USA > Iowa > Clayton County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 36
USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 36
USA > Iowa > Jones County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 36
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William B., of this sketch, spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm and received his early education in the common schools. In 1880 he entered Upper Iowa University at Fayette, where he was a student for two years. When leaving this institution young Brock began reading medi- cine under the instruction of Dr. K. T. Purdy, of
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Elkader, this state, remaining in his office for two summers. During the winter of 1882-83 our sub- ject took a course of lectures in the State Uni- versity at Iowa City and soon afterward entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chica- go, from which he was graduated with the Class of '86, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
In the summer of 1887 Dr. Brock located for practice in Olin. In his medical views he is very liberal and does not feel bound down to any school either in theory or practice, although he is considered a Regular. His services are often called into requisition as a writer for current medical publications, and he takes a deep interest in liter- ary matters in general. The Doctor belongs to the Iowa State Medical and also the American Medical Associations. Socially he is connected with Meridian Lodge No. 225, K. P., of which he is a charter member. In politics he is a straight- forward Republican and has represented his party as delegate to various conventions. In 1892 he was elected a member of the Town Council, which office he is still holding and gives perfect satis- faction in the manner in which he discharges the duties devolving upon him.
October 14, 1885, Dr. William B. Brock and Miss Lizzie Selder, a native of West Union, this state, were united in marriage. Mrs. Brock is the daughter of William Selder, an old and prominent resident of Fayette County. To the Doctor and his wife has been born one son, Victor. Mrs. Brock is a member in good standing of the United Brethren Church, and is active in all good works in her neighborhood.
H ON. SEWALL S. FARWELL, a very prom- inent citizen of Monticello, is President of the Monticello Bank, and has an army record of which he may well be proud. He took part in many of the most noted battles of the late war, serving faithfully for three years, and doing valiant service in the defense of the flag. On his return from the south in 1865, he was elected State
Senator, being a member of the Eleventh and Twelfth General Assemblies, and during the term of General Grant was appointed Assessor of Inter- nal Revenue for the Second District of Iowa, serv- ing in that capacity for four years. In 1874 he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue and served six years. This office was located at Daven- port, and the vast sums collected and turned over to the Government and accounted for to the per- fect satisfaction of the people and Treasury offi- cials. In 1880 new honors were bestowed upon him, for he was elected to Congress as a Represen- tative from the Second District, which embraced Scott, Muscatine, Clinton, Jackson, Cedar and Jones Counties. In short, he has been very active in the support of the Republican party, and in po- litical circles in general, and at all times has had the welfare of the people closely at heart.
The birth of the Hon. Mr. Farwell occurred April 26, 1834, in Coshocton County, Ohio, his parents being Zophar and Betsey (Knight) Far- well, natives of New Hampshire and New York, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Absalom Farwell was a native of New England, and he in turn was a son of Richard Farwell, the ancestry being further traced as far back as 1600. Riehard Farwell, won an honorable record as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The boyhood of our sub- ject was passed on his father's farm, and in com- pany with his two brothers and two sisters, he at- tended the district schools. Later he studied for two years in Keene Academy of Coshocton Coun- ty, also at Cleveland, and then taught school for one term in the Buckeye State.
It was in 1852 that Mr. Farwell first came to Jones County in company with his father and the other members of the family who located on a farm two and a-half miles north of Montieello. Therc the father devoted himself to general agri- culture until shortly before his death in 1883, and the demise of his wife occurred some two years later. Our subject remained on the homestead lending his assistance to his father until he had rcaclicd his majority. Then going to Pella, Ma- rion County, he embarked in general merchandis- ing, at which he continued for two years, and then selling out, went to Kansas, Ile settled in Clay
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County, opposite Kansas City, where he engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and ran a sawmill for about two years. In the year 1859 he re- turned to Iowa, settling on a farm in Jones Coun- ty, and for three years was one of the successful farmers of Monticello Township.
