1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Tank |
Thuesen |
Wagemann |
Walsh |
Wayne |
Wendt |
Westrope
Wiese |
Wilson |
Winder |
Wittrup |
Wooster |
Wright |
Wyland |
Zimmerman
The history of every man in Shelby county presents different points of interest,
and the career of John Tank, which is here briefly reviewed, is the story of a
man who came to this country from Germany with no assets and yet by hard work
and good management has been able to become one of the substantial men of his
county. It seems that every settler of this county who came from Germany has had
remarkable success. In fact, many of them have been more successful than the
average native-born Americans who have come to this county. This has not come
about by accident, but rather because the German people are characterized by
those habits which make for success. In their native land the soil is not as
productive as it is in this state, nor do the farmers have the large farms which
characterize Iowa. The thrift which is necessary to the farmer in Germany to
assure success on a small farm when applied to the large farms of this country
is sure to result in prosperity. John Tank landed in this county in 1882 with a
wife, four children and ten dollars, yet he has lived to rear his children to
lives of usefulness and honor and has seen his efforts result in the acquisition
of more than two hundred acres of fine farming land.
John Tank, the son of Peter and Freda (Richey) Tank, was born September 16,
1851, in the province of Holstein, Germany. His parents were of the laboring
class of Germans and reared a family of three children: William; Ernest and
John, the latter being the only one of the family who ever came to the United
States.
John Tank married at the age of twenty in his native land, and for about ten
years, struggled to make a living in Germany. He then decided to gather together
all of his possesions and come to America, where he felt that better
opportunities awaited him and his family, and it may safely be said that June
11, 1882, the day on which he landed in Arcadia, Iowa, marked the beginning of a
new chapter in his history. On that day he found himself in a strange country,
with no knowledge of the language, but with a good wife and four children to
support. The small capital of ten dollars would not allow him to purchase any
land and meant that he must immediately find something to do. His first work was
on a farm, where he worked by the month for a salary of twenty dollars, and he
felt that he was getting a large salary at that. He continued working for two
years, receiving twenty dollars per month, and then began to rent land. He came
to Shelby county and rented for seven years, after which he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres in section 25, Greeley township. By this time he had
become thoroughly acclimated to this country and was farming as successfully as
any of the men who had been reared in this country. Within a few years he was
enabled to add eighty acres to his original farm, and now with this farm of two
hundred and forty acres he was on a fair way to prosperity. He worked, as did
his wife and children, and with each succeeding year they were more independent
and able to live with more and more of the conveniences of life.
Mr. Tank was married October 1, 1871, to Marie Hoffmann, in Germany, her birth
occurring December 25, 1849, in Holstein, Germany. Her parents died when she was
an infant, and not having any brothers or sisters, she was reared by an aunt.
Mr. Tank and wife reared a family of eight children, five of whom are still
living: Gusta, born March 9, 1874, is the wife of Thomas C. Thompson and is the
mother of one daughter, Gladys; William, born August 28, 1875, married Jessie
Perry, and has two children, Russell and Perry; Henry, born August 21, 1881, who
married Blanche Barrett, has one child, Gaylord; Lena, born August 4, 1884, who
married Michael Thompson, has two children, Delpha and Marvin; Amanda, born
January 4, 1887, who married Charles DeBord, has two children, Opal and Dale;
Fredericka, Louisa and Bertha are deceased. The mother of these children died
January 20, 1892, she and two of the children dying of scarlet and typhoid fever
within three weeks. Mr. Tank is now living alone on the old home place, his wife
being gone and his children all being married and having families of their own
to care for. He enjoys himself in looking after his farm, although he rents all
of his land except the pasture land. He raises some Chester White hogs and a few
cattle, but is taking life easy, feeling that he has done enough work in his
life time. Mr. Tank is a loyal member of the German Lutheran church, as was his
wife. Politically, he has always voted with the Republican party since coming to
this country, but has never held any political office, preferring to devote all
of his time and attention to his farm and home duties. He is a man who is highly
respected in his community, and because of the quiet and unostentatious life he
has led since coming to this county, and of his genuine worth as a citizen, he
is eminently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one in
hand.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1441 - 1443. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Every village of any importance throughout the United States boasts of a
photographer and during the last quarter of a century this line of activity has
been growing by leaps and bounds. Peter C. Thuesen, the photographer of Elkhorn,
Iowa, is an enterprising young man who has made a special study of the
photographic art and has built up a big business in Elkhorn and vicinity since
locating here.
Peter C. Thuesen, a son of Matthew and Mary (Christensen) Thuesen, was born in
Denmark, February 21, 1889. His parents lived all of their days in Denmark, his
father dying there in 1900 and his mother passing away four years previously.
Four children were born to Matthew Thuesen and wife: Jesse, Cecelia, Magdalene
and Peter C. Jesse came to this country and died in Harlan in 1904. Cecelia
married Christian Boel and lives in her native land. Magdalene is the wife of
Andrew Thompson and lives in the state of Washington.
Peter C. Thuesen lived in his native land until he was fourteen years of age and
there received a good common school education. At the age of fourteen he came to
America with his brother, Jesse, and E. C. Boel, of Harlan, and for the first
five years after coming to this country worked as a farm hand. At the age of
nineteen he went to Effingham, Illinois, where he learned the photographer's
trade in Bissell College. After graduating from the photographic course given in
this college, he traveled about the country taking pictures and finally located
at Jacksonville, where he lived a few years. July 15, 1913, he came to
Kimballton, Iowa, and bought out a gallery, which he operated for a short time.
He then came to Elkhorn and bought the gallery of R. B. Wilkeson, and is now
managing it, as well as the gallery at Kimballton. He is a man of artistic
tastes and keeps strictly up-to-date in his line of business. As might safely be
predicted on these excellent qualities, he has met with unusual success since
locating in Elkhorn.
Mr. Thuesen is still an unmarried man, although he takes an active part in the
life of his community. He is a loyal member of the Danish Lutheran church and is
interested in its welfare. Politically, he is not allied with any particular
party, but chooses rather to cast his ballot for the best men irrespective of
their political affiliations. He is a young man and his success so far indicates
that he has a promising future before him.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1325 - 1326. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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A prosperous young farmer of Union township, in this county is Edward G.
