Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1, Part 49

Author: Patrick B. Wolfe
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 829

USA > Iowa > Clinton County > Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1 > Part 49

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there at six dollars per month. In the fall of the same year he and a brother bought two hundred acres of land in Jackson county, and there they lived and farmed together until 1855, when John G. sold to his brother and soon after- ward came to Waterford township, Clinton county, where he settled on a farm which he improved and on which he prospered, increasing his holdings until he had four hundred acres all under cultivation. He made extensive improvements, erecting a large and substantial dwelling, barns and outbuild- ings, making one of the best improved farms in this part of the state. He stocked his farm with all kinds of high grade live stock.

On July 6, 1856, Mr. Gohlman was married to Catherine Moellerstedt, who was a native of Haderslebin, Germany, and this union resulted in the birth of five children : Cheislofor, Mathias, Theodore; Marie, wife of Mathias Illemann, whose sketch appears herein; John, of Sabula, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Gohlman were members of the Lutheran church and in politics he was first a Republican and later a Democrat. He was widely known and highly respected, a man of sterling integrity and honor. His death occurred on August 5, 1900, and that of his wife on March 12, 1902.

. MRS. TOBITHA D. ALBRIGHT.

The name of this estimable lady is a familiar one to the people of Char- lotte and Waterford township, Clinton county, and the brief record of her life and that of her well-remembered husband, outlined in the following para- graphs, will doubtless be read with interest by the many friends and acquaint- ances who have learned to prize her for her beautiful character and useful life, which has been an open book in which there are no pages marred by conduct unbecoming true womanhood and whose influence has always made for the good of the large circle of friends with whom she has associated.

Mrs. Albright was born in the state of Indiana, February 22, 1839, and she is the daughter of Miles Lawderbaugh, a native of Kentucky, who came to Indiana in his youth and married there. He became a successful farmer in the earlier days, and in 1845 he came to Iowa, locating first in the southern part of the state, and in 1846 moved to Jackson county, thence, in 1858, to Clinton county, where he bought a farm one and one-half mile east of Char- lotte, and remained there the rest of his life, dying in 1883. He was a Repub- lican and filled many township offices and was a member of the school board. He was a faithful Methodist, and was a man of influence in his community.

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being well posted on current matters. He was a successful business man and was well liked by his neighbors, being a man of charitable impulses, his in- tegrity and honor being above reproach. His wife died in 1857, and he again married, his last wife being Emily Roland, by whom nine children were born, fourteen children having been born by the first union, Mrs. Albright, of this review, being the fourth in order of birth.

Mrs. Albright was four years of age when she was brought to Iowa and here she grew to maturity and was married to A. J. Albright on January I, 1859, by a justice of the peace in a dugout, since there were no houses in her community at that early day. Mr. Albright was born in Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 9, 1837; his mother died in that state and his father brought his family to Iowa in 1846. He was the son of Emanuel Albright, a native of Pennsyl- vania and a millwright and stone-mason by trades. He built and operated the mill at Hauntown on the Elk river, now the William Strewn mill. He was a Democrat, a good worker in the party and filled several minor offices. He was widely known and highly respected, a man of sterling integrity and honor. Religiously, he was a Methodist and a good and useful man. His death occurred in 1875. He and his wife reared fourteen children to man- hood and womanhood, A. J. being the tenth in order of birth. He grew to maturity on the home farm and assisted with the work on the same, but started life for himself when only nine years of age, leaving home then. He did such odd jobs as he could get to do, going to many different places, including a trip to Illinois. He lived for some time with Elijah Buell, of Lyons, in fact spent several years there. He was economical and saved his earnings and at length bought the lot where Mrs. Albright still lives in Charlotte. When he married he moved to his shanty and began the struggle for existence, engag- ing in the stock business, at which he was very successful. Later he bought and sold lands and farms, his estate yet including four or five farms and other valuable properties. He was president and a stockholder of the first bank at this town. It has been a very successful institution, has been re-organized and is now known as the Charlotte Savings Bank. He became a leading business man here, being successful in all enterprises in which he engaged.

