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 55
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 55
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 55
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Receiving a fair education in the distriet schools, our subject early became self-supporting, and learn- ing the trade of a carpenter he followed that oc-
eupation for about twenty years. In 1852 he re- moved from New York to Michigan, where he so- journed two years. From there he went to Roek- ford, Ill., and thence in 1855 came to Strawberry Point, Iowa. Until 1873 he followed his trade, but during that year opened a general store, and for the fourteen ensuing years he was one of the most successful and prosperous merchants of the place. Misfortune, however, came to him. On the night of November 8, 1887, his store was burned to the ground with all its contents, entail- ing a heavy loss. Since that time Mr. Seofield has not been actively engaged in business, but leads a quiet and retired life.
In 1858 Mr. Seofield married Miss Harriett, daughter of Lorin Noble. Her father was born in. New York State in 1802, and there engaged in the lumber business. In 1854 he came to Iowa and settled upon a farın in Delaware County. He at- tained an advanced age, dying in April, 1893. His wife, whose maiden name was Fannic Board- man, was born .in Onondaga County, N. Y., and was a well educated lady. She taught the first school in the village of Napoli, Cattaraugus Coun- ty, N. Y. In November, 1887, she passed from earth aged eighty years. Her family consisted of four sons and three daughters. Harrison, who fol- lowed the dual occupation of farmer and merchant, died in Edgewood, Iowa, in Mareh, 1893. Tim- othy is a retired agriculturist. Dwight, who dur- ing the late war enlisted as a soldier in the Twenty- first Iowa Infantry, died in hospital during his serviee. Emily married Martin Richard, a retired farmer of Brush Creek, Iowa. Horace is engaged in the stoek business in Montana. Susan, now living in Edgewood, is the widow of Milo Russell.
Mr. and Mrs. Scofield were the parents of three children. The eldest, Orissa, died of diphtheria in in 1864 at the age of three years. Neola, who was born in September, 1865, was united in marriage in April, 1888, with George Steinhilber, and they have one child, Ethel. The only son, Fred W., was born April 20, 1868, and received an excellent education, graduating from Upper Iowa Uni- versity at Fayette. For some time he was em- ployed as a bookkeeper, but on the 1st of No- vember, 1889, went to North Dakota and was ap-
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pointed Deputy Auditor of Ransom County. This position lie was filling at the time he was taken fatally ill. August 31, 1893, he passed away. He was young, and had a bright future before liim. His death was mourned by a host of friends and was a crushing blow to his devoted parents, whose pride he was. His musical ability was of a supe- rior order, and at the time of his demise he was a member of the First North Dakota Regiment Band.
Politieally a Republican, Mr. Seofield has been chosen to fill many offiees of honor and trust. For six years he has been Justiee of the Peaee, in which capacity, as in his other publie offiees, he has ren- dered excellent service. In 1855 he was made a Mason, and three years afterward beeame one of the charter members of the Strawberry Point Lodge, of the original members of which he is the only survivor. For seven years he was Master of the lodge. He is a Royal Arch Mason and is promi- nent in the fraternity. In the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he has filled all the chairs, and has served several terms in many of the offices. He is a man who numbers as his friends all with whom social or business relations have brought him into contaet. The principles of lionor and uprightness, which have ever guided him in his dealings with his fellow-men, have won for him the confidence of the people of the town and county.
M ILO P. CLARK. The name which heads this sketeh is one long and worthily iden- tified with Wagner Township, and no history of this immediate vicinity would be com- plete without a biographical review of the life of Mr. Clark. From a perusal of this necessarily brief and incomplete record, it will be seen that from earliest youth to the present time his days have not been uselessly or idly spent. He is a man of more than ordinary energy and foree of eharaeter, and one mueh respected in business circles.
Our subjeet was born in Delaware County, N. Y., November 30, 1824, and is the son of Joseph
A. and Eleanor (Foster) Clark. The father of our subject was a native of Schenectady County, the above state, whence he removed when quite young to Pine Hill. There he was married and spent the active years of his life in farm pursuits and as a dealer in lumber. He died aged eighty-three years in Bennettsville, N. Y.
The paternal grandfather of our subjeet, Simon Clark, was born in one of the New England States, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Allen. They were very worthy and respected peo- ple and departed this life while residing on Pine Hill, when past their eightieth year.
