1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Bohlander |
C Booth |
D Booth |
A Boysen |
H Boysen |
Brown |
Buch |
Burkhiser |
Byers |
C Campbell |
J Campbell |
Carlsen |
The Bohlander family was one of the first families of German birth to
settle in the state of Illinois, the grandfather of William F. Bohlander having settled in Cook, county, Illinois, when there were only thirty-seven houses
in the place where the city of Chicago now is. The glowing accounts which
they sent back to their native land no doubt induced many of their countrymen to follow in their footsteps, and thus they probably were largely responsible for the emigration of a large number of their countrymen from their
native land.
John Bohlander, the great-grandfather of William F., came to Illinois
about ten years after his three sons had settled in that state. These three sons
were John, Peter and Philip, who settled in the counties of DuPage and
Cook, where they remained the rest of their lives. John Bohlander, the
grandfather of William F., was a native of the province of Rhine Pfalz,
Germany, came to Illinois in 1836 and died in that state in 1861. He was
twice married, his first wife, Mary Glos, who died in 1854, having given him
seven children, John, Peter, Philip, Henry, Adam, Mary and Margaret. To
his second marriage were born four children, William, Ernest, Amelia and
Dora, all of whom were born in Illinois. Mary became the wife of Rudolph
Pfister, and both are now deceased. Margaret married Christian Binder, and
both are deceased. Amelia remained unmarried, while Dora became the wife
of W. Thomas, now deceased. Henry died in 1880. Peter and Ernest died
in 1912.
Philip Bohlander, the father of William F., with whom this narrative
subsequently deals, was born on May 13, 1845, in Cook county, Illinois.
He served in the Union army during the Civil War, as well as did his brother,
Henry, both being members of Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-third
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The brothers enlisted early in 1864
in response to President Lincoln's last call for volunteers, and served until
the close of the war in 1865. Some time after the close of the war Philip
Bohlander left Illinois and settled in Shelby county, Iowa, where his death
occurred June 27, 1896. In 1868 Mr. Bohlander married Mary Niemann, a
native of Hanover, Germany, who came to America in 1866 with her parents
and settled in DuPage county, Illinois. After their marriage they lived in
that state until 1879, when they moved to Shelby county, Iowa, locating in
Shelby township, where, after Mr. Bohlander's death, in 1896, his wife lived
until 1904, when she moved to Avoca, Iowa, where she still resides. They
were the parents of six children, William F., the immediate subject of this
review; Matilda, who became the wife of Fred Rohrs, and lives near Shelby,
Iowa; Emma L. is the wife of Robert E. Marshall, and lives at North Platte,
Nebraska; Helen E. married Christopher Rohrs, and lives in Shelby; Mary
I. is the wife of Christian R. Miller, and lives near Avoca, Iowa, and Edward,
who is unmarried and lives near Dallas, South Dakota.
William F. Bohlander, the eldest son of Philip and Mary (Niemann)
Bohlander, was born April 7, 1873, near Hinsdale, DuPage county, Illinois,
and came with his parents to Shelby county, Iowa, in 1879. He was educated in the public schools of this county and later took a course in the
Western Normal College in Lincoln, Nebraska. After leaving college, in
1894, he engaged in the furniture business at Shelby, Iowa, for three years.
He then disposed of his business and engaged in farming on the fine farm of
three hundred acres in Fairview and Shelby townships. This farm is the old
Bohlander homestead, on which Mr. Bohlander has a beautiful home and one
of the best set of barns and outbuildings to be found in the county; He
divides his attention between the raising of crops and the breeding of live
stock, and is very successful in his line, having won an enviable reputation
as one of the best farmers in the county.
Mr. Bohlander was married June 15, 1904, to Rose C. Wunder, the
daughter of Henry Wunder, of this county, who was born in Shelby township June 3, 1877, and was a successful teacher in the public schools of the
county for six years, and to this union have been born two children, Clarence
W., born May 26, 1905, and Alvin E., born September 20, 1910.
Mr. Bohlander is identified with the Republican party and has always
been actively interested in local politics. He served as township clerk, for
six years and is now the efficient secretary of the school board of Shelby
township, having held this office for fourteen years consecutively. Being a
man of excellent education it is natural that he should be vitally interested in
educational matters, and since becoming a member of the school board he has
given his hearty support to all measures which might in any way improve
the schools of his township. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and also holds membership in the Shelby Encampment, No. 161, being a past chief Patriarch, and is a past noble grand in
Canopy Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 401, of Shelby, while both he and his wife
are members of the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Bohlander is vice-president
of the Farmers Savings Bank of Shelby, and also a director of the Farmers
Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Shelby county. He is well versed on all
the leading questions of the day and takes an active interest in everything
pertaining to the welfare of his community.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1456 - 1458.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Prominent among the representative citizens of Shelby county, Iowa,
and distinguished for his ability in carrying to completion whatever he undertakes, is Charles D. Booth, a prosperous implement and automobile dealer
of Harlan. He stands out as a clear and conspicuous figure among the successful men of his county, and his achievements but represent the utilization
of his talents in directing his efforts along useful lines in which mature judgment and a resourcefulness that hesitates at no opposing circumstances pave
the way and ultimately lead to success. Mr. Booth has always been an advocate of wholesome living and cleanliness in politics as well, and has always
stood for the highest and best interests of the community in which he has
lived.
