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 49
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 49
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 49
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The parental household consisted of nine ehil- dren, of whom four sons and four daughters are yet living. John, of this sketeh, when old enough rendered his father very material aid in elearing and cultivating their new farm in this eounty, and remained at home until his marriage, when twenty- five years old. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Agnetha Christianson, was likewise a na- tive of Norway, and was the daughter of Hans and Olena Christianson, who came to this country in 1858. The mother departed this life after com- ing to America, but Mr. Christianson is still living and is in good circumstances.
To our subject and his estimable wife there has been granted a family of twelve children, of whom nine are still living: Bertha, Mary, William, Olver, Louis, Alice, Joseph, Perry and Lawrence. Soon after his marriage Mr. Larson purchased a farm in Farmersburg Township, upon which he made his home for several years, when he rented the tract and became the proprietor of an estate located in Haneoek County, this state, which he cultivated with good suecess for three and one- half years. At the expiration of this time he dis- posed of his farm and returned to the old home- stead, making his residence thereon for a twelve- month. Then selling out, he invested his means in two hundred and ninety acres near the village of St. Olaf, and soon thereafter, forming a part- nership, engaged in the creamery business. He still has an interest in this concern, although he
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does not gives his time to its operation other than to liave a gencral superintendence of affairs. The general store of our subject is in a good location, and is well patronized by the citizens of St. Olaf.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Larson, together with all their children, are prominent and efficient mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. In his politieal re- lations our subject is a true blue Republican, cast- ing his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
RNEST H. HICKS oceupies the position of State's Attorney of Jones County, and is one of the able native young men of this county. His home is in Monticello, and in every- thing connected with the general industries and interests of the place he is prominently associated. In the ranks of his profession he has built up a fine reputation and is making a grand sueeess of his legal career.
Coming from one of the pioneer families of this region, who have been noted for their many wor- thy qualities and ability. E. H. Hicks was born July 10, 1866, in Monticello Township, being a son of Francis M. and Frances A. (Little) Hieks, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. They were the parents of ten ehildren, of whom our sub- jeet is the sixth in order of birth. His boyhood days were passed on his father's farm, where lie was reared to a life of industry and activity. His school eareer eommeneed in the neighborhood of his home, and later he entered the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, where he pursued his stud- ies for two years, after which he was admitted to the Iowa State University of Iowa City, and grad- uated from the Law Department of that institu- tion in 1888; he then opened an office in Rock Rapids, where he remained one year engaged in his professional practice. Mr. Hieks then returned to this county, and in Monticello formed a part- nership with W. W. Herriek, and under the firm name of Herrick & Hicks they engaged in general law practice in all of the courts of the county. In
the fall of 1892 Mr. Hicks was elected to his pres- ent position of County Attorney, assuming eharge of the affairs pertaining thereto on New Year's Day, 1892. He was elected on the Republican tieket by a small majority, and his term will run for two years. At the time of his election the Rc- publicans of the locality were closely pressed by the opposite party and their majorities were very small in consequence. For so young a man Mr. Hicks has acquired considerable valuable property, and has certainly been eminently successful as a lawyer, particularly on eases eoming under the eriminal ealcu dar.
In 1891 Mr. Hieks was united in marriage with Miss Cora E. Farwell, at lier home in Chicago. The lady, who has received a superior education and is very accomplished, is a daughter of the late Marcus A. Farwell, one of the prominent citizens of Chieago. Fraternally our subject holds member- ship with Burns Lodge No. 73, K. P., and is also a Mason.
ZEKIEL MOORE, who is a highly respected , citizen and general agriculturist pleasant- ly located on section 2, Jones Township, is ยท extensively engaged in stoek-raising, making im- ported and full-blooded stock a specialty. IIe was born August 22, 1847, in Vicksburg, Miss., and is a son of William and Sarah A. (Beatty) Moore. Mrs. Moore is a sister of Dickson Beatty. For further ancestral history of Mrs. Moore see Mr. Beatty's sketeli on another page of this volume.
