Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages, Part 62

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Greene County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 62
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 62

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Mrs. Josephine Miller, who lives in Carroll County. Sarah Elizabeth, who was also married, died in Carroll County, lowa. In 1878 Mr. Roberts settled with his family in Tama County, where he made his home till 1875. He then came to Carroll County, Iowa, and settled on the farm where he still resides, which contains sixty acres of valuable land. Coming with limited means, he has by hard work and indomitable perseverance acquired his present property, and during his residence in Eden Township has gained the respeet of all who know him. IIe has improved his farm from a state of nature, and has brought it under fine cultivation. IIe has on his land a fine grove of three acres which was raised from cuttings. Ile has held the office of supervisor sinee becoming a resident of the county. He is a member of the Church of God. Politieally he is a Democrat.

EORGE CONNER, of Richland Town- ship, is one of the early settlers of Carroll County, having been a resident here since 1863. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, January 24, 1830, son of Adam and Betsey (Sigler) Conner, who were the parents of ten children, George being the fourth child. His youth was passed in assisting on the farm. In 1851 he was married to Miss Melissa Sigler, also a native of Monroe County, Ohio. Soon after marriage they removed to Lee County, this State, where they resided until 1863, when they came to Carroll County and located in their present home. This was one of the first settlements made in the prairie. He first bought eighty acres of land. ITis house was made of logs, with elapboard roof and no window. He has sinee added to his first purchase until he now

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

owns over 600 acres of land. He has one of the best residences in the township, and his farm is well cultivated. His house was built in 1883. It is modern style and well fur- nished. He has a good barn, 36x44 feet, a native grove, and an orchard of five acres. Mr. and Mrs. Conner are the parents of ten children-Emanuel, Luther, John, Bnehanan, Clarinda, Frank, Azariah, Narcissus, Oliver and Lolie. Politieally Mr. Conner is a Democrat.

OSEPH M. DREES, attorney at law, Car- roll City, Iowa, is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, born October 8, 1848, a son of Andrew A. and Clara (Deters) Drees, natives of Germany. His father died in Du- buque, lowa, in 1867, and his mother is living in Carroll County, aged seventy-two years. He is the fifth of their ten children. When sixteen years of age he began elerking in a elothing house, which he continued abont four years. In 1867 he enlisted in the regn- lar army, and was assigned to Company E, Third United States Cavalry. His service was on the plains of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, under Generals Crook, Rey- nolds and Custer. He was mustered out January 24, 1873, at Fort Sanders, Wyoming Territory. For a time he served as Hospital Steward and was discharged as First Duty Sergeant. After his return home he served some time as deputy postmaster, his mother holding the office of postmistress from 1870 until 1878. He began the study of law with Lieutenant-Governor Manning, and was admitted to the bar in 1879, the first law stu- dent in Carroll County that passed an exami- nation in open court. In addition to his law practice he is acting as agent for several in- surance companies, viz .: Etna, of Hartford;

Connecticut, of Hartford; and Phoenix, of Connecticut; Union, of San Francisco; Royal, of London, and Capital, of Des Moines. He is also agent for the North German Lloyd Steamship Company, New York and Balti- more lines, and the Red Star Line Packet Company, and the Royal Netherland Steam- ship Company. He is United States Com- missioner for the South District, Western Division, buying and selling railroad and school land. He is one of the stockholders of the Carroll County Democrat. In poli- ties he is a Democrat. He is elassed among the clearest headed business men of Carroll County. He owns his office building, and one-half of lot 3, block 21, also lots 4 and 5, with his dwelling-house, which cost about $2,500. Mr. Drees was married April 6, 1875, to Hannah Kniest, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, born in 1850, daughter of Lambert and Maria Kniest. They have had six children-Clara, Joseph T., Lambert, John, Mary (deceased) and Frank G.

