1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Schnuettegen |
J Schechinger |
Muenchrath |
M Scheckinger |
Muenchrath |
Deen
Lorentzen |
Corey |
Brazie |
Barber
The two score years which Theodore SCHNUETTEGEN* has spent in Shelby county, Iowa, since arriving in this country
from Germany, have made him one of the substantial men of the township in which he settled. The forty years which he
has spent in Westphalia township have been years of labor and that they have been fruitful is shown by the fact that Mr.
SCHNUETTEGEN* started in with nothing and now owns a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres. He arrived in this
county when he was twenty-four years of age and by good management, close economy and persistent energy and
industry, has arisen from a place of penury to a position of pecuniary independence. His career is like that of many
other excellent German farmers who have come to this country and strikingly shows that the German citizens of our
country have played an important part in every phase of its development.
Theodore SCHNUETTEGEN*, the son of Anton and Marie Anna (HITZBOTH**) SCHNUETTEGEN*, was born in Westphalia, Germany, February 7, 1850. His parents lived all their lives in Germany, his father's death occurring March 17, 1859,
and his mother's in July 1883. His father was a farmer in his native land and followed that occupation all of his days.
Seven children were born to Anton SCHNUETTGEN and wife, Anton, Frank, Joseph, Marie, Theodore, August and John. Of
these children, Frank, August and Anton are deceased. John married Mary WEILAND, while Joseph is still living in
Germany.
Theodore SCHNUETTEGEN* received a good common school education in the schools of his native land and after leaving
school, took up the carpenter trade and followed that occupation until he came to America in 1874. He arrived at New
York harbor August 1, 1874, with just enough money to take him to Iowa. Upon arriving in Shelby county in the fall of
1874, he found employment as a carpenter and continued to follow this occupation for the first five years after coming
to this country. He saved his money and in 1879 bought a farm of one hundred and seventy acres near Westphalia. He
worked hard and divided his attention between carpentering and farming with the result that he prospered to an
extreme degree, and as the years rolled by was able to add to his possessions from time to time. When he retired to
Earling in 1912 his farm had increased to four hundred and eighty acres. Upon this farm he has erected handsome and
substantial buildings so that its value today is more than fifty thousand dollars. Such is the record of an honest German
emigrant who came to this country as a young man of twenty-four, and his history sets forth in a clear manner what
good ability and hard work will do on the land in Shelby county.
Mr. SCHNUETTEGEN* was married at Westphalia, Iowa, March 9, 1886, to Fredericka KOESTER, and to this union six
children have been born: Marie, the wife of Anton WORKMAN; August, who married Chrystine SCHOCHINGER***; Louise, the
wife of John WORKMAN; Odelia, the wife of John GAUL; Antonia, who died in 1892; Emma, who is single and living at
home.
Mrs. SCHNUETTEGEN's* parents were Joseph and Brigta KOESTER, natives of Germany. They reared a family of eight
children, Kasper, Anton, John, Robert, Joseph, Hubert, Richard and Fredericka. The history of Anton KOESTER [note: KOESTERS], which
appears elsewhere in this volume, gives the family history of the KOESTER family.
Mr. SCHNUETTEGEN* is a Democrat in politics and has always been interested in local affairs. He takes a deep interest in
educational matters and is a member of the school board of Westphalia township at the present time. He and his family
are all devout members of the Catholic church, in whose welfare they are interested and to the support of which they are
generous contributors.
Corrections: Dewie Gaul & Marthann Kohl
* SCHNUETTGEN
**HITZE
*** Crescentia SCHECHINGER
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 730, 731.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl - e-mail: djfnmk@fmctc.com
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John A. MUENCHRATH, son of Bernard and Kate (WAHKUM) MUENCHRATH, was born on the farm where he now lives, December 26, 1884. His father was a native of Germany and came to America with his parents when he was about three years old. They first settled in Missouri and here he received his education. He worked on a farm for a short time, found employment on the boats of the Mississippi river, and also aplit rails and fence posts in the timber of Missouri. He continued to live in Missouri until after his marriage, buying a small farm in that state on which he lived until 1883. In that year he brought his family to Shelby county, Iowa, in an ox cart and purchased 80 acres of land in Union township, which he later increased to 440 acres. A few years ago he retired from active farm life and divided his farm among his children.