Wagemann, who has spent his whole life within the county of his birth. Hard and
laborious work was the lot of Mr. Wagemann during his youth and early manhood,
but his fidelity to duty has won for him material prosperity as well as the
commendation of those with whom he has been thrown in contact. By patient
continuance in well doing he has gradually risen from an humble station to his
present standing as a progressive young farmer of Shelby county.
Edward G. Wagemann, the son of Anton and Katherine (Pfeifer) was born April 8,
1883, in Westphalia township, in this county. His parents were natives of
Germany but were married in this country. On arriving in the United States, they
settled in Freeport, Illinois, and bought a farm near that city. They lived
there until the early eighties, when they moved to Shelby county, Iowa, and
purchased a farm of four hundred and eighty acres in Westphalia township. Anton
Wagemann died on this farm May 30, 1889. Eleven children were born to him and
his wife : William, John, Joseph, Henry, Frank, Charles, Edward, Mary, Annie,
Theresa and Agnes. Of these children Henry and Agnes are deceased; Charles
married Barbara Schechingher, and all of the rest, with the exception of Edward,
are still single. Edward G. Wagemann was educated in the Catholic school at
Westphalia, and when a mere youth began to help work on the home farm. His
father having died in 1888, when Edward was only five years old, it became
necessary for the brothers to take charge of their father's large farm. Edward
worked at home until he was twenty-five years old and then married and bought
the farm of one hundred and forty acres on which he is now living. He feeds all
of his grain to his stock and makes a specialty of hog raising, marketing about
one hundred and fifty head of hogs each year.
Mr. Wagemann was married May 5, 1908, at Westphalia, Iowa, to Lena Klein, the
daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Stoltz) Klein, and to this union have been born
four children: Katherine, Verdellia, Henry and George. Mrs. Wagemann's parents
were both natives of Germany, and a few years after their marriage came to
America and located in Westphalia, Iowa. They rented a farm for a short time and
then bought a farm on which they lived until 1910, when they retired and moved
to Earling. Mr. and Mrs. Klein are the parents of ten children: John, who
married Mary Fromme; Andrew, who married Lena Shomer; Albert, who married Mary
Shomer; George, who married Katherine Muschitz; Joseph, who married Anna
Kwapizieski; Katherine, who married Petee Schulte; Theresa, the wife of Melchior
Schwery: Lena, the wife of Mr. Wagemann; Mary, who married George Mushitz and
Josephine, who married Henry Mahlberg.
Politically, Mr. Wagemann is a Democrat, but has never been actively interested
in political matters. Religiously, he and his family are devout members of the
Catholic church and Mr. Wagemann is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual
Protective Society. He is still a young man and the success which he has
attained so far indicates that he will eventually be one of the substantial men
of his township and county. He is a man of clean living and genial personality,
and has a host of friends throughout the comnninity where he has spent his whole
life.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1314 - 1315. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Although but a short time a resident of Panama Dr. John G. Walsh has by his
professional ability and high personal character stamped his impress on those
with whom he has come into contact and is numbered among the progressive and
enterprising citizens of his county. In the realms of medicine and surgery he
has achieved a splendid reputation, for by training he has well qualified
himself to combat disease in all its forms. He is a man of high intellectual
ability and is on the very threshold of a long and useful career.
Dr. John Walsh, the son of Nicholas and Ellen (Graney) Walsh, was born November
19, 1880, in Des Moines, Iowa. His father was born in Connecticut, and after
receiving a common school education, took up the plumbing business as his life
work. He lived in Connecticut until about sixteen years of age when he moved to
this state and located in Des Moines where he followed his calling until his
death in 1912. He and his wife had two sons, Edgar and John G. Edgar married Ida
Lewis and. lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Doctor Walsh graduated from the Parry, Iowa, high school and then entered the
State University of Iowa at Iowa City, receiving the degree of Bachelor of
Science in the spring of 1903. By that time he had decided to follow the
practice of medicine and remained in the university for the next four years,
being granted his degree of Doctor of Medicine in the spring.of 1907. He began
the practice of his profession at Parry, Iowa, and was soon appointed as local
assistant surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. He continued
to practice at Parry until March 3, 1913, when he located in Panama where he is
now enjoying a constantly increasing practice. He keeps fully abreast of the
latest advances in his profession and realizes that the successful physician
must be a student all the time if he wishes to make a success of his work.
Doctor Walsh was married April 22, 1912 to Dorrit Dillon, the daughter of Milo
and Ann Dillon. He is a member of the Catholic church and of the Knights of
Columbus at Perry. His wife is one, of three children, the other two being
Thomas and Isabell. Her father has been an engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul railroad for many years. Doctor Walsh is a last exalted ruler of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics, he classes himself with
the great mass of independent voters, preferring to cast his vote for men rather
than for platforms.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1375 - 1376. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The members of the newspaper fraternity are among the most useful of all the
professions, owing to the established fact that wherever a newspaper is located
with a live and energetic editor at the helm, it is found to be able to mold
public opinion and generally found first in the advocacy of reforms and public
improvements. The weekly newspaper is among the most powerful of our mediums of
diffusing universal knowledge, for the simple reason that the editor is
generally found to he a well-educated member of the community. The newspaper
chronicles the births and in turn says kind words of the (lead and comforts the
bereaved in time of stress or loss; should a new public building be needed it is
the press that advocates its erection and pushes the campaign for its
completion; public improvements are hastened by the timely advocacy of the local
newspaper. A live newspaper can very soon liven up a town and awaken a sense of
civic pride among its residents. The Shelby News is a live newspaper published
by a live editor in the person of Charles 0. Wayne, who is the city's main
"booster" and prominent in the civic circles of his community. He is a
native-born resident of Shelby county, the son of a newspaper man and for the
past nine years has been successfully conducting the News in the town of Shelby.
Mr. Wayne was born on a farm in Shelby county on May 11, 1880, and is the son of
J. W. and Roena L. (Quaintance) Wayne. When Charles was about one year old the
family removed to Marne, Cass county, Iowa, and resided there until 1899, and it
was here that the future editor received his early education and began to learn
the trade of a printer, at the age of fourteen years. In the spring of 1899 the
family located in Griswold and the father and sons took charge of the
Republican, a weekly newspaper which their enterprise and activity soon builded
up into a good paying proposition. At the time of this venture the Republican
was in an almost defunct condition and heroic measures were necessary for its
resuscitation and consequent success under the management of J. W. Wayne and
sons, Charles 0. and L. D. So well did they succeed that their competitor was
glad and even anxious to sell the American to the firm. The family remained in
Griswold until the fall of 1905, when they sold out and J. W. Wayne and the son,
L. D., located in Walnut and purchased the Bureau. which they are at present
conducting.
