Chaffee was its representative in Sioux City until 1896. In January of that year he took charge of the Security Bank build- ing, as secretary and manager of the company, which positions he is now filling. He is also manager of the Brown block and the Metropoli- tan block and is secretary of the Midland Trust Company. The buildings, of which he has charge as manager, are all of modern type of office structures and thus he holds a responsible position, as their control devolves upon him.
In 1896 Mr. Chaffee was united in marriage to Miss Alberta A. Beggs, a daughter of Dr. George W. and Lillie Aurelia (Simms) Beggs, and a native of Sioux City, born in 1874. They now have one child, Dorothy, who was born in 1899. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chaffee hold mem- bership in the Congregational church and he belongs to the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, of which he is now treasurer. Politically he is a Republican and he takes a deep and personal interest in politics.
ARTHUR H. TENNIS.
Arthur H. Tennis, who is engaged in the coal business in Sioux City and also has extensive farming and stock-raising interests, was born September 8, 1846, near Richmond, York county, Virginia. His grandfather was a na- tive of England and the founder of the family
from Virginia to Marion county, Iowa, in 1851, and there purchased a farm upon which he re- sided until his death, which occurred in 1871. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Isabella Dawson, died in 1886.
Arthur H. Tennis pursued his early education in the district schools of Marion county, Iowa, and later spent one year in Pella College, at Pella, this state. He was but eighteen years of age, when in May, 1863, he responded to the call of his country for aid and joined the United States Army, his company being a member of the Forty-seventh Iowa Infantry. During the greater part of his term of enlistment his com- pany was stationed at Helena, Arkansas, where he was in numerons skirmishes with the rebels. He was honorably discharged at Camp McClel- lan, at Davenport, Iowa, on November 8, 1864. 1864.
Returning to his father's farm in Marion county, Iowa, Mr. Tennis then assisted in its cultivation until he attained his majority with the exception of the period spent in Pella Col- lege. In 1867, at the age of twenty-one, he went to southern Kansas, and secured a squatter's claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Chero- kee county. A year later he traded this claim for one hundred and twenty-five acres south of Webster City, Iowa, and one hundred dollars in cash. He then re- turned to Marion county, where he rented a tract of land and began dealing in cattle, buying feeding and shipping. He was thus engaged until 1871, when he came to Woodbury county, still in the pioneer epoch of its development. He took up a homestead in Westport township and after living upon it for four years secured his title. In 1875 he again went to Kansas and there dealt in cattle, buying and selling until the fall of 1876, when he returned to Woodbury county, and purchased eighty acres of land, to which he added from time to time until he was the owner of one thousand acres. He still con- tinned to deal in cattle and sheep, keeping and
MR. AND MRS. A. H. TENNIS.
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feeding on an average of about two hundred head of cattle and from eight hundred to a thou- sand sheep. In 1900 he sold four hundred acres of his land but still retains possession of six hundred aeres, on which he feeds cattle and sheep, and is one of the leading representatives of stock-raising interests in the county. IIe is an excellent judge of stock and has therefore been enabled to conduet his purchases and sales so as to derive a good profit. In 1896, however, he left the farm and took up his abode in Sioux City, where in 1902 he entered into partner- ship with Joseph Turechek in the coal business, and the firm of Tennis & Turechek under the name of the Morningside Fuel Company is doing a profitable business in coal.
On the 13th of February, 1868, Mr. Tennis was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Harrison, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Silas Harrison, of Marion county, Iowa, who was a farmer and stock dealer and died in February, 1893. Her mother is still living in Marion county. They came to this state from Indiana at an early day and first settled in Keokuk county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tennis were born seven children: John Franklin, born October 25, 1870, died in February, 1877. Bessie Maud, born August 7, 1874, died September 23, 1875. Carl, born October 14, 1876, was married Au- gust 22, 1900, to Ida Mand Folsome, of Smith- land, and is traveling for the firm of MeLaugh- lin & Company. Lulu, born September 30, 1879, is the wife of Raymond Seman in the employ of Clay, Robinson & Company, of Chi- cago, Illinois. Effie Belle, born September 6, 1881, is a student in Morningside College. Clyde, born August 30, 1883, is superintending the home farm. Arthur W., born July 10, 1885, is also a student at Morningside College.
moval to Kansas. Upon his return, however, he was re-elected to the same position and he has also been township trustee, school director and school treasurer for many years. Interested in the welfare and upbuilding of his community, he has performed in capable manner the public duties entrusted to him and as a private eitizen has co-operated in many measures for the gen- eral good. His business career has been marked by steady advance from a humble financial position to one of affluence. He has made the most of his opportunities and has always real- ized that labor is the true source of all wealth, and thus by indefatigable industry, guided by sound business judgment gained through experi- ence, he has gradually worked his way upward until he now ranks with the substantial men of Woodbury county.
