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 46
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 46
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 46
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The subject of this sketch was but six years old when he came to this county. He was reared in this township and attended the little log school- house here. He was married June 19, 1866, to Miss Harrict Wakeman, who is a native of Indiana. Her parents came from New York State to Indiana, and from there to this county. She was reared in this township, and after her marriage with our subject they settled at their present location.
Out of two hundred and forty acres of land, he has but twelve that are not cultivated. He is a stock raiser as well as a tiller of the soil, and
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makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs, besides fine blooded horses and eattle. There were five eliildren born to Mr. and Mrs. Neill, as follows: Mabel C., William E., Walter J., Herbert N. and Alice E., William now being deceased. Tlie par- ents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being a Trustee of the same. He has been a member of the School Board for a number of years, and is also a stoekholder in the company that operates the Farmers' Creamery, and was for a time its Director and Vice-President.
Mr. Neill has never asked for any offices of pub- lie trust, but is always selected by his friends and neighbors beeause of his ability. He has a most excellent wife and she has impressed lier intelli- gence upon her children to a marked degree. Literally a self-made man, he may with satisfae- tion review his life of energetie industry, animated by a courage and determination which have en- abled him to overeome obstacles and win financial sueeess and an abundant competence. An upright man and liberal spirited eitizen, he is universally respected, and enjoys the high regard of many friends. Politically a Demoerat, Mr. Neill is in- terested in both loeal and national issues, and in- telligently posted in all matters tending to the promotion of the general welfare, and does his full duty as a true and patriotie American citizen.
UDGE CHARLES ADDISON DEAN, one of the old and respected early settlers of Mo- nona, is proprietor of the Pioneer Drug Store. He was born in the little town of Champion, Jefferson County, N. Y., July 6, 1821. His pa- ternal grandfather, in company with his brother, came from England and both participated in the War of the Revolution, the latter being on the English side, and our subjeet's grandfather espous- ing the cause of the Colonists. He located in Mas- sachusetts, where he continued to make his home until summoned by death.
Samuel Dean, the Judge's father, was born in
the Bay State, where lie grew to manhood and soon afterward removed to Jefferson County, N. Y., where he was married to Effie Croul. She was born in Holland and with her parents settled in Amsterdam, N. Y., when she was a child. Her mothier lived to be ninety-nine years and eleven months old, and she also attained a good old age. In 1827 Samuel Dean removed to Fulton, Oswego County, N. Y., where he engaged in business nntil his death. He was the father of seven children, one of whom died in infaney, the others growing to manhood and womanhood.
Judge Dean, who is the second in his father's family, was brought up in Jefferson County until his seventh year, when he removed to Oswego County and there received a common-sehool edu- cation, subsequently attending the Mexieo Aead- emy of that county. When twenty-one years of age lie made a trip to Montreal and Quebec, being in the latter eity at the time of the great fire, whieli consumed over forty acres of buildings and created wide-spread suffering. Returning to White- hall Mr. Dean engaged in business as a meehanie for two years, when on account of his father's health he returned to the homestead, which he took charge of and carried on successfully for about six years.
In the year 1854 as a young man he came west to grow up with the country and lived in Dubuque for some time. The following spring he came to Monona, which has since been his place of resi- denee. As a member of the firm of Dean, Wells & Co., lie engaged in the general merchandising business for a number of years, and in 1861 was appointed Postmaster of the place by President Lincoln. This position he lield continuously until President Cleveland was elected. In 1867 he was eleeted Probate Judge of the county and served for about two years. He has long been known to be an uneompromising Republican, and when serv- ing in an official capacity has manifested much ability and fidelity to his charge.
In June, 1851, Judge Dean married Lueretia N. French, who was born in 1830, in Fulton, Oswego County, N. Y., being of Seotch descent. They have one daughter, Annie, who is the wife of Frank D. Hinkley, of Milwaukee, City Grain Inspector.
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They have five children: Lucretia F., Anna D., Marie G., Cora C. and Ahira R. Judge Dean is one of the oldest business men of Monona, having operated his drug store for many years and hav- ing previously been engaged in general merchan- dising. He has ever been courteous to his custom- ers, and by his upright and honorable business methods has won their respect and friendship. Our subject is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Clayton Lodge No. 70, A. F. & A. M., of Clayton Chapter No. 26, R. A. M., and of Hono- rious Commandery No. 8, K. T., and in former years was also connected with other civic socie- ties.
