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 47
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 47
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 47
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JOSEPH OBERBROCKLING.
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cighty years of age. John has three brothers, Fred, now deceased, formerly a butcher; Thomas, a shoe- maker by trade; and Lawrence, who succeeded to the butcher business long conducted by the father and is still thus engaged in his native city.
In the village of his birth our subject spent the days of youth, assisting his father in the meat market and attending sehool during the winter months. In the spring of 1853 he set sail for this country, and after landing, proceeded at once to Chieago, where he remained until the following December. Later he was employed upon a farm near that city. In the spring of 1854 he went to Burlington, Iowa, and from there took a trip down the Mississippi to St. Louis, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. His early experiences in America were not encouraging. He came here without friends or money. In fact, so poor was he that when he reached Buffalo en route to Chicago, he was entirely out of money. A man whose acquaint- ance he had formed and who had confidence in his honesty, loaned him money enough to take him to Chicago, and as soon as possible he . repaid the kind friend to whom he was so greatly indebted.
Coming to Clayton County, Iowa, in October, 1855, Mr. Welzel worked in a pork-packing estab- lishment at Clayton for a time. In the spring of 1857 he and seven others rented the two-thousand acre farm then owned by Judge Williams. Having very limited capital with which to conduct the place, it was not until several years after locating there that he was enabled to realize any profit from his labors. In 1864 he bought his present farm, situated three miles south of Postville. Em- barking in general farm work, he continued thus engaged, meeting meantime with great success un- til 1890, when he bought a forty-acre tract near the village of Postville. Here he has since lived, his son now superintending the old home place.
January 26, 1858, Mr. Welzel married Mrs. Anna S. Thoma, a widow with one child. She was born in Weissenstadt, Bavaria, September 1, 1834, and was a distant relative of the Welzel family. They arc the parents of six children. Fred H., who was born October 9, 1858, lost his right hand by a gun shot in boyhood; he is now clerk of the Commer- cial House at Postville. Conrad, born June 11,
1863, carries on the old home farm; Louis, born November 19, 1866, is at home with his father; Anna, born September 13, 1872, is the wife of G. Staadt, a druggist of Postville; William was born October 24, 1874, and died July 8, 1890; George was born May 14, 1878, and resides at home. By her first husband Mrs. Welzel had one son, John P., who was born April 14, 1853. He is known by the name of Welzel and lives on a farm five miles south of Postville.
The political views of Mr. Welzel coincide with the Democratic party. In religious belief he is a Lutheran. He is a leader among his fellow-men, being one of the best informed men in the county. In 1870 he was elected Town Clerk and with the exception of one year has held the position con- tinuously since that timc. Hc has officiated as School Treasurer since October, 1872, and mean- time has handled many thousands of dollars of public money without the loss of a cent. Since 1875 he has been a Director of the Clayton Coun- ty Fire & Lightning Company, having charge of the business of the company in his part of the county. He also carries on a general fire and tor- nado insurance business. He is a thoroughgoing, progressive business man, one whose word may in every instance be relied upon and whose abilities have brought him well deserved prominence.
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J OSEPH OBERBROCKLING, a wealthy, retired agriculturist of New Wine Town- slip, Dubuque County, is a native of Prus- sia, and was born March 31, 1828. He is one of cight brotliers, all of whom are living in this country. John H. is a wealthy farmer of Lib- erty Township, Dubuque County; Ferdinand is a prosperous farmicr of New Wine Township; George and Henry are also engaged in farming in
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the same township; Jolin is extensively engaged in stock-raising in California; Gerhart is now and has for many years been connected with the Union National Bank of Chicago; Frederick William, the youngest of the family, is a prominent Cath- olic priest, now located at Luxemburg, Iowa.
Our subject received a common-school educa- tion in Germany and served three years in the Prussian army, after which he cmigrated to Amer- ica, being the first of the brothers to come to this country. He arrived herc in 1852 and came im- mediately to Iowa and settled in Dubuque County on the farm he now occupies. He had very little means when he first came to the United States, but by hard work, cconomy and good management, he has succeeded far beyond his greatest expecta- tions, and is now one of the most prosperous and influential citizens in this section. He commands the respect of the community in which he lives, and is considered as authority in all matters per- taining to agriculture.