Mr. Albright was a strong Democrat and filled the office of justice of the peace for over forty years ; he was also county supervisor, and was school director for twenty-five years. He filled all township offices and each place he was called to he filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He was administrator for several large estates, of which every penny was accounted for and he never had to give a bond. He was a prom- inent and useful man, and he helped many people get established in good

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homes and get a start in life; he was a man of splendid business talent, a good financier, and he delighted in dispensing charity to the needy. His good wife was his main advice and counsel and his success was due in no small measure to her encouragement and advice.

Mrs. Albright is handling her husband's estate and carrying forward the work he inaugurated. She is a woman of unusual business tact and enter- prise and is very successful in her undertakings. She resides at the old home- stead. She and her husband had no children of their own, but they reared and cared for several other children.

Mr. Albright is remembered as a self-made man, who, by indefatigable labor, close application and honest dealing, created a large estate and was a great factor in the development and upbuilding of Charlotte and community, and no man is more worthy of an honored place in the history of Clinton county than he. He died April 22, 1909, and is buried in the cemetery at Charlotte.

C. J. SCHUNTER.

Small towns in the midst of a farming community offer a very practical field to the versatile man of business. At first appearance there seems small chance for advancement, but a business established in such a region often and usually draws many more customers than a similar business in the city. al- though these customers are scattered. There are in such communities splen- did opportunities for the men who will seize them, as Mr. Schunter is doing. and who thereby prosper.

C. J. Schunter was born in Germany, January 27, 1860, son of Frederick Schunter, who was born in Braunschweig, Germany, and Anna (Bruhn) Schunter, also born in Germany June 15. 1817. His parents came to Daven- port, Iowa, in July. 1870, and here Frederick Schunter died; his wife died at Grand Mound, September 23, 1904. They were the parents of eight children. seven of whom are living. They were members of the German Lutheran church, and were very estimable people.

C. J. Schunter was nine years old when his parents came to America. and had attended the German schools in Germany for two years. He attended school at Davenport until fourteen. in the winters, and after he was fifteen went to night school for three winters. He came to Clinton county in 1879. worked for others on the farm for three years, and farmed for four years. then, after spending one year in Texas, farmed six years here. In 1892 he

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came to Grand Mound, and followed the barber's trade until 1898. The latter year he entered into the general merchandise business with L. D. Har- rington under the firm name of Harrington & Schunter, continuing until 1905, when Mr. Schunter bought out his partner, and has since been alone. The business has increased and is in a flourishing condition. Mr. Schunter is a stockholder in the Peoples' Savings Bank and the gas company. In poli- tics he is an independent. He has been assessor in Welton township, and was assessor of Grand Mound for four years. He is a member of the. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, and of the Modern Woodmen and Maccabees.

Mr. Schunter was married on December 7, 1886, to Dora Langbehn, of Clinton county, the daughter of William H. and Wilhelmina (Anderson) Langbehn, early settlers of this county, where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Schunter are the parents of six children : Frederick William, Minnie, Hugo H., Clara, Emma and Francis. They are interesting and promising young folks.

Mr. Schunter is a very capable merchant and has gained a good trade by his methods of satisfying his customers. He is popular in the community and is very genial and affable. He takes much interest in all affairs which are of general concern.

JOHN G. WENDEL.

To a man who is not afraid of hard work, who has a strong body and good managing ability, and who can bear a certain amount of isolation, the farm offers an attractive field for work. The farmer is his own master, does not have to respond to the call of another, is his own executive, and combines in himself the functions of proprietor, employer and laborer, in many in- stances, and therefore draws profits in all these capacities. Formerly the farmer talked much of being downtrodden and oppressed, now the city man is talking of the farmer's prosperity, and it is true that there is more wonderful success on the farm now than at any former time, which does not make the fact any less true that the successful farmer must be a good manager, just as any business man.

