Biographies for Franklin County, Iowa | |||
Henry Burmester Since 1876 Henry Burmester has been closely connected with agricultural interests of Franklin county and is now the owner of three quarter sections of land in Mott township. He was born in Germany, November 4, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Marguerite (Hartman) Burmester, the former of whom died in Germany. Henry Burmester came to America in 1869 and located in Chapin, Iowa, where for five years he engaged in railroad work. At the end of that time he moved from the town, and in 1876 he bought a quarter section of land in partnership with his step-son. His holdings increased steadily throughout the years which followed, and he owns today three quarter sections, all well improved and in excellent condition, reflecting the care and supervision he has bestowed upon his property. Mr. Burmester follows always the most practical and progressive methods in the conduct of his interests, with the result that he is now one of the successful and representative farmers of his locality. Mr. Burmester married Mrs. Anna (Meyer) Gade and they became the parents of three children: Will; Anna; and an infant, who passed away in Germany. Mr. Burmester's first wife died in 1882 and in 1883 he wedded Miss Annie Schrader, by whom he had seven children: Henry and August, at home; Elizabeth, deceased; Emma; Magdalena; Wilhelmine; and Esther, who has passed away. Mr. Burmester is a member of the Lutheran church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has served as road supervisor and is always interested and active in the promotion of movements for the general welfare. Throughout a period of residence in Mott township covering thirty-seven years he has made many valuable contributions to agricultural development and has become widely known not only as a successful farmer but also as a public-spirited and useful citizen. [History of Franklin County, Iowa (I. L. Stuart, 1914)] Carl J. Duit Carl J. Duit, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Franklin county, operating two hundred acres of excellent land on section 21, Grant township, was born in Germany, November 1, 1878. He is a son of John G. and Eliesa Jajjenetta (Grothaus) Duit, also natives of Germany. The father was a sailor for twenty-seven years and after abandoning a seafaring life came to America, locating about the year 1883 in Franklin county, Iowa. He turned his attention to general farming and accumulated three hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, which he still owns. He is living in retirement in Ackley and has survived his wife since March 10, 1905. To their-union were born seven children: Gerald, deceased; Carl J., of this review; Anton, deceased; Tjode, who has also passed away; Anton, a resident of Franklin county; Annie, living in Ackley; and Tjode, the wife of John Ubben, of Garrison, Iowa. Carl J. Duit came to America with his parents in 1883 and afterward remained on the home farm until he was twenty-three years of age, becoming familiar with the best agricultural methods through practical experience. When he left the homestead he rented one hundred and sixty acres on section 21, Grant township, and this he has since increased to two hundred acres. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and being energetic, capable and enterprising, has met with a gratifying degree of success. On the 22d of April, 1902, Mr. Duit married Miss Elizabeth Brass, a native of Grundy county, and they have become the parents of four children: John G., who was born June 16, 1903; Aeilt E., born June 8, 1905; Adeline Jajjenetta, born February 16, 1908; and Alvin William, born February 8, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Duit are members of the Lutheran church, and he is connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a democrat in his political beliefs and has held a number of township offices, proving capable and public-spirited in the discharge of his duties. He is well known and highly respected in Grant township, and his success places him among the representative agriculturists of his locality. [History of Franklin County, Iowa (I. L. Stuart, 1914)] A. J. Froning A. J. Froning, the present mayor of Sheffield, owns an elevator here and has been successfully engaged in the grain and coal business at this place for the past three years. He likewise owns a valuable farm of two hundred acres east of Sheffield. His birth occurred near Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois, on the ad of September, 1866, his parents being August and Margaret (Bohen) Froning, who were born, reared and married in Germany. In 1857 or 1858 they emigrated to the United States, locating in Stephenson county, Illinois. In 1885 August Froning disposed of his property there and came to Franklin county, Iowa, settling in Ross township, where he owned and cultivated a half section of land. He won a gratifying measure of success in his undertakings as an agriculturist and spent his last days in honorable retirement, residing for a year at Hampton and for four years at Sheffield, where his demise occurred when he had attained the age of seventy-seven. His wife passed away on the farm at the age of fifty-nine years. Both were devoted members of the German Baptist church, and Mr. Froning gave