1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Springmann |
Miller |
Kobold |
Sunderland |
Sondag |
Sabin |
Rosenthal |
Ramsey
One of the many successful German farmers of Shelby county, Iowa, is Charles Springmann, who came to this county as a farm hand without any visible
assets other than his willingness to work. During his thirty-three years in this county, he has accumulated three hundred twenty seven acres of fine
farming land and one hundred sixty acres in Harrison county. His career is but another example of what may be accomplished by a man who has the
determination and will to succeed no matter what obstacles may appear in his path.
Charles Springmann, son of Frank and Bertha (Hesse) Springmann, was born in 1847 in Germany. His father was a native of the same country, his birth
having occurred in 1807. He lived and died the life of a farmer in his native land, passing away in 1869. His mother died in 1850.
Charles Springmann was one of five children born to his parents. He received a good common school education in his native land and remained at
home until 1874, when he crossed the ocean. The voyage took seventeen days. He settled in Pennsylvania where he worked three years in the coal
mines. In 1877, he moved to Philadelphia and worked near that city for the next four years on the farms surrounding the city.
He saw that there was not much opportunity for a young manin the east, and having heard of the excellent cheap land in the West, he decided to follow
Horace Greely's advice. In 1881 he came direct from Pennsylvania to Shelby Count, Iowa, and settled in Westphalia Township. After a short time, he
bought eighty acres of land and lived on it more than ten years before he was married. He worked hard and saved his money with true German frugality
with the result that today he is the proud owner of four hundred eighty seven acres of excellent land in Shelby and Harrison counties. In 1913 he sold
eighty acres of land and bought two hundred forty acres in Grove Township, on which he has since made some improvements. As a farmer, he has been
one of the largest stock raisers in the county and has always made it a point to handle only the best grades of stock.
Mr. Springmann was married in 1893 to Eva Stien, who was born in Germany in 1857, and to this union have been born two sons: Peter and Nicholas,
who are living with their parents. Peter is attending school at Prairie Du Chin. The family are loyal members of the Catholic Church in whose welfare they are deeply interested.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1022, 1023. Family Researcher: NA
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There are many excellent farmers in Grove Township, Shelby County, Iowa, and among these is Tobias D. Miller, who by industry and perseverance has
accumulated a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Miller has traveled extensively in the United States and has been engaged in business in
several of the middle and western states.
Tobias D. Miller was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1852. His father died two years after he was born and his mother in 1894.
Tobias D. Miller was one of five children. Three of them are now living in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He received his education in the schools of his native county, and after leaving school, worked as a farm hand for five years. Then he became a painter for two years, when he began railroading on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. After three years, he moved to Denison, Texas, where he took up railroading for a year or two. He then moved to
Kansas, rented a farm near Humbolt and lived there for one year. Two years later he moved to Iowa and settled in Denison, where he was employed in a
livery barn for a period of four years. At the end of that time, he invested in a restaurant in Denison, Iowa, and operated it for four years. He then sold his restaurant and bought a farm of eighty acres in Grove Township, Shelby County, Iowa. He operated this for twelve years, then sold it and purchased the farm of one hundred twenty two acres where he now lives. Since acquiring this farm, he has improved it and by close application to his interests has
succeeded in making them yield him a handsome return each year.
Mr. Miller is a member of the Republican party but has never taken an active part in the affairs of his party. He is a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. Mr. Miller's cousin, Mrs. Annie Garman, and daughter keep house for him.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1023, 1024. Family Researcher: NA
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A farmer of German descent who has made a pronounced success of his life's work in Shelby county, Iowa, is Michael Kobold, who has been a resident of this county since 1882. He started in as a renter at the time of his marriage, and by true German thrift and frugality has accumulated a fine farm of three hundred acres in Greeley and Douglas townships. He is one of the public spirited citizens of the county and has never neglected to give his hearty support to all measures which he felt would be of general benefit to the community at large.
