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 51
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 51
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 51
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The year after our subject's marriage he located in Farmersburg Township, where he purchased a tract of land and devoted himself to its improve- ment for six years. For a year and a-half after- ward he operated the farm and settled the estatc
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belonging to his wife's father. In 1854 he settled in Monona Township, where he has since remained and has become a very successful general farmer. He owned six hundred acres of land, and the town of Luana was laid out by him and namncd in honor of Mrs. Scott. In company with Luther Nichols, our subject organized the school district of this township. An active Republican, hic was for twenty- seven years Township Treasurer, and for ten years served as Justice of the Peace. For a period of two years he was a member of the Board of Super- visors, and has been a Mason since 1854. Hc still owns a fine and well improved farin comprising two hundred and seventy acres, which he rents, and at present he resides in the village of Luana. In 1880 lie was elected delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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T HOMAS DUNSMOOR. Four decades have passed since Mr. Dunsmoor came to Clay- ton County and settled upon the property in Cass Township which he still owns and occu- pies. He has added to thic original acrcage, cleared much of the land and erected the buildings that meet the eyes of the visitor. At one time his landed possessions aggregated three hundred acres, but a portion of this he has sold, still retaining the ownership of one hundred and eighty well improved acres. He rents his farm. and of late years has lived practically retired from active business cares, though still maintaining a general oversight of his property.
From the earliest record of the Dunsmoor family in America we find that the great-grandfather of our subject, John Dunsmoor, M. D., was born near Boston, Mass., in 1720 and in early manhood set- tled on a tract of Government land at Lunenburg, Mass., where he remained until his death, November 22, 1794. His wife, Ruth, died January 5, 1787, at the age of seventy years. He was a man of quick, nervous temperament, whose anger was easily aroused. An incident illustrating his quick tem-
per has been handed down to the present gencra- tion. One night when visiting a patient he left his horse unhitched outside the door and on leav- ing the house found that the animal had started off. He called to him to stop, but the horse not do- ing so he drew his gun and shot liim dead.
The Lunenburg farm remained in the family until a few years ago. The Doctor's son, Ebenezer, was born there and spent his entire life upon the place, dying therc August 24, 1827, at the age of seventy years. Suzannah, wife of Ebenezer, died in 1840, aged eighty-three. Hannalı, a daughter of Dr. John Dunsmoor, died April 21, 1770, at the age of fourteen years, and was the first person buried in the new graveyard at Lunenburg. Our subject's father, William, was born on the old homestead in 1787 and died November 19, 1836, aged forty-nine years. His only sister, Sukey, dicd unmarried at the age of fifty years. She was quite wealthy, owning two valuable farms. William Dunsmoor was one of several brothers, the others being, Ebenezer, a farmer, who died in Vermont; Abram, who died in the Green Mountain State; John, formerly a resident of Grafton, Vt., who died in Massachusetts; Samuel, an agriculturist, who died in the old Bay State; Thomas, Captain of the militia, who died on the old homestead, September 4, 1853; and Joseph, a farmer, who died ncar Boston.
'The family of which our subject is a member consisted of four sons and one daughter that at- tained years of maturity. The daughter, Parnell, was born in Massachusetts April 14, 1814, married Silas Ross, by whom she had three sons and two daughters, and was the first of the family to come west, the year 1851 witnessing her arrival in Bu- chanan County, Iowa. The eldest son, William, was born in Ludlow, Vt., July 1, 1818, and marricd Lucinda Litchfield, a native of Massachusetts, who died in 1874. They had six children, of whom five are now living, as follows: Ellen, wife of Dan- iel Perry, a wealthy resident of Florida; William, a carpenter; Herbert, a farmer in Clayton County; Miles, an agriculturist in Delaware County; and Abby, wife of Martin Sager, a merchant of Lamont, Iowa. William Dunsmoor came west in 1853 and settled on a farm in Delaware County just across
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the Clayton County line, where he has since re- sided. The other living brother of our subject is Joseph, whose home is on a farm in Delaware County south of his brother William's estate.