Mr. Wayne was married on June 1, 1904, to Ethel Honnold, of Griswold, Iowa, a
daughter of Isaac F. and Susan E. Honnold. Mrs. Wayne assists in the work of the
newspaper office. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church
and Mr. Wayne has been president of the Epworth League for the past six years.
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all the
chairs in both the subordinate lodge and encampment, as well as in the Daughters
of Rebekah. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Woodmen
Circle.
Charles came to Shelby in 1895 and became the owner and editor of the Shelby
News, and has achieved marked success while in charge of this enterprising and
readable sheet. He takes an active and influential part in town and county
affairs and is prominent in church, school and lodge affairs. He is a Republican
in politics and is a member of and, since March 1, 1914, has been president of
the Shelby school board. He is a young man of pleasing personality and stands
high as a citizen of his home city and county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1296 - 1297. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The sun never shone on a fairer or better land for agricultural purposes than is
found in Iowa; the Mississippi valley has truly been called the garden spot of
the world and one of the choicest corners of this garden is found in Shelby
county, Iowa. Land which was bought for a few dollars an acre when the first
settlers came to this county is now worth from one to three hundred dollars an
acre. The present farm of Frank Wendt was bought for six dollars an acre and now
two hundred dollars an acre would not buy it. Does it pay to farm? Ask the
farmer of this county; look over his broad acres; glance into his well-filled
barns and granaries; examine his rating at the local banks. Among the men of
this county who have made a distinct success of farming there is no one who is
more deserving of mention than Frank Wendt, one of the most substantial farmers
of Douglas township.
Frank Wendt, the son of Hans Peter and Anna (Kortuna) Wendt, was born March 16,
1858, in Germany. Hans P. Wendt was a foreman on a large farm in Germany but
wishing to give his children better opportunities than they were getting in
Germany, he decided to come to the United States. The trip to this country was
made in 1874 and the family at once located in Clinton county, Iowa, where they
remained for three years. In 1877 Hans moved with his family to Shelby county
and settled about half way between Walnut and Avoca. He rented land until 1881
and then bought eighty acres in section I, Douglas township, paying six dollars
an acre for the land.
As he was able he added to his farm, and gradually built up one of the best
farms in the county. When he moved to Walnut in 1888 he had a well improved farm
of one hundred and sixty acres. He lived in Walnut for the next sixteen years
and then moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he was living at the time of his
death in 1909. His wife had died in 1904 while they were on their way to Texas.
Hans P. Wendt and wife were the parents of three children, Frank, Mrs. Dora
Greeves and Henry.
Frank Wendt received a good common school education and lived at home until he
was married. He then rented a farm west of Botna, in Jefferson township, on
which he lived for three years. He then moved on the old home farm and managed
it until the death of his father in 1909. He then bought out the other heirs and
has since added three hundred and twenty acres of land. The, farm which is known
as the "Green Ridge Stock Farm" is one of the most attractively kept farms in
the county. The buildings are all of good construction and are always in repair,
a fact which adds not a little to the value of the farm.
Mr. Wendt was married May 14, 1885, to Dora Kahl, the daughter of John and Maria
(Schees) Kahl. Mrs. Wendt was born in Germany in 1866 and came to this country
with her parents when she was fourteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Wendt are the
parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom are living, Maggie, Anna, Dora,
John, Henry, Emma, Harry, Herbert, Frank, Helen and Alice. Maggie is the wife of
Fred Bargenquast and has five children, Frank, Alfred, Otto and twins, Leona and
Viola; Anna is the wife of Henry Bargenquast and has four children, Dorothy,
Helen, Alfred and Arnold. Dora is the wife of Christopher Freese and has two
children, Andrew and Dora. All the rest of the children are single and still
living with their parents. Hans and Peter are the two deceased children, both of
them dying in infancy.
Mr. Wendt is a man of perseverance and strength of character and never allows
discouragements to stop him. Several years ago a gypsy fortune teller told him
that "he would die with his boots on" and two incidents in his life have led him
to believe that there is much truth in what she said. At one time he was caught
in a speed jack and was unfortunate enough to lose half of his left hand; at
another time, while out in the pasture with a cow and her calf, the cow got him
down on the ground and before he could get up and away, he was severely injured.
This same never-die spirit is what has made him successful and, whether he dies
with his boots on or not, it is safe to say that he will be in the game of life
to the end.
Mr. Wendt and his family are members of the German Lutheran church.
Politically, he is a Democrat but has never held any other office than that of
school director, a position which he has filled in his township for the past
eighteen years. Fraternally; he holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of
America. Mr. Wendt is highly esteemed by every one with whom he has come in
contact and his friends are as numerous as his acquaintances.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 781 - 783. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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One of the most extensive farmers and the best known stock raisers of Shelby
county, Iowa, is John G. Westrope, who has been a resident of this county for
the past thirty-three years. The name of Westrope is known throughout the state
of Iowa in connection with the raising of fine cattle, John G. Westrope and his
father having won more prizes on Shorthorn cattle than any other farmers in the
state. His father was one of the most extensive Shorthorn breeders of the state
for many years; in fact, was probably the largest breeder of Shorthorn cattle in
the whole state of Iowa at one time. His family has not only been prominent in
the material advancement of the county, but in every phase of the development of
the county, moral, religious, educational and social, they have borne their full
share.
John G. Westrope was born in Belmont, Wisconsin, December 13, 1879, the son of
Thomas R. and Sarah Ann (Huntsmen) Westrope, both of whom were natives of
Illinois.
