Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1, Part 64

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 64

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Digitized by Google

647

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

CHARLES JOSEPH PORTH.

The Porth family, for a number of generations, has been among the best known and most highly respected in the central part of Clinton county, and they have shown themselves as especially worthy of commendation in connec- tion with agricultural pursuits, their farms always being well tilled and well kept and they have always made a comfortable living and had good homes and their reputations for honesty and integrity have been without a stain.

No better representative of this honored family is to be found than Charles Joseph Porth, who is a native of this county, born in Olive township on the old homestead, May 4, 1869. He is the son of Carl and Thresa (Boman) Porth; the father was born in Germany on April 20, 1830, and the mother was born in Pennsylvania on July 20, 1831. Carl Porth spent his early manhood in Germany and was educated there. He emigrated to America in 1856 and settled in Hampton, Illinois. In 1858 he located in Clinton county, Iowa, on a forty-acre farm. He was an excellent manager and farmed on an extensive scale. As he prospered, he added to his original purchase until he owned five hundred acres of excellent land at the time of his death, all lying in Olive township. He was a general farmer and an exten- sive stock raiser and feeder, and he became well known and influential here. In politics he was a Democrat, but he never asked his friends for public office. He was a loyal member of the Catholic church, in which faith he died. His family consisted of six children, of whom five are living, three sons and two daughters. Carl Porth was also the father of four children by a former marriage, three of whom are living. By a former marriage the mother of the subject also had four children, of whom three are living. Carl Porth's death occurred on January 20, 1908, having been preceded to the grave by his wife on October 20, 1907.

Charles J. Porth, of this review, grew to maturity on the homestead and received his education in the local public schools. When a small lad he began farming and he has always followed this line of endeavor, with a large de- gree of success attending his efforts. He is now the owner of two hundred and eighty-seven acres, and he makes stock raising one of the principal lines of his work, being a good judge of all kinds of live stock and some excellent specimens are to be found at his place in all seasons. He has a comfortable home and good outbuildings.

Politically, Mr. Porth is a Democrat, but he has never sought office, pre- ferring to devote his attention to his farm and live stock exclusively. He and his family are members of the Catholic church.

Digitized by Google

648

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

Mr. Porth was married on August 27, 1891, to Dora Schroader, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, and who is the daughter of Carl and Hannah Serik, both natives of Germany and early settlers of Scott county, Iowa, and there the father is still living, the mother being deceased. They became the parents of eight children, of whom five are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Porth five children have been born, namely: Yangle, Harry, Edwin, Norwin and Lester.

A. E. BARBER.

One who is interested in the history of Clinton county could spend a few hours very pleasantly talking with A. E. Barber, a well known and successful farmer of Orange township, for he has spent his life here and has grown up with the county, his individual career and the history of his locality being interwoven. He has come down to us from the days of the first settler and has played well his part in the general work of transforming the country from a wild prairie to what is today, one of the choice agricultural sections of the Union. Improvement and progress may be said to form the keynote of his character and he is a man whom to know is to accord the fullest respect, for his life has been without the shadow or suspicion of underhanded dealings.

Mr. Barber was born March 27, 1845, on the old Barber homestead in Orange township, Clinton county, being the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Pearsall) Barber, mentioned elsewhere in this work.

He grew to maturity on the home farm and when but a lad was put to work in the fields, attending the neighboring schools during the winter months, and he has made general farming and stock raising his life work, succeeding well at both, and, having accumulated a competency through his habits of thrift and good management, he has retired from active work, leaving the manage- ment of his fine farm to his son.

On December 24, 1868, Mr. Barber was united in the bonds of matri- mony with Celia M. Phillip, who was born in Illinois, the daughter of Oliver H. and Mary (Robinson) Phillip, who spent their early lives in New York state and were married there. then moved to the state of Illinois, later coming to Clinton county, Iowa, where Mr. Phillip bought a farm, becoming well established and lived many years in Orange township. Mr. Phillip's death oc- curred in 1868, he being survived thirty years by his wife, who died in 1898.

