USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 63
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469
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
married Anna Payer and is now the dustrious and good farmer. His broth- owner of 280 acres in Center township. er, Valentine Erne, also a native of He has been a trustee of the town- Germany, (b. 1850) in 1881 bought a ship since 1895, and treasurer of the farm of 80 acres on section 26, Grant school fund since 1897. He has a fam- township, which he still occupies and ily of four children-Anna, William, has neatly improved. He has a fami- Louie and Harry.
ily of two children.
Kees John A. Rev., (b. April 2, 1833)
2-Frank R. Eral in 1889 married Fannie Zieman, of Tama county. He through whose personal efforts the or- owns and occupies a farm of 120 acres ganization of the Baptist church, Po- on section 27 that had previously been cahontas, was effected, is a native of improved by his father. His family Crawford county, Pa., the son of consists of two children, Agnes and George (b. 1878, Pa.,) and Nancy Benn Joseph. (b. 1801., Del.) Kees, both of whom 3-Mary married Charles Pashek and lives in Winnesheik county. were remarkable for the enthusiasm of their piety. The father of Nancy 4-Joseph, Rosa and John are at Benn and three of his sons were pio- home. neer preachers in the Methodist Epis-
Eral Martin, (b. Nov. 10, 1842; d. copal church. In his childhood, John May 7, 1899) was a native of Budweis, A. Kees moved with his parents to Boh., where he grew to manhood. In Venango county, Pa., where he as- 1870 he came to Chicago, where on sisted in clearing the timber from a May 15, 1870, he married Anna Michael farm, and went to school. When the and lived there the next ten years. Cherry Tree Academy was opened in In March, 1880, he located on the Litts that vicinity he entered it and two farm, Center township, and the next years later began to teach the school year bought 120 acres south of Poca- in his own neighborhood. In the fall nontas, on which he afterward lived of 1856, he located near Sabula, Iowa, and died. His death was the result of and taught school. In 1857 he located a fall from the back of a colt. He at Boone, where he taught several was a man of unswerving integrity terms and then passed to Dallas and won the esteem of all who knew county. On Feb. 24, 1860, he married him.
His family consisted of twelve chil- Boone county, where, in '62-63, he dren, four of whom, Joseph L., Louis served as a member of the board of county supervisors. In May, 1864, he enlisted as a volunteer and remained
F., Emma E. and Albina, and their mother, survive him.
Erne Bonifacius, who on section in the service until October, when he 17, in the spring of 1871, bought was sent home from Camp McClellan the first farm sold by Warrick Price, with his constitution so completely built the first farm home in the wrecked by disease there was scarcely township-a sod house. On May 31, any hope of his recovery. After two 1873, he entered as a homestead the years he was able to resume the work S NE} Sec. 32, Grant township, 80 of teaching and filled the office of as- acres, and received the patent for it sessor and township clerk. In 1876 he Nov. 5, 1878. A few years later he lo- moved to Jefferson, where he became cated in Lincoln township and in 1895 the agent of the co-operative associ- returned to Center township, where ation; but finding the labor too ex- he died in 1899. He raised a family of haustive, he resigned this position four children who, after his death and moved to a farm in that vicinity. moved to Minnesota. He was an in- In 1884 he moved to Shelby county,
Margaret M. Betteys and located in
470 PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
and in the fall of 1885 to the SW Sec. tion of a church of 25 members in 33, Center township, which he had 1888 and the erection of the Baptist previously owned for several years. church in 1891. He served the church In 1893 he sold this farm and bought as its first pastor until 1893, when he another one on the north line of the moved to his present home on the township. south side of sec. 33, Powhatan town-
At ten years of age he became a ship. After serving four years as pas- christian and at seventeen united tor of the Baptist churches of Have- lock and Bradgate, he retired from try.
with the Baptist church of Cherry Tree, Pa. At this early period he had the active duties of the gospel minis- a conviction that he ought to preach the gospel, but on account of the ap-
He has always voted the national parent need, was constrained to work republican ticket and has been an ar- on the farm. During the period he dent advocate of the cause of prohibi- engaged in teaching he embraced ev- tion. ery opportunity to unfold and enforce
His family has consisted of six chil- the truths of the Bible, but later the dren, of whom four are living. May conviction forced itself upon him that Luella in 1886 married Anton Eigler, whilst he did not receive a proper a farmer, and lives in Spokane county, preparation for the full work of the Wash. William H., John Alvin and ministry, he ought to preach the gos- Margaret E. are at home and engage pel as he had opportunity, free of in teaching. George A., the eldest, charge. Expressing this conviction died in 1863, and Rev. Frank A. D. the church to which he belonged in Kees, the second son, died at his Boone, in 1867, gave him a license to father's home, Oct. 23, 1900. He had preach. In Greene and Dallas coun- been educated for the gospel ministry, ties he often rode long distances to was ordained on May 22, 1900 and meet engagements as opportunity af- served the Baptist church at Egan, forded. In the spring of 1885, at the South Dakota, until three weeks be- request of the Baptist church in Har- fore his death, when, his physician lan, Shelby county, he was ordained, informing him he was going to have became their pastor and accepted pas- typhoid fever, he hastened home. He toral support.