Mr. Oberbrockling was united in marriage in February, 1859, with Mrs. Elizabeth Donderhor, a widow with three children. Theodore, her cldest son, resides on a farm two miles from the old homestead. Mary married George Oberbrockling, a brother of our subject. John, the younger son, married Miss Anna Bergwert, and they with their four children, Joseph, Mary, Sophia Tillie and George, reside with our subject. The latter, never having had any children of his own, has shared his fortune with his step-children, naturally look- ing to them for love and sympathy in his declin- ing years. Mrs. Oberbrockling passed into her cternal rest May 25, 1881, leaving a bereaved husband and children and many warm friends to await the sounding of the last trumpet, when all the dead shall come forth and they shall see her again.
Our subject has been a stanch Democrat ever since he first came to this country. He lias never aspired to any office, although he has served as School Director for many years. Like all the members of his family, he is a devoted Catholic, giving liberally to the church, and also to the general improvement of his township. For the last few years he has done very little manual labor,
having given up the management of the farm to his step-son, who takes excellent care of the place and ministers to his comfort and happiness.
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R OYAL S. WILLIAMS. As one identified with the development of Jones County, a progressive, liberal-spirited citizen, and for many years an active, influential business man, we present the name of this well known resident of Wyoming. Hle came herc in 1859 and since that time has been intimately connected with many of the enterprises that have promoted the pros- perity of the place. Especially has he promoted the interests of the town by the ercction of numer- ous substantial brick and stone buildings, and al- though he has retired from business, lic still finds sufficient to engage his attention in the supervi- sion of his important moneyed and real-cstate in- terests.
In noting the parental history of the subject of this sketch we find that he is the son of Mark and Polly (Stanton) Williams, natives of Massachu- sctts. The Stanton family is of English origin and was represented in the Old Bay State early in its settlement. Mark Williams was a farmer by occupation and was thus engaged until his death in New York at the age of sixty-five years. His wife passed away in Ohio, when nincty-three years old. Their son, R. S. was born October 1, 1824, during their residence in Chesterfield, Hampshire County, Mass. He was a lad of six years when they removed to New York, and in the public schools of the home locality he laid the founda- tion for the excellent education afterward ac- quired by practical contact with the world.
Starting out in life for himself, Mr. Williams cleared a farm in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., com- prising a portion of the Holland Land Reserve. At the age of twenty he secured a position in a saw mill located on the Great Valley Creck, a tributary to the Allegheny River, and for three years he was interested in the lumber business in
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that locality. Next we find him engaged in the brick business in New York, in which line, as in lumbering, he met with success from the first. In 1854 he removed west to Iowa and for five years was in business in Maquoketa, Jackson County. In 1859 he came to Wyoming, Jones County, where he embarked in business as a brick manu- facturer and at the same time began the ereetion of brick buildings, which he rented. The major- ity of the briek and stone structures now standing in the city are the result of his energy and pro- gressive spirit. At the present time he owns seven buildings and also is the owner of the Commercial Hotel, which he ereeted some years ago. To the briek industry in 1874 he added an extensive lum- ber trade, and conducted the two enterprises on an ever enlarging seale until 1891, when he sold out. Sinee then he has given his attention to the management of his property interests. 1
Believing it to be the duty of every eitizen to keep himself posted upon political matters, Mr. Williams is a thoughtful reader of the current newspapers and is thoroughly informed regarding the issues of the age. He gives the support of his ballot to the principles of the Republican party. The temperanee movement also finds in him a strong advocate. He is a stoekholder in the Na- tional Bank of Wyoming and in the Potter Can- ning Factory Company, of which he was one of the projectors. As an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, he has for many years been interested and active in religious matters.
In the fall of 1862 Mr. Williams enlisted as a member of Company K, Twenty-fourth Iowa In- fantry, commanded by Colonel Wilds and Major Wright. With his regiment he took an active part in some of the most important battles of the Rebellion, including the siege of Vieksburg, the Red River expedition, and the engagements at Sa- bine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill. He was wounded at Champion Hills and was shot in the thigh at the battle of Winchester, Va. At the elose of the war, in the summer of 1865, he was mustered out at Savannah, Ga., as First Lieutenant of the company.
