Henry P Calonkey

CALONKEY

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/27/2010 at 14:24:41

Henry P Calonkey, a self made and highly respected man who has worked his way upward through is own efforts and merit to his present position of material success and his enviable place in the regard of his fellow townsmen of Woodward, was born in Jo Davies county, Illinois, January 1, 1848, his parents being C and Julia (Bonitelle) Calonkey. The father who as born in France in 1821 lived for a ling period in Illinois and in 1869 came with his younger children to Boone county, settling in Boonesboro. The family traveled by rail save the subject of this review, who drove across the country. After taking up his abode in Boonesboro, Mr Calonkey followed the carpenter’s trade and also engaged in teaming for several years. In Illinois he lost his first wife. There were four children of that marriage of whom two died in infancy, the others being: Henry P of this review and Mrs Catharine Rotden, who is now a resident of Jo Davies county, Illinois. The father married again and by the second union there were born: Mrs Hattie Drover, living McAlester, Oklahoma, Mrs Gladys Brainerd, whose home is in Florida. And Mrs Emma Whitelock of Huntington, Indiana. All of the children were born in Illinois, and the older ones attended the public schools of that state, while the younger members of the family were educated in Boone. The father was for many years a resident of Iowa, his death occurring in June 1913.
Henry P Calonkey spent the period of his minority in Illinois, being twenty-one years of age when the removal was made to Iowa, at which time he drove a team from the old home in Jo Davies county to Boone. Three years after his arrival here or in 1872, he married Alice Wade, who was born in Michigan, February 25, 1853, and came with her parents as they traveled across the country to Boone county. They cast in their lot with the early settlers of Cass township, and their daughter there attended the common schools. The father Washington Wade, was born in in Medina county, Ohio, April 17, 1818, lived for a time in Michigan and after coming to Iowa continued to make his home in this state until his death, which occurred in Woodward, December 4, 1904. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lucy Bass was born in Pennsylvania, December 24, 1825, and died in Woodward, November 6, 1906. The three eldest of the children of this union were born in Michigan and the fourth in Illinois, and the younger members of the family in Boone county and with the exception of two all are yet living. The record is as follows: J B whose birth occurred March 15, 1849, and who resides in Nebraska, Mrs Josephine Miller, who was born June 1, 1851, and passed away on June 14,1874, Mrs Alice Calonkey, Mrs Jennie Bettis, who was born December 15, 1854, and resides in Denver, Colorado. A B born January 12, 1857, who resides in Woodward, Iowa, Albert twin of A B who died when nine months old, Ella who is a resident of Woodward, Iowa, Mrs Hattie Hughes born January 14, 1863, who makes her home in Belle Plaine, Iowa, William who makes hi home in Woodward, and Albertus whose birth occurred June 30, 1869, and who is a resident of Woodward, Iowa.
Mr and Mrs Calonkey have become the parents of five children and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. The children are as follows: A B born December 27, 1872 who is engaged in the creamery business at Woodward in association with his father under the firm name of H P Calonkey & Son, Mrs Lucy Houghton who was born September 21, 1877, and is a resident of Portersville, California, Clyde whose birth occurred May 12, 1880, and who is a resident of Dallas county, Iowa, Mrs Olive Gray born March 18, 1886, who makes her home in Chicago, Illinois, Josephine who was born may 31, 1888 and is now teaching in the high school at Rock Rapids, Iowa. The last named was graduated from Ames College in 1910 and subsequently taught school in California for one years, while later she followed her profession in Dallas Center for two years. All are natives of one county. Mr and Mrs Calonkey began their domestic life upon a farm but in 1893 removed to Woodward, where he has since been identified with the banking and the creamery business. His has been an active life, crowned with the substantial measure of success as the direct result of his industry and diligence. He has secured a liberal patronage by methods which neither seek nor require disguise, and his labors have put him in possession of a comfortable competence. Mr Calonkey is today president and one of the directors of the Woodward State Bank, a strong financial institution based upon modern methods of banking and conducted according to the strictest business ethics. In addition he owns 80 acres of good farm land on section 12, Peoples township, from which he drives a substantial annual income. And his town property includes and attractive home in Woodward which is tastefully and artistically furnished.
Mr Calonkey belongs tot eh famous World’s Champion Degree Staff a history of which is given elsewhere in the work. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a democrat, prominent in the party mad and has been called to fill a number of offices. He has served as constable and as township trustee and since taking upon his abode in Woodward has been a member of the city council and mayor, exercising his official prerogatives the support of many progressive movements. He has been a school director in Woodward and also before removing to the city, and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He is a recognized leader in the public affairs and has done much in molding public thought and action in this community. Broadminded, liberal in spirit and action , he is ready to assume his share of any financial obligation or to support any worthy public enterprise through personal cooperation. His fellow townsmen speak of him in terms of high regard and his worth is uniformly acknowledged.

1914 Boone County History Book