Charles D. Booth, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Phillips) Booth,.
was born in Stockton, California, in 1870. His father was born in London,
England, in 1839, while his mother is a native of the state of California.
Nathaniel Booth was one of the early settlers of Shelby county, Iowa, and
engaged in farming in this county until 1881. He then sold his farm and
moved to Harlan, where he engaged in the sale of farming implements and
supplies, remaining in this business until the time of his death, in 1911. His
widow is still living, making her home with her daughter in Harlan.
Charles D. Booth was educated in the schools of Harlan and at Iowa
State College at Ames. He commenced working for his father in the implement business at the age of eighteen. When he reached his majority he
received a share of all the profits and later purchased a half interest in the
firm, being at this time a senior member of the firm of N. Booth & Son. He
has the honor of selling the first automobile sold in Shelby county, the buyer
being Doctor Bisgard, of Harlan. He is also the first dealer in the county
to receive a car load of automobiles and has been the leading salesman in
automobiles in the county ever since he began selling them. During 1913
his firm sold two hundred and one automobiles and they sold two hundred
and forty-seven up to August 10, 1914, a record which will probably stand
for several years. The Booth firm employs fifteen men, having branch
houses in Jacksonville and Defiance. In addition to his business interests,
Mr. Booth is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Union
township, which he bought several years ago for thirty-seven dollars an acre.
He has since made extensive improvements on this land and has had the
satisfaction of seeing it treble in value. He is president of the Commercial
Exchange and a stockholder in the Live Stock Association of Harlan. He
has a beautiful residence property on Baldwin street, where he and his family
are now living.
Mr. Booth was married in 1895 to Edith B. Pickard, the daughter of
Luther Pickard and a native of this state. Mr. Booth and wife have never
had any children of their own, but have adopted one and reared two children
of his brother, Henry: Mrs. Hazel R. Tinsley, who graduated at the age
of nineteen from Cedar Falls College, and Richard H., who graduated from
the Harlan high school at the age of thirteen, and then entered the Naval
Academy at Annapolis, from which he graduated in 1911. At the present
time he is an ensign on one of the battleships in Mexican waters. Estella
May was nine weeks old when adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Booth and is now
three years of age.
Politically, Mr. Booth is identified with the Republican party and has
always been interested in political affairs. In 1894 he was township clerk
and has served two years in the city council of Harlan and two years as chief
of the fire department. He has been associated with the Field Club and
several other organizations of Harlan, in all of which he is a valued member.
Fraternally, Mr. Booth is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has passed all the
chairs in the Masonic lodge and has always been deeply interested in this
fraternity. He and his family are members of the Congregational church,
in whose welfare they are interested and to whose support they are generous
contributors. Mr. Booth is a wide-awake and progressive business man,
who has the welfare of the city at heart, and no measure which is proposed
for the advancement of the city has a heartier supporter than he. Owing to
the fact that he has been a man of high ideals and kindly disposition, he well
merits the high esteem in which he is held by everyone who knows him.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 803 - 805.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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It is often stated that the greatness of a community or state lies not in
the machinery of government, nor even in its institutions, but rather in the
sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for high and unselfish effort and in his devotion to the public welfare. The closer the analysis
given this statement the greater its truth will appear. Prominent among the
citizens to whom Harlan, Shelby county, Iowa, can point with just pride is
he whose name forms the caption to this article. For a number of years one
of her leading business men, he has ever displayed an unselfish interest in
civic affairs, having filled with great credit several offices within the power
of the city to bestow.
David J. Booth, dealer in farm implements and automobiles, is a native
of Shelby county, having been born in Center township in 1872. He is a son
of Nathaniel and Mary (Phillips) Booth, the former born in London, England, in 1839, and the latter born in 1853 in the state of California. The
elder Booth emigrated to America, coming to Shelby county, this state, where
he engaged in farming, which vocation he followed until 1881. At that
time he disposed of his farm interests and moved to Harlan, where he engaged in the sale of farm implements and supplies. In this enterprise he
remained until the time of his death, in 1911. His widow still survives,
making her home with her daughter in Harlan.
The subject to this biographical sketch received his education in the
schools of his home neighborhood and when nineteen years of age became
interested as clerk in a general merchandise store in Harlan, where he remained until 1895, in which year he became associated with his father in the
implement business. After the death of the father, subject and his brother,
Charles D., who was born in 1870 in California, became sole owners with
their mother of the business, to which they had added the sale of automobiles.
In this connection they have since remained, the business showing a healthy
arid gratifying growth.