Mrs. Eleanor Clark was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., and was the daughter of Nathan and Eleanor (Wilson) Foster, also born in the Empire State. She reared a family of thirteen children and died when in the sixty-eighth year of her age in her native state.
The subject of this sketch was edueated in the district sehool near his home, and remained under the parental roof until attaining his sixteenth year, when he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a earpenter. April 28, 1848, he eame to this state by the water route and followed his trade in Du- buque for the succeeding two years, when, having caught the gold fever, he went overland to Cali- fornia. He remained in the Golden State twelve nonthis, and not finding things just as he had ex- peeted, returned to his home in this state by way of the Isthmus of Panama.
In 1852 Mr. Clark rented what is now his pres- ent fine estate, and ereeted there a rude log cabin in which he lived with his good wife until their means would permit of their building a more sub- stantial and commodious structure, which they did seven years later. In this the family made their home for five years, when Mr. Clark built his pres- ent comfortable residence. Our subject has been an active, hard-working man, devoting muell time to financial matters, and now having achieved sue- cess, is enjoying life in a most comfortable way. He and his wife, who has been his eompanion for forty-five years, oeeupy a cozy home where they are surrounded by many warm friends.
Prior to his trip to California, in 1849, Mr. Clark was married to Mrs. Mary A. Lundbeck, who
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was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 24, 1820, and was the daughter of Jacob and Amie (Loder) Lundbeck, natives of New Jersey, whenee they re- moved to Ohio in a very early day. By a previous marriage our subject's wife became the mother of two children, Hannah and Joseph A., both of whom are married.
To Mr. and Mrs. Clark there have been granted the following named children: Jacob, Mary and Seth. The last named married Anna Embertson, and is living on the old homestead, of which he has the entire charge. The original of this sketch since 1861 has voted with the Republican party. He is very popular with his fellow-townsmen, for many years was Justiee of the Peace, and in fact has held most of the township offices. Mr. Clark comes of a family well known in this eounty, and he himself has perpetuated the excellent record of the Clark family. He is a well read and intel- ligent man, and ever since coming here has prac- ticed medieine.
H ERMAN IHIM is engaged in general mer- ehandising in Guttenberg, and is also an extensive dealer in grain, being owner of the elevator at this place. Though a native of Germany, it is over forty years since his lot was east in with the inhabitants of this favored land and in the welfare of this his adopted county he has taken a prominent part, in every way further- ing her interests. During the late war he mani- fested his patriotism by going to the front in de- fense of the Union, winning honors in the scrviee and participating in a number of engagements.
A native of Baden, Germany, Mr. Ihm's birth occurred in 1831, and his father, whose Christian name was William, was also born in the Fatherland, where his death occurred in 1870 at the good old age of seventy years. Our subject's mother, who before her marriage was Walburga Herrmann, also died in Germany, when her son Herman was still an infant. The early years of the latter passed un-
eventfully and he received a more than ordinarily good education, as he learned not only his mother tongue, but acquired a good knowledge of Frenel and became proficient in the English language.
It was in the year 1852 that Mr. Ihm bade adieu to his native land, sailing for America. On land- ing in New York City he spent some time in that metropolis, from where he proceeded to Belleville, Ill., there remaining for several months. In the fall of 1854 he came to Iowa, and started in the hotel business in Guttenberg, to which he devoted his energies for the succeeding two years. His next move was to ercet a good store building, in which, when completed, he opened a general mer- chandise line of goods and the same year began his dealing in grain. He also shipped eattle to some extent, for a number of ycars sending car loads di- rcet to Chicago. These several lines of business he has continued to follow and he has been blessed with success owing to his business enterprise and his thrifty qualitics.
In 1861 Mr. Ihm volunteered as a member of Company K, Seventeenth Missouri Infantry, under General Sigel, and with his regiment took part in a number of important battles and engagements. For merit and strict attention to his duties he was promoted to be First Lieutenant of his company, and would have continued in the service until the close of hostilities had he not been compelled to resign on account of sickness, for which he received an honorable discharge in 1862. Returning to this place our subject resumed his business interests and in time recovered his health.