taught school several terms, at Have-
When, in the fall of 1885, he visited lock, had charge of the Baptist church at Lake View in 1895, and at Havelock in 1896. He had worked his
his farm to do some work prepara- tory to settlement upon it he was pained to find the people of Pocahon- own way through college that he tas destitute of religious privileges, mightenter the ministry, and was with the exception of those of the loved by all who knew him.
Catholic church. On the second Sab- Hubel Wenzel, (b. 1819; d. Nov. 26, bath he held services in the court 1885) the first permanent resident of house and announced his desire that Pocahontas, was a native of Bohemia, those present would co-operate with where in 1843 he married Mary him and his family, five of whom were members, and they would form A. Kerska (b. 1823). In 1851, they came to America, losing one of their the nucleus of a Baptist church and children during the voyage on the plan for the erection of a suitable ocean. He located first at Montreal, house of worship. This prophetic an- but after two years moved to Iowa nouncement was received with smiles City. Two years later he located on and suppressed laughter; nevertheless, a homestead in Tama county and re- it was fully realized by the organiza- mained there until 1868, when he
471
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
moved to Benton county. Two years business before the court.
later he moved to Fort Dodge.
His family consists of six children:
In March, 1872, as the local agent Mamie, Frederic, William, Josephine, of Hess & Behring, of Fort Dodge, Wenzel and Albert. who had charge of the sale of the
2-Mary E. married James S. Smith, lands of Warrick Price, he located at Fort Dodge, and in May, 1883, he was Pocahontas and that fall was ap- appointed and served five years as the pointed the first postmaster of that first station agent of the C., R. I. & P. place. The mail was carried by his R. R. at Plover. He built the first son William usually once a week, on house in Plover for his use and it stood
Friday, from Pomeroy, later from Fonda and the office remained in his home until the fall of 1877. He was a member of the first school board of the township in 1875-76.
the first season in a cornfield. Their family consists of three children: William, James and Albert.
3-Annie in 1886 married Vencil Drahos, a well-known attorney of Ce-
During his residence in Tama coun- dar Rapids, and they have one child, ty he and his elder brother Fred, en- Vlasta, listed as members of Co. F, of the 6th Iowa cavalry. After two years in the service he received an injury that un- fitted him for further service and made him an invalid for life.
In 1878 he and wife returned to the home of his oldest son, Frederic, who married Mary Benish and continued to reside on the old homestead in Ta- ma county. He died there in 1885. Four of his children located with him at Pocahontas in 1872.
1-William A. Hubel, (b. Jan. 16, 1853, Iowa,) a carpenter, in married Mary Ann Julius (b. 1860, ship, was a native of Tabor, Pazov Wis.) and continued to live at Poca- county, Boh., and on Feb. 17, 1846, hontas until 1884, when he moved to
Hronek Frank, (b. Sept. 22, 1822; d. 1878 Sept. 5, 1899) a pioneer of Center town- Chelsea. In 1874, he bought, and
married there Anna Mares. In 1862, Plover, and in 1897 to Rolfe, where he with a family of four children, they is now engaged principally in raising came to America and located first at when he moved to Pocahontas, where poultry. He commenced to reside in Iowa City, but soon afterward at Center township in the year 1871, and built nearly all of the first buildings with a family of six children, located in Pocahontas including the Catholic on the Et Sec. 19, Center township, church, and the Presbyterian church improved and occupied it until 1895, of Plover. He was assessor of Center township in '79-80, and secretary of he lived the remainder of his days. the school board, '77-81. He carried He was a quiet, industrious, success- the mail from Pomeroy and Fonda to ful farmer and highly respected citi- Pocahontas, 1872 to '79. He was an all- zen. He assisted in the organization round man among the Bohemians of of Center township in 1874, and served the township in those early days. He as one of its first trustees, in 1875-76. was their interpreter at nearly all He was elected one of the three first school and township meetings, elec- school directors of the township, but tions and in the transaction of their declined to serve. Three of his sons,
4-Cedora C. in 1882 married James T. Calhoun, at Pocahontas, and in the fall of 1883, locating at Plover, he be- came the first dealer in coal and lum- ber at that place. He died in 1887, leaving three children; Thomas, James and Grace.