M ORRIS O'DAILY. One of the well im- proved farms of Clayton County is that owned and occupied by Mr. O'Daily and situated on section 1, of Wagner Township. It contains all the improvements of a first-class estate, including a neat residence and substantial barn. The soil, through careful tillage, has been brought under excellent cultivation, and the land is sub- divided by good fences into fields of convenient size. This place has been the home of the present owner since the year 1861, when, coming hither, he purchased eighty acres comprising a portion of the property now owned by him.
The success which has come to Mr. O'Daily is due entirely to his own exertions, as he was but four years of age when orphaned by the death of his parents, John and Hanorah O'Daily, natives of the Emerald Isle. He was also a native of that country, born in County Carry, April 16, 1823. The family having been poor, he had no educa- tional advantages in youth, and from early boy- hood was obliged to earn his own livelihood. Be- lieving that in the United States he would find better opportunities than the Old World afforded, he crossed the Atlantic in 1846, and arriving in New York, was there variously employed for five years.
While living in New York Mr. O'Daily was
united in marriage, in 1852, withi Miss Julia Sulli- van, like himself a native of Ireland, her birth having there occurred in 1822. She is the daugh- ter of Daniel and Helena (Prenderville) Sullivan, who died when she was an infant, and therefore she has little information concerning the genealogy of the family. She was rcared in the liome of an uncle, and came to the United States about the same time as did Mr. O'Daily. The latter was for some years after his marriage employed at rail- roading, being thus engaged in Covington, Ky., for one year, later in Ohio for the same lengtli of time, and afterward in Pennsylvania for six months. Going thence to Chicago, after a short sojourn in that city he removed to Boscobel, Wis., where he remained until 1857.
In the latter year Mr. O'Daily came to Iowa, and after residing for tlirce years in McGregor, located upon his present estate in the spring of 1861. His first purchase consisted of cighty acres for which he paid $2.50 per acre. Afterward he added a forty-acre tract, paying $15 an acre for it, and twenty years later he bought a similar amount, so that lie is now the owner of a quarter- section of improved land. While his attention has been given principally to farm pursuits, he also takes a commendable interest in local matters, and in politics gives his support to the Democratic party. In religious belief lic is a Catholic, and with his wife holds membership in that church at Monona.
Six children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. O'Daily, of whom two arc deccased. The eld- cst, Hanorah, who was born in Detroit, Mich., Dc- cember 11, 1852, was married in 1879 to Michael Allen, and they reside in Topeka, Kan. Mr. Allen is an engineer on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, running from Kansas City to St. Joseph, Mo. They have had five children, one of whom died at our subject's home, and was buried in Monona. The oldest son of our subject, John, was born in Detroit, Mich., December 29, 1856, and is now a railroad conductor with headquarters at Tacoma, Washı. Dandy, wliosc birth occurred December 14, 1858, was killed at Brainerd, Minn., December 2, 1887, having fallen off a car while braking on a train. Cornelius was born at North McGregor,
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Iowa, October 6, 1859, and assists his father in the management of the home farm. Jeremiah, who was born in North McGregor, Iowa, May 6, 1861, is now in the employ of the Western Union Tele- graph Company at St. Paul, Minn. Morris was born on the home farm in Wagner Township, Au- gust 25, 1863, and died of scarlet fever when cight years of age. None of the surviving sons arc married. The family is highly estecmed through- out this community, and the children, having been tramed in early life for positions of useful- ness in the business world, are now known in their various communities as honorable and energetic citizens.
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RLANDO D. OATHOUT is one of the cn- terprising farmers of Monona Township, Clayton County, his home being on sec- tion 8. He was born September 2, 1839, in Eaton Township, Madison County, N. Y., where he re- ceived his education. From boyhood he was a great student and came to the west with his par- ents in 1855. He helped to cultivate the farm on which his father settled, and in the winter of 1860 began his work as a teacher in this county. Dur- ing the summer scason he assisted his father in the farm work and in the winter taught school until 1871, when he met with a most unfortunate acci- dent, being thrown off a mowing machine in front of the blade, which cut off his right hand. Since that time he has necessarily confined himself to teaching, having been in charge of graded schools in Clayton, Luanna, Garnavillo, North McGregor and Volga City.