Our subject holds membership with several local societies, being a member of Prairie Laport Lodge No. 147, A. F. & A. M., of Guttenberg Lodge No. 126, I. O. O. F., and of Jefferson Lodge No. 129, A. O. U. W. He still shows his patriotism and love of country by being a member of the Grand Army of the Republie, having served as the first Com- mander of the post at this place and at the present time aeting as Adjutant.
In 1867 Mr. Ihm was married to Miss Caroline Koelitz, whose birth occurred in Germany. Their marriage has been graeed by a family of three sons and a daughter: Albert, who is now living in St. Paul, Minn .; Emily, at home, Henrietta, who is the
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· wife of William Zimmerman of this eity, and Carl. The family occupy a pleasant and commodious residence in the city and are received in the best circles of the town, being elassed among its most influential and popular eitizens.
ONRAD SCHNEPF, one of Elkport's most influential and wide-awake business men and prominent eitizens, is a native of Ger- many. He was born May 31, 1857, and is the son of Henry and Magdelene (Deckert) Sehnepf. He is one of four children, three boys and one girl, two of whom are living, our subjeet and one brother. After his father's death our subject emi- grated to America with his mother, in 1867, being only ten years of age at the time. They located in Dubuque, where they remained for one year. From there they went to Jefferson Township, Clayton County, but only remained for a short time, going next to Guttenberg, where they spent another year, and at last settled in Elkport in 1869.
Our subjeet was educated in the public schools of Elkport, and at the age of fourteen went to work on a farm and for some time lived an out- door life, attending to the various duties of a farmer boy. But tiring of that laborious oecupa- tion Mr. Schnepf returned to Elkport and went to work in a cigar factory where he learned the trade. He continued in that employment for several years and then found a situation as clerk in a store of general merchandise, Mr. Tiede being tlie proprietor. He afterward engaged with Gar- ber & Son and continued with them until 1880, when he went into business for himself. He at first embarked in the furniture and hardware busi- ness, in which he was very suceessful, and as his trade increased he added to his stoek agricultural implements, and now owns one of the largest gen- eral stores in East Elkport. He is also proprietor of a large saw mill, it being the only one of the
kind in this vicinity, and is doing an extensive business in that line.
Mr. Sehnepf was united in marriage with Miss Melinda Stiefel, April 25, 1881. She is a daughter of Christian and Mary (Mueller) Stiefel, and was born February 9, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Sehnepf were the parents of six children, five of whom are liv- ing, namely: Henry, Alma, Lizzie, Arthur and Elsie. Our subjeet has twiee been burned out since starting in business; being plueky and ener- getic he did not beeomne discouraged, but boldly started out again; by his untiring efforts and good business management he has attained suecess as a merehant and has won the esteem and confidence of his many patrons, making for himself a host of ' true and firm friends.
Politically a Republican, our subjeet is inter- ested in local advancement, and is numbered among the leading men and substantial citizens of East Elkport and vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Selinepf attend the Lutheran Church. Mr. Sehnepf is ever ready to take an active part in any busi- ness undertaking or enterprise that will result profitably to the development of Elkport, and has been a prominent factor in the progress of the city.
H ERMAN KATSCHKOWSKY, one of the citizens of prominence, wealth and influ- ence, whose home is upon a large and finely equipped farm in Boardman Township, Clay- ton County, bears the reputation of being one of the most sagacious, practical and progressive of the farmers and stockmen of his neighborhood. He is one of the solid moneyed men of the county, and rightly attributes his prosperity to elose atten- tion to business, to thrifty and economieal man- agement, and to the judieious methods that have characterized his manner of eondueting agricultural operations. Although he lias resided on his pres- ent property but a comparatively few years, he has succeeded in bringing the land under good
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cultivation and has the farm well supplied withi buildings for every needed purpose.