Michael Kobold, son of MICHAEL and EVA (SCHECHINGER) KOBOLD, was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 13, 1864. Eighteen children were born to Michael and Eva Kobold, and eleven of them are still living: John, George, Joseph, Michael, Louis, Wendel, Martin, Mary, Theresa, Francis, and Thomas. Michael Kobold Sr. was a blacksmith in his native land, although after he came to America in 1882, he followed farming. On coming to this country, he immediately came to Iowa and located in Douglas Township where he bought one hundred twenty acres of land at twenty-seven dollars an acre. He engaged in farming until about 1900, when he retired and moved to Westphalia, Iowa, where he lived until his death on August 31, 1913. His widow is still living at Westphalia. Michael Kobold Sr. was an enterprising farmer and at one time owned two hundred acres of land on which he had placed extensive improvements.
Michael Kobold, Jr. received all of his education in Germany and was eighteen years of age when he came with his parents to this country. On locating in Shelby County, he worked with his father on the farm until his marriage and then began working for himself on a rented farm of eighty acres. However, he wished to have a farm of his own, and after retnting one year, he bought eighty acres in Douglas Township to which he has since added two hundred and twenty acres, giving him a fine farm now of three hundred acres which lies in Greeley and Douglas township. He has placed at least five thousand dollars worth of improvements upon his farm and now has one of the most attractive country homes in the township. He raises about 90 acres of corn and seventy acres of other grain each year, selling most of his grain, rather than feeding it to stock.
Mr. Kobold was married February 22, 1879, to LUCY JOSACK, daughter of JOSEPH and MARY (SHAEFFER) JOSACK. To this union, eight children have been born: Joseph, Eva, Francis, Mary, Michael, Matilda, John and Loretta. Mary is the wife of JOE BLUM and has one child, Michael Kenneth. The other children are still single and reside with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Kobold has been identified with the Democratic party since coming to America and always has taken an interest in local political matters. At this time, he is serving as school director of Douglas Township and is giving careful attention to his duties in this connection. He and his family are loyal members of the Catholic Church, are deeply interested in its welfare, and generous contributors to its maintenance.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1335, 1336. Family Researcher: NA
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Descended from one of the first settlers of this county, Charles N. Sunderland has spent his whole life of nearly half a century in the county of his birth. He has never been seized with a desire to wander from his native heath and has always felt that there was no better place to live in than the place of his nativity. His father was one of those sturdy pioneers who blazed their way to this county in the earliest days of its history and a man who was a prominent figure in the county from the beginning. His son has been no less an important factor in his county's history and today is classed among the most progressive farmers and stock raisers of the county.
Charles N. Sunderland, the proprietor of the Walnut Ridge Stock Farm, was born in 1867 in the same township where he has spent all of his life. His father, Lorenzo Dow Sunderland, was born in Ohio in 1825 and was reared to manhood in his native state. On reading man's estate, he was married to Mary Lucas, who was born in Ross County, Ohio in 1835, and shortly afterward made the long overland trip to Iowa. He settled in Shelby county on the farm in Center township where his son, Charles, is now living. He took a very active part in the affairs of the county from the beginning and was connected with every movement which he thought would help his county in any way. He was one of the largest land owners of the county and at one time owned fourteen hundred acres of land in the county. He made a specialty of stock raising and kept large herds of cattle on his farms. He died in 1904 and his widow passed away five years later, both being laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery at Harlan. He was a man of the strictest integrity and highest ideas of honor and in his death the county lost one of its earliest pioneers and most useful citizens.
Charles N. Sunderland received such education as was given by the rude schools of his boyhood days, and early in life began hard labor upon his father's home farm. He was the only child and, since his father had plenty for him to do, he remained on the home farm after he was married in 1891. At the death of his father, he bought three hundred and sixty acres of the old home farm and continued to live on the same part of his father's farm where he was born. He has given most of his attention to stock raising and as a breeder of Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle has won a reputation which extends far beyond the limits of his own state. He has shipped some of his best cattle to all parts of the United States and has been a frequent prize winner at county and state fairs. He also raises full blooded Percheron horses and a high grade of hogs, having found by experience that it pays to handle only the best grades of live stock. He has ten acres of highly prized natural timber on is farm and a profitable fruit orchard of three acres.