The father of our subject was Solonion Hart Oathout, who was born in 1809 in Madison Coun- ty, N. Y. In carly life lic followed his trade of cabinet-maker, later devoting himself to agricult- ural pursuits. His ancestors on the paternal side came from Holland, one of the name in direct de- scent, Johannes Oathoudt, having settled in the Mohawk Valley near Albany, N. Y. Following down the line we find his son was Alcxander, his
grandson, John, and his great-grandson, Solomon H., the father of our subject. All of the family spelled the name as given above until after marriage when the "d" was omitted. Grandfather Oathout, whose birth occurred in the Empire State, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and Solomon H. was a Captain of a militia company in his native state.
Our subject's mother was before her marriage Eliza Abbott, her birth having occurred April 20, 1811, in Madison County, N. Y., and her marriage January 1, 1834. IIer father removed to Medina, Ohio, about 1834, where he made a permanent home and died. Solomon HI. settled in Eaton Township after his marriage on a farm of one hundred acres, which he cultivated until 1855. In the spring of that year he came to this county, making a settle- ment on the farm now owned by our subject, which was then all wild land, without fences and with only an old log house on the premises. He bought thirty-four acres, paying for the same $340, and the family occupied the little log cabin until 1871, when they built a frame addition to it and later erected a new home on the site of the old one. The father, who was a member of the Con- gregational Church at Monona, was a Deacon in the same and a member of the choir. He was a well read man, much interested in astronomy and biography, and during the last years of his life read the Bible through every year. His death oc- curred January 8, 1885, and his wife, who sur- vived him a few years, departed this life October 6, 1890. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living: Moses W., Orlando D., George W., Josephine E., Alpha M., Albert C. and Alice. Henry C. died at about the age of thirty- seven years, and George W. during the late Civil War was a member of Company K, First Iowa Cavalry.
December 28, 1880, O. D. Oathout was married at Clayton to Mary Ruegnitz, who was born in Germany. Her father is Carl Ruegnitz, and her brother Charles is a resident of Elkader. (See sketch elsewhere in this volume.) Mrs. Oathout was born September 9, 1858, in Mecklenburg and was cducated in the schools of Clayton. Later she became a teacher, successfully conducting graded schools for twelve terms. Our subject and his wife
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have had four children, three of whom are living: namely: Anna L., Mary E. and Martha. The home in which they dwell was built in 1872 by our sub- ject's father.
Mr. Oathout has always been greatly interested in educational work and was elected County Su- perintendent in 1881, serving as such for two years, and for twelve years was Secretary of the County Normal Institute and has occupied a sim- ilar position in the Division Society of Monona. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church of this place, in which he is a Deacon, and also a worker in the Sunday-school. Politically he is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Grand Lodge of Iowa in the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
S QUIRE WILLIAM N. TUCKER, Justice of the Peace of Monona, Clayton County, did most valiant service in the late Civil War, was ever found faithful in the discharge of what- ever duties were assigned him, and suffered many hardships and injuries during his terms of enlist- ment. He is one of the honored and representa- tive citizens of this place, and has been particular- ly interested in the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of Monona Post No. 495, which he helped to organize and of which he was the first Qumartermaster.
The Squire was born January 30, 1848, in Cum- mington, Mass., and from a very early age was obliged to make his own way in the world. His father, Alfred Tucker, was a native of Waterwap- sett, Worredshire, England; his birth occurred in 1801. He was a farmer by occupation. His death occurred in Windsor, Mass., when he was still a young man. His wife, who before her marriage bore the name of Emily Newell, was of French an- cestry and a native of Canada. William N. is the fourth child in their family of six, comprising four sons and two daughters. When eight years of age he went to New York to live with an uncle in
Tompkins County, and remained with him on a farm for several years, there acquiring a practical knowledge of agricultural duties.