In 1891, Cedora married Albert J. Eggspuehler, a merchant of Plover, and they have two children, Florin and Gladdis.
472
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
Frank E., Anthony and John, have 5-Emmanuel Hronek (b. Ia., 1867) subsequently taken a prominent part in 1885 married Anna Vodruska. He in the management of the affairs of is the owner and occupant of the NE} the township.
Sec. 19, Center township, and has a
His family consisted of ten children, family of six children.
all of whom are still living.
6-James Hronek (b. Ia., 1869) in
1-Rosa, (b. 1858) in 1876 married 1889 married Mary Prochaska. He is Martin Puduska, (b. Boh., 1852,) a the owner and occupant of the SE} prosperous farmer, owner of 280 acres Sec. 19, Center, and has a family of principally on section 29, Center town- three children.
ship, which he has occupied since
All of the foregoing located in Cen- 1874. The other members of his
1876. They have a family of six chil- ter township with their father in dren.
2-Frank E. Hronek, (b. Boh., 1860) family are as follows:
7-Frances, (b. Boh., 1849) in 1868
came with his father to Center town- ship in the spring of 1874, and has be- married Vance Zeman, owner of a come one of the most prominent citi- farm of 360 acres near Chelsea, Tama zens in the township. In 1878 he county, and has a family of eleven served as township clerk. In 1882 he children.
became a general merchant in Poca- 8-Mary, (b. Boh., 1851) in 1869 mar- hontas and so continued until April 1, ried William Wright, clerk in a shoe 1900, when he arranged for the remov- store at Mason City, and has a family al of the old store building and the of three children.
erection of a fine, double two-story
9 -- John Hronek, (b. Boh., 1853,) in
brick business block in its place. He 1874 married Anna Skorda and came was secretary of the township school to Center township in 1881. He is board, '85-87, and president of it, '92- now the owner of the W+ Sec. 21, 320 95. In Pocahontas he was postmaster acres, and has a family of ten chil- from Sept., '87 to Oct., '95, a period of dren. He was a trustee of the town- eight years. He served as a member ship, '84-92, and is now a member of of the first school board, '96-97; as a the school board.
member of the first town council, '92-
10-Josephine (b. Boh., 1858,) in 1877 94, and as mayor, '98-1900. He is the married Frank Musel, has a family of owner of some valuable property in seven children and lives in Marshall- Pocahontas and a farm of 80 acres in town. Lincoln township.
Langer Frank, to whom it is
In 1882 he married Antonia Mora- claimed, is rightly due the honor of vec, who died in 1891. In 1893, he doing the first breaking in Center married Melinda Winegardner. His township, in the spring of 1871, left family consists of three children- Fort Dodge and located on the SW} William, Walter and Sadie-who sur- Sec. 19, Center township. In compa- vive their mother, his first wife.
ny with William A. Hubel he did the 3-Paulina, (b. 1862) in 1870 mar- first breaking in the township, on his ried Joseph Kryce, a miller, and lives own farm, then on the Stoulil farm at Andrews, South Dakota.
on the NW} of the same section, and
4-Anthony Hronek, (b. Iowa, 1864) later on the S? Sec. 21. Erne com- in 1883 married Mary Vodruska, is the menced
breaking about the same owner and occupant of the SW4 Sec. time and built the first farm home. 28, Center township, and has a family In 1882 Frank Langer bought and of five children. He was township moved to the SE} Sec; 24, Dover town- clerk three years, '89-91.
ship, and in 1899 moved to Pocahon-
FRANK E. HRONEK.
JOHN H. STEGGE.
MR. AND MRS. FRANK HRONEK.
POCAHONTAS.
'VIEW OF BUELAH AVENUE, POCAHONTAS, IN 1896. (See list of illustrations for buildings.)
PUBLIC SCHOOL
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, POCAHONTAS, 1902.
473
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
tas. He assisted in the organization are now, and after the snow came of Center township, serving as one of they were tracked to the high grass in the judges at the first election, held the sloughs where they were some- Oct. 13, 1874, and as a trustee in '81. times found lying at rest. Later he When Center township, on March 1, found employment as a carpenter, 1875, was organized as a school district, janitor and well-borer. In 1889, when he served as chairman of the meeting Sheriff Pattee died, he was appointed and was elected a member of the first sheriff of the county to complete his school board.
unexpired term.