In Allegany County, N. Y., October 9, 1844, occurred the marriage of Mr. Williams and Miss
Luey Baker. This lady was a native of New York and daughter of Chauncey Baker, a farmer of that state. She died in the fall of 1855, leaving a daughter, Lorilla. The lady who in 1857 beeame the wife of our subject was formerly Miss Jennie Cleveland and was born in Canada. Two sons and two daughters have blessed this union, namely: Adelbert B., a hardware merehant of Wyoming; Corinne, wife of Hamilton Douglas, of Atlanta, Ga .; Carrie C., who married Charles Kimball, of Anamosa, Iowa; and Royal S., Jr., who is engaged in the mercantile business at Wyoming.
M RS. STEAPHANA (RYPCZYNSKI) ROUNDS. The subject of this biogra- phy, who is a widow of J. C. Rounds, and whose home lies in Marion Township, this county, and who is well known throughout the county, is a woman of good business ability ; she is of German parentage, her father and mother being born in Germany. She was born in Snydenville. Germany, January 16, 1853, and is the daughter of John and Josephine Rypezynski. They came to this country in 1873 and were the parents of the following nine children: Antony, Ursula, Stea- phana, Louis, Roman, Ambrose, Mary, Lena and Frank.
Mr. Rounds was born in Norton Township, Bristol County, Mass., August 29, 1818. He eanie with his parents to New York in 1820 and there received his education. In 1837 he went to Liv- ingston County, Michigan, where he engaged in farming until 1844, when he moved to Ogle Coun- ty, Ill., remaining there until the year 1855, when he located in Marion Township, Clayton County, Iowa, where he purchased the homestead of four hundred and eighty aeres on which he lived until his demise, which occurred February 6, 1892. He was well known as an extensive farmer and stock raiser. In the year 1876 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Steaphana Rypczynski, our subject, and they have been blessed with five children, as
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follows: Mary, Frank, George, Louie and Vincent. The mother is giving to these children the very best education; the older ones are now attend- ing college.
Mr. Rounds was honored with several offices of public trust, as Township Assessor, Township Clerk, Secretary of the School Board, Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. He also represented this county in the Legislature of 1874-75.
Mrs. Rounds is a member of the Catholic Church. She is charitable, kind hearted in the extreme, and dispenses good words and deeds and fulfills in truth the command to "rejoiee with theni that do rejoice and weep with them that weep."
AMES VARLEY for over forty years was numbered among the honored residents of Clayton County, and he was one of its early settlers, his home being during his last few years in Elkader, where his death occurred May 11, 1894. Always aetive in all measures of public improvement and educational affairs, he held the friendship and love of all who knew him, and his deatlı was thought to be a great loss to the eom- munity in which he had so long and honorably lived.
The birth of James Varley occurred near Wheel- ing, W. Va., May 6, 1816, and his father, William Varley, was a native of Maryland. At a very early day he removed to the west, making a settle- ment in Clayton County and building a grist-mill in Boardman Grove, which mill was one of the first erected in this region and to it the early set- tlers came from far and near bringing their corn and wheat to be ground.
The boyhood of our subjeet was passed in West Virginia and there he received his education. In 1850 he came to this eounty and settled on land in Pony Hollow, where he successfully condueted a large farm for nearly forty years, becoming well- to-do, and then in March, 1888, feeling that he deserved a rest from his persistent labors, he re-
tired from aetive cares and for the remaining six years of his life made his home in Elkader. In politics he voted with the Republican party, and religiously he was a devoted member of the United Brethren Church.
October 28, 1869, our subject married Mrs. An- toinette Shippy, a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y. She is a daugliter of William P. Bush, whose birth also occurred in the Empire State, and her mother, formerly Rebecca Hotchkiss, was born in Portland County of that state. Mrs. Varley passed her girlhood and received her education in the Empire State, where she married Zabin Shippy. Of that union three children were born, Adell, Adelbert and May. The family removed to Clin- ton County, Iowa, about 1850 and here the death of Mr. Shippy occurred in 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Varley was born one daughter, Lilly, who is now the wife of Elzie Cary, of Estherville, this state. Mrs. Varley still continues to make her home in Elkader and is interested in the work of the Bap- tist Church of this place, to which she belongs. She is held in the highest esteem by those who have the pleasure of her acquaintance as a lady of of most excellent and lovable qualities, whose heart is kind and open to the poor and needy and who makes it her objeet in life to smooth the pathway of her fellows in every possible manner.
