USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 27
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Mr. Schweer was married in 1885 to Miss Emma E. Leisy, who was born in Keokuk, February 20, 1864, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Leisy. Her father engaged in farming in Franklin town- ship during his lifetime, his demise occurring about 1894. His widow survived him for a number of years, dying in November, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Schweer became the parents of eight children, of whom five survive. Erna Hulda, Edward William, Erich Conrad, Paul Jonathan and Walter Louis are all at home. Sophia Emma
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passed away March 4, 1911, at the age of eighteen years. Ida, who was born April 2, 1896, died September 5, 1898. Harold Jacob, who was born February 22, 1904, died January 23, 1905.
The family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Primrose and faithfully attend its services. Mr. Schweer is a democrat in his political allegiance and has served in a number of local and township offices and has been a delegate to a number of county conventions of his party. His father was one of the pioneers and also one of the prominent men of Lee county and the subject of this review is ably upholding the honor and dignity of the family name, his ability and manly qualities of character winning him the respect and honor of all who know him.
C. F. MCFARLAND.
C. F. McFarland has been a resident of Keokuk since 1895 and has achieved enviable prominence as a business man and citizen. He is a native of Chicopee, Massachusetts, born June 19, 1861, a son of Corey and Mary (Woodcock) McFarland. After his primary schooling he entered Amherst College, from which institution he was graduated in 1883. For a number of years thereafter he was engaged in several business undertakings at various places. He was identified with the flour milling industry at St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee, and Charleston, Illinois. From the last named place he came to Keokuk, Iowa, as half owner of the paper supply house of William Rees & Company, a concern that had to struggle for a foot- hold in the commercial world owing to unscrupulous competitors who had taken advantage of the fact that the company had not protected its rights to valuable inventions. With the passing of years, however, the Rees & McFarland Company prospered, and in 1905 the entire business passed to the ownership of Mr. McFarland, who, under the name of the McFarland Paper Company, now conducts an extensive and profitable enterprise.
During the memorable revival of 1904, held in Keokuk by Rev. W. A. Sunday, Mr. McFarland was converted to Christianity. From that time he has felt called upon to tell to others what the Master has done for him, and he has thus brought hundreds to Christ. As a speaker he is eloquent, and his direct talk is of the most convincing character. It has been his endeavor to teach practical Christianity as applied to business and everyday life. Among the many more
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notable places where he held meetings were Muscatine and Ottumwa, in Iowa, and Springfield and Galesburg, in Illinois. Perhaps the meeting he addressed in his old home town of Charleston, Illinois, is dearest to his recollection. To a concourse of four thousand people there he was a living exemplification of the change of a wholly worldly man to the broader and purer life of the true Christian gentleman.
In 1887, at Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. McFarland was united in marriage to Miss Mamie D. Fizer. Her father, John C. Fizer, was a general of the Confederate army during the Civil war and a man endeared to the Southland for his deeds of bravery on the field of battle and his equal courage in times of peace. It was his keen fore- sight at the battle of Fredericksburg that saved the day for the Con- federate cause. When the war closed he had but one arm, the other having been left on the battlefield of Knoxville. The sword of General Fizer, which, singularly enough, was made by Mr. McFar- land's father at Chicopee, Massachusetts, occupies a conspicuous place in the home of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland have one son, Malcolm, who is a government inspector stationed at Rock Island. They are popular in social circles and have a host of friends who enjoy the hospitality of their attractive home.
J. G. H. STELLERN.
J. G. H. Stellern, who was long identified with the business and industrial interests of Fort Madison, but is now living retired here, was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 25th of December, 1830, a son of John Bernhard and Elizabeth Stellern. His father died in that country when our subject was only eight years of age and in 1844 the mother brought her family to the new world. They lo- cated in St. Louis, Missouri, where she passed away in 1850. By occupation the father was a farmer. J. G. H. Stellern was the fifth in order of birth in a family of several children, four of whom accom- panied the mother on her removal to the United States, these be- ing John. Christina, J. G. H. and Richard. Joseph started with them, but died at sea, while Henry, who was serving as a soldier in the German army, did not come until eighteen months later. All are now deceased except the subject of this review.