SAAC HARRIS, one of the pioneers of Carroll County, lowa, lives on seetion 21, Union Township, where he owns 360 acres of good land. Mr. Harris was born in Lieking County, Ohio, in 1824, the sixth of fourteen children of John and Cassandra (Hughes) Harris. He was reared in his native State, and there married Lydia Ann Cretsinger, who was born in Virginia in 1831, a daughter of John and Mary Magdalene Cretsinger. April 18, 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Harris started from Ohio for their Western home, and after a journey of thirty-one and a half days, landed in Dallas County, Iowa, and the following January moved to Carroll County and settled on the farm where they now live. They are among the few of the

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.

pioneers of the county who are left to recount the trials and privations of the early day. They have had nine children. Two died in infancy and one after reaching maturity. Those living are-Samuel, Lyman, Arista, Lincoln, Frank and Oliver. In polities Mr. Harris is a Republican.

RISTA HARRIS, of the loan, real es- tate and insurance firm of Holiday & IIarris, at Coon Rapids, was born in Union Township, this county, in 1858, and is a son of Isaae Harris, who came to the county in 1856, and still resides on section 21, Union Township. Ile was educated at the State Agricultural College, at Ames, and followed teaching four years. He married Lulu E. Millard, a native of Illinois. Politi- eally Mr. Harris is a Republican. The firm of Holiday & Harris was established in Jan- uary, 1883, though each member had been in the business several years before the part- nership was formed. The firm is doing a good business.

EORGE HESSLINGH, farmer, seetion 7, Grant Township, was born in Han- over, Germany, February 1, 1831, son of George and Catherine (Okken) Hesslingh, who reared a family of three children George, Gebhardine, wife of W. L. Beeker, of Grant Township, and Herman. The father died in 1859. George and his brother eame to Ameriea in 1864, and located in Stephenson County, Illinois, where they worked on a farin two years. The mother and daughter then came to Illinois, and the family pur- chased 120 aeres of land in Ogle County, where they lived until 1873. That year

George came to Carroll County, loeating on his present farm of 160 acres, which he bought of the Iowa Railroad Land Company, where he has since resided and improved his farm. His residence and farm buildings are good and comfortable. Ile has a grove of forest trees, and an orchard of both large and small fruits. Besides his home farm he owns forty aeres on section 8. Mr. G. Hess- lingh has held the office of township assessor two terms, justice of the peace two terms, and township treasurer eleven years. Politi- cally he is a Demoerat. Religionsly he is a member of the Evangelical Association. IIe has always taken an active interest in any enterprise by which the community will be benefited.

EORGE W. McCORMACK, an active and enterprising agrieulturist of War- ren Township, engaged in farming and stoek-raising on seetion 22, was born in Deeatur County, Indiana, November 10, 1846, a son of William and Hester MeCor- mack, who were natives of the same State. They were the parents of seven children, of whom only three now survive, our snbjeet being the eldest child. They were among the pioneers of Marshall County, Iowa, loeat- ing there in the year 1851, where they pre- empted 240 acres of land, building a log honse and making improvements. The father was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, en- listing in the Second lowa Cavalry, serving one year, when he was killed by a minie ball at Nashville, Tennessee. George W., our subjeet, was reared to agricultural pur- suits, which he has made the principal avo- eation of his life. After his father's death he began farming the old homestead, his father leaving him forty aeres, on which he

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

resided about eight years. He then immi- grated to Sioux County, Iowa, remaining there only one year, when he returned to Marshall County. He was united in mar- riage January 1, 1871, to Miss Maria Mc- Daniel, who was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1853, a daughter of E. and Harriet McDaniel, also natives of Pennsylvania. They are the parents of six children, of whoin fonr now survive-George S., Russell D., Homer F. and Rnth A. Mr. McCormack sold his Marshall County prop- erty in November, 1876, then came to Car- roll County, when he settled on the farm where he now resides. He has been successful in his farming operations, and has now a well- cultivated farm of 160 acres, which he has improved from a state of nature, making it one of the best in his neighborhood. In politics Mr. McCormack affiliates with the Democratic party.

HOMAS RODERICK, farmer and stock- raiser, section 20, Dedham Township, is a native of South Wales, born De- cember 26, 1828. a son of Roderick and Margaret Roderick. He learned the plas- terer's trade in his youth, at which he worked in connection with farming. In 1846 he came to the United States, landing in Phila- delphia, where he lived twelve years, and in 1858 came to Iowa and located in Linn County, where he made his home about ten years. In the meantime, during the war of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and served ten months, when, May 15, 1862, he was discharged on account of disability. Return- ing home he remained until the following August, when he again enlisted and was assigned to Company F, Twenty-fourth Iowa

Infantry, and served three years. He par- ticipated in many severe battles, including the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson and Bank's Red River expedition. After his discharge in June, 1865, he returned to Linn County, and in March, 1868, removed to Carroll County, where he has since lived. He was married September 11, 1868, to Barbary A., daughter of George and Barbary Pfei- fer. They have seven children-George W., Margaret, John L., Gertrude, Emma L., Roderick and Mary B. Mr. Roderick is a member of the Masonic order and Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican.