Bernard MUENCHRATH and wife were the parents of a large family: Elizabeth, the wife of Hugo HENDRICKS; Clara, wife of Bernard SAPKE; Christian, who married Barbara THIELAN; William who married Theresa KONZ; John A.; Caroline, wife of Edward FESER; Frederick and Anton, single, and one child who died in infancy. John A. MUENCHRATH received his education in the Catholic schools at Earling, Iowa, and early in life began to work upon the
home farm. He remained with his father until he was 21 years of age and then rented a farm for himself until 1910 when he purchased his present farm of 120 acres. He is engaged in general farming, dividing his time between the raising of crops and livestock.
Mr. Muenchrath was married April 28, 1910 to Amelia GREVE, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth GREVE, and to this union have been born two children: Edwin and Carola. His wife's parents were natives of Germany and came to this county about 1891. Mr. and Mrs. GREVE were the parents of 10 children: August; William who married Maggie RELANDER; Henry who married Mary MUENCHRATH; Otto; Josepha, wife of William BLUM who died in January 1904; Adaline, wife of Henry FELTMAN, and Amelia, wife of Mr. MUENCHRATH; Frank, another son, died in the service of the German army. Two died in infancy. Mrs. GREVE died in 1907, her husband having passed away a few years before that time. Mr. MUENCHRATH's mother died in 1895, while his father is still living with his children.
Politically, Mr. MUENCHRATH is a member of the Democratic party, but has never been active in political matters. He has served as school
director and in this capacity favored all worthy measures which were calculated to benefit the schools. He and his
family are loyal members of the Catholic church, while Mr. MUENCHRATH himself is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He is still a young man and the success which has attended his efforts so far indicate that he has a prosperous future
before him.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1177.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl
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The history of Shelby county is replete with the successes which have attended the citizens of German birth. No other
foreign country is so well represented in this county and without exception they have become prosperous and
substantial citizens of their adopted country. The habits of thrift and industry which always mark the peoples of German
extraction have made them welcome additions to the various communities in this country which have been honored by
their residence. Probably no family has had more marked success in this county than the Schechinger family, one of
whose representatives, Joseph SCHECHINGER, is one of the largest land owners in the county.
Mr. SCHECHINGER, the son of Martin and Katherine (REEDEL*) SCHECHINGER, was born April 29, 1866, in Altbrein,
Germany. Martin started to work out as a farm hand after leaving school and upon his marriage bought a small farm of
twelve acres. He increased this to forty-four acres and then decided to sell it and permanently locate in the United
States. In 1875 he came to this country with his large family and at once located in Westphalia township, in Shelby
county, Iowa, where he bought eighty acres of land for eleven dollars an acre. A few months later he bought eighty acres
more for eighteen dollars an acre. By thrifty methods and the valuable assistance of his four worthy sons he
accumulated four hundred acres of land, which he divided among his four sons a few years before his death. To Martin
SCHECHINGER and wife were born eleven children: Katherine, the wife of Joseph FROMM; Crazens**, the wife of Barttell***
STOLL; Martin, who married Anna BOOK****; Mary*****, the wife Valentine FLINTNER; Frances, the wife of Peter KAUFFMAN;
Theresa******, the wife of Benjamin******* BLUM; George, who married Elizabeth BLUM; Caroline, the wife of Michael
Schiltz; Joseph; Anastasia (deceased), who was the wife of Jacob COOKER********; Vitus, who married Barbara HENNIS.
Joseph SCHECHINGER attended school for three years in Germany and completed his education in this county. He was
nine years of age when his parents moved to Iowa and worked on the home farm while attending school, remaining at
home until he was twenty-four. He then married and commenced farming on one hundred and sixty acres which his
father gave him in Lincoln township and lived on this one hundred and sixty for the first three years after his marriage.
