USA > Iowa > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 68
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The spirit of republican liberty rapidly spread over Europe, and Schreiner next appears as a sol- dier of freedom in the Polish wars; defeated in this, he returned to his native country where the revo- lutionary spirit was at its height. The people were in rebellion, and the young soldier cast his lot on the side of liberty and enlisted against the Govern- ment. Having taken an active part at public meet- ings, encouraging resistance to the oppression of bad government, and in opposition to the King and his ministers, he was arrested for high treason, and while many of his companions were sentenced to imprisonment, but were afterward released on appeal to the Court of Assizes, he through the powerful influence of an army officer, a college- mate of his father's, was never molested. The overthrow of republican principles in the father- land was succeeded by an exodus of German patriots to America. He joined a party of some 200 emigrants from his native towu, and in June, 1833, they sailed from llavre for Baltimore in an American brig. During the voyage of fifty- six days Mr. Schreiner applied himself to the prac- tical study of the English language, and succeeded so well that he was chosen leader by his com-
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panions. On arriving at Baltimore, the party di- vided, seventy-five with Mr. Schreiner at the head, starting for Missouri with a view of locating in that State. On reaching Wheeling the party purchased a flatboat on which to continue their journey, but owing to the low stage of water they abandoned the voyage at the mouth of the Muscatine River, and a party of which Mr. Schreiner was leader was sent into the interior to purchase land for the com- pany. A favorable location having been found in Washington County, Ohio, and several farms pur- chased, the emigrants took possession, and estab- lished a German colony. The following year witnessed large accessions from the fatherland. The colonists, being well pleased with their new home, determined to become citizens of the Republic, and Mr. Schreiner was the first to take out naturalization papers in Washington County. The colonists were a people of deep religious convictions, and a place of public worship was soon erected, but they found they had no ordained minister among them, so, having organized a society of the Lutheran Evangelical Church, they determined to elect a lay preacher from among their number. Mr. Schreiner was selected as best fitted by education and early training to discharge the sacred functions of that office. It was not until several years later that an opportunity occurred for his ordination and instal- lation. The young minister was successful and be- came very popular. Under his direction other churches were organized and dedicated. He served his people as pastor for twenty years, often minis- tering to three congregations at a time, and wield- ing a powerful influence for good among his countrymen. In polities, the colonists were all Democrats, but of anti-slavery sentiments. On the foundation of the Republican party they and their preacher joined that organization.
Mr. Schreiner was married, Jan. 11, 1835, in Washington County, Ohio, to Miss Anna Maria Tuttle, daughter of Joel and Mary Tuttle. Mrs. Schreiner was born at Bristol, Conn., in 1812. Her parents were New England people, and emigrated with teams to Washington County, Ohio, in 1817. Mr. and Mrs. Schreiner have been the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter: Caroline, born Oct. 28, 1835, was the wife of Arthur E. Wag-
staff. and died Aug. 4, 1859; Charles Julius, born May 22, 1838, married Emma Stewart, and is a carpenter residing at Mt. Pleasant; they have three sons and one daughter, and lost one son, drowned at Mt. Pleasant July 12, 1887. Edwin Ludwig, born Sept. 9, 1840, a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now Presiding Elder, residing at Centerville, Iowa, married Martha Rob- inson, and has two daughters; Theodore M. was born Feb. 8, 1843, was a Sergeant of Company K, 6th Iowa Infantry, was captured at Shiloh, and was a prisoner at Andersonville ; he died Sept. 25. 1862, and was buried at Andersonville. John Augustus, born March 2, 1848, is a civil engineer, employed in railroad work, residing at Mt. Pleasant; McCor- miek O., born Oct. 8, 1852, is a carpenter, residing at Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Sehreiner moved from Ohio to Mt. Pleasant in 1855, arriving here August 19 of that year. He became a contractor and builder, and erected as many as a hundred buildings in this city and viein- ity. In 1860 he began the manufacture of sash blinds, which he continued for twelve years. Since 1876 he has not been in active business. IIe took an active interest in Masonry in early manhood, and on coming to Mt. Pleasant he made application and was initiated into the order Aug. 22, 1856, and was made a Master Mason the following November. Soon after the latter event he was chosen Tyler of his lodge, and entered with ferveney and zeal on what seemed destined as his life work in Masonry. He was soon made a member of Henry Chapter No. 8, and became a Royal Arch Mason March 14, 1857. Ile was soon after appointed Tyler of the Chapter. The Christian order of Knighthood he received at Des Moines, in June, 1864. Subse- quently, on the organization of Jerusalem Com- mandery No. 7, of Mt. Pleasant. he became a mem- ber and Sentinel thereof. He was appointed Grand Tyler at the Sixteenth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, at Davenport, in June, 1859. His appointment has been renewed annually since, until he has served twenty-eight years in that ca- pacity. In 1863 he was appointed to the same position in the Grand Chapter, and was assigned to the same post in the Grand Commandery in 1864. All of these positions he fills with credit to himself