The parents of our subject, Ludwig and Au- gusta (Taddy) Katschkowsky, were born in Riesen- kirch, Germany, and emigrated to this country, bc- coming residents of Iowa and residing in Elkport until they died. Herman was born in Riesen- kirch March 22, 1857, and came alone to the United States, taking passage on a steamer at Bremen and landing at Baltimore after a voyage of about thir- teen days. From that city he went direct to Chi- cago, reaching there with but $8 in his posses- sion. For four weeks he worked for his board, and then was employed by the month. Soon, · however, lie removed to Beloit, Wis., and near that place hired out on a farm, receiving $6 per month in return for his services. One year later he came to Iowa, being sixteen years old when he settled in Clayton County. His first employment was that of "grabbing" and clearing the land, and he also worked in the harvest fields. From Iowa he went to Missouri, where he spent a year, going thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there to Minnesota, where he was also employed in har- vesting. The ensuing year found him at Elkader, and from that city he went to Cleveland, Ohio, to meet his mother and step-father, who had just crossed the ocean from their native land. With a brother he worked on a farm near Chicago for a short time, but the following year came back to Clayton County, where for one season he worked by the day and month. For eleven years follow- ing he worked in a brewery in Elkader.
While a resident of Elkader, at the age of twenty-three years, Mr. Katschkowsky was united in marriage with Miss Paulina Schmidt, who was born in Clayton County and is a daughter of J. B. Schmidt, whose sketch is presented on another page of this volume. They have had six children, of whom four are living, all at home, viz .: George, Fritz, William and Carrie. Our subject continued to reside in Elkader until 1885, when he removed to his present property. lying in Boardman Town- ship. The farm consists of two hundred and forty acres, and as above stated, contains first-class im- provements. The land is devoted to general farm- ing, and in connection with the raising of cereals,
our subject also makes a specialty of stock-raising, in which department of agriculture he is meeting with success. He is a man who is loyally de- voted to the interests of his adopted country, and the Union has no citizen more faithful than he. In political principles he believes in the Democ- racy, and never fails to cast his ballot at the elec- tions in support of its candidates. With his fam- ily he holds membership in the Evangelical Luth- eran Church.
A USTIN THYNE, a prominent farmer of Sperry Township, Clayton County, Iowa, is a native of Ireland, having been born in Milltown-Malbay, County Clare, in the year 1849, and is the son of Austin and Jane (Dixon) Thyne. There were eleven children in this fam- ily, five of whom are living, three boys and two girls. The father of our subject died in the Old Country at the age of ninety-three, and the mother emigrated to the United States, where she made her home until her death, which occurred in the year 1883. The maternal grandparents of our subject lived to the good old age of one hundred and one, and one hundred and two, respectively. The paternal grandmother lived to be ninety-three years old.
Our subject emigrated to the United States in the year 1865, his brother Patrick and another brother following five years later. Mr. Thyne sailed from Queenstown and was twenty days crossing the ocean; lie did not have a very pleas- ant voyage, as he was sea sick all the way. He landed in Boston, Mass., where he worked for about four months on the railroad, wlien he left the east and went to Oshkosh, making the journey in three days and three nights. On his arrival in Wisconsin he went to work on a farm for a Pen- sylvania Dutchman. He remained here for about two months and then came to Iowa, where he now
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resides. Our subjeet worked for different parties for six or seven years. He and Pat O'Laughlan purchased eighty acres of land in partnership; they eultivated and improved the same, and in 1875 our subject bought out his partner, and by hard labor and industry soon had a valuable and pay- ing farm.
Mr. Thyne was united in marriage with Miss Mary Henry, daughter of Alexander and Annie (Carr) Henry, January 22, 1877. Her parents are living on a farm about two miles and one-half from her home. Mr. and Mrs. Thyne are the par- ents of nine children. Jenny, the oldest, is six- teen years of age; Annie is fourteen, Austin, twelve; Willie, ten; Robert, eight; Isabel, six; Emmet, four; Walter, two, and Grace is the baby. Politieally, our subject is a Demoerat, but generally votes for the best man regardless of polities. In his religious be- lief he is a Catholic. The two sisters of our subject reside in Australia. Our subject is loyal and true to his adopted country, and is ever ready to do his whole duty as a liberal spirited and progressive citizen.
D AVID H. TAYLOR. Clayton County has few farms so attractive to the passer-by as that owned and oeeupied by Mr. Taylor. Situated in the suburbs of Strawberry Point, a portion of it within the corporate limits of the town, it possesses all the advantages of city life, with the convenienees of the country. The resi- dence is a model of comfort and elegance, modern in arehitecture and furnished in a manner indi- cating the refined tastes of the inmates. The farm consists of one hundred and ninety aeres, contain- ing all the improvements of a first-elass estate and operated by tenants, Mr. Taylor having retired from aetive business cares.
