USA > Iowa > Clinton County > Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1 > Part 63
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tary of the Mutual Insurance Company. He was connected with the Farmers' Store at De Witt for a period of thirteen years. He has been very successful in whatever he has turned his attention to, and is eminently deserving of the competency he can today call his, owing to the fact that he started in life empty- handed and has made unaided the property he now owns, and made it, too, in a perfectly honest and legitimate manner.
Mr. Hahn was married on December 28, 1849, while still living in Ger- many. to Sophia Frahm, who, like himself, was of an excellent family. This union resulted in the birth of the following children : Henry M., of De Witt; Emilia married John Blunk, of Grand Mound; Lizzette, now Mrs. Anderson, of Greene county, Iowa; Sophia, now Mrs. Monsen, of Oklahoma ; Mrs. Louise Weeks, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Louis is living on the farm; Julius lives two miles west of De Witt; Minnie, now Mrs. Perry, lives south of De Witt. They all received good educations and were reared in a wholesome home atmosphere. The mother of these children passed to her rest on March 8, 1899.
Mr. Hahn is a member and liberal supporter of the German Lutheran Evangelical church, and, politically, he is a Democrat. He has been trustee of Orange township for many years, and has been school director. He has always been interested in the general development of his community and county, but he has never aspired to public office.
EDWARD RANSON.
One of the owners of extensive farming interests in Clinton county is the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch, who resides in Orange town- ship. His valuable property has been acquired through his own efforts, his persistency of purpose and his determination, and the prosperity which is the legitimate reward of all earnest effort is today his.
Edward Ranson, like many of our thrifty farmers, is a Belgian, but he has spent most of his life in this country. His birth occurred in Belgium in 1863, and he is the son of Peter and Thresa (Spribrock) Ranson, the father a native of France and the mother born in Belgium. Peter Ranson was taken to Belgium in infancy and there he grew to maturity, was educated and he became a farmer; he died in that country, as did also his wife. They were both twice married and in all twelve children were numbered in their families. They were members of the Catholic church and good honest people.
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Edward Ranson was educated in the schools of Belgium, having at- tended St. John's Academy at Bentille and graduated from the high school there in 1879. The following year, 1880, he came to America, direct to Clinton, Iowa, soon seeking employment in the farming districts in the county. He saved his money and by economy and hard work was enabled, in 1892, to purchase a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres. This he has added to as he has prospered until he now has a very valuable place of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has brought up to a high state of modern improve- ment and which yields abundant harvests under his skillful management. His is one of the choice farms of Orange township. He carries on general farming and raises some excellent live stock, making a specialty of Poland- China hogs and Hereford cattle.
Mr. Ranson was married February 4, 1891, to Rosa Greene, a native of Clinton county, where she was reared and educated, being the daughter of Bernhard and Susie Greene, a very early family in this county. Her people having long been well and favorably known here. To Mr. and Mrs. Ranson three children have been born, Susie T., Edna E. and Wilfred J.
Mr. Ranson is a member of the Catholic church and politically he is a Democrat. He is known to be a hard working, honest man and is liked by his neighbors and acquaintances. Mr. Ranson attributes much of his early success to his wife's parents, who encouraged and assisted him, and for which he expresses the greatest gratitude.
JOHN KALLENBACH.
Perhaps no class of foreign-born citizens have done so much in bringing Clinton county to the front as the Germans, and, indeed, we are very ready to admit that they have performed a great service for us throughout the Union, and while their labors have resulted in the general uplift of the country they have also resulted in incalculable good to those who performed it. Of this large class is John Kallenbach, of Olive township, Clinton county. He was born in Germany in 1849 and is the son of Anton and Margaret (Gergen) Kallenbach, both natives of Germany, from which country they came to America in 1854 and located at Muscatine, Iowa, the father buying forty acres in that vicinity. Later, in 1862, he came to Clinton county and settled in Olive township on a farm adjoining that on which the subject now lives, owning one
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hundred and forty acres, and there his death occurred. He put all the im- provements on that place and had a very comfortable home. His wife also died there. They were the parents of seven children. The father was a Democrat, but he lived a quiet home life; he and his family were members of the Catholic church.