In 1893 he bought two hundred and eighty acres of land in Westphalia township (the Joseph SMITH farm), and by hard
work along the most approved lines has accumulated additional land from time to time until he now has seven hundred
and forty-six acres of land in this county. For four or five years before his marriage he and his brothers operated a corn
sheller and threshing machine for their father. He is a breeder of Shorthorn and Hereford cattle and has about one
hundred head of cattle on the farm.
Mr. SCHECHINGER was married in 1890 to Katherine HENNIS, the daughter of John and Elizabeth HENNIS, and to this
union there have been born seven********* children: Martin, Elizabeth, Barbara, John, Cecelia, Cunnie and Katherine.
Martin and Elizabeth are deceased; Barbara is the wife of Charles WAGEMAN and has two children, Anthony and Cecelia;
all the rest of the children are single and living with their father. The mother of these seven children died November 13,
1910, at the age of forty years. She was born in Arcadia, Iowa, the daughter of John and Elizabeth HENNIS, natives of
Luxemberg, Germany.
The HENNIS family came from Germany to America in 1873 and located in Arcadia, Iowa, but shortly afterward
permanently settled in Shelby county. John HENNIS became a prosperous farmer and at the time of his death was one of
the substantial men of his township. He and his wife have both been dead many years. They reared a family of three
children: Katherine, the wife of Mr. SCHECHINGER; Barbara, the wife of Vitus SCHECHINGER, and Elizabeth, the wife of Henry
EBERT.
Mr. SCHECHINGER and all his family are loyal members of the Westphalia Catholic church. He is a member of the Catholic
Knights of America. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party but has never been active in political affairs.
He is an independent voter and believes in supporting the best men for office regardless of politics.
corrections: by Marthann Kohl
* RIEDEL
** Cresentia
*** Bartholomew
**** BUCH
***** Maria
****** Theresia
*******Bernard
******** KUKER
********* eight children: Johann, Elizabeth, Barbara, John, Cecelia, Kundgunda, Catherina, Martin
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 720, 721, 722.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl - e-mail: djfnmk@fmctc.com
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Martin SCHECKINGER*, son of Martin and Katherine SCHECKINGER*, was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 24, 1856.
Martin SCHECKINGER* Sr. started in with a small farm of 12 acres at the time of his marriage in Germany and increased
this until he owned 44 acres. He and his wife had a large family of children and decided to sell their farm in Germany
and come to America, where they felt they could give their children better opportunities for advancement. Martin
SCHECKINGER* Sr. and his family came to America in 1875, located in Westphalia township, Shelby county, Iowa, where
they bought land for eleven dollars an acre. Mr. SCHECKINGER had four stout sons and with their assistance, he soon
accumulated 400 acres of land, which he divided among his sons a few years before his death. Martin SCHECKINGER* Sr.
and wife were the parents of 11 children: Katherine, wife of Joseph FROMM; Crazens**, wife of Bartell*** STOLL; Martin, the
subject of this sketch; Mary****, wife of Valentine FLINTNER; Frances, wife of Peter KAUFFMAN; Theresa*****, wife of
Benjamin****** BLUM; George, who married Elizabeth BLUM; Caroline, wife of Michael SCHILTZ; Anastasia, deceased, who
was the wife of Jacob COOKER*******; Vitus, who married Barbara HENNIS; and Joseph.
Martin SCHECKINGER* Jr. came to America before his parents arrived on these shores. He was 17 years of age when he landed at New York harbor in 1873. He at once located in LaSalle county, Illinois. After working as a laborer there for three years he came to Shelby county,
Iowa, and worked with his father until he was 29 years of age, when he married and bought a farm of 120 acres, on
which he began farming for himself. Year after year has found him more prosperous and his farm of 400 acres in Lincoln
township in this county is a glowing tribute to his successful career as an agriculturist. He also owns 320 acres in the
state of Oklahoma, to which he gives his own careful supervision. He has on an average of 140 acres of corn each year
which produces about 7,500 bushels of corn. He also has at least 100 acres of other produce most of which he feeds to
his livestock.
