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 70
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 70
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business at Templeton, and subsequently engaged in his present business, and by his fair and honorable dealings and strict atten- tion to business he has built up a large trade, and gained the confidence and respect of the people. In politics Mr. Meis has been a life- long Democrat. His postoffice is Templeton, Iowa.
ICHARD RICKE, merchant at Breda, is one of the prominent business men of the town, and has been identified with its interests since June, 1878. Ile first engaged in the hardware trade with II. Olerich, Sr., which partnership existed about six years. In 1883 he embarked in his pres- ent business. During the year 1884 his sales amounted to $27,847; in 1885, 829,831; in 1886, $30,325. Mr. Ricke is a native of Germany, born May 12, 1843, son of Bernard and Adaline (Menser) Rieke. He came to America in 1861, being then seventeen years of age. He first settled in Kentucky, where he remained a short time, then removed to Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and worked on a farm one year for $77. The next year he received $90, and the third year he received $16 a month. In 1865 he bought eighty aeres of land, for which he paid $9.50 per acre. Here he resided for three years, then sold his land for $31.50 per acre, and came to Carroll County, locating in Kniest Township, where he bought 220 acres of land on section 4. He improved this land, and resided upon it until 1878, then came to Breda. IIe has a fine residence, the main part being 16x26 feet, with an L 16x20 feet. It was built in 1883, at a cost of $1,200. His store building is 22x64 feet. He also owns lots 5 and 6 in block 7, and twelve acres adjoining the town, besides his old farm in Kniest Town-
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
ship. Mr. Ricke was married in January, 1865, to Miss Mary Flige, of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and they have five children- Theresa Lena, Henry, John Bernard, Ellen Christina and Mary Julia. He has served as township assessor two years, township trustee four years, and as member of the town coun- eil two years.
OHN B. HUNGERFORD, a son of Maurice IInngerford, was born in Me- Kean County, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1854. When eleven years old he came with his parents to Iowa. They located in Wa- pello County, near Ottumwa, where his father died in 1869. His mother is now living in Kansas. Mr. Hungerford graduated at the State Agricultural College at Ames in 1877. Ile taught school for four years at Morning Sını and Montezmina, and has since been in newspaper work. In June, 1886, he bought a half interest of P. M. Maclean in the Car- roll Herald. and has since, with Mr. Maclean, conducted that paper in the interests of the Republican party, of which he is a strong adherent.
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Il. GNAM, dealer in general hardware, tinware, stoves, shelf goods and barbed wire. established his business in Breda in 1884. Ile carries about $3,000 worth of stock, with annual sales of $12,000. Ile came to Carroll County in 1873, and settled in Kniest Township with his father, A. L. Gnam, who established one of the first brew- eries in the county, at Mount Carmel. Our subject assisted in the brewery three years as its manager. In 1879 he settled in Breda, where he was engaged in the saloon business
two years, then commeneed elerking in the store of C. Bruning & Sons, and also acted as assistant postmaster. In 1883 he engaged in the hotel business at Breda, which he con- tinned until 1884. He was married January 23, 1883, to Miss Mary Bruning, daughter of C. Bruning, of Breda, and to this union have been born two children-Mary Anna and Her- man C. Politically Mr. Gnam is a Demo- erat.
ANIEL DAVIS, one of the prosperous citizens of Carroll County, residing on seetion 22, Newton Township, is a native of Sonth Wales, born August 12, 1833, a son of Isaac and Anna Davis, who were also natives of South Wales. They were the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, our subjeet being the seventh child. He was reared to the avocation of a farmer, remaining on the home farm till seventeen years of age, when he began working by the month for other parties until attaining the age of twenty-four years. IIe then began working on a railroad as a seetion hand, and two years later was made agent for a railroad company, which position he filled two years. May 10, 1871, he sailed from Liverpool, Eng- land, and after a voyage of twelve days landed in New York. Three days later he started for lowa City, Iowa; thenee to Des Moines, and from the latter place proceeded to Carroll County, where he bought land on seetion 21 of Newton Township. For his wife he married Margaret Powell, a daughter of H. and Elizabeth Powell, who were natives of South Wales. Eight chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, as follows-Thomas, Howell, Daniel, David, Margaret (deceased), Joseph, John and Eliza- beth. Mr. Davis is one of the self-made
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men of Carroll County. Beginning life a poor boy, he has by his industrious habits, persevering energy and good business man- agement, accumulated a large and valuable property, adding to his original purchase in Carroll County till he now owns 1,280 acres in Newton Township, and by his fair and honorable dealings he has gained the eonfi- dence and respect of all who know him. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Repub- lican party.