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and satisfaction to the members. He has been pre- sented with many valuable presents and testimonials from the different bodies, including a beautiful Tyler's sword, gold watch, medals, etc. He was elected an honorary member of the Grand Lodge for faithfulness and efficient services in the respon- sible office of Grand Tyler. He was also elected, in 1870, to the office of Grand Scribe, as a compli- ment, and to the end that he might thereby become a permanent member thereof. In this capacity, in company with Parvin, Hartsock and Bowen, he rep- resented the Grand Chapter at the triennial session of the General Grand Chapter of the United States at Baltimore, in September, 1871. He was also elected an honorary member of the Grand Com- mandery and subsequently elected a member of Damaseus Council of Royal and Select Masters. No. 13, and is Sentinel for that body and also for the Grand Council. Ile is also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, a 32ยบ, by communication, and Grand Captain of the Guards of the Grand Consistory of Iowa. At the session of the G. T., in June, 1869, he presented the Grand Lodge with a beautiful set of ivory gavels with ebony handles. On June 15, 1887, he took the degree of the Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The subject of this sketch, next to the Grand Secretary, is probably better known to the frater- nity of Iowa than any other individual. With the same exception, he has been longer in the service of the eraft, and in whatever position assigned or duty imposed, he has been found true and faithful. In his association with his brethren he has endeared himself to them by his unfailing urbanity, rare in- telligenee and graces of personal character. In his private character and at home, he is well known and distinguished for his affable manners, and his Christian and charitable services on all proper oe- casions. He has an extended acquaintance among the leading men of this and other States, and was ap- pointed Door-keeper of the State Senate in 1879, was re-appointed, and has served in that capacity twelve years.
Mr. and Mrs. Schreiner celebrated their golden or fiftieth wedding anniversary Jan. 11, 1885. The ceremony was performed in the Masonic Ilall in the
presence of upward of 400 friends. Many bean- tiful and valuable presents were given to the ven- erable bride and bridegroom, among which may be mentioned 8155 in gold. The State Senate presented Mr. Schreiner with a beautiful silver tea set.
1 SAAC MORRIS, deceased, was a pioneer of Henry County of 1834, and was born in Ken- tucky, where he grew to manhood, and was married to Margaret Oney. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters. Mr. Morris emigrated from Kentucky to Macomb, III., in an early day, and from there to what is now Henry County, Iowa, then a part of Wisconsin Territory. He made a claim on what is now the old Schote farm, section 24, New London Town- ship, and his second eabin is still standing. Mr. Mor- ris is said by some to have been the first white man who located in the county; the date of his settle- ment is positively fixed in the spring of 1834. Sev- eral of his children were born here, and after their parents' death the younger members of the family were reared by Nicholas Miller, who married the eldest daughter, Mary. Mr. Morris and his wife both died in New London Township, he in the spring and she in the fall of 1847. William Morris is the only member of the family now living in the township.
HIOMAS J. PRICE, of the firm of T. J. Price & Son, dealers in general hardware, stoves and tinware, also of the firm of l'rice & Keiser, extensive dealers in farm implements, New London, lowa, was born near West Point, Lee Co., Iowa, Jan. 1. 18444. His parents, Calvin J. and Frances A. (Langford) Price, were early set- tlers of that county, having come there in 1835 or 1836. His father was born near Rolla, N. C., in dan- uary, 1801. He emigrated from that State to Southern Illinois while it was yet a Territory. He was married in that region and remained there until 1835, when he emigrated to Lee County, lowa, and settled on a farm near West Point. Ile was a mem- ber of the first Iowa State Legislature, and was
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re-elected three times afterward. His death oc- curred April 10, 1860. Ilis wife survives him and resides at Lowell, Iowa.