Among the young men who responded with pa- triotism to the call of their country for devoted sons to battle in the cause of freedom was Mr. Tucker, who first enlisted in September, 1861, as a member of Company C, Seventy-sixth New York Volun- teers in the infantry service. He was then only thirteen years of age and remained in this com- pany until 1862, when he was discharged on ac- count of disability. The patriotie youth re-enlist- ed as soon as he had recovered his health, being placed in Company B, of the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. Among the leading battles in which he took part are the following: Gaines' Mill, the second battie of Bull Run, Sulphur Springs, Cedar Creek, Petersburg and Richmond. He escaped severe in- jury in these and numerous other engagements, but at one time was hit by a spent ball and lay in the snow for some time without attention, the cffeet of which was that he lost the use of his left side for seven months. He was first under Gen- eral Butler, and later with McDowell, Sheridan and General Mead. He received an honorable dis- charge near Georgetown, a short distance from Washington, in 1865 and returned to New York.
In 1868 Mr. Tucker came to Iowa, arriving in Allamakee County in April. From there he came to Clayton County, and in 1876 started a harness shop in this place, a business in which he had pre- viously been engaged for seven years. After a period of two years his health failed him and he eventually abandoned the business. In hopes of recruiting his health he went to the Red River Valley in Marshall County, Minn., in 1884, where he engaged in running and operating a farm for about two years. In 1886, lie once more returned to Monona, but since that time lias not been aet- ively engaged in commercial pursuits.
Appreciating his worth and ability the fellow- citizens of Mr. Tucker in 1894 elected him Justice of the Peace, and formerly, when in Minnesota, he served as Township Treasurer. September 5, 1882, occurred his marriage to Clara C. Dauben- berger, who was born in Rockton, Ill., in 1864 and
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grew to womanhood in Iowa. Her death occurred September 16, 1892, and her loss has been truly and sincerely mourned by her many friends in this lo- cality. She left one child, a little daughter, Velva M., who was born July 13, 1885, during her par- ents' residence in Marshall County, Minn. In his political opinions Mr. Tueker is an ardent Repub- lican and in everything pertaining to the interests of his party he is greatly interested.
REDERICK WILLIAM MOELLERING, a wellknown citizen and successful agri- culturist of Clayton County, Iowa, was born on the farm where he now resides, June 27, 1852. He owns a fine farm on seetion 1, Garna- villo Township, consisting of two hundred aeres of valuable land. His father, John Henry Moeller- ing, was a native of Germany, having been born in Westphalia, Prussia, July 8, 1820. His mother was Margaret E.(Petering) Moellering, a native of the same place, and was born July 13, 1814. The parents of our subject were married in Germany and emigrated to this country in 1844. They landed in New Orleans and went from there to St. Louis, Mo., where they spent the first winter, and in the spring of 1845 came to Guttenberg, this county. Soon afterward he bought a forty aere farm in Jefferson Township, on which he lived for two years, and then moved to the present farm. He first bought eighty acres of land here and later purchased one hundred and twenty more, making in all two hundred acres. Five children were given to this couple, all of whom were born in this country except Eliza, the eldest, who was born in Germany and came to the United States with her parents when an infant. She married Louis Meyer and is now living on a farm in Farmers- burg Township. She is the mother of five ehil- dren. Mary Ann, who is now Mrs. F. H. Bruns, resides on section 11, and is the mother of eleven children; John Henry, who married Mary Walker, is a prosperous farmer of Sac County, Iowa; Fred-
eriek William is our subjeet, and Maggie became the wife of John Mohning, a farmer in Lima Coun- ty, Iowa.
Our subject and Miss Eliza Meyer were united in marriage December 30, 1886. Mrs. Moellering is the daughter of William and Hermina (Koster) Meyer, both natives of Germany. Her mother came to America when quite young and made her home for five years with some of her relatives liv- ing near Dayton, Ohio. She then came to Garna- villo and married Mr. Meyer. They became the parents of seven children. Charley, the husband of Amelia Splies, is a farmer living in Allamakee County, Iowa. Eliza is the wife of our subject. Annie, who is now Mrs. Henry Martin, is liv- ing on a farm in this county. Mary is the wife of Arthur Behren, a carpenter of Postville, Clayton County. Minnie, Emma and Eliner are all living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are both living on a farm in Garnavillo Township. Our subject and wife are the parents of three children, Sophia Maggie, born December 1, 1887; Nora Hermina born August 1, 1889; and Ruland Henry, born September 10, 1891.
