|
Plymouth County, Iowa Biographies
The People of Iowa, Volume IV
by
EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M.
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.
1931
LEROY W. LEWIS, D. D. S., was graduated in the department of dentistry at the University of Iowa as a
member of the class of 1902, and his subsequent professional success offers the most effective voucher for his
technical skill and his effective application thereof, as well as for his personal popularity. The Doctor is established
in the practice of his profession in the City of Shenandoah, where he has an office of the best modern equipment
in both operative and laboratory departments, and where he has won definite standing as one of the representative
members of his profession in Page County.
Doctor Lewis was born on the parental home farm in Plymouth County, Iowa, November 20, 1878, and is a son of Thomas
W. and Harriet E. (Belvins) Lewis, the former of whom was born in Illinois and the latter in Vermont, their marriage
having been solemnized at Morrison, Illinois, and the year 1875 having marked their removal to Plymouth County,
Iowa, where Thomas W. Lewis developed the fine farm estate that long continued the stage of his productive activities
as agriculturist and stock-grower. He became one of the honored citizens and retired farmers of Le Mars, the judicial
center of Plymouth County, where he passed away at the age of eighty years, June, 1930, his wife having passed
to eternal rest in the year 1919. Ola B., eldest of the children, resides at La Mars; Dr. LeRoy W. is the next
younger; Maude S. is the wife of I. R. stout, who is in charge of the male high school of the City of Newark, New
Jersey, their home being maintained in the beautiful suburb of Bloomfield; Harry L., youngest of the children,
resides at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and owns
and conducts a drug store at Hartford, that state. Thomas W. Lewis was long a loyal supporter of the principles
of the Democratic party and was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, his wife having been an active member of
the Congregational Church. His father, Ward Lewis, was a substantial farmer in Illinois. Mrs. Harriet E. Lewis
was a daughter of c. Frank Bevins, who was a blacksmith and carpenter and who resided in turn in Vermont, New York
State and Illinois prior to coming to Iowa, where he gained pioneer honors.
After being graduated in the high school at Le Mars Dr. LeRoy W. Lewis there completed a course in the Le Mars
Normal School, after his graduation in which he entered the dental department of the University of Iowa, in which
he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902. After thus receiving his degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery
he was engaged in practice two month at Hull, Sioux County, and during the ensuing two years he maintained his
professional headquarters at Larchwood, Lyon County. In 1904 he established his residence in Shenandoah, in which
city he has continued in successful practice during the intervening period of a full quarter of a century. The
Doctor has membership in the District Dental Association, the Iowa State Dental Association and the National Dental
Association, and he has kept in close touch with the advances made in dental science and practice, so that his
professional service at all times has been of the highest standard.
Doctor Lewis gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, he and his wife are zealous members of the
Congregational Church in their home city and he is a trustee thereof; he is a member of the Shenandoah board of
education, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and has active membership in the local Kiwanis and Country
Clubs.
The year 1908 recorded the marriage of Doctor Lewis to Miss Grace Padmore, who was born at Le Mars, Plymouth County,
and whose early educational advantages included those of the University of Iowa. Doctor and Mrs. Lewis have three
children: Jane is, in 1929, a member of the junior class in Grinnell College; Donald is a member of the senior
class in the Shenandoah High School; and Helen is a member of the Junior High School.
HAIO OLTMANNS DOERING
Haio Oltmanns Doering, farmer, P. O. Le Mars, was born August 9, 1845, in Germany, a son of Albert and Catherine
Doering, who were also born in Germany. He attended school until about fourteen years old, when he began to work
for his father on the farm, where he remained until he was eighteen years old. He then came to America, landing
at New York, where he stayed but a few days, then went through to Dixon, Lee county, Ill., where he engaged in
farming, working by the month. He stayed there four years. He then came to Grant township, Plymouth county, where
he bought 160 acres in section twenty-five, where he now carries on general farming. Since he first game to Grant
township he has increased his farm to 700 acres. October 26, 1869, Mr Doering married Maria, daughter of John and
Rebecca Roehris, of Germany, and they are the parents of six children: John H., George H., Albert, Rose, Willie
and Henry Otto. In politics he is a democrat, and has been a trustee of the township and school director. He and
wife are members of the German Lutheran church. [History of the Counties of Woodbury and Plymouth,
Iowa (A. Warner & Co., 1890-1891) - Submitted by atjaden@gmail.com]
G.H. MAMMEN, M.D.