L. BECKER, farmer, section 8, Grant Township, is among the enterpris- ing and successful citizens of his township, with which he has been identified since 1872. He is a native of Hanover, Germany, born February 1, 1836, a son of John and Anna (Boueker) Beeker. IIis father died on shipboard in 1867 when. on his way to America. IIis family consisted of four children-W. L., Arnold, Theodore and Ida. Arnold was a sailor, and was captured by the Confederates during the war of the Rebellion and pressed into their service, and died before the close of the war. W. L. Beeker attended school in his native land until fourteen years of age. When fifteen years old he shipped on board a sailing vessel, and followed a seafaring life thirteen years, and two years sailed on the lakes. In 1872 he moved from Ogle County, Illinois, to Car- roll County, Iowa, and located in Grant Township. He first bought eighty acres of wild land on section 6, which he improved and lived on until 1877, when he sold it and bought the farm where he now resides, which contains 120 acres of Carroll County's best land under a high state of eultivation. His residence is a good one and a half story frame,
surrounded with shade and ornamental trees, and his farm buildings are comfortable and convenient. He has a good native grove of forest trees covering three acres, and also lias a fine orchard of bearing trees. Mr. Becker was married in 1865 to Miss Gebhardine HIesslingh, a native of Germany, and daughter of George and Catherine (Okken) Hesslingh. They are members of the Evangelical Asso- ciation. In politics Mr. Becker is a Demo- erat. Ile has always taken an interest in the canse of education, and has served several terms as a member of the school board. By his honorable dealing and genial manners he has gained the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and fellow-citizens, and is elassed among the first men of his township.
C. REID, mayor of Coon Rapids, and member of the law firm of Reid & Morgan, came to this place in Oeto- ber, 1882, and in December of the same year the present law partnership was formed. These gentlemen transact most of the busi- ness of the place that pertains to their pro- fession. They are also engaged in loan, real estate and insurance business. Mr. Reid was born in Indiana, July 23, 1850. His father, P. T. Reid, came to Iowa when his son was five years of age, settling in Poweshiek County, and being one of the first settlers of that county. The father died in Los Angeles, California, in 1884, while visiting a daughter living In that eity. Our subject was reared on a farm, and began the study of law in 1876 in Poweshiek County. He was ad- mitted to the bar December 18, 1879, at Montezuma, and has been engaged in the practice of his profession ever since. He has a thorough English edneation, and was for five years engaged in teaching. IIe was
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
married to Miss Susan Carpenter, daughter of A. II. Carpenter, who settled in Poweshiek County in 1846, and now resides in Audubon County. Mrs. Reid was born in that county. They have two children. Politically Mr. Reid is a Demoerat. L. W. Morgan, of this firm, was born in Ohio in 1853, and came to Iowa with his parents in 1855. The family settled in Poweshiek County, where the father still lives. Mr. Morgan began the study of law in 1877, at Tipton, Cedar County, this State, and was admitted to the bar at Sae City in June, 1883. He was united in mar- riage with Miss M. J. Williams, a daughter of John Williams, who was also an early set- tler of Poweshiek County. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have three children. Politically Mr. Morgan affiliates with the Republican party.
