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 64
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 64
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 64
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The early years of Henry G. were passed in Fayette County, and he acquired a good knowledge of agricultural pursuits on the old homestead, giv- ing his assistance to his father in operating the
farm. He pursued his studies in the common schools of the neighborhood, after which it was his privilege to attend the Decorah Institutc, which is located at Decorah, Winneshiek County, this state, where lie continued his studies for three years. In 1887 he began his business career by clerking in the drug store operated by Bayless & Hagensick. During this time he studied to be- come a pharmacist, and secured a diploma from the State Board of Pharmacy on the completion of a required course and after passing a strict ex- amination. The same year lie took charge of the Elkader Drug Company of this place, which posi- tion he held until October, 1892. The State Bank of Elkader was then organized and he was offered the position of Cashier, which lie accepted, having held the post up to the present time. Being a young man of great ability, he has shown himself to be fully capable of discharging the duties of this position, and by his genial and affable manner makes many friends and customers for the bank. His home is in this city, where lie is received in the best social circles. Though a young man, hie has considerable general business experience and manifests great sagacity and good judgment in dealing with financial matters.
OHN SCHMALFELD, a prominent farmer and a breeder of cattle and hogs in Clay- ton County, makes his home on section 17, Farmersburg Township. He was born on the 14th of March, 1817, in Mecklenberg, Ger- many, and was reared to manhood in that coun- try. He is the son of John and Eliza (Neimann) Schmalfeld, both of whom were natives of Ger- many and. never removed from the Fatherland. The father of our subject was a tiller of the soil in that country, and he also served in the Ger- man army for four years. The parents are both deceased. There were eight children born to this couple, only three of whom survive: John, our
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subjeet; Joachim, who is living at the age of seventy-seven years; and Christopher, aged seven- ty-five years.
The subject of this biography eame to this eoun- try in the year 1852, and after being on the water for fifty-three days landed in the city of New Or- leans, and subsequently came to Iowa and settled in Clayton County. Not one of his old neigh- bors that were here upon his arrival are now liv- ing. The territory into which he moved was then nothing more than a dense wilderness, but in the forty-two years that he has resided here he has seen the great change that the state of Iowa has undergone. He was, as were the great ma- jority of the people at that time, quite poor, and lived in a "straw-thatched hut," but by eeaseless labor he has acquired an estate consisting of one hundred and ninety acres of land, one hundred and forty of which are now under cultivation.
On Christmas Day, 1852, Mr. Sehmalfeld was united in marriage with Miss Mary Wendt, a daughter of Joachim and Anna (Kohn) Wendt, both of whom are natives of Germany, as was also the daughter. Five children blessed this union, only one of whom is now living. He is named John after his father, and was born April 10, 1861. He was reared on the farm in this town- ship and attended the distriet sehool here as well as the one at MeGregor, and thus had the advan- tage of both a German and an English education. The parents were both members of the Lutheran Chureh.
Mr. Schmalfeld was married the second time. Miss Lizzie Henning became his companion for life. Iler parents were both natives of Germany, and her mother's maiden name was Katie Sehulte. The daughter was born in this county on the 28th of February, 1868, and was educated in a Ger- man and English sehool. She is the mother of two children, one of whom is deceased. The one living is Arno John Christopher. The mother is an earnest worker in the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Sehmalfeld is considered upright and hon- orable in all of his dealings with his fellow-men, is straightforward and true-hearted, and is moral in the truest degree. He is a Demoerat in politics, is apt and logieal in his views relative to publie
matters, and is looked upon as one of the solid men of Clayton County. He is one whose enter- prise is a boon to any eity, in that he prevents it from becoming indifferent to those improvements which are the pivot wheel about which advanee- ment revolves. He is hearty and hale, and enjoys life at the age of four-score years.
N ICHOLAS HOFER. Of the citizens of Marion Township, Clayton County, few are known so well, and none more favor- ably, than the subject of this sketeh, who has re- sided here sinee 1858. During this long period he has made many warm friends who hold him in the highest esteem for his integrity of character and genial disposition. He is pre-eminently a self- made man and is now residing on an estate com- prising one hundred and ninety-five well eulti- vated aeres.