ALENTINE ROUSH, junior mem- ber of the firm of Kuhn & Roush, proprietors of the Manning Roller Mills, was born in Highland County, Ohio, February 2, 1848, a son of John and Rebecca Roush, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively. In 1855 the family came to Iowa, locating in Marion County, and there the parents still reside, the father aged eighty- six years, and the mother at the age of eighty-three years. They reared a family of fifteen children, of whom twelve, six sons and six danghters, are still living, our subject being the youngest child. He remained under the home roof until attaining the age of nineteen years, when, in 1867, he went to Pottawattamie County, and from there went to Cass County two years later. He subse- quently went to Adair County, where he lived the year previous to coming to Carroll County. In 1882 the firm of Kuhn & Roush was formed, and the same year the mills were erected, under the supervision of Mr. Roush, at a cost of $12,000, with nine sets of rollers

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and two burrs, driven by a fifty horse-power engine, this being one of the best mills in Northwestern Iowa. Mr. Roush was reared to the avocation of a farmer, commeneing his present oeenpation, milling, in Cass County in 1870. Ile was united in marriage in that county in 1870, to Miss S. S. Ileath- mann, and to this union have been born three children-Jairus C., Harlow P. and Blanche. Politically Mr. Roush is a prominent mem- ber of the Democratie party, and in 1885 he was elected a member of the county board of supervisors, and in 1887 was elected chairman of the board. He is genial and courteons as a business man and citizen, and is a general favorite. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is junior warden of Manual Lodge, No. 450, at Manning. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, belonging to Lodge No. 262, at Manning.

OSEPH WIEDEMEIER, farmer, Grant Township, was born in Westpfahlen, Germany, in September, 1844. He was reared to farm work, and when twenty-five years of age was united in marriage with Miss Veronika Thieleke. In 1870 they came to America, and first located in Carroll City, where they resided one year. Mr. Wiede- meier worked on the railroad the first year. He bought eighty aeres of land of the Iowa Railroad Land Company, and in 1871 settled upon the same. Ile has added to his first purchase until he now owns 284 aeres of as good land as can be found in Carroll County. It is all in a good state of enltiva- tion and well improved. He has a good house, a commodious barn for grain and stock, and a native grove of two and a half acres. Mr. and Mrs. Wiedemeier are the

parents of six children -Joseph, Anton, Mary, Matilda, Josephine and Veronike. In politics Mr. Wiedemeier is a Democrat. Re ligiously, he belongs to the Catholic church. In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. Wiedemeier visited Germany and spent three months in their native land.

F. WALDRON, wagon-maker and blacksmith at Glidden, is a native of Cass County, Michigan, born December 27, 1846, a son of Isaac and Eliza (Mott) Waldron, who were the parents of eight children. When our subjeet was eight years old his parents settled in Kendriek Township, Greene County, Iowa, and there he was reared, his youth being spent in as- sisting with the work of the farm, and in attending school, where he received a fair common school education. In February, 1863, he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion and was assigned to Company E, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. After taking part in several engagements he received a wound which con- fined him to the hospital some five months. He was honorably discharged from the army, when he returned to his home in Greene County. He was united in marriage in May, 1866, to Miss llannah Mary Shreves, a daughter of James Shreves, a pioneer of Kendrick Township, Greene County. Five children have been born to this union -- Lois E., IIenry, Nellie, James and Floy Pearl. Mr. Waldron established his present business at Glidden in 1974, and in connection with his wagon and blacksmith shop he runs a re- pair shop. IFe has, by good management, reasonable prices and strict attention to the wants of his customers, built up a good trade and gained the confidenee and respect of all who have business relations with him. He

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

owns his shops at Glidden, and also the house in which he resides. In his political views Mr. Waldron is a Republican. He is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and is senior vice-commander of Post No. 291, at Glidden, and also belongs to Lodge No. 291, I. O. O. F., at Glidden.