In 1894 Mr. Booth was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Long, born in
1875 at Creston, this state, and to their union have been born eight children,
namely: Loren, Imogene, Kemper, Charlotte, Hoyt, Ruth, Helen and
Charles R., all of whom remain under the parental roof. It is the desire of
Mr. Booth that his children shall all receive good practical educations and
both boys and girls be thoroughly trained in the essential principles of good
citizenship, so as to fit them for useful and happy lives when they take their
places in the world.
Politically, Mr. Booth is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party,
whose interests he takes closely to heart. Throughout the years of his residence here he has ever borne in mind his duty as an intelligent citizen and has given liberally of his time to the performance of civic duties. He has served
Harlan as city clerk and member of the city council and also was a member
of the famous hose team. He served the school board as president for the
year 1913 and in the discharge of all these duties has met with the highest
commendation from all. While not a member of any church, he is an attendant upon the means of grace, and his fraternal affiliations are with the
Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Loyal Order of Moose.
The family moves in the best social circles of the town and one and all are
held in high esteem by all who know them, because of their excellent qualities
of heart and mind. Mr. Booth is quite fond of out-door sports and spends
considerable time in congenial pursuits at the Golf and Whist Club Association, finding rest arid recreation in its rural attractions. Particular interest
is attached to the career of Mr. Booth in that his entire life has been passed
in this county. In making an estimate of his worth, it is safe to base the
same upon the consensus of opinion of the friends and acquaintances who
have known him for so many years. Judging from this standpoint, he is
eminently worthy of the enviable position which he occupies in the estimation of his host of friends. A man of vigorous mentality and strong moral
fibre, he has achieved signal success in his private undertakings and his public
interest entitles him to the universal confidence and esteem, in which he is
held.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1464 - 1465.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The prosperity and substantial welfare of a community are in a large
measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its business men. There
are business men from many nations represented in Harlan today, and it is
safe to say that the sons of Denmark have shown themselves to be as capable
business men as the native sons of this country. No more enterprising business man lives in Harlan than Andrew Boysen, who, for the past fourteen
years, has been engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in this
city. Such wide-awake men of affairs make the real history of a community,
and their influence in shaping and directing its various interests is difficult to
estimate. He embodies all of those sterling characteristics which have distinguished his forefathers, and during the twenty-four years that he has spent in this country he has made a name for himself which stamps him as a man of keen business ability.
Andrew Boysen, the son of Andrew and Christina (Goskesem) Boysen,
was born March 20, 1864, in Schleswig-Holstein, of Danish parentage. He
was given an excellent education in the schools of his native land and brought
up under rural conditions. Upon reaching manhood he decided that he
would find better opportunities for advancement in America than in his
native land. Accordingly, he saved his money with the intention of coming
to this country, and in the summer of 1890 he made the trip across the broad
Atlantic. On August 14, 1890, he arrived in Atlantic, Iowa, where he lived
for one year, doing such work as he could find to do. He then found employment with J. L. Winne, a furniture dealer and undertaker of Atlantic,
and remained with him for nine years. During this time he became thorough ly acquainted with every phase of the business and in 1900 came to Harlan
and purchased a similar business and has been continuously engaged here
since that time. In 1903 Mr. Schaack went into partnership with him
and these two enterprising business men have built up a large and lucrative patronage in Harlan and the surrounding country. They have two
floors filled with their goods and make every effort to keep their stock
thoroughly up to date. In order to keep on hand at all times enough goods
to meet the demands of the people of this community, it is necessary to
carry ten thousand dollars' worth of stock all the year, but with their rapidly
increasing trade they consider this no difficulty whatever.
The parents of Andrew Boysen reared a family of five children: Andrew, who is the eldest of the family, and Hans, who is a clothing merchant
of Harlan, are the only two of the family who have ever come to this country. Three daughters are still living in Denmark. The father of these children died in 1875, and the mother in 1908.
Andrew Boysen has been twice married, his first marriage occurring
January 1, 1890, when he was united to Andrea Anderson, who died in June,
1895, leaving an infant son, who died three months later. Mr. Boysen's
second marriage occurred February 20, 1896, to Christina Schaack, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Schaack, and to this union have been born
three children: Alfred, born February 5, 1897, graduated from the high
school at Harlan in 1914; Aaste, born in 1900; Harold B., born in 1908.
The Republican party always has appealed to the support of Mr. Boysen,
and while apparently a newcomer in this country he has taken his full share
of the burdens of political life. At the present time he is a member of the
city school board of Harlan, and there is no more loyal supporter of the best
educational ideas than Mr. Boysen. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and also the Danish Brotherhood. He and his family are all earnest
members of the Danish Lutheran church, in the prosperity and welfare of
which they always have been deeply interested. Although a quiet and unassuming man, Mr. Boysen has contributed much to the material advancement of his community, and because of the straightforward, upright course
of his life he has tended greatly to the moral circles in which he moves. He
is a man of liberal views, believes in public improvement, and does what he
can to further this end.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1297 - 1298.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Of all the emigrants who reach the United States from the countries of
Europe, none show a greater aptitude for adapting themselves to our peculiar
institutions than those who come from Germany. Having themselves lived
in a country where one citizen is as good as another, if he behaves himself
as well, they almost immediately understand our political methods and customs and appreciate the advantages which are offered by our laws. The result is that they are at once contented and straightway proceed to make the
most of their new surroundings. After their home is established and they
have attained some degree of comfort, they look around and soon take a
warm and intelligent interest in our form of government, in our schools, in
our churches, in the affairs of our county administrations, and so forth.