Mr. Sunderland ws married in 1891 to Mae Thomas. His wife was born in Indiana and is the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Absolem Thomas, her father having been a farmer and school teacher and a man of unusual ability. To this marriage have been born two children, Roy and Cecil. Roy is a graduate of the high school at Harlan and is now assisting his father on the home farm. Cecil is also a graduate of the Harlan high school and married Robert Henry, a farmer now living in Crawford county, Iowa.
The Democratic party has been the preference of Mr. Sunderland and he has always been interested in local political affairs. He has served in a creditable manner as the trustee of his township. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are consistent members of the Baptist church.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 643-44. Family Researcher: NA
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There are very few farmers in Shelby county, Iowa, who are of French descent, and among them Mathias P. Sondag occupies a prominent place. He was born 34 years ago in the township where he is now living, and consequently has spent all of his life within the limits of this county. He is a young farmer who started in at the foot of the ladder and by good management, close economy and continued industry has met with the success which he enjoys today. As a farmer and stock raiser he takes rank among the most progressive of his county, while as a public spirited citizen, he is no less conspicuous. He is a man of quiet and unassuming demeanor and justly merits the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
Mathias P. Sondag, son of Theodore and Mary (Korth) Sondag, was born in Cass township, Shelby county, Iowa, September 23, 1880. His father was born in France in 1850, received his education in his native land and came to America upon reaching his majority. He first located in Keokuk county, Iowa, and worked out as a farm hand in that county for a period of six years, after which he came to Shelby county, and located in Cass township where he has been living for the past 37 years. He first purchased 80 acres of land and as he prospered from year to year, he added to his holdings until he is now the owner of 240 acres of excellent farming land. Nine children were born to Theodore Sondag and wife: Mary, single; Mathias P., with whom this narrative deals; John, who married Mary Tersch; Joseph, who married Mary Hammes; Anna, the wife of Michael Leimen, and four who are still single, Theodore, Michael, Susan, and Amelia. The mother of these children died August 17, 1899. She was born in Wisconsin in 1859.
Mathias P. Sondag was educated in the schools of Cass township, attending school during the winter seasons and working on his father's farm during the summer months, and in this way was fully competent to manage a farm by the time he reached his majority. He married at the age of 23 and began by renting a farm of 80 acres, and continued renting until 1912. During most of this time, he rented from 100 to 200 acres of land and gave universal satisfaction to the men from whom he rented. In 1912, he bought the farm of 80 acres on which he is now living and is already making preparations to add to this. He raises about fifty-five acres of corn and forty acres of other farm produce every year and feeds most of his grain to his stock, marketing about thirty head of hogs each year.
Mr. Sondag was married April 25, 1904, to Anna M. Jacobs, the daughter of Nicholas and Margaret (Hammes) Jacobs, and to this union have been born four children, Margaret, Nickolas, Leonard and Delorons.
Mrs. Sondag's parents were both natives of Germany, her father coming to this country when he was 20 years of age, locating in Keokuk county, Iowa. He worked as a farm laborer for the first five years after arriving in America and then moved to Shelby county, where he purchased 200 acres of land in Cass township. Two years ago, he rented this farm and retired to Portsmouth, where he is now living.
Mr. Sondag and his family are earnest members of the Roman Catholic Church and generous contributors to its maintenance. Mr. Sondag is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society. Politically, he is a Democrat but is not a partisan in any sense of the term, preferring to cast his ballot for the best men in local elections when he has the opportunity to know them personally. He was a member of the school board of his township and gave his hearty support to all measures which had for their purpose the betterment of the public school system of his township. Mr. Sondag is a man of genial personality and has a large circle of friends throughout the township and county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 897-898. Family Researcher: NA
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The man of medicine occupies a distinguished place in the world; no other profession or business holds the sacred trust and the emotional beauty of his; no other profession entails as careful work, and no other demands so much patience and forbearance. The Latin phrase, amicus humani generis, friend of the human race, stands as a motto for the life of the physician and should be engraved on the monument of time as symbolical of the medical profession. Dr. Albert E. Sabin has been identified with the medical history of Shelby County, Iowa, for the past 14 years, and in that time has impressed his community as a man of worth in every respect, not only as a physician, but as a public spirited citizen, who is interested in the daily life of his fellow citizens.