Mr. SCHECKINGER* was married August 20, 1884, to Anna BUCH, daughter of Peter and Mary (LUECKE) BUCH,
and to this union 8 children have been born: Kate, Francis, Martin, Nicholas, Valentine, Anna, Clara, and Anton. Kate
is the wife of Charles Peter RADING, and has three children, Anthony, Anna and Clara. Frances is the wife of Joseph
MUELL, while all of the other children are still single and living with their parents. Mrs. SCHECKINGER's* father was born
in Germany in 1834 and he mother in 1839 in the same country. Immediately after their marriage, Peter Paul and Mary
Buch came to America and located in Keokuk county, Iowa, settling there in 1855. Mr. Buch was an olive oil
manufacturer in his native land, but upon coming to America, engaged in farming. He came to Shelby county, Iowa, in
1883 and purchased 160 acres of land in Lincoln township on which he lived until 1911 when he retired from active
farm life and moved to Carroll, Iowa, where he is now living. Peter BUCH and wife were the parents of ten children:
Michael, Mrs. Anna SCHECKINGER*, Henry, Nicholas, John, Mrs. Mary SCHUETZ, Mrs. Rosa HAMMOND, Barbara, Nicholas
and one who lives in Carroll county, Iowa.
Mr. SCHECKINGER* and his family are loyal members of the Catholic church.
He is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat and has always
been interested in local political matters. He served as township trustee at one time and gave eminent satisfaction to
the discharge of the duties connected with this office. He is a man of genial personality and highly esteemed by
everyone with whom he has been associated in the county.
corrections: by Marthann Kohl
* SCHECHINGER
** Cresentia
*** Bartholomew
**** Maria
***** Theresia
******Bernard
******* KUKER
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1348.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl - e-mail: djfnmk@fmctc.com
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Iowa has been especially honored in the careers of men active in industry. Shelby county, especially, has produced some noted inventors. In every
section of the state, men have been born who have forged ahead in the various vocations. They have overcome difficulties because of their superior
intelligence, natural endowments and force of character. It is always profitable to study such lives, weigh the underlying motives which have induced the
individual to proceed and hold up their achievements as incentives to greater activity and higher excellence on the part of others. These reflections are
suggested by the career of a Shelby County citizen who has forged his way to the front ranks, the account of whose fight for success makes interesting
reading. Possessed of inherent ability and optimism of a high degree, he is a credit to Harlan and the county in which he resides. In James M. DEEN, of
Harlan, we have a striking type of the self-made man, who began as a poor boy and has rapidly forged his way upward along the path of success.
James M. DEEN was born November 11, 1870, on a farm in Washington County, Iowa, and is the son of James M. Deen, who died before the birth of the
son, James. His mother was Rebecca WELLS, who was born January 20, 1836, in the city of Philadelphia. She came to Harlan from Washington County
in 1888, with her family of seven children, as follows: D.M., a monument manufacturer of Harlan; Anna, who lives with her aged mother; Henry of DEEN &
JOHNSON, restaurant proprietors, Harlanl; Mrs. Solomon KING of Iowa Falls, Iowa; Mrs. J. R. PORTER of Monroe township, Shelby County; Lewis, died at
the age of 13 years; James M. with whom this narrative is directly concerned. Left a widow in 1870, Mrs. DEEN has performed a noble work in rearing her family to become useful and capable members of the communities where they reside.
James M. Deen received his education in the schools of his native county. He was 18 years of age when he came to Harlan with his mother. When a
youth, he was constantly developing the latent inventive genius with which he was endowed by nature. He spent considerable time with the flying shuttle carpet loom, which is his chief invention. He spent five years in perfecting this machine and it has proven to be a wonderful success. The story of this invention and the consequent building and development of the Deen Loom Works, however, followed in an additional paragraph.
Mr. Deen was married July 11, 1908, to Miss Tessie LORENZ of St. Cloud, Minnesota. To this union has been born one child, James Russell, born April
21, 1909. Politically Mr. Deen is allied with the Republican party but does not take an active part in political affairs because of the fact that his time is
continually occupied with more weighty affairs. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is fraternally connected with the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons. He is one of those men who are born to succeed and whose fight for eventual success along well defined lines has made him a
citizen who takes a keen interest in the development of his home city.