Thomas R. Westrope moved to Wisconsin when a young lad with his parents, grew to
manhood in that state in Lafayette county, and in 1849, went to California in
search of gold. Be made the long overland trip with a team of oxen and a
"prairie schooner" and was fortunate in finding a considerable amount of the
precious metal. He remained in California two years and then returned to his
home in Wisconsin, where he lived until 1861, in which year he again went to
California, and was again successful in his mining operations. He remained in
California about a year, and then returned to Wisconsin, where he remained until
1868. In the latter year Thomas Westrope and his family came to Montgomery
county, Iowa, where he bought a farm and began the life of a farmer. At one time
he owned one thousand acres of land in that county. In 1877 he started to breed
Shorthorn cattle and within a few years became known as the most extensive
breeder of Shorthorn cattle in the state. In 1881 Thomas R. Westrope moved to
Shelby county, Iowa; bringing with him one hundred head of pure-bred Shorthorn
cattle and quickly became the first breeder in this county. He had bought his
farm in this county five years before he settled here with his family. He and
his son, John G., exhibited their cattle at every state fair in Iowa for twenty
years, and also for several years in the states of Kansas, Nebraska, South
Dakota and Minnesota. In 1900 the Westropes won first prize in an exhibit of
forty cows at Kansas City. The next year they sold their- prize cow for three
thousand seven hundred and five dollars, the largest price ever paid for a cow
up to that time. In 1901 they sold eighty-four head of cattle at an average of
four hundred and sixty dollars a head. Mr. Westrope owned a bull which took
first prize several times and never lower than second prize wherever he was
shown. He finally sold this bull for eleven hundred dollars.
Thirteen children were born to Thomas R. Westrope and wife, ten of whom are
living: Abner, Jennie, Perry A., Thomas Jr., Otis, John G., Norman, Elvinie,
Walter and William.
John G. Westrope was about two years of age when his parents located in Shelby
county, Iowa. He received his education in the schools of Center township, and
upon reaching his majority became a partner of his father in the raising of
fancy live stock under the firm name of T. R. Westrope & Son. In 1901 they sold
out their joint interests and John G. is now in the live stock business for
himself. He is one of the largest breeders of Shorthorn cattle in the state and
now has one hundred and thirty head of thoroughbreds on his farm. He also makes
a specialty of the breeding of thoroughbred Poland China hogs and Shetland
ponies, of which latter he has fifteen head on the farm at the present time. He
annually feeds about one hundred and fifty head of hogs for the market.
John G. Westrope has the best improved farm in Shelby county. He has placed at
least thirty-five thousand dollars' worth of improvements upon this farm,
including a modern house which cost ten thousand dollars. He has the largest
barn in the county and has room for more than one hundred head of cattle on the
ground floor. Some idea of the size of the barn may be gained from the statement
that thirty-three car loads of stone went into the making of the foundation
alone. Mr. Westrope feeds all of his grain, using on an average of nine thousand
bushels of corn a year to feed stock, besides large quantities of farm produce.
Mr. Westrope was married March 11, 1900, to Mary Charlotte Plummer, the daughter
of William Taylor and Henrietta (Bean) Plummer, and to this union six children
have been born: Glora May, Thomas Richard, William Taylor, John Frederick, Mary
Charlotte, and Charles Franklin, all of whom are living and still under the
parental roof.
The father of Mrs. Westrope, William Taylor Plummer, is now living a retired
life in Harlan, Iowa. He was born in Marion county, this state, in 1848, the son
of Levi and Martha (Morrow) Plummer, both of whom were natives of Morgan county,
Indiana. Mr. Plummer was married in Jasper county, Iowa, July 29, 1870, to
Hattie Bean, the daughter of David and Martha (Martin) Bean, and to this union
eleven children were born: Mary, Jennie, Samuel, Charles, Lee, Maude, Joseph,
Everett, Annabel, Cora and Daisy.
Mr. Westrope and his family are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church
and belong to the congregation at Bowman's Grove. Mr. Westrope is a Republican,
but his extensive interests have demanded all of his attention, thus preventing
his active participation in political affairs. He is still a young man and has a
long and useful career before him. The part which he has played in the life of
the community thus far indicates that he will continue to be a valuable man in
the life of his county and state.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1496 - 1498. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The settlers of German ancestry who have made Shelby county their permanent home
have contributed in a large measure to the pre-eminence of this county as an
agricultural section of Iowa. In fact, so well did the early farmers here till
the soil that the fame of this county was spread throughout the United States
and even reached across the Atlantic to the shores of Europe. To this favored
section of the state have flocked immigrants from many European countries, while
practically every state in the union has contributed one or more citizens to the
cosmopolitan population of the county. Among all the foreign nations who have
sent their best blood to this country the men of Germany rank first in numbers
and among the first in ability to maintain themselves. Among the many German
farmers of Shelby county the name of William Wiese is recognized as one of the
leaders. Long a resident of the county, he has contributed his share to the
various phases of the county's growth and has seen it emerge from a broad and
barren prairie to its present prosperous condition.
William Wiese, the son of Peter and Lena (Stortenberg) Wiese, was born in
Germany, May 14, 1863. His parents were reared and married in Germany and came
to the United States in May, 1888, locating in Shelby county, Iowa, where they
made their home with their son, William, who was one of three children born to
them. Peter Wiese died July 12, 1894. The mother is still living with her son,
William.
William Wiese received his education in the public schools of Germany, and came
to the United States in the year 1879. He had no resources with the exception of
an indomitable energy and a willingness to work. He first settled in Shelby
county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand seven years on one farm, saving his
money in order that he might eventually own a place of his own. Within a
comparatively short time he was able to buy his first tract of land and
purchased a farm in Fairview township. As he prospered he added to his original
acreage until he is now the owner of over four hundred and thirty-two acres of
fine land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. He has erected a
fine residence, good barns and outbuildings and has one of the model farms of
his township. For many years he carried on a general system of farming and
stock raising, but in 1901 he retired from active farm life and rented his farm,
but is still raising and feeding live stock, and maintained enough live stock
for his own use on pasture.
In politics, Mr. Wiese is a Democrat. The family church is the German Lutheran
denomination.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 824 - 825. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The old Empire state has sent many of its sterling citizens to the newer Hawkeye
state and they have done much toward the best development of the prosperity,
civilization and progress of the latter commonwealth. Shelby county has been
fortunate in being so favored by nature as to induce many of these New York
state folk to settle within her border. No better county exists in Iowa today
than this county and no farmer gets better results than do the farmers of Shelby
county. Among the many excellent farmers of this county who have that ability to
make two blades of grass grow where one formerly grew, there is no one more
deserving of mention in this volume than Daniel A. Wilson, of Jefferson
township.