People who come from some other countries require a considerable time to
adjust their old ideas to the new conditions. Not so with emigrants from
Germany, as was shown by the Boysen brothers when they came here. It
seems that they at once understood our form of government and at once were
acting in conjunction with our customs and laws.
Hans Boysen, a prosperous clothing merchant of Harlan, Iowa, was
born in 1866, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He is a son of Andrew and
Christina Goskegesem, who were born in 1840 and 1831, respectively. Andrew Boysen was a farmer all his life and died in his native land in 1875,
while his wife passed away in 1908 in Denmark. They were the parents of
five children: Andrew, whose history is related elsewhere in this volume;
Mrs. Christina Termansen; Mrs. Anna Doce; Pauline, and Hans, whose history is here recorded. The three daughters are living in Denmark, only the
two sons having come to this country.
Hans Boysen and his brother, Andrew, came to the United States in
1891, leaving their native land on the 27th day of April. They came here
because they felt that there were better opportunities for advancement in the
new world. The success which has attended their efforts in this country has
abundantly justified their judgment in leaving their native land. Upon arriving in New York city in the spring of 1891, Hans at once found work in New
Jersey in a terra cotta factory, where he worked diligently for one year. He
saved his money with the intention of going on west, where many of his
fellow countrymen had settled in Iowa, and in 1802 he came to Atlantic,
Iowa, and clerked in a general mercantile establishment for one year. The
following year he came to Harlan, where he worked for Hammer & Company
as a clerk. He then returned to Atlantic, where he clerked for nine years
in a store, all the time saving his money with the intention of engaging in
business for himself. He finally felt able to gratify this desire and accordingly purchased a clothing store in Harlan and has been very successful in
business since that time. He carries a large line of men's wear and has built
up a large and lucrative trade by reason of his courteous treatment of customers and honesty in dealing. In addition to his clothing establishment he
has purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lincoln township, upon
which he has made some very extensive improvements. He has the fond
hope of making this one of the most attractive farms in the state and is
now planning to make it a model farm in every particular. He rents the farm
out to responsible tenants and gives his personal supervision to it at all times.
Mr. Boysen was married in 1894 to Dorothy Broderson, who was born
in Shelby county in 1871, and to this union there have been born five children: Ernest J., Esther, Arthur, Harry and Richard. All of these children
are still living with their parents and the oldest son, Ernest J., is clerking in
his father's store.
Politically, Mr. Boysen is identified with the Republican party, but his
business interests have kept him from taking an active part in political life.
However, he is a firm believer in good government and does everything he
can to further it in his own community. He and his family are members of
the Danish Lutheran church, and contribute generously of their means to its
support. Mr. Boysen was a soldier in the German army and served his three
years from 1887 to 1889. He is a man who is well liked by every one with
whom he comes in contact and impresses every one with his sincerity of purpose and honesty of motive. He has built up a good trade solely because he
believes in giving his customers the value of their money. He is a man of
genial manner and pleasing personality and has a host of friends throughout
Harlan and the surrounding community.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1360 - 1362.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Many of the best men and women of Shelby county, Iowa, are from
Sweden. They form a part of the great Teutonic population represented
in this county by Germans, Danes, Swedes and Norwegians. These people
have become worthy citizens, and the prosperity of the county is largely due
to their efforts. Carl A. Brown, Jr., came to this country when a lad of
seventeen, and like most emigrants from his country, he had very little
money. This handicap did not worry him, however, and within a few years
he was on the road to permanent prosperity, his farm of one hundred and
twenty acres being a glowing tribute to his success. Among the farmers of
Clay township he has long occupied a prominent place.
Carl A. Brown, Jr., the son of Carl Adams and Sophia (Detray) Brown,
was born in Sweden in 1864. His father and mother were both born in
1839. The father lives on his farm in Shelby county and his mother died
in 1909. Carl A. Brown, Sr., came to America in 1884 and located at Atlantic, Iowa, where he worked as a laborer for a short time. He then came
to Clay township, Shelby county, bought eighty acres of land and soon afterwards retired, turning the management of the farm over to his son. He is
now seventy-five years old and is in good health. There were six children
born to Carl A. Brown, Sr., and wife, three of whom are still living.
Carl A. Brown, Jr., was educated in the excellent schools of his native
land until seventeen, when he decided to come to the country of which he
had heard such glowing reports. Many from his country had already come
to America and located in Iowa, and their success here induced him to make
the long journey alone. He first located in Atlantic, Iowa, working as a farm
hand the first year. The second was spent in Audubon county, Iowa, where
he again found employment as a farm laborer. The third year found him
in Clay township, where he rented a farm. Later he bought this same farm.