ARVEY BELL is recognized as the pioneer business man of Manning, where he opened a grain warehouse in August, 1881, the first business house of any kind opened at Manning. Mr. Bell was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1832. He was reared principally in Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, till reaching the age of seventeen years, when he left the home roof to begin life on his own account. With an elder brother, Edmund, he came to Iowa, and spent the winter of 1849-'50 in Allamakee County. The following spring they platted a town near the present site of Wankon, naming it Bunker Hill. Before the season closed they had sold their land at a handsome profit, and hunting for a new loca- tion visited Fillmore County, Minnesota, where they purchased land, becoming pio- neers of Newburg Township, that county. The neighborhood where they settled has ever since been ealled Bellville. July 14, 1857, while returning from a visit to his old home in Penn- sylvania, he was united in marriage at Daven- port, Iowa, to Miss A. A. Benton, a former schoolmate. But six of the children born to Mr .and Mrs. Bell are living-Allie, wife of Paul Winter of Manning; Ethe, wife of W. N. Day, of Carroll City, and Gertrude, Sadie, Mandie and Gracie, students in the Manning schools, fitting themselves for teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Bell lived many years at Bellville, their home being one of the finest farm prop-

erties in that locality, and the abode of hos- pitality. Mr. Bell was associated with his brother in the general mercantile business at Bellville for several years, under the firm name of E. & II. Bell, and in merchandising as well as farming he was very successful. In 1868 he removed to Houston County, Minnesota, and located at Brownsville, on the Mississippi River, where he was engaged in dealing in grain for several years, and was one of the leading grain operators on the Upper Mississippi River, and during these years he also acted as agent for all the steamboat and express companies. Reverses incident to most business men during those years of de- elining values overtook him and nearly im- poverished him, but although greatly depressed by his losses Mr. Bell held out bravely. He left Minnesota in the spring of 1871 and located at Areadia, in Carroll County, Iowa, where he was engaged in the grain and produce trade till coming to Man- ning. Since becoming a resident of Man- ning he has become prominently associated with the religious as well as business inter- ests of the place. He is a member of Man- ual Lodge, No. 450, A. F. & A. M., at Manning. In polities he affiliates with the Republican party, his first presidential vote being east for John C. Fremont. Wherever Mr. Bell has lived he has established a repu- tation for striet integrity, and by his fair and honorable dealings he has gained the confi- denee and esteem of all who know him.

OHN NESTLE, proprietor of bakery and restaurant at Carroll, is a native of Wit- tenberg, Germany, the date of his birth being July 18, 1830. Ile attended school in his native country till fourteen years of age, when he learned the trade of a weaver, which

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

he followed four years. When eigliteen years of age he came to America, first locat- ing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he remained eighteen months. He then re- moved to Germantown, Kentneky, and in 1854 went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he lived neighbor to the notorious Jim Lane, and during the John Brown troubles in that State Mr. Nestle participated in several skirmishes with him. Mr. Nestle was united in marriage in the year 1858, and by his marriage has had six children. In 1860 he removed to Marshalltown, where he resided until he came to Carroll County, Iowa, in 1882, since which time he has made his home at Carroll. He now owns the busi- ness house in which he is located, which is a good two-story brick building, 22x80 feet, and is among the best in the town. He also owns another good business house in the same eity. By his genial and accommodating manners and striet attention to the wants of his customers he has built up a good busi- ness, and has gained the confidence and re- speet of the entire community by his fair and honorable dealings. Mr. Nestle is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders.