William Moore, the father of our subject, was a native of Belfast, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in his youth. He landed in New York and went immediately to Vieksburg, Miss., where he located and went into business for him- self. He was married while residing in that city and remained there for several years, but finally came to Iowa and settled in Jones County on the farm where our subjeet now lives. There was a small cabin and thirty acres of wild land where you will now find a magnificent farm, well culti- vated, abundantly stocked, and first-class improve-
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ments. Mr. and Mrs. William Moore were the parents of five children: William, who lives in Sioux County, Iowa; Mary Janc, the wife of John Taylor, of this county; Ezekicl, our subject; Maggie, and Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of Richard Croston. The parents were both mem- bers of the Baptist Church, he being a Deacon in the church and a prominent man in his day. He was a strong Republican in politics and an active worker in that party. He departed this life in 1863. His excellent wife survived him twenty- nine years. In 1892 she went to meet her husband in that better land.
Our subject was only one year of age when his parents came to Iowa. He spent his boyhood days on the farm, assisting in the various duties of that occupation and attending the public schools of Cascade, where he received a fair education. He remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age, when he began life for himself. His first act of independence was to get married. In 1871 he was united in the holy bonds of matri- mony with Miss Annie Fober, a daughter of Joseph Fober, of Cascade. She was born in Thompsonville, Conn., in 1852. Their home has been blessed by the addition of four children: Merton, Mabel, Willie and Mollie. He has just completed an addition to the old home and settled down to the life of an "independent farmer." For the last fifteen years Mr. Moore has been cx- tensively engaged in raising thoroughbred stock. He makes a specialty of Short-horn cattle, which he imported, and Poland-China hogs. The most of his attention, however, is given to the raising of hogs, of which he has on hand at the present time one hundred and twenty-five head of the pure Poland-China breed. Our subject has been very successful in this line of business, and ex- hibits every year at the county fairs, always receiv- ing first premiums.
In 1885 Mrs. Moore was called away to the land beyond, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. In 1887 Mr. Moore married Miss Mattie Fober, a sister of his former wife. This union has been blessed by the birth of three chil- dren, but they all died in infancy. He and his estimable wife are both members of the Baptist
Church; he holds the office of Dcacon and Mrs. Moore is a teacher in the Sunday-school. Socially Mr. Moore is a member of the Modern Woodmen, of Cascade. Politically he is a Republican and takes an active part in the interest of that party. Our subject has held many offices of trust, and for sixteen years has served as Supervisor of the county. He is also a member of the School Board at the present time, and has served as such for a number of ycars. Mr. Moore is a member of the American Poland-China Company with headquar- ters at Cedar Rapids, Mich., and occasionally he contributes short articles to the county papers.
HARLES F. SCHOCH. Among the many industries which have contributed to the upbuilding and advancement of the thriv- ing town of Elkader is the carriage and buggy manufactory of the gentleman whose name heads this article, who contracts for and carries out fine work in his line of trade. Thoroughly conversant with all the details of his business, he oversees his large and extensive place, turning out carriages of a very superior quality of workmanship.
A native of the Keystone State, our subject's birth occurred in Philadelphia in 1852. He is a son of Charles Schoch, who was born in Germany. In his early manhood he left the Fatherland, and on landing in the United States continued his journey westward as far as Clayton County, where he set- tled, devoting himself to agricultural pursuits un- til shortly before his death, which occurred in 1893, when he had reached the age of seventy-one years. He was one of the fifty industrious German farm- ers who settled in the colony at Communia, and to whose exertions much of the wealth and pros- perity of that region are due. He was a loyal cit- izen and son of his adopted country, and political- ly voted with the Democratic party. His wife, whose maiden name was Rose Yeager, is still liv- ing, making her residence at Elkader and is now in her seventy-sixth year.
Charles F. Schoch is to all intents and purposes
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an American, as he was only an infant when his parents brought him to Clayton County and here his early ycars were passed, his time being spent in giving to his father his assistance in carrying on the homestead and in attending the district sehool. With his father he learned the trade of carriage making, and to this branch of business has devoted luis mature life. He is master of the trade and lie has succeeded in establishing a reputation for good work, second to none in this region.