To Mr. and Mrs. Barber one child has been born, Clarence. whose birth occurred on January 28, 1871. He received a good education and has de-

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. A. E. BARBER

Digitized by

Google

THE NEW YORK BLIC LIBRARY

, LENOX, AND FOUNDATIONS L

Digitized by Google

649

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

voted himself to agricultural pursuits, managing the home in a manner that stamps him as a young man of much ability, keeping the place well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He married Matilda A. Walrod, of this county, and who is the daughter of R. A. and Lucinda Walrod, both natives of Clinton county.

Politically, Mr. Barber is a Republican and while he has always been more or less interested in political and public affairs, he has never taken a very active part in either. He has an attractive, modern and neatly furnished home south of Grand Mound where the many friends of the family often gather, both he and his estimable wife being highly regarded throughout the county.

FRANK HESSE.

The life of Frank Hesse has been one of great activity and since coming to this country his industry has been rewarded by the comfortable competence which he now enjoys. He has made many valuable improvements on his farm in Olive township, Clinton county, including a beautiful dwelling and sub- stantial outbuildings, while the fertility of the place has been increased to its greatest productive capacity. As.a farmer he takes high rank, sparing neither labor nor expense to make his place as nearly ideal as possible and doing all within his power to raise the standard of agriculture in the highly favored locality where his home is situated. He has been a resident of Clin- ton county nearly forty-nine years, during which time he has seen and taken part in the great changes that have occurred.

Mr. Hesse was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1837, and he is the son of Andrew and Dora (Claus) Hesse, who were also natives of the fatherland, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married and where they re- mained until 1854, when they emigrated to the United States and settled in Scott county, Iowa. There the father bought forty acres of land, and lived there two years or until his death; his widow survived him many years, dying there in 1874.

Frank Hesse was educated in the schools of Germany and grew to man- hood there, being seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents to America. He began doing farm work soon after reaching Iowa. It was in 1862 that he came to Clinton county and bought his present farm, which he has made his place of abode continuously from that time to this. He first purchased eighty acres. He has added to this until he now has a good farm

Digitized by Google

650

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has placed under excellent improve- ments. In 1908 he erected a new set of buildings, his son living in the old buildings and operating the place for his father, the latter merely overseeing the general farm work, doing very little hard work, though he is well pre- served for one his age.

Mr. Hesse married, in 1862, Gustine Linderman, of Scott county, Iowa, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Elizabeth, Minia, Johanna, Robert, Julia, Peter, Katie, George, Marcus, Rosa and Mary. The mother of these children passed to her rest in 1904.

Mr. Hesse and his family are members of the Catholic church and faith- ful in their support of the same. Politically, he is a Democrat, but he has never been particularly active in the affairs of this party. He was at one time road supervisor, and he has always taken much more than a passing interest in the things that had for their object the general improvement of his community and county.

WILLIAM HINES.

Here we mention a man who has prospered in his dealings, as his history shows. He has done this by the application of business principles and ex- ceptionally good management, and is a man in whom his neighbors have con- fidence, being just and square in all his dealings, such a man of sterling and unassailable character as the biographer is always glad to write of and whose virtues he is glad to depict.

William Hines was born at De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa, September II, 1867, the son of Michael and Bridget (Meigher) Hines, both natives of Ireland. His father was born in 1814, and received his education in Ireland. In earlier life he followed railroading, came to Clinton county in 1860, and was there a farmer. He died in August, 1907. He was a Democrat, and he and his family were faithful to the Catholic church of their fathers. His wife came to Clinton county in 1857, with her parents, Jack and Margaret Meigher, who spent their last days in Clinton county. She is still living and bore to Mr. Hines two sons, John, who owns the paternal farm, and William. By a previous marriage she was the mother of one child, and Michael Hines had two children by a previous wife.

William Hines grew up on the farm and attended the common schools and De Witt high school. He was a farmer until he was twenty-seven, when

Digitized by Google

651

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and has since been so engaged, having built up a very large business. In politics he is a Democrat and has served fourteen years as treasurer of De Witt. He and his family are Catholics.