In 1862 Mr. Farwell assisted in raising Con- pany H, of the Thirty-first Regiment, infantry service, and was made Captain of the company, being ordered south to join the Army of the Ten- nessee. Among the engagements in which he par- ticipated were the following: Chickasaw, Arkan- sas Post, siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, Resaea, Atlanta and Jones- boro; he went in pursuit of General Hood, joining Sherman's army, and was in the mareh to the sea. After the surrender of Johnson to Sherman at Raleigh, N. C., he marehed with his command to Washington, D. C., was present in the Grand Re- view, and was mustered out June 27, 1865.
December 28, 1858, Mr. Farwell married Me- lında Nesbitt, of Oskaloosa, a daughter of George Nesbitt, Esq., of Wooster, Ohio, and of their union have been born five children: Mary, the wife of H. M. Carpenter; Luna, Mrs. Edward Templeton; Mareus Z., Cashier of the State Bank of La Junta, Colo .; and Zelma and Sewall, who are at home. Mrs. Farwell died December 15, 1891.
When serving as a Representative, Mr. Farwell took a prominent part in ealling the attention of Congress and the country to the advantages which would result from the building of the Hennepin Canal, and made the first speech that was made on that subject in the House, and helped seeure the first appropriation for its commencement. In the year 1882 he was unanimously renominated for Congress, but was defeated in the general election, owing to the adoption of the Prohibition measures as a part of the State Constitution, which made his distriet as strongly Democratie as it had heretofore been Republican.
In 1873 Mr. Farwell was made Viee-President of the Monticello National Bank, whielt he held until it was merged into the Montieello State Bank, and was aeting Viee-President until 1891, at which time he was made President of the insti- tution, which has always been one of the best
financial concerns of the county. When the Dav- enport & St. Paul Railroad, now a portion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system, was pro- jected in 1874, he was aetive in securing its pas- sage through Monticello. For several terms he has served as a member of the School Board, and has been President of that body. Formerly he was President of the Jones County Agricultural and Mechanical Association.
YLVESTA FRITSCHE. Noteworthy as a self-made man and an able, energetie citi- zen, is the subjeet of this biography, who is a resident of Concord Township, Dubuque County, Iowa. He believes that perseverance, backed by a strong will and dauntless courage, cannot fail to roll, with steady hand, the obstacles from the path of success.
Mr. Fritsehe was born in Ostria Lodane, Ger- inany, December 31, 1847. He was the son of Joseph and Lizzie (Charlotte) Fritsehe, who were natives of the same place. The former was born there in 1823, and died in 1891. The mother was born in 1827 and died in 1867. Both died in their native country. There were nine children born to this eouple, as follows: Joseph, Jr .; Fedel, Tony A., Lizzie, Katie, Sophia, Barbour, Clara and Sylvesta.
The subject of this sketch left his "Faterland" in 1871, and, after a long trip, landed in New York City. Remaining in that city only a short time, he came on to Dubugne, Iowa, where he worked at his trade as eabinetmaker in a furniture factory for five years. He then left for Concord Township, and worked at earpentering until 1889, when, with his earnings, he purchased one hundred and twenty aeres of land, which, after a short pe- riod, he inereased to one hundred and sixty aeres. A few months since he disposed of forty acres of well cultivated land at quite a profit.
Mr. Fritsehe was married to Miss Lizzie Sehomen, who was born in 1864 and died in 1880. She bore lim three children. He was married the second time. Miss Annie Mary Idenburger became his
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companion for life in the year 1886. She was born at Petersburg, Delaware County, Iowa, in 1860, and was one of the seven daughters of Joseph and Mary Idenburger. By this union our subject was blessed · with five children, as follows: Joseph, Lizzie, Mary, William and Mary Anna.
He is a devoted and useful member of the Cath- olic Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He came to America a poor man, without means of sustenance beyond what he daily carncd. For the first few years his life was a hard one, filled with struggles and poverty, but eventually his daunt- less spirit prevailed, and he now has a compe- tency. Mr. Fritsche is highly respected and es- tecmed by his friends and neighbors, and has shown that one may accomplish much by unfailing perse- verance and the dogged energy which "never gives up the ship."