AMBERT KNIEST, one of the earliest settlers of Carroll County, was born in Doetinehen, Holland, March 19, 1819. He was married in the same place July 16, 1543, to Miss Adelaid Wilhelmina Dieker, who died two years subsequently, leaving one son-B. J. Kniest. He was married again in 1846 to Miss Mary A. II. Geselschap, in Doetinchem. In 1847 Mr. Kniest and family immigrated to America, living in Buffalo for a short time, removing from there to Pittsburg, and from there to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in the manufaet- ure of boots and shoes. During the cholera of 1849, which was then raging there, his second wife and her son Henry died of the terrible scourge. On the 17th of May, 1850, at St. Mary's Church. St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Kuiest was married for the third time to Miss Mary Adelaide Kochs. In 1852 he re- mnoved with his family to Dubuque, Iowa, where he immediately engaged in the mer-
cantile business in partnership with Anton B. Linssen. After several years of successful business Mr. Kniest built the largest hotel ever erected in Dubuque at that time, at a cost of $40,000, and was known as the Mer- chants Hotel, but was destroyed by fire about one year later. In 1860 Mr. Kniest was elected assessor, which office he held for several con- seentive years. lle then engaged in the fire and life insurance business with Abrain Williams, now a resident of Chicago. In 1868 Mr. Kniest made his first visit West as far as Carroll County, to look up the country, and finally selected a township of land of 23,000 aeres in Carroll County, Iowa, town- ship 85, range 35, and which was afterward named Kniest Township, in honor of its founder. said name being now printed on all State maps. This land he purchased of the Iowa Railroad Land Company, at Cedar Rapids, through its president, the Hon. John I. Blair, for a term of five years, for a nominal sum, on condition that he furnish fifty actual settlers during the first year. It was also provided that all lands remaining unsold after that period were to revert to the Iowa Railroad Land Company. Mr. Kniest then began to advertise the lands extensively, and in the prescribed time furnished the actual fifty settlers, who were Germans, Cath- olies and Democrats. Near the center of the township a village was begun by Mr. Kniest and named Mt. Carmel in honor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, on whose feast day he signed his contract with the Iowa Railroad Land Company, July 16, 1868. Here he erected the first Roman Catholic church in the county, which also served as a tem- porary school. Then other buildings sprang up, and Mt. Carmel was soon known near and far. During the years 1868-'69 Mr. Kniest remained most of the the time at Mt. Carmel, doing all the good he could for
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the settlers, besides using all his means for their comfort and welfare. As some of the new settlers had barely enough means to make the first payment on their land, and being in a new country, they needed assistance, which was always cheerfully given by Mr. Kniest, there being then over eighty families. At the request of Mr. Kniest, Bishop Hennessy, of Dubuque, on July 17, 1869, sent the Rev. F. Heimbucher, a German priest, to minister to the spiritual wants of the settlers, and for whom ;Mr. Kniest built a parsonage, which he furnished comfortably. This be- ing a Catholic colony, Mr. Kniest only sold to
Catholics. In 1871 he removed his family from Dubuque to Carroll, where he engaged in the land and mercantile business until the year 1877, when, his health declining, he re- tired from all business. His disease being of the lungs, he rapidly grew worse, and on August 14, at midnight, 1879, a second hem- orrhage caused his death, almost instantly, in his sixtieth ycar. The death of one so well known and loved as Mr. Kniest caused a general feeling of surprise and sorrow in the community, and his funeral, which took place August 16, was the largest ever held in Carroll County. People that had known him came from afar to pay their last respects to the good man, and in deference to his memory all places of business were closed during the funeral. Thus ended the career of a man who had passed through life bravely, and who, in the greatest adversity as well as prosperity, always bore a cheerful disposition. Ile was a kind husband, an indulgent father, a consistent Christian and a devont Catholic, often saying to his children, " Worldly goods were not of so great an importance as was the laying up of treasures for the hereafter." "All for the greater honor and glory of God," was his frequent expression, and surely his whole life was in accordance with such a be-
lief. Politically he was a sterling, uncom- promising Democrat. Mr. Kniest left a wife and eleven children, all of whom are living, with the exception of one daughter, Agnes, who died of consumption at the age of nineteen years, August 31, 1879. The following are the living children - B. J. Kniest, born in Doetinchen, Holland, May 2, 1844; Hannah A., born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, September 23, 1851; Mary A., born in Dubuque, Iowa, March 3, 1855; Regina, born in Dubuque April 4, 1858; John B., born in Dubuque June 24, 1861; Philo- mena A., born in Dubuque February 5, 1862; Frank V., born in Dubuque July 21, 1866; Frances E., born in Dubuque September 3, 1868; Lambert, born in Carroll March 12, 1872; Josephine L., born in Carroll Febru- ary 25, 1874.