The Deen Loom Company, of which Mr. James M. Deen is owner and general manager, had its inception in a small beginning as has been the case with
many other successful enterprises. it had its beginning in the bedroom of Mr. Deen's mother in 1889, when Mr. Deen started to weaving carpets and rugs with a handmade carpet loom. The business gradually increased until he erected a small shop, twelve by twenty feet in dimensions. His ingenuity
began to assert itself. He had been studying for some time methods of improving the old handmade loom which he had been operating. He
experimented until he had perfected a machine according to his own ideas of what constituted an efficient loom. He then began the manufacture of
looms and had the satisfaction of selling his first loom to a New Jersey man in 1895. The business outgrew the old quarters which were located in his
mother's yard, and he rented the front part of a blacksmith shop in which to continue the work. A number of workers became necessary and Mr. Deen
gathered about him a number of capable men to assist him with the manufacturing process. A year or so later he erected a larger shop at the corner of
Fifth and Hill Streets. In 1898, he managed to gather some money for building and erected a small shop, thirty by forty feet in size, on his mother's
property. Since 1898 successive enlargements of equipment and building space have become necessary. The factory covers a floor space of fifteen
thousand square feet and represents an investment of fifteen thousand dollars, all of which had its beginning in the fertile brain of the boy at work in his
mother's bedroom. The manufacture and sale of looms began in 1895 and has steadily increased to the present time. From twelve to twenty men are
employed in the manufacture of looms and the products of the factory are shipped to points in every state and territy of the Union and to Canada. a
foundry for making castings which are used in the construction of the machines is operated in connection with the factory. The upper floor of the factory
building is devoted to rug weaving in which a number of women operatives are employed.
The products of the factory are the advance and peerless fly shuttle looms, the economy hand shuttle loom, the wonder worker pressed four harness fly
shuttle loom, the climax steel built rug loom, the Deen combined cutting and fraying machine, and a complete assortment of loom supplies. A feature of
the management of the business is noteworthy inasmuch as the looms are sold on the payment plan to responsible people. Many factories for rug
weaving, located in various parts of the country, had their beginnings in a single Deen loom. The perfection of the machine made at the Deen factory has
been attained by years of struggle. The idea of the manager has been to attain perfection in the factory products and in this he has succeeded. The
machines are sold by catalogue. Mr. Deen has evolved a very handsome and attractive one which set forth the descriptions of the various machines and factory products in an attractive and lucid manner.
The Deen Loom Company is the outcome of twenty-five years of constant labor. During all this time, Mr. Deen has been at the post of duty. In
accomplishing his purpose, Mr. Deen has worked without the incentive of mere money making but the sole desire to evolve loom machinery which is as
near perfection as human ingenuity can contrive. Experiments have continually swallowed up his profits but he has had the satisfaction of accomplishing his heart's desire. Aside from constantly putting his earnings into the business, he has made considerable money and is one of the substantial men of Harlan and one who is universally trusted and highly esteemed. The business policy of the Deen Loom Company reflects the personal attributes of its proprietor and manager. Patrons and purchasers of looms are always looked upon as friends of the company and manager.
The life story of James M. Deen and the story of the success of the Deen Loom Company of which he is the founder and proprietor should prove inspiring
to those of the coming generation desiring to succeed along similar lines.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1091-1094.
Contributed by: Mona Sarratt Knight
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It is apparent to the historian that there must have been an exodus from Schleswig to this country after the war between Denmark
and Prussia in 1866, when Prussia took Schleswig and Holstein away from Denmark. Scores of Shelby County Germans came to this country in the
seventies but, of course, not all settled in this county. The father of Mathias Lorentzen left Schleswig when a young man and settled in Davenport, Iowa,
later locating in Shelby County.