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REN STUART, M. D. The subject of this personal history is a resident within the borders of Dubuque County and a re- spected citizen of Concord Township. He was the' son of Moses and Mary A. (Glew) Stuart. Moses Stuart, father of our subject, was born in Bangor, Me., November 11, 1811. He was a very promi- nent man in this county, and was the President of the School Board for a long period of years. A zcalous member of the Congregational Church and a stanch Republican, he was always ready to help in any enterprise pertaining to the promotion of the public welfare. He gave his children the very best education to be had in the county. Hc came to Dubuque County, Iowa, from Maine in 1837, and remaincd there for a few years, then removed to Elkader, working there at his trade as a carpen- ter and millwright for three years. He next was Postmaster at Millville, Iowa, for four years, then removed to California and remained there for two years. Returning to Concord Township, he set- tled on his old homestead of two hundred and forty acres, which he had increased to three hun- dred at the time of his demise, September 19, 1878. The mother was born at Phillipsburg, Pa., January
2, 1821, and died November 8, 1885. There were cleven children born to this couple, as follows: Adline, Elvira; Oliver W., deceased; Oren, Ellen, Sumner, Moses, Mary A., Ansel, Alvin and Olive, deccased.
March 20, 1873, our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Minnie Schoonover, a most esti- mable lady, who was born at Findlay, Ohio, Octo- ber 28, 1848. She was one of ten children. This union was blessed with five children, as follows: Nellie, Olive, Ray, Elta and Edna.
Dr. Stuart remained at home with his parents until he arrived at the age of twenty-one years, when, thinking that he was strong enough to "paddle his own canoe," he commenced his battle with the world. He first taught school for five' and a-half months; then he educated himself for a physician, and he is a most reliable one, having at- tended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, and also graduated at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, Mo. He has a very successful practice and is the possessor of one hun- dred and sixty acres of the best farming land in the county.
Taken together, Mr. Stuart's endowments are such as fit him to occupy a high place in the re- gard of the people. Not only is he one of the most prominent business men in the township, but he has good and sufficient reasons to look back over the annals of his ancestry with a degree of pride unknown to many.
Dr. Stuart is a Republican in politics, and has good, practical ideas relative to public affairs. As an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church he is an earnest and active worker. Possessing a strong ambition and a high standard of profes- sional excellency, with the aid and sympathy of a noble and womanly life companion, he is well fitted to attain a front rank in his chosen profes- sion and secure in due time the permanent re- wards of a successful and honorable career.
M H. MARTIN is a member of thic firm of Martin & Strclau, of Dubuque, general freighit and transfer agents and whole- sale and retail dealers in wood and coal, They are
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now doing a good business and the members of the firm are numbered among the wide-awake and sub- stantial business men of this community. Mr. Mar- tin was born in New York City in 1854, and is of Irish deseent. His parents, George and Mary (Mur- dock) Martin, were both natives of the Emerald Isle. The father was born in County Down, Ire- land, and in 1853 erossed the Atlantie to America, locating in New York. The following year he came to Dubuque, where his death occurred July 16, 1894, at the age of seventy-seven. Ilis wife is still living.
Midst play and work the childhood days of our subject were passed. During his infancy he was brought by his parents to Dubuque, where he was reared to mauhood. He acquired his education in the public schools and his first independent effort in life was as a mail carrier, a position which he filled for some time in this city. He then pur- eliased his father's freight and transfer line which he has sinee successfully conducted, his business steadily increasing and yielding to him a comfort- able competence. In 1889 he admitted to partner- ship Paul E. Strelau, under the firm name of Mar- tin & Strelau, which connection has since contin- ued. In the freight and transfer business they em- ploy some twenty-five men. They also deal in wood and eoal, handling anthracite and bitumin- ous eoal, and oak, maple and pine woods. In this branch of their business they also enjoy a good trade, the enterprise proving a profitable one.
December 25, 1881, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Martin and Miss Gussie E. Strelau, daugh- ter of John and Emily (Tanken) Strelau, who were early settlers of Dubuque. Four children grace this union, two sons and two daughters, Florence A., Frederick D., Mabel Harriet and Harrold P. The parents are both faithful members of the Pres- byterian Church, and with their family reside at No. 208 West Fourteenth Street.