WILHELM HERBOLD.
Wilhelm Herbold, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on seetion 21, Rut- land township, has extensive and valuable landed interests. His home farm comprises a quarter section and is a well improved property. In addition to this he has one hundred and sixty acres on section 28 of the same township, eighty acres on section 17 and eighty acres on section 16, and one hundred aud thirty-two acres on section 1 and these places are all well improved and yield him a good income. The 1st of May, 1882, witnessed his arrival in Iowa and in the following year he eame to Woodbury county, where he has since made his home, so that in the years that have since passed his fel- low townsmen have had ample opportunity to judge of his worth, and that they give to him their respect and confidence is indicative of the fact that his has been an honorable and straightforward career.
Mr. Tennis is a member of General Hancock Post, No. 22, G. A. R., of Sioux City, and he belongs to the Methodist church. In polities he is independent. While residing upon his farm Germany has furnished many worthy citi- zens to Woodbury county and among this num- he was elected in 1872 to the position of town- ship clerk for five years, but resigned on his re- ber Mr. Herbold is classed. He was born in
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Herbsen, F. Waldeck, Germany, June 4, 1857. He had two brothers and one sister. One of the brothers, Ludwig Herbold, came to America the year prior to the arrival of Wilhelm Her- bold, who was accompanied by his brother Carl and his sister Louise, who is now the wife of Christ Rock, an extensive and prosperous farmer of Rutland township.
Wilhelm Herbold was educated in accord- ance with the laws of his native land and after- ward served for about two years in the German army. His knowledge of the English language, however, has been acquired sinee he came to the United States. He had heard favorable reports concerning America and its possibilities and hoping that he might benefit his financial condition he crossed the Atlantic and came to Iowa, where he purchased land in the fall of 1882. The following year he took up his abode in Woodbury county and sinee that time he has been actively associated with the agricul- tural development of this part of the state. He has bought and partially improved a number of farms and in 1887 he took up his abode at his present place of residence on seetion 21, Rutland township. Here he began farming and has continuously carried forward the work of improvement with the result that his is a model farm property. He built a good house and barn and the grove and the orchard are of his own planting. Everything around him is indicative of his enterprising and progressive spirit. The fields yield to him good harvests and in the pastures are seen high grades of stock. As his financial resources have in- ereased he has made judicious investment in other property and is now the owner of the four additional farms before mentioned.
In 1883 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Herbold and Miss Minnie Neumeier, a native of Germany, where she spent her girlhood days and in early womanhood came to America. She has two sisters here: Christina, the wife of Fred K. Rock; and Fredericka, the wife of Henre Hinkhouse. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Her-
bold have been born six children : Fred, Willie, Emma, Walter, Herbert and Ewald.
Mr. Herbold does not consider himself bound by party ties when voting at local elections, but supports the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office. At state and national elec- tions, however, he gives his allegiance to the Democracy. He has served as road supervisor and has been a member of the school board. He is also a member of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of this county and was its vice-presi- dent and treasurer. Both he and his wife were reared in the Lutheran faith and are now mem- bers of that church. In 1901 they made a trip to Germany, visiting Mr. Herbold's father and also the parents of his wife. They spent three months on the trip, going to Berlin and other continental cities, and on returning visited the Pan-American exposition at Buffalo and Niagara Falls. The journey was a most en- joyable one and left to them many pleasant memories of the fatherland and of attractive scenes in his adopted country.
FERDINAND HUMMEL.
Ferdinand Hummel, residing on section 12, Rock township, is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to Iowa. He pos- sesses many of the strong and sterling charac- teristies of the people of the fatherland-qual- ities which have made the sons of Germany valued residents of the United States. He was born in Saxony Coburg, October 20, 1867, and is a son of John and Margaret B. (Stuepfert) Hummel, both of whom were natives of Ger- many, in which country they were reared and married. There they spent their entire lives and nine children were born unto them: Caro- line, the wife of Ferdinand Ekert, of Germany ; John N .; Barbara, the wife of Charles Volkert, of Ida county, Iowa; Bertie, the wife of John Diegel, of Kansas; Anna, the wife of George Volkert; Edward, of Germany; Ferdinand, of
FERDINAND HUMMEL AND FAMILY.
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this review; John, of Woodbury county; and of the church at Cushing. Politically Mr. Amelia, the wife of Gustaf Fauber, of Ger- many. Ilummel is an carnest Republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party, yet has never desired or sought office, preferring 10 give his time and attention to his business af- fairs. He is a successful farmer and stock- raiser and one whose life is an indication of the advantages afforded in America to young men of determination, reliability and ambition. He came to this country without capital, but has steadily worked his way upward and his industry and energy are the salient elements in his career, which have resulted very success- fully.