He has the honor of raising the first crops grown on this farm, and since
he has purchased it has made extensive improvements amounting to more
than seven thousand dollars. Under his skillful management his one hundred and twenty acres yield him a very comfortable living.
Mr. Brown was married in 1883 to Amenda Gusatfson, who was born in Sweden in 1862. She came to America and was married to Mr. Brown
shortly after arriving in Iowa. Two children have been born to Mr. Brown and wife: Segra, the wife of Earnest Odem of Lorah, Iowa, and Richard,
who is living with his parents.
Mr. Brown and his family are loyal and consistent members of the Swedish Lutheran church, and are generous contributors to its support. He
has never been interested in partisan politics and has always voted for men rather than platforms. He exercises good judgment in voting for men who
will best control public affairs, and in this way is strengthening his commonwealth. Mr. Brown is a man of strict integrity. He has won an enviable
position among the citizens of his township.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1142 - 1143.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Shelby county is indebted, perhaps, to the Buch family as much as to any other family for its wondrous transformation to one of the choicest
sections of the Hawkeye state, for members of this family have been leaders in agricultural, industrial and civic affairs since the early days. Each, with a fidelity to duty and a persistency of purpose peculiar to that class of men who take the lead in large affairs, has performed well his duty in all the relations of life, and while advancing their own interests, they have not been unmindful of the general welfare of their fellow citizens. Therefore,
they rightfully deserve an honored place in the history of this locality.
Nicholas Buch, the son of Peter Paul and Mary (Leuck) Buch, was born on February 20, 1866, in Keokuk county, Iowa. His father was born on July 12, 1834, in Germany and his mother was born on May 2, 1839, in the same country. Peter P. Buch was an official for several years in a custom
house on the line between France and Germany. He was an expert penman and for years after he ceased to practice he could write a hand that looked
like copper plate. He was also an olive oil manufacturer in his native land but, upon coming to this country engaged in farming. Upon coming to
America he settled at Clear Creek, Keokuk county, Iowa, his wife locating there with her parents. They were married January 22, 1862, in the Catholic church at Clear Creek, lived in Keokuk county until 1873 and then moved to Shelby county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lincoln township, on which he placed ten thousand dollars' worth of improvements. He lived on this farm until October, 1911, when he retired and
moved to Carroll, Iowa, where he is now living, surrounded by all the comforts and conveniences of life. To Peter Paul Buch and wife were born
ten children: Michael, deceased; Mrs. Anna Schechinger, whose husband is a farmer in Lincoln township; Henry, deceased; John N., who is farming with his brother, Nicholas; Mrs. Mary Schuetz, of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Rosa Hammond, of Columbia, Calhoun county, Iowa; Matthew, of Carroll, Iowa; Barbara, also living in Carroll county, and Nicholas, whose life history is here revealed.
On, January 22, 1912, the children of Mr. and Mrs. Peter P. Buch
gathered at their parent's home, in Carroll, and helped to celebrate their
golden wedding. There were seven children and fourteen grandchildren
present, as well as many friends of the worthy couple.
Nicholas Buch was educated in the schools of Keokuk, Iowa, and lived
with his parents until three years ago. He is now living with his brother,
John N., on the old home farm. Nicholas has always been a farmer, although for several seasons he handled implements during the harvest season.
In 1900 he and his brother, John N., rented their father's farm and have
since been managing it. His brother, John N., who was born at Harper,
Iowa, October 14, 1872, was married November 30, 1911, to Lizzie Schmitt,
who was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1880. John Buch and wife have
one daughter, Margaret, who is deceased.
Nicholas Buch and his brother are both loyal Catholics, and contribute
generously of their substance to the support of their church. They are both
members of the Knights of Columbus and are actively interested in the work
of that fraternal organization.
Politically, Mr. Buch and his brother, John N., are members of the Democratic party, but have never been active in political affairs. Nicholas Buch is a man of quiet and unassuming demeanor, who has a host of friends in this community who admire him for his sterling honesty and upright character.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1168 - 1169.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The place which a minister holds in civilization entitles him to every
consideration at the hands of his fellow citizens. There is no profession
which is so exacting, which calls for such diversified talent as that of the
minister of the Gospel. They come into touch with every phase of life, with
men in all occupations, and he who does the work of the Master the most
efficiently is the man who is the most cosmopolitan in his appeal to humanity.
The, successful minister must he able to talk not only to the business man,
but to the laborer in the trenches. He must have that breadth of sympathy
which enables him to make the appeal to the cultured woman and again to
the woman who has become an outcast from society. It is not too much to
say that one reason why the church has failed to appeal to humanity better
than it has, is the fact that the men who are representing the church are not
as catholic in their tastes and in their appeals as they should be. One of the
men of Shelby county, Iowa, who is doing his share in the amelioration of
the spiritual needs of the people is the Rev. Charles V. Burkhiser, the pastor
of the St. Patrick's church of Defiance.