In his political views Mr. Martin is a Republican, and though he warmly advocates the principles of the party, he has had neither time nor inclina- tion for public office. Socially, he is connected with Apollo Lodge, K. of P .; and Julien Lodge, I. O. O. F. His residence in this city covers a period of forty years, and he has therefore witnessed the
greater part of its growth and development, and has seen the progress and advancement which has been achieved through the progressive and prac- tieal efforts of sueli citizens as himself. Mr. Martin started out to make his own way in the world at the early age of thirteen, and has since been en- tirely dependent upon his own resources. Steadily he has worked his way upward, overcoming the difficulties and obstaeles in his path by industry and perseveranee. He may truly be called a self- made man, and as such we present him to our readers.
N ORTON J. LOOMIS is a dealer in lumber, brick, tile, cement, ete., in Farley, Dubuque County, Iowa. He was born in Martins- burgh, Lewis County, N. Y., in 1831, and emigrat- ed with his parents to Wisconsin in the year 1842. His parents were Amassa C. and Franeis (Thompson) Loomis, natives of Maine and Massa- chusetts respectively. The family was originally of English extraction.
Nine years after going to Wisconsin, Mr. Loomis of this sketch removed to Dubuque County, where he has since made his home. When he landed here and took stoek of his possessions he found he had only ten eents. This was on the Fourth of July, and he was necessarily unable to celebrate the day with such patriotic manifestations as was befitting. The first year after that he spent on the river, working at whatever lie eould find to do in order to obtain a livelihood. He worked by the month in this county until 1859, when he located on a farm and engaged in its cultivation until about the year 1886; he then sold most of his prop- erty and engaged in his present occupation, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Loomis owns quite a large amount of real estate and some of the best buildings in the town.
In 1854 Miss Ellen Hooper became the wife of our subject, and of their union were born eight children who grew to mature years. Amassa, the
HORACE T. WOODARD.
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eldest, was killed in this county; he left a wife and child; May F. is the wife of E. B. Cat- ron, of Earlville; John W. is a resident of Farley; Bennett E. is a stock merchant in the same place; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of W. F. Klaus, of Earlville; Wellington W. is a liveryman; Frank H. and George G. complete the family. By a sec- ond marriage, when Mrs. Ella H., widow of Henry Edzard and daughter of A. W. Himbaugh became the wife of our subject, were born two children, Florence E. and Affal R. Our subject has been a strong Republican all his life and is proud of the fact. IIc is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Farley, in the work of which he takes an active part. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a citizen who has always done the utmost in his power to advance the prosperity of this region.
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H ORACE T. WOODARD. For many years the agricultural community of Jones County had an able and efficient repre- sentative in the subject of this notice, who settling in Wyoming Township in 1865, gave his attention to the tilling of the soil and improving of a farm. As an agriculturist he was discriminating and in- dustrious, and by systematic rotation of crops and proper fertilization of the soil he was enabled to secure bountiful harvests from his land. At last, having accumulated a competence, he retired from farm work, and in March of 1893 came to Wy- oming, where with his family he occupies a plcas- ant home.
The Woodard family is of Scotch lineage and its representatives, as far back as the record is traced, have been men of upright character and honorable lives. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Pliny Woodard, a native of Connccti- cut and during much of his life a resident of New
York. The parents of our subject were Augustus B. and Hannah (Owen) Woodard; the former was born in Connecticut and the latter in the Empire State, being a daughter of Abraham Owen. The father came west and settled in Jones County, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1889, at the age of eighty-ninc years.
In Oneida County, N. Y., the subject of this sketch was born on the 19th of July, 1829. His boyhood years were passed uneventfully, and dur- ing the vacations from school work he assisted lis father in the cultivation of the home farm. In 1851 he was nnited in marriage with Miss Ann Gibson, a native of Canada and a daughter of Patrick Gibson. In 1865 he came west and settled in Wyoming Township, Jones County, where as above stated hc carried on a farm until 1893, meantime improving his land with an adequate set of buildings, good fences, orchards and gar- dens. In youth he had learned that suecess in agriculture can be gained only through tireless in- dustry and perseverance, and thesc qualities he exercised in the cultivation of his property.