his political allegiance to the republican party, holding a number of minor township offices. To him and his wife were born eight children, as follows: one who died in infancy; T. D., who passed away at Grundy Center, Iowa, when thirty-three years of age; John, who is a resident of Rich- land township; Katie, the wife of August Wilkins, of Lorraine, Kansas; Henry J., living in Frederick, Kansas; H. E., who is engaged in the real-estate business at Chapin, Iowa; Lizzie, who gave her hand in marriage to H. Van Deest, of New Hartford, Iowa; and A. J., of this review. The last named spent his boyhood on his father's farm in Stephenson county and was a young man of nineteen when he came with his parents to Franklin county, Iowa. On attaining his majority he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, purchasing a tract of eighty-nine acres south of Sheffield and residing thereon for three years. He then came into possession of a farm near Geneva, the operation of which claimed his attention for two years. Subsequently he was engaged in the grain and coal business at Geneva for three years and next spent a year at New Hartford in the same lines. Mr. Froning later purchased the farm of his father-in-law east of Sheffield, remaining thereon for a year, on the expiration of which period he embarked in the grain and elevator business at Allison, Butler county, Iowa, where he was thus engaged for three years. In 1905 he bought two elevators at Sheffield and conducted them for two years, at the end of which time he sold out and purchased the farm belonging to the Jensen estate, which lies east of Sheffield. The property comprises two hundred acres of rich and productive land and is still in his possession. For the past three years, however, he has been engaged in the grain and coal business at Sheffield, owning an elevator here. He has won prosperity in his different ventures and has long been numbered among the substantial, representative and leading citizens of the community. In Franklin county, Mr. Froning wedded Miss Nellie Scott, a native of Hardin county and a daughter of Lonsdale Scott. They have eleven children, as follows: Arthur C., who is married and lives on his fathers farm east of Sheffield; Ollie, the wife of Walter DeVoe, of Elberon, Iowa, who is associated with his father-in-law in the ownership of a lumberyard there; Pearl, a school teacher by profession; Alfred; August; Lonsdale; Nellie; Margaret; Grace; and Robert and Richard, twins, who are in their second year. Mr. Froning is a republican in politics and has been honored by election to the office of mayor in Sheffield, his administration being characterized by measures of reform and improvement along various lines. He has likewise done valuable service as a member of the city council. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Sheffield. In all his business and social relations he is straightforward and reliable, enjoying the full confidence of those with whom he is associated. [History of Franklin County, Iowa (I. L. Stuart, 1914)] George Hemm George Hemm, engaged in general farming and stock-raising upon three hundred and sixty acres of land on section 17, Mott township, was born in Kendall county, Illinois, April 17, 1860. He is a son of George M. and Carrie (Bosenecker) Hemm, natives of Germany. In their early years the parents came to America and settled in Oswego, Illinois, later moving to Kendall county, where the father engaged in farming until his death. His wife survived him some years, dying December i, 1910. Twelve children were born to their union: Philip, of Chapin, Iowa; Caroline, the wife of Noah Thomas, of Chapin; John, a resident of Aurora, Illinois; George, of this review; William, also of Chapin; Mary, the wife of James Eddy, of Swaledale, Iowa; Henry, deceased; Carrie and Louisa, who have also passed away; Charles, of Kendall county, Illinois; Michael, who died in infancy; and Theodore, of Kendall county. George Hemm began his independent career at the age of twenty-four, renting eighty acres of land in Kendall county. He operated this property for one year and then in 1886 moved to Franklin county, Iowa, renting a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. At the end of one year he rented two hundred and forty acres and after three years bought this property, which two years later he sold. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, Mott township, and he has since increased this to three hundred and sixty acres, its present dimensions. Upon this property he engages in general farming and stock-raising and his intelligent management and practical methods have resulted in a gratifying measure of success. On the ad of March, 1887, Mr. Hemm was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Bellinger, and they have become the parents of five children: May, the wife of Earl Whitehead, of Mott township; David H., at home; Alice, who is engaged in nursing; and Lillian and Fern, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead have two children, George and Donald. Mr. Hemm is a member of the Christian church, is connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has served as school director and as a public-spirited and progressive citizen takes a commendable interest in all enterprises calculated to promote the material and