Mr. and Mrs. Moellering are worthy members of the Lutheran Church at Garnavillo, and contribute liberally to the support of the same. Politically he is a Republican and is a worker in the interests of that party. He has never aspired to any office but was elected Supervisor in 1884, and faithfully served in that eapaeity for two years. He is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and as such is highly esteemed throughout the commu- nity.
D AVID GOLDEN GRIFFITH was born Oe- tober 17, 1845, at Mohawk, Herkimer Coun- ty, N. Y. His father, Ira Griffith, and mother, Naney A. Griffith, nee Golden, were na- tives of that state. His great-grandfather, James Eaton, and family, were among the only survivors of the great Indian massacre of Wyoming, Pa. By
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the death of his mother in 1853 and father in 1859, David G. was left dependent upon his relatives, but continued in school until 1861, when on Oeto- ber 25, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in Com- pany M, Second New York Artillery. He enlisted for "three years or during the war," and in No- vember, 1863, re-enlisted as a veteran and served continuously until October 15, 1865. His regi- ment saw severe service in the Army of the Poto- inac, being attached to the First Brigade of the First Division, Second Corps (Hancock's), the fa- mous Irish Brigade forming a portion of this. General Miles commanded the division.
The regiment ranks eighth as to the number of its losses in the war. Of the original Company M who went out with the regiment, only five return- ed at the elose of the war, Mr. Griffithi being one of the five. Entering the service as a private he returned with a commission as Second Lieutenant. Being taken prisoner near Manassas Junction at the time of its capture by Gen. Stonewall Jackson's eorps, he with other enlisted men was paroled on the second Bull Run battlefield, and after three inonths at the parole eamp at Annapolis, Md., was exchanged and returned to hisregiment. He served in the battles from Spottsylvania to Petersburg, where on the night of June 16, 1864, he was wounded and was sent north for care and treat- ment. In November of that year he again return- ed to his company and served through the last campaigns against General Lee's army. At Burks- ville Junction, after Lee's surrender, he command- ed the guard having in charge the artillery sur- rendered by General Lee.
On being inustered out October 15, 1865, Lieu- tenant Griffith laeked two days of being twenty years old. He soon after entered the office of the Utiea Morning Herald to complete his trade as a printer, and after working on the Herald and Ob- server, in April, 1870, came to Iowa, remaining for a time at what was then called Buffalo Grove, near Aurora, Buchanan County. Here he was united in marriage December 14, 1870, with Mary A. Car- penter, a native of Trenton Falls, N. Y., and a sister of a former comrade and tent mate in the army who had laid down his life for his eountry.
After working at his trade at Dubuque and Chi-
eago Mr. Griffith in 1872 returned to Dubuque and accepted a position on the Daily Herald, remaining there until August 1, 1880, when, having purchased an interest in the Register at Elkader, he moved to that place and in company with G. A. Fairfield as- sumned the control of that newspaper. Under their management the Register has been inade one of the leading Democratic weekly newspapers of the state, having a circulation above the average and oeeu- pying a building ereeted especially for its use. January 1, 1893, Mr. Fairfield retired from the partnership in the Register office and was succeeded by Harry L. Griffith, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Griffith, who was born at Buffalo Grove, Iowa, October 22, 1872. The junior member of the firm has received a liberal education in the schools of Elkader, the University of Wisconsin and Drexel Institute of Philadelphia, and although nominally a partner in the Register, is actually following his profession as an electrical engineer. David G. Griffith was Postmaster at Elkader under President Cleveland's first administration, making a popular and obliging official.
OHN WELZEL. An honored position among the officials and business men of Clayton County is held by this well known resident of Grand Meadow Township. He is one of the German-American citizens, who holding their native land in affectionate remembranee, are also most loyally devoted to the interests and institu- tions of our Government. While promoting his personal welfare, he has also ád vaneed the interests of town and county, and aids substantially all measures tending to the improvement of the con- munity.
A native of Bavaria, Germany, the birthplace of our subjeet is the historic village of Weissenstadt, on the banks of the river Eger. There he was born December 10, 1834, the youngest son of Adam and Barbara Welzel. His parents attained ad- vanced years, and possessing robust constitutions were never sick until their last illness when past
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