His family consists of three chil- dren-Frank, Anna and Mary.
In 1889 he married Mary Hickey, widow of James Murray, and their
Nemeck Joseph, proprietor of the family consists of three children, Center House, Pocahontas, 1874-'80, Joseph, Sadie and John; and the three was a native of Bohemia. In the children of her former husband, Mol- spring of 1874, with wife and two lie, Michael and James Murray.
children, he located there and built
He reports the interesting fact that the first good hotel in Pocahontas. in sinking wells in the vicinity of Po- Unfortunately, he provided a saloon cahontas, two layers of wood are fre- adjunct to the hotel and, according quently found, in a fair state of pres- to the stories that are still current, ervation, at the depths of 60 to 80 and many ludicrous and some ridiculous 160 to 170 feet. The upper layer is events occurred during the period he sometimes about four feet in thick- continued in charge of it. He assist- ness, and on the farm of Gus Boog, on ed in the organization of the town- Sec. 2, Lincoln township, there was ship and served as its first justice of found in it a sea muck consisting of the peace, '75-79. He was appointed sand, coral, snail and clam shells, some a member of the first school board, of the last being as large as common was then elected its first president oyster shells, but very brittle. The and served in that capacity in '75 and lower layer is usually not so thick as '79. In 1880, with wife and four chil- the upper one, but the wood is in a dren, he moved to Ackley, and later better state of preservation. The to Minnesota, where he is still living. pieces of logs brought to the surface
Mikesh Joseph, (b. 1859) resident of resemble cedar and of these the knots Pocahontas since the fall of 1876, is a are the best preserved portions. An- native of Winnesheik county, and of other variety has the appearance of Bohemian descent. At the time he grapevine. This is found in a good located at "Pocahontas the grasshop- state of preservation and the bark pers were paying their respects to the peels from it in strips as if it were farmers and the latter could not af- freshly laid in water. Some good ford to employ hired help. The only specimens, in 1898, were furnished lucrative employment that presented Buena Vista college .*
itself at first was hunting and trap- Hazlett William, (b. Oct. 1, 1869) ping and, giving his undivided atten- attorney of Pocahontas county 1897- tion for a time to the capture of game 1900, is a native of Muscatine county, for the table and furs for the market, the son of William H. and Hannah he met with a fair degree of success. (McNutt) Hazlett, both of whom were He often averaged 40 to 50 muskrats a of Scotch-Irish (Presbyterian) descent. day at Devil's Island, on section 5, After pursuing his education in Mus- Grant township, and they brought catine he attended the State Universi- from 6 @ 18 cents a piece. Deer were ty at Columbia, Mo., and then spent about as plenty then as jack-rabbits
*Page 153.
474
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
two years in teaching. In 1892 he man of pleasing address and is well graduated from the law department equipped both for the practice of law of the State University at Iowa City, and a successful business career. He and was admitted to the practice of has the happy faculty of gaining the law. On Dec. 1, 1892, a few months confidence and esteem of those with after the death of his father, he and whom he becomes acquainted and is his brother J. Clark, and his mother entering on a constantly enlarging located at Pocahontas, where he has sphere of usefulness with bright pros- since been engaged in the practice of pects for the future. his profession. In the fall of 1896 he
On Jan. 23, 1894, he married Stella was elected the attorney for Pocahon- Torpey, a teacher of Lake township, tas county, an office to which he was and they have one child, George.
re-elected in 1898, and again in 1900.
Hunt Charles M., (b. 1847) clerk at He is recognized as a lawyer possessing the court house, 1881-1900, came to fine abilities and is rapidly rising in Pocahontas in the fall of 1880 and a his profession. The high standard of few months later found employment morality adopted in early youth has in the auditor's office, then occupied given dignity and strength to his man- by A. O. Garlock, his brother-in-law. hood, and his faithfulness as a public With the exception of one year, he official has elicited words of highest has been an assistant in that office or commendation and hearty endorse- ment.
that of the county treasurer ever since, and is now, in 1900, in the treas-
On May 15, 1895, he married Helen urer's office. These eighteen years Ketchum, of Marshalltown, and has a of faithful and efficient service as an family of three children, Dorothy B., assistant in two of the most import- Ruth and Isabel. His mother in 1895 ant offices in the county, make a very returned to the home of her daughter, creditable record. He has become Jennie (Andrew T.) Addleman, in very familiar with the method of Muscatine county, and his brother is keeping the public records and in his a civil engineer in Tennessee.
modest way has rendered a service that has been greatly appreciated.