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W. RUSSELL. There are numerous fine farms in this county which may be com- pared favorably with any others in the state as regards production, and also as regards improvements located upon them. Many of these places are owned by self-made men-men who started in the world with nothing but an unlimited amount of energy and perseverance, and who have succeeded in their ehosen profession. As a repre- sentative of the agricultural class, we take pleasure in presenting the name of the subject of this sketch, who lives in the town of Farmersburg, Clayton County, Iowa. Mr. Russell was born in
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Orange County, Vt., April 7, 1845. His father, Isaac Russell, was born in New Hampshire, March 17, 1803. September 7, 1827, he married Miss Nancy Tewksbury, a native of Grafton, N. H., who was born there June 20, 1807. After their marriage they remained in the state of Vermont until the year 1855, when they made their per- manent home at Farmersburg, Clayton County, Iowa. They have both long since passed to their eternal rest, she dying in the year 1875, and he in 1878. Four children blessed this union, of which we making the following mention: J. C. Russell lives at White Plains, N. Y., Rosella Wakeman re- sides at Wheaton, Ill .; G. W. and J. W. are twins, and the latter now lives at Ogden, Iowa.
G. W. Russell was reared on a farm in Clayton County, and attended the public schools of the same. He was married May 16, 1872, to Miss Anna M. Tapper, a daughter of James and Ellen (Irwin) Tapper. James Tapper was a native of England and his wife of Ireland. They were married in New York City and went to New Orleans, La., and subsequently to St. Louis and Fort Atkinson, (where he assisted in building the fort) and in the year 1841 settled in Giard Township. He was one of the earliest settlers in the county and has noted its rapid growth since his arrival. He died Feb- ruary 25, 1885, aged seventy-four years. His be- loved wife survives and lives in Monona. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, and are as follows: Mary, Will- iam, James, John, Mrs. Hester Egbert, David and Anna. The parents were both zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Russell are the parents of five children, three of whom are still living. Ross R. was born April 26, 1880; Mamie was born Jan- uary 13, 1876; David was born August 3, 1882. Our subject resided for a time on the farm, where he dealt extensively in grain and the raising of fine, thoroughbred roadsters and draft horses. He rents his farm, situated in Wagner Township, con- sisting of three hundred broad and well cultivated acres.
He is a member of the Masonic order and lias held several offices in the same. In politics our sub- ject is a strict and stanch adherent to the principles
of the Republican party. Hc and his most worthy wife werc early settlers in Clayton County, and are highly esteemcd as citizens of the same. Hav- ing watched the growth and progress of the coun- try, and fecling in it all the pride of one who sees a blank and barren wilderness grow and develop into a city, they feel that its life and industry are to itself a credit and honor, and to others a source of pleasure and pride.
LE NELSON. Prominent among the farm- ers of this section of the country who are prosperous and successful is the subject of this biography, who ranks high among the repre- sentative men of the county. He was born in Norway in 1840, and is the son of Nels and Mar- garetta (Evans) Anderson, who were both natives of the same place. They emigrated to this coun- try in 1862, and landing in New York City, re- mained there for a short time, when they came to Clayton County, Iowa, where the father of our subject worked at farming for two years, and then left for Minnesota; he there purchased a home- stead on which he lived until his death in 1886. The mother of our subject died in the year 1884. There were six children born to them, as follows: Jaren, Andrews, Even, Ole, Nels and Emma.
Ole Nelson, our subject, came to the United States in 1861, and landed in Quebec, Canada; he went immediately to Chicago, and after remaining there a short time came to Clayton County, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for six months; he thien answered the call of our "martyred Presi- dent" for volunteers, and enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment, and remained in the war for two years, when he was wounded and hon- orably discharged. Two months later he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-third Illi- nois Regiment, and remained for a hundred days. He held the rank of Corporal in his company. He came back to Clayton County, where he worked on a farm for two years, and then following the
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example of his father, went to Minnesota, where he purchased a homestead, upon which he lived for six years. Selling out lie returned to Clayton County, and bought forty aeres of land, on which he lived for twenty-two years, selling it in 1893. He has sinee erected the finest residence in that part of the county, and in this he now lives.