Mammen, G. H., M.D. Engaged in a lucrative medical practice at Le Mars is Dr Mammen, a young man whose early
life was passed on the farm. His father was born in Germany, in 1840, of plain, honest and poor parents. He received
no school advantages worthy of mention, and in 1865, when he had saved enough from his wages on the farm to procure
a ticket, came to the United States, landing in New York without money and without friends. After a discouraging
search for work, his
persistency was rewarded, and for a month he worked as gardener, then came west, locating at Sterling, Ill., where
he found employment on a farm. Through the practice of rigid economy he was enabled later to purchase a small tract
of land, upon which he built a home. He was married in 1869 to Miss Johanna Margaretta Gesiene Landheer, a young
lady who had emigrated from Germany the year before. She died June 10, 1881. The ancestors of both branches of
the family were Germans and tradesmen.
Dr Mammen was born on a farm in Hopkins township, Whiteside county, Ill., March 14, 1872, and is therefore 27 years
of age, but notwithstanding his youthfulness he is a professional man of reputation and large practice. When 4
years old he entered the district school, and at 12 removed with his parents to Le Mars, where the process of education
was materially retarded by the labor that was required on the farm. In 1886, however, he had the privilege of attending
the German Lutheran school, and so well was the opportunity improved that he finished the following year returning
to farm work for the purpose of earning money with which to continue his schooling, he was soon enabled to enter
the Le Mars Normal school and business college, where he remained one winter. He attended that institution as regularly
as his means would permit until 1891, when he graduated. He commenced the study of medicine in 1891 in the office
of Dr Richey, and in the fall of that year entered the Iowa State university, where he remained one term, then
matriculated in Rush Medical college of Chicago, from which he graduated May 23, 1894. He at once returned to his
home in Le Mars and engaged in practice, with most gratifying success from the start, and is now regarded as among
the leading practitioners of that city. He was chosen county physician in 1894, and in 1895 was elected coroner.
These offices were given him by republican votes, he being an earnest supporter of that political faith. He is
a member of the American Medical association, the Sioux Valley Medical association and the Missouri Valley Medical
society, the A. O. U. W., I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias. He is medical examiner for the Equitable Life Assurance
Society of the United States, American Union of New York, Mutual Reserve Fund Life of New York, Northwestern Life
Assurance company of Chicago, Masons' and Odd Fellows' Union Aid association and the orders of A. O. U. W., I.
O. O. F., I. W. of A. and Sons of Herman. June 11, 1896, he married to Miss Emma Louise Ahrensfeld, of Chicago,
Ill. (Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa (Anonymous, 1899) - Submitted by
atjaden@gmail.com]
OCKHE OSTERBUHR
Ockhe Osterbuhr is the eldest son of Ockhe and Annie (Albers) Osterbuhr, and was born August 26, 1840, in Germany.
He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He worked for his father and neighbors on farms
until October, 1862, when he came to America, landing at New York city. He came right through to Dixon, Lee county,
Ill., where he remained but a short time, going thence to Monticello, Jones county, Iowa, where he resided six
years. He then came to Le Mars, Plymouth in Grant township, on which he moved and has since lived, carrying on
general farming. Mr Osterbuhr married Miss Mary Hartman, of Germany, in 1864, and they have six children: Lizzie,
Gerdie, Annie, Willie, Otto and Fred. In politics he is a democrat. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.
[History of the Counties of Woodbury and Plymouth, Iowa (A. Warner & Co., 1890-1891) - Submitted
by atjaden@gmail.com]
JURGEN RENKEN
Jurgen Renken, farmer, P. O. Le Mars, was born in Hanover, Germany, November 8, 1850, and is a son of Henry
Renken, of the same place. His education was very limited, as his parents were in very humble circumstances, which
made it necessary for him to strive for a living for himself at a very early age. He worked for his neighbors until
twenty-two years old, by which time he had saved up enough money to bring himself and mother to America, his father
having died when he was quite young. They landed at New York, and came through to Jones county, Iowa, where he
worked on a farm for five years, then moved to Grant township, where he bought eighty acres of land in sections
fourteen and fifteen. He has since added 240 acres to his farm. June 26, 1881, Mr Renken married Miss Augusta,
daughter of William Burk, of Monticello, Iowa, by who he has four children, viz.: Herman, John, Gertrude and Wilhelmina.
He is a democrat, and belongs to the German Lutheran church. [History of the Counties of Woodbury
and Plymouth, Iowa (A. Warner & Co., 1890-1891) - Submitted by atjaden@gmail.com]
|