Our subjeet, like many of the best residents of this township, was born in Switzerland in the year 1846. He is the son of Samuel and Magdalene (Baumgardner) Hofer, who were also natives of that country. Nicholas, accompanied by his mother, eanie to America in 1858, landing in New York City, where they remained for a short time and then made their way to this western state and lo- cated in Marion Township, with whose interests they have been identified since that time. Young Nicholas first purchased a tract of forty aeres and began his career as an independent farmer. He has met with more than ordinary success in the prosecution of his calling and has now a finely improved homestead of nearly two hundred aeres. He is now taking the world easy, and though he still has his farm under his management, does little work himself and is living in peace and content- ment, enjoying the fruits of his earlier labors.
Mr. Hofer was married, in 1865, to Miss Lizzie Sutter, who was also a native of Switzerland and
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was born in 1851. By her union with our subject there were born twelve children, namely: Pauline, John, Louisa, Bertha, Rosa, Samuel, Lena, Fred- die, Benjamin, Mary, Leodia and Annie. They are all being given the advantages of a good education, and are bright and intelligent in the extreme. Mr. Hofer is a member of the Dunkard Church, and is identified with the Democratic party in politics.
The father of our subject departed this life in his native land. He was a man greatly respected in his neighborhood and was a true Christian gen- tleman. He was the father of two children besides our subject, Benjamin and Magdalene.
OSEPH SCHNEIDER. Prominent among the citizens of Clayton County who have re- ceived at the hands of the people a recog- nition of their sterling worth and ability is the subject of this biographical sketch. He is a self- made man in every respect and has held numer- our positions of trust and honor during the years that are past and gone. The parents of our sub- ject were Mick and Rena (Baumgardner) Schnei- der, natives of Switzerland. They never emi- grated from their native land. Five children were born to them, Joseph, John, Jacob, Wolrick and Mary.
Joseph Schneider was born in Switzerland, Jan- uary 6, 1827. He was married there in 1860 to Miss Mary Pfarrer, a daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Marti) Pfarrer, who were both natives of Switzerland. Mrs. Schneider was born at the same place in 1838. The following children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Schneider, Josie, Rachel, George S., Rosa, Louisa, Louie, Fred and Celcia.
Our subject emigrated to America in the year 1855, and after a long voyage landed in New York City, where he remained for a short time, when he came to Clayton County, Iowa, where he and his two brothers purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which they worked for six years, when our subject sold his interest and bought
forty acres. This he cultivated for six years and then disposed of it and purchased one hundred and fifty acres of his present homestead, on which he now resides. He has since increased it to eight hundred and ninety acres.
Mr. Schneider was School Director of this town- ship for five years. He is a member of the Dunk- ard Church and is a helpful and earnest citizen, interested in the advancement of public affairs. In politics he is a solid Democrat, and votes his party ticket with a firin belief in the correctness of its policy.
This in brief is an outline sketch of one of Clayton County's highly respected citizens. IIe came herc when the county was in its early in- fancy, and has seen it grow to its present propor- tions. Its success and prosperity are in a great mcasure due to such men, who like Mr. Schneider have an abiding faith in the future development of this great state, and who are not slow to urge and assist in every possible manner the advance- ment of its interests by inviting capital, enterprise and emigration to find a home within the borders of Clayton County.
N J. A. MUELLER, a prominent and wealthy physician and surgeon of Dyersville, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, September 8, 1844. He is a son of John Gregor and A. Mary Mueller. The father was an extensive farmer, as well as one of the wealthiest citizens of liis lo- cality, therefore our subject was reared in ease and affluence, having no cares upon his young mind, save those pertaining to liis school life. His edu- cation was of the most liberal kind, having been obtained in the leading schools of his native place, and at a more subsequent period he was sent to Namur, in Belgium, where he prosecuted his studies for a timc. He then returned to his home, where his literary cducation was completed in his seventeenth year. Not content with this, he finally concluded to take a course in physiology, after which he took up his medical studies in Ger-
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many and France, graduating in medical science at the early age of twenty-four years.