Mathias Lorentzen, the son of John and D. Eleanor (Mathiasen) Lorentzen, was born August 16, 1875, in Davenport, Iowa. His father was born in
Schleswig, then a part of Denmark, in 1848, and came to this country immmediately after his marriage in 1867. John settled in Davenport and followed
the trade of a carpenter until 1877 and in that year came to Shelby County, Iowa, where he bought a farm of 80 acres in Jackson Township. He improved
the farm and added to it from time to time until he now has one hundred sixty acres of well improved land. He and his wife retired from active work in
1899 and are now living on the farm near the home of their son, Mathias.
Mathias Lorentzen was one and one half years old when his parents moved to Shelby County and received all of his education in this county. He is one of six children, four of whom are still living: Hans, Marie (Knudsen), Dora (Claussen), and Mathias. Anna died at the age of seven years; Katrine
(Christensen) died in 1911. He remained at home until he was married in 1899, and then his father turned the management of the home farm over to
him. He is still in charge of the old home place and is dividing his attention between the raising of his crops and the care of his livestock. He is meeting
with a success commensurate with his efforts and is looked upon as one of the most progressive farmers of his township.
Mr. Lorentzen was married in 1899 to Laura Nelson. She is the daughter of Peter Nelson and was born in this county in 1879. To this union there have
been born two daughters, Eleanor and Anna, both of whom are still living with their parents. Mr. Lorentzen is identified with the Democratic party and
always has been active in local political matters. At the present time, he is serving in a very efficient manner as the trustee of his township. He and his
family are members of the Denish Lutheran Church.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1438.
Contributed by: Mona Sarratt Knight
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Wholly devoted to home and domestic duties, doing through all the best years of her life the lowly bur sacred work that
comes within her sphere, there is not much to record concerning the life of the average woman, yet what station so dignified, what relation so loving and
endearing, what offices so wholly tender and ennobling as those of home making, wifehood and motherhood. As man's equal in every qualification save
the physical, and his superior in the gentle, tender, and loving amenities of life, she fully merits a much larger notice than she ordinarily receives. No
doubt the time soon is coming when women will receive due credit for the important part they play in life's great drama and be accorded their proper
places in history and biography. One of the women of Shelby County, Iowa, who merits a place among the representative women of her county is Mrs.
Margaret M. Corey, who has been a resident of this county for nearly thirty-five years.
Mrs. Margaret M. Corey, daughter of William J. and Lucy (Bush) Brown, was born at Momence, Illinois, on March 11, 1863. Her father was born in 1824 in Hertfordshire, England, while her mother was a native of Norfolk, England, born in 1827. William J. Brown and his family came from England to Illinois in 1850, and he lived the remainder of his life in that state. He was a civil engineer by trade and was killed in 1901 while putting up a smoke stack. His wife died in 1878. William J. Brown and wife were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are still living.
Mrs. Margaret M. Corey received her education in the elementary schools of Momence, Illinois, and graduated from the high school of that place in 1882.
She was a girl of unusual ability, and immediately after graduating went to Cass County, Iowa, and engaged in teaching school for two years. She then
went to Shelby County, Iowa, taught in the district schools of that county for four terms. It was while teaching in Shelby County that she became
acquainted with Edwin O. Corey, to whom she afterward was married.
The marriage of Margaret M. Brown and Edwin O. Corey was solemnized January 1, 1883. Her husband was born June 25, 1856, in Livingston County,
Illinois, son of Jeremiah and Anna (Johnson) Corey. Jeremiah Corey was born in 1814 in Pennsylvania, served through the Mexican War, and then
removed to the State of Illinois, where the government gave him one hundred and sixty acres of land as a bounty for his service in the Mexican War.
Jeremiah Corey farmed in Illinois until 1887, and then came to Shelby County, Iowa, where he bought land in Clay township. He retired in 1880 and died
in 1896. Jeremiah Corey was married in 1854 to Anna Johnson,, who was born in Ohio in 1834, and died in Shelby County, Iowa, in 1912. Seven
children were born to Jeremiah Corey and wife, all of whom are still living except Edwin O., the late husband of Mrs. Corey.