John Kallenbach was educated in the public schools of Muscatine, Iowa, and also went to school after coming to Clinton county. He grew to matur- ity on the home farm, which he worked when a boy. When twenty-five years old he began farming for himself on forty acres, which he bought in Olive township. He sold this and in 1891 bought the place where he lives at present, now owning one of the model farms of the township, consisting of three hundred and forty acres in one body, which he has placed under a high state of improvement and on which stands an attractive and substantial dwelling and large and convenient outbuildings. He also has thirty acres of timber. He carries on general farming in a manner that stamps him as being fully abreast of the times. He still resides on his farm, but merely oversees it, having practically retired from active work in 1903.
Mr. Kallenbach was married in 1875 to Louisa Hesse, who was born in Davenport, Iowa, and who had lived in Scott county until her marriage. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Maggie J., John J., Marcus C., Anton, Frank H., Mary A., Henry L., Clara E. and Veronica C. Elizabeth and Lawrence died in infancy.
Conrad and Dora (Derhing) Hesse were both born in Germany and they came to America in 1853 and located in Davenport, Iowa, later farmed in Scott county. The father was a tailor by trade. The father of Mrs. Kallen- bach was twice married and his family consisted of eleven children. They were members of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Hesse are both deceased, but her step-mother is living.
Mr. Kallenbach is a Democrat and he has long taken more or less inter- est in local affairs. He has very ably and acceptably held various local offices. Personally, he is a genial and pleasant man to meet and is deserving of the large success that he has achieved considering the fact that he has won in the battle of life without the aid of anyone, having to overcome many obstinate and discouraging obstacles. Mr. Kallenbach has bought a property in De Witt, to which he will move in the coming spring and take the rest from his labors he so much needs. He has sold one hundred and forty acres to his son Marcus and the balance of two hundred acres he has rented to his son Frank.
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WILLIAM R. BARBER.
The subject of this sketch has seen more than the alloted number of years, and has during the most part of that time engaged in active work on his farm, which has well repaid him and has been to him the source of much pleasure. He has always found much attractiveness in farming and the cultivation of crops and caring for stock, and has found that they are as paying in a mone- tary way as any occupation could well be expected to be. In his life he has also gained for himself many friends, who have been attracted by his worth and capabilities.
William R. Barber was born in the fort at Dixon, Illinois, January I, 1838, son of Nathaniel and Mary (Pearsall) Barber. His father was born in Chenango county, New York, in 1809, and his mother in that state in 1814. They moved to Pennsylvania in 1835, remained there one and one-half years, and in September, 1838, came to Dixon, Illinois. On September 3, 1838, they moved to Iowa to what was known as the Black Hawk Purchase, three miles southeast of Grand Mound, in what is now Orange township. They took up one hundred sixty acres, to which they added until the farm consisted of two hundred forty acres, and here they died. They were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living. In politics Nathaniel Barber was in early life a Whig, later a Republican, and held several township offices. He was a prominent and respected farmer of the township.
William R. Barber attended the district schools, first attending in a log school house, then in a brick, and finally in a frame. Early he took up farming and stock raising and was an extensive hog breeder. He owned two hundred sixty acres of land, but has sold eighty of this to a son. In 1902 he retired from active farming and came to Grand Mound, where he owns a fine and commodious residence, and has since lived. He is a stockholder in the Peo- ples' Savings Bank, and in the gas company, of which he is manager. In politics he is a Republican and has held the offices of justice of the peace, school director and constable in Orange township. and has been mayor of Grand Mound for the past six years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Barber was married on August 18. 1860, to Mary E. Norman, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, March 30. 1841, the daughter of John and Mary ( Allison) Norman, natives of Virginia, who came to Scott county, Iowa, in 1851, settled on a farm and kept a ferry on the Wapsipinicon river. Here John Norman died; his wife died in Mr. Barber's home in Clin-
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM R. BARBER
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ton county. having lived with him for twelve years. Of their seven children, four are living. He and his wife were members of the Christian church. They were honorable and respected people.
Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the parents of nine children, Elmer E., May M. (dead), Howard (dead), Lillian (dead), William C. (dead), Albert F., Ida May, Minnie Pearl and Nellie Blanche.
Mr. Barber is one of the most respected and esteemed residents of Grand Mound, and has always had the interests of the community much at heart. He has ever lived a life of honor and uprightness.
GEORGE HOMRIGHAUSEN.
Among the foreign-born citizens who have taken up their residence in Clinton county, building up highly creditable reputations and have distin- guished themselves by right and honorable living, is George Homrighausen, who, for a period of thirty years, has been prominently identified with the agricultural life of Spring Rock township, and who is now living in retire- ment in his beautiful residence in Wheatland. He has for several decades been regarded as one of the strongest factors in the western part of the county, being a man of sound sense and ripe judgment and always willing to do his full share in bettering the general condition of his community.
Mr. Homrighausen was born in Germany in 1854 and is the son of Johann and Elizabeth (Fuchs) Homrighausen, both born in the fatherland, where they were reared, educated and married, and, in fact, spent their entire lives, the father being an extensive farmer for that country, owning over two hundred acres of land. They were members of the Evangelical church and thrifty, honest people.
George Homrighausen grew to maturity on his father's farm in Ger- many where he assisted with the general work about the place, attending the neighboring schools during the winter months. As is the custom in his native country, he served in the army for a period of two years, in Castile. He had so frequently heard of the numerous opportunities in the United States awaiting young men of thrift and ambition that he resolved to cast his lot here. Accordingly he emigrated in 1880, coming direct to Wheatland, Clinton county, Iowa, and began farming in Spring Rock township, where he acquired one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he worked in such a manner as to lay by an ample competence for his declining years, and in 1906
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he retired to make his residence in Wheatland, in which town he erected a modern, commodious and attractive dwelling.
Mr. Homrighausen was married in 1884 to Mrs. Katherine (Keller) Schneider, who had first married Johanas Schneider. She was born in Ger- many and reared there, receiving her education in the public schools. She came to America alone, while yet single, in the year 1869, also coming direct to Wheatland, Iowa. By her first marriage she became the mother of the fol- lowing children : Ann, Joseph, Amil, Rudolph and Henry. Her last union has been without issue.
Mr. Homrighausen is independent in politics, preferring to vote for the man rather than the party, and in religious matters he and his family are members of the Reformed church.
HUGO KLAHN.
Among the younger farmers and stock raisers of Liberty township, Clinton county, who have made a success in life not because they have de- pended upon others for advice and to do their work, but because they have had the tact and industry to forge ahead despite obstacles and discouraging situa- tions is Hugo Klahn, the representative of an old German family of sterling worth.
Mr. Klahn was born in Liberty township, this county, in 1873, the son of Ludwig and Mary (Klahn) Klahn, both natives of Germany, from which country the father came to America when twenty-two years of age and located in Clinton county, Iowa. The mother was nine years of age when she was brought to the United States from the fatherland, having accompanied her parents, who located in Clinton county, Iowa, in 1857, both families being early settlers. They began farming here and in due course of time, being people who were not afraid of hard work, they became well established and had comfortable homes. Ludwig Klahn, father of Hugo, became quite well- to-do, finally owning six hundred acres of very valuable land. He was a gen- eral farmer and stock raiser and a man of influence in his community, being highly honored for his exemplary character and his industry. In his family were seven children. The father was a Democrat and a Protestant.
Hugo Klahn, of this review, was educated in the public schools and was reared on the home farm, where he was put to work in the fields when a mere lad. He thus became acquainted with all phases of agricultural work
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early in life, and he has never cared to follow any other line of endeavor but farming. He operates now two hundred acres in a most successful manner, being a general farmer, and he also keeps considerable stock, which forms no small part of his annual income. He feeds a great deal of live stock for the market. He has an excellent place which he keeps well improved and he has a very substantial, cozy and neat dwelling and good outbuildings.