Ferdinand Hummel spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native country and re- ceived good school advantages there in his na- tive tongue, but his knowledge of English has been acquired entirely since he came to the United States. It was in 1882 when he crossed the briny deep to the new world and after spending two years in Lee county, Illinois, he came to Iowa in 1884, settling first in Ida county. There he worked by the month for five years, after which he returned to Germany and visited his parents and friends. On his return from Germany he was married on the 4th of May, 1889, to Miss Sophia Gerlicker, a native of Germany, who had come to the United States that year.
Mr. and Mrs. Hummel began their domestic life upon a farm in Ida county, Iowa, which he rented for several years. He worked hard and persistently during that period and with the money that he thus earned he purchased eighty acres of land which he improved. Later he sold that property and again rented land for two years, after which he bought three hundred and twenty acres, which he continued to culti- vate and improve until 1892. In that year he sold out and purchased a farm of three Inın- dred and twenty acres in Woodbury and Ida counties, the land lying on sections 12 and 13, Rock township. During his residence here he has built a substantial and commodious barn, also erected a good residence, has fenced the place and has put upon it all modern improve- ments so that he has a property which is now in keeping with ideas of a model farm of the twentieth century. He is yet a young man but has already attained success which many an older man might well envy.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hummel has been blessed with five children: Alma, John, Will- iam, Ferdinand and Alvin. The parents were reared in the Lutheran faith, and are members
LORENZO BUTLER.
Lorenzo Butler, who became a resident of Sioux City in March, 1892, died February 9, 1899. In the seven years of his residence here, however, he became widely known and won favorable regard from all with whom business and social relations brought him in contact. He was born in Madison county, New York, Octo- ber 31, 1837, his parents being Lorenzo and Lucinda (Brigham) Butler, both of whom were natives of Madison county, where they spent their entire lives. The father was a car- penter and always followed that pursuit. Ile was twice married, his first wife, the mother of our subjeet, dying during the early boyhood of her son Lorenzo.
In the common schools of his native county Lorenzo Butler pursued his early education. Owing to his mother's death he left Madison county when but a boy and went to Utica, New York, where he attended the Utica College, re- ceiving a good education. He afterward began teaching school, following that profession in the east for a short time and then removing to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he contin- ned his educational labors for several years. His next place of residence was in Missouri,
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where he purchased a large tract of land, upon all by reason of his straightforward, honorable methods.
which he resided until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he returned to Jefferson county, Wisconsin.
Soon afterward Mr. Butler was married to Miss Ardelia M. Alworth, who was born in Madison county, New York, a daughter of Dan- iel and Abigal (Butler) Alworth, who were natives of Oneida and Madison counties re- spectively. They removed to the west in 1845, settling in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in farming, cultivating a large tract of land there. He was also a black- smith and wagonmaker by trade and followed those pursuits to some extent in addition to his agricultural interests. He died in Wiscon- sin in September, 1871, and his widow, now eighty-three years of age, resides with a daugh- ter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Three children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Butler: Elmer A., residing with his mother in Sioux City, where he is a partner in the firm of Day & Com- pany, dealers in coal; Nellie E., a bookkeeper residing with her mother; and Mamie A., the wife of C. P. Davis, who is employed in the office of his father, M. C Davis, conducting a real estate and milling business.
After his marriage Mr. Butler continued to engage in farming in Jefferson county, Wis- consin, until his removal to Iowa. He first set- tled at Seney, Iowa, where he purchased land and engaged in farming. He also purchased and sold grain there for seven years. He then removed to Lemars, Iowa, where he engaged in the grocery business for seven years. At the end of that time he removed to Sioux City, ar- riving here in March, 1892. At this time he was with the J. Q. Adams Company, buying grain at different places on the Great Northern Railroad, making his home in Sioux City until the fall of 1898, when Mr. Butler began buy- ing grain for the City Mill of Sioux City and was connected with that business until his death. In business eireles he became well known as a man of reliability, deserving the confidence of
In his political views Mr. Butler was a Re- publican, never wavering in his allegiance to the party. He belonged to the American Le- gion of Honor and also to the Congregational church, of which his widow and children are members. His life was an exponent of his faith, and his actions always exceeded his pro- fessions. He was a very industrious man, suc- cessful in his business, and with no special ad- vantages to aid him in early manhood he won a comfortable competence. To those who won his regard-and true worth could always win it-he gave strong friendship, and in his home the best elements and most kindly purposes of his nature were manifest. About a year after Mr. Butler's death the family built the resi- dence at No. 1517 Jones street, where they now reside.
NELS E. HANSON.