Thomas J. received his preparatory education in the common schools, and entered the Iowa Wes- leyan University at Mt. Pleasant as a student, but left on account of business considerations before completing the regular course. He was united in marriage, at Salem, lowa, Oct. 21, 1863, to Miss Josephine McFarland, a daughter of Mr. R. G. Mc- Farland, of Lowell. Mrs. Price was born near LaIlarpe, Ill. One child was born of this union, a son, Frank, born on a farm near New London, April 19, 1865, who is now in business with his father.
Mr. Price was engaged in farming two years in New London Township, from 1865 to 1867, inclu- sive, then went to Lowell, lowa, where he carried on a general store for ten years. He was next engaged in milling at Lowell for seven years, then returned to Lee County, where he spent one year on the old home farm ; he then came to New Lon- don and engaged in his present business, in Novem- ber, 1885. The firm of T. J. Price & Son carry an average stock of about $2,500 in the hardware line, and the firm of Price & Keiser do an annual busi- ness of about $20,000 in the farm implement trade. Theirs is the largest business of the kind in Henry County. They handle only the best tools and machinery and have built up a good trade.
Mr. Price and his son are Democrats in their political views. They do business on correct business principles, and take rank among the leading firms of their line in the connty.
S AMUEL WATERS, a prominent farmer and early settler of Ilenry County, Iowa, resides on section 9, New London Town- ship, where he has 120 acres of well-im- proved land, and also has another farm of 200 acres on sections 28 and 33 of the same township. His post-office address is New London. Mr. Waters first located in this township in the fall of 1847, but did not move his family here until the spring of 1848. Ile is a native of New York State, and was born in Genesee County, Sept. 15, 1822. His par-
ents were William and Rachel (Cox) Waters, who were also born in New York, the father in 1795, and the mother May 15, 1802.
Our subject moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, with his parents in 1823, and from there to War- rick County, Ind., in 1839. Ile was married in that county, Dec. 2, 1844, to Miss Mary Ketcham, daughter of John and Nancy Ketcham. Mrs. Waters was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio. Nine children have been born into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Waters, seven of whom are now living: Will- iam B. was born Dec. 22, 18.15, and died May 22, 1850; Winfield S. was born Jan. 13, 1847, married Annie Fry, lives in Northwestern Nebraska, and has four children, three boys and a girl. Rachel A., born Nov. 20, 1848, keeps house for her father; Nancy K. was born April 5, 1852, and is the wife of Frank Jackson, resides in Rooks County, Kan., and has three sons and two daughters. John N., born Dec. 10, 1854, married Sarah Moon, now re- sides in Canaan Township, Henry County, and has two children, a son and a daughter. James M., born April 29, 1856, married Alice Cornwall, and resides in New London Township; Samuel T., born Jan. 26, 1859, married Belle McGrue, and has one child, a daughter, and resides in Kansas; Robert Il., born Oct. 9, 1863, died Ang. 21, 1864, and Charles E., born July 1, 1866, makes his home with his father.
Mrs. Waters, who was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a de- voted wife and mother, passed away on the 11th of April, 1876. All the children, except the two elder, were born in New London Township. The two cider brothers were born in Warrick County, Ind., prior to the removal of the family to Iowa. Mr. Waters has made farming his business through life. Since making his home in New London Township he has held various local offices. He has served three terms as Township Trustce, has been a member of the School Board nearly the whole time of his residence here, and for twenty-eight years has served as Road Supervisor. He was a Whig in early life, and since the dissolution of that party has been associated with the Republican party. He is a Master Mason, a member of New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M., and is also
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a member of Charity Lodge No. 56. I. O. O. F. Mr. Waters and all his family. except two sons, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His father, who was a resident of New London Township, died in Oregon in 1874, and his mother died in New London Township in April, 1846.