When the family left Vermont the subject of this sketch was a child of four years. He was reared to manhood on the home place in Massa- chusetts, and was only eight years of age when he was orphaned by his father's death. His cduca- tion was such as the common schools afforded, and to the information there gained he has since added by self-culture. On Thanksgiving Day in 1850 he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy L. Wetherbee, a native of Lunenburg, Mass. She was but a small child when her father died, and her mother, whose family name was Hudson, after- ward became the wife of a Mr. Litchfield.
In May, 1854, our subject came to Iowa and bought a portion of his present farm, which is lo- cated in the southwest corner of Clayton County and directly north of the farms belonging to his brothers William and Joseph. At the time of settling here there was not a single neighbor on the west for a distanec of ten miles, and indecd settlers were comparatively few through all por- tions of the township. He has lived to witness the vast improvement of the county and the de- velopment of its agricultural resources, and to this he has himself largely contributed. He has gained wealth through the exercise of energy and pru- dence, and is one of the most prosperous agricul- turists of the county.
For seven generations in the Dunsmoor family there has been one daughter and seven sons, though not all have attained years of maturity. Our sub- ject's family is no exception to the usual rule, for he has had seven sous and one daughter. At pres- ent, however, but four sons and the daughter are living. They are: Charles, a railroad engineer re- siding at Cherokee, Iowa, who is married and has six children; Frederick M., born May 26, 1855, who is married, has five living children and resides at Strawberry Point; Ellis, who was born in 1858 and died in infancy; James P., born December 16, 1862, who was educated at Upper Iowa University, is married and has two children, and makes his home at Strawberry Point; Myron W., who was
born in 1864 and died at the age of eighteen months; Orin W., who was born December 5, 1869, and died in 1877; Mary E., born in 1871, now the wife of Samuel B. Teesdel, a farmer residing in Fayette County, Iowa; and Judge T., born August 17, 1873, and educated at Upper Iowa Univer- sity.
In local affairs Mr. Dunsmoor is quite prominent, and, as every loyal citizen should, gives his sup- port to enterprises for the promotion of the inter- ests of the county and the welfare of the people. For several years he served as Trustee, and has also filled the position of School Director. Socially hic is identified with the Masonic fraternity. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Dunsmoor is a Trustee.
A MOS PEARSALL is a retired manufac- turer and capitalist whose residence is in McGregor. For a period of about forty years this gentleman has been identified with the interests of McGregor, as in the spring of 1856 he embarked in the livery business in this place, and later established the carriage works, which have been among the prominent local industries up to the present time. By the exercise of his unusually fine business qualities, Mr. Pearsall, in the legitimate line of his trade, managed to secure a comfortable fortune, and has always been known to be a man of honor and strict integrity.
Amos Pearsall, the father of our subject, was born in the Empire State and was the son of Henry Pearsall, who was of Scotch-Irish extraction and emigrated from England to America; he became one of the early settlers of New York State, and was there devoted to agricultural pursuits. Our sub- ject's father passed his entire life in the same state and there his death occurred. His wife, in her girlhood Clara Nichols, was also of English de- scent, and was a daughter of John Nichols, both natives of New York.
A. Pearsall of this narrative was born in Che- nango County, N. Y., in 1822, and in the public
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sehools near his home received his early eduea- tion. He remained under the parental roof until past his majority, when he determined to try his fortune in the west. About the year 1847 he came to the west, selling goods for the New York firm of Emmons & Pearsall, he being the junior partner. For about five years he was en- gaged in merchandising in Trumbull County, Ohio, and thenee went to Plattville, Wis., there continuing to reside until the year 1854. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Pearsall came to MeGregor, which has been his home ever since. In 1871, up to which time he was in the livery business, he formed a partnership with a Mr. Holly, under the firm name of Holly & Co., opening the McGregor Carriage Works. After some time had passed the senior partner sold out his interest and the firm subsequently became A. Pearsall & Son. This firm built up a fine trade in this part of the state, and most of the fine buggies and carriages that traverse the roads of this and adjoining counties are man- ufactured by them. Employment was furnished in this business to a large number of men, and only the best quality of work was turned out. In the spring of 1894 the business was sold, and sinee that time our subjeet has been retired. He has laid by ample means for the remainder of his life, and may justly enjoy the fruits of his former years of trial.