Edwin O. Corey came to Shelby County, Iowa, in 1877, having driven a team and wagon and five head of horses from Illinois to this county. He rented
land, farmed for himself for several years, and then, four years after his marriage, bought eighty acres of land in Clay township. He was living at home in Clay township when he became acquainted with the attractive young school teacher who later became his wife. Mr. Corey was a man of intelligence and learning, and with the assistance of his wife, he became possessed of a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres on which his widow is now residing. Seven children were born to Edwin O. Corey and wife: James O., deceased; Elizabeth F., who is homesteading and teaching in South Dakota; H. Fuller, who is the owner of a homestead in South Dakota, is at home; Robert L., who is farming the home place; Ethel G.; Challenge R.; and Paul F., who are still with their mother. The father of these children and the husband of Mrs. Corey died February 27, 1905.
Mrs. Corey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is deeply interested in the welfare of this denomination. Mr. Corey was a member of the
Episcopalian Church, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and was a man who ever was found faithful to
the teachings of these fraternities. He was a man who took a keen joy in serving his fellow citizens and in every way gave his support to public spirited
measures. At one time, he served as county supervisor of Shelby County, and in this capacity gave his fellow citizens faithful and efficient service. Mrs.
Corey is a woman of refinement and culture, and one of the best informed women in the county. She has a well stocked library and has been a constant
reader. The light of her life is her children, and to these she is giving the best education she can afford, with a view of making them better and more
useful members of society. (end article)
NOTE TO RESEARCHERS: Records indicate that Jeremiah O. Corey, fought in the Mexican War in Company E, 1st US Dragoons, as a Corporal. He had filed for his pension, and at his death, his widow Anna M. Corey, filed for a widow's pension on 8 December 1897 from Iowa. In addition, the 1920 census records Elizabeth F. Corey, daughter of Mrs. Margaret M. Corey, as living in Jones County, War Creek Township, South Dakota. Her occupation on that census is listed as School Teacher, Country School, and she is aged 32, single. Challenge Corey, son of Mrs. Margaret M. Corey, was born 12 Feb 1898 and died in June 1975 in Union County, Iowa.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1459.
Contributed by: Mona Sarratt Knight
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Success in professions is the result of merit and endeavor. In commercial life, one may come into the possession of a lucrative
business through inheritance or gift, but professional advancement is gained only by hard study and research. Proper training, thorough business
methods and the use of his own good judgment have made Dr. Fred E. Brazie successful as a veterinary surgeon.
Dr. Fred E. Brazie, son of Jay V. and Emma (Nance) Brazie, was born June 3, 1883, in Harlan, Iowa. His father was born in Harvey County, NY, in 1854,
and came to Shelby County, Iowa, with his parents when he was sixteen years old. He taught school a few years then engaged in farming in Center
Township for several years, when he then moved to Harlan and conducted a livery business until 1880. In that year, he disposed of his livery stable and
went into the real estate business, following that until his death in 1902. While living in Harlan, he served as deputy county sheriff for one year.
Jay V. Brazie was twice married, first in 1879 to Emma Nance. To this union were born three children: Raymond, deceased; Addie, deceased; and Dr.
Fred E. His wife died December 28, 1883, and in 1892 he married Minnie M. Longcor, who was born in this county in 1867. She is the daughter of Peter
Longcor, who came to this county in 1849. He was born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1814 and was the first man to build a lumber house in Jackson
Township in this county. He lived on a farm in that township until his death in 1897.
Dr. Fred E. Brazie completed the common and high school course in Harlan at the age of 18, when he entered the Chicago Veterinary College.
Graduating from that institution in the spring of 1905, he immediately returned to Harlan and opened his practice. He was appointed assistant state
veterinary surgeon of Iowa, a position which he is filling with great credit. He is a young man who promises to become one of the leaders in his
profession.