The father of our subjeet, Joseph Taylor, was born in New Hampshire May 7, 1796, and removed thence to Massachusetts, spending some years in the vicinity of Boston. At the age of eighteen he
went to New York and from there in 1856 eame to Iowa, settling in Fayette County seven miles west of Strawberry Point. In 1865 he retired from agricultural work and eame to this eity, where he died, January 15, 1874. A man of more than ordinary ability, he was influential in the commu- nity and held many local offices. The family ad- hered to the Presbyterian faith, but late in life he joined the Congregational Church.
Our subjeet's mother, Jane Bennie, was born in Seotland May 15, 1799. Her father, Archibald Bennie, was a native of Sterling, Scotland, and while serving as a soldier in the British army was sent to Ameriea during the Revolution. At the first opportunity he deserted the British and es- eaped into the territory of the Colonial army, though so far as known he did not take up arms against his native land. He turned his attention to farming, being for a time in the employ of a Mr. Wadsworth, who was one of the original settlers of the Genesee Valley in New York. At the close of the war he returned to Seotland and there mar- ried. One ehild had been born of his union at the time of his second coming to America. This time he settled in Cortland County, N. Y., where the greater portion of his remaining years were spent, although his death occurred in Oswego County. Mrs. Jane Taylor died in Clayton Coun- ty April 10, 1872.
Josephi Taylor had but one brother, Charles, who went to Beloit, Wis., there speeulated in real estate and at the time of his death was well-to-do. Mrs. Jane Taylor had five brothers, as follows: David Bennie, a prominent physician, who died in Allegany County, N. Y .; John, an agriculturist who died in Oswego County, N. Y .; Archibald and James, who in youth enlisted in the regular army to fight the Indians in Florida, but were never heard of afterward; and William, also a soldier in the regular army and a recruiting officer during the Civil War.
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In the parental family there were four sons and one daughter. George D., born June 2, 1826, has been a life-long agrieulturist and now lives in Preble, Cortland County, N. Y. Eliza J., born Jan- uary 19, 1829, married John P. Squires in Preble, N. Y., eame west in 1855 and settled in Fay-
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ette County, Iowa; Mr. Squires died at his home near Strawberry Point and his widow is living in Iowa City with her daughter, who is the wife of Dr. F. J. Newberry, a professor in Iowa State University. Hamilton B., born January 5, 1832, is a graduate of the Albany (N. Y.) State Normal School; he taught school in New York State and Indianapolis, Ind., but subsequently went to Min- nesota, where he introduced into the schools of that state a new system of books for a New York house. He became proprietor of a town in that state, but later came to Iowa and resided upon a farm in Fayette County for some time. After- ward he engaged in the agricultural implement business in Strawberry Point. In 1869 and 1870 he was a member of the State Legislature and was always prominent in public affairs. In the Con- gregational Church he served as Deacon and was also greatly interested in Sunday-school work. In 1866 he married Miss Marian Babcock, a native of Vermont and daughter of a wealthy farmer of Fayette County. He died October 9, 1879, lcav- ing one daughter, Jessie E., who, with her mother, lives in Strawberry Point. Our subject's brother Jolın was born June 3, 1834, and received a good education in Cortland Academy, in Homer, N. Y. During the gold excitement he went to Pike's Peak and is now in the mining business at Butte City, Mont.
The youngest member of the family circle is the subject of this sketch, who was born in Cortland County, N. Y., October 14, 1837. His education was received in the Cortland Academy of Homer, N. Y., but his attention was devoted principally to farm work. In 1856 he came west with his fa- ther, with whom he was extensively engaged in the stock business. In 1865 he settled upon the place where he now lives, and since that ycar he has devoted considerable attention to raising stock, in which he has met with flattering success. He has been one of the most extensive breeders of Hol- stein cattle in the state and is a member of the Holstein Breeding Association of America.
Going to Colorado in 1891, Mr. Taylor spent two years at Greeley, where he still owns valuable property. In the spring of 1893 he returned to his beautiful home in Clayton County, and here
he has since lived retired from active work. In addition to this property and that in Colorado, he owns valuable land in Nebraska and Dakota. He is one of the stockholders in the Strawberry Point Creamery, the largest concern of the kind in the state. Politically le supports Republican doctrines, and socially holds membership with the Masonic fraternity.
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