J. G. H. Stellern was only thirteen years of age when the family settled in St. Louis and about a year later he began learning the
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brick maker's trade, which he followed until he removed to Lee county, lowa, in 1869. Here he located on a farm in West Point township and for two years devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits, but at the end of that time removed to Fort Madison, where he has since made his home. He purchased a half interest in the bottling works of Frank Hesse, being in partnership with Barney Bellman, who died two months later. Mr. Stellern was then alone in business until 1902, when he was succeeded by his son, Frank. He now lives retired.
While living in St. Louis, Mr. Stellern was married, November 7, 1857, to Miss Charlotte Knippschild, who was also a native of Prussia, born August 5, 1836, and was twenty years of age when she came to the new world. By this union were born the following chil- dren: Emma, now the wife of George H. Van Tilburg, of St. Louis; Joseph, a resident of Fort Madison, Iowa; Henry, of Wash- ington township, this county; Ida, the wife of William Dues, of Fort Madison; Clara, the wife of George Haessig, of Fort Madison; Frances, at home; Frank, who is mentioned below; Rose, the wife of H. D. Lawrence, of Fort Madison; Albert, who died at the age of eighteen years in 1891 ; and Charles, who died in infancy.
Mr. Stellern gives his political support to the democratic party and in religious faith is a Catholic. During his long residence in Fort Madison he has made many warm friends and is highly re- spected and esteemed by all who know him.
FRANK STELLERN.
Frank Stellern, now at the head of the Stellern Bottling Works of Fort Madison, is an enterprising and progressive business man who stands high in the esteem of all who know him. He was born in Lee, county, Iowa, February 17, 1872, and is a son of J. G. H. Stellern, whose sketch appears above. At the usual age he entered the public schools and continued his education until he was fourteen, when he began work in the bottling works of his father. He has since been identified with the business and is thoroughly conversant with the trade in all its departments. Since 1902 he has been sole owner and manager. He manufactures flavored soda waters of all kinds and employs on an average of six hands. He not only has built up a good business in Fort Madison, but ships his product to other towns and vicinity. Fraternally he is an honored member of the Elks, the
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Eagles, the Moose and St. Joseph's Society, and by his ballot he sup- ports the men and measures of the democratic party. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. Mary's Roman Catholic church.
J. H. AXT.
For more than a quarter of a century J. H. Axt has been well known in business circles of Fort Madison as the proprietor of a drug store. His is a well appointed establishment, in which he carries a large and carefully selected line of drugs and druggists' sundries, and the neat and attractive arrangement combined with the reliable business methods of the proprietor have secured him a gratifying and growing trade.
Mr. Axt was born in Fort Madison, July 20, 1857, a son of Charles and Elizabeth Axt, the father a native of the kingdom of Prussia, while the mother's birth occurred in Germany. She came to Fort Madison in the 'Los and Charles Axt arrived about 1848, so that their marriage was celebrated in Lee county. The father was a blacksmith and carriage maker and continued along those lines for many years, or until the time of his death, which occurred in 1858. His widow long survived him, passing away in 1904. They had a family of six children, of whom four are deceased.
J. H. Axt was reared in his native city and attended the private school conducted here by Wm. H. Pearson and his daughters and later was for two years a student in the Fort Madison Academy, which was a prosperous educational institution of this city at one time. When a young man he embarked in the drug business, securing em- ployment along that line about 1872. For fifteen years he remained in the service of others and in 1887 opened a store of his own, of which he has since been the proprietor. His active connection with the drug trade covers about forty-two years and his name has become almost a synonym for business of this character in Fort Madison. The Axt Drug Store is one of what is known as the Rexall stores, of which there are about seven thousand. They are always considered the leaders in their respective cities and each one must pass a rigid examination before it is admitted into the United Drug Company of Boston, Massachusetts, the largest cooperative concern in this country.