Dr. Brazie was married June 29, 1910, to Alice Bacon, who was born in 1883 in Harlan. He and his wife are attendants of the Congregational Church of
Harlan. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a Republican but
has never taken an active part in politics. In addition to his regular practice, Dr. Brazie manages 240 acres of land in Douglas Township. He is an
extensive breeder of Hereford cattle, this being a very profitable investment. He and R. M. Bacon own the Harlan Ice and Cold Storage Company,
manufacturing ice, ice cream and butter. (end of article)
NOTE TO RESEARCHERS:
The following BRAZIE family members are buried at Harlan, Iowa:
Jay Brazie, b. 1854, d. 23 Feb 1902
Raymond Brazie
Fred E. Brazie, b. 1883, d. 1939.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1159.
Contributed by: Mona Sarratt Knight
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The farming interests of Shelby County, Iowa, are carried on by an active and intelligent class of men, who are thus performing their
share in maintaining and extending the welfare of their county. Among the progressive farmers of the county, Joseph L. Barber, occupies a conspicuous
place. He has been paying particular attention to the raising of fine stock, and his Chester White hogs have won him a reputation which extends beyond
the limits of his county. He has one of the finest country homes in the county, and his farm of 160 acres presents a very attractive appearance in every
way.
Joseph L. Barber, son of John K. and Sarah (HARTER) BARBER, was born January 10, 1868, in Pennsylvania. His father was born March 25, 1838, in
Union County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James Barber, a native of the same state. James Barber married Mary MAZE, and to them were born eleven children. John K. Barber was educated in the schools of Union County, Pennsylvania, and when a young man worked at the carpenter trade in his native state. A short time after his marriage, he came with his family to Iowa and located near Oakfield, in Audubon County. In 1882 he moved to Shelby County and rented a farm in Harlan Township, which he operated for four years, after which he purchased a farm in Polk Township, where he lived for 22 years, and then rented it and moved to Kirkman, where he is now living a retired life. He served as school director in Polk township, and since moving to
Kirkman has served as Mayor and Alderman of the city. John K. BARBER was married in 1856 to Sarah E. HARTER, daughter of Samuel and Mary
(WOLF) HARTER, of Clinton County, Pennsylvania, and to this marriage have been born eleven children: Chestie N., the wife of Jacob AURACHER;
James D., who married Minnie WHITTED; Mary C., the wife of Eli MONTGOMERY; Samuel D., who died in infancy; Carrie M., the wife of Milo SHARK;
Arabella M., the wife of J. L. HARRIS; Joseph L.; Charles W., who married Sylvia LACY; Maggie A., wife of George LAWSHE; John F., who married Nettie
CARTER; and Effie J., wife of John ERICKSON.
Joseph L. Barber was only about one year old when his parents moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa, and consequently received all of his education in this
state. He was fourteen years of age when his parents settled in Shelby County in 1882, and the remainder of his life has been spent within this county.
According with the custom of farmers' boys in Iowa, as well as every other state in the Union, he worked on the farm during the summer seasons and
went to school during the winter months. He continued to stay on the home farm after he left school until he was 22 years of age, when he rented land
and started in to save money in order to buy a farm of his own. He continued as a renter until 1909, when he bought 160 acres, where he is now living.
Since acquiring this farm, he has erected a beautiful home, one which ranks with the finest residences in Shelby County. He has also put up several
commodious barns and other out-buildings, so that his farm today stands as one of the model farms of the county. He has gained a high reputation as a
stockman and has had remarkable success in raising all kinds of livestock. He makes a scientific study of farming and is ranked among the successful
agriculturists of his county.
Politically, Mr. Barber is a Democrat, while his religious connections are with the Standard Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a breeder of the Chester
White hogs, having a herd of 300 head now, known as the International Herd. He holds an annual sale of Chester White hogs, and on February 25, 1914,
held a sale averaging eighty-four dollars and thirty-five cents for fifty head. He also farms 128 acres besides his own land.
Mr. Barber was married March 25, 1894, to Lina ANDERSON, daughter of Marcus and Christina (JACOBS) ANDERSON, of Illinois, and to this union have
been born four children, Eva, Lela, Cecil and Dale, all of whom are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are natives of Norway and came to Illinois where they remained all their lives.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1348.
Contributed by: Mona Sarratt Knight
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