Dr. Albert E. Sabin, son of Job and Amanda (Zorn) Sabin, was born in Perrysville, Vermilion County, Indiana, November 15, 1874. His father was a native of England, and his mother of Illinois, and after their marriage they settled in Perrysville, Indiana, near the old Wabash and Erie Canal. From 1830 to 1850, the Wabash and Erie Canal went from Fort Wayne by way of the Wabash River to Terre Haute, and then across the country to Evansville, Indiana, and was one of the leading canals of the United Stats, and millions of pounds of produce were hauled on it each year. Job Sabin followed canal boating as an occupation for many years on this canal, and later became a pilot on the Wabash River. In the early history of the state of Indiana, up until the time of the Civil War, practically all of the produce of northern and central Indiana found its way down the Wabash and White Rivers, to the Ohio, and thence to the Mississippi. Job Sabin died in Vermilion County, Indiana, in 1884, while his wife is still living in Perrysville, that county. Job Sabin and wife were the parents of four children, two dying in infancy and two still living, Mary and Dr. Albert E.
The early education of Doctor Sabin was received in the schools of his home town, and after graduation from the high school at Perrysville, he entered the State Normal School at Terre Haute, Indiana, intending to prepare for the teaching profession. However, he decided to enter the medical profession, and with this in view, he entered the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, from which institution he graduated in 1897, being only 23 years of age at the time. Feeling the need of more extended training before beginning the active practice, Dr. Sabin then became a student of Rush Medical College at Chicago and graduated from that excellent institution in 1899.
One of the most critical times in a young physician's life comes immediately after his graduation, when he is undecided where he will locate. Many a physician owes his failure in life to the fact that he did not use good judgment in choosing a place to begin his practice, and Doctor Sabin, bearing this in mind, was in no hurry to begin the active practice of his chosen work. After looking over the field and visiting many places, he finally decided to locate in Shelby county, Iowa, and the success which has attended him here shows that his judgement has been vindicated. He came to Kirkman, Shelby County, Iowa, in march 1900, and here he has been practicing for the past 14 years, with a success which is tribute to his skill as a physician and his popularity as a man. The trouble with many physicians is the fact that they do not keep abreast of the times, since there is no field in which there are as many improvements each year as there are in the medical profession. New appliances are being invented each year; new drugs are being compounded; new methods are being developed, all of which tends to place the medical profession on a sounder and surer basis. The progressive physician keeps in touch with all of these changes and it is to the credit of Doctor Sabin that he lets nothing escape him which would in any way help to alleviate the suffering of his community. He is a member of the county, state, and American medical associations and has acted as president of the Shelby County Medical Association.
Doctor Sabin was married on September 15, 1901, to Abbie Carter, the daughter of James T. and Helen (Wertz) Carter, natives of Indiana and Iowa respectively. James T. Carter was born in 1847 in Indiana and came with his parents to eastern Iowa when three years old. After marriage, he settled in Center township, Shelby County in 1870, being one of the pioneers of the county. He died on his farm in Jackson township in 1883, having moved there from Center township. Helen Carter died in February 1908. They were the parents of seven children, living: Cassius I., in Linn, South Dakota; Nettie (Barber) of Shelby County; Abbie (Sabin); Frank, in Harlan, Iowa; Charles, of Center Township; Pearl, wife of W. E. Blaine, of Douglas Township; Clara, wife of Ben Kowing of Kansas.