OHIN Q. ROBINSON, a farmer residing on section 32, Canaan Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1825, and is a son of Joshua and Hannah (Rodgers) Robinson. Joshua Robinson, Sr., the grandfather of our subjeet, was killed by the | Indians in 1795 at the time the city of Chillicothe, Ohio, was being laid out by Gen. Massey. The cuff-buttons worn by him at that time are now in the possession of Mr. Robinson, being more than a century old. His youngest son was the father of John Q., and married Ilannah Rodgers in Ross County, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1818. She was descended from the Scotch Irish on the paternal side, and from the Welsh and German on the maternal side. Both she and her husband lived and died in Ohio, and as in life they were united, in death they were not long divided, dying within six weeks of each other in 1867. Joshua Robinson was born June 10, 1795, his wife Sept. 3, 1797. They were parents of James C., who married Kate MeAnley; William R., husband of Elizabeth Ingersoll; Jolm I'., who died in infancy; Sarah A. also died in childhood ; John Q. and Elizabeth P. were twins, born Oct. 19, 1825; she became the wife of Na- thaniel Hillhouse; Mary J. wedded William Mc- Lean; Hamilton married Abigail Grubb ; Henry S. wedded Clementine Evans; Hugh K. S. was a member of Company 1, 81st Ohio Volunteers, of which he was First Lieutenant, was wedded to Mary Pinto, and after her death to Mary Farr; Sarah C. died in childhood ; Erskine P. was also a soldier, and died at Baltimore, July 7, 1861, aged twenty- three.
John Q. Robinson was the fourth son, and was educated in Ohio, where his early life was spent upon a farm. Having a desire to see something of the western country, he made a visit to Iowa in
1850. and conceiving it would be a desirable place to live, purchased land. In 1855 he again came to Iowa, and began the improvement of a farm the following year. He erected a small shanty on the site of his present farmhouse, and began fencing, and breaking the sod. The first three erops were complete failures, but this brought but little dis- couragement to the young man, who had come to the West to live and make a home. For eleven years after coming to Jowa Mr. Robinson remained a bachelor. Visiting friends at Fairfield, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Anna Mount, who became his wife Dec. 5, 1866, Rev. James Haines, a Meth- odist Episcopal minister, officiating. Her father was Jedediah Mount, a nurseryman and florist of Fairfield, who came from Zanesville, Ohio, to Iowa in 1854, establishing his business the same year. He wedded Mary Ruth in Ohio, and nine children were born in that State prior to their removal: Kate J., wife of George Howell ; Samuel, husband of Mary Bloss, was a soldier during the war : Will- iam was also a soldier: Anna, wife of our subject; Eliza, wife of John Hoopes; Sarah, deceased wife of Joshua Robinson, nephew of our subject : Callie, wife of Ilenry Knight; Henry, who married Mary Calhoun; and Laura, wife of Elijah Spry. After coming to Fairfield, James and John were born, but neither are now living. The mother of Mrs. Robinson died Dee. 30, 1871; her father yet re- sides in Fairfield, and is seventy-six years of age.
After the marriage of Mr. Robinson, his young wife was duly installed mistress of the house, over which she has presided for more than a score of years, and which has been hallowed by the birth of her children, and made happy by successes that come to those who diligently labor. Her husband, now a man of large experience, and ripe with years, has developed a model farm in Canaan Township, and since his coming has grown wealthy as his years have increased. A residence of more than thirty years has won for him the esteem of the public as a good citizen, a kind neighbor, and genial gentle- man, and in the northern part of the county no family is more highly respected than the one under consideration. Before children of their own eame an infant had been adopted, Edith Emily, then one year old. She has been as carefully reared, as
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tenderly loved, and is in every way as dear to those good people as their own children. Their first born was Lulu M., followed by Charles W. and Edgar, all yet school children, Lulu M. being now in her seventeenth year.
Mr. Robinson has served many terms upon the School Board, and in 1866 was elected Township Trustee, holding that position for ten consecutive years. Mrs. Robinson gradually lost her eyesight until in 1882 she became totally blind, but has since become so accustomed to the change that she does much of the work about the house. Two hundred and forty aeres of excellent land comprise the admirable farm of Mr. Robinson, and everything in the way of improvement on the farm has been made by Mr. Robinson, and there is no finer farm in Canaan Township. To such men as he the pros- perity of the county is largely due.