In 1875 the subject of this sketeh married Fred- erieka Suco, of Elk Port. Her father, Fred Suco, was one of the early pioneers of this county, in wlieli he still makes his home, having reached the advaneed age of eighty-eight years. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schoch has been blessed with a family of three sons and four daughters, as follows: Rose, Mattie, Ella, Louise, Frederick, William and Carl, Jr. The children have all been given the best of school privileges and are being trained for lives of usefulness and honor. Mr. Sehoeh is a member of Union Lodge No. 105, I. O. O. F., and is also identified with the Ancient Order of United Work- men. Politieally he is affiliated with the Demo- eratic party, to which he gives his zealous support. Mr. Sehoch is widely and favorably known in this locality, which has been his home during almost his entire life, and here he numbers among his host of acquaintances many of the truest and warmest friends.
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ICTOR BALLUFF, a veteran of the late war and a leading farmer of Cass Town- ship, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 11, 1842. His father, F. Conrad Balluff, was a mechanic by trade, and in 1848 emigrated to America, settling in Erie County, N. Y., where he bouglit a small traet of land. In 1856 he re- mnoved west to Iowa and located upon the farm now owned by our subjeet. Here his death oceur- red at the advanced age of ninety-two years in Deeember, 1893. His wife died in New York State in 1853.
There were ninc children in the parental family,
all of whom attained years of maturity, and four are now living. Margaret is the wife of John Putz, a farmer and cooper of Elkport, Clayton County. Jolin P., who died in Clayton County in February, 1881, was a soldier in the Union army, being a member of Company H, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry. He participated in a number of the lead- ing engagements of the Rebellion and accompanied Sherman on the march to the sea. At Iuka he was taken prisoner and for fifty-nine days was con- fined in Andersonville. At the expiration of four years' service in the army he was honorably dis- charged. Theresa, who died in 1879, was the wife of W. Hammer, a farmer of Delaware County. Hannah died unmarried in 1886. Timothy passed away in 1868. Josephine married Sebastian Putz and lives in Warren County, Iowa. Joseph passed from earth in 1890. Mary Amelia, the wife of Jacob Miller, lives near York in Delaware County.
When the family emigrated to the United States our subject was a child of six years. The eight succeeding years were passed in New York, and thence he came to Iowa in 1856. In the schools of Strawberry Point he was for some time a student, and by his fellow-students was given the nick- name of "Professor" on account of the fact that one day when his teacher was giving instruction in German he reached a point beyond which he could not go, and young Balluff made the necessary explanation for the teacher and other pupils. In his studies he was keen and quiek, and the informa- tion gained in the common sehools has been sup- plemented by self-culture and close observation.
When the war broke out, Mr. Balluff was culti- vating the home farm. With the enthusiasm of youth: he was desirous of enlisting at once in his country's service, but his father forbade him. How- ever, in 1864 his name was enrolled as a member of Company H, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, and in that regiment he served until the elose of the war. He accompanied General Sherman on the march to the sea and participated in the Grand Review at Washington. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa.
In August, 1866, Mr. Balluff married Miss Mary Mullen, a native of Hancock County, Ill., and they have ten daughters and one son. Alma, for-
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merly a school teacher, is now the wife of Fred Everet, a farmer of Delaware County. Amelia married M. J. Everet, also a farmer in Delaware County. Francis was educated in the Business Department of Upper Iowa University, and now aids his father in the management of the farm. Josephine is a teacher in the publie sehools. Ger- trude, Nettie, Jane, Estella, Eva, Georgia and Susan are with their parents.
After tilling the soil in Clayton and Fayette Counties, Mr. Balluff in the year 1882 bought the old homestead, and here he has sinee resided. As an agriculturist he is energetie and efficient, and his place bears evidence of the thrift of the pro- prietor. The farm buildings are commodious and substantial, well adapted to their varied uses. He has given his entire attention to his farm, never aspiring to public office. However, he is a stanch Democrat and always supports the enterprises and measures of his party. Soeiaily he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic.