ENRY POWELL, proprietor of the Car- roll Dairy, which was established in 1882, is a native of Shropshire, Eng- land, the date of his birth being December 5, 1836. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth Powell, had a family of three children- Henry, George and Ann Elizabeth. The father was a son of Sir George Powell, the Powell family tracing their ancestry baek to the time of William the Conqueror, and the mother of our subjeet was the daughter of a landed proprietor. Henry Powell, the sub- ject of thissketeh, made his home in England

until attaining the age of twenty-eight years. When fourteen years old he went to sea and for years followed a sailor's life. On com- ing to America, abont the year 1864, he located in New Jersey, where he resided un- til 1867. Ile then came to Iowa, locating in Sac County near the Carroll County line, twelve miles north of Carroll, where lie re- sided some two years. March 29. 1868, he was married to Miss Franees Elizabeth Ban- nister, who was born at Mandley, in Stafford- shire, England, but at the time of her marriage was living in Carroll, Iowa. They are the parents of five children-W. Henry, born in Sae County, March 26, 1869; Annie Elizabeth, born May 5, 1871; Freder- ick J., born October 1, 1873; Clara May, March 19, 1876, and Alice Lonisa, born March 1, 1878. Mr. Powell has been a resident of Carroll County since 1869. He is the owner of 106 aeres of choice land, all well improved and under a high state of cultivation, a good, commodious residence, and fine ont-buildings for the accommodation of his stock. In pol- itics Mr. Powell affiliates with the Republi- can party. Both he and his wife are worthy and earnest members of the Methodist Epis- eopal ehureh.

A. TALBOTT, farmer, section 31, Grant Township, has been a resident of Carroll County since 1876. He was born in Morgan County, Indiana, Febru- ary 21, 1826, son of Edward and Mary (Lanning) Talbott, who were the parents of ten children, onr subjeet being the fifth ehild. When he was about four years of age his parents removed to Jackson County, Indiana, where he was reared to manhood. Ilis early life was spent at farm work, and his education was obtained in the common schools. In

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

1850 he came to Iowa, first locating in Iowa County, three miles west of Marengo, where he improved a farm. November 2, 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy A. Greenlee, a native of Miami County, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Esther (Furas) Greenlee, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. They were the parents of thirteen children, Mrs. Talbott being the oldest. They came to Iowa in 1846, settling near Iowa City. Our subject resided in Iowa until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted, August 13, 1862, in Company G, Twenty-eighth Infantry, and served about three years in the Gulf Department, and was afterward transferred to the Department of the Potomac. Ile was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Iowa. He removed to his present farm in Carroll County in 1876, having purchased the same the year previous, of the Iowa Railroad Land Company. HIis farm contains 127 acres, which is in a good state of cultivation and well improved. He has a good residence and comfortable buildings for stock. Mr. and Mrs. Talbott have seven children-W. W., John F., Naomi B., Charles E., Robert L., Mina G. and Jessie S. Mr. Talbott is a member of the Masonic order, also of the Grand Army post. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics is a Republican.

SCAR J. SOPER, one of Carroll County's pioneers, and the present efficient postmaster of Browning, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, October 19, 1832, a son of Briggs and Sadie (Woodard) Soper, natives of New York and New Hampshire respectively. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters, our subject being the third child. He was

reared to the avocation of a farmer, his early boyhood days being spent in assisting on the farm and attending the district schools. At the age of eighteen years he began working in a saw-mill at Livingston, Massachusetts, where he was employed about one year. IIc then spent three years in New Hampshire, working ont by the month, when he returned to the old homestead. In 1855 he immi- grated to Jones County, Iowa, and began working on the Minneapolis, St. Louis & St. Paul Railroad, where he found employ- ment until the winter of 1859. He was married in Jones County, December 23, 1859, to Miss Cora Kanolt, born in Albany, New York, November 24, 1842, the eldest of six children of John and Catherine Kanolt, who were natives of Germany. To this union have been born two children-Jessie M., wife of Walter Rutlidge, of Sac County, Iowa, and Ira D. In the spring of 1860 Mr. Soper started for Pike's Peak, traveling across the plains from Omaha. In 1863 he went from Denver to Salt Lake City, thence . to Montana, where he remained till 1866. He then returned to Jones County, Iowa, and in 1868 came to Carroll County, when he settled on section 13, Sheridan Township, on raw prairie land. He subsequently sold his farm on section 13, and removed to section 1, Sheridan Township, where he has since re- sided, and which he has improved from a wild state and brought under good cultiva- tion. His first trading was done at Glidden, and his milling was first done at Jefferson, now the county seat of Greene County. He has been very successful in his farmning operations, and by his industry, combined with good management, has acquired his present fine property, which consists of 356 acres on section 1, and eighty acres on section 2, Sheridan Township. Political1. Mr. Soper is a Republican. He has served his county

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 728

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 728