John G. Wendel was born in Hampton, Illinois, in 1856, a son of Henry Wendel, mentioned in this work. Mr. Wendel grew up on the farm and at- tended the common schools of Illinois and Clinton county. Iowa. He has de- voted his life to farming, and owns one hundred acres of land, on which he raises such crops as are best suited to this region of the state and engages in

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stock raising to a considerable extent. In politics he is an independent voter. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, but both attend the Methodist church at Grand Mound.

Mr. Wendel was married in 1880 to Mary Wiese, a native of Davenport, Iowa, born in 1858, daughter of Claus and Elsie Wiese, both natives of Ger- many. Claus Wiese and his wife came to Davenport in 1857, and both died there, she in 1867 and he in 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Wendel have been born six children, Alma L., Elsie, Rosa, May, Josie (dead) and Lillian.

Mr. Wendel is a very capable farmer and a conscientious, straightfor- ward man, and is well liked by his neighbors. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

CARL JOHN FREDERICK KESTER.

One of the venerable and much liked citizens of Clinton, Iowa, is Carl John Frederick Kester, a man of such superior ability in his chosen line and of such high attributes of character that to know him is to be his friend. Like many of the best citizens of this county, he is a native of Germany, hav- ing been born at Plau, on April 23, 1838. He was the son of Wilhelm and Gazina (Von Schwarneval) Kester. The father was a sturdy German, a cabinetmaker by trade, and taught the same to his son, Carl J. F., who became. like him, an expert, and worked with much success in various cities in the old country. He maintained a shop and a store in Berlin for a period of five years, but finally, deciding that America held larger opportunities for him. Carl J. F. Kester, in 1872, came to Clinton, Iowa, and again worked at his trade, his services being in great demand when his skill became known. con- tinuing until 1879, when he became an invalid. He first worked for Hobein Brothers, furniture makers, after coming here. Later he had a factory and store of his own on Fifth avenue, between First and Second streets, his ma- chinery being operated by horse-power. He was an invalid for a period of twenty-eight years, this being brought on by overwork, it was supposed. One night all his pain and trouble appeared to settle in one leg and foot. During all the years of his illness. he was unable to work, although at one time he was employed at the Curtis Brothers factory, but it was not long until he was not able to do any work, even though every convenience was provided and every effort made to assist him. When some traveling doctors were here some years ago, Mr. Kester put his case in their hands and it is to them that

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CARL J. F. KESTER

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he attributes the fact that he regained the use of his leg and foot. But though he recovered from the material ailments, the insidious hand of advancing age has been laid heavily upon him and, though he appears to be well and healthy, he no longer is able to do the fine carving, joining and finishing at which he was once a master. In his barn is stored the old horse-power machinery which he used in his furniture factory, together with many other well-made and once valuable articles used in his business. In his shop, a monument to the ability with which tools and apparatus were built in Germany years ago, are his work-bench, tools and other pharaphernalia which he sometimes uses on odd jobs now. But they are practically useless now and the aged man handles them tenderly and lovingly. In fact nature has been far more gra- cious to the handiwork of the clever maker than to the maker himself. Politi- cally, he is a Democrat and is a member of the Catholic church.

Mr. Kester's first wife and children died in Germany. His second wife was Anna Mary Benker. Mr. Kester has a daughter, Welihimina, now the wife of Welhelm Faulendick, of Clinton ; his other child, a son, William, lives in Rock Island, Illinois.

A step into the dooryard of Mr. Kester, and further into his home, where he lives alone, is like a glimpse of the olden times. In the yard are many flowers. plants and vines. The house itself is of ancient design and the in- terior has that cool, restful atmosphere so familiar in the homes which are now most a memory, with the advance of modern conveniences.

With all his trials and afflictions, Mr. Kester has borne his lot patiently and with rare fortitude and many could get a valuable lesson from his de- meanor, being pleasant and agreeable and a man whom everybody likes and is glad to do a favor.

WILLIAM W. SCOTT.