A pronouneed Republican, Mr. Pearsall has al- ways been active in promoting the interests of his party; he is a loyal patriot and a citizen in the best sense. He is a charter member of Beezer Lodge No. 137, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to the chapter and commandery. Moreover, he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and though never desirous of publie office, for a number of years was induced to hold the position of County Supervisor, in which he ac- quitted himself admirably.
In March, 1849, Mr. Pearsall married Miss Amelia Church, whose birth occurred in the Empire State, and who is a daughter of Billings Church and granddaughter of Richard Church, both promi- nent in the upbuilding of Chenango County, N. Y. The maiden name of Mrs. Pearsall's mother was Nancy Lander, whose birth also occurred in New
York. Two sons and two daughters have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pearsall: George, who is Vice-President of the State Savings Bank at Des Moines; Josephine, wife of J. N. Baird, of Mc- Gregor; Charles A. and Clara N., Mrs. C. J. Lewis, also of this city. In all circles, business, fraternal and social, Mr. Pearsall has the good-will and the warm friendship of all who have been thrown in contact with him in any manner, for he is a man of good qualities, genial and courteous in his treatment of his fellow-eitizens, and active in what- ever tends to promote and advance the best inter- ests of the community.
F RANCIS J. PUTZ, one of the leading busi- ness inen of Elkport, Iowa, is the junior partner in the firm of Putz & Costigan. He well deserves representation in this volume, for he is an enterprising and publie-spirited young man, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his life. He was born August 21, 1866, and is the son of John and Margaret (Balluff) Putz. They are both natives of Germany, and emigrated to the United States about 1848, landing first in New York, where they remained two years.
Jolın Putz, the father of our subject, was a cooper by trade in his native land and found employment at that occupation in the city of New York. In 1850 he determined to seek a home in the west, and with his family went to Elkader, Iowa, where he again engaged in the cooper's trade. Soon after he bought a farm of eighty aeres of land and engaged in agricultural pur- suits for three years. He then sold out and came to Elkport, where he was again engaged as a eooper for some time. He then bought two hun- dred acres of land in Elk Township, where lie made his home for fifteen years. He also has forty acres in Volga Township. He is residing at present in Elkport, and is the proprietor of a large eooper shop in that place. He was born in Germany in 1827, and his wife is a native of the same place, the year of her birth being 1836. They
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are the parents of seven children: John, Mary, Thresi; Franeis J., our subject; Henry, Agnes and Conrad.
Our. subject received a common-school educa- tion in the home of his childhood, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself. He found employment as a elerk in a dry-goods store in Elk- port, where he remained two years. At the end of that time he went into business for himself, form- ing a partnership with Mr. Costigan. Since em- barking in the mercantile business he has met with flattering suceess. He is a prominent busi- ness man of the town, intelligent and enterprising, and is widely known for his sterling integrity and upright dealings with customers and employes.
October 1, 1889, occurred the marriage of Franeis J. Putz to Miss Ellen Heiberger. This estimable lady was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, Novem- ber 21, 1869. She is one of nine children and of German descent, her parents having been born in Germany. Our subjeet and his wife are the happy parents of three bright and interesting children: Laurette, Josie and Matilda. He will give them a thorough education as soon as they become of suitable age. Mr. and Mrs. Putz are worthy mem- bers of the Catholic Church, are well respected and occupy a high position in the social cireles of Elk- port. He is an advocate of the principles of the Democratic party. He is a genial, popular gentle- man, has a pleasant family, and is a model and successful man of affairs, and has by striet integ- rity and faithful attention to business won the confidenee of all who know him. He is now serv- ing as Township Clerk.
UCIUS L. NOBLE, a prominent retired ag- riculturist of Strawberry Point, was born in the village of Alabama, in Genesee Coun- ty, N. Y., July 15, 1832. The family of which he is a worthy representative originated in England and was prominent in this country during the Colonial days. Grandfather Medad Noble was a shoemaker by trade, and was one of the devoted patriots who offered their services in the defense of
the Colonies during the dark days of the Revolu- tion.