Mr. Hines was married on November 10, 1898, to Theresa Quigley, who was born in De Witt, the daughter of Edward and Matilda (McErtain) Quigley. Edward Quigley was born in Ireland in 1836 and was brought to Canada when six months old by his parents, John and Bridget Quigley, who came to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1852, and here both died. John Quigley was a farmer and also a sub-contractor in the building of the Northwestern railroad. Edward Quigley received his education in Canada, being sixteen when his parents came to this county. He was first a farmer, then was en- gaged in business with his brothers as Quigley & Brothers for thirty years. and, with his brother Thomas, was prominent among the organizers of the First National Bank of De Witt. He was leading and influential in business circles in that city. In politics he was a Democrat. He and his family were Catholics and were active in church work. He was the father of four chil- dren, of whom two died in infancy and those surviving are Edward J. and Mrs. Hines. He died September 18, 1899, and his wife is now living.

Mr. and Mrs. Hines are the parents of two children, Mary Madeline and Edward Raymond. Mr. Hines was one of the organizers of the De Witt Savings Bank and is now its vice-president. His business ventures have prospered, thanks to his business sagacity and skill, and his standing in the community is deservedly high.

JOHN CLANCY.

The ability to produce great results in the business world from small he- ginnings is an art greatly coveted by commercial men. It is indeed marvelous how some men possess the power-even though beginning the struggle with empty hands-to rise from one position to another, while others fail and are unable to keep what they had at the inception of their business career. One of the business men of Clinton who has shown skill in whatever he has turned his attention to and whose progress has been steadily marked from year to year is John Clancy, a well known retail shoe merchant. temperance worker and public spirited citizen of Clinton, Iowa.

Mr. Clancy was born in Geneva, Illinois, October 14. 1860, and is the son of Patrick and Bridget (Hartigan) Clancy, both born in Ireland, the father

Digitized by Google

652

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

in county Cork and the mother in Tipperary. Patrick Clancy grew up in his native country and was educated there, emigrating to the United States when young and locating in Sterling, Illinois, in the year 1850. He was a mason by trade and he worked on the construction of the Northwestern railroad when it was being built through Illinois to the Mississippi river and to Clinton, Iowa. He also built the Gault House in Sterling, Illinois. After living in Sterling for a time, he moved to Geneva, Illinois. Here he became foreman of a gang of masons constructing a public school house at Batavia, Illinois. One day in the year 1870, at six o'clock in the evening, while inspecting the building, which was up to the roof, he stepped on a swinging scaffold and received a fall, dislocating his spine, resulting in total paralysis, which finally ended in his death in the year 1874. Four sons and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Clancy, namely : William, foreman in the machine shops of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad at Clinton, Iowa; James, a machinist also in the same shops; Mrs. Timothy Conroy, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two children, Edward and Helen, dying in childhood, and John, the sub- ject of this sketch.

The subject's early schooling at Geneva was interrupted, it being neces- sary for him to go to work, leaving school at thirteen years of age to assist his widowed mother in the support of the family. While this was somewhat trying, it was good experience and fostered self-reliance and fortitude. In 1875, the family moved to Clinton, Iowa, and William went into the railroad shops there and learned the trade of machinist. John also learned the trade of a machinist in the W. J. Young machine shops, and eventually became night foreman in Young's shops, holding that position for several years. In 1886 he and John Keefe went into the retail shoe business, adopting the trade name of the "Two Johns," and although the firm changed later, Mr. Keefe retiring in 1898, the owners becoming Clancy & Kennedy, the name remained the same. On January 1, 1910, Mr. Clancy bought out his partner's interest and is now the sole owner and proprietor. He has a well established business and a large and ever-increasing trade, carries a complete and up-to-date line of fine shoes, housed in a very convenient and well arranged store building at No. 707 South Second street, Clinton.

