USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 37
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T. P. HOLLOWELL.
T. P. Hollowell owns the major interest in the Gem City Daily and Weekly, which paper was established in 1886 and is the oldest daily in Fort Madison. In his editorial capacity and as an office holder in Fort Madison Mr. Hollowell is widely known. He was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, April 28, 1878, and is a son of T. P. and Nettie (Charles) Hollowell, who in 1882 brought their family to Lee county, where Mr. Hollowell served as deputy warden in the prison until his death. His wife has also passed away.
T. P. Hollowell was but four years of age when brought to this city and when a lad of six he entered the public schools, passing through the consecutive grades as the years advanced. He also at- tended Johnson's Business College and likewise pursued a commer- cial correspondence course. He made his initial step in the business world as a contractor with the Morrison Plow Company and in 1899 he entered the United States mail service in the capacity of letter carrier. He served in that position for several years and on the 6th of March, 1906, was appointed postmaster of Fort Madison, which position he continuously occupied for eight years, or until the 17th of April, 1914. In the meantime he had become interested in the newspaper publishing business, having in 1910 organized the Gem City Publishing Company, which purchased a half-interest from the
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Nauer & Barnes Publishing Company, owners of the Gem City Daily and Weekly. He has since been identified with this paper and now concentrates his energies upon its publication. This paper was established in 1886 and is now one of the leading dailies of south- eastern Iowa.
Mr. Hollowell is now practically the proprietor of the paper, owning the major interest in the stock. The daily is a six-page, seven-column paper of home print and the weekly edition is eight pages of seven columns. Both are an excellent advertising medium because of the large subscription list, and the paper under the guid- ance of Mr. Hollowell has long since become a paying proposition. It is devoted to the dissemination of local and general news and its editorials, while treating a subject comprehensively, are always terse and to the point.
On the 11th of October, 1904, Mr. Hollowell was united in mar- riage to Miss Miriam Stewart, of Fort Madison, a daughter of the Rev. George D. and Emily (Walker) Stewart, who were early resi- dents of this county. The father was pastor of the Presbyterian church and they were long honored and esteemed residents of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Hollowell have two children, Thomas Patrick and George S.
Fraternally Mr. Hollowell is connected with the Elks, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He has an interesting mili- tary chapter in his life history. He joined the Iowa National Guard and became major of the Fifty-fourth Infantry. He is also a veteran of the Spanish-American war, having served with Company F of the Fiftieth Iowa Volunteers. Practically his entire life has been passed in this county, where he has a large acquaintance and a circle of warm friends almost coextensive therewith.
NICHOLAS PRANGER.
Nicholas Pranger, a representative of an old and honored pioneer family of Lee county, whose home is on section 22, Washington town- ship, comes from the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Sügel, Hanover, Germany, December 3, 1840, his parents being Ber- nard H. and Thakle (Sabers) Pranger, also natives of the same place. The father was born in 1813 and the mother in 1818. Decid- ing to try their fortune in America, they took passage for New Or- Vol JI-24
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leans in 1849 and on reaching that port proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, where they landed on the ist of December. Early in the year 1850, however, they came to Lee county and settled in Fort Madison, but the following year took up their residence in Washington township, occupying an old house until a more suitable home could be built. The father hewed logs for his residence and split clapboards to make a roof. He became the owner of one hun- dred and forty acres of very valuable land and after living in this county more than two decades passed away in 1872. His wife sur- vived him many years, dying in 1900. Of their six children Nicholas is the eldest, the others being: Bernhard and William H., both de- ceased ; John Theodore, now a resident of Fort Madison; Mary, the deceased wife of Stephen Meyer; and Anna Mary, the wife of Her- man Shulte of Fort Madison.
Nicholas Pranger was a boy of nine years when he crossed the ocean with his parents, and since the family reached Fort Madison he has made his home in this county with the exception of two years. Throughout his active business life he has followed farming with marked success and at one time owned five hundred acres of very valuable and productive land, but has since divided with his sons, still retaining, however, two hundred and ten acres in Washington town- ship. In connection with general farming he has devoted consider- able attention to raising and dealing in stock.