J. F. Noble, our subject's father, was born in Richmond, N. Y., in 1804, and was a farmer by oe- eupation. With his family he eame west in 1833 and settled in Michigan, where he remained until 1846. He then eame to Clayton County, at that time considered the extreme frontier, and enter- ing a traet of Government land in Lodomillo Township, gave liis attention to its cultivation until his death in 1864. His wife, also a native of the state of New York, bore the maiden name of Martha Gray, and was born in Livingston County, being the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. At an advanced age she died in 1886, on the old homestead in Lodomillo Township.
The subject of this sketch was one of three broth- ers. L. R. is a wealthy retired farmer of Straw- berry Point, and is a stockholder in the Strawberry Point Bank. F. G. is living on the old homestead. Our subjeet was fourteen years of age when the family came to Iowa, and soon after he began the active career of an agriculturist. Commeneing the cultivation of a farm in Lodomillo Township, he continued thus engaged until 1882, when, having accumulated a competence, he retired from aetive work. He has since resided in Strawberry Point, but still owns his fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres, which he rents to reliable tenants. About twenty-five years ago he received a very severe fall from a wagon, which produced paraly- sis, and which has rendered him unable to do manual labor. His intelleet, however, is as keen as in the days of early manhood, and he retains a deep interest in everything pertaining to the wel- fare of his fellow-citizens. He is a stockholder and Director in the Strawberry Point Bank, and is recognized as one of the leading men in the place.
The lady who in 1858 became the wife of our subject was Miss Elizabeth E. Kidner, a native of Ohio and daughter of Amos Kidner, one of the pioneers of that state. Two daughters have blessed their union. The elder, Cora A., is a grad- uate of Lenox College, in Hopkinton, Iowa, and the wife of E. B. Porter, a merchant of Delhi, this state. The younger, Emma D., a graduate of
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Upper Iowa University of Fayette, was for many years a teacher in the public schools, and is now the wife of R. E. Friars, of Washington.
Since the organization of the Republican party Mr. Noble has advocated the principles for which it stands. For several years he officiated as Town- ship Clerk, but with that exception has held no public office. He keeps fully informed eoneerning the great issues of the age, and, being well posted upon topics of importanee, is an interesting eon- versationalist. His wife and younger daughter belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Porter is identified with the Baptist denomi- nation. While he is not a church member, he has led a strictly moral and upright life, and occupies a high place in the regard of the people.
D IEDRICH KREGEL, a prominent eitizen and successful agriculturist located on sec- tion 14, Garnavillo Township, is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born September 17, 1832, in Chillicothe, Ohio, and came to Iowa in 1846 with his parents, settling in Garnavillo Township. He is the son of Gehard and Margaret (Bruns) Kregel, bothi natives of Hanovor, Germany. The father was born in 1790, and the mother in 1797. Our subject's father was a farmer in the Old Country, and in 1812 went to the Russian War, in which he served for three years, driving a team, hauling provisions and ammunition the first year, and for the remaining two years carried a musket. He emigrated to the United States in 1832 and landed in New York August 3 of the same year, where he remained a short time. From there he went to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained about eight months. Leaving there, he, in company witlı a man by the name of Hill, went to Mobile, Ala. He spent two years in that state and while there helped dig a new canal. Returning to Ohio, he made Cincinnati his home for a short time and
worked in the rolling mills. From there he inoved to New Bremen, Ohio, and engaged in farming and work on the canal at that place for ten years. In 1846 he came to this county, when it was a wild uneultivated territory, and lived in an old log cabin about ten years; he then built the residenee in which his son lives. He lived there until the time of his death, which sad event took place in 1886, his wife having passed away four years be- fore.
Gehard Kregel was the father of six children, two girls and four boys: Margaret, the wife of D. H. Meyer, of Garnavillo, both deceased; Henry, who married Mary Petering in 1851, and now lives in Nebraska City, Neb .; John, who married Lena Kaiser and is a prosperous farmer on section 14, this township; Diedrieli, our subjeet; William, who has been twice married; and Annie, who married Henry Wilker in 1857, and died in 1860. Her husband is living in Read Township, this county. William was first married to Catherine Kregel, and after her death he married Maggie Meyer; he is now living in Garnavillo, and has two children, one boy and one girl.