An enterprising farmer and highly respected citizen of Clinton county is W. W. Scott, who was born in 1853 in Olive township, on the farm on which he still resides, five miles south of Calamus. He is the son of William and Harriet (Pearsall) Scott, the father born in New York in 1819 and the mother in Indiana. They were married in Pennsylvania and came to Clinton county. Iowa, locating on the east side of Crystal Lake, on government land, in 1844. They were there a short time, then came to the farm on which their son, W. W., now lives, entering land here also and became a heavy land owner. He erected log buildings, the house standing where the subject's residence is now

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located. When he first came here the country was unimproved and he could travel as far as De Witt without seeing a fence. In 1850 he made the long overland trip across the western plains to California in search of gold, and, being a good hand with the ax, he made six dollars per day making cabins for miners; he later mined himself. After he returned to Iowa he engaged in farming and subsequently practiced law many years in this community. He was county supervisor from Olive township, also served as constable and justice of the peace. He was a Democrat. In 1875 he left the farm to oper- ate a general store at Calamus, and later opened a hardware business, and still later was engaged as a general merchant under the firm name of Scott & Crusan. About 1890 he retired and made his home at Calamus, where he resided until his death, which occurred on December 14, 1910. He was a very successful business man and did a great deal for the general good of his com- munity, where he was held in high esteem by all who knew him. His family consisted of five daughters and two sons, one daughter now being deceased. He was liberal in his religious views and was active in church work. His wife passed to her rest in 1896.

William W. Scott was educated in the home schools until he was eighteen years old, then went to Wilton Collegiate Institute, at Wilton Junction, Iowa, remaining there three years. He then taught a few years in Clinton county, later engaged in the general mercantile business with his brother, in Calamus. about three years. Then he moved his stock of goods to Delmar Junction, selling out six months later to his brother, after which he assisted his father in his hardware store. In 1882 he moved to a farm here which his father had entered and remained on the same three years; he then moved to Woodbury county, Iowa, and remained there eight years on a farm, then purchased the homestead of his father, which contains one hundred and six acres, and he has since made his home here. He has made many modern improvements, is a general farmer and has managed his place to good advantage.

Mr. Scott has served as justice of the peace for the past twelve years, and in 1900 he took the census of Olive township, and in 1910 took the census of Berlin. He has been township trustee. Politically, he is a Republican.

When Mr. Scott was in school he studied telegraphy and about 1897 or 1898 he and a neighbor put up a telegraph line between their homes, which developed interest until telephones were installed, and from this developed the Farmers and Business Men's Mutual Telphone Company, which was organ- ized in 1899 and incorporated on March 25, 1907, under the same name, Mr. Scott taking an active part in establishing this company, and he has held all the offices of the company, which in August, 1910, had four hundred tele-

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phone subscribers, the line entering Calamus, Wheatland, Toronto, Lost Nation, Welton, Grand Mound, Dixon and Big Rock. The best possible instruments are used and the company is on a firm basis and is rapidly grow- ing in importance and extent.

Mr. Scott was married on November 17, 1902, to Alice (Bills) Weiley. By a former marriage Mr. Scott was the father of these children : Clyde, de- ceased ; Archie, of Los Angeles, California; Seth, of Grand Haven, Michigan; Roy and Willie, at home. Mr. Scott and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

M. H. ILLEMANN.

Like many of the enterprising and influential business men of Clinton county, M. H. Illemann is an American by adoption only, having come to us from the Fatherland, for which he retains a natural affection; nevertheless, he has been faithful in supporting our institutions and is a full-fledged Ameri- can. He is a popular citizen of Charlotte, of which town he is the present postmaster, and is engaged in the mercantile business. He was born in the province of Schleswig, Germany, January 27, 1855, and was reared in his native town and attended school there, coming to America when a boy, and he also went to our schools, receiving a good common school education. He is the son of August Illemann, a native of the same province, and who was an officer in the civil affairs of the government and in work in the agricultural and forestry departments for a number of years, and was considered a very efficient employe. He continued in this service until his death, at the age of fifty years. He was a member of the Lutheran church. His wife survived, remaining on the homestead and dying in 1880; she was also a member of the Lutheran church. Seven children were born to them, named as follows: August, Catherine, Letha, Christ, M. H., of this review, Fritz and Sophia. Christ, who lives at Clinton, is the only member of this family, with the ex- ception of the subject, who came to this county.