ESLIE L. RENSHAW, M. D., is a promi- nent practitioner of Monona, Clayton County, where he has been located for the past five years. During this time he has suc- ceeded in building up a fine praetice both in this village and the surrounding territory. He re- ceived an excellent edueation both in a literary and medical sense and has always been a student, belonging to the various medieal organizations, taking the leading medieal journals and in every way endeavoring to extend his knowledge. He was born in Farmersburg Township, Mareh 4, 1856, being a son of David L. Renshaw, whose birth oeeurred in Uniontown, Fayette County, Pa. Coming to Iowa he located in Delaware County, and two years later, about 1857, became a resident
of Clayton County, where he located on a farm in Farmersburg Township, and remained there en- gaged in general agricultural pursuits about thirty years. In 1884 he retired from active life to make his home in Rock Valley, Iowa, where he still resides. His father, George S., was born in Virginia, and he in turn was the son of Aaron Renshaw. The Doctor's mother, whose maiden name was Persis Angier, is still living and is a daughter of Elijah Angier, whose birth occurred in the Empire State. Mrs. Renshaw was born in Westport, N. Y., and there received her education, growing to womanhood.
Dr. Leslie L. Renshaw is one of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity, and all but one of these still survive. The Doetor, who is the eldest of the family, attended the distriet schools in the neighborhood of his father's farm, and his early years were passed in the arduous duties per- taining to farm life. For a time he tauglit sehool in his home district and then began his medi- eal studies with Dr. C. H. Hamilton. With him he continued for about . four years and subse- quently entered the Medieal Department of the State University, from which he was gradnated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the Class of '80. His first location was in Farmers- burg, where he successfully engaged in practice for ten years, after which he removed to Monona and has since made this his field of work.
In November, 1883, Dr. Renshaw was married to Amanda Kinsley, a native of this eounty and a daughter of Guy Kinsley, who is well known in this locality. Four children were born to the Doctor and his estimable wife, David L., Kins- ley, Carlton, and Guy, who has been ealled from this life.
The Doetor is a member of the Northeastern Iowa Medieal Society and the State Medieal So- ciety, and fraternally belongs to the orders of Modern Woodmen and United Workmen. A stanch Republiean, he is a worker in the ranks of his party, is a member of the County Central Com- mittee and is Chairman of the Township Republi- can Committee. During the administration of
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President Harrison the Doetor was a member of the Board of Pension Examiners. He is Viee- President and Director in the Monona State Bank and in other worthy enterprises has borne his part.
A UGUSTUS E. AXTELL. The farm owned and operated by this gentleman consists of two hundred and five acres situated in Cass Township, Clayton County. For more than thirty years he has made his home in Iowa, having come to this state in September, 1863, and settled on his present farm two miles east of Strawberry Point. Through energy and good management he has become the possessor of a competence, and is recognized as one of the well-to-do agricultur- ists of the county.
A native of Massachusetts, our subjeet was born in Berkshire County, September 29, 1821. He is of English descent, his paternal grandfather having been a native of that country. His father, Daniel Axtell, was born in Connecticut, removed thence to Massachusetts, and in 1823 brought his family west as far as Ohio, settling on the Western Re- serve, in Lorain County, near the present site of Oberlin. By trade he was a earpenter, and built the first frame house in Oberlin. In his com- munity he was a man of considerable prominence and held a number of local offices, including that of Justice of the Peace. His death oceurred in July, 1854.
Our subjeet's mother bore the maiden name of Jane Wellman and was a native of Maine. Her father, Abram, was a soldier in the Revolutionary conflict, and also took part in the War of 1812. The family, it is supposed, descended from Irish and Englishi aneestry, and was identified with the early history of New England. Mrs. Janc Axtell died about 1866. She had a family of fifteen ehil- dren, ten sons and five daugliters, of whom all but one attained years of manhood and woman- hood. The sons, with the exception of A. E., were carpenters by trade. M. Washington in
later life became a physician and during the war was assistant surgeon of an Illinois regiment. Af- ter the elose of the Rebellion he engaged in build- ing railroads in the west, in which enterprise he made a fortune; he died in 1893 in Ohio. M. J. was a member of Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-eiglith Ohio Infantry, and served for two years; he now lives near Cleveland, Ohio, where he owns valuable property. Marcus, also a par- ticipant in the war, died in Illinois. Addison, a veteran of the late war, resides at Geneva, Ohio. The other brothers are deceased, as are also the sisters with the exception of Frances C., wife of Riehard Youman, of Mahaska County, Iowa.