Rev. Charles V. Burkhiser, the sdn of John and Mary (Eigleman)
Burkhiser, was born in Fremont county, Iowa, on March 30, 1877. John
Burkhiser was born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to this country when a
young man and found employment upon a farm. At the opening of the
Civil War he enlisted and served for three years. After the close of the war
he married and moved to Indiana, where he remained for only a short time.
He then moved with his family to Putnam county, Missouri, where he
bought a farm and remained for two years. He then traded his farm in
Missouri for a farm of eighty acres in Fremont county, Iowa, and by hard
work and honest methods he increased his land holdings in Fremont county
until he was the owner of one thousand one hundred and forty acres of excellent land. He continued in active charge of his farm work until 1909,
when he retired from active life and moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, where he
is still living, his wife having died on May 25, 1913. John Burkhiser and
wife were the parents of eleven children: Conde F., who married Kathrine Roach; Matilda, the wife of William Swift; Sylvester, who died at the
age of three; Dorothy, the wife of Charles O'Brien; Annie, unmarried;
Laura, the wife of Joseph Hilger; Mary, who became the wife of Louis
Hilger; John, a Catholic priest at Des Moines, Iowa; Ernest, who is unmarried; Agnes, who died at the age of eighteen months; Charles V., the
immediate subject of this sketch.
Charles V. Burkhiser received his common school education in the
schools of Fremont county, Iowa, and then entered the Christian Brothers
College, at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he remained for six months, after
which he returned to his father's farm and worked for two years, when he
became a student for one term in St. Ambrosia College at Davenport, Iowa.
He next entered St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kansas, and spent a year
in this school. He then returned to St. Ambrosia College at Davenport,
where he remained for six years. He finished his course of training for the
priesthood in St. Francis Academy at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, remaining
there for three years, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 14, 1908.
Rev. Charles Burkhiser read his first mass at Hamburg, Iowa, June 24,
1908, in St. Mary's church of that place. His first appointment was as assistant to Father McMannis at St. Francis church, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and
there he was stationed for the first two years. He then was sent to Missouri
Valley, Iowa, where he was stationed until November 1, 1910. His next
assignment took him to Harlan, Iowa, where he had charge of the churches
at Harlan and Defiance. He remained at Harlan until July 1, 1911, when
Defiance became a regular parish and he was given the full charge of the
church at this place. Although he has been here but three years, he has had
the satisfaction of seeing his church increase in membership until it now has
sixty families.
Father Burkhiser is a man of active mind and thoroughly devoted to his chosen life work. He takes an intelligent interest in public matters and in
local politics always casts his ballot for the best man. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society and also of the Knights of Columbus.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 687 - 688.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The bar of Shelby county numbers among its membership several enterprising and rising young men who are more than ordinarily gifted with
ability of a high order. Among the younger members of the legal profession in the city of Harlan is Verner H. Byers, member of the law firm of Byers, Byers & Miller, and which is composed of him of whom this chronicle is written, Hon. H. W. Byers, of Des Moines, former attorney general of the state of Iowa and at present city corporation counsel of Des Moines, and Ernest Miller.
Verner H. Byers is the son of an early settler of Shelby county, H. C. Byers, at present a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, where he is engaged as a
traveling salesman. The father of V. H. Byers is a native of Wisconsin and early migrated to Iowa, settling at Earlham and in about 1875 came to
Shelby county and was employed in a merchandise store in Earling for some years. In the year 1909 he located in Des Moines as salesman for the
Atlantic Refining Company. Early in his young manhood he married Edith Bennet, whose parents settled at Nora Springs, Iowa, and whose grandparents were natives of England.
Verner H. Byers was born November 11, 1889, at Garner, Iowa, and received his primary education in the public schools of his native town. He
matriculated at Drake University in 1908 and graduated from the law department in 1912, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Law. He is continuing
his studies with the university with the intention of taking the Master's degree. Shortly after his graduation Mr. Byers located in Harlan and entered the office of his uncle, whose legal business had previously been centered in Harlan. The law business now in his charge was established about the year 1879 by Hon. H. W. Byers, who for many years was one of the leading attorneys of Shelby county and who was elected to the office of attorney general while a resident of Harlan.
Mr. Byers is a Progressive Republican in the sense that he is very strongly in accord with the progressive principles of government as enunciated by the younger element of the Republican party and believes that the desired reforms can best be brought about by the influence exerted within the party of his choice.
Verner H. Byers was married October 8, 1913, to Marie Hansen, a daughter of Knud Hansen, a former merchant of Harlan, now deceased. Mr. Byers gives great promise of achieving a marked success in his chosen profession and easily makes steadfast friends, who are quick to discern his inherent capabilities.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1440 - 1441.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Ancestry does not count for more than personal worth, but it is often a
guarantee of the latter. No one who reads the history of the interesting
career of the father of Colin I. Campbell could but believe that the children
of such a man would also live lives of usefulness in their community. The
Campbell family have been identified with the history of Iowa since the close
of the Civil War and in every community where the members of the family
have lived, they have contributed largely to the development, of the community. They have proved public-spirited citizens wherever they settled and
have never shirked the full performance of their duty when worthy movements were prompted for the general good.