. Mr. Clancy was married on February 10, 1898, to Josephine Hanrahan, who was born in August, 1875. She is the daughter of Daniel and Mary Hanrahan, early settlers near Petersville, this county, and this family became well known and highly respected in that part of the county. Three children have been born to this union, namely: Josephine Bridget, Edward Daniel and Mary Margaret.

Digitized by Google

-- -

653

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

Mr. Clancy has never had any political aspirations, but he is a great fraternal society man, and a very enthusiastic temperance worker. He is a loyal Catholic and very proud of his family and that he is of Irish blood. His example is worthy of emulation by the youth of the land for various rea- sons, partly because he has never taken a drop of liquor in his life, and this is no doubt largely responsible for the fact that he has retained his youth into age, being now fifty years old, but having the appearance of a man of thirty- five. It is rarely that a man can be found who has had the courage of his convictions and the fortitude to live as clean and wholesome a life as has Mr. Clancy, and such a man is deserving of a great deal of credit and praise.

In 1875 Mr. Clancy joined the St. Mary's Catholic Total Abstinence Society, and is at the present time serving his twelfth term as treasurer of this society, which was founded in 1869, and he has always been a very active and influential worker in the same. In the year 1889 he organized the Arch- Diocesan Total Abstinence Union, of Dubuque, the convention being held at Clinton, and was elected treasurer of that union. In 1889 he was one of the principal organizers of the local court of the Catholic Order of Foresters, and has been treasurer of that court almost from the beginning. He has much influence in lodge circles of this vicinity. For many years he has been financial secretary and treasurer of the Woodmen of the World, having paid out to beneficiaries of this order thirteen thousand dollars in the last three years in the city of Clinton.

In all the relations of life, Mr. Clancy has proven himself to be a high- minded, genial, honest and upright gentleman who is eminently deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all classes.

In January, 1894, owing to the hard times, many people were out of work and the charitable societies of the city were unable to care for all who applied for relief. The president of the Associated Aid at that time, Mrs. G. A. Smith, wife of Doctor Smith. She asked Mr. Clancy to take some meas- ures to provide for the Catholic poor of Clinton. Mr. Clancy brought the matter before the Catholic Total Abstinence Society, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Rosary Society. These societies appointed committees, which met in the basement of St. Mary's church in January. 1894, and formed St. Mary's Aid Society. With Mrs. T. F. Murphy, president, Miss Mae Mason, secretary and John Clancy, treas- urer, the society started out well, Rev. E. J. Mclaughlin giving a check for : twenty-five dollars and Rev. Father Murray ten dollars. Judge Wolfe, who was then on the bench, called at the store one day and asked Mr. Clancy if he was attorney for the Aid Society. Receiving an affirmative reply, he

Digitized by Google

654

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

tendered his check for ten dollars. Many others gave valuable assistance in both time and money. The depression was severe for the years 1894, 1895, 1896 and 1897, in the city of Clinton. In 1896 Mrs. E. M. Purcell became presi- dent and Mrs. Sidney Robb, secretary. Through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Purcell, during their terms as president, the society ac- complished a great deal of good work. Orphans were placed in good homes in the country, work was found for the unemployed men and aid cheerfully given where it was required. The society not only took care of the poor Catholic people of Clinton, but extended aid to all cases of distress, regardless of race, color or religion, the funds being ample to care for all cases that came to their attention.

HENRY F. FOX.

An enterprising and successful young farmer of Clinton county is Henry F. Fox, of Spring Rock township, where his family has long been well known and influential, the excellent reputation of which he has ever sought to bear aloft. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, in 1883, the son of Louis and Wilhelmina ( Homrighausen ) Fox, both natives of Germany. The father, who came to America when young and settled in New Jersey, was one of the famous band of forty-niners who went to Cali- fornia at the time of the rush for golden Eldorado of the West and he re- mained there fifteen years, engaged in mining, in which he was fairly well repaid for his labor. In 1871 he came to Clinton county, Iowa, and was mar- ried on September 2, 1876, to Katherine Schneider. One son, George, was born to them. The marriage of these parents occurred after they came to Clinton county. Mr. Fox was again married, his second wife being Wilhel- mina Homrighausen, which union resulted in the birth of three children, Louis, Henry and Arnold.