M. H. Illemann came to America in 1872 and first lived in Wisconsin, where he was employed as a farm hand, later on a railroad. In 1877 he came to Clinton county, Iowa, where he found employment as a farm hand near Charlotte. Later he clerked for John Goldman eight years in his store here. and in 1882 he bought the store, taking as a partner in business Peter C. Duer. This partnership continued successfully until in March, 1909, when he bought his partner's interest and has since been conducting the store alone,

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carrying a general and well assorted stock and enjoying a very liberal patron- age with the surrounding country.

In 1897 Mr. Illemann was appointed postmaster of Charlotte and he has since conducted the affairs of the office in a manner that has given the utmost satisfaction to all concerned. Since then two rural routes have been estab- lished, the first one in July, 1904, and the second in May, 1905. The busi- ness of the postoffice has greatly increased since his incumbency. He leaves nothing undone in either the office or his store to please the people, being an untiring worker. He is a fine type of the self-made man and he has attained his success by hard work and honest dealing.

Politically, Mr. Illemann is a strong Republican and has long been active in the ranks. He was nominated for the Legislature in 1907 and received a very complimentary vote, running ahead of his ticket and came within fifty votes of being elected. He is a member of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Illemann was married on October 2, 1885, to Marie Gohlman. who was born in this county, the daughter of John G. Gohlman, a native of Ger- many and an early settler of this county where he became well known and established a good home. His sketch appears on another page.

To Mr. and Mrs. Illemann the following children have been born: Minnie has remained single and is assistant in the postoffice; John A. is a student at Ames, Iowa, in the Iowa College; Hildreth is teaching; Esther is now eight years old and is at home. The mother of these children is also a member of the Lutheran church and, like her husband, has a wide circle of friends.

ROBERT E. CRESSEY.

The smaller towns of Clinton county offer to a man of enterprise many facilities in a business way and many opportunities for success. Among these towns, Lost Nation stands very high in the advantages which it offers, and among its citizens who have won success and a competence stands Mr. Cressey, a business man of much sagacity and splendid judgment.

Robert E. Cressey was born in Sharon township. Clinton county, Iowa. on December 1. 1862, the son of John Cressey, born in Lincolnshire, England. on September 20, 1818, and Anna Mason Cressey, born in the same county, December 2, 1822. John Cressey was married in England and immigrated to

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the United States in the early forties, coming to Wisconsin, where he remained two years, then removing to Sharon township, Clinton county, Iowa, where he entered eighty acres of land from the government, and farmed here for several years, later adding to the farm other tracts. In 1883 he moved to Lost Nation and, in connection with Louis Field, opened a retail lumber and coal yard. His son Robert was associated with his father in this venture from the beginning, and in 1885 their other partner sold his interest to them, and Robert and his father carried on the business until the father's death, on November 9, 1896. John Cressey was a member of the church of Eng- land, was a man of much force of character, and was highly respected and prominent among the pioneers of the township. He was the father of eleven children : Fannie, deceased, born in 1851 ; Susannah, deceased. born in 1852; George M., born in 1854; Mary Ann, deceased, born in 1855 : Frank. in 1857; John E., in 1859; Joseph S., in 1861 ; Robert E., in 1862; John H .. in 1864: Thomas, in 1866; and King, who died in infancy. born in 1868.

Robert Cressey attended school in Sharon township. and then remained on the farm with his father for a few years, later engaging in railroading for a short time. In 1883 he came to Lost Nation with his father and entered the coal and lumber business. Since his father's death he has been sole proprietor of the business, which has greatly increased from a small stock of lumber to a well-filled yard and sheds, and a large stock of coal needed to supply the increased demands. In politics Mr. Cressey is a Republican, and fraternally is a thirty-second-degree Mason, a member of De Molay Con- sistory at Clinton, Iowa.

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Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1, Part 49

Author: Patrick B. Wolfe Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 829

Author: Patrick B. Wolfe
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 829