The oldest surviving member of the family is the subject of this sketeh. He was two years of age when taken by his parents to the frontier of Ohio, and there he grew to manhood. Several of his brothers and sisters were educated in Oberlin College and were teachers. For a time he worked at the trade of a carpenter, which his father and brothers followed, but the occupation did not suit his taste, so he decided to become an agrieult- urist. With this objeet in view, in September, 1863, he came to Iowa and settled on the property where he has sinee resided.
While a resident of Ohio Mr. Axtell married Olive Dulmadge, who died April 15, 1858, leav- ing three children. Maria I., a graduate of Ober- lin College, taught school for a time; she is now the wife of Franklin Richardson, a farmer in Cass Township. Rosa B., also a graduate of Oberlin and a former teacher, is now the wife of Rees Davis, an agriculturist. Elbridge K. is a farmer of Clayton County. The second marriage of Mr. Axtell also occurred in Ohio, his wife being Mar- tha A. Bartlett, a native of New York State. They liave four sons and one daughter living, namely: E. E., who married Celia Lamphiear, and is a farmer in North Dakota; Herman A., who mar- ried Lea Lamphiear, and is engaged in cultivating his father's farm; Arthur, who ehose as his wife Miss Alma Seovell, and is also an agriculturist; Harry J., a farmer in North Dakota; and Manie, a well educated young lady, who resides with her parents.
For nine years Mr. Axtell has been Treasurer of
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the Clayton County Fire Insurance Company, of which he is now Vice-President. He is Presi- dent of the Strawberry Point Creamery, the largest concern of the kind in the state, and in this office he has served efficiently for three terms. For twenty- five years he has been connected with the Grange. In his political views he is a Demo- crat, always to be relied upon to support the measures adopted by that party. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church, which he at- tends, though not identified with any denomina- tion. He is a progressive farmer, quick to avail himself of every opportunity for increasing the value of his property, and possesses the foree of character that wins and retains friends.
UDGE OLIVER W. CRARY is an old and honored citizen of Farmersburg Township. He was born December 21, 1819, in Preston, Conn., and is the youngest son of Elisha and Abigail (Avery) Crary. His father was a native of New London County, Conn., and was born in August, 1773; he was a son of Oliver Crary, also of Connecticut. His mother was of Welsh descent and was born in 1777. Her parents, Isaac and Mercy (Williams) Avery, were born in New Lon- don County, and her father was a Colonel in the Connecticut Militia. The Crary family were for- merly from England, and came from Northumber- land as early as 1660. Peter Crary, the great- grandfather of our subject, entered land in 1680 in New London County, where the Crarys have made their home for generations. His parents made their permanent home in that county and reared a family of seven children, three of whom are living: Abbie, widow of Warren Cook, living in Connecticut; Lucy, the wife of C. S. Prentice, who makes her home in Preston, Conn., and Oliver W., our subject, the youngest of the family.
Judge Crary was born and reared on a farm, re- ceiving his early education in the distriet schools of his childhood's home, but later attended the
Plainfield Academy, where he finished his educa- tion. While there he prepared himself for a teacher. He remained at home until twenty-nine years of age, teaching during the winter months and assist- ing his father on the farm in summer. He taught his first school at the early age of sixteen years.
In 1848 our subject started out to seek a home in the far west. Hle with another young man made the journey in a buggy, going first to New Haven; from there they went to Poughkeepsie, then to Albany and through western New York, continuing their journey westward through Penn- sylvania and northeastern Ohio. At this point his partner became homesick and sold his interest in the horse and buggy to the Judge and returned to. Connectieut. The Judge, however, being more plucky, would not turn back but determined to push forward and find a suitable place to make his home. He sold the buggy and went on horseback to Iowa. Being convineed that this was the garden spot of America, he selected the land and laid out the farm on which he now resides. He went to Prairie du Chien, and buying a load of lumber, built a home during the winter, but in the spring he moved his little board shanty to the site of his present fine residence. There was not a house in sight at that time, and the nights were made hid- eous by the continual howling of wolves and other wild animals.
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