The present wife of our subject, whom lie mar- ried in 1893, bore the maiden name of Julia Cook, and was born in Ohio. Her parents, Thomas and Maria (Lyle) Cook, were natives of Pennsyl- vania, and were old settlers of Ohio. Her mother came to Iowa in advanced years and dicd at Wy- oming at the age of seventy-nine. Her grand- mother was Sarah Kerr, of Easton, Pa. The Lyle family originated in Scotland, but was represented in Pennsylvania at an early period in its settle- ment, being identified with the history of North- ampton County. Mr. Woodard has two sons, both of whom reside in Monona County, Iowa.
Always actively interested in public affairs, our subject is a pronounced Republican in politics and both, at local and general elections exercises his elective franchise in favor of the candidates of that party. His wife holds membership in the Presbyterian Church and is a worthy Christian. They are generous in their contributions to char- itable objects, and in them the distressed and needy always find a friend. The life of Mr. Woodard affords an illustration of what may be accomplished by energy and perseverance, sec-
12
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onded by sound judgment and good management. His success is due to his own exertions, as hic started in business without means, and has achieved prosperity through his indefatigable exertions.
HARLES F. SMYTH, a prominent business man and enterprising citizen of Bernard, is at present extensively engaged in buy- ing and selling grain, and is also the proprietor of a hardware and farming implement store, which he conducts with success and profit. He is of Irish descent, and is the son of John and Margaret (Henry) Smyth. The father was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1819. When thirteen years of age he came to this country with his parents and settled in Bangor, Me. A few years later he embarked in the mercantile business in that city, carrying a line of general merchandise, dry goods, boots, shoes, groceries, etc. He followed this occu- pation for ten years, and at the expiration of that time sold out and came to Iowa, settling in Prairie Creek Township, Dubuque County. Here he bought one hundred and forty acres of wild, un- cultivated land, and immediately set about clear- ing and improving it. He built a good house and barn, which he furnished comfortably, and within two years he had a nice little home to which he brought his bride in 1844. He married Miss Mar- garet Henry, a native of Dubuque County, and to them were born thirteen children, nine of whom are living: Henry, John, Anna, George, Charles, Katie, Celia, Frank and Albert. They all received a good common-school education, and Katie is a graduate of Lyons College. She has been a teacher in the public schools of Iowa for six years, giving good satisfaction, and is an excellent instructor.
John F. Smyth was a hard working man, indus- trious and saving. Having been taught in his youth the necessity of taking care of the pennies, he lived a frugal but comfortable life, and at the time of his death he had accumulated a large share of this world's goods and left his family well pro- vided for, He passed peacefully away November
24, 1886, leaving a large circle of sincere friends, a loving companion and several children to mourn his loss. His good wife still survives him, and is living on the old homestead.
Our subject was born May 8, 1859, in this town- ship; he spent his boyhood days in the old home on the farm, attending the public school, helping in seed-time and harvest, and enjoying the free and happy life of a farmer until in the fall of 1890, when he went into business for himself at Bernard. Being a man of good business ability, genial and social, he has made many warm friends and bnilt up a trade of which any one might well be proud. He also owns one hundred acres of land in Prairie Creek Township, well improved and all in grass. Mr. Smyth is erecting at the present time a large new building, which he will use for hardware and light machinery.
September 7, 1891, Mr. Smyth was united in mar. riage with Miss Sabina, daughter of Michael Cox, a retired farmer of Dubuque County. She was born January 15, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Smyth are the parents of two interesting children, Mary, born August 20, 1892, and Geneva, born February 21, 1894. Our subject is a Democrat in his polit- ical views, taking an active part in all the coun- cils of that party. He, with his excellent wife, is a member of the Catholic Church, and occupics a high position in the social circle. Mr. Smythi has been a member of the School Board, and has occu- pied that position for four years.
A. BARNES, an attorney-at-law, now suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of the legal profession in Dubuque, was born in the city which is still his home, on the 16th of July, 1861, and is a worthy representative of one of the prominent families. His father, G. W. Barnes, was a native of Indiana, and came to this county during pioneer days. He was united in marriage with Miss Asenath Smith, who is still living in Dubuque.
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