After spending somc time in travel through the different parts of Europe, Mr. Mueller came to the United States in June of 1868, where he soon after commenced the practice of his chosen profes- sion at Luxemburg, in this county. There he met with marked success and built up a lucrative prae- tice, but in 1875, wishing to enlarge his ficld, he removed to New Vienna, in this county, where his' fame as a successful practitioner spread far and near. Our subject remained here until 1889, dur- ing whichi time lie took a post-graduate course at the Rush Mcdieal College at Chicago, as well as graduating from the full college course in March, 1886. In 1889 he removed his place of residence to Dyersville, where he has since continued his large and constantly increasing practice.
In 1869 Dr. Mueller was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Wernke, who was born in this coun- ty, but was of German descent. To them were born eight children, five of whom are now living. J. A. G., who is the oldest, was born August 3, 1871, at Luxemburg, in this county. His early cduca- tion was received in the public schools of Du- buque County and at Prairie du Chien, Wis. He later took a commercial course at Bayless College in Dubuque. In the fall of 1889 he entered the Medical Department of Iowa University at Iowa City, graduating March 9, 1892. At the end of this tinc the Doctor formed a partnership with his father for the practice of his profession under the name of N. J. A. Mueller & Son, and is a rising young practitioner. The other children are young- er, and are now being cducated.
Dr. Mueller, Sr., is a member of three medical associations, namely, the Dubuque County, the Cedar Valley and the Iowa State American Medi- cal Associations. He is also Examiner for the Ro- man Catholic Mutual Protection Association, and is a prominent member of the Catholic Church and a zcalous worker in that faith. Politically he is a member of the Democracy. The son is a mem- ber of the Dubuque County, Cedar Valley and the Iowa State Associations with his father, and is also connected with the Catholic Church, and casts his vote for the candidates of the Democratic party.
These gentlemen are progressive citizens of their town and county, influential in all matters con- nected with public interests, and enjoy the es- teem of all with whom they are connected in busi- ness, as well as the affectionate regard of their inore intimate associates, and they are deserving of all the good fortune that may be allotted to them.
F RANK HUPFER. As every life has a his- tory of its own, although in appearance it may seem to possess little to distinguish it from others, the reader will take interest in learn- ing the details of the business career and private incidents connected with our subject. Formerly a prominent farmer of Clayton County, he is now a resident of Monona, where his attention is devoted to looking after his varied interests. He is a stock- holder in the Monona State Bank and a man of influence in this village.
A native of the Fatherland, our subject was born in Werdau, Saxony, October 25, 1834, to Carl F. and Fredricke (Pope) Hupfer, natives of Sax- ony. His father was a cloth-maker by trade, which he followed throughout his active life; he died at the advanced age of ciglity-five. His wife passed away when cighty-two years old. They were the parents of nine children, cight of whom attained mature years. Frank, who was fifth in order of birth, remained under the parental roof until attaining his fourteenth year, when he left home to learn the furricr's trade. He was thus engaged for four years, after which he determined to try his fortuncs in New York. Accordingly embarking on a ship, he landed at Philadelphia after a voyage of eight weeks, and thencc made his way to Chicago and afterward to La Porte, Ind. For five years he worked at his trade in the last-named place, and also in the meantime engaged at other vocations whereby he might earn a liveli- hood.
Later going to Wisconsin, Mr. Hupfer made his liome in Grant County for five years, where he was drafted into the United States service, In
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1863 lie eame to Clayton County, Iowa, and set- tled in Monona Township. Here he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1889, meantime im- proving and cultivating his estate, which lie transformed into one of the most attractive and productive in the township. He was very sue- eessful in this occupation, and making good in- vestments witlı his money, was enabled to retire in 1889, when he moved with his family to Monona. In this place they have a very pleasant home and mnove in the best eireles of society.
November 6, 1855, Mr. Hupfer married Miss Elizabetlı Heinz, a native of Bavaria, Germany, and a most estimable lady. By her union with our subjeet there were born nine children, two daughters and seven sons, namely: Frances S., wife of Jolin Langendorfer; Mary E., who married John Barnhard; Charles F., Henry A., George P., Edward L., Arthur E., Nelson H. and Frank B. At one time Mr. Hupfer owncd five hundred and twenty acres of land, but when his children estab- lished homes of their own he gave each one a farm, which greatly reduced his aereage. He is active in all good works in the village and is a de- voted member of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi. Since coming to America he has voted the Repub- lican tieket. He arrived in America without · means, but by courage and a determination to sue- ceed he has aceumulated a handsome competence and is elassed among thie well-to-do residents of Monona.