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J. COPPOCK, farmer, section 9, Union Township, has been a resident of Car- roll County since 1874. He was born in Darke County, Ohio, January 20, 1841, son of Joseph and Millie (IIall) Coppock, natives of Ohio. His early life was passed on a farm, and his education was obtained in the common schools of his native State. Sep- tember 15, 1864, he enlisted in Company L, Nineteenth Ohio Infantry, and was in Gen- eral Sherman's march to the sea. During a raid into the enemy's country he was run over by a horse and severely injured, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He served until June 9, 1865, when he was honorably discharged, and returned to his home in Ohio, where he remained two years. In 1867 he removed to Putnam County, Mis- souri, where he resided until 1874, when he came to Iowa and settled in Guthrie County. In 1879 he bought a portion of his present
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
farm, 160 aeres, and has since added to that amount until he now has 380 acres of excel- lent land, and the best fenced farm in the township, having seven miles of fence. He has a fine residence, barn, and feed lots for stock, and he is extensively engaged in stock- raising and feeding. He keeps about 140 head of cattle, sixteen horses, and a large number of swine. When about twenty years of age he was married to Miss Sarah Coat, of Miami County, Ohio, and to this union have been born ten children-Harvey .J., Ananias E. and Flora Jane were born in Ohio: Mary, Laura and Dessie were born in Missouri; and Clande Garfield and Maud Ar- thur (twins), Almeda and Lola were born in Iowa. In politics Mr. Coppock is an earnest Republican. Ile is a member of the order of United Workmen, and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
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OHN COONEY, a well-known pioneer of Greene County, is president of the Coon Rapids Bank. He settled in Ken- drick Township, Greene County, in 1856, and removed to Carroll County in 1880. In the fall of 1856 he was appointed deputy county surveyor under A. J. Currance, and at the election held in the autumn of that year he was elected surveyor, a position he held twelve years. When Mr. Cooney went to Jefferson there were but three buildings there. Mr. B. F. Robinson is the only man now living in Jefferson who was there when Mr. Cooney went there. The latter was a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Greene County for many years. In 1880 he removed to Glidden, and engaged in banking under the firm name of Lyon and Cooney. In 1882 he established his present bank, of which he is president, and his son, M. M. Cooney, is
cashier. Besides the ordinary banking busi- ness, they invest in first mortgage securities, and make farm loans and collections. The bank building is a fine brick structure, erected in 1884. Mr. Cooney was born in Hardin County, Ohio, in 1830, where he lived until 1855. His father, Asa Cooney, was born in Virginia, and settled in Ohio at an early day, where he lived until his decease. The parents had four sons and four daughters, all of whom are living. The brothers of Mr. Cooney, James, Squire and William H. H., are residents of Hardin County, and are among the wealthiest and most influential citizens of that county. Mr. Cooney was married in Ohio to Miss Phebe E. Matthews, a daughter of Jonathan Matthews. Their children are-Merrill M., in the bank with his father; Lillian A. and Lovina G. Three children died in infancy. Politically Mr. Cooney was formerly a Whig, voting for General Scott for President in 1852. Later he became an Abolitionist. In 1860 he went to Pike's Peak, where he remained several years, being absent a greater portion of the time during the war of the Rebellion, but he was heartily in sympathy with the Union. Ile is now a Republican.
ENRY J. COOLEY, one of Carroll County's pioneers, was born in Rutland County, Vermont, February 13, 1851, he being the eldest of eight children of George and Eunice Cooley, natives of Ver- inont and New York respectively, and now residents of Audubon, Iowa. Henry J. Cooley was reared to agricultural pursuits, his youth being spent in assisting his father clear their frontier farm and bring it under cultivation. The parents left Rutland County, Vermont, and settled with their family in
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Guthrie County, Iowa, in 1857, where the father entered 160 acres of land, and ereeted a log cabin with puncheon floors. They experienced many of the vicissitudes of pio- neer life. They used ox teams in breaking their prairie, and their principal meat was wild game, which was very plentiful in those days. Two years later the family removed from Guthrie to Carroll County, settling in Newton Township, where the father bought land for $1.25 per acre, which he improved from a state of nature. While living on this farm their trading and milling was done at Des Moines. Henry J. Cooley, the subject of this sketch, remained at home with his parents till attaining the age of eighteen years, when he was married to Alvia Monroe, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of John and Nancy Monroe, who were natives of Ohio and pioneers of Carroll County, Iowa. To this union were born four children-Willard HI., Fred L., Carrie M. and Effie F. After the marriage of our subjeet his father gave him a horse, and after buying another one he rented part of the old home place, where he followed farming for four years. He then purchased eighty acres on seetion 19, Sheridan Township, which he traded two years later for forty acres of land on the same section, on which he resided two years. He then traded his land on seetion 19 for forty acres on section 16, where he resided until 1882, when he went to Oregon. He remained there but a short time, when he returned to Carroll County, Iowa, and engaged in dealing in eoal and grain at Audubon. IIis wife being in feeble health he went with her to Cali- fornia in October, 1885, where she died October 31, 1885. November 28 he returned to Iowa, and soon after was again bereaved by the death of his daughter Effie. In the spring of 1886 he went to the Black Hills, Colorado, returning the following June to
Carroll County. when he began clerking in a mereantile establishment at Dedham, where he has since resided. Mr. Cooley is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Po- litieally he is a Republican.