Our subjeet was united in marriage in April, 1871, with Mrs. Julia Gundelfinger. She was the daughter of Ole and Ingeber Anderson; they were natives of Norway, and came to the United States in April, 1868. Both are deceased. Our subjeet has been Township Assessor, and is interested in a creamery at Clearmont Valley. Mr. Nelson may well have the name of entering the wilderness, and it has prospered under his skillful hand; in- stead of the thorn has come up the myrtle, while the desert has blossomed as abundantly as the rose. He is a zealous member of the Lutheran Church, and in polities the Republican party finds in him an earnest supporter.
D AVID JACOBIA. Prominent among the successful and progressive farmers of Clay- ton County may be named the subjeet of this historical notice. By his enterprise and seien tific research in the direction of his ehosen in- dustry he has given to his work a significanee and beauty of which few deem it capable. He was born in Columbia County, N. Y., December 1, 1835, and is the son of Frederick and Margin (Lown) Jaeobia, who were both natives of New York State. Mr. Frederick Jacobia followed the calling of farming in that county. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: Loready, Elizabeth, Almira, John, David, Peter, Harietta and Marie. The parents were valued members of the German Reformed Church.
Our subject, at the age of twenty-one, left home to seek his fortune, and came directly to Clayton County, Iowa, where he worked at farming for one year, when he bought a half-interest in a one hundred and sixty acre farm, on which he
worked for a year, when he purchased the entire estate. He has sinee increased it, until at present he is the owner of two hundred and thirty acres of well eultivated fields.
Mr Jacobia was united in marriage June 14, 1862, with Miss Lavina Baker, a daughter of Si- mon and Lewise (Farand) Baker, and was born in Michigan in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobia are the parents of four children: Carrie B., Myra, Homer and Ray. These children are allowed the very best education attainable in that vicinity.
Mr. Jacobia's wife is a valued member of the Congregational Church, devoted and earnest. In politieal sentiments he is a Republican, adhering to and supporting his party with vim and earnest- ness. He has been honored by his fellow-citizens with the office of School Director, serving as sueh for many terms, and of Postmaster for fourteen ycars. He is a Director of the Postville Bank, and has been for the past seven years.
The life of our subject has been mainly devoted to the welfare of others, and this has left him but little time or inclination to devote to the advanec- ment of his own personal interest. This indecd may be accounted a fault, but the eonseiousness that his work has given encouragement to many aspiring young men and women, and has done mueh to incite them to a useful and honorable ca- reer, must alone be his apology and exeuse, while he trusts that the knowledge acquired and the good accomplished by him will in the end justify, with whom he is best known, his life work.
R RANK W. PORT, M. D., of Olin, is a very busy man, for in addition to the conduct of his extensive professional practice, he is one of the proprietors of a large and finely equip- ped drug store, where is kept on hand the usual supply of medieines, besides a complete assortment of wall paper, paints, oils, ete. He has spent his entire life in Iowa and is one of its native born sons. His birth oceurred in Ananosa, Jones Coun- ty, August 22, 1858, and he is the eldest of a
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family of six, the children of Williamn and An- geline (Lockwood) Port, natives respectively of England and Indiana.
The father of our subject emigrated to America in youth and became one of the early settlers of Jones County, Iowa. For many years he has been a resident of Anamosa, where lie and his wife are well and favorably known as people of nobility of character and probity of life. In his younger years he taught school, and being a well informed man, he met with good success in that occupation. For many years he has been engaged in the general mercantile business in Anamosa, and at the present time is salesman in a large and well conducted es- tablishment in that city.
The Doctor spent the days of boyhood in an un- eventful manner, obtaining his primary education in the common schools of Anamosa. While prose- cuting his studies he was partially self-supporting. At the age of twenty-thrcc he entered Rush Med- ical College of Chicago, from which he was gradu- ated with honors in the Class of '85. After vis- iting and looking at numerous places in western Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, he decided that cast- ern Iowa was the place of all. Immediately after- ward he opened an office at Olin, and by the skill- ful manner in which he treated disease soon rosc to a high rank among his professional bretliren. He is now retired from active practice, and those who have tested liis abilities as a physician have the highest confidence in his skill.
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