Louis Fox, the father, devoted his attention to farming in Clinton county and was very successful, accumulating three hundred and four acres of land. all of which was in Clinton county, and also fourteen acres in Cedar county. There were no improvements on the place, but he was a man who delighted in overcoming the barriers he met in the road leading to success, so he went to work with a will and improved his land and had a fine farm and a very comfortable home. He became one of the influential men of his community and was well and most favorably known, for his life was that of a man of strength both of mind and character, and he had the good will and the hearty

Digitized by Google

- --

1 1

655

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

friendship of all his neighbors and friends. The death of this splendid citizen occurred on February 16, 1904; his widow survives and makes her home at Wheatland. The elder Fox was twenty-six years of age when he left the Fatherland and took up his residence in the state of New Jersey, remaining there two years; with the exception of the time spent on the Pacific coast, he lived on a farm in Spring Rock township, Clinton county.

Henry F. Fox, of this review, was educated in the public schools of Clinton county where he grew to maturity. He began working on the home farm when old enough and has always remained here. He is a general farmer of the most approved methods, and he has been very successful. He operates one hundred and seventy acres, which he has kept not only well tilled but well improved.

Mr. Fox was married on November 25, 1908, to Lily Laschanzky, who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, near Liberty postoffice, the daughter of a highly respected family.

Politically, Mr. Fox is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Reformed church.

George Fox, brother of Louis Fox and uncle of the subject of this sketch, was born in Germany on February 7, 1825, and died on October 22, 1887. In 1852 he came to America and in 1856 went with his brother Louis to California, where they worked in partnership. He never married.

PERRY T. BUXTON.

It is the honorable reputation of the men of standing and affairs, more than any other consideration. that gives character and stability to the body politic and makes the true greatness of a community revered at home and respected abroad. In the true light which things of good report ever invite, the name and character of Perry T. Buxton, the well known and popular proprietor of the Wheatland Gazette, stand revealed and secure, and he easily takes a position in the first rank of Clinton county's representative and public- spirited citizens, who, without ostentation, endeavor to perform their duty as they see and understand it, without especial hope of reward or fear of punishment.

Mr. Buxton is the scion of an excellent old family, well known in Jones county, Iowa, where his birth occurred on September 3, 1882. He is the son of Frank W. Buxton and wife, a full sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

Digitized by Google

656

CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.

Perry T. Buxton was reared in Orange City, Iowa, and at La Crosse, Kansas. He received a very serviceable education in the home schools. He came to Wheatland, Clinton county, in November, 1888, and he was gradu- ated from the high school here, also attending the Monticello high school. He subsequently took a course in the Clinton Business College. He learned the printer's trade with his father and when a young man he decided upon a news- paper career, and his first newspaper work was on the Clinton Age. On January 2, 1901, in partnership with his father, he undertook the publication of the Wheatland Gazette, under the firm name of F. W. Buxton & Son, and the subject has since been the sole manager and editor. He has met with much success, having built up a large circulation, and is issuing a neat, attractive, well edited and newsy sheet, which has been rendered valuable as an adver- tising medium and takes a high rank with the papers of this type in eastern Iowa.

In politics Mr. Buxton is a Democrat, and he publishes the only Dem- ocratic paper in the county outside of Clinton. He has always stood un- swervingly for the principles of his party and the Gazette is recognized by local party leaders as a potent factor in promulgating Democratic principles in this county. Fraternally Mr. Buxton is a member of the Spring Rock Camp, No. 24, Modern Woodmen of America.

On May 29, 1907, Mr. Buxton was married to Lucy A. Stevenson, who was born in Clinton county, Iowa, on June 14, 1887, and she was reared and educated here. She is the daughter of a well known family, John R. and Mary Stevenson, residing in Sharon township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Buxton two children have been born, namely: Miriam Itha and Franklin Howard.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1, Part 64

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