Mr. Pranger married Miss Catharine Hellman, who was born in St. Paul, Marion township, this county, April 9, 1850, and is a daughter of G. H. and Mary A. (Colber) Hellman, both natives of Hanover, Germany. Coming to the United States in 1836, they set- tled in St. Paul, lowa, at which time Fort Madison was only a village of three log cabins. Their son Henry was the first white child born in Marion township and in the carly development and improvement of that locality Mr. Hellman bore an active part. Both he and his wife died in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Pranger became the parents of ten children, namely: Bernard H., now a resident of Washington township; George H., a telegraph operator living in Nebraska ; John J. and William H., both residents of Washington township, this county : Stephen, deceased; Louis, at home; Nicholas S., also de- ceased ; Annie W., who died at the age of thirteen years; Rose, the wife of George H. Cooper, of Ottumwa, Iowa; and one child who died in infancy.
In politics the father of our subject was a republican until the Know-nothing party started into existence, at which time he became a democrat and the family have since supported that great political
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organization. In religious faith they are all Catholics. Our subject is regarded as one of the leading farmers of his community and to his own well directed efforts has been due his enviable success in life. He is not only a man of business ability, who has been able to carry forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken, but his course in life has been such as to win him the confidence and ap- proval of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
GEORGE COLLINGWOOD TUCKER.
George Collingwood Tucker, secretary of the Iowa State Insur- ance Company, is a native of Keokuk, his birth occurring in the house which is still his place of residence. His parents were Howard and Mary Collingwood (Dixon) Tucker, who were numbered among the pioneers of Lee county. The father was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 3, 1828, a son of Thomas and Ann (Sykes) Tucker. The family is of English extraction.
Howard Tucker was reared and educated in Cincinnati, but came to Keokuk in 1851 as a young man of about twenty-three years. He became connected with a wholesale importing hardware store and so continued until he was elected director in the Iowa State Insurance Company in 1858. On the 7th of January, 1865, he was elected sec- retary of the company. In October, 1906, he retired from active busi- ness cares and passed the remainder of his life in well merited leisure. His death occurred on the Ist of August, 1909. He was a member of the Episcopal church and always manifested a deep interest in its work. He was elected vestryman for fifty-one consecutive years in the same parish, a record unparalleled in the United States, and he served as senior warden of the church for many years. He was also interested in the erection of the church building. He was a repub- lican in politics and was quite prominent fraternally. He was a Knight Templar Mason, also took the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and was a member of the Shrine. Although he was of a social nature, he spent many of his leisure hours at home, enjoying the companionship of his family and the contentment to be found in domestic life. His marriage occurred in Keokuk, July 12, 1854, when Miss Mary Collingwood Dixon became his bride. She was a daughter of George C. and Henrietta Dixon. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker as follows: Mary Cooper, who mar-
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ried George Edward Rix; George Collingwood; Arthur Howard, who passed away in infancy; and Willia Dixon, also deceased.
George Collingwood Tucker was reared and educated in Keokuk and has always made this city his home. He has been a forceful factor in insurance circles of Iowa and at present is serving as secre- tary of the lowa State Insurance Company, one of the most reliable and most progressive companies doing business in the state. His exact and detailed knowledge of the business and his natural farsight- edness and business acumen have been of untold value in the devel- opment of the company, and his associates agree that his place would be hard to fill satisfactorily.
Mr. Tucker was married to Miss Katharine Macky Dickinson, a daughter of Laurence T. and Nanny (Tidball) Dickinson. The ceremony took place at St. Paul's Episcopal church at "Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Rev. Thomas A. Tidball officiating. To Mr. and Mrs. Tucker two children have been born, Mary Collingwood and Kath- arine. Mr. Tucker is a republican in politics and is an earnest student of the many forces which are affecting our modern life. The welfare of the city is a matter of great concern to him, and he is always to be found in the front rank of any movement for the better- ment of the community. He is a member of the Episcopal church and is quite prominent in the official life of his parish. He is junior warden, vestryman and treasurer and discharges the duties pertain- ing to these offices with efficiency and fidelity. As was his father before him, he is a successful business man, a public-spirited citizen and a loyal friend.