YLVESTER PRESTON, real estate, loan and collection agent, also an at- torney, Coon Rapids, located here in the fall of 1878, and was the first attorney of the place. IIe came from Harrison County, where he had been practicing law two years. He first became a resident of Carroll County May 1, 1869. Mr. Preston was born in Grant County, Wisconsin, in 1850. He was reared in his native county, and educated in the public schools and at Sinsinawa Mound College, in Grant County. In the spring of 1869 his father, Allen Preston, eame to Iowa with his family and settled in Carroll. The father erected the Iowa House at that place, and conducted it about twelve years. Ile then took charge of another hotel there until 1885, when he removed to Wayne County, Nebraska. He was born in Chenango County, New York. Our subjeet began studying law at Carroll City, with Joseph Kelley, in 1874, and was admitted to the bar at Dunlap, Har- rison County. in 1875, where he opened his first office in Woodbine, that county. He re- mained there two years, then located in the town of Audubon, Audubon County, eoming to Coon Rapids later, where he has since re- mained. He now devotes the most of his at- tention to real estate and collections. Ile is also a notary public. Mr. Preston was mar- ried in Guthrie County, May 23, 1872, to Miss Delilah Jane Clearwater, who was born in Indiana, and died at Carroll, May 1, 1876, leaving one daughter-Carrie, who died at the age of seven years. Politically Mr.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Preston is a Demoerat. An elder brother, Lorenzo Preston, located at Grant City, Sae County, in 1867, and soon after came to this county. He is now with his father in Nebraska.
LEXANDER TUEL, of Union Town- ship, was born in Monroe County, Ohio, December 23, 1847, son of William and Margaret (Knight) Tuel, who were the parents of fourteen children. In 1855 the Tuel family removed to Lee County, Iowa, where our subjeet was reared, and educated in the common schools. Arriving at the age of manhood he was married in 1872 to Martha C. Bagley, who died in 1876. Mr. Tuel came to Carroll County in 1866, first locating on section 16, Union Township, where he lived three years. Ile then sold and bought a portion of his present farm of fifty-four acres. Ile has since added to that amount until he now owns 294 acres of as good land as can be found in the township. Ile married his present wife September 16, 1877. She was formerly Miss Almira Chev- alier, of this county. They have five children -Leonard, Geneva, Oscar, Anna and Ottie. Politically Mr. Tuel is a Democrat. He is also a member of Masonie Lodge No 197. Ile started in life a poor man, but by indus- try and good management has secured a tine property.
ERMANN HESSLINGH, farmer, sec- tion 6, Grant Township, was born in Hanover, Germany, January 24,1837, son of George and Catherine (Okken) Hesslingh. lle resided in Germany until 1864, when, in company with his brother George, he came
to America, locating in Ogle County, Illinois. He was married September 16, 1871, to Miss Jessie Johnson, also a native of Hanover, and a danghter of John and Wendel (Klink- enburg) Johnson. The parents, with their eight children, came to America in 1860, set- tling in Ogle County, Illinois. Mr. Illess- lingh eame to Carroll County in the fall of 1871 and bought some wild land of the Iowa Railroad Land Company, which is his present home. He first bought eighty aeres on see- tion 8. He has a comfortable house, good farm buildings for stoek and grain, a fine grove of trees and a good orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Ilesslingh are the parents of six children -- George C. W., Wendaline, Hermann, Cath- erine, Johanna and John. He is a Democrat in polities, and has served as township elerk and township trustee several terms with great eredit. Being honest and just in business transactions, he has gained the confidence and esteem of all.
EPHAS PARKER, of Coon Rapids, is one of the well-known pioneers of Car- roll County, having settled here in 1868. IIe first located on section 17, Union Town- ship, where he improved the farm and lived one year. He then removed to Audubon Connty, and three years later returned to Carroll County, settling on section 16, Union Township. In 1875 he purchased the flour- ing-mill of Coon Rapids, and removed to that place. He owned the mill about ten years, then sold to George W. Foreman, the present proprietor. Mr. Parker built his new and beautiful residence in 1882. He was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1831, and lived in the Buckeye State until 1852, when he came to Cedar County, this State. In the fall of that same year his father, Asa L. Par-
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