There has been no element of more import- ance in the development of the northwest than that furnished by Scandinavia and of this class Nels E. Hanson is a representative. He was born in Houston county, Minnesota, in 1855, a son of Andrew and Martha ( Nelson) Han- son, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was an only child and represented a family of agriculturists. He, too, became a farmer and in addition to that pursuit followed the carpenter's trade. He lived to the age of sixty-seven years and his wife still makes her home on the old farm in Minnesota. In their family were twelve children, nine of whom reached adult age. The family record is as follows: Hans, now deceased; Nels E .; Em- ma, the wife of Moses M. Monson, of Fari- bault county, Minnesota ; Henry, of the same county; Sarah, who is living in the state of Washington; Johanna and Oscar, both de- ceased; Otto, who is a graduate of the Iowa
NELS E. HANSON.
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Medical College and now practicing physician county, Minnesota. Their children are Min- nic, the wife of Frederick Dahl; Alfred J., who is employed in Ruff's drug store in Sioux City; Oscar N .; Emma C., who is a teacher in the schools of Sioux City; Sarah J .; Nellie A .; Annie M .; Ida C .; and Esther E., Oscar, Edwin and Edwin G. all died in infancy.
of Forest City, Iowa : John, who now owns and operates a part of the old homestead farm in Faribault county, Minnesota; Carl, who is also living on a part of the old homestead; Juhl, who died in Sioux City, October 30, 1894, at the age of twenty-two years; and Adolph, who is living near the old home.
Nels E. Hanson spent the first eight years of his life in the county of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Faribault county, where his father secured a homestead elaim of one hundred and sixty aeres, on which he carried on general agricultural pursuits and reared his family. The son at- tended the public schools during the three months of winter and throughont the remainder of the year assisted in the cultivation of field and meadow and the other work of the farm until twenty years of age. He then went to Easton, Minnesota, where he was employed as a clerk in a store and later he made his way to Decorah, Iowa, where he attended Breeken- ridge College in 1877-8. He then returned to the store where he was employed for four years and later he entered the employ of C. L. Cole- man in the Iumber business at Delavan, Min- nesota, continuing his connection therewith for four years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to farming and also worked at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in his youth. In 1888 he came to Sioux City and here first engaged in earpenter- ing, but afterward gave his attention to the grocery business until 1894. On the 19th of March of that year he was appointed sexton of the Floyd cemetery, which has been a self- supporting institution since that time, receiv- ing no aid from the city. Under his super- vision everything about the grounds displays great neatness and care and during ten years he has been a most capable and efficient sexton.
On the 19th of January, 1879, Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Miss Anna O. Nel- son, a daughter of Ole Nelson, of Faribault
Mr. Hanson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has spent his entire life in the northwest and has vivid recollection of the early struggles and hardships incident to the establishment of a home in Minnesota in a comparative wilderness. All around were wild and unbroken tracts of land giving little evi- dence of the eivilizing influences of man, and it remained to the pioneer settlers to develop the distriet into finely cultivated farms which are the homes of a contented and prosperous people.
JAMES B. WALKER.
James B. Walker, now deceased, whose ac- quaintance in Sioux City became extensive by reason of his important business interests and his admirable and commendable traits of char- aeter, was a native of Washington county, In- diana, born on the 19th of January, 1826. His parents died in Indiana during the early boy- hood of their son James. The father was en- gaged in the tobacco business and also con- dueted farming interests in Washington county until his demise.
James B. Walker acquired only a limited education in the common schools of his native county for, losing his parents when quite young, be began earning his own living by working on neighboring farms in his native state. In later years, however, experience, observation and reading added largely to his knowledge and he became a well informed man. He continued to work as a farm hand in his native state until twenty-one years of age, at which time he was
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married to Miss Millie Hall, who died in Jack- son county, Indiana. After his marriage he be- gan farming on his own account and removing to Illinois there carried on agricultural pur- suits for a year. On the expiration of that period he located in Black Hawk county, Iowa, where he also engaged in farming for a year and then returned to the east, settling in Jack- son county, Indiana. There he resided for sev- eral years, carrying on agricultural pursuits with a fair measure of success. Later, how- ever, he again crossed the Mississippi and took up his abode in Union county, South Dakota, just across the river from Sioux City, Iowa. There he engaged in farming and was also en- gaged in the lumber business, Daniel Hedges, of Sioux City, making him foreman of his saw- mill in Union county. After continuing his residence in South Dakota for a few years Mr. Walker took up his abode in Plymouth county, Iowa, just north of Sioux City, where he pur- chased a farm. He carried on general farming in Plymouth county for two years or up to the time of his death, which occurred February 5, 1884, and the salient features of his business career were unfaltering industry and capable management.
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