R EV. JOHANES FRANZEN is a resident of Swedesburg, at which place the Swedish Lutheran Church is one of the prominent ones in Henry County, and a brief sketch of its pastor is hereby given to the people of Henry County, as also a few items of much interest re- garding the church since its organization in 1866. Johanes Franzen was born in Foglum Parish, Prov- ince of Westergotland, Sweden, July 15, 1850, and is a son of Anders and Kersten (Larson) Fran- zen, both natives of Sweden. By trade, his father was a mason, at which he became quite wealthy, and gave his children a good education in Sweden. There were seventeen children, two of whom are ministers. Eleven died in infancy ; one sister, Breta, died in 1875 in Sweden; she was the wife of Andre Anderson, who afterward died in America, leaving three children. Four are living in this country ; Anders, who lives in Sweden, married Catherine Anderson : Maria, wife of John Ander- son, and lives in Minnesota: Svante married Anica Neilson, and also lives in Minnesota; Anica married Gustav Anderson, lives in Minnesota, and our subject. The mother died in Sweden, Ang. 3, 1863, and her husband came to America in 1870, to make his home with his elder son in Minnesota, and in 1883
came to the home of our subject, with whom he re- mained until his death, which occurred in 1886, at the ripe age of eighty-five years.
Rev. Mr. Franzen came to America in 1870, and for some years worked as a farm hand in Minne- sota. In 1872 he matriculated at, and in 1874 grad- uated from Ansgars Academy at East Union, Carver Co., Minn., then took a four-years course at Augustana College, and in 1878 entered the Theological Seminary at Rock Island, Ill., eom- pleting his course and graduating from that noted college June 10. 1880. He was regularly ordained by the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran August- ana Synod at Des Moines, Iowa, June 20, 1880, and was sent to Kane, Mckean Co., Pa., re- maining until June, 1882, and then accepted a call from his present congregation, and has been their beloved pastor to this date, steadily growing in favor and popularity. He was married to Miss Hannah Louisa Bloomquist, in Burlington, Iowa, June 13, 1882, and the young couple began their domestic life in the village of Swedesburg. Two children have graced the union, both born in the village : Anders John Leonard Constantins and Kersten Mathilda Maria Enfrosina. The father of Mrs. Franzen was Leonard Theodore Bloomquist; he married Matilda Louisa Skeperb. He was a car- penter by trade in Sweden. After coming to Amer- ica with his family, he contracted typhoid fever and died in Burlington. His widow married C. A. Fragerstrom, a contractor and builder of that city. The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was or- ganized at Swedesburg in 1866 by Rev. Hokan Oleson, with a membership of about fifty souls. A church was erected on the site of the present church in 1868, which was destroyed by fire Jan. 19, 1883. A handsome building costing $8,000 was at once erected under the supervision of our subject, com- pleted the same year, and dedicated Oct. 7, 1886. It seats comfortably 600 people, and the school building, connected at the west, seats 100 pupils, who are educated in the Swedish language, the church paying the teachers' salaries. Since his min- istry began in 1882, Rev. Franzen has taken into the church forty members, besides that many by letter, and sixty-six by confirmation. He has bap- tized 112 children, and celebrated thirty-one mar-
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riages, sixteen funeral sermons have been preached, and every appointment has been filled since he became the pastor. The residents of Wayne Township are to be congratulated on having such a pastor, who is accomplished in manner and a fine speaker.
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OHIN SACKETT, a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on seetion 10, Marion Township, was born July 15, 1812, in Butler County, Ohio. His father, Thomas Sackett, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, born in 1789, and his mother Margaret (Chambers) Sackett, was born in 1791, in the State of Maryland. Six children blessed the union of this worthy couple: Doreas, the deceased wife of Levi Batterton, a resident of Menard County, Ill. ; John, our subjeet ; Samuel, a farmer of Macon County, Mo .; Phobe, wife of Milas Good- win, a farmer of Coos County, Ore .; Mary, de- eeased wife of Rev. A. C. Gaines, of Douglas County, Neb. ; Harriet married Thompson Crider: both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Saekett re- moved to Butler County in a very early day, and at that place their three eldest children were born, and there they improved a beautiful farm on which they resided until 1816. They then removed to Brookville, Franklin Co., Ind., where their three youngest children came to make glad the household. Here, as in Ohio, they cultivated a beautiful farm of 160 acres, but in 1826 he moved back to the old home in Ohio. In 1828 he removed to Sangamon County, III., and, as in Indiana and Ohio, ob- tained school land and made a farm of 1 10 acres. Thomas Sackett was a man always in advance of civilization. While in Sangamon County, Ill., his life companion was ealled to rest. She was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and taught her children that in the teachings of the Bible all were made better tolive and better to die. About four years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Saekett married Elizabeth. Dickerson, and by this union one child was born, Margaret Z., wife of Har- vey Wells, of Sangamon County, Ill. After the death of his second wife in 1847, Mr. Sackett mar- ried May MeKee, who died in 1857, after which
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