The Iowa State Insurance Company, with which the Tuckers, father and son. have been identified for so many years, was originated in 1855, the preliminary meeting being held in January in the office of Judge George Collingwood Dixon. Dr. Freeman Knowles pre- sided as chairman and William Turner was secretary. A short time afterward the company was incorporated and began business. The first policy was dated July 25, 1855, and was underwritten for eight hundred dollars, the holder being John Rankin. During the first year about eight thousand, two hundred and eighteen dollars worth of business was written and the growth of the company can be gauged by a comparison of that amount with the volume of business done in 1913. In the last named year in Iowa and Missouri, the premiums on policies brought in six hundred and fifty thousand dollars. A report of the business of the company issued in that year shows that since the organization of the company losses totaling three million, six hundred and sixty-four thousand, seven hundred and twenty-six
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dollars and twenty-three cents have been paid and that the participa- tive policies issued by the company have saved policy holders nine hundred and forty-seven thousand, four hundred and ninety-nine dol- lars and thirty-eight cents on the amount of their premiums. The company is conservatively managed and because of this the general public is assured of its ability to fully meet all obligations. To this confidence is due its steady growth and its present prosperity.
The first officers were: C. H. Perry, president, and William Turner, secretary. The incorporators were E. H. Harrison, J. W. Rankin, A. Bridgman, William F. Turner, George B. Smyth, E. R. Ford, A. B. Chittenden, R. P. Creel, John McCune, C. Garber, and C. H. Perry. The present officers are William Logan, president; W. N. Sage, assistant to the president; Alexander E .Johnstone, vice president; G. C. Tucker, secretary ; J. I. Annable, assistant secretary ; Wells M. Irwin, treasurer; and James C. Davis, counsel. The pres- ence of such men as these at the head of affairs is sufficient guarantee that the company will be conducted upon the same sound basis as in the past and that its prosperity will continue.
CYRUS KENNEDY.
Cyrus Kennedy, a well known citizen of Fort Madison, residing at No. 906 Fifth street, was born on the 12th of October, 1853, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, which was also the birthplace of his parents, James and Jane (Wilson) Kennedy. His grandpar- ents on both sides came from Ireland and were early settlers of the Keystone state. In 1864 his parents brought their family to Lee county, Iowa, and located in Pleasant Ridge township, but they spent their last years in Fort Madison, where the father died in 1893, at the age of seventy-nine, and the mother in 1895, at the age of eighty. Throughout his active business life he had followed agricultural pur- suits. In the family were four sons and six daughters, of whom one son and one daughter died in infancy. The others were: W. R., who died in this county in 1899; Mrs. Mary Macklin, who died in Pennsylvania; Amanda, who died in this county; Elizabeth, the wife of Stewart Valentine, of Missouri; Ellen, the wife of W. B. Braden, of Nebraska; Lila, the wife of S. W. Morow, of Nebraska; Hiram, who lives with our subject; and Cyrus.
The last named passed the first eleven years of his life in the county of his nativity and was then brought by his parents to. Iowa,
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remaining on the home farm until 1888, when he removed to Fort Madison. Here he engaged in contracting and building houses in partnership with his brother W. R. Kennedy for a short time. In 1891 he was made a member of the police force, with which he has been connected at intervals for ten years, and in the meantime has served as a guard at the state penitentiary. His fidelity to duty has made him a most trustworthy official, and he has become quite prom- inent in the local ranks of the democratic party, being now a candi- date for the office of county supervisor.