intellectual welfare of the community. [History of Franklin County, Iowa (I. L. Stuart, 1914)] Charles F. Meier Charles F. Meier, prominently connected with business interests of Hampton as secretary and treasurer of the Hampton Mercantile Company, Incorporated, was born in Germany, October 13, 1860, a son of William and Elizabeth Meier. He came to America in 1882 and located in Waverly, Iowa, where he engaged in the general merchandise business until 1898, when he moved to Hampton. Here in 1902 he assumed the management of the business conducted by the Hampton Mercantile Company, Incorporated, and he has since been secretary and treasurer of this concern, the president being Dr. J. C. Powers. The company controls one of the largest general mercantile establishments in Hampton, and under Mr. Meier's competent and intelligent management its interests have grown steadily. Its business has increased in volume and importance and has reached gratifying proportions at the present time. Mr. Meier married Miss Maggie Hoddel, and they have two children, Louis and Lenora. Mr. Meier is well known in business circles of Hampton as a man of force, experience and capacity and he occupies a high place among representative and valued citizens. [History of Franklin County, Iowa (I. L. Stuart, 1914)] Milf Meyer Milf Meyer, one of the extensive landowners and prosperous farmers of Franklin county, owning and operating three hundred acres on section 9, Grant township, was born in Germany, September 17, 1867. He is a son of Lambert and Angie (Rabenburg) Meyer, also natives of the fatherland. They came to America in 1881 and located in Grundy county, Iowa, where the father died March 20, 1889, and where the mother still resides. To their union were born four children: Milf, of this review; Tonjes, a resident of Grundy county; Heska, the widow of August Steinmeyer, of Grundy county: and Wort, of Grundy county. Milf Meyer came to America with his parents in 1881 and aided in the operation of the homestead during his father's lifetime. After the father's death he assumed charge of its operation, conducting it until 1897, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the property. This he developed and improved along progressive and modern lines until 1912, when he moved to Franklin county, buying three hundred acres on section 9, Grant township. He here engages in general farming and stock-raising and has met with that success which always follows persistent and intelligently directed labor. Mr. Meyer has been twice married. He wedded first Miss Lena Kramer, who died January i, 1902, leaving five children, Annie, Harm, Lambert, Fannie and Milf, Jr. On the 8th of February. 1905, Mr. Meyer was again married, his second union being with Miss Minnie Kromminga, a native of Germany. To this union have been born four children: Tonjes; Minnie, deceased; Heska; and Amos. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are members of the Lutheran church, and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, serving at the present time as school director. Well known in Franklin county by reason of the extent of his interests here, he is accounted one of the active workers and progressive farmers of Grant township, and he has the unqualified confidence and esteem of the entire community. [History of Franklin County, Iowa (I. L. Stuart, 1914)] Jacob Schachterle One of the extensive landowners and prosperous farmers of Franklin county is Jacob Schachterle, owning and operating four hundred acres of land in Osceola township. He was born in Germany, February 14, 1855, and is a son of Jacob and Phillipina (Auf) Schachterle, also natives of the fatherland. The parents have passed away, leaving two children: Jacob, of this review; and Henry, residing in Germany. Jacob Schachterle acquired his education in the public schools of his native country, studying until he was twenty-one. He spent three years in the German army and later, in 1880, emigrated to America, making his home in Franklin county. Soon afterward he bought a tract of eighty acres in Osceola township and to this original farm has added from time to time until he now has four hundred acres, all in Osceola township. Mr. Schachterle engages in general farming and has followed always the most progressive method, so that he has met with gratifying and well deserved success. On the 21st of June, 1882, Mr. Schachterle was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sessler and they have become the parents of nine children: Elizabeth, the wife of Earl Jernegan, of Hampton; Henry, John, William, Fred, Charles, Ella, Amelia and August, all at home. Mr. Schachterle is a member of the Lutheran church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to various positions of public trust and responsibility and has served as school director and township trustee. He is now treasurer of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a loyal and earnest supporter. He has lived in Franklin county for over thirty years, and during that time he has contributed substantially to agricultural development and growth winning a gratifying degree of success and a high place in the ranks of progressive farmers and useful citizens. [History of Franklin County, Iowa (I. L. Stuart, 1914)] | |||
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