Mr. Wilson was born in Camden, New York, on November 20, 1854, and is the son of
Daniel and Jane (Crawford) Wilson, his father being a native of New York and the
mother of Avon, county Cavan, Ireland. She came to this county when a small girl
with her parents, John and Isabella Crawford. Daniel Wilson, Sr., was the son of
John and Jerushia Wilson, natives of New York and members of an old Colonial
family of the Revolutionary days. The Wilsons were formerly of Connecticut and
members of the family have scattered, throughout the United States. Daniel
Wilson, Sr., and wife were the parents of four children: Andrew W., John W.,
Daniel A., whose history is here briefly portrayed, and Charles H.
Daniel A. Wilson was educated in the schools of New York and lived at home until
he attained his majority. He then worked out for a time in New York and saved
his money in order to come west and look for an opening. In 1878 he came to Iowa
and located in Shelby county, where he has lived for the past thirty-six years.
He entered land, improved it and had the satisfaction of seeing it gradually
advance in value. For the first twenty years he lived in Lincoln township, in
this county, and in 1900 moved to his present farm, in Jefferson township, where
he is now living. Since moving upon this farm he has improved it until it is now
one of the most attractive farms in the township. He has one hundred and sixty
acres of highly productive land, on which he raises excellent crops, feeding his
surplus grain to live stock.
Mr. Wilson was married in 1882 to Ida Smith, who died in 1902. There were no
children by this marriage. On March 7, 1906, Mr. Wilson married Della Smith, who
was born in Jasper county, Iowa, March 12, 1875. She is the daughter of Rolin
and Philena (Smith) Smith, natives of Ohio and pioneer settlers of Iowa. They
came to this state in the fifties, making the overland trip from Ohio in a
covered wagon. Rolin Smith and wife were the parents of four children: Arthur,
Albert, Nellie and Della, the wife of Mr. Wilson. To the second marriage of Mr.
Wilson there have been born three children: Irene, born February 6, 1907;
Lucille, born June 27, 1908, and Harold, born November 26, 1909.
Mr. Wilson always has been identified with the Republican party, but has never
held any office other than that of school director, in which department of the
public service he served very satisfactorily for several years. Though he takes
an active interest in the political issues of the day, he never has felt that he
had the time to indulge in the larger activities of politics.
He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and always have
taken a warm personal interest in all of the work of the church. Mr. Wilson's
life has been attended with a large measure of success and his beautiful farm
today is a tribute to his well directed efforts. He always has worked hard and
managed well and is justly deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by
his friends and acquaintances.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1429 - 1431. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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One of Shelby county's many distinguished veterans of the Civil War is Hugh W.
Winder, who is now living a retired life in Harlan after a long and successful
career as a farmer in this county. For thirty-four years he has been identified
with the interests of this county, and in that time the people have learned to
know and appreciate his many good qualities. Wherever he is known he is highly
respected and by his genial personality and kindly manner he endears himself to
all with whom he comes in contact. His private life is beyond reproach and such
has been his career since coming to this county that he justly merits the
universal esteem and good will which is extended him by the citizens of the
county.
Hugh W. Winder, the son of Henry and Jane (Crabb) Winder, was born August 25,
1838, in Champaign county, Ohio. His parents both were natives of Ross county,
Ohio, the Winder family being of English extraction and the Crabb family of
Pennsylvania-Dutch descent. Henry Winder and his wife were both reared in Ross
county and after reaching their maturity were married. As a young man Henry
Winder learned the blacksmith trade and followed this occupation until he moved
to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1876, where he also plied his trade. Later he
settled in Shelby county about four miles southwest of Harlan, where he
purchased land, built a home and operated a blacksmith shop for several years.
After a stay of a few years in Kansas, he later retired to Harlan, where he and
his wife died several years ago. Both were devout members of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and Mr. Winder himself was an old line Whig and later a
Republican. Eight children were born to Henry Winder and wife: Hugh W., the
subject of this brief review; Anna Eliza, deceased; who was the wife of Cyrus
Williams, a Civil War veteran; William Austin, a retired farmer of Monrovia,
California; Emma Jane, the widow of William Williams, and now living in Sturgess,
South Dakota; Mary Belle, the wife of William Weaver, of Los Angeles,
California; Amanda Annettia, the widow of Stephen Prouty, of Monrovia,
California; Edward, who married Amanda Mitchell, and now lives in Pocasset,
Oklahoma; Allen, now living in New Jersey.
Hugh W. Winder attended the subscription schools of his day and later the
Friends Academy near his home in Ohio. He remained under the parental roof until
the outbreak of the Civil War and then went to the front. His parents had
previously, in 1860, removed to Iowa and in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company
D, Thirty-third Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the
service at Oskaloosa, in that state. His regiment was sent to St. Louis, and
there he was taken sick with small-pox and confined to the hospital for six
months. After his recovery he was made a nurse in the hospital and later
promoted and made the ward master and steward of the hospital. He was discharged
from the service at St. Louis, Missouri, September 16, 1865. He always has been
deeply interested in the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Harlan, and is at
present the commander of the post. Mrs. Winder is a member of the Woman's Relief
Corps.
In the fall of the year in which he was mustered out of the service, Mr. Winder
was married. Immediately after his marriage he and his young wife located eight
miles from Oskaloosa, Iowa, where they lived for two years on a farm. They then
moved to Powesheik county, Iowa, where they lived until 1880, when they removed
to Shelby county, locating five miles northeast of Harlan. Upon moving to this
county Mr. Winder bought one hundred and twenty acres of land and subsequently
added to this until, when he sold out in 1901, he had one hundred and sixty-nine
acres of well improved land. He and his wife are now living on the corner of
Baldwin and Ninth streets in Harlan, where they have a comfortable home.
Mr. Winder was married November 23, 1865, to Mary Ellen Sheridan, who was born
in Randolph county, Indiana, the daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Wright)
Sheridan, natives of Wayne county, Indiana. In 1867 the Sheridan family came to
Powesheik county, Iowa, making the long overland trip in the summer of that
year. They drove through and camped out each night. Finally reaching Iowa, they
located in Jasper county, near Linnville. Subsequently they came to Powesheik
county, and there they farmed until they passed away. Mrs. Sheridan died in 1872
at Hazeldell, Iowa, while her husband departed this life a few years later. Both
were loyal members of the Friends church. Mr. Sheridan and his wife reared a
family of eight children: Mary Ellen, Susan, the widow of Robert Mitchell, of
Searsboro, Iowa; Martha, deceased, who was the wife of John Baker; Emma, the
widow of John G. White, of Linnville, Iowa; Charles, who married Etha Lisor, and
is mail carrier at Emporia, Kansas; Esther, the wife of John Stanley, of
Linnville, Iowa; Lizzie, the wife of Edgar Overman, of Oregon; Albert, who
married Louise Pearson, and now lives at Bozeman, Montana; Myra, the widow of
John Kinsley, of Pasadena, California.