In 1894 Mr. Axt was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Janse and they have a pleasant home in Fort Madison, where they have so long resided. Politically Mr. Axt is a republican, unfaltering in his
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allegiance to the party. He is a prominent Mason, holding member- ship in the lodge, the Knight Templar Commandery and in the Mystic Shrine, while he is also connected with the Elks. His relig- jous faith is that of the Episcopal church. His sterling traits of character, which are many, have won for him the high and enduring regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact. If one wants to know aught of the history of Fort Madison they have but to ask Mr. Axt, for he has resided in this city for fifty-seven years and has, therefore, witnessed the greater part of its growth and de- velopment, seeing the many changes which have brought the city to its present condition of progress and prosperity.
H. J. KENNEDY.
A history of business activity in Fort Madison would be incom- plete were there failure to make reference to H. J. Kennedy, the capable, efficient and popular cashier of the German-American State Bank. He was born in Lee county, June 1, 1868, and is a son of W. R. and Catherine (Stroble) Kennedy, who about the year 1864 arrived in Lee county. Here the father, who was a contractor and builder, embarked in business and was identified with the ma- terial improvement of the city to a considerable extent for a number of years. He is now deceased but his widow still survives.
H. J. Kennedy is the eldest of their three children. He supple- mented his public-school training by a course in the Denmark Acad- emy and in the West End Business College. In early life he learned and followed the carpenter's trade, his efforts being directed by his father, with whom he afterward entered into partnership, conduct- ing a contracting business for several years. He turned from indus- trial to commercial pursuits, however, in the establishment of a grocery and meat business with his brothers, and was engaged in that line for several years. He has been identified with the banking interests of Fort Madison since 1913 and is cashier of the German- American State Bank, situated at the corner of Second and Pine streets. The president is Dr. Maurice Wahrer and E. T. Einspanjer is assistant cashier. The bank is capitalized for one hundred thou- sand dollars and its deposits amount to six hundred and forty-nine thousand six hundred and eighty dollars, while the undivided profits are five thousand six hundred dollars. The bank has enjoyed a rapid growth and is widely recognized as one of the strong financial
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H. J. KENNEDY
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institutions of the county, having as its controlling board men of well-known business ability and enterprise, including Dr. Maurice Wahrer, B. B. Hesse, Jr., H. A. Skyles, A. H. Houston and A. H. Kennedy, all of Fort Madison; L. M. Kaser, of Niota, Illinois; and E. T. McKee, of Denmark, Iowa. As cashier of the bank since its organization Mr. Kennedy has contributed largely to its growth and prosperity. His familiarity with intricate and important finan- cial problems is well known and his ability is widely recognized.
Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Miss Cora B. Commack, of West Point, Iowa, and to them has been born a daughter, Hazel E. The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church and the hospitality of the best homes of the city is freely accorded them. Mr. Kennedy belongs to the Masonic fraternity and passing up through the York Rite has become a Knight Templar. He is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he has been called by appointment and election to several offices. In the fall of 1906 he was appointed deputy county treasurer and filled that posi- tion for four years. He was then elected county treasurer in 1910 and was re-elected in 1912, so that his connection with the office covered eight years. He was also alderman of the fifth ward for three years and exercised his official prerogatives in support of many movements for municipal progress and improvement. He acted as school director for six years and the cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion. He is justly accounted one of the representative business men of Fort Madison, and all who know him speak of him in terms of high regard, appreciating his relia- bility and honor in business, his loyalty and progressiveness in citi- zenship and his sterling worth in other relations.
O. W. ROWE, D. V. S.
Dr. O. W. Rowe, well known in Lee county as an unusually capable and thoroughly trained veterinarian, is practicing in Keokuk with an office on Blondeau, between Third and Fourth streets. He was born February 20, 1866, in Van Buren county, Iowa, and was one of the six children whose parents were Oliver and Melinda (Warner) Rowe.