Heald George A., (b. Iowa, June, 1870) vice-president of the Bank of On May 12, 1888, he married Cynthia A. Perkins, of Winthrop, and has a Pocahontas, is a native of Johnson county, the son of Isaac and Amelia family of three children, Gilbert, Heald, who located at West Liberty Melville and Hazel.
in his early youth. In 1887 he gradu-
Payer Vit, a native of Bohemia, in ated from the high school of that the spring of 1876, accompanied by his town and in June, 1889, from the wife (Mary Brodsky) and family of Eastman Business College, Poughkeep- four children, Frank, Jacob, Anna sie, N, Y. He then located in Poca- and Joseph, and Louis Brodsky, a son hontas, where he found employment of his wife, located on section 28, Cen- in the bank of D. J. Allen & Sons. ter township. He was a trustee of Here he embraced the opportunity of the township in 1880 and died in 1881. reading law under the late B. J. Al- The farm of 320 acres, originally pur- len, county attorney at that time, and chased at $5.00 an acre, is still owned graduating from the Iowa College of by his wife and children.
Law in January, 1894, was immediate-
1-Frank J. Payer (b. Iowa, 1861) in ly admitted to the practice of law. 1889 married Mary Remesh, who died In January, 1897, he became a partner leaving two children, Frank and and was elected vice-president of the Frances. In 1895 he married Rosa Bank of Pocahontas. He is a young Masek. He is the owner of a farm of
475
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
160 acres on section 28, Center town-
Plumb Frank H., (b. July 28, 1861) ship, and was clerk of the township clerk of the court of Pocahontas coun- 1885-88. ty, 1895-1900, is a native of Webster 2-Jacob Payer, in 1889, married county, Iowa, the son of William and Julia Shimon, who died in 1891. In Adeline Plumb. After completing
1894, he married another and has a his education in the public schools of family of two children. He is the Fort Dodge, in April 1877, he began owner of a farm of 200 acres on Sec. 28. to learn the printers' trade in the of-
3-Anna, in 1883, married James W. fice of the Fort Dodge Times. In Eral. (See Eral.)
4-Joseph Payer married Elizabeth News; and during the next nine years
Bartosh and lives in Center township.
1879, he assisted Tabor on the Fonda assisted in various offices in Iowa,
Pease Oscar A., (b. III., 1848) post- Minnesota and Dakota, including the master at Pocahontas, '82-86, in 1869 Fonda Times. On July 12, 1888, he came from Chicago and, as one of its and J. J. Bruce established the Rev- first settlers, located in Swan Lake eille at Rolfe and he continued a co- township.On April 17, 1871, he entered editor of that paper until May 1, 1890, as a homestead the W3 NW} Sec. 30 and afterward as its foreman.
and received the patent for it July,
In the fall of 1894 he became the 30, 1878. He married there Adelaide, nominee of the republicans for the of- daughter of John Proctor, one of the fice of clerk of the district court of first teachers in that township.
this county and was elected. During About the year 1880, he located in Po- his first term he performed the duties cahontas, where he kept a grocery of his office so conscientiously and ef- store and engaged in the insurance ficiently that his most enthusiastic business. On Oct. 15, 1882, he was supporters were more than gratified appointed postmaster and served four and a host of new friends encouraged years, his wife performing the duties his renomination. He was re-elected of the office a great part of the time. in '96, '98 and 1900. He has proven In 1893, he moved to Burlington, himself a young man of noble princi- Wash., where he has a comfortable ples and his natural fitness for the home and has since been engaged in public office to which he has been the lumber business. He served as elected for the fourth term, has been the deputy sheriff of Pocahontas recognized by his political opponents. county four years under John F. Pat- The neat appearance and correctness tee and two years under John A. of his work on the public records have Crummer. He assisted in the organi- elicited the highest praise from attor- zation of Swan Lake township, served neys and judges.
as its first justice of the peace, also as a trustee and treasurer of the school M. Roberts, of Fonda, and has a fam-
fund. In Center township he was as- ily of three children, Clifton B., Will- sessor in '83 and president of the iam H. and Katherine M.
school board, '90-91. He was a capa- ble, public-spirited man and his foot- prints appear as a pioneer in Center as well as in Swan Lake township.
On April 23, 1887, he married Kate
Ralston William Curtis, (b. July 1, 1855) clerk of the district court of Po- cahontas county, 1887-94, is a native of Hillsboro, Ill., the son of John A.
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