Colin I. Campbell, the son of Thomas W. and Gertrude (Pennington)
Campbell, was born in Adams county, Iowa, October 14, 1881. Thomas W.
Campbell was the son of John and Sarah (Leeper) Campbell, natives of
Ohio. John Campbell was a soldier of the Civil War and served in Company
I, Eightieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in some
of the hardest fought battles of that memorable struggle, and died in Vicksburg, after its surrender, July 4, 1863, of typhoid fever. He had many
narrow escapes, at one time having some of the hair of his head cut off by a
bullet and at another time a bullet grazed his hand, but did not break the
skin. John and Sarah Campbell were the parents of seven children: James,
Alexander, Thomas, the father of Colin I., whose history is here delineated,
Willis T., Mrs. Jessie Kelly, Colin and George. In the fall of 1865 the
Campbell family moved to Iowa from Ohio, settling first in the southwestern
part of Iowa county. In the spring of 1866 they moved into Keokuk county
and in the fall of the following year they moved to Jasper county, where the
mother died. Thomas W. Campbell, the father of Colin I., whose history is
here related, was born August 20, 1853, and his wife, Gertrude Pennington,
was born December 25, 1860. After their marriage they located in Shelby
county, Iowa, in 1882, where they purchased eighty acres in section 13, of
Jefferson township. Here Thomas Campbell farmed until his death, July
20, 1906. He was a successful farmer and at the time of his death owned
four hundred acres of fine farming land. He had been a Republican until
1896, in which year he gave his support to the Democratic party and continued steadfastly to support it until his death. He never held any public
office, always having felt that his own duties demanded his entire attention.
Colin I. Campbell is the only one living of the three children born to
his parents, the other two passing away in infancy. He has always lived at
home and since the death of his father, in 1906, he has operated the old home
farm. He is one of the large stock dealers of the township and feeds on an
average two or three car loads of cattle for the market each year, as well
as about two hundred and fifty head of hogs. In order properly to care for
his farm he keeps at all times about fifteen head of horses on hand.
Mr. Campbell has never married, his mother living with him and keeping house for him. Politically, he is a Democrat. He has always been
counted among the most progressive farmers of his county, and during the
past few years has improved his farm until it is now one of the most attractive farms of this section of the state. Since his father's death, in
1906, he has added one hundred and forty-five acres to the home farm,
buying this land in Section 4, of this township. Mr. Campbell is still a
young man and has many years of usefulness before him. He has all of
those characteristics such as thrift, perseverance and honesty, which always
make for the material success of any man, while on the other hand he always
has shown an interest in every movement of his community which promised
to benefit it in any way.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1423 - 1424.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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It is a pleasure to contemplate the career of a successful, self-made man.
Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, beginning the great struggle
of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable environment and
removes one by one the obstacles from the pathway of success. Such a man
attains to a definite end by the master strokes of his own force and vitality
and succeeds because he utilizes all his native talents. One of the men of
Shelby county who have made this their home for the past thirty-four years
is James A. Campbell, who is now living a retired life after a strenuous career
of activity in this county.
James A. Campbell, the son of James and Rachel (Cross) Campbell,
was born April 10, 1846, in Muskingum county, Ohio. His parents were
natives of Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland, respectively, his father being
the son of James Campbell, who was also a native of Virginia. The Campbells are of Scotch descent and the Cross family are of Dutch ancestry. In
1856 James Campbell and his family came to Iowa and settled in Fayette
county where the father died a few years before the Civil War opened. The
mother lived to the advanced age of ninety-three, passing away at Oelwein,
Iowa. To James and Rachel Campbell were born five children: Mary, the
wife of William Payne; Ellen, the wife of William D. Birch; Keziah, the
wife of John Birch; Abraham, who was a member of the Thirty-eight Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry and lost his life at the siege of Vicksburg
on July 3, 1863; and James A., whose history is briefly reviewed in this
connection. All of these children are now deceased except James A.
The early education of James A. Campbell was received in Ohio and,
since he was only ten years of age when his parents moved to Iowa, he went
to school a short time after they came to this state. At the opening of the
Civil War he wanted to enlist and actually did enlist, but his mother being a
widow and having no other children at home, she prevailed upon him to remain with her. As a matter of fact he ran away to Dubuque, enlisted and
before he was mustered into the service, the sheriff, sent by his mother, took
him back home. In 1864 he started out to make his own living and until his
marriage in 1879, he found employment at any honest labor which would
give him a fair compensation for his efforts. In February, 1880, he came
with his young wife to Shelby county and purchased eighty acres in Greeley
township for which he paid eight dollars an acre. He kept the farm only a
few months and then sold it and purchased another farm in the same township. Within the next few years he bought and sold several farms, always
making something on each transaction. He finally located in Greeley township, where he acquired one hundred and twenty acres of excellent farming
land. He has been a general farmer, raising all the crops of this section of
the state and keeping as much live stock as he could feed from the crops of
his own farm.