Politically Doctor Sabin, owing to the continual demands on his time, has never been able to take an active part in public affairs since coming to this county. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Irwin, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America at Harlan.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 860-62. Family Researcher: NA
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A prominent businessman of Portsmouth, Shelby County, Iowa, is John Rosenthal, the manager of the Fullerton Lumber Company. He comes from German parentage and has inherited those characteristics which have made the German citizens of this county among its most substantial and prosperous men. John Rosenthal, son of Joseph And Rosella (Zimmerman) Rosenthal, was born in Shelby County, Iowa, October 28, 1883. His parents were both natives of Germany and came to this county before their marriage. The father was educated in his native land and served in the German army, and immediately after the expiration of his service in the army, he came to America. He first located in Arkansas, but shortly afterwards came to Iowa and located in Westphalia, Iowa, in the latter part of the seventies. He was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation for over 50 years, before he retired from active work. He is now living a retired life in Westphalia. Joseph Rosenthal and wife were the parents of eight children: John, with whom this narrative deals; Josephine, deceased; Joseph, who married Clara Dominesse; Wilhomena, who died at the age of eleven; Edward, who is studying for the priesthood; Anna and Mary, who are single and at home, and Rosella, who died in infancy.
John Rosenthal received all of his education in the graded schools of Wesphalia, Iowa, and after leaving school worked on the farm and helped his father in the blacksmith shop. He then secured a position as clark in a general merchandise store at Erling, and before 1908 clerked in the stores at Earling, Westphalia, and Portsmouth. In 1908 he entered the employ of the Fullerton Lumber Company at Oakland, Iowa, and remainder there for three months, after which he was transferred to Portsmouth and given complete charge of the company's business in this place. The company handles all kinds of building material and in the conduct of its business in this place Mr. Rosenthal has given the company efficient service and the people of the community honest prices.
Mr. Rosenthal was married May 10, 1910, to Mary Langenfeld, the daughter of John and Mary (Weiland) Langenfeld, and to this union have been born two children: Eldred and Bernedetta. Mrs. Rosenthal's parents are living in Earling and are among the oldest families in the county. Mrs. Rosenthal is one of two children born to her parents, the other child being Rosa Mary who is single and living with her parents in Earling.
Mr. Rosenthal is a Democrat in politics and has always taken an active part in local political affairs. He is clerk of the city of Portsmouth and secretary of the school board of Cass township. He has been one of the leaders of the Democratic party in his town and township for many years. He and his family are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Rosenthal is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1018-1019. Family Researcher: NA
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A prominent farmer and stock raiser of Shelby County, Iowa, is Robert Ramsey, who has lived in this county for the past 35 years. Mr. Ramsey has been a hard working, conscientious farmer since his earliest boyhood days, and now is the owner of 150 acres of excellent land in Cass Township, adjoining Portsmouth. He is a man of the highest integrity and has won the greatest respect of his fellow citizens.
Robert Ramsey, son of William and Anna (Brown) Ramsey, was born in Johnson County, Iowa, October 22, 1865. His parents were both born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, his father in 1833 and his mother in 1837. They were early settlers in Johnson County, Iowa, leaving in 1875 for Shelby County. The father farmed in this county until 1904, when he retired and moved to Harlan, Iowa, where he now lives. His wife died in 1912. Of the nine children born to William Ramsey and wife, eight are still living.
Robert Ramsey received his education in the schools of Johnson County, this state, and was 14 years old when his parents moved from that county to Shelby County. He remained at home until he reached his majority and then went to Oklahoma where he purchased a farm of 160 acres. He lived on this place for about a year, but owned it for eight years, when he returned to Shelby County and bought 150 acres of land in Cass Township, immediately adjoining Portsmouth. Here he built a comfortable home and barn, set out fruit trees and now has a very attractive farm. He came to Portsmouth when the town was first laid out and planted corn on the land now covered by the town. He has been a very successful farmer and by dividing his attention between the raising of stock and of grain, has made a very comfortable home and living for himself and his family.
Mr. Ramsey was married in 1890 to Rosa Greenlee of Van Meter, Iowa, born in 1870. To this union have been born three children: Burel, Nenia, and Helen. Burel is deceased, while the other two children are living with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Ramsey is affiliated with the Democratic party but has never been active in politics. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1019-1020. Family Researcher: NA
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