Mr. Winder and his wife are the parents of four children: Eva V., Oscar W.,
Carrie B. and Flora. Eva V. is the wife of Kenneth Leach, a bridge builder of
Harlan, and has one child, Austin Lee. Oscar W., who married Jennie Blake, is
engaged in the ice business at Iola, Kansas. Carrie B. is a clerk in the Bee
Hive store at Harlan. Flora is the wife of M. M. Nielson, a jeweler in Allen,
Nebraska, and has two children, Gladys and Leslie.
Mr. Winder and his wife are both active and loyal members of the Methodist
church and are deeply interested in everything that pertains to its welfare.
They always have been active in church work and are known to their friends as
people who are interested in all worthy enterprises. Politically, Mr. Winder has
long been identified with the Republican party, and has served as constable of
Harlan for four years and a half since becoming a resident of that city.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1387 - 1389. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Many nations of Europe have contributed of their best citizens to the population
of Iowa. Among these the little kingdom of Denmark has sent some of her best
sons to Shelby county, in this state. There are no more industrious people in
Europe than the natives of Denmark, and wherever they have settled in this
country they have become numbered among the most substantial and prosperous
citizens of their respective communities. Those habits of thrift and industry,
honesty and integrity which characterized them in their home country have made
them useful citizens of the United States. They give the same devotion to their
adopted country which they formerly gave to their native country with the result
that they are welcome additions to the communities which they honor with their
residence.
James M. Wittrup, a prosperous farmer of Jefferson township, Shelby county,
Iowa, was born in Denmark, near Hiorring, that country, and is the son of Lars
and Anna M. (Petersen) Wittrup. His parents reared a family of eleven children,
seven of whom are living and five of whom are now residents of this country.
Those living here are Martin, Peter, Mrs. Christian Hansen, Jens and James,
whose history is here presented. The two children still living in their native
land are Christjan and Mrs. Hanna Gilsen. The four children deceased are Mrs.
Minnie Erickson, Christen, Peter and one who died in infancy.
James M. Wittrup was educated in the native schools of his home country and
since the schools of his native land are among the best in Europe, he was given
a good, common school education. Early in life he decided to come to this
country, believing that there were better opportunities for young men in the
United States than in his native land.
Accordingly, when he was seventeen years of age, he came to the United States
and immediately located in Shelby, county, Iowa, where he worked out by the
month for the first three years. He then rented eighty acres of land and began
to work on his own responsibility, continuing in this line for thirteen years,
at the end of which time he purchased eighty acres of land in section 35,
Jefferson township, this county. In 1913 he purchased an additional eighty acres
in section 2, in Polk township, and in the fall of the same year he purchased
eighty acres in section 36, of Jefferson township. In 1910 he built his present
beautiful eight-room country home, which is modern in every respect, furnished
with gas lights, water, bathroom, etc., and is a model of comfort and
convenience. He also has built commodious barns and other outbuildings of latest
design and construction. He raises all of the crops common to this locality and
also handles a considerable amount of live stock each year, making a specialty
of hogs. He formerly specialized in the Duroc Jersey breed of swine, but has
succeeded in crossing them with Chester Whites and has found this cross breed a
good hog for the markets. He also keeps a high-grade of cattle and horses, and
finds a ready sale for his surplus stock.
Mr. Wittrup was married February 27, 1896, to Albertina Andersen, who was born
in Ford county, Illinois, March 20, 1878, the daughter of James and Anna
(Nelson) Andersen, both natives of Denmark, who came to this country in 1872.
They first located in Iroquois county, Illinois, and after a some time residence
there went to Ford county, same state, later returning to Iroquois county. After
a brief residence there they moved to Audubon county, Iowa, later coming to
Shelby county, Iowa, taking up a farm in Greeley township. Mr. and Mrs. Andersen
were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living, Mrs. Hannah
Johnston, Marinus, Mrs. Rosa Ferry, Mrs. Laura Clark, Mrs. Minnie Barrett,
Arthur, Emory and Mrs. Wittrup. The deceased children of the Andersen family are
Lena, Martina and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Wittrup have four
children living and two dead: Cordelia, born February 23, 1898; Roy, born
September 4, 1900; Leta, born July 28, 1903; Golda, born May 11, 1906. The two
children deceased were Lydia and Lloyd.
Mr. Wittrup has always been a Republican in politics, but has never been an
active participant in political affairs. He has always been deeply interested in
educational matters and was a school director for eleven years and is now
president of the school board in his township. He and his family are loyal
members of the Danish Baptist church and all take an active and interested part
in church work. He teaches a class in the Sunday school and has taught one for
many years. He also was Sunday school superintendent in his church for several
years and has always has been deeply interested in Sunday school work. Mr. and
Mrs. Wittrup are people who are highly esteemed in their community, because of
the clean life which they live and the wholesome interest which they take in the
affairs of their community.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1424 - 1426. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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It was remarked by a celebrated moralist and biographer that "there has scarcely
passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not have been
useful." Believing in the truth of this opinion, expressed by one of the
greatest and best of men, the writer of this review takes pleasure in presenting
a few facts in the career of a gentleman who, by industry, perseverance,
temperance and integrity, has elevated himself from an humble station to a
successful place in life and won an honorable position among the well-known and
highly-esteemed men of the locality in which he resides.
William Wooster was born on March 3, 1858, in Skidaco, Connecticut, the son of
John and Barbara (Smelsley) Wooster, both natives of Germany, who came from near
Wurtemburg. They came to this country about 1850 or 1854 and were married soon
after their arrival. For ten years they made their home in Connecticut, where
the father was employed in factories, moving from there to New York state, where
he worked on a dairy farm. There they remained but one year, however, when the
call of the west reaching them, they came to Thompson, Illinois, where they
remained for eleven years. In 1875 they came into Iowa, locating in Shelby
county, where Mr. Wooster purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land in
sections 23 and 26 of Jefferson township. This he farmed for several years, and
after retiring from the active labor connected therewith, he took up his
residence in one of the neighboring small towns and was living in Glendon at the
time of his death, on August 25, 1913. The mother preceded him into the Great
Beyond by about twenty years. They were the parents of eight children, namely:
John, Barbara, William, the subject of this sketch; Fred and J. C., twins; Eva
(Mrs. Groat), Christena (Mrs. Gaskal), and Charles.