Mr. Campbell was first married in 1879 to Ella Gearhart, the daughter of
Jacob and Julia Gearhart, and to this union there was born one daughter,
Julia, April 6, 1880. In 1885 Mr. Campbell was married to Mrs. Julietta
(Jenks) Kibby, who was born in August, 1845, in Illinois. To this second
marriage there have been born two sons, James A. and Milton. James A.
was born April 21, 1886, married Edith Pearl Woods and has three sons,
Maurice, Ralph and Howard. He is living on the old home farm and managing it. Milton was born November 12, 1888, married Martha Magnus
and has two sons, Clifford and Clarence. He is living on a farm in Greeley
township.
Mr. Campbell has long been affiliated with the Democratic party and
has been active in local politics. At different times he has been road supervisor and school director and in these capacities performed faithful service
for his fellow citizens. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, having been a member for more than forty years.
The life of Mr. Campbell has been singularly free from anything which
might bring upon him the condemnation of his neighbors and he can look
back over a life which has been well spent in the service of his fellow men.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 805 - 806.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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A Danish farmer of prominence in Center township, Shelby county,
Iowa, is Soren Carlsen, the proprietor of "Evergreen Hill Farm" of eighty
acres. He is an educated man, having received an excellent college education in his own country. He came here with a knowledge of the English
language. He has been a resident of this county thirty years, having come
through Castle Garden May 2, 1884. During this time, he has always been
active in everything of a community nature. He has filled various official
positions and has exhibited administrative ability of a high order.
Soren Carlsen, the son of Carl Hansen and Christiana (Sorensen) Carlsen, was born September 10, 1855, in Denmark. His parents never left their
native land, his father dying in that country March 28, 1897, and his mother
September 16, 1878. Carl Hansen was educated in the district schools of
Denmark and then spent three years in one of the many agricultural experimental colleges of his country. After graduating from the agricultural college, he returned home and worked with his father until his marriage. He
then began farming for himself and spent all of his life on a farm of thirty-two acres. He was twice married, his first wife being Maren Nelsen. To
this union two children were born, Johannes and Martin. Johannes is deceased and Martin is now living in Wisconsin. After the death of his first
wife Carl Hansen married Christiana Sorensen, and to this second marriage
three children were born: Maren, Johanne and Soren. Maren married Thula
Jensen and lives near Walnut, Iowa. Johanne is the wife of Hans Jensen,
who lives southwest of Harlan.
Soren Carlsen received his education in the schools of his native land,
his elementary education being received in the district schools and his college
education being acquired in Askow College. After coming to America, he
pursued a course in elocution. He married at the age of twenty and shortly
afterwards he and his young bride came to America and located in Harlan,
Iowa. He worked in a brick yard the first four months after coming to this
country, and then started to work out by the month for farmers in the immediate vicinity of Harlan. A year and a half later he rented a farm of
eighty acres and continued to rent land in this county until 1910, at last renting as much as six hundred acres. In 1910, he bought his farm of eighty
acres in Center township, on which he is now living and has since placed two
thousand dollars' worth of improvements upon this farm. He has a beautiful
country home with evergreen trees all around the house, and this feature
gives the name "Evergreen Hill" to his farm. In addition to his farming
interests in Center township, he owns one hundred and sixty acres in Nebraska, and five houses in Harlan.
Mr. Carlsen was married September 10, 1875, to Karen Jensen, the
daughter of Jens Thulesen and Haren (Hansen) Jensen, and to this union
nine children have been born: Carl, James, Anna, Jesse, Mary, Jesse, Anna,
Hans and Otto. The two children by the same name is explained by the
fact that the first died and subsequent children were given their names. Carl
married Gine Jorgensen, and has three children, Agneta, Harold and Halvor.
James married Etherl Ferguson. Mary became the wife of Chris B. Jensen,
and has two children, Anna and Herluf. Jesse married Hazel Custer, and
has three children, Howard, Homer and Ivan. Hans, Anna and Otto are
still single.
Mrs. Carlsen's parents were natives of Denmark and never came to this
country. Her father died in 1884 and her mother August 29, 1892. They
reared a family of six children, Mattie M., Thule, Hans, Jesse, Jens and
Karen, the wife of Mr. Carlsen.
Mr. Carlsen and his oldest son with his family are devout members of
the Danish Lutheran church, but Mrs. Carlsen and some of the children are
members of the Baptist church. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party, and has always been active in its councils. He was justice of
the peace in Jackson and Monroe townships for several years and has previously served as township trustee, filling both positions with credit to himself and satisfaction to the citizens of his township, irrespective of politics.
In 1900, he was a candidate for county auditor and was defeated by a small
majority. He was the Republican nominee for state representative in 1912,
but was overcome with his ticket in the great Democratic landslide of that
year. He is a wide-awake man of broad sympathies and is justly entitled
to inclusion among the representative men of his township and county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1110 - 1112.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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