Our subject was fourteen years of age when his parents came to Iowa and settled on the farm where he now resides. July 16, 1856, Mr. Kregel was united in marriage with Miss Helena Arntjen. She was a native of Germany, and was born in Oldenburg, February 18, 1833. Her father, Deid- rich Arntjen, was married twice, she being the only child by the first marriage. His first wife's maiden name was Helena Bruns. He had two chil- dren by his second wife and they are both living in Grant County, Wis. Mrs. Kregel's father and stepmother both died in Clayton County in 1855 of black cholera. Her own mother died in the Old Country. Our subjeet and wife became the par- ents of nine children. George, the husband of Clara Anna Petering, lives in Nebraska City, Neb .; Henry died of consumption in the winter of 1891; Alvin is living at home; Louisa, who married Au- gust Tangeman, died at the age of twenty-four years, leaving one ehild; Emma married Christian Schmidt, who is the proprietor of a large flouring mill at Elkader; Annie is living at home; Matilda died when but three years of age; Amanda died
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when one and one-half years old; and Cornelia is at home.
After his father's death our subject took charge of the present farm, which consists of one hundred and sixty aeres of highly cultivated land on sec- tion 14, Garnavillo Township. He also owns eighty aeres of fine timber land just south of the farm on which he lives. Mr. Kregel's educational advantages were very poor, not having the oppor- tunity of attending school but one and one-half years, the rest of his time being spent on the farm. He is well posted however in the issues of the day and takes a deep interest in the welfare of the township and is one of the representative citizens. He and his excellent wife are both members of the Lutheran Church. Our subject politically is a be- liever in and a supporter of the Republican party.
H ON. JAMES NEWBERRY, editor of the Strawberry Point Press, was born in Orange County, N. Y., May 26, 1827 His father, John Newberry, was a son of Jolin, Sr., also a native of the Empire State, and had a brother James, who served in the War of 1812. In 1829 he removed with his family to Ohio and settled in Lorain County, where he died in 1851. His wife, whose maiden name was Sally Fancher, was born in New London, Conn., and died in Ohio April 19, 1876.
The subject of this sketch is the third among five brothers. William, the eldest member of the family circle, went to Michigan in 1835 and there engaged in farming. He was a man of considera- ble prominence in his locality and held a number of offices of honor and trust. His death occurred in that state in 1890. Sylvanus, a mechanic by trade, died in Algiers, La., in 1849. David is en- gaged in the fruit business at Mt. Dora, Fla. John still remains on the old Ohio homestead.
From the age of two years until twenty-eight
our subjeet was a resident of the Buckeye State. In the schools of Norwalk he received an excellent education that fitted him for successful business life. Coming to Clayton County, Iowa, in 1855 he settled upon a farm about four miles southeast of Strawberry Point and there he engaged in agri- eultural pursuits until 1876. While living on the farm he filled a number of local offices, among them being that of Supervisor. In 1868 he was elected to represent this distriet in the State Leg- islature, which responsible position he filled with efficiency for one term.
The marriage of Mr. Newberry occurred in 1852 and united him with Miss Maria H. Westfall, a native of New York. They are the parents of three sons and two daughters. The eldest, Byron W., was born in Ohio, September 1, 1853, and in 1875 was graduated from Upper Iowa Univer- sity at Fayette. The following year he was grad- uated from the Law Department of Iowa State University, and in February, 1877, commenced the practice of law in Strawberry Point. He has built up a large practice in which, together with the real-estate business, he has amassed a fortune. In 1883 he aided in organizing the Strawberry Point State Bank, of which from the first he has been Viec-President, and in fact is also acting Presi- dent, as the gentleman holding that position is not a resident of the county.
The second son, Frank J., is one of the Profes- sors in Iowa State University, and is a skillful physician and a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear and throat. He has traveled extensively in this and other countries and is a very able and eult- ured gentleman. The third son of our subject, Charles, is a graduate of the Law Department of the State University and is associated with his brother in the law and real-estate business. The elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Newberry is Mary E., wife of H. M. Kingsley, a business man residing in Washington, D. C. The younger daughter, Kate G., is a teacher in the Strawberry Point schools.
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