Mr. Klahn was married in 1900 to Agatha Hoffmeister, daughter of Carl and Dora (Boettger) Hoffmeister, both natives of Germany, from which country the father emigrated to America in 1865 and located at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained two and one-half years, then came to Wheatland, Clinton county. The mother came to our shores about 1875, making the trip to Lowden, Iowa, alone. Mr. Hoffmeister was very success- ful as a business man, having kept a saloon most of his active life. He is now living retired in Wheatland.
To Mr. and Mrs. Klahn two children have been born, Ludwig and Omer. Politically, Mr. Klahn is a Democrat and a man who takes a great deal of interest in the affairs of his community.
THOMAS J. BURKE.
During twenty years of service in maintaining peace and order in Clinton and Clinton county, Mr. Burke has been tried and tested in many ways. So efficient has been his work, so noticeable his courage and his de- termination in performing his duties, that law breakers have learned justly to fear this comparatively mild mannered man, and the citizens of the county feel safe in entrusting the peace of their community to his keeping.
Thomas J. Burke was born in Philadelphia, January 19, 1861. the son of Thomas and Marcella (Burns) Burke, both of whom were natives of Ire- land, who had come to this country when young with their parents. Thomas Burke died in Amboy, Illinois, in 1862. He was a laborer, an honorable and honest man. To him three children were born, John H., of Clinton, a blacksmith in the Northwestern railroad shops; Mary H., now living in Amboy with her mother; and Thomas J. Mrs. Burke was later married to John Brady, by whom she was the mother of two children: Frank, a butcher at Amboy, and Jennie, who married Russell Conden, a contractor at Omaha, Nebraska.
Thomas J. Burke lived in Amboy, Lee county, Illinois, until 1883. Dur-
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ing this time he attended the common schools, spent a year in private schools, farmed for a time, worked in the railroad shops for a short period, returned to the farm. then entered the Illinois Central shops at Amboy, which he left in 1883 to go to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1885 he came to Clinton, worked in a saw-mill for one year, then entered the Northwestern boiler shops, where he remained four years. On April 23, 1890, he entered the Clinton police force, and received rapid promotion. When he resigned December 31, 1899. he bore the rank of captain. won by bravery and merit. January 11, 1900, he was appointed deputy sheriff of Clinton county under Sheriff J. E. Moran, and served as such until January 1, 1907, when he took his office as sheriff, having been elected on the Democratic ticket at the 1906 election. In 1908 he was re-elected and again re-elected in 1910.
Mr. Burke is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, of the Modern Brotherhood of America and of the Knights of Columbus. He and his family are members of the Catholic church.
Thomas J. Burke was married on May 28, 1889, to Katherine Chapman. born in Amboy. Illinois. February 14, 1861, the daughter of John and Johanna (O'Connor) Chapman. Her parents both came from Ireland and died in Clinton. Her father was a blacksmith by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Burke are the parents of the following children: Marcella, born in February, 1890, died in March, 1890; John, born March 25, 1891, a graduate of the Clinton high school and Clinton Business College; Joseph, born May 23, 1896, now in school; and Mary, born March 24, 1900, died in infancy.
Mr. Burke's many good qualities have made hosts of friends for him. He is esteemed as a good neighbor and citizen in every sense of these words, and in his official duties his grit, fearlessness and conscientiousness have been very marked.
HENRY PORTH.
It would indeed be hard to find a man in Olive township who under- stands better how to get the best results in manipulating the soil of Clinton county, for he has spent his life here and has devoted his time, for the most part, in studying the relation of soil, climate and seeds, with the result that he never has to ask the advice of anyone when he wants to rotate his crops or plant any new kind of grain, for he has experimented until he now knows definitely what to do in every instance.
Mr. Porth was born on the old Porth homestead in Olive township. this
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county, on December 23, 1869. He is the son of Karl and Thresa (Beuman) Porth, the former born in Germany and the latter in Pennsylvania. The father is further mentioned in the sketch of Charles Porth.