William Wooster remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-seven years
of age, when he moved on a farm which he had purchased and where he lived alone
for three years or until the time of his marriage. This farm contains one
hundred and sixty acres, located in section 25, and here the subject has made
his home continuously since first coming here. Mr. Wooster was married on
October 9, 1888, to Mary Michaelson, born on September 19, 1868, in Shelby
county, the daughter of Lars and Christena (Hansen) Michaelson, both of whom
were natives of Denmark and who came to this country, locating directly in
Shelby county, where they were engaged in farming. Mrs. Wooster was one of a
family of six children, four of whom are living, the others being Anna (Mrs.
Christenson), Rebecca (Mrs. McConnell) and John. Berigeta and Abraham were the
names of the two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Wooster are the parents of
two children, but one of whom is living. This is Charles H., born May 1, 1892,
who remains with his parents, being the father's assistant about the place. He
owns in his own name one hundred and twenty acres of land in section 23 of
Jefferson township. Mr. Wooster and his son do general farming and stock
raising, their stock being of a good grade, the hogs being full blooded Duroc
Jerseys. Considerable time and attention also is given to the Plymouth Rock
breed of chickens. These birds are of the show class and have been exhibited in
many places, the exhibitors having had remarkable success with them. Since first
obtaining possession of his farm, Mr. Wooster has made wonderful improvements on
it. The land is now well drained and in an excellent state of cultivation. All
the buildings are of a substantial nature and having been constructed since
1891, are practically new. Mr. Wooster also has a beautiful grove of cottonwood
trees, the grove being variegated with trees of maple, ash, chestnut, box-elder,
evergreen, willow, elm and walnut. He also has a fine orchard, raising apples,
plums and cherries, as well as an abundance of small fruits, including a fine
variety of strawberries. In addition to the fine display of shrubbery on the
Wooster farm, there is, in season, a beautiful display of flowers of all kinds,
Mrs. Wooster being an ardent floriculturist. Mr. Wooster and his brother went
down along the Missouri river and obtained the slips of cottonwoods, which they
set out and of which they took great care. Some of the trees now are eighteen to
twenty inches in diameter. When he first took up his residence on this site, Mr.
Wooster had to go to Harlan or Westside for supplies, a distance of over twenty
miles and in making this trip the old ridge roads were used.
Politically, Mr. Wooster gives his support to the Republican party, taking a
commendable interest in the affairs of same. However, he has never been a seeker
after office, feeling that he was handicapped in the proper discharge of any
public duty by reason of his scant opportunities for education during his youth.
Mr. Wooster has attained his comfortable station in life practically alone and
unaided and this short sketch of his career, therefore, should be all the more
interesting to those now on the threshhold of a business career. He has been
conscientious and honorable in the discharge of his obligations in all the
relations of life and has, therefore, won the sincere regard of friends and
neighbors.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 11426 - 1428. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The official roster of Shelby county contains no more efficient servant than
Charles E. Wright, the present civil engineer of his county. He has had the
advantages of the best technical training which the state affords. After
finishing the common and high school courses, graduated from the civil
engineering course at Ames College. He is a brilliant mathematician and as a
civil engineer he has already demonstrated his capacity. This is the day and age
when expert public servants are demanded and the time will soon come when every
county official will be required to give some evidence of his peculiar fitness
for the office to which he aspires. There are states in the Union where the
civil engineer of the county has absolutely no special training for the office
and is compelled to hire competent men to perform the duties of the office, to
which he is elected. It is safe to say that no more competent civil engineer of
Shelby county has ever held the office than Mr. Wright.
Charles E. Wright, the son of James Stewart and Louise (Schrinn) Wright, was
born in Madison, Wisconsin, January 10, 1886. His father was a native of the
same city, while his mother was born in Berlin, Germany. James S. Wright was a
carpenter and contractor of Wisconsin, and at one time held the position of
state carpenter. In 1890, he moved from Madison, Wisconsin, to Carroll, Iowa,
where he remained in the contracting business for eighteen years. He then
located at Ames, Iowa, while his son was in the college at that place, and later
moved to Boone, Iowa, where he is now living. Three children were born to James
S. Wright and wife: Jesse, who married E. E. Welker; Charles E. and Harry F.
Charles E. Wright was four years of age when his parents moved from Wisconsin to
Carroll county, Iowa. He graduated from the common and high schools in that
county, and after leaving the high school he worked under the Carroll county
civil engineer for a year and a half. This gave him a taste for civil
engineering and being of a mechanical turn of mind he started to make this his
life work. He entered Ames College at Ames, Iowa, and took the complete course
in civil engineering in that excellent institution, graduating with the class of
1911.
Upon his graduation from Ames College, he at once found employment with the Des
Moines Bridge & Iron Company, and worked for them a short time. He was then
appointed by the city of Carroll, Iowa, as instrument man on pavement
construction in that city. Feeling the need of more technical training he then
returned to Ames College, where he worked for a year in the experimental
department as draughtsman of the agricultural engineering department. In the
spring of 1913, Mr. Wright was appointed the civil engineer of Shelby county,
Iowa, and he is now filling the duties of this office in a most satisfactory
manner.
Mr. Wright was married in June, 1913, to Clara Hansen, the daughter of Louis
Hansen and wife, who was born at Glidden, Iowa. Her parents are still living at
that place and have had two children, Clara and Marie.
Mr. Wright and his wife are members of the Congregational church. Politically,
Mr. Wright is affiliated with the Republican party, but as yet has taken no
active part in political matters. He is a widely informed young man on all the
current issues of the day, and can discuss them in an intelligent manner.
Judging from his education and natural ability, Shelby county is sure to hear
from him in the future.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1124 - 1125. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The Rev. Ben F. Wyland was born March 16, 1882, at Harlan, Iowa. His
great-grandfather was, Christian Wyland, who was born June 25, 1765, at
Morrison's Cove, Pennsylvania. Christian Wyland married Kathrine Metzgar. Their
son, Washington Wyland, was born December 22, 1826. He married Rebecca Snyder.