Vol. II-18
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In his youthful days, Dr. Rowe attended the common schools of his native county and eventually became a public-school teacher, but owing to a natural aptitude and liking for veterinary practice he entered the veterinary. department of the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and was there graduated on the completion of the regu- lar course in the class of 1898. He then practiced for a time in Van Buren county and in 1900, owing to the solicitation of various citi- zens of Lee county, he removed to Keokuk, where he has since fol- lowed his profession. He is familiar with every phase of veterinary practice and is recognized as a most capable and successful repre- sentative of the profession, which he has studied from both scientific and practical standpoints. He belongs to the College Veterinary Association and to the Iowa State Veterinarian Association, and he is continually promoting his knowledge through reading and in- vestigation.
In 1892 was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Rowe and Miss Mary A. Perkins, a daughter of Austin Perkins, of Van Buren county, and unto them have been born the following children, namely, Finley B., Stanley B., Hazel June and Vera May. In his political views, Dr. Rowe is an earnest republican and recognizes the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship. He has always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is in- terested generally in public affairs of importance. At a recent date he was reappointed by Governor Clarke assistant state veterinarian. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose and exemplifies in his life the underlying principles of those organizations.
MARCUS E. RIDDLE.
Marcus E. Riddle is a well known and representative farmer and stock-raiser, who owns and cultivates one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 32, Denmark township, in which township he has made his home since 1879. The excellent appearance of his place, its highly cultivated fields and substantial improvements are all indicative of the care and supervision which he bestows upon his farm.
Mr. Riddle was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, September 8, 1859, and is a son of Robert F. and Ruth (Walker) Riddle. The father was a native of Kentucky, born in 1833, and was a son of
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Ebenezer Riddle, Sr., whose birth occurred at Nashville, Tennessee, and who died in Denmark, Iowa, about thirty years go, at the age of seventy-five. He had made farming his life work and in the Black Hawk war he had rendered active service under Abraham Lincoln. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party. He came of Scotch ancestry, although the family has long been repre- sented on American soil. His son Robert F. Riddle was only a year old when the family removed from Kentucky to Adams County, Illi- nois, settling near Quincy. He there resided until he removed to Des Moines county, Iowa, where he lived until 1879, when he came to Lee county. For an extended period he owned and cultivated farms in Des Moines and Lee counties and was regarded as one of the leading argriculturists of those districts. He, too, voted the democratic ticket and his religious faith was that of the Methodist church.
Robert F. Riddle wedded Ruth Walker, a native of Des Moines county, where her father, Henry Walker, had settled in pioneer times, entering a large amount of land from the government, and where he became an influential citizen. He had come from Indiana to Iowa and was one of the earliest settlers of this state. In its pioneer development he took an active part and his labors were of immense value in planting the seeds of civilization and progress. In the course of years he became a wealthy and prominent man of his section of the state and his name is indelibly inscribed on the pages of its history. He continued a resident of Des Moines county until his death and there reared his family of four sons and five daughters, most of whom reached years of maturity. Three of his sons were soldiers in the Civil war. His daughter Mrs. Ruth Riddle now resides in Michigan with a daughter and has reached the age of seventy-six years. She has a sister, Mrs. Chestnut, who is living at Wever, Iowa, and another sister, Mrs. Wilson, in Des Moines. Her husband, Robert F. Riddle, passed away in 1908, at his home in Denmark, when about seventy- five years of age. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, of whom six are yet living. The family record is as fol- lows: George died in infancy. Tennis was engaged in the hotel busi- ness in California, where he died about 1900. Marcus E. is the third of the family. Douglas is a railroad man living in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Tillie became the wife of Charles Leverett and resides in Michigan, near Ann Arbor. Effie is the wife of Harry W. Houston, of Denmark township. Clara is the wife of Samuel Camp- bell, a resident of Gleason, Arizona, and Mrs. Charles Burton makes her home in Fort Madison.