Mr. Kennedy married Miss Sarah A. Schantz, who was born in this county, January 16, 1853, a daughter of Peter and Anna (Roth) Schantz. Her father was a native of Germany and her mother of France. In 1837 they came to this county and here spent the remain- der of their lives, the father being engaged in farming and also act- ing as a local preacher. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have three daugh- ters: Victoria Nellie, who is a graduate of the high school of Fort Madison and the Iowa College at Grinnell and is now employed as a Latin teacher in Kewanee, Illinois; Della May, the wife of H. A. Heil of Burlington, Iowa; and Edith Jane, the wife of Nathan Tucker of Wever, Iowa. The two younger daughters are graduates of the Fort Madison high school and also followed teaching prior to their marriage.
Since early boyhood Mr. Kennedy has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, the Royal Neighbors and the Moose. His life has ever been such as to gain him the confidence and high regard of those with whom he is brought in contact, and he well merits the esteem in which he is held.
LEWIS W. FAETH.
Lewis W. Faeth is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising and his activities along these lines may well serve as an example to others, for he follows most progressive methods and be- lieves at all times in advancement and development. He makes his home on section 2, Jefferson township, and his farm, with its many improvements, constitutes one of the attractive features in the land- scape.
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Mr. Faeth was born in Jefferson township, this county, Septem- ber 6, 1875, and is a son of Adam and Anna ( Eberman) Faeth. The former is a representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of this section of the state and he, too, was born in Jefferson township, his natal year being 1848. His wife is a native of Germany and was brought to Iowa by her parents in her childhood days. Mr. and Mrs. Faeth are still residents of Jefferson township. where he is ex- tensively engaged in farming, being reckoned as one of the leading agriculturists of his native county, in which his entire life has been passed. His father began the work of development and improve- ment here in pioneer times and Adam Faeth has carried forward the work thus instituted and by his well directed business affairs has con- tributed much to the material prosperity of the county, especially along agricultural lines. To him and his wife were born four chil- dren : Lewis W .; Robert, who is living in Jefferson township; Cora, the wife of Howard Whitcomb of the same township; and Herbert, at home.
Lewis W. Faeth has spent his entire life in Jefferson township and has always carried on farming and stock-raising. He remained with his parents until his marriage and then rented land from his father. Eventually he purchased his present place of four hundred and forty acres on section 2, Jefferson township, and section 35, West Point township. Though divided by the township boundary lines, the land is all in one tract and constitutes one of the fine farms of that section of the county. All of the improvements upon the place have been made by Mr. Faeth. His home is a beautiful modern residence, containing ten rooms, is comfortably and tastefully fur- nished and is surrounded by a well kept lawn. In the rear of the house are large barns, one being forty-eight by fifty-two feet, while the cattle barn is forty-four by forty-eight feet. Every modern con- venience of farm life is to be found upon this place, including the latest improved machinery and all the equipments that facilitate farm work. The place is known as the Cloverdale stock farm and during the past six years Mr. Faeth has been successfully engaged in the raising of Aberdeen Angus cattle, having now seventy-five head. in- cluding calves, all of which are registered except the calves. He also raises thoroughbred Chester White hogs, having one hundred head. He likewise has thoroughbred sheep and twenty head of high grade horses. He raises most of the feed for his stock, but has also purchased some corn for stock feeding. He likewise raises wheat, harvesting about a carload annually. He is a most progressive, ener- getic agriculturist, and his labors are attended with excellent results
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because his methods are practical and progressive. In addition to his other interests he is a director in the Donnellson Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Association.
On the 20th of March, 1901, Mr. Faeth was married to Miss Lucretia Bullard, who was born in Jefferson township, March 5, 1873, a daughter of Alexander and Martha (Dodson) Bullard. The mother is now living in Fort Madison, but the father has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Faeth have two children, Agnes and Gertrude. They are worthy Christian people, holding membership in Eden Chapel of the Methodist Protestant church, in which Mr. Faeth is a trustee. He belongs to the Anti-Horse Thief Association, and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is never remiss in the duties of citizenship, cooperating in many measures and movements for the public good, but he does not seek office, prefer- ring to concentrate his efforts and energies upon business affairs, which are bringing to him substantial return. He has never sought to change his occupation and has always kept in touch with the pro- gressive trend of the times, as improvements have been made in the methods of farming and as investigation has brought a knowledge of the scientific principles which underlie the work.