J OHN GIBSON, of Monticello, is a manufae- turer of tile and brick of all descriptions and a dealer in lumber, having a sawmill in con- nection with his other enterprises. He is an in- fluential citizen, a staneh Republican and is aetive in leading movements for the upbuilding and good of the community. The birth of our subjeet oe- curred in Indiana County, Pa., April 10, 1829, his parents being Joseph and Margaret (Sloan) Gibson. His paternal grandfather, Lewis Gibson, was of Scotch-Irish extraction, while his mother's father,
John Sloan, was a soldier, doing valiant service in the Black Hawk War.
Joseph Gibson, our subject's father, was born in Indiana County, Pa., and was a farmer by occupa- tion. In 1851 he removed with his family to Jones County, settling on a traet of land in Scotch Grove Township, where lie engaged in general agricul- tural pursuits until his death, which occurred thie year after this arrival here. His wife was called from this life in 1866 at the home of lier daugliter, Mrs. McGee, of Carroll County, Iowa. She was the mother of three daughters and one son, two of whom are living, our subject and one sister.
The education of young Gibson was obtained in the schools of the Keystonc State, and for two years lie pursued his studies in Ft. Wayne, Ind. Subse- quently lic taught for a like period of time; then coming to Monticello, engaged in business as a dealer in live stock and grain for a number of years. In 1880 he embarked in the manufacture of drain tile and brick. During the summer sea- son he operates his sawmill extensively, and the capacity of his tile factory is from six to twelve thousand per day. His local trade is very exten- sive and the surplus products are shipped to differ- ent points in this and adjoining counties. The machinery is run by a thirty horse-power engine and Mr. Gibson employs the most modern machinery in use in the manufacture of tile and brick and also for turning out lumber of various descriptions. Employment is given to from cight to ten men con- stantly, and it is the intention of the proprietor to further enlarge the business and use the steam heat- ing and drying process in his lumber rooms.
In 1856 our subject married Elizabeth Clark, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of Nathan Clark. Five children have been born of this un- ion : Margaret H., wife of John Bascher, a druggist of this place; Aseneth M., wife of Clark Mudge, a dry-goods merchant of Marion, Iowa; Luella J., a teacher in Hopkinton College; Elizabetlı, a gradu- ate in music and a teacher in Pennsylvania, and Ida F., a member of the faculty of a college in North Carolina.
Mr. and Mrs. Gibson are members of the First Presbyterian Church and their children are con- nected with the same denomination. For sixteen
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years our subject has served as one of the Ruling Elders in the church in which he is a very active worker. He has served officially as a Trustee and Member of the City Council to the satisfaction of his friends and neighbors, and in all his relations, whether financial or social, he lias merited the es- teem and sineere respect of all to an eminent de- gree.
II. WIEGMANN, a farmer on section 26, in Farmersburg Township, Clayton Coun- ty, is noteworthy as a pioneer, having experienced the obstacles, the alternate hopes and fears, the diseouragements and hardships that confront the early settler of a new country. Not only is Mr. Wiegmann dauntless, prompt and aet- ive, but he is well fitted to stand with those who la- bored so long and earnestly for the settlement of a country whiel to-day is all beauty, peace and pros- perity. The average citizen of to-day who is sur- rounded on every hand by not only the necessities but the refinements of life, is too apt to forget those now gone before, who endured privation and almost penury for the benefit of posterity.
Mr. Wiegmann was born in Prussia, Germany, Mareh 5, 1846. His father, J. H. Wiegmann, was a native of Prussia, Germany, and emigrated to Clayton County in 1854, remaining here until his demise, which oceurred in his seventy-eighth year. The mother, Anna (Greiman) Wiegmann, was also a German by birth. She still survives and keeps house for our subject. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wieg- mann were blessed with two children, our subjeet being the eldest.