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Marcus E. Riddle, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in Des Moines and Lee counties and supplemented his public-school training by study in the Denmark Academy. He has always followed farming as a life work and has been at his present place of residence through the past fourteen years. The appearance of his place indicates the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields and the practical supervision which he gives to all departments of the farm work. He is an energetic man and his life has been one of usefulness and of untiring industry. He was married in Lee county, in 1901, to Mrs. Georgia Bennett, nee Leming, who was born near Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and came to Lee county in her girlhood with her mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Ireland, who now reside at Dows, this state. By her first marriage Mrs. Riddle has one son, Lee Bennett, who is now nineteen years of age. He is a member of the United States navy, on the battleship Utah, and has been on recent duty in Mexico. Mr. and Mrs. Riddle have three children, Robert M., Clarence and Katherine, aged respectively twelve, nine and six years.
In his political views Mr. Riddle is a democrat and gives unfalter- ing allegiance to the principles of the party because of his firm belief therein. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church at Denmark and are loyal to its teachings and generous in its sup- port. Mr. Riddle is widely known in this section of the state, where he has lived from his boyhood days to the present, and the sterling traits of his character have ever been such as have won for him warm regard and confidence.
GEORGE E. ROGERS.
George E. Rogers is numbered among the pioneer settlers and native sons of Lee county, his birth having occurred October 7, 1858, upon the old home farm on section 15, township 68, range 3, or what is now known as Green Bay township, Lee county. His parents were Milward H. and Susan (Johnson) Rogers. The former was born in London, England, March 19, 1819, and was of Welsh parentage. He learned the Welsh language, for it was spoken in his parents', Thomas and Elizabeth Rogers, home. He spent his childhood in London and accompanied his parents on their emigration to New York in 1832 and in the spring of 1833 the family journeyed westward to Delaware county, Ohio. Thomas Rogers was not long permitted
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to enjoy his home, for his death occurred in September, 1833. His widow survived him for forty-nine years and died at the home of her son Milward H. in Lee county at the very advanced age of ninety- one years. By her marriage she had become the mother of three sons and two daughters, Thomas, Milward H., Henry, Elizabeth Borden and one whose name is not remembered.
Milward H. Rogers was a youth of thirteen years when the family came to the new world. His parents removed to Delaware county, Ohio, in 1833 and in 1840 he came to this state, establishing his home in Green Bay township. For a few years he rented land and then purchased what was known as Big Island in the Mississippi river. There he conducted a wood yard, furnishing wood for fuel to the steamboats that plied up and down the Mississippi. In 1851 he purchased land on section 15, Green Bay township. At one time he rode from Lee county to Fairfield, Iowa, on horseback, a dis- tance of about one hundred and twenty-five miles, to enter his land at the land office there. After purchasing his farm on section 15, Green Bay township, he devoted his remaining days to general agricultural pursuits and from time to time added to his holdings until he was the owner of fourteen hundred and sixty-five acres in the same township, all productive land. In fact, it was among the best in the state, being bottom land, splendidly adapted to grain raising. He prospered as the years went on and upon his farm erected a fine brick house. He was a friend of progress, was thor- oughly up-to-date in all of his methods and in the management of his business affairs displayed splendid ability and undaunted enter- prise.
Mr. Rogers not only carefully and systematically cultivated his fields but also engaged actively in church work, being a local preacher and elder in the Christian church. In politics he was a lifelong democrat and served as county drain commissioner, as county super- visor and as justice of the peace for many years. It was his plan and purpose when possible to settle all cases that came before him out of court. He always advocated arbitration and sought to bring peace to those who wished to enter into litigation. From the time of his marriage until his death he lived continuously in Green Bay town- ship and there was no resident within its borders who more fully enjoyed or merited the high regard and confidence of his fellow citizens. It was on the 19th of December, 1900, that Mr. Rogers passed away. He had lived to celebrate his fiftieth wedding anni- versary, for he was married on the 24th of March, 1842, to Miss Susan Johnson, who was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on the 21st
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