CURTIS M. HART.
Curtis M. Hart, who has been a resident of Keokuk for three decades, is now serving as clerk of the district court of Lee county. His birth occurred in Neosho, Newton county, Missouri, on the 28th of October, 1870, his parents being Samuel B. and Jennie P. (Neece) Hart, whose family numbered three sons. When very small he was taken to Morgan county, Illinois, by his parents, and from there to Charleston, Lee county, Iowa, in 1878, the father following the pro- fession of school teaching in this county. In 1884 the family took up their abode in Keokuk, where Samuel B. Hart died in August of the same year.
Curtis M. Hart received the major part of his scholastic training in the public schools of Keokuk, and the better and more practical part of his education as a printer on the Gate City and the Constitu- tion-Democrat. For a time he was an employe of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad Company, but owing to the vacancy in the office of clerk of the district court, he was appointed to fill that position and has discharged his duties in an efficient and highly com-
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mendable manner. He is the present democratic nominee for the office.
On the 27th of August, 1890, Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Anna Dora Korschgen, by whom he has four children as follows: Elsie Dora, who is the wife of Ernest E. Robinson; H. Lloyd; Harold L .; and Byron L. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Presbyterian church, of which he serves as trustee, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Hart is widely known here, and his substantial qualities of manhood and of character have gained for him an enviable position in the regard of those with whom he has come in contact.
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F. A. WOODMANSEE, D. D. S.
Dr. F. A. Woodmansee, engaged in the practice of dentistry in Fort Madison, was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1872, a son of Albert P. and Elizabeth (Eaton) Woodmansee. The father was a gold refiner, conducting business along that line through the greater part of his life. Both he and his wife are now deceased.
In the public schools of his native city Dr. Woodmansee pursued his early education and in preparation for a professional career he entered the Medico-Chirurgical College at Philadelphia, where he spent one year. Later he became a student in the State University at Buffalo, New York, and was graduated from the dental depart- ment of that institution with the class of 1898. He then located for practice in Wayne county, New York, where he remained for three years, or until 1901, when he came to the middle west, settling at Fort Madison, where he has since remained. He has a well equipped office, and he possesses all of the qualities which make the practice of dentristry unique among the professions, for the successful dentist must not only possess comprehensive knowledge of the science of the profession but also must have expert mechanical skill and ingenuity, with the addition of that power for the direction of business that in any connection spells success. Almost from the beginning of his residence here he has been accorded a liberal patronage, and his prac- tice is now extensive.
In March, 1901, Dr. Woodmansee was united in marriage to Miss Flora L. Scutt, of Marion, New York, and unto them have
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been born three children, Albert S., F. A. and Walter R. Dr. Wood- mansee is prominent in Masonic circles and belongs to Poultneyville Lodge, No. 159, A. F. & A. M. During the War of 1812 a cannon ball was shot through the lodge building. He has also taken the chapter degrees in Masonry, is an Eagle, and Elk and is now exalted ruler of the Elks lodge No. 374. In politics he is a progressive re- publican, being allied with that wing of the party which does not believe in the domination of machine rule, but is in sympathy with the more advanced standards of party leaders who believe that polit- ical activity should bring about reform and improvement in govern- mental policies and privileges. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church, and a well spent life has won him high and en- during regard.
L. H. VAN AUSDALL.
L. H. Van Ausdal!, a successful young agriculturist residing on section 2, Jackson township, is the owner of twenty-three acres of valuable land and makes a specialty of fruit and berries. He is num- bered among the worthy native sons of Lee county, his birth having here occurred on the Ist of January, 1883. His parents were Martin and Hester E. (Marshall) Van Ausdall, the former a native of Ohio and the later of Lee county, Iowa. Martin Van Ausdall came to this county in boyhood and here spent the remainder of his life, pass- ing away in 1910. His widow, who still survives, is well known and highly esteemed, having won an extensive circle of friends during her lifelong residence in Lee county. They became the parents of ten children, eight of whom are yet living.
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