C. H. Wiegmann was eight years old when he came to this country, and he received the very best common school education that the little log sehoolhouse in Garnavillo Township was capable of giving. He pre-empted a traet of land which was somewhat improved and took the first steps toward raising a crop of grain for himself. He op- erated thus for a number of years with quite success-
ful results and has accumulated four hundred and thirty aeres of land, three hundred and forty being prairie land and ninety covered with timber. He makes a business of renting his farms.
For years he has been Trustee of Farmersburg Township. No man stands higher in the estima- tion of the inhabitants of this township than does he, and the record of his good deeds plaeed upon the pages of the printed volume will prove a grander monument to his memory than "sculp- tured marble or storied urn." In all matters of interest to the general publie of his loeality, our subjeet is accounted a public-spirited citizen, ever ready to do his part in the promotion of enterprise and educational advancement. Passing his ma- ture years among friends of a life time, Mr. Wieg- mann receives the confidenee of all who know him, and is esteemed for his sterling integrity of char- aeter and thorough business efficiency. In the progress of township and county he has not been an uninterested spectator, but a prime factor, and his name is one of the most prominent among thie farmers of Clayton County. Politically, Mr. Wiegmann is a staneh Republiean.
L
H ENRY VULLGRAFF, who is a praetieal and progressive agrieulturist and one of the popular citizens of Read Township, Clayton County, resides on section 9, and is a native of Germany. He was born in Meeklenburg June 20, 1825, and is the son of William and Zema Vullgraff. They were the parents of six children: Henry, our subject; Fritz, who came to this coun- try with his brother Henry and lived in Farmers- burg Township, this county, dying about 1870; Sophia, Rickoff, Mary and Catherine. The last four named still make their home in Germany. The parents of our subject never left the Father- land, but spent their entire lives on a farm in that country; both passed away in the same year, 1874.
In 1852 our subjeet emigrated to this country, landing in New Orleans, and as he knew a few peo-
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ple in Clayton County, he decided to come here. He bought one hundred and twenty aeres of wild land and immediately set abont clearing and eulti- vating the same. In a short time he purchased eighty aeres more and now has a fine farm of two hundred acres all well stocked and improved. In the year 1859 Mr. Vullgraff was married to Miss Dorris Henning. She was a native of Germany and came to America alone in 1855, her parents having died in their native land some time before. Mrs. Vullgraff was one of four ehildren. Two of her brothers came to this country. Henry is living on a farm in Nebraska, and Jolin is in Garnavillo Township, this county. George, her youngest brother, is still in Germany.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of five children, three boys and two girls. Henry married Miss Brooks and is living on a farm in Farmersburg Township. They have one child living and two dead. William married Mary Drends and they make their home in Farmersburg, this county. Charley, who is not married, lives at home and assists lus father on the farm. Lena, the wife of F. W. Vogt, lives on seetion 16, Read Township. Louisa is now Mrs. Fritz Teues, also of Read Township. Mr. Vullgraff has held many offiees of honor and trust. He filled the office of Supervisor for one year and served as Seliool Di- rector for the same length of time. Mr. and Mrs. Vullgraff have long been members of the Lutheran Church at Clayton Centre. He has always voted the Democratic tieket, and is widely known as a liberal spirited man, generous and ever ready to do his full share in all matters of general welfare.
M T. KENNEDY is a dealer in wholesale and retail drugs, books and stationery in MeGregor, and is one of the leading business men of the place. He has ever been in- terested and active in all loeal publie affairs, and is a man of wide reading and information, which he has extended by his frequent and lengthy journeys in different parts of the northwest.
The paternal ancestors of Mr. Kennedy were
natives of Scotland, who settled in New England at an early day. Ilis father, John Kennedy, was born in Erie County, Pa., and followed agrieul- tural pursuits in order to obtain a livelihood. His wife, Eliza(Deitz)Kennedy, was also born in the Keystone State and is still living, her home being in Erie County, Pa., she having attained the good old age of eighty-two years.
A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Kennedy of tliis sketch was born in Erie County in 1836, and passed his early years on his father's farm, beeom- ing thoroughly acquainted by actual experience with the workings of the same. His primary edu- cation was obtained in the common schools, which was supplemented by further study in the academy of his native county.
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