The subject was educated in the public schools of this township, which he attended when not working in the crops on the home place. He operates in a very successful manner two hundred and thirty acres of land, on which he has placed modern and substantial improvements. This is the old home- stead, and under his skillful management the richness of the soil has been retained and he has a very well kept home and carries on general farming and stock raising in a manner that stamps him as one of the leading agriculturists of this township. He has begun the breeding and raising of Polled-Angus cattle. He also feeds extensively and is a good judge of live stock. He has been very successful both as a farmer along general lines and as a stock man.
Mr. Porth was married in 1893 to Emma Mueller, who was born in Olive township, this county, where she was reared and educated. She is the daugh- ter of Henry and Margaret (Gearnert) Mueller, both natives of Germany, from which country they came to America and were early settlers in Clinton county, Iowa. This family became well known and well established here. To Mr. and Mrs. Porth the following children have been born : Francis, Min- nie, Carl and Esther.
Mr. Porth is a member and liberal supporter of the Catholic church and in political matters he is a Democrat, but he is not a public man, preferring to lead a quiet life on his farm.
W. A. McGARRY.
The present sketch is concerned with a man who was one of the largest landholders and most prominent farmers of the county, one who made an un- questioned success of farming, and the value of whose holdings would aggre- gate to an amount which if invested in manufacturing would represent a large establishment. His experience showed that agriculture can be made to pay on a large scale and that it offers to a capitalist an inviting field of endeavor.
W. A. McGarry was born in Perry county, Ohio, in 1843, the son of Amos and Elizabeth (McClurg) McGarry, his father a native of Ireland, his mother of New York state. Amos McGarry came in 1821, at the age of twenty-one, to America, and located in Ohio, where he was a contractor in road building, and later a farmer. In 1854 he removed to Scott county, Iowa,
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three years later to Clinton county, and located on a farm four miles east of his son. W. A.'s later residence. Although there was much land which had not yet been entered from the government, he purchased two hundred and forty acres, improved it and lived there until shortly before his death, from time to time adding to his possessions until he accumulated six hundred and forty acres. His farming was general in character, stock raising and stock feeding receiving special attention. He was active in all local affairs, but never cared for office, preferring private life. Always much interested in the Catholic church, of which he was a member, he donated ten acres of land to the first Catholic church in Scott county, and gave much aid to the early churches in Clinton county. Of his family of three sons and five daughters, two are living. Amos McGarry was a man of strong and forceful nature, upright and honorable, and highly respected.
W. A. McGarry attended the common schools, and began to assist in the work of his father's farm when very young, remaining with his father until his death in 1875. Then he bought a farm of two hundred and twenty acres northeast of Welton, broke it and sold it ; next bought one hundred and sixty acres in Iowa county, Iowa, partly broke it, remained there about a year, then rented it and returned to Clinton county. Here he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Washington township, and lived there and cultivated that farm for five years; then he sold this tract and bought two hundred and forty acres in the same township, on which he lived for twenty years. Selling this he bought three hundred and sixty acres where he later resided. Mr. Mc- Garry always bred Hereford cattle, but raised mixed breeds of hogs. He fed cattle and hogs extensively. Much of his attention was given to dealing in real estate, and his own total holdings in Clinton county amounted to eight hundred acres. Besides these farms, he owned three sections of land in Alberta, Canada, which he rented as a stock and grain farm; four grain farms in Oklahoma, also rented; and two grain farms in South Dakota; also two hundred acres of timber land. These lands bring in an extensive revenue, and their management takes much time.
In 1875 Mr. McGarry was married to Mary Murtogh, who was born in Canada, but grew up in Scott and Clinton counties, Iowa. To their union seven children were born, John, Willie (deceased), Mary, Margaret, James, Frank, Justin and Dorothy. The entire family are consistent Catholics. Mr. McGarry is a Democrat, but never cared for office. He is a man of much business ability, a progressive and influential citizen and by his genial manner has won many friends. In all respects he is one of the leading farmers of his township and county.
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