Their son, John Franklin Wyland, the father of the subject of this sketch, was
born December 14, 1852. He married Mary Elizabeth Griffith. The Rev. Mr. Wyland
was married to Miss Ada Beach, who was born June 29, 1886. They are the parents
of two children, Gordon Beach Wyland, born October 14, 1909, and Hugh Chalmers
Wyland, born February 5, 1912.
Mr. Wyland was graduated from the Harlan high school in 1900. Entering the State
University of Iowa, he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy
in 1905, and was granted the degree of Bachelor of Divinity by Yale University
in 1908. Mr. Wyland is deserving of much credit for his educational attainments,
since he supported himself by whatever work he could secure during his
attendance upon both universities.
While a student in the State University of Iowa he was president of Irving
Institute, one of the oldest and most prominent debating societies of the
university. During his junior year he was a member of the debating team
representing Irving Institute. In 1905, he had the honor of membership on a
university debating team which met the University of Nebraska in debate. During
a part of his course he also was associate editor of the Daily Iowan, and a
member of Polygon, a society founded by Dr. Edward Everett Hale, Jr. He also
held membership in the well known senior society, the "Scimitar and Fez."
During his entire college course Mr. Wyland took keen and active interest in the
work of the Young Men's Christian Association and was chairman of the social
committee and of the employment bureau, in both of which positions he was
helpful to many a college lad making his way through the University.
In the college battalion, which was then and is now commanded by a West Point
graduate, detailed for the giving of instruction in military tactics in the
university, he served as color sergeant in 1904 and as battalion adjutant in
1905. While in the university, in addition to his Young Men's Christian
Association work he served for some time as assistant or student pastor of the
First Congregational church at Iowa City.
At Yale University Mr. Wyland in many ways received high honors which were well
deserved. He was president of the debating society and a member of the
inter-department debating team for two years. While in the university he was
elected to the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity. One of his interesting and helpful
experiences during vacation was his work as a missionary in the Black Hills in
1907, where he did "sky pilot" work in a field of four hundred square miles.
During this labor in the different fields he rode one thousand miles in the
saddle.
In 1908, upon graduation from Yale University, Mr. Wyland began his ministry as
a Congregational minister at Sherman, Connecticut. In 1910 he was called to
Lewis Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, and in 1912 he was chosen associate pastor of
the Tompkins Avenue church, the largest Congregational church in the world, with
a membership of three thousand five hundred. In this great church he has full
charge of the young people's work.By way of rounding out his experiences as a man, Mr. Wyland as a student, took
some interest in politics. In 1906 he was a watcher at the polls for Jerome in
New York city, in the district known as "Hell's Kitchen." At present Mr. Wyland
is an enthusiastic adherent of the Progressive party, and speaks of himself as a
"bull mooser." The only secret society to which he belongs is the Masonic
fraternity.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1302 - 1303. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The characteristics of the Old and New World are combined in a striking manner
in the residents. of Shelby county, Iowa. A large number of the best citizens of
the county have come from Germany and there are no better or more loyal people
in the county. In every line of activity where they are found they prosper; on
the farm, in the business and commercial world, in professional life and in
educational and religious circles. One of the most prosperous business men of
the county is Joseph Zimmerman, the proprietor of a general store at Panama.
Joseph Zimmerman, the son of John and Mary Anna (Scinitzen) Zimmerman, was born
in 1858 in Westphalia, Germany. His father started to work in a factory in his
native land after getting his education and continued to work in the factory as
foreman and bookkeeper for a period of thirty years, or until 1873, when he came
with his family to America, landing in New York. On the twenty-first of May of
that year he arrived in Iowa where he located in Shelby county. He bought a farm
of eighty acres in Westphalia township and increased his land holdings until he
had two hundred and forty acres. He remained upon the farm until 1881, when his
wife died, after which he retired from active work and lived with his children
until his death, March 26, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. John Zimmerman were the parents of
eleven children, seven of whom are deceased. The living children are as follows:
Emil, who married Bertha Heese; Marie Anna, the wife of Adam Schmitz; Joseph,
with whom this narrative deals; and Regenia, the wife of Martin Coenen.
Joseph Zimmerman was fifteen years of age when his parents came to this county
and consequently he received most of his education in his native land. After
leaving school in his native country he worked in a factory with his father and
upon coming to this county helped his father on the farm until his marriage in
1881. When he was married his father gave him ninety acres to start with and by
the exercise of good management and economy he increased this to one hundred and
seventy acres by 1889. He then purchased the general store of Michael Wilwerding
at Westphalia and successfully conducted this until 1901, when he disposed of it
and bought the Parkins general store at Panama. In August of the following year
he went into a new store building which gave him much more room and allowed him
to increase his stock to meet his rapidly growing trade. He carries a large line
of such commodities as usually are found in stores of this kind and has had the
satisfaction of seeing his trade increase from year to year.
Mr. Zimmerman was married May 11, 1881, to Barbara Mester, the daughter of
August and Regenia Mester. To this union have been born seven children: John,
Marie, Lena (deceased) , Henry, Richard, Ernest and Olga. John married Delia
Croghan and Lena died in infancy. All the rest of the children are single and
are still living with their parents.
The Mester family came from Germany to this country in 1873 and first located in
Mount Vernon, Indiana. In March of the following year they came to Shelby
county, Iowa, and bought a farm of forty acres but lived on it only a short
time, selling it in order to buy another tract of eighty acres, which later was
sold and the present farm of two hundred acres was purchased. For a short time
they lived at Glenwood, Iowa. August Mester proved to be a successful farmer and
when he retired a few years ago to Panama he had a fine farm of two hundred
acres. To August Mester and wife were born six children: Barbara, the wife of
Mr. Zimmerman; Eberhardt, who died at the, age of six; Lena, who is in St.
Francis Convent at Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Henry, who married Carrie Frymuth ;
Richard, who married Susan Walker; Anna, the wife of Ernest Schell; and Regenia,
the wife of Anton Schulte.
Mr. Zimmerman and all his family are members of the Catholic church.
Politically, he is a Democrat but has always preferred to devote all of his time
and energy to the cultivation of the soil